Here we go again…
After the draft, the entire Raider Nation becomes eager for the season to arrive.
Yup, even in May. I’ve been saying it for years:
Ever since the NFL network was created, doesn’t it seem like the NFL season is interesting 24/7, 365 days a damn year??
Currently, I sense most of our fans are angry. They’re still upset with Emperor Al not picking up the infamous, popular diva; Michael Crabtree instead of D-Bey. They’re still upset they don’t know who exactly Mike Mitchell is. They’re still upset we took another Tight End.
Yup, they’re upset about a lot of things…

Not like the Lord of the Sith, Master of all evil can say, preach or write something to lift their battered spirits..
but I’ll try my best.

Honestly? The best reasons Cable gave to us for picking Darrius Bey just seemed to make sense to me..

Question: Do you consider him a polished receiver?
Cable: “Actually, he was in all the top receivers – there’s really four of them that everybody has talked about; three at the top – he is the best route-runner of that group. Again, he’s the only guy that came out of a true pro-style system. Everyone else was in a spread system. So, his learning curve is much, much shorter than those other guys. Then you got that size, that speed and his ability to go get it. The thing that jumps out at you, this is the one guy at the combine who, at the 30-yard mark, actually changed gears. And there was a whole other warp speed, if you will”.

Sure, everyone knows that big Al loves blazin’ speed, but did anyone guess that he also loves guys that run great routes??

I still sense displeasure and and accused lip service. Perhaps, you’d sleep at better at night if you read that the Niner GM, Scot McCloughan ALSO admitted Crabtree must “learn to run routes on an NFL level” and that he’s “not a burner.”

Hell, that’s good enough for me…
but probably not for you..
(Sigh)
How about more insight on some of the other “busts” you’ve mentioned under your breath?? Tsssssssssss

Man, your lack of faith IS disturbing…

Mike Mitchell is a hard-hitting, versatile defender has outstanding quickness and good power, showing that he can come up and make plays inside the box. He began his career as a free safety, shifting to strong safety during the 2006 GMAC Bowl, where he would line up for his final 22 games. Few safeties in the collegiate ranks showed the acceleration and closing speed that Mitchell possesses.
That speed was put to great use as a Bobcat. He would go on to register 212 tackles (126 solos), with 90 of those hits coming in run support, including 15 that he recorded behind the line of scrimmage. He also proved to be a steady ball hawk, defending 20 passes during his career and generating 140 yards on seven interception returns.
Mitchell was a well-rounded and respected student at Highlands High School, where he was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. On the field, he lettered three times, twice earning Kentucky All-Star honors, in addition to being selected All-State honorable mention as a senior. That year, he led the Bluebirds to the state title, recording 87 tackles with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown.
Mitchell enrolled at Ohio University in 2005, seeing action in nine games at both safety positions as a true freshman. He delivered 21 tackles (16 solos) with a forced fumble and two pass deflections while playing mostly behind Todd Koenig at strong safety.
As a sophomore, he shifted to free safety at midseason, as the coaches wanted to get him and Koenig on the field at the same time. He started the team’s final eight games, but shifted to strong safety for the GMAC Bowl. He finished fifth on the team with 55 tackles (27 solos) that included five stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also picked off a pair of passes and deflected two others.
In 2007, Mitchell took over strong safety duties, starting all 11 games he played in. He missed the Louisiana-Lafayette clash due to a right shoulder contusion and played in the last four contests wearing a cast to protect a broken bone in his right hand. He still managed to rank third on the squad with 74 tackles (47 solos), adding 1.5 sacks while knocking down four passes and intercepting two others.
The injury bug hit again in 2008, as Mitchell missed most of the Buffalo game and sat out vs. Bowling Green with a knee sprain. He placed fourth on the squad with 62 tackles (36 solos), making 4.5 stops for loss while causing two fumbles. He had five pass deflections and led the team with three interceptions.

Matt Shaughnessy is the kind of player you could envision stepping out on the field in a leather helmet playing for George Halas. He’s overcome doubters to prove he can play on the defensive line as a 230-pound freshman, only to start seven games before a late-season knee injury.
As a sophomore, he made a rapid recovery from knee surgery and would start the final 33 games of his career. He continued to battle knee and foot injuries, but when he was counted out, Shaughnessy would just put on his jersey, step on the field and give his coaches more than they could ever ask for from a player.
At Norwich Free Academy, Shaughnessy earned Super Prep All-American honors and was rated one of the top 30 defensive ends in the nation according to Rivals.com. He was rated one of top 35 players in the East by Prep Football Report and named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and New Haven Register All-State teams in 2004. He also earned All-Conference and All-Area accolades in each of his three final seasons, adding three more letters in basketball and two in track.
Shaughnessy enrolled at Wisconsin as a 230-pound true freshman in 2005. He earned Freshman All-American recognition and was named All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention. In his first campaign with the Badgers, he collected 39 tackles (20 solos), 2.5 sacks and 7.5 stops for losses before his season came to an end when he suffered a torn ligament in his left knee vs. Iowa, sitting out the last two contests.
As a sophomore, Shaughnessy garnered All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors. He started all year at right defensive end, delivering 35 tackles (19 solo) and eight stops behind the line of scrimmage, including four sacks. He also caused and recovered a fumble.
Shaughnessy ranked fourth in the league and 19th nationally, as the team MVP and second-team All-Big Ten pick totaled 18 stops for loss. He was second on the team with five sacks and posted a career-high 60 tackles (41 solo) in 13 games as a junior in 2007. His tackle-for-loss total of 84 yards rank eighth on the school season-record list.
In 2008 spring camp, Shaughnessy suffered a right fibula fracture. Even though he started all year, you could see early in the season that he was still not fully recovered. The All-Big Ten honorable mention managed 40 tackles (29 solo), but did more chasing down the opposing quarterback (10 pressures) than “close the deal” on the passer (four sacks).

