Wesley in, Buchanon out
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 8:25 pm in Oakland Raiders, Preseason (2005).
The Raiders are confirming the signing of safety Greg Wesley, who was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Former Raiders exec Mike Lombardi, who writes for CNN-SI as well as on his own Web site, doesn’t think much of the acquisition.
Lombardi has dubbed the Raiders “The Hotel California,” after the Eagles song about that strange place where you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
“What can Wesley do for the Hotel? He can’t cover, play in the kicking game, or run anymore,” Lombardi writes. “All he will do is take “Someone’s” money (which he loves to spend now) and not play. Do you think they remember Donovan Darius at the Hotel? Another favorite of `someone.
“Things never change.”
“Someone,” of course, is Al Davis.
Wesley, who reportedly signed a one-year deal, is like Darius in that there is very little risk involved in the signing. If Lombardi is right and Wesley can’t run, the Raiders can cut him, just as they did with Darius.
It’s worth noting that although Darius may have been a Davis favorite, the Raiders didn’t make the mistake of keeping him on the roster when it became apparent he wouldn’t be able to hold up physically.
To make room for Wesley, Will Buchanon was waived.
The Raiders begin filtering in to the Napa Marriott Wednesday, although coach Lane Kiffin won’t address the media until Thursday, the day of the first practice.
The Raiders also announced the signing of Mauricio Lopez, who will be on the Raiders practice squad this year as part of the NFL’s International Practice Squad program.
Lopez is a defensive tackle.
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July 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
lombardi is still out of work. he was fired from denver and he didn’t even get paid.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
whats the word on Gravy or spencer jerry?
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
we wont know
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Wesley is an upgrade over Eugene. Lombardi should show some class and quit hating.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
let the games begin…
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
There sure are alot of grudges out there. Advice to those like Lombardi…GET OVER IT!
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Kiffin’s frat buddy took Lombardi’s job: Mark Jackson
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I like the signing of Wesley. He has a ton of experiene as a player and in the AFC West. If Huff fails at FS, they can always move Wilson back to FS and play Wesley at SS. We can also play that defense Rob Ryan tried to implement with the 3 Safety’s, meaning we could have Huff, Wilson and Wesley in at the same time in certain packages. If anything, he brings insurance.
I wasn’t impressed with Eugene but I do think Cooper needs to stay. Cooper is a stud at special teams and we’ve progressed in that department alot. Our special teams lost heart when he was gone and he isn’t a bad backup for the safety position.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
cooper lost that killer instinct after they cut him off from the roids. Wesly will be a good vetran to watch the youg hoppers: gibril, huff, and branch.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Greg Wesley
2007 Scouting Report – Scouts Inc.
Grade: 68 | Key
Alert: A
Comment: Wesley is a seven-year veteran out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff that the Chiefs drafted in the third round of the 2005 draft. He has excellent size for the position and is an above average athlete with good speed. He has lined up at both strong safety as well as free and has a good understanding of the defensive scheme. He is a better fit at strong but plays free because he is the best they have. He is extremely active and has proven to be durable over the years, although he did miss two games at midseason during the 2006 season.
He appears to be more comfortable the closer he is to the line of scrimmage and does not get a great jump on the ball from deep zone. He is more than willing to insert himself on run support and can be a physical tackler. He flows well enough in zone but tends to be a bit upright and a little stiff in his pedal. He can be a little choppy in transition and tends to come out of his pedal in stages. He has a pretty good burst of acceleration to close on the target once he has made the transition to break on the ball. He does not always play under control and can miss some tackles in the open field.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
This team likes to keep alot of secondary players. I believe we’ll keep Huff, Wilson, Wesley, Branch and Cooper.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Huff i agree. Cooper is a leader, but he did get hurt after he was busted for roids and they took a chance on him.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Pft reported that Gil Brandt qouted an unamed source saying that Roy ” horse collar” will be a cap casualty this year. I wonder what his value will be.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I can honestly say that I don’t want Roy Williams. He whifs on way too many tackles as a SS and doesn’t play the deep zone well at FS. I understand that hes a Pro Bowl player and its bold to say that but I’ve followed him closely as my brother is a Cowboys fan and I have found that he has built a reputation off of his hard hitting style when he used to play FS. I remember the last time the Raiders played the Cowboys and I saw Lamont Jordan make one move and Roy was found in the backfield with a handful of nothing as he tried to make the big hit instead of wrapping up.
Would he be fun to watch at FS? Absolutely because of the big time hits but he is absolutely terrible at SS in my opinion.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Roy is still in his prime and is a name. I don’t want him in Oakland, but I have a feeling Al will put in some feelers. Roy will get a decent contract: maybe with the bucs because they act like daddy al raised them down there. The Bucs have major cap room.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I’d take Huff or Wilson over RW any day of the week.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Darius was cut by the Raiders. The Dolphins actually played him.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Dickey….come on brother…I never got specific about draft decisions…
In general… a coach should speak his mind. End of conversation.
you don’t see that?
Your suggestion that AL ever gave up draft day decisions is ..well….wrong.
Give the kid the keys and let him run. Have some faith in the decison to hire him….and go with it. HEY…I love Al….but the numbers speak for themselves the last five years.
Keep drinkin the kool Aid Brother….I have learned not to gulp….but rather sip at that well.
If a coach is running around worried about what people think…he won’t last long.
I can just see Bill Parcells…as he tucks himself in at night. “Jeeez, what’ll I do? People are talkin bout me….and worse then that I am being 2nd guessed by the owner”… What to do…?
YEAH RIGHT
No coach should be walkin on egg shells…and if he did…the players would see it and act accordingly.
Lose their respect….and it’s over.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
The Donovan Darius dig doesnt even make sense we brought him in and released him. Its not like he was a scholarship player that collected loads of $$$.
Lombardi keeps talking about NFL players like that and hes going to be picking himself up off the ground 1 day.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
The worst part is…we signed Darius to a 3 year contract. The team obviously thought he could play. Why release him at that point? Let him stick out the year. I wonder if the team learned from that since they signed Wesley to a 1 year contract.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Wesley is still better upgrade over Stu.
Big Mike is mad that the Al stopped payment on his last check. Ala Rat-a-han.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Darius was given 3 years ? I didnt know that! No guaranteed $ so what was the cap hit this year ?
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Let’s see, have I been gone that long. This reminds me of last year at this time.
Am I in the right year on this blog, Darius was cut and cut again by Miami. He is out of football!
Do you really think Darius was a scholarship player?
Wesley is signed to improve the team.
Thers is no comparison to their style of play, he will have to earn the right by his play to earn a roster spot.
This time of the year it’s called, calling all bodies to show improvement whether their from trades,waivers or the trash heap.
To the old guys, Dakota SNB666, Raider Dogg, M. Memo, Tommy Trojan, Saint, Thec, let’s get this party started.
I’m IN
are YOU!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Word.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Steely, Parcells doesn’t let Sparano or his gm Jeff Ireland have the final say. Parcells is in charge i Miami like Al is in charge in Oakland. The same can be said about Aj smith, marv Levy, Bill polian, Matt Muillen… for better or worse those are the kings of their respected castles. Throwing rocks at the thrown while still in the castle is a bad idea. Kiffin got stripped of his personnel decision making powers. That is true regardless of what kool aid is being served. I am merely making an observation on why he got stripped. He made a dumb mistake: several times. He would have been better off biding his time and keeping his mouth shut and gaining the respect of hiss crazy ass boss.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Raider Dell!!
Where have you been, who cares, nice to have you back!!
I’M IN!!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
SNB666
My favorite Raider fan, still obnixous as ever, that’s why your a favorite.
Let’s get ready for some football!
I see you are still happily tangling with MR, and doing a good job I may add.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Did anybody see that WNBA fight? They fight as good or better than the guys!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Here´s a little more detail from espn.com´s report:
“Wesley agreed to a one-year, $730,000 deal with the Raiders. He will compete for playing time behind starters Gibril Wilson and Michael Huff.
Wesley, 30, was cut by the Chiefs last week after a year of acrimony. Wesley wanted out of Kansas City since before the 2007 season and was nearly traded to the Chiefs’ AFC West rival Denver Broncos.
Denver expressed some interest in Wesley in recent days but he ended up signing with Oakland after visiting the team Monday.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Wesley was happy to remain in the AFC West and looked forward to playing against the Chiefs twice this season.”
espn.com´s Bill Richardson
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Mistabrown
I see you are still stirring the pot in here.
How are you doin?
How is the wine consumption going?
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Marley
Hope all is well.
When do we start to talk about our interest in a fantasy league for some of us bloggers in here,opps I mean commentators (MR) correction.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Hey Dell Im just keepin people honest you know, its a full time job!
Wine consumption is way down but the season is about to get under way so…
Welcome back!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
he may the man to run the big nickel. I am glad they only signed him for 1 year. I would like to see Branch develop into a solid contributer next season.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 pm
And there was no cap hit from Darius, he didn´t collect any salary since he didn´t make the roster. He did get what I assume was last year´s minimun vet, 720,000 from Miami.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Dell, do you play Fantasy @ NFL.com ?
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Mistabrown
Based on all the BS in here. Did the Giants blitz a little to much or just enough to win.
