OAKLAND – Questions, questions and more questions arose from the ashes of the Raiders embarrassing themselves on national television Monday night.

Can Al Davis get that $11 million check back from troubled wide receiver Javon Walker, who tried to return it when he wanted to retire a week into training camp, only to be persuaded otherwise by Darth Raider himself?

What about getting some return on the $24.5 million guaranteed cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who gave Elvis "Toast" Patterson a run for his nickname after being abused by a rookie wide receiver?

Why again did Davis dole out $18.125 million guaranteed to unproven defensive tackle Tommy Kelly? And why did Davis keep defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, again?

Think second-year coach Lane Kiffin is reconsidering signing that letter of resignation Davis presented him after last season? And just how can a team survive, let alone thrive, with the coach and owner on such obviously different pages?

In true Raiders form, there are no answers. The autumn wind brings only anger, frustration and confusion. Again.

"We have good players on our team," Kiffin said. "We added a number of dynamic players, very high-priced. So we've got to put them together and play better and coach better.

"You don't get blown out. And it's (only) the players' fault."

An offseason full of questionable moves and signings came back to haunt Oakland on opening night.

How else to describe a 41-14 beatdown by the Denver Broncos that wasn't even that close? With quarterback JaMarcus Russell enjoying his first full camp, and top draft choice Darren McFadden the most complete running back the Raiders have had since Marcus Allen, the Raiders were supposed to be much improved.

Yes, it was only his second career start, but Russell looked ordinary and not like the physical specimen he is. The zip he puts on a ball is awe-inspiring, but he held onto it too long in the pocket and fumbled three times, losing the ball once, when Oakland had a chance to tie the score 7-7.

"When things got out of hand," Russell said, "you just try to keep it from getting worse."

Most of the game, the Raiders were as inept as they have been since being pummeled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII, the beginning of the decline of the Raider Nation. Since that day, the Raiders have the NFL's worst record, 19-62.

It's a small sample size, but things don't look to get better.

Not when Oakland's best receiver was ex-49er Ashley Lelie, who has been in Oakland all of a week, and Walker, the purported game breaker the Raiders cannot trust, was inactive with a mysterious hamstring injury.

Plus, Ronald Curry and his blown-out Achilles' tendons cannot separate, not when he kills a drive by dropping a catchable ball or can't outrun a linebacker on a deep route.

Meanwhile, Hall made such a star out of Eddie Royal that Kiffin considered pulling him. Ryan's defensive line applying no pressure to Jay Cutler and the Denver quarterback having time to count Broncos jerseys in the stands didn't help.

Sorry, Raider Nation, but this would be funny were it not so sad.

At least the late Gene Upshaw wasn't here to see this, and fewer fans should pay to see it in person, resulting in a sea of blackouts this season.

And there's no question about that.

Call The Bee's Paul Gutierrez, (916) 326-5556.