So now you have more insight on the new kids that WILL NOT help our team in the future..
please refrain from cheering if they make a play….
and make sure to look my way too…

I’ll be the one laughing at you…
(Yeah, the Helmet occasionally comes off..)

Cheers!
DR

John Madden no more?
Damn, I thought the legend would broadcast until we all rode on Hoverboards, played Wii Holograms and owned Star Trek Teleporters..
I guess all good things must truly come to an end..
There was no one like Madden in the history of the sport.
He was everything a fan a Football had to be and ever was:
Passionate, energetic and never afraid to get his point across. (I can only try to mimic)

He also helped make video game Football into a sport in it’s own right.
Have you ever seen a game with the history, art, gameplay and audio that Madden Football had brang to the World?
Hey, I’ve been playing Football games since Nintendo Tecmo Bowl, and I’m telling ya..
Madden was (is) simply the best! Even the professionals still play!!
(I only wish they implemented my shape in the crowd..)

As a Broadcaster, he was electric, knowledgeable and hilarious.. all at the same damn time..
“BOOM!”
“POW!”
“He sure knocked the stuffin’ outta that guy!”
Hell, that ain’t going to do it for me. Just for the sake of knowing what exactly a Booth Legend the guy was, I’ve compiled a few of John’s greatest Quotes. Enjoy!

“That wasn’t a boom! Al, that was more like a WACK!”

“Don’t worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon.”

“The road to Easy Street goes through the sewer.”

“Coaches have to watch for what they don’t want to see and listen to what they don’t want to hear.”

“The fewer rules a coach has, the fewer rules there are for players to break.”

“If you see a defense team with dirt and mud on their backs they’ve had a bad day.”

“Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.”

“With all his tumid boasts, he’s like the sword-fish, who only wears his weapon in his mouth.”

“He feels the real pressure and the pressure imagined”

“I still don’t know how that referee changed that call. He was right there - the referee has one responsibility and that’s the quarterback - he’s the guy standing right behind the quarterback. He sees that play and called it a fumble - that was his call on the field. His call - not a back judge, a side judge or an umpire - the referee made the call. Now he’s the same guy that goes and looks at it during a challenge. On the field he made the call a fumble and I didn’t see enough evidence with the pictures to change that from a fumble to an incomplete pass. I know the “tuck rule” and the arm going forward - all that stuff - but I still didn’t think there was enough visual evidence for him to change that.”
(Yeah, I thought all of you might like that one..)

“I guarantee you one thing, Jack Tatum never hit anyone from behind.”

“When you get hit like that it’s like having a bumble-bee stuck in your helmet, you just can’t get rid of it!”

“The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else.”

…and a Champion was what you truly were, John…as a Coach and a play caller.
Thanks for the memories,sir. Hopefully we’ll see you at the Coliseum in the near future.

So I sense you are all aware of the all around talents of the Crab..
and of course, the speed of the J-Mac..
But what about the Raji’s and Bey’s of the world???

Keep studying the profiles, your Football life just may depend on it, kids…
(ok, not really..)

Coaches told Darrius Heyward-Bey after spring practice of his redshirt-freshman season that he might want to consider doing something else with his time at Maryland. A track star with nice size who played high school football to make friends, Heyward-Bey has certainly improved since that meeting, but is by no means a polished receiver.
He had the worst production of his career in 2008 after averaging 49 catches for 740 yards and four scores his first two seasons, but was still honorable mention All-ACC after leading the Terps in receiving (42-609-5). It was not all his doing, however, as Maryland’s entire offense was very inconsistent and defenses were wise to simply double the Terps’ big-play threat.
For all of the hype surrounding this year’s other playmakers, no other receiver in the 2009 draft can match Heyward-Bey’s combination of size and speed. Whether that combination will ever translate into his becoming Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker, however, is the significant boom or bust gamble teams will be forced to make on draft day. Had an arm span of 33 5/8 inches and a hand span of 9 inches at the combine.

Built like a Coke machine and almost as difficult to move, BJ Raji’s dominant strength inside makes him the elite run-stuffer of the 2009 draft. An immediate standout for the Eagles, Raji worked his way into the rotation as a true freshman and started 38 of his final 40 games. A second-team All-ACC selection in 2006, Raji was expected to be the dominant cog in the BC defensive line in ‘07, but didn’t fulfill his academic obligations and missed the Eagles’ magical season. The increased expectations that came with his return to the field in 2008 didn’t slow Raji at all. In fact, despite constant double-team attention, Raji emerged as arguably the most dominant defensive lineman in the country, registering 42 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks. An even more dominant performance throughout the week of practice at the Senior Bowl made Raji a top-10 player on some boards.

In conclusion, I believe if we don’t get the guy Al wants and desires, at least there are other talented college players to grab. Whether or not our 2009 1st round draft pick is selected to a future Pro Bowl?
Now, that’s another story..

May the force be with us!!!

Peace and have a great week!
-Darth Raider

Greetings to the greatness of the Oakland Raider fanatics!!!!!! What’s good, peeps??!?!
Jeff Garcia as an Oakland Raider?
Impressive..most impressive..
His skills will only truly be utilized if something physically ever happens to JaM Russell..(gulp!)
or perhaps if he just stinks it up on the field again. (double gulp!)
Sure, I don’t want it to happen either, but realistically? A young team like ours needs a Veteran with the kind of leadership (and insurance) that the Gilroy product brings.