What is the final say, from you.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Mistabrown,
No I did not, may have the time this year.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
NY would not have won that game if they didnt get in Bradys face a la the blitz! C’mon Dell you know Brady if given 3-4 seconds will eat any defense alive!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
your right Marley. Lombardi is justa hater who free lances as a writter because he can’t get a job.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Dell, you been reading but not posting! Hmmmmm
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Dell
Good to see you.
We should start setting up that fantasy league(s) next week, we´ll start by asking who would like to play and go from there…we may need to have more than 1 league.
That´s what I think anyway, what about you?.
Oh and I´m proposing you to be the Commish…would you do it?.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
He lost all credit when his prized coaching candidate, Bobby Petrino, quit Atlanta. He went around running his mouth that he wanted Petrino, but Al messed that up and settled on Art. Nobody even respects him anymore that is why he is so bitter.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Mistabrown
I will read comments only from guys who have been on this blog.
I was on a vacation last week and brought the lap top with me to see what was being said.
Do I ocassionally read this blog, yes.
I didn’t respond for many reasons, the draft was over and this place was animal house for a while.
I guess I’m guilty of reading.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
The “Wolverine Package” is the defensive scheme with the three safeties.
Someone was asking about it a few posts ago.
Dell I am so pumped up about the season and training camp starting in a couple of days. So Dell you have seen (That which we do not post about) troll in here?
This is going to be a great year for us!!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Bob
Will there be a stipend,cash or raider gear for my efforts.
I will take on the task, only if it’s agreed to by all players.
Yes, I’m IN.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
SNB666
I’m pumped to for this season also.
I usually don’t attend the preseason games but this year with Jamarcus and DMAC in there it will be fun to watch.
Plus seeing all the niner fans is also another bonus.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
http://www.lombardionfootball.com/
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 pm
and his e-mail adress for all da hate mail from da raiders: michaellom@gmail.com
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Wesley is a low risk signing. If he cant play they can simply walk away. Besides with our pass coverage LBs and lock down corners we we can take some risk on a Safety that tackles well, but isnt the best in coverage.
Its official. I got my season tix today.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 pm
RaiderTay
I received my tix yesterday, what did you think of the box the tickets and information were enclosed.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Can you say butt hurt…I read that article.
“I know some of you who read my blog may suspect me of being bitter about my time in the Hotel California.”
Yeah just a wee bit bitter and tiny little bit butt hurt!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I agree with a lot of what is being said here…Lombardi should not be allowed anywhere near the stadium because he is a serious disgruntled employee that obviously hasn’t left yet, and is still living and expressing his hatred with every move the team makes no matter how minor. If this guy doesn’t play well what have we lost? He gets cut.
I think Lombardi know’s a thing or two about stealing money. He was doing it for too long. Loser. I guess anyone can write about sports these days–no journalism degree or reporting experience needed.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
You can really tell now that the reports involving Kiffin’s resignation were merely conjecture. Wesley’s acquisition has Kiffin written all over it…
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I liked the package the tickets came in. It had me real juiced! I cant wait.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 pm
To all of you saying that Wesley is a no-risk because we can just cut him…let me ask you: Is he a good acquisition, or not? Sounds to me like you guys are straddling the fence, or, you know that he sucks and are spinning your way out of it. This is the NFL guys, not little league. Either Wesley is a good addition, or he’s a waste of space. If it’s the latter, his being here is not without consequence. His spot on the training camp roster could go to some kid who’s hungrier. So don’t give me this “we can just cut him” nonsense. I mean, gee, that’s a real vote of confidence…
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I heard that the season tix holders get another present at the Raider image. Did anyone hear that??
Lombardi is a joke. He is abviously still pissed he got canned.
If Wesley only gave us two good games against the Chiefs, that would be worth signing
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
RaiderTay Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
“I heard that the season tix holders get another present at the Raider image. Did anyone hear that?? ”
…….
A refund.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Lombardi’s a joke. Who takes this guy seriously? He’s the mastermind who did nothing but contribute to the team’s struggles the last five years.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I posted this in the previous thread but I’m pasting it here in response to MR’s post No. 53:
The thing I like about Wesley is he’s been involved in 45 turnovers in an eight year career: 29 INTs, 12 Forced Fumbles, 4 Fumble Recoveries.
By comparrison we’ve got:
Huff – 2 seasons, 1 INT, 1 FF, 0 FR
Wilson – 4 seasons, 11 INT, 6 FF, 0 FR
So, in just two more seasons of play than our starting safeties have combined, Wesley has 17 more interceptions, 5 more Forced Fumbles and 4 more Fumble Recoveries.
True, he is a liability in coverage. I’ve seen him get burned quite a few times over the years. But he can hit and create turnovers (kind of a poor man’s Roy Williams). And big-plays are something we haven’t had in a safety in years.
He won’t start, but he’s a solid special teams/veteran backup.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Chris, good write up. You’re also the first person to comment about Wesley without ending it by saying, “besides, if it doesn’t work out, we can cut him”. Congratulations. I just wanted to see one fan give this guy a complete vote of confidence instead of straddling the fence.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Raiders pick up Lofton from the Chargers, Walker from the Broncos, and Wesley from the Chiefs.
Hope the insider info is worth the price.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
MR
You always complain about our last 5 years of course after 40 years of winning football we have been in a slump. It could be worse look at the Lions last 8 years under Millen.
“Since Matt Millen’s arrival in 2001 as GM, the Lions are 31-81 — that’s 50 games below .500 — and have lost 9 or more games each season”
I am so glad Millen was not one of Al’s guys! Great choice Al staying away from that guy as a GM! BTW MR, shouldn’t you be greasing up Ex-Coach Gruden for a Crisco party right about now?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 am
Yahoo Sports ranks Davis next to last as an NFL owner…
31. Oakland Raiders – Al Davis: Davis, 79, hasn’t just lost his fastball; the man has lost his changeup, and his metaphorical catcher keeps assuring him he’s better than Bob Gibson in his prime. The decline of a once-brilliant football mind would be sad if it weren’t so damaging, not to mention his behavior so nonsensical. Davis, after hiring 31-year-old Lane Kiffin as coach in January of ‘07, grew so disenchanted with him in less than a year that he drafted a resignation letter. But when Kiffin balked, Davis – in an apparent effort to save what a source says was $1.7 million – kept him around, albeit in emasculated fashion. Then, surrounded by yes men (along with top executive Amy Trask, who is smart enough to know better) and armed with the estimated $150 million he scored after selling 20 percent of the team to a trio of hedge-fund managers last fall, Davis went on a spending spree that baffled his peers, handing out huge bonuses for players like wideout Javon Walker, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Equally perplexing was the way he caved and gave a fair-market contract to No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell last September after the season had started, when the quarterback’s rookie year was essentially a washout. The Raiders, since their Super Bowl XXXVII defeat to the Bucs, are 19-61 over the past five seasons, the NFL’s worst record during that span. But in Davis’s distorted world, it’s always somebody else’s fault.
……………………..
Not a big fan of all the moves Davis has made over the years, but he has 3 Division Titles and an AFC Title this decade.
Not to mention the second best (behind Cowboys) franchise record in the history of the NFL despite the last 5 seasons.
Oh yeah, lets not forget the 3 Super Bowl wins and 5 total trips.
The Raiders are the only team other than the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in the Super Bowl in 4 different decades.
Along with appearing in 5 Super Bowls, the Raiders have also played in their Conference/League Championship Game in every decade since their inception.
How many Raiders players are in the HOF?
Wait, isn’t Al Davis in the HOF himself?
Owners such as Mike Brown(Bengals), Tom Benson (Saints), and Bill Bidwill (Cardinals), and William Ford (Lions) are all ranked ahead of Davis.
What have any of these owners done? How many playoff wins do they have? How many Super Bowls?
I also think the whole letter to Kiffin story is complete BS.
In the same story above, the guy says that Al Davis kept Kiffin around to save 2 mil dollars, but then bashed Davis for the money he gave FAs.
Since Al had 150mil to throw around, why not pay Kiffin off.
First he’s too tight to fire Kiffin, then he throws money around foolishly for players?
Can’t have it both ways.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 am
K-Rock
Very nice, well done!
Great read and you couldn’t be more dead on about everything.
That was way better read than what I have been reading in here all Summer.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 am
The Texans released Charles Spencer on Tuesday, but the offensive tackle vowed he will play again.
Spencer (6-4, 337 pounds) is battling back from a serious knee injury he suffered Sept. 17, 2006, against the Indianapolis Colts. He remained hopeful all month the Texans would let him open camp with them Friday.
“They just didn’t feel I was healthy enough to compete in camp, so that’s why they made their decision,” Spencer said. “Only I know how I feel, and I feel like I can compete and be a starter for the Texans. But they make their decisions. I respect that.”
Spencer remains focused on playing again. He said his leg is stronger than it was before the injury, and he is simply working to get back in football shape.
A third-round pick in 2006, Spencer suffered a serious fracture to his tibial plateau in just his second start. He underwent surgery and had eight metal screws inserted in his knee. He has spent the past 22 months rigorously rehabilitating it.
…………………………
If Kiffin is really into letting guys compete at camp, maybe they could bring this guy in and see if he could make the roster.
