Silver Minings: Howie Long reminisces about Lyle Alzado with Maxx Crosby

Legendary defensive lineman had a bit of a screw loose, leading to some crazy stories

The Las Vegas Raiders have a long history of rostering players who have a bit of a screw loose and the late Lyle Alzado might take the cake as the craziest of them all.

There are plenty of stories about Alzado losing his temper and legendary Raider Howie Long recently joined current Raider Maxx Crosby on Crosby’s “The Rush” podcast to reminisce about his former teammate.

“Lyle would kick you, throw you, rip your helmet off, chuck it 20 yards downfield,” Long said. “I used to walk in and say, I say good morning and base the rest of my day on how he responded. At one point, we got him a mood ring. The mood ring was either on white and bright or down and brown.

“He was that volatile. He was a sweetheart of a guy, he was the hottest of hotheads. One time, we were down at the gym in Venice, and he took a ten-pound plate and just chased these guys around the gym, beating them with a ten-pound plate.

“I called him ‘Three Mile Lyle,’ because you never knew when Three Mile Lyle was going to blow. He was a nuclear plant. He really was.”

Long and Alzado were on the same defensive line for four seasons and one training camp when the latter tried to make a comeback in 1990. Clearly, there was no shortage of entertainment during that time period.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Gardner Minshew shares thoughts on offense: “We have a chance to be special,” the quarterback told JT The Brick in an interview posted on the team’s website.
• Brock Bowers projected to make All-Rookie team: “Bowers will be a matchup problem for most linebackers and safeties with his quickness, strength and strong hands, giving Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers a foil to stretch defenses vertically and horizontally,” NFL media’s Chad Reuter wrote. “While it’s not the strongest part of his game, Bowers should also earn respect for his run blocking on the outside.”
• Defense leaning on veterans to lead by example: “[Rob] Leonard, who enters his 12th year coaching in the NFL and his second season as Raiders defensive line coach,” Silver and Black Pride’s Ray Aspuria said, “is leaning on [Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins and Adam Butler] being lead-by-example types on and off the field and is wholly appreciative of the group being willing mentors and taking younger players under their respective wings.”
• Ranking AFC West tight ends: Are Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers ready to take over the division?