Here’s a few things from his bio you might not know
(..and knowing is half the battle: GI JOE! Lord, I’m old…)

Jeffrey Jason Garcia (born February 24, 1970) is an American football quarterback who is currently looking for work. Garcia’s professional career began in the CFL before signing with the San Francisco 49ers and starting for them at quarterback for five seasons (1999-2003). After disappointing seasons in Cleveland and Detroit, Garcia resurrected his career in Philadelphia and went on to play solidly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Garcia is of Irish and Mexican descent.
(So for all of you fellow Latinos that thought we’d only win again with ANOTHER Mexican QB..
Al’s finally granting your wish! )

Garcia is one of only seven quarterbacks in NFL history that have achieved two consecutive (back-to-back) 30-touchdown passing seasons (2000 and 2001) at least one time in their career. The others are Steve Bartkowski, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, and Y.A. Tittle. He is also one of only eleven quarterbacks to throw a 99 yard touchdown pass.
Good to know…
After his run with the Eagles, Garcia signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 3, 2007, to compete for their starting position. Although his more familiar number 5 was available, Garcia decided to keep the number 7 he wore with the Eagles. In an ironic twist, Bruce Gradkowski, who was wearing number 7 with the Buccaneers, agreed to change his number to 5 in order to let Garcia wear number 7.
At the start of the 2007 regular season, Garcia was the Bucs’ starting quarterback and had the third highest quarterback rating in the National Football League. He also brought the Bucs to the playoffs. The Buccaneers lost to the eventual Super Bowl winning Giants 24-14 in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs on January 6, 2008 with Garcia throwing for 207 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. On January 24, 2008 it was announced that Garcia would be replacing Brett Favre in the Pro Bowl, making it his first Pro Bowl since 2002. Garcia suggested in 2008 that he might stage a holdout of the Buccaneers if they didn’t meet his contract extension demands. He was in the final year of the two-year contract. He was expected to make $2.75 million that season, including a $750,000 roster bonus.
Jeff Garcia stayed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and started in the 2008 opening game against the New Orleans Saints. After a poor performance, he was demoted to third string on the depth chart and placed on the inactive roster. However, following an injury to quarterback Brian Griese in fourth week of the season, Jeff Garcia started in his place. During a victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Garcia surpassed 40,000 yards for his career when combining his statistics from both the CFL/NFL; becoming the 20th player to accomplish the feat.
On February 16, 2009, the Buccaneers told Garcia they do not want him to return in 2009. He is currently a free agent and has no plans to retire. ESPN reported on April 4, 2009, that Garcia was negotiating with the Oakland Raiders.

Garcia is the third of seven children born to Bob and Linda (née Elder) Garcia. A pair of twin girls died before his birth. His younger brother Jason drowned on a family camping trip in 1977 when Garcia was seven, and fourteen months later his younger sister Kimberly died after falling out of a truck. His two surviving sisters, Jene and Melissa, were born after the deaths of Jason and Kimberly. Garcia has said that much of his drive stems from trying to make his parents happy after the deaths of his siblings. His maternal grandfather, “Red” Elder, was a football star at Kansas State in the 1940s; both played in the East-West Shrine Game while in college, the only grandfather/grandson duo to do so. Elder was a longtime coach at Gilroy (CA) High School. Garcia donated money to refurbish the athletic field at the school, and the field was renamed Garcia-Elder Field to honor both of them.
Garcia married Carmella DeCesare, the 2004 Playboy Playmate of the Year, on April 21, 2007 in San Martin, California. They have a daughter named Presley who was born on April 28, 2008. The couple is currently expecting their second child.

Anyone remember TO’s jabber when he was asked if he thought Jeff was gay back in the day?
“Like my boy tells me: If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat.”
Lord, what an imbecile that punk b#$% was..
excuse me, is.
l now ask all non believers to please Google Carmella DeCesare…
Lord, have mercy.

Currently, there’s no new news on recent Mock Drafts. Almost every selection has us picking up Maclin (for his speed) or Crabtree (for his overall ability).
Does anyone think these choices will possibly change if the Raiders throw Plaxico Buress in the mix?
Yeah, I know most of you think this might be a bad pickup…
but the Lord of the Sith, Master of all evil can’t help but wonder though..
just how bad was that shot to the thigh?

Then again, he stupidly shot himself..ugh.
Do we really need another NFL player bringing his tech 9 to our beautiful bay area clubs and possible charity events?

Fine, I’ll stop amusing myself.

I encourage ALL fans to now look at our throwback uniforms/logos we will probably be rockin’ on our opening Monday night Football game.
I honestly am a HUGE fan of the old school stuff from the Otto 60’s era..
(notice Jay Cutler’s number is also displayed from the Donkeys..HA!)

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80f6bdd4&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Let the good times roll, Raider Renegades.. PEACE!
-DR

Greetings elegant Raider Empire! Happy daylight savings Saturday!

So Terrell is gone to the Buffalo Bills!?!?! Honestly? You can’t say I wasn’t curious about the guy joining us. Hell, I’m sure Emperor Al even twitched a little!
Surprisingly, most of the Nation didn’t even want to THINK about putting up with his ongoing banter, lack of commitment and idiotic antics.
Perhaps what they all realized (like I eventually did) is that the team chemistry would suffer SEVERELY if the “other” #81 wore the silver and black.

If you’re still not sure on how it would play out, imagine:
“Yo J-Russ, who can make a play? I can! I love me some me, so why don’t you love me even mo’ and throw me the damn ball, son?? I’m Tee Ohhhh, foo! Damn!!”

That conversation is followed by a pick in double coverage.

T.O. is B.O.(like the rest of the Bills) now so why don’t we concentrate on the rest of the potential Wide Receiver free agents and draft picks we can STILL possibly grab.
(Uh, that’s not if Nnamdi and Shane didn’t hog all of Al’s pennies…)

Marvin Harrison anyone?
Right, I’m sensing injury problems even before he reaches the Al interview.
His leadership and route running may be what our offense needs, but with Javon Walker and Drew Carter also to worry about, I’m betting against the former Colt.