Houston runs the zone scheme, so this guy would fit in with Cable’s scheme.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 am
SilverNBlack666, so, I’m a Buc fan today? Fair enough. I like the Buc fan accusations more than the whiner fan accusations. I really do hate the 49ers. Every ounce of their success was due to a pre cap league and DeBartolo’s wallet. Bill Walsh was a fraud. Ripped everything off from Paul Brown. S’t, the Raiders ran the west coast offense before the whiners did. Stabler practically invented the form of the WCO that Walsh incessantly gets credit for, on his own. Snake called his own plays. So, I’ll take being accused of being a Bucs fan. I like Gruden, as you idiots already well know. I like coaches who turn my favorite football team into a winner.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 am
K-Rock Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 am
“Yahoo Sports ranks Davis next to last as an NFL owner…”
………..
Why so high?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 am
The owner of the Chargers was at 17.
LOL! What a bunch of bs!!!!
What have the Chargers ever done?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 am
K-Rock, re: your concern that the press might have overlooked Davis winning 3 division titles and a conference championship this decade….
The fact that Al Davis traded the coach who built that team to a team that he would likely have to face in the Super Bowl (and eventually did, only to have his own ass handed to him) is the exact reason Davis is believed to be one of the worst owners in football.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 am
If I were writing for YahooSports, I wouldn’t even have written an explanation for the Raiders position. It would have just went like this:
31. Oakland Raiders – Al Davis: Davis, 79; Jon Gruden. Enough said.
32….
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:56 am
Cry me a river.
Is that what all this is about with you? Gruden?
haha! Wow. You are on a one man crusade to bring down Davis over Gruden?
I liked Gruden too. I think he was a huge reason for the Raiders success. His desire to bring in Gannon and his scheme was great. Some of the best years for me as a Raiders fan.
He was also a huge reason for where the Raiders went after he left. He filled the roster with a lot of older players who could not fulfil their contracts. Left the Raiders in cap hell for several years.
Wasn’t helped by Davis missing big on Gallery and Grove. Plus, all the coaches tried to fill the roster to fit their schemes and left the team with no continuity.
This is the way I see it. Davis has earned the right to go out however he wants. Jordan went out stinkin, so did Emmitt. Most players do hang on to long and fans let them because of the price they paid. Davis has earned the same right in my eyes.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 am
what?
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:48 am
# La Milicia Negra Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
wasn’t Mike Lombardi associated with the broncos last year? If Denver would give a 4th for Wesley, then Mike Lombardi’s statements even more ridiculous…
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:09 am
For 770k Wesley is a great signing – I think that’s the Vet minimum and with the “cap relief for vets” clause in the union agreement he probably costs 440k against the cap if he makes the team – no sweat there – he has a lot of picks (26) over the last 7 years and didn’t even play last year – That’s a solid backup player that can play both SS and FS – well, maybe just SS in our system – We need Willie Gault in his prime to play FS in this system – that’s the worst job in the NFL – Raider FS job description: “Cover the Entire Field and make every tackle or you are going to look like a fool on national television because we put you on an island. Also, because you have to play 20 yards off the ball, you’ll never make plays.”
I’m going to be really interested to see what Huff can do at FS in this scheme – I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think he’s going to do much better than Schweigert. He tackles about the same but has a .15 second faster 40 time (4.35 vs. 4.5). Huff didn’t impress me when he had chances to break on the ball last year, but he is getting closer – he may be our Nnamdi break out player this year in the secondary – I remember Nnamdi getting totally burned his first year starting, right there with the WR his second year but never turned his head around so he still got balls caught on him, and then in his third year he broke out and you could tell the work he put in on film study, technique, etc. all came together.
Overall, our secondary has no excuse this year – probowl caliber players and talent across the board. If they fail, it is the scheme (or maybe the failure of the D line to rush the passer).
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:19 am
I thought Will Buchanon had a good shot at #5 WR and he seemed to have a knack of getting open – I know we’re not carrying 6 because we have so many DB’s that play special teams (and pretty well). We also have Madsen who can play WR and Miller flexes out in certain packages so we’re pretty well set with only 5. So we’re looking at Javon, Curry, Carter, Higgins, and one of our two Draft picks Shields or Schillens. If Higgins really busts during the preseason, Branch could handle KO return and they could use Hall or another player (McFadden?) at PR, but I think Higgins deserves this year and next year’s preseason before we give him the axe.
Cable is really rolling the dice with the Oline – we are THIN at OT and if Harris doesn’t work out well, our off. game plan is going to be very restricted because the TE and RB are going to have to stay in to help whoever plays RT and Harris.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:26 am
Wesley = more retreads coming on board. We need to bring in younger aggressive players for the future. He may be fine, but so what. We have been here before and it hasn’t worked. This appears to say the draft didn’t work again, so we bring in retreads. He is slow and old. When your winning four games a year you better improve your youth and quality of players. We don’t need to worry about backup players we need to sign starters, and Wesley is not a starter. We have been doing this same old tired way of improving the team and it sucks. Wesley is going to improve the team, I doubt it.. One more retread means one less rookie to give an opportunity. Look at the retreads we have signed so far. It is a direct reflection of our draft.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:28 am
This might also spell the end for Coop – I’m surprised he can’t get on the Field in short yardage situations – he’s got to be better than Huff in the box. At least we have some really good depth and competition this year. Huff (1st round pick now at his natural position), Wilson (Highly rated SS), Branch (huge upside), Wesley (proven vet), Cooper (versatile vet, special teams leader). We dump Schweigert and Eugene (who looked better than Stu at times) becomes camp fodder. That’s a really significant overally with only major addition.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:29 am
meant “overhaul”
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:30 am
and only “one” major addition. I’ll shut up now.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 am
Gruden brought in players? Thats a first. Everyone knows Allen and Lombardi did the player evaluations and contracts and went to Davis for final approval. The aftermath was 19-61,with Davis finnaly stepping in to right the ship after Lombardi continued to make bad decisions once Allen and Gruden got shipped off to Tampa. Now all Lombardi can do is whine on t.v. because 32 NFL teams know he is a fraud. Davis is guilty of giving these morons more control than he should have, seeing how hard it must be running a franchise from a walker and wheel chair. Davis does get the credit for cleaning house and letting Kiffin reshape the roster and coaching staff, except for Ryan, who is on the hot seat with a expiring contract anyway, if those rumors were true.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:13 am
I guess that Lombardi is the only person that actually left “Hotel California”…with Al’s shoe print imprinted in the middle of his back.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:45 am
Sounds like sour grapes from someone who never should have held the position he did…But I have to agree, from what I’ve seen of Wesley he doesn’t have alot of game.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:07 am
Go Mauricio, you can do it!!!! Sands suck
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 am
Eugene is a good prospect. He needs to bulk up and become a better tackler. He and Chris Johnson will make the team.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 am
Eugene is a good prospect. He needs to bulk up and become a better tackler. He and Chris Johnson will make the team.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:52 am
Mauricio Lopez played football in Mexico, he is my buddy from college, he is fast and great size… way to go “TYSON”!!… although there is no chance he will make the team…
Finally some football to talk about… sick of Favre mania…
Go RAIDERS!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:52 am
I can hardly wait for us to play Denver.
I’m Jonesing…..
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 am
it doesn’t make it more true (or less false) to post it twice =)
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 am
Here’s to hoping many RBs on other teams get injured so someone gets desperate and offers us $30 and a can of spam for Jordan. Al, get this fat, lazy POS and his 4.7 million dollar salary off your team for cripes sake.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 am
A year ago i didnt like our team, i didnt like almost all the decisions kiffin took. In fact im not a kiffin fan, but i know, keeping him its the best thing we can do.
I know all of us, every year thing we are going to the playoffs, and we win 4 or 5 games, But this year is diferent, i dont think we are going to the playoffs, but for the first time in 5 years, i think Al and company are making the right things, the right decisions.
Obviously, not all the decisions are good to me; The contract of Kelly and Walker, and not sign Namndi to a multi year contract are bad decisions.
But at the end i think we are going to have a very fun season with 8 wins, but the best thing its we are going to have FUTURE. I think 3 years from now, we are gona be the favorites to win the super bowl in vegas, and with a young team, this could be the 70s-80s raiders again.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Johnny Rebel (#78) has a good point. Bruce Allen is the guy the Raiders miss the most; not Gruden or Lombardi. Kinda like Carmen Policy for the whiners back in the day.
This year, Al has decided to be his own personnel manager. Do or die, this season above others bears his mark.
On the main topic, this is a routine pre-camp signing for competitive purposes. If Wesley works out, great, otherwise he’s just another body pushing the other players to compete. What’s the bfd?
At this point, Lombardi is a nobody. Why is anyone listening to what he says?
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Lombardi is a jerk who cares about what he says, we all know he’s a disgruntled ex employee who just can’t let it go
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 am
I took a good look at the stats for the last 6 years yesterday, and the only one that corresponded to wins was total offense. Better offense = more wins.
So, while the raiders will need a better defense to win a championship, the immediate focus needs to be on offense – passing offense in particular. This is one part of the team no one is confident about, and the one that will determine success or failure this year.
Is Walker > Porter? Can JR be accurate? Can Harris block? If the raiders can answer yes to all of these, then the playoffs are possible. If not, they may still be able to pull off 6-8 wins based on a strong running game.
