Former Raiders extensive receiver Cliff Department useless at age 71

Cliff Department, one of many Raiders’ career-leading extensive receivers who gained three Tremendous Bowls in 14 seasons with the franchise, has died. He was 71.

Department was discovered useless Saturday in a resort room in Bullhead Metropolis, Arizona, the town’s police division stated. It stated an preliminary investigation revealed no foul play and that Department died of pure causes.

“Cliff Department touched the lives of generations of Raiders followers,” the Raiders stated in a press release on their web site. “His loss leaves an everlasting void for the Raiders Household, however his kindness and loving nature will likely be fondly remembered perpetually.”

One of many recreation’s high deep threats from 1972 to 1985 in Oakland and Los Angeles, Department was an All-Professional three straight seasons (1974-76) and made 4 Professional Bowls. He scored 67 touchdowns via the air, main the NFL in TD receptions in 1974 with 13 and in 1076 with 12. Department additionally had a league-high 1,092 yards receiving in 1974.

He was a power within the postseason, with 1,289 yards receiving. The Raiders gained Tremendous Bowls after the 1976, 1980 and 1983 seasons — the final one in Los Angeles, the place the franchise moved in 1982 after protracted courtroom fights earlier than returning to the Bay Space in 1995.

In 1983, Department tied the NFL report with a 99-yard landing catch in a regular-season recreation. He stands third amongst Raiders cross catchers in yards receiving with 8,685, trailing Tim Brown and Fred Biletnikoff — each Corridor of Famers.

Department was a semifinalist for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2004 and 2010.

“All my friends that I performed towards and which are within the Corridor of Fame, they inform me that I should be within the Corridor of Fame,” Department informed the Raiders’ web site in a current interview. “It is the crowning glory, identical to getting a Tremendous Bowl ring.”

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