Times like these I’m glad I’m into other sports..(how dare you not pay attention to the NBA playoffs..)

Behold, it’s day 1 billion of the off season and the draft has ended, now what???
The Nation falls back into slumber, works out during the Summer, takes a vacation and goes back into hibernation until once again the time calls for cheering on the Silver and Black at the beautiful Oakland Coliseum..
unless, of course..you’re a die hard.
I’m guessing if you’re reading these blogs, daily Oakland Tribune stories or Jerry M’s takes, you are MORE than qualified to be titled as such.
I mean, it’s not like you need a Darth Vader mask, Skull belt and cape to represent your team..

So what’s the latest and greatest info that a Die Hard Oakland Raider fan needs to know???

Anyone for May Mini camp interviews?

MICHAEL BUSH
Q: Was it awkward being in the rookie mini-camp a year after you were drafted?
Michael Bush: Yes, it’s awkward but at the same time I love it. I have been out of football. I am just happy to be out there doing football plays and getting out there running around and showing everybody that I am healthy and showing the coaches that I am fine and ready to play.
Q: What kind of situation do you think you are in because they just drafted a running back and Justin Fargas just signed a long-term deal?
Michael Bush: Nowadays the league is doing two backs or rotating three backs sometimes and we still got Justin Fargas there. Right now I have really been worried about myself.
Q: Compare this situation to the one Fargas was in last year when he was sort of under the radar. They had LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes and all of a sudden he ends up being the guy. Do you take something from the way Justin handled his business last year?
Michael Bush: I’ve actually talked to Justin about it. He said, “It’s okay. Just hang in there.” I wasn’t really nervous about not playing, I was worrying about where I would stand in an offensive standpoint. Things happen.
Q: Have you been told by the coach what your role is going to be?
Michael Bush: No, I haven’t been told. Right now I am just worried about getting the playbook down and just getting out there and running around and getting as much knowledge of the game as I can.
Q: How is the leg and is it 100 percent? If so, what was the time line on a full recovery?
Michael Bush: The leg has been 100 percent for a while. Last year I was ready to play. I practiced with them for three weeks when was on the PUP list. I haven’t had any problems out of it or don’t feel anything from it. Sometimes I don’t even notice that it was broken except for this large knot that I have on it. Other than that I am fine.
Q: How hard was it last year when you found out that you weren’t going to play?
Michael Bush: It was tough but at the same time by the time they told me I wasn’t playing the season was just about over. I was just happy I was able to stick around and get more of a chip on my shoulder for this year to come out and play and show them what I can do.
Q: Do you think this could have been a blessing in disguise?
Michael Bush: I think so. Maybe something else may have happened if they did play me but I feel like I saved my body for another year. I’m just looking forward to this year.
Q: You said that even after they drafted Darren (McFadden) that you are still happy with your situation. Why are you still happy?
Michael Bush: I think the coaches still know what I can bring to the table as well. I’ve never doubted myself at any point. As far as the team, they brought in the best guy on the board at the time. It’s good because it also helps us out as a winning team. Any time you bring in new guys that help our team is good I think.
Q: What were your impressions of Darren at practice yesterday?
Michael Bush: He looks good and fast. He has that speed and quickness, he has good hands and he’s a good guy too. Just talking to him, he’s like myself, kind of quiet but we’re starting to talk a little more. All the rookies come in kind of shy and worried about what’s going on but he’s a good guy too.
Q: You spent most of last year either working by yourself or with two or three other guys that were in rehab while your team practiced right next to you. How hard was that mentally and were there any low points throughout that process?
Michael Bush: No, because I was still doing something that I loved to do. To me, I was training, basically, to one day get on the field. There weren’t any low points. I was out there focusing on my conditioning, trying to get right in every aspect of the game as far as quickness and speed. I was still in the meeting rooms as well. Just being in the locker room with the guys was kind of cool as well.
Q: Does McFadden’s versatility make it more challenging for other teams to game plan against you?
Michael Bush: Yeah, it makes it harder for defenses to prepare for our offense. We can finesse you, pound you. He (McFadden) can use his speed outside and catch a ball and also get in the backfield and use his speed to get around the corner. That’s a good thing that he is on our side and everyone is going to have to prepare for us.
Q: Are you enjoying yourself, running plays and playing football? How eager are you to get in a real game?
Michael Bush: I’ve been telling people that my season starts the first pre-season game. It’s been a long haul for me, just sitting out and not being able to do something you love. Just going out there and being with the team, in the huddles, it’s just exciting to me right now.