Yeah I’m IN and I’m jonesing for some ball.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 am
This just in…Raiders sign Chris Henry! Marvin didn’t want him back, regardless of the latest charges being dropped, but word is 14 and 15 year old Oakland girls are agog at the prospect of having Chris and Javon spraying champagne on them!
Sorry…Shouldn’t have smoked that last fattie. Camp tomorrow, and two weeks to Niner-spanking time. Right on! Fear not Dakota; Jordan will be gone soon enough. Too bad we can’t get anything for him, but everyone else knew he was history the moment we drafted McFadden. Don’t be surprised if he turns up with the Donkeys.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:41 am
Hopefully Wesley can help teach Huff a thing or two in the next couple of months.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 am
Question. Can the guy tackle? Can he wrap up an oncoming running back like LT or LJ? We got the shut down corners. I don’t know his stats and that is why I asked.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 am
International Practice Squad? Oh that’s right, I forgot that NFL Europe was axed. lol.
Buchannon getting waived, no surprise there. I don’t think Walker, Carter, Curry, Watkins, Shields, and the guy we drafted in the third round last year are more of the favorites, I don’t think Buchannon had a shot at all. Weasley either, our starters are set, and I think Branch and Cooper are locks as well. Our ST wasn’t the same without Cooper, and Branch has too much promise right now.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 am
HELP.
Can someone please tell me what the deal is with Wesley? Why was he let go and why is is not a good pick up? His states are really impressive 29 TD’s for a saftey is not bad at all.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 am
I am so sick of reading about how the Raiders are so disfunctional. I will always root for the Raiders, but we need to kick some teeth in!
Go Raiders!!!!!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:31 am
Lombardi was let go by Al so naturally he isn’t gonna say anything good about the Raiders. Wesley probably won’t make the squad unless he has an incredible preseason. Who cares if LaFat ends up with the donkeys? Dude is just gonna give his usual 50% and then get hurt. Can’t wait for Aug. 8th and the stinkin Whiners and their pathetic fans. Come on over to our house punks.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Raider Buck, it’s “dysfunctional” with a “y.”
It may sicken you, yet, Raider dysfunctionality at the top organizational level is why the Raiders lost 77% of 80 games.
That level of Raider ineptitude is the 3rd worst half decade won/loss performance in NFL History.
The Raider organization is like a gerbil on a spin wheel. Running in place, getting no where fast.
Lousy drafts, poor FA signings, 4 HCs in 5 seasons, and Al Davis micromanaging are the broad strokes for the dysfunctional Raiders.
It’s going to be another long frustrating season for Raider fans.
Thus, speaks The Twerp.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
My estimate of our 53-man roster, assuming we don’t sign anyone else…
2 JaMarcus Russell QB 6-6 255 22 2 LSU
8 Marques Tuiasosopo QB 6-1 220 29 8 Washington
9 Shane Lechler P 6-2 225 31 9 Texas A&M
11 Sebastian Janikowski K 6-2 250 30 9 Florida St.
15 Johnnie Lee Higgins WR 5-11 185 24 2 UTEP
16 Andrew Walter QB 6-6 230 26 4 Arizona St.
17 Javon Walker WR 6-3 215 29 7 Florida St.
18 Drew Carter WR 6-3 200 26 5 Ohio St.
19 Todd Watkins WR 6-2 190 25 1 BYU
20 Darren McFadden RB 6-2 210 20 R Arkansas
21 Nnamdi Asomugha CB 6-2 210 27 6 Cal
23 DeAngelo Hall CB 5-10 200 24 5 Virginia Tech
24 Michael Huff SS 6-1 200 25 3 Texas
25 Justin Fargas RB 6-1 220 28 6 USC
26 Stanford Routt CB 6-1 195 25 4 Houston
28 Gibril Wilson S 6-0 210 26 5 Tennessee
29 Michael Bush RB 6-1 245 24 1 Louisville
33 Tyvon Branch S 6-0 205 21 R Connecticut
36 Justin Griffith FB 6-0 230 28 6 Mississippi St.
37 Chris Johnson CB 6-1 200 28 5 Louisville
38 Adimchinobe Echemandu RB 5-10 225 27 5 Cal
40 Jarrod Cooper S 6-1 215 30 8 Kansas St.
44 Edgerton Hartwell LB 6-1 240 30 7 Western Illinois
46 Oren O’Neal FB 5-11 245 24 2 Arkansas St.
50 Isaiah Ekejiuba LB 6-4 240 26 4 Virginia
51 Chris Morris C 6-4 305 25 3 Michigan St.
52 Kirk Morrison LB 6-2 240 4 26 San Diego St.
53 Thomas Howard LB 6-3 240 25 3 UTEP
54 Sam Williams LB 6-5 265 27 6 Fresno St.
55 Robert Thomas LB 6-0 235 28 7 UCLA
56 Derrick Burgess DE 6-2 260 29 8 Mississippi
58 Kalimba Edwards DE 6-6 265 28 7 South Carolina
59 Jon Condo C 6-3 250 26 2 Maryland
61 Gerard Warren DT 6-4 325 29 8 Florida
64 Jake Grove C 6-4 300 28 5 Virginia Tech
66 Cooper Carlisle G 6-5 295 30 9 Florida
71 John Wade C 6-5 300 33 11 Marshall
74 Cornell Green OT 6-6 315 31 9 Central Florida
75 Mario Henderson OT 6-7 300 23 2 Florida St.
76 Robert Gallery OT 6-7 325 27 5 Iowa
77 Kwame Harris OT 6-7 325 26 6 Stanford
79 Paul McQuistan G 6-6 315 25 3 Weber St.
80 Zach Miller TE 6-5 255 22 2 Arizona St.
81 Marcel Reece WR 6-3 240 23 R Washington
82 Chaz Schilens WR 6-4 225 22 R San Diego St.
89 Ronald Curry WR 6-2 210 29 7 North Carolina
90 Terdell Sands DT 6-7 335 28 8 Tenn-Chattanooga
93 Tommy Kelly DT 6-5 300 27 5 Mississippi St.
94 Greg Spires DE 6-1 265 33 11 Florida St.
95 Josh Shaw DT 6-3 305 28 5 Michigan St.
96 William Joseph DT 6-5 310 28 6 Miami
98 Jay Richardson DE 6-6 280 24 2 Ohio St.
Greg Wesley S 6-2 205 30 9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
MR…… Gruden did not build a winning team, Al did. Gruden coached it. You can’t say that Al makes all of the decisions then say that Gruden built the team.
Al davis brought in several great players and a couple of HOFers.
if Gruden was so great, why did all of the teams he coached under the Raiders fade toward the end of the season. Why did he get conservative in the Raven game and in the Patriot game. you can agrue that his coaching had a lot to do with the Raiders not going to a SB under him.
GET this, GRUDEN WOULD NOT HAVE LET THE RAIDER TO A SB…
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
If I started a fantasy league at NFL.com, would anyone be interested in joining? Would you prefer a live draft or an automated on?
Personally I would pick an automated drart due to never haveing time to sit through a draft.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
Mc–Gruden would have not only LED the Raiders to the SB, but won it. Only reason why Tampa won was Gruden knew everything that was coming. Had we played Philly we would have had our fourth title. Gruden did get conservative against Baltimore and NE. The “tuck” game tho was BS anyways so we couldn’t have won it anyways.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
On another note, I would like to see Al become the intermediary in a 3-way trade to get Favre to the Bears. Chicago needs RB depth, so it goes like this…
We give a 2nd or 3rd rounder to GB for Favre, and trade him, Lamont and Walter to Chicago for a 2nd/3rd rounder and Urlacher or Briggs.
I know it is pie-in-the-sky to even consider this happening, but it does meets the needs of each team involved. Goodell told GB to get a deal done, the Bears need both a good QB now and one for the future, and we need a run-stopping LB. Both Urlacher and Briggs have been recent malcontents, something Lovey and his GM have little patience for.
Of course, to find the $ to pay for Briggs/Urlacher we would have to dump another relatively high-salary player whose bonus money has been paid out already (Grove?) or restructure Gallery’s contract.
Just don’t bash me for fantasizing… we would be MUCH better with either of those LBs on our team.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Bo–Not bashing at all, but that’s quite a fantasy. No way the Bears give up either guy and no way GB lets Favre play in Chicago. Why would the Bears want yet another lame QB like AW? They already have Orten and Grossman.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Bo, that’s a nice dream. I’d make that trade in a heartbeat. Problem is (and I’m not bashing here) it’s far from equitable. Still, for a second there, I was daydreaming about Urlacher decapitating Philip Rivers.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 am
Bo, you’re completly correct. We would be a much better team with either of those two LBs added to the defense. Now this Wesley pick-up unlike the Rod Woodson pick-up or the Eric Allen pick-up or even the D. Darius pick-up is puzzling. Woodson was an elite player, Allen was an all pro player and Wesley has just been around for a long time. I mean there has never been anything special about Wesley. At least D. Darius was known around the league as a head hunting safety that would lay a WR out if given the chance.
I know Big AL is still the man, but there is no question in my mind that Big AL is being advised by someone. Someone that convinced him that after the 2003 campaign we should re-build and not re-load. Thus, we have a team full of question marks and very few wins.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 am
I still have to disagree.