Raven, Mark Clayton
He had 695 yards with 3 TD catches last year, but is still on the small side (5′10) and might be hard to break away from NFL Corners. He’s still fast and still capable of acrobatics, but after a so so average year, we might be better by passing on the kid.

I know he’s not completely free but…..
7 time Pro Bowl wide receiver Torry Holt has recently asked the St. Louis Rams for his release, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, citing league sources.
Holt, who has one year left on his current contract, is due a roster bonus of $1.25 million on March 17, making it unlikely he’ll remain on the roster beyond that date. The Rams could trade him between now and then. But a number of other free-agent wide receivers have already signed deals, limiting the remaining market.
Trading or releasing Holt would save the Rams $8 million on the salary cap this season, according to the report.
Holt, 32, is currently 11th in NFL history in career receptions, with 869, and 14th all time in career receiving yards with 12,660. His 817 receptions for 11,872 yards are the most of any receiver this decade, and his 80.1 average yards per game is the most for any receiver in league history.
But 2008 was a down year in every way for Holt, who saw his string of eight 1,000-yard seasons snapped as the Rams struggled to a 2-14 record and fired coach Scott Linehan after four games. He caught 64 passes for 796 yards and a career-low three touchdowns in 2008.

Hell, we’re not getting any of these players, are we? I mean I might as well put Ocho Cinco on the list too, eh? ecck…
Alright, I’ve stopped day dreaming.

Maybe it’s more realistic to list info on the elite of the 2009 WR Draft pool?
How about some Crab?
It is no surprise that a Texas Tech receiver puts up big numbers in their high flying passing offense, but what Michael Crabtree did last year as a freshman was simply amazing. Crabtree caught 134 passes for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns. Through four games in 2008, he has tallied 457 receiving yards and six touchdowns. For most wideouts those would be pretty good numbers for an entire season.
What makes Crabtree so special is that he is not just a product of the system. He will use his 6-1, 214 pound frame and be a physical receiver when he needs to do so, but he also has the speed to blow right past the defenders. There are not many receivers who have his size and speed, and that is not just counting the college ranks. Crabtree even has great hands and rarely drops a pass. There is nothing he cannot do.
On February 21, 2009, it was reported that Michael Crabtree sustained a Jones fracture in his left foot, which would require surgery to insert a screw in his foot and would leave him unable to perform for the next six to ten weeks including the NFL combine and the Texas Tech Pro Day. Doctors found that the injury happened recently, and possibly during his training for the Combine. However, Crabtree stated that the stress fracture has been there for a year and does not cause him pain. On March 1, Crabtree stated he will have surgery and forgo the workout at Texas Tech’s pro day on March 26.

Jeremy Maclin, Missouri…
only has one full year under his belt, but it was a great year. The 6′0 wide receiver garnered 2,776 all-purpose yards — an NCAA FBS record for a freshman and fifth-most all-time by any player. Most of those yards came from his 80 receptions in which he tallied 1,055 yards and nine touchdowns. But, of course, Maclin is about a lot more than simply receptions. He rushed for another 375 yards and four touchdowns and was one of the most dangerous returners in the game. He averaged 24.2 yards per kick-off return and reached the end zone one time that way. He also returned 25 punts for 307 yards and two touchdowns.

Well, there it is, kids…I’m sure more suggestions are on the way.

More to come in the following days as the Draft is just a weeks away!!!!

Keep it plateado and negro…

-DR

Mr. Davis sure knows how to put on a good show, eh?
Whatup Nation, it’s time for more comments, chatter and jabber from the Hall of Famer- Dark Lord of Sith! (aka Darth Raider)
I actually hope this reaches all of your eyes this week. It appears Insidebayarea.com might be dropping me from their Bloggers list in the near future. If the ax does indeed fall, I want to tell you all now I had a hell of a time commenting on the weekly state of the Oakland Raiders. It has been an honor, my fans and friends.

So the question of the week still lingers on ALL of our curious minds…
is re-hiring Coach Tom Cable a blessing or a curse?
At the present time, of course it’s a blessing!
The main problem I have seen from the Raiders in the past few years is that the players never get a chance to get familiar with their current system!
Another year with a different Coach would mean more new philosophy’s/new techniques implemented that would take another year for others to get used to.. and I’m not sure that would sit well with the Players..yet again!

I’m more concerned about the Offensive play callers.
Sure, Cable did well in a few games, but is it truly enough?
The Sith in me says f%^& no. The fact of the matter is the guy only posted a 4-8 record. Sure, he didn’t call plays until later in the season, but I honestly needed more big plays made/more 1st downs completed from last year to be fully confident for the up and coming 2009 season.
The lighter and brighter side of me says to shut the hell up. He’s proven enough and deserves the job that Al has given him. He even put Chucky out of a job! Plus, he now has new help from Football lifer, Ted Tollner, the new Passing game Coodinator. Ted had a couple of good seasons with the Niners years back and has been waiting for a better oppurtunity to prove his worth. I hope both men takes advantage of their current promotion.
I’m not sure I can take..
another…
long..
year.
How about on the other side of the ball, Nation? I think Al did the right thing in hiring our new Defensive Coordinator. Check out the bio…
John Marshall, who most recently served in the same capacity with the Seattle Seahawks, enters his 30th season as an NFL assistant coach.
Since beginning his coaching career in 1967, Marshall has helped coach two Super Bowl champions and one national champion at the collegiate level. Since entering the NFL ranks in 1980, Marshall has assumed the defensive coordinator role five times, in Atlanta (1983-85), San Francisco (1997-98), Carolina (1999-01), Seattle (2006-08), and now with the Raiders.
Marshall began his tenure with the Seahawks as linebackers coach from 2003-05 before moving to defensive coordinator. He helped tutor a defense that ranked second in the NFL in sacks from 2005-07 with 136. In 2007, Marshall’s defense led the NFL in touchdown passes allowed (15) and ranked fourth in the NFL with 20 interceptions. His defensive unit boasted four Pro Bowlers and two AP First Team All-Pros. Two players earned Pro Bowl selections under Marshall’s tutelage in 2006, and one player earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2005.
Marshall was elevated to the defensive coordinator position prior to the 2005 season. His defense led the NFL with 50 sacks, allowed only one 100-yard rusher, finished second in the NFL in red zone defense (40.4%) and rushing touchdowns allowed (5) en route to a berth in Super Bowl XL.

