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ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio played four years under Dennis Green with the Minnesota Vikings from 1992 through 1995. Del Rio, a Pro Bowl linebacker under Green in 1994, issued a statement through the Raiders Friday afternoon in the wake of Green’s death that morning. Green was the NFL’s second African-American head coach of the league’s modern era, after the Raiders’ Art Shell, who was hired by Al Davis in 1989. Del Rio’s statement follows: “Dennis Green created an outstanding environment for his players and I was privileged to spend four great years under his guidance in Minnesota. He was a real trailblazer and his impact on the game continues to live through the many successful coaches that he mentored. One of his phrases, or ‘Denny-isms’ as we call them, is ‘We’re going to plan our work and work our plan.’ I still use that ‘Denny-ism’ today. Coach Green is going to be missed dearly by everyone that was lucky enough to know him.”
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