By the way.. if gruden had not gotten conservative toward the end of the 2001 season, the Raider would have had home field advantage. We would have played NE in oakland.
Look,, I did like gruden, but if he had coached us in 2002, we would have lost a few close games due to his conservative pay calling. Gannon would not have been the MVP. Once thing about Callahan, he did not sit on a lead.
You made a good point to, the only reason Gruden beat us is because he new our plays. So only has a SB because he new the plays that were being called and he had Dungys’s defense.
Also, What great players were drafted when Gruden was here? Like someone else said, we were loaded with old talent and built to win at the time. If gruden was still here, were would have problems. Has he won a SB since 2002, but he has had a couple of losing seasons.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
81–I love that dream!! Can you include the one with the fan coming out of the stands and cheap shoting ole wooden teeth Shanahan? The guy who is really becoming a bi*ch asz whiner is LT. He is now right up there with both those clowns.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’ve been wondering about this “Hotel California” reference…If you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave, then why isn’t Lombardi still working there? I mean, not to be to obvious, but he LEFT.
It’s a stupid reference.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 am
Re: 104 and 105:
AW is much better than Orton or Grossman, especially in that he has future potential. The Bears have seen all they can get out of their current QBs. Plus, Favre lets them make a run while they still have a solid defense.
I live outside Chicago and hear the trade chatter all the time here, and Angelo would not be as unwilling to dump either of those guys as you might think. Urlacher is a holdout for cash/respect and Briggs bashed them good before he got a new contract. Getting Favre would give Angelo cover to make that move.
Also, GB would not have any idea that we will move Favre to Chicago. It could be done weeks later. Thompson would love to dump him to an AFC team regarded as unlikely to contend this year.
However, in re-reading my post I realize we wouldn’t likely get a high pick from Chicago with either LB. No prob, I’d still do it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 am
Spencer would be a great signing. He actually played HS ball for my school’s main rival, though he’s a few years younger and I never lined up against him — thankfully.
But I have been following his career and I remember he was really blowing people away at the start of his rookie year before the injury. If he has any shot of getting healthy again he would be a great signing. Someone mentioned yesterday they could sign him and put him on PUP list if he’s not ready. Good idea.
——
BSJ,
Good list. Pretty right on I think. Guys on the list on the bubble (in order of danger of not making it):
– Echemandu
– Watkins
– Reece
– Shaw
– Higgins
– Schilens
– Chris Johnson
– Walter
– Tui
– Hartwell
– Wesley
I think everyone else is a virtual lock.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:41 am
I’m in for any FFB league that is put together. Let me know.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:43 am
Big Al’s Goon,
I posted it earlier but Wesley has been in on 45 turnovers in eight years. That’s pretty damn good. And he can hit. That’s what’s good about him.
He can be a liability in coverage though. I call him a poor man’s Roy Williams.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 am
Raider4life,
I like that. Somebody needs to knock that guy’s chiclets out.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 am
81–If I could get immunity I would do it myself. Shanarat must go down and go down hard.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 am
Chris,
Yes it was hard justifying Echemandu, Johnson and Shaw until I looked at the depth we have at their positions…too bad for us. Reece I hope will take Madsen’s spot based on a strong camp and future upside, and Watkins and Schilens are really just a guess on which new WRs have a strong camp and stay healthy. Could just as easily be Shields or Holland who stick.
Do you really think Walter could get cut or are you wondering about a trade?
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Gruden would not have beaten Fisher and the Titans had he coached the Raiders in 2002, keep dreaming though.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
it took Callihan to get chuckies team to the SB.and chuckie went to the SB with Dungy’s team.chuckie has never taken one of his own teams to the SB and probably never will.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
As far as MR goes he lost his credibility lobbying for Art Shell part two.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
BSJ,
I wouldn’t be shocked if Keller beats out either Walter or Tui, or, we pick up a QB released by another team like one of Tampa’s 8,000 QBs.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Ok. A league has been created at:
http:\\www.nfl.com\fantasy
Draft day is 8/23/08
Automated Draft
League name is:
ibabuzz
Password is:
3rings
Need 11 more.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 am
Johnny,, At last a man that knows footbal and the Raiders.
The score in that game was pretty high. We had a big lead then, Titans started scoring every time we scored. Gruden would have sat on a 14 point and the titans would have score a last minute TD to win. Sorry but I have not missed a Raider game (home or away) since 1998. The saw that happen too many times under gruden. Again I really liked Gruden and wish he had stayed, but I am not convinced that he would have lead us to a SB.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Callahan lost the Superbowl by benching Robbins and single handedly removing the running game from the game plan.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
I am multi-tasking, please forgive by errors and grammer.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Lefty, actually it took Trestman to get Chucky’s team to the SB. Callahan just got out of the way while Trestman and Gannon opened things up.
And yes, Gruden would never have beaten the Titans. In fact, I have a hard time believing Gruden would have gotten us anywhere that year. Remember Gannon passing 60+ times against the Steelers? Like that wussy Gruden would ever have done that…
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
grammar
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Johnny Rebel Says:
Callahan lost the Superbowl by benching Robbins and single handedly removing the running game from the game plan.
I agree with you on this to JR..
Bucs had the #1 pass defense and callahan refuse the run the ball. The teams that beat the bucs that year, ran it right up the middle. Callahan was stubborn and that’s why he lost his job and the players did not like him.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 am
Think about the turmoil Callahan created in the locker room by announcing to the world he had put Robbins on a plane back to Oakland. Gannon looked like he had seen a ghost before the game even started.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
raider nation we gotta take a stand against lombardi & his BS
go leave a comment on his blog about our raiders or at least read them 8&9 are the best!
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
McRaider,
You’re right. Another example of that came in the Tuck Rule game. As I remember it, the Raiders had the ball around their own 30 and a timeout or two left after Vinatieri’s game-tying kick with about a minute to go. Gruden ran the clock out rather than trying to pick up some yardage and get into FG range.
Granted, the weather made things dicey, but once you start playing not to lose you almost never win. I knew that game was over right then, before OT.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Stop making since JR.
Let other people tell it. It was the brilliance of Gruden that brought the SB to TB. I say it was Callahan.
Although he did do a good job getting us there, he needed to make some adjustments that he was not capable of making. Run, Run, Run, then Pass. A 60 to 40 run pass ratio could have been the difference.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 am
That’s all pretty true. Losing Robbins hurt us in that game (and ever since), but remember, Robbins was the one who went off the deep end. Dude was in no shape to walk in a straight line much less play a football game (not to mention a Super Bowl). Callahan’s problem was that he had all that time to prepare a gameplan to beat a guy he knew well and he didn’t do it. Probably because he didn’t know how. He played right into the Bucs strengths. What did he really think would happen?
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Ryan…
I’m in
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Robbins could have easily played drunk. But even if you have to bench the guy for a while to let him sober up you don’t put him on a plane back to Oakland. Stabler played drunk or hungover more times than any of us will ever know.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Callahan really didn’t know the defense of the bucs, because it was Dungy’s D, but he should have known that passing the ball was not the answer. The 5 INTS (3 for TD’s) is what killed us, not Gruden’s offense.
Gruden had did have the upperhand and used it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Just watched the Super Bowl reply a few months ago and a few things stuck out. We had a huge chance to take a firm grasp of the game early on. First series C-wood gets a pick, but we have to settle for a FG. Rod Woodson dropped an easy pick that would have almost been a pick six later in the first quarter. Tim Brown dropped three passes in the first half, all which would have been a first down. And this was all while we had a 3-0 lead. Things fell apart fast in 2nd and 3rd quarter, probably the two worst quarters the team played all year. Man a catch or two here and there and it would have been a completely different game IMO.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:42 am
I thought he got drunk on Friday, and was late to Saturday’s team meeting. I don’t think he would have been drunk on Sunday.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Gannon only had 69 more pass attempts for the year under Callahan in 2002.
He had 548 attempts under Gruden in 2001.
That is only a 4 pass per game increase. Doesn’t sound like a huge shift in offensive philosophies to me.
But hey, don’t let facts get in the way of a good story.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
I remember Gruden saying before the game, “Do they ever run the ball?” Gruden was concerned about the running game because he knew Robbins was such a dominant inside blocker. The game a few years earlier before the Superbowl season the Monte Kiffin defense played Oakland, who ran it up the gut to the tune of 45-0.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
Raiders made a smart move snagging up Wesley, and I was sad to see him leave the Chiefs. I think his signing really gets the clock ticking on Huff who has been yet another first round buff for the Faders.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
The question then would be how much less did Callahan run the ball than Gruden did the year before?
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Can’t remember who but someone from the Raider organization said about Lombardi after he left that ‘its probably safe to assume you don’t know what you are doing if you have to ask other people/coaches etc what they think about certain players’.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
If you have the stats K-Rock please enlighten us.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
It wasn’t just that Robbins was drunk, dude was losing his mind. There’s a reason why the guy never played another down of football in his life and ended up in prison after brawling with cops during a robbery attempt. wtf??