So it appears the Raiders might not want let go of the Franchise tag on our best player. Hell, can you truly blame them?
“Everyone knows I’ll probably get the franchise tag again” Nnamdi Asomugha said. “Everyone knows my situation and wonders if I’m ever not going to be franchised..
Every day, me and Shane (Lechler) talk about it. We are wondering what is going to happen. It is probably going to be me, but you never know. We are both very interested.”

Right #21, you’re not the only ones..

Nam also recently told the media that many AFC players ask him what it’s like to play for the Raiders.
He simply laughed and tried to put a good spin on it.
“I think the perception out there around the league is that it is a little worse than it actually is,” Asomugha said. I’ve never really thought it is that dysfunctional there.”

Hey,as long as the L’s remain to add up?? The media will continue to add more fuel to the fire. Just win baby, indeed..

So, everyone ready for the joint Niner/Raider stadium?
Yeah, I thought not.
I don’t care if both sides agree upon listening to more ideas on what the NFL has to offer.
The fact remains that the the money can be better spent on our bay area communities, jobs and education…especially during the recession and our current economic crisis..
RIGHT??
RIGHT!!!
Plus, we need more Football historical sites/ Landmarks such as Green Bay.
There’s just something special knowing you’re standing near the same field where Madden used to Coach and where Stabler, Brown, Upshaw, etc. used to play….
keep my 2nd home in the big O, sirs..for life!!!!…my 2 cents.

Darth Raider reporting, Inside the Bay bay

Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.
All to easy..

Apologies Fans, it’s not like the notorious Darth Raider has a free press pass.
I’m sitting back just like the rest of you, waiting for qualified coaches to interview and hopefully join my favorite team for the 2009 season.
The force tells me the Head Coaching job still remains a toss up between interim coach Tom Cable and Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.
Who will win?
Out of those two possible candidates, the majority of you wouldn’t mind to see the Cable guy back. His zone blocking philosophy has brought the running game back to Oakland. Sure, the 2008 stats will tell you we actually slipped in rushing this past year…but I truly believe if D-Mac was healthy; we could of at LEAST been in the top 5 in the NFL.

A local paper also recently suggested another possible candidate for the Oakland Raiders, perhaps you’ve heard of him?…
Jon Gruden.
The newspaper poll suggested that over 75% of the fans would rather have “Chucky” back rather then Cable who was only 4-8 with the club.
Lord, I can’t say I blame them all that much. Gruden resuscitated the moribund Raiders. After uniting with journeyman quarterback Rich Gannon, a mobile and cerebral veteran, the Raiders catapulted into the top of the AFC and made the playoffs three straight seasons.
He brang intensity, intelligence, honesty and toughness to our sqaud and I’m sure the Nation still loves the guy for resurrecting the Raiders. Hell, I still have his autograph.
It’s just too bad he had to leave and eventually kick our ass in the Bowl.
I’ll always believe that he was the only one in the World who could of stopped us that year. He had waaay too much insight on our team, don’t ya think??

It’s also too damn bad Al Davis probably would never even consider bringing him back, despite how he changed the culture aound here.
I’d like to believe Al always thinks of moving his team forwards, instead of backwards..
but didn’t he bring Art Shell back?
Ugh..
Right, we can spend 10 more blogs on fan opinions of the owner…
or we can give more insight on the coaching cadidate you don’t hear enough about.

Since 1990, Gilbride has served as an assistant with a number of NFL franchises, working as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Those franchises include the Houston Oilers (1990-1994), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-1996), Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-2000), Buffalo Bills (2002-2003), and currently is the offensive coordinator with the New York Giants. From 1985 to 1986 he served as an assistant with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.
In over three decades as a coach, Gilbride’s most memorable image may be a 1994 sideline incident while he was offensive coordinator for the Houston Oilers, which resulted in defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan throwing a punch at Gilbride during a nationally televised game. Another memorable event occurred during the 1992-93 NFL season when Gilbride was hospitalized with a rare form of kidney cancer and injured quarterback Warren Moon stepped in as acting offensive coordinator.
Sheesh, I hope the guys still in good health.
During his time with the Oilers, Gilbride ran a variation of the Run & Shoot offense. The team finished in the top 5 in scoring each year with Gilbride as offensive coordinator.
Gilbride had previously worked on a Tom Coughlin staff before, serving as the first offensive coordinator in team history for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and 1996.
The Oakland Raiders recently received permission to interview Gilbride for their vacant head coach position.

In other news, 2009 NFL Mock Draft “experts” suggest we will take Michael Oher out of Ole Miss to fill in at Right Tackle.

Good Gravy, do we still need receivers….
Can all NFL Owners/GM’s/Coaches just stop paying attention to Mike Crabtree for a wee bit?
“This is not the droid you’re looking for..”

Have a great week, Nation,
-DR

Unbelievable..there is truly no other word to describe what you and I saw today!!!!

Behold World, the best Raider game of the year has been played!!!

Sure, I know I said the same damn thing last week, but that was before I witnessed THIS progressive week!!!

It’s only fitting that we end their year after they ended ours…
oh, so many years ago..