RUN DMC!!!
Q: What was it like yesterday getting out there and seeing some action?
McFadden: It was great being able to get back out there on the field, been doing a lot of working out just on your own and stuff, being able to get out there and run plays and be around teammates and just get to know everyone is a great deal.
Q: How are they accepting you, with open arms or keeping their distance?
McFadden: I feel like they are accepting me with open arms, anything I needed help with they have been helping out and that’s something I have been looking forward to being able to get out here and get going in full blast.
Q: What is your impression of Lane Kiffin?
McFadden: I feel like he is a great coach, he tries to use his players and move them around a bit, I feel like it is something he may try with me.
Q: What was your first thought when you saw the playbook?
McFadden: They hand you a playbook with pens and highlighters with a notebook to take notes, that’s something you don’t get in college, if you want to take notes you have to come with your own stuff, so I knew it was serious once they handed the playbook like that.
Q: Do you feel having a shared duties fits you well?
McFadden: I feel like something like that will help out in the NFL system because it is hard for a guy to go out there and go every down, it is hard on the running back, especially in the NFL. You have linebackers and defensive ends running 4.4’s so being able to have a fresh guy will help the team out a whole lot.
Q: Did you have set series at Arkansas that you knew before the game, how did that work?
McFadden: Coach would just rotate us on certain plays, sometimes we just go out there and when one of feel like were gassed, we just tell the other one to come in.
Q: Were you ever on the field together?
McFadden: Yes sir, we were on the field together several times, we had a formation that we ran called the Wildcat, which put us both back there, I was the quarterback and Felix was a lot of times the slot receiver.
Q: Did they tend to run the same running plays for you and for Felix as opposed to having some that you were better at and some he was better at?
McFadden: I think we switched it up a whole lot, it just depended on who we were playing against and the type of defense they were running.
Q : Have you been able to meet [Raiders Owner] Al Davis the last few days?
McFadden: Yes sir, I got to meet him when I came out on my visit when I was getting drafted and then I met him when I came out for my press conference Sunday after the draft.
Q: Impressions of him?
McFadden: He is a great guy, he has been around for a long time, he has a lot of history and you can tell he is very passionate for the game still.
Q: How different is the playbook from college?
McFadden: There are some similarities, you just have to learn their verbiage and how they decide to call it out, but I feel like it’s is pretty similar but it’s still a lot I have to learn.
Q: What are you going over in your team meetings?
McFadden: They were putting offensive plays in right off the bat, so when we came out for Friday practice we’d be ready.
Q: Lane Kiffin says he doesn’t want to throw everything at you [at once]. Would you like everything thrown at you?
McFadden: For me, I’d say I’d like it because I’m a competitor. But at the same time, it’s good to get a few things so that you can understand and get the concept of. Once you get the concepts of the first part of it, it’s a lot easier to catch on to the rest of it when they throw it at you.
Q: How much are they throwing at you right now?
McFadden: I don’t feel like they threw too much at me right now. Basic running plays and pass protection is just something I’m trying to catch on to right now.

The Die hards can’t wait for more…
Yo, Pumpkin!! Happy Madres day!

ps Can you believe they already have #20 McFadden Jerseys on sale??? Let’s just hope this 1st rounder comes to camp on time!!!!