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
he still passed for almost 1000 yards more. They were also either 1st or second in scoring. That’s because they did not try sitting on leads. They scored points the entire game, not just the first 2 and half quarters
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
He could have played in the Superbowl, he was fighting his depression all season long.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
And good point, he was found drunk Saturday morning, not on Sunday. I rememebr Callahan saying nobody was bigger than the team, he should have looked in the mirror.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
He was found drunk Sat nite.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Johnny Rebel Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 am
” The aftermath was 19-61,with Davis finnaly stepping in to right the ship”
……
Only you would consider 4-12 “righting the ship”…
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Guys, what is it today? MR a Bucs fan? Whiners fan? Dolts fan?
It’s like the Price is Right. You guys just spin the wheel. Yesterday I was a Bucs fan. So today you guys have to switch it up and make me a whiner fan. Tomorrow, Donks. Well, I won’t tell you guys the method to your own madness. You’ll come up with something.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Hey MR, go call Art Shell you two will get along great.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
and he was supposedly in the hospital not on a plane.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
He was put on a plane after the hospital visit.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Who cares what team you are a fan of, troll. We know you’re not a Raiders fan or a fan of yourself.
Your low self worth is evident every time you beg us to abuse you, day in and day out.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
and Stabler didn’t play drunk-hungover,but not drunk.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
2001- 450 1654 14
2002 414 1762 21
Very surprised at these stats
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Live blog is open.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Yes he did play drunk, especially against the Jets when he played for the Saints, he sobered up at halftime and threw 5 touchdown passes to win the game.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
the Raiders said he was on a plane-the people at the hospital said he was there Sunday.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
In the SB
RUSHING
Oakland ATT YDS AVG LNG TD
Charlie Garner 7 10 1.4 4 0
Zack Crockett 2 6 3.0 4 0
Rich Gannon 2 3 1.5 2 0
Tampa Bay ATT YDS AVG LNG TD
Michael Pittman 29 124 4.3 24 0
Mike Alstott 10 15 1.5 5 1
Brad Johnson 1 10 10.0 10 0
Aaron Stecker 1 1 1.0 1 0
Tom Tupa 1 0 0.0 0 0
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Yeah he fought depression (bipolar disorder to be exact) all his life, but he’d gone off his meds. If you know anything about bipolar disorder it makes completely unable to think rationally. There is no way the guy would have done any good in the SB. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending Callahan, I just don’t think Robbins could’ve played in the Super Bowl.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Vegas — 100% right about the way the SB unfolded. If a few key players would’ve done their jobs better, the score (the entire flow of the game) would’ve been different.
Reb — Gotta disagree with you on B. Robbins. He was more than drunk, he was mentally unbalanced…and not in the Lyle Alzado/Ted Hendricks kinda way. As the captain of the O-Line, the offense revolved around his ability to see the opposition’s plan/adjustments, and direct our own adjustments accordingly. Hard to do that when one can’t even form coherent sentences, and is willing to fight even inanimate objects (insert joke here). Callahan (and the rest of the team) did blow the Robbins thing, but it started before the weekend did.
——————————————————-
And…thanks to Jerry McD for quietly purging a few of the riff-raff from this forum. One person in particular — using more than 15 aliases from the same computer to try to ruin this blog — has been noticeably absent for over a week. Hopefully, all the people bashing Jerry for not doing anything about that kind of trash have noticed it also.
One of the things that makes this my favorite Raiders site…Jerry is one of the few area writers who cover the Raiders who is not breaking his own arm patting himself on the back. He does his job, better than most, and quietly takes care of business.
Jerry — I can’t speak for the majority, but I personally want to express my gratitude for your efforts, past and present. It’s going to be a long, exciting year, and I look forward to getting the best coverage of the Raiders right here. Thanks!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Callahan said he was putting him on a plane, not the Raiders.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
McRaider Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 am
“One thing about Callahan, he did not sit on a lead.”
……
What lead?
http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/nfl/2003/0126/photo/a_gruden_i.jpg
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
att yrds tds
2001- 450 1654 14
2002 414 1762 21
Very surprised at these stats
Sorry, These are Rushing totals
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
All Robbins needed was one day of rest and some meds. Callahan wanted to make an example out of him, for whatever reason.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
ok reb you’re entitled to your own version of history.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Well said HayesDaze.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Everytime you post MR all I see is 2-14 and your buddy Art Shell.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
OMG, Rebel just called me Art Shell! Now, I’m a RAIDER FAN! Talk about going full circle. I’ve read about this…Delusional people sometimes go so far into their alternate universes that they wind up weaving themselves into reality. Welcome home, Rebel. Yes, I am Art Shell. I’ve been a fan of this team since he was playing.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
What lead????? The leads that the team had all year in the 2002 season. If the raiders were up two scores with 10 mins left in the game, he would still pass the ball. Gruden on the other hand would run the ball. More three and outs with you run.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
MR,
You’re an awfully needy guy!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
No, I said you buddy Art Shell, you are just a moron, nothing more.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
MR.. if you are such a Gruden fan, you should be on the bucs blogs site. Why are you wasting your time here?
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Remember that girl in high school who only dated guys who kicked her azz? She thinks it is a sign of love, when it is really a symptom of the girl’s total lack of self respect. MR is the male version of that loser chick (if he’s a male at all). He comes in here to get his daily beatdown, thinking that we must really like him cuz we take the time to punch him in the mouth.
Reminds me of Sally Field when she won the Oscar. Pathos personified.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
McRaider Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
“What lead?????”
…….
Exactly.
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/boxscore/sbxxxvii
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Hey lefty go read up on Stabler and his party days as a Raider, you might learn something.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Uh, I’m a Bucs fan again… Thanks, McRaider. Yesterday, Whiner fan. Today, Buc fan. And Rebel even called me Art Shell, which makes me a Raider fan, too. Come on, guys. Spin the what-team-do-we-accuse-Davis-critics-of-being-fans-of-today Price is Right wheel and just land on something, already.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
MR..man you are a moron.
Look back at the 2002 season then ask “What lead?” I am not talking about the SB Dumb @$$!!!!!!!!!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Callahan definitely never sat on this lead…
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/boxscore/sbxxxvii
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
JR, Back in the seventies, most raider players got drunk Saturday night and went to work on Sunday.
They say that is why the raiders were such a good second half team and why they would come from behind to beat a team. They sobered up for the secind half.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
RAIDERS TELL LAMONT TO STAY HOME
Posted by Mike Florio on July 23, 2008, 3:17 p.m.
The Oakland Raiders have asked running back LaMont Jordan not to report for training camp, a league source tells us.
But the Raiders haven’t released Jordan, or traded him.
The only problem is that, well, the Raiders can’t keep him away. They either need to let him report to camp, trade him, or cut him. (See Favre, Brett.)
The source says that Jordan will try to get the situation resolved quickly. In 2006, quarterback Steve McNair won a grievance against the Titans when the Titans refused to let him participate in offseason workouts.
Thus, it appears to be an open-and-shut case, if Jordan pushes it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
From what I remember about Gruden as our coach and currently with the Bucs, was that he is one of the best in the league Monday-Sat. Draws up great game plans, gets the players motivated and disciplined. But IMO, he is only an average if not below average game manager. Seems like he ran the ball too much at end of games, ( Tuck game), and loses momentum way too easily (last few years with Bucs against Giants and Redskins in playoffs). Certainly Callahan was no upgrade however
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Two words that rarely ever find themselves in the same sentence: “Lead” and “Callahan”.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
McRaider, Rebel, call some kind of meeting together in here and figure out which team I’m a fan of. What keeps happening here is that one of you guys will call me a whiner fan, the other will call me a Buc fan, and you guys wind up shooting each others’ own credibility in the foot. Agree on something, already. Look, I’m trying to help you guys here. You guys look stupid enough with your Al Davis worship. At least get this right.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Lol, o.k. MR, your as dumb as Art Shell, enough said.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
It does not matter who you root for, your a moron and will alwasy be a moron, so I guess your new team is the Morons.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Trestman and Gannon were the upgrade, Vegas. They saw first hand how Chucky kept the team from realizing its offensive potential. Result = MVP for Gannon (and a lucky break for Gruden when he inherited a defense that could still win with a weenie head coach).
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Actually, I never called you a fan of any team. I just noticed how you are swinging off the nuts of Gruden like he’s the best coache ever. I don’t think you’re a fan of any team.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
McRaider Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
JR, Back in the seventies, most raider players got drunk Saturday night and went to work on Sunday.
………
Those were actually good football players, brought here by Ron Wolf. Todays’ players are not good, and, they obviously can’t handle their alcohol, either. Remember, handling alcohol is a genetic trait, not unlike the inner toughness it takes to be a football player. Snake and the boys could get smashed and show up on gameday because they were so tough that a hangover only brought them down to a level that still left them being tougher than most men on the planet. Since our players today are mostly she-males, hand picked by the great Al Davis, hangovers take them from the mediocrity they’re already at down to a level of worthlessness. Really messes with their estrogen levels.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
MR is a good logo for his team, The Morons. He can even get Art Shell to coach them.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
If anyone would know what a she-male is it would be you MR, keep it coming lol.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
MR is a fan of any team, coach, or comment that will get him the abuse he craves.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
MR Says:
“Those were actually good football players, brought here by Ron Wolf.”
“Since our players today are mostly she-males, hand picked by the great Al Davis”
Oh, so now Ron Wolf is only reason that the Raiders were winners back in the seventies. I guess Al Davis will never get credit for doing anything. All of the raider success is because of other people and the mistakes are all Al’s.