Warrick Dunn stared straight ahead, searching for words to explain how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let a promising season slip away with a December swoon that left them out of the playoffs.
“There’s disbelief. There’s shock. There’s emotions, I’m sure, that I can’t really describe,” the veteran running back said Sunday after the team’s fourth consecutive loss, 31-24 to the Oakland Raiders, completed the biggest collapse in franchise history.
“To be 9-3, and you lose four in a row when all you have to do is win one and you’re in, it’s tough to swallow. The guys in this locker room have prepared hard, played hard. Things haven’t gone our way.”
Michael Bush rushed for a career-high 177 yards and scored on a 67-yard fourth-quarter jaunt, helping the Raiders (5-11) overcome a 10-point deficit and make their final case for interim coach Tom Cable retaining his job.
Tampa Bay (9-7) was tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December but was outscored 62-19 in the fourth quarter and overtime of losses to Carolina, Atlanta, San Diego and Oakland down the stretch.
“It’s very disappointing. … I’m sick for our players, and our fans, more than anything,” Bucs coach Jon Gruden said.

Paybacks surely a bitch, Chucky.

Losses to the Panthers and Falcons ended realistic hopes of repeating as division champions. More puzzling, though, were setbacks the last two weeks at home — where the Bucs were 6-0 before this month — against teams with losing records.
“I know we let down a lot of people … and we apologize for that,” quarterback Jeff Garcia said. “We, as a team, are better than what we have put on the field in the last four weeks.”
It’s certainly not the way Tampa Bay’s normally reliable defense wanted to go out under longtime defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who’s leaving to join his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee.

I believe we all know by now why that little, lame pecker constantly cried to the Bay area media that our present (but not future) Defensive Coordinator, Rob Ryan wasn’t good enough for our team.
It wasn’t because of the fact that Ryan actually doesn’t do a better job in some areas,
it’s because he wanted his hand to be held by Daddy again!!!
Wah! I want my Daddy near!!!!
The Lord of the Sith really hoped you were in Tampa today, “Lance”..

“It’s all I can do. It’s the best I can do,” Cable said. “I want to be the head coach of the Raiders, but it’s not in my hands. But I certainly know I put this team together and got it going in the right direction, and today proved that.”
The Raiders were mum about Davis, but it was believed to be just the second time he has not attended a game since becoming a part of the organization in 1963.

Davis missed what Cable described as the team’s “best effort from top to bottom.”
“We went after the game that whole way,” Cable said. “Our goal was to match the intensity of a team trying to get into the playoffs.”

I think Cable has earned AT LEAST logical consideration for being our next Oakland Raider Coach in 2009.
Parcells? Cowher? Gruden? Those picks seem to be the sexy ones, but not the most realistic, Mr Fantasy.

Russell threw for 148 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders, who looked as though they were out of the game after being outgained 168-21 in the third quarter. Tampa Bay went up 24-14 with a field goal and touchdown in the first four minutes of the fourth period.
But Oakland’s young quarterback rebounded from throwing an interception that Sabby Piscitelli returned 84 yards to the Raiders’ 11 to set up Carnell “Cadillac” Williams’ 8-yard TD run.
A 43-yard pass interference penalty led to a 12-yard TD pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins that trimmed Oakland’s deficit to 24-21, and that was just the beginning of the end for the frustrated Buccaneers.
Williams, who missed the first 10 games of the season because of a career-threatening injury to his right knee from September 2007, hurt his left knee at the end of a 28-yard gain in front of the Bucs bench.
That drive stalled on downs at the Oakland 33, and Bush took over from there. He slipped through the grasp of would-be tacklers Kevin Carter and Jovan Haye on his 67-yard TD burst and carried repeatedly on the Raiders’ next possession to burn the clock and set up Sebastian Janikowski’s 25-yard field goal that made it 31-24 with 1:09 to go.
Bush, playing a bigger role because Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden were hobbled by injuries, carried 14 times for 48 yards in the first three quarters. He gained 129 on 13 attempts in the fourth quarter.
“I knew it was all on me,” Bush said. “I’m hoping that I made a statement.”
The Bucs gave up 564 yards rushing and allowed Carolina, Atlanta and San Diego to convert 21 of 37 third downs the previous three weeks. Oakland finished with 192 yards rushing and converted 6 of 13 third downs.

Russell was also 14-of-21 and was intercepted once. He threw a 3-yard TD pass to Chaz Schilens in the second quarter that was right on the money. He threw the ball just before he was about to be sacked.

Mario Henderson looks like he has earned a spot at Left Tackle for the 2009 season. Kwame Harris? Start packing…or empty your pockets..

Kirk Morrison had 8 tackles with 5 assists..never did I ever think there was a better middle LB for our team. Right tackle, WR and Safety are the positions we should be looking into in the offseason…
PLEASE don’t disagree!!!
It is useless to resist, my sons..

I guess it’s still a good idea to keep 3 capable backs.
Fargas left the game with a knee strain and McFadden didn’t finish because of an ankle sprain. I also think we received a little break since Bucs LB Derrick Brooks left with a hamstring injury that prevented him from chasing Bush on his long TD sprint and other important runs in the 4th Quarter .
Heh, no crying over spilt f#ing milk!!! That’s a wrap, Raider Nation!!!! Enjoy being the Star Spoilers!!!!!

Enjoy the Playoffs!!! WITHOUT Moss or T.O…. Yahoooo!!!!
Cheers and have a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-DR

That was a hell of a way to finish at Home, Brothers!!!
Good Lord, was that MY team I just saw??!?!
I sure hope this wasn’t another damn dream again..

Negatory, my feet are still cold/wet and my voice is still raspy from shouting multiple chants of “First f#!%ing down!”. Jeezus, a Metallica concert and a Raider win over the weekend is never good for an old man’s voice..
I swear I’m going to be sounding like Clint Eastwood tomorrow…..
CoOL!!!!!