That make all the since in the world. I am so sorry it took me so long to get it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
reb,i was there in those days.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
So was I.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
McRaider, most of the NY Giants drink, every night. Hit the clubs in Manhattan. Every night. Hook up with women, every night, except for the married ones (at least most of them). They can drink and still show up on game day. Know why? Because they’re naturally tough guys. Alcohol only takes a little off their edge. Todays’ Raiders are mostly naturally weak men. OK athletes, lot of speed and agility. But nothing as far as pure manhood goes. Men amongst men. It was Wolf who brought in those guys, and maybe Mike Lombardi, as well. He’s of the same school of thought as Wolf. Football players, not athletes. We’re not going to be in any track meets this season. All football games. Al Davis doesn’t get that. Anyhow, that’s the deal as far as drinking goes, too. Our players are not tough enough guys to drink and show up on Sunday. That’s what we’ve been seeing with all of these incidents. Javon getting rolled up in a club? I guarantee you that if some dudes tried to run up on Upshaw or Tatum like that back in the day, it would be the other guys in the hospital with broken eye sockets. Do you really not understand what I’m talking about? Are you just in complete denial of all of this?
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I was around back then, too. Football players in general were different than they are now. They are much better athletes today. Back then they were good athletes, but they were mostly just tough as hell guys.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
MR Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
“Since our players today are mostly she-males…”
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
He claims to be a Raider fan, a team he describes as she-males? WHOA! No wonder people question your manhood…are you posting from the Castro MR?
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Lol, MR siding with Mike Lombardi, I love it and the 19-61 record his players produced.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
on pft.com raiders telling lamont jordan to stay home.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
weren’t those games at Franf Euwell(?) field great.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I remember Villapiano get jacked just like Javon, maybe worse even.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
They almost killed Villapiano.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
It took like 20 Hells Angels to whip Villapiano. If that would have been Javon, he’d be dead. Don’t ever compare the great Raiders of old to these girls on the team today.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
It was Sonny Barger’s chapter that gave Villapiano the business. Barger wasn’t there, but it was his crew. Barger said once that Villapiano put up a good fight with them. They had to crack him with a bottle to take him down. I think he said this in his book.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
They beat him senseless and unconscious, you really are an idiot MR, go back to girls town. Villapiano could not have beaten up his mother, he was drunk.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Denial of what?
Most of that $hi+ you just typed isn’t up for debate.
However, to say that everyone but Al had something to do the great player that the raiders had, is just plain stupid.
Oh, and most players don’t drink the night before a game.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
203 = spurious logic. Villapiano still got jacked, and showed even less sense in fighting Hell’s Angels than javon spraying champagne on clubbers. He couldn’t hold his liquor apparently.
From raidersonline:
“Q: Did you have any nickname as a player?
Phil Villapiano: Foo.”
LMAO.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
MR — I won’t call you a name, and I don’t think you’re really a troll — you seem to actually live in here. But, what I will do is point out how you continually argue with yourself, and then start a quick dust-up to (try to) cover your hypocritical ways.
Pre-or-post-Wolf/Lombardi/Allen, Madden, Flores, Gruden, Callahan, and on and on…..Has Al Davis ever done anything worthy of a kudo from you? I’m thinking your opinion of Al changed as soon as the Raiders moved to L.A. Having read posts here for a few years, I would be willing to bet I’m right about that.
I challenge you MR — if you’re man enough to accept — give us a real, almost-objective assessment of this team, its coaches, and its players…without reiterating how much you hate Al. And without calling-out other posters here for defending their loyalty to the team they love.
We already know how you feel about Al, and how you react when people disagree with you on almost any subject. Yet, you never really give us an assessment of the team and its makeup.
Is it possible the team could be better this year than the past few years? Is it possible that (no matter who is the ultimate decider) the team has a chance to improve before the end of the decade? Is it possible for you to give an opinion on here that is logic-based as opposed to being simply based on your personal dislike of somebody?
The Raiders have had a ton of players over the past 10-years who I couldn’t stand personally (Romanowski, for example), but I never turned my back on the team. Al’s been wrong plenty of times…but who hasn’t?
No matter who’s right or wrong about how the team ended up where it is right now (still one of the great franchises in sports history, by the way) — I challenge you, MR, to give us a position-by-position assessment of the team going into the season. Leave out the stuff we already know about (your feelings about Al), and just talk football. Can you do it?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
MR
I bet when this gets turned around, you will say that Kiffin, Mark Jackson, or Amy Trask were the one’s to do it. Al had nothing to do with it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Football was a part-time job back then. Move on
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
HappyDaze#37
As an old timer on this blog your post #208 will receive no subjective information from MR.
The reason is to the core of his being.
The less he spreads hope and passion about the Raiders, some other person will call him on his analysis of that player.
Then he will have to debate his words, it’s easy to debate what he preceives the truth.
He likes conjecture, half truths, spin and most of all just flat out lies.
His only mission on this blog is to never agree,and direct every attack to Davis.
There have been others who have tried to reason with him. His personality and mission is to destroy this blog and some won’t allow it.
I appreciate your honest try, I know it becomes tiresome to have some person continually post Davis hatred.
I will be attacked for saying this, and my name will be copied by him(MR) his typical response, but never fear we will get through his same old comments and football will be fun to comment on this blog in a few more days.
I can never say never, like he does all the time.
I’M IN
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
From the NY Times about the great Al Davis, the one and only person who deserves the credit for the team’s failures AND successes:
“…Davis managed a number of historic firsts. He became the first owner to draft an African-American quarterback in the first round, Eldridge Dickey, way back in 1968. He made Art Shell the first African-American head coach in the modern era; he made Tom Flores the first Hispanic coach. Amy Trask is the first woman to serve as chief executive of an N.F.L. team. In the 1960s, Davis moved two games out of segregated cities in the deep South when he learned the stands and local hotels would be segregated.”
Later in the article it desribes why Davis lost the ability to completely define his team and its personality:
“What changed was not so much Davis losing his touch as the rest of the league catching up. Two events leveled the playing field. One was the N.F.L.’s belated adoption of more expansive free agency and a salary cap in 1993. As Ortmayer puts it, this was a problem “because it broke down the ability of Al to run the operation totally as a family.” Suddenly the Raiders’ camaraderie had less appeal than the big contract. The other change was that the N.F.L. became more like the Raiders. The N.F.L. now has African-American coaches like Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith and African-American quarterbacks like Steve McNair and Vince Young. The remnants of faux-military culture have given way to a relaxed atmosphere that can accommodate even those players with “attitude” problems… When the Raiders traded Moss to New England this spring, it was a measure of how the N.F.L. has evolved that the wonkish and corporate Patriots, rather than the Raiders, were thought to provide a nurturing environment in which a provocateur like Moss could flourish. Davis’s cultural innovations had been integrated into the N.F.L.’s mother brain.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Bo: I just read that article and tried to post the link, but guess the moderator thought against it. A nice read, like the part about him and Jack Kemp
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I think its fun showing how stupid MR is. He has his good buddy Art Shell on speed dial.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Well said Dell, in post #211.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Bo
Thanks.
And the NY times article is right on.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Well said Dell.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Not a single thing from Raiders.com regarding training camp. No check in photos, no packing up photos, no setting up photos nothing. WTF is going on, do they have a new web admin, if so he sucks…. I NEED MY DAMN FIX…………………….
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
The Raiders have always practiced away from prying eyes and video cameras, its nothing new.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Dakota
Thanks.
How are you?
It’s good to be back
All 32 teams start the year with one mission, and so do we Raider fans.
SB or bust.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Dell — My point exactly. I don’t have time to wait for the (negative) response I’m expecting, so I’ll check in later. Maybe he can do it, maybe he can’t.
Bo — Thanks for the excerpts. That was a great article, one that should be read by every fan of every team.
Raider On
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Einstein,
I have an inside source with the Raiders (her name is Amy Trask) that provided me with a picture of Jamarcus Russell running the first sprints of camp…they day before camp even begins! He really is turning into a leader:
http://content.ytmnd.com/content/3/5/3/353638f879ec4a5f33aa935691f2ed91.jpg
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I’m damn near tired of reading about Gruden – reaching my limits. Its time to move on. We may actually have someone better than Gruden – focus on that will ya’?
The most telling quote of the day: “Most of the change that’s already occurred came in the form of roster turnover. Left offensive tackle Barry Sims, center Jeremy Newberry, wide receiver Jerry Porter, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, cornerback Fabian Washington and free safety Stuart Schweigert are gone.
In their place, the Raiders signed, drafted or traded for the likes of running back Darren McFadden, left offensive tackle Kwame Harris, safety Gibril Wilson, cornerback DeAngelo Hall and receivers Javon Walker and Drew Carter.”
ALL upgrades!! The wind is starting to blow – a turnaround is in the works for sure.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Dakto you punk azz. You had me excited dude….. until I saw a picture of you….
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Sign Farve. He’s manly. It’s our only hope. Gruden would do it. Don’t bother responding.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Dakto? I meant Dakota
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Dakota-isn’t that “Gravy” Jackson in for a try-out?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Dell,
Delighted to have you back, though my hopes for the team are not quite SB or bust…more like 8-8 and a little respect or bust, lol.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Amy also sent me this picture of Rob Ryan walking around the hotel in Napa:
http://www.mushytime.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/ugly_fat_man_big_tummy_funny_pictur.jpg
The new haircut looks good on him!