Man, was the kid on today, or what?
JaMarcus Russell threaded passes to Johnnie Lee Higgins, Chaz Schilens and Zach Miller. Higgins showed off his game-breaking ability on another punt return and Darren McFadden got involved in the offense early.
As another disappointing season nears its conclusion, some of the younger Oakland Raiders tried to show there could be reason for optimism in the future.
Higgins caught one of Russell’s two touchdown passes and returned a punt 80 yards for another score, leading the Raiders to a 27-16 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
“You saw a lot of our young players show up and had an impact,” interim coach Tom Cable said. “As I’ve said for a while, that’s the future of our organization and that’s the direction we’re headed. It was a complete victory.”

The Raiders gained a season-high 362 yards, with 252 coming from players in their first or second year in the NFL.
How cool is that fact for the younger generation, people?

It’s the first time since the 2002 Super Bowl season the Raiders won their final home game.

The Texans (7-8) had won four straight for the first time in team history and were hoping for their first winning season. But Houston could generate little against the Raiders and were unable to follow up on last week’s win over Tennessee.

By beating the Texans for the first time in four tries, the Raiders are assured of not tying Tampa Bay for the most losses in any six-year period.
Oakland is 23-72 since the beginning of the 2003 season.
My oh my.. how time flies like the evil birds over the Coliseum…
it’s good to have minor amnesia at times.
“I know what we’re doing right now, but in the years to come how good can we be?” asked Russell. “I think out there those guys are showing it.”

This was one of the Raiders’ best performances of the year. They scored touchdowns on the opening possessions of each half for the first time in more than seven years, got two touchdown passes from Russell, recovered an onside kick and scored on Higgins’ punt return.
Russell finished 18-for-25 for 236 yards and no interceptions in one of the best performances of his young career. Zack Miller added four more catches for 70 yards and McFadden gained 87 yards from scrimmage..
The Run DMC fans finally got their wish in seeing the rookie D Mac getting more snaps.
Russell capped the opening drive with a 20-yard pass to Schilens, just the second TD on an opening drive for Oakland in the past 56 games.
Russell then connected with Higgins on a 29-yard score on Oakland’s first drive of the third quarter to make it 20-13. Higgins celebrated that touchdown with one of his end-zone dances and got a chance to do another after Oakland stopped Houston on the succeeding drive. Higgins fielded a punt at the 20 and ran right through the Texans for his third punt return TD this season, one shy of the NFL record.
“I feel like I’m explosive,” said Higgins, who has five touchdowns this season longer than 50 yards. “You never know what can happen. You know, it looks like he’s tackled, it looks like he’s down. Oh, he’s gone. It looks like he can’t catch it, like he can’t do this. … There he goes. So I look at myself, I always look at myself as a playmaker.”

The Texans got a field goal from Kris Brown early in the fourth quarter and had a chance to get even closer following a fumble by Russell at the 14. But with Houston needing 1 yard for a first down, Matt Schaub threw incompletions on third and fourth down to end the comeback bid.

Why in the hell would you even call a pass f#%^ing play on 4th and 1????

Raiders Pro Bowl CB Nnamdi Asomugha left the game in the fourth quarter with a sore neck. I’m sure he’ll be ok by the time he gets to compete against our former Coach “Chucky” Gruden next week. Now, THAT would be great way to end the season…getting back at little Jonny again for leaving us for more money.

Hell, why think of tomorrow when today feels so f$^&ing good. Have a great Holiday, Nation..enjoy your early Xmas present.

You all deserve the best in life.

To Progression and Excellence,

-DR

“Well, that wasn’t so damn bad, was it?”
Chuck Tell me.
“Go F#*%^ yourself..”
Darth Raider tells me.
Darth Raider also told me we might have a shot at beating this horrible team before the regular season even began.
Yes, my alter ego can be quite delusional at times..
but you can’t really blame him for being optimistic in any situation…even in the cold rain.

Lord, it is difficult being me (and him) at times.

I’m betting Jam feels the same way….
“It’s tough to tell the guys to keep fighting, just to keep pushing, that things are going to turn around,” said JaMarcus Russell, who threw two TD passes for Oakland. “Everybody looks at each other like, ‘When?’ It’s really depressing.”
The fans had plenty to boo about, from the ineptness of the home team to every touch by Moss or Jordan, who never fulfilled expectations during their time in Oakland.
Moss arrived with much fanfare after his trade from Minnesota in 2005, getting a police escort on his way to the introductory news conference. Yet he quickly soured in the toxic environment with the Raiders, forcing a trade to New England before last season.
Moss revived his career immediately, setting a record with 23 touchdown catches last season to go with 10 this season.
Moss capped New England’s second drive of the game by beating Rashad Baker to the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard catch before preening for the crowd.
There was a lot of focus in Randy this week,” teammate Wes Welker said. “I think he really wanted to win this game and show what kind of a player he is.”

The only player I ever saw while he was here was a lazy f!#$k who never had any consideration for his teammates.
Former team players usually say hi to each other under the tunnel right before a game.
“What up, Randy? How ya been?” Justin Fargas asked his former teammate this afternoon.
“F*ck You..” Moss replied back.
If that doesn’t give you any indication what kind of player Randy Moss is..I’m not sure what else to tell you.

The Patriots started fast, becoming the first team this season to score touchdowns on its first four offensive possessions. Cassel threw TD passes to Kevin Faulk, Moss and Welker, with Morris also scoring on a 29-yard run.
Ellis Hobbs returned a kick 95 yards for another score, giving New England five touchdowns in the first 17:14 of the game.
“We had some issues with communication there in the first half, getting everything matched up,” Raiders coach Tom Cable said. “We’re not on the same page in terms of communication and that’s something we’ve got to fix.”
The Raiders trailed 21-0 before recording their initial first down. After Justin Fargas’s 1-yard run on third-and-1 was greeted with mock applause, the Raiders generated some real cheers on the next play when Johnnie Lee Higgins caught a 56-yard TD pass for Oakland’s second offensive touchdown in the first half all season.
The Raiders got another score when Justin Miller returned a kick 91 yards following Welker’s touchdown, but that celebration was short-lived when Hobbs answered with his return. That was the third touchdown in a 28-second span.

Commissioner Roger Goodell attended the game. … I’m just hoping he didn’t observe too many fights today. The one I saw about an hour before the game was brutal. Call me sick and twisted, but it’s sure fun as hell watching girls brawl at times..
New England’s 277 yards rushing were its most since getting 281 against Cincinnati in 1985. … The only time the Raiders allowed more points at home came in a 55-21 loss to San Diego in 1981.
Somehow, I still don’t thing those dark years were as bad as THESE dark years…
Pass the Whiskey, Nation..
-DR

The bad news was the obvious…
The bright side? The Chargers have no Super Bowl wins and are still not making the playoffs while we still get a higher draft pick…
end of story!!!!

Lord, is this one another painful game to remember…
so I won’t.

Ok, just for the sake of this damn blog which I occasionally hate to write…
Tomlinson scored on a 3-yard run against his favorite opponent and Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes, including a 59-yarder to Vincent Jackson, to give the Chargers a 34-7 victory against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night.
The Chargers beat the Silver and Black for the 11th straight time in a series dating to the birth of the AFL in 1960.
The Chargers (5-8) snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in seven games. Once considered favorites to reach the Super Bowl, they’re still in deep trouble, trailing Denver by 2½ games in the AFC West. The Broncos have four to play.

“It was desperately needed but it was one win for us,” Tomlinson said. “We don’t want to make it more than what it is.”

Good philosophy, LT. I also know what it’s like to drink too much of your own team’s spiked Kool-aid…

Last Sunday, Tomlinson was held to 24 yards, the second-lowest total of his brilliant eight-year career, in a listless 22-16 home loss to Atlanta.
“After the showing last week, I think we wanted to prove to everyone that that wasn’t us,” said Tomlinson, who’s having the worst season of his career. “It’s good that it was a short week. We got to show people who we are as a group.”
San Diego’s Darren Sproles caught two TD passes. His 87-yard touchdown on a punt return in the fourth quarter was called back after rookie Antoine Cason was called for an illegal block in the back.

Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell was intercepted twice by linebacker Stephen Cooper and also lost a fumble, leading to 17 points for the Chargers. Russell sprained his right ankle after his second pickoff and didn’t return. X-rays were negative, and Russell left the locker room on crutches.

Andrew Walter replaced Russell at the start of the third quarter. Walter was intercepted by Matt Wilhelm late in the fourth quarter.

The Raiders (3-10) reached double-digit losses for the sixth straight year. They are 22-71 since being routed by Tampa Bay and former Raiders coach Jon Gruden in the Super Bowl in San Diego on Jan. 26, 2003.
“It’s clear that we’re not close,” cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. “We don’t play good football, we don’t play sound football. We’ve been undisciplined. You just wonder how many people care and how many people are upset.”

Nnamdi, I can honestly say, you and only a handful of players are the only ones who care about this team. Please never leave. We’ll need you when this team finally turns itself around.
I know more of you think that will happen more later then sooner..
but call me a delusional optimist…I don’t really care.

Tomlinson’s TD midway through the first quarter was his 137th, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the career list. He had been tied with Marshall Faulk, who was at the game working for the NFL Network.
LT had 91 yards on 25 carries. He has 1,906 career rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns, 19 on the ground, in 16 games against the Raiders. They are his most yards and touchdowns against any opponent.
“I think there are always certain teams that you enjoy playing and you seem to match up well against and seem to have a great game against,” Tomlinson said. “I can’t explain it.”

Three plays into Oakland’s first possession, Russell fumbled as he was being sacked by outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, and inside linebacker Jyles Tucker recovered at the 12-yard line. Tomlinson carried three straight times, scoring untouched off left tackle for a 10-0 lead.

Rivers threw an 8-yard TD pass to Sproles early in the second quarter, capping a 15-play, 96-yard drive that took 8 minutes, 29 seconds. Tomlinson and Sproles carried five times each and Rivers had three carries on the drive.

San Diego got the ball back on Cooper’s first pickoff. Jackson got behind two defenders and hauled in Rivers’ scoring pass down the right sideline to make it 24-0.

Russell was hit by Phillips while passing late in the second quarter and the ball went straight to Cooper, who lateraled to Antonio Cromartie for a 14-yard gain. Russell was hurt on that play.

San Diego’s Nate Kaeding kicked field goals of 20 and 39 yards.

After Kaeding’s second field goal, Oakland’s Justin Miller returned the kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.
Thank you, Justin. 7 is better then a Bagel any day.

Rivers was 10-of-22 for 214 yards. Jackson had five catches for a career-high 148 yards.

“I’m sick of losing, especially like that,” Raiders tight end Zach Miller said. “We never really got going on offense and when we did, penalties and interceptions and fumbles killed us. As an offense we were inept again.”

No sh%$?

The Raiders gained 163 yards, 59 of them in the second half. … Raiders T Cornell Green left with a knee injury. …

Kwame Harris? I think I’ve said enough about you this entire year. I think you and our slow receivers are the main reason our Raiders lose the way you do.

Anyone have any liquor??
Coincidentally, It’s Miller time, Mutha F#*%ers!!!

Have a good weekend without Football (THANKTHELORD!),

-DR