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
1989 Plan B Free Agency messed up Al M.O.
Set in his ways he has not adjusted.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Dakota- That was funny as hell!!!
I do think we are too hard on russell though. He’s a southern guy who will never be skinny, nor do I want him to be.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
you can tell it’s time for football-alot of old “faces” are returning.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Training camp is here & we can finally start reading about the Raiders from the best sports writer ever. Thanks again Jerry!
Question regarding the O-line; we know they can run block but how does cut-blocking scheme work for pass protection? Or is this technique suited mostly for the run?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Dakota
The reality is you comment is probably closer to the truth.
We can always set our sights higher, SB or bust and if it doesn’t fall that way you just hold out hope for next year.
Why be a passionate fan for a record of wins and losses.
Go out on a limb and think the positive, what do we really have to lose.
A record of 8-8 or get better next year and the SB is the only hope again next year.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Jerry,
You think you can get a photo of Javon Walker’s grill ?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Kool Kell, Memo, Lefty 12, Dakota,
Glad your back, football is back, let’s have some fun.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Memo -
Jerry the best sports writer ever? Actually that award belongs to Nancy Gay, and here indepth love of the Raiders and Al Davis…
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Dell,
I thought doubling our win total was thinking positive!
Remember, I am a conservative…
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
WARREN SAPP addressed the subject, as did Jerry Porter, Stuart Schweigert and Chris Carr. Each was cryptic in describing his experience with the Raiders and an owner who hasn’t achieved his desired goal in a quarter-century.
As the 2008 Raiders, with a dramatically altered roster, begin workouts Thursday in Napa, the veiled references of springtime are history. What lingers is the insinuation that the organization is its own worst enemy.
It’s not that the Raiders can’t succeed but that any chance to do so demands that the talent overcome a culture that is whimsical, cannibalistic and, naturally, fraught with anxiety.
In short, win despite unhealthy conditions.
No doubt owner Al Davis has added talent. That he spent more than ever speaks to his desperation.
For the first time since the 1980s, Oakland has the best cornerback tandem in football. Nnamdi Asomugha and DeAngelo Hall will need no more help in 2008 than Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes needed in 1983 — the last Super Bowl championship season. Indeed, the overall defensive secondary will be vastly improved.
For the first time since the 1980s, the Raiders have a running back who rides into the NFL on a vessel of hype. Darren McFadden is their most touted young runner since the Marcus Allen/Bo Jackson years.
Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly’s huge new contract was presented with the hope that he will be as versatile and outstanding
as Howie Long was in 1983.
JaMarcus Russell enters his second season, first as starter, as the most heralded young quarterback in Raiders history.
Such tremendous promise.
Such fragile chemistry.
Sapp spent the final four years of his NFL career in Oakland. He’s one of the best defensive linemen ever. He’s observant, intelligent and outspoken — often theatrically so.
He described his Raiders experience as “dark as a black hole.” Sapp, in a post-retirement interview with the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, minced no words.
“Stuff went on in that organization that shouldn’t go on in sports,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anyone who knows who or what is making the call. Let’s just say the Oakland experience is unique.”
Carr, a return man and backup cornerback now in Tennessee, described his parting as “bittersweet” because he was fond of coaches and teammates.
“But there’s just so much other stuff going on there that it makes it difficult,” he told the Nashville City Paper.
Schweigert, a safety now in Washington, said being released left him feeling “like a thousand-pound bear” was lifted off his chest.
Porter said in February that there are too many detrimental forces at work for the Raiders to flourish. Shortly after signing with Jacksonville in March, he said being a Raider had become a “burden.”
None of the ex-Raiders seemed especially bitter, none dwelled on the topic.
Because so many are curious about Oakland’s decline, the issue is bound to come up again.
Unless the Raiders recover.
Which, considering the many subplots, will be quite the challenge in 2008.
Will there be any fallout from defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s return after even he figured he was gone? Can the Raiders thrive when it’s known that Davis had one desire and coach Lane Kiffin another? How many rounds will the Al vs. Lane bout last?
And then there are the persistent rumblings about certain assistant coaches being displeased (to put it mildly) with Kiffin — not unlike what Mike Shanahan faced in 1989. Shanahan was fired a month into the season.
Oakland’s two best players in recent years, defensive end Derrick Burgess and Asomugha, longing for big paydays, witnessed the lavish deals given Kelly and Hall. Burgess and Asomugha are pros, but even pros can feel unappreciated.
Contract size was a factor when veteran wideout Ronald Curry, another pro, implied newly acquired Javon Walker is the team’s No. 1 receiver.
It’s a lot to overcome. An awful lot.
The Raiders, 19-61 since 2002, want to revive a franchise at the lowest point of its 47-year history. They have horses, so they have a chance.
But the best of thoroughbreds need luck and, moreover, the strength to hurdle any obstacles before them.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Winning = Happy(ForMe)
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
DONT SAY ADAM SPHINCTER
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
same to you Dell.i also wish SB but reality says around 8-8.about Zone pass blocking.i think with the way Kiffin likes to use the roll-out and move the QB around that pass blocking isn’t as important as with a pocket passer.don’t get me wrong,it’s still important but not as much.that’s why you can get by with lesser talented guys.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Mods, if people can post under my name, can’t they get the “awaiting moderation”, too? Fine. Guess I have to go undercover now, myself.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
What it do, Nation!
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
HOLY CRAP MY RAIDER BROTHERS I CANT WAIT FOR THE SEASON TO BEGIN. SUCH OPTIMISM THIS YEAR. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME RAIDER FOOTBALL????
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
post239-thanks for your thoughts Jason Jones@sac. bee
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Dakota
True and valid point.
How many Giant fans were hoping for a winning record last year.
The only saw Dallas and Philly in the their way of a playoff spot.
They had a terrible year in 2006, almost fired the head coach,sound familiar and went 10-6 in 2007.
Do you honestly believe they the fans had SB hopes, probably not. They just wanted a winning record or a playoff spot.
You just never know.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
MR, Why are you posting articles and not using your own words?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
243 is not me.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Sure it isn’t MR…. Like we believe you, or as if you have a single ounce of credibility on this blog… dumb azz….
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Lunch break, later Lefty and Dakota.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
The Autumn Wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea
With a rollicking song he sweeps along
swaggering boisterously…………
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
PACKERS NATION !!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Dell,
We will win the SB within the next three years…I guarantee it*.
*Dakota’s SB win within the next three years Guarantee is subject to the following Terms and Conditions:
1.Al Davis does not fire Lane Kiffin
2.Al Davis fires Rob Ryan after the 2008 season
3.Russell and McFadden live up to their potential
4.Al Davis drafts Al Woods, DT LSU next season
5.Al Davis retains Cable
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Nancy Gay will end up owning the Raiders…..
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Hey fellas, a bit of history before Camp begins…
I had heard the rumors but never before had a chance to read about it from the men who were actually involved, take a look at this article:
Read it, it´s wort it……..
“Sunday, October 29, 2006
BY PAUL NEEDELL
Star-Ledger Staff
John Elway a Raider?.
According to two people with knowledge of a potential pre-draft trade, the Colts had reached a deal to send the No. 1 pick of the 1983 draft to the Raiders — only to have the deal blocked by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle.
“We almost had Elway, but Pete Rozelle voided the trade,” former Raiders personnel man Ron Wolf told The Star-Ledger last week. “We had the trade set up with Baltimore, but Pete wouldn’t let it happen.”
Rozelle and Raiders owner Davis spent many years in the 1980s in courtrooms over the Raiders’ move from Oakland to Los Angeles, among other issues. Simply put, the two didn’t like each other.
Ernie Accorsi, then the GM of the Colts, now the Giants’ GM, confirmed a deal was in place with the Raiders that would have netted Baltimore an unprecedented three No. 1 picks and two No. 2s.
One of the No. 1s, Accorsi said, would have been the sixth overall, which the Raiders had arranged to acquire from the Bears.
“Yeah, it’s never been written, but I was going to make the deal only if it included getting back a top 10 pick,” Accorsi said. “I wanted to make sure we still got (Hall of Fame quarterback) Dan Marino. I wasn’t going to trade Elway for anything less than the best package ever.”
Wolf said he didn’t know the details of the almost-trade, but said he was was told by someone in the Colts’ organization that “it was much better” than what Baltimore later received from the Broncos for Elway after the draft. That deal included back-up QB Mark Hermann, tackle Chris Hinton and a first-round draft pick.
The deal apparently had been made by Davis and late Colts owner Robert Irsay.
So what happened?
“Irsay capitulated with the commissioner,” Wolf said.
Even late Bears general manager Jim Finks was baffled. Accorsi said he called him and said, “Are we getting (played) here? Because somebody’s killed the deal, and it’s not me.”
All parties thought a trade was set for the glamour-boy quarterback to land with the Raiders and Davis.
Irsay was worried that Elway would use his minor-league contract with the Yankees as leverage to never play for the Colts. While Accorsi tried to hold firm and call Elway’s bluff, teams often went over the GM’s head and called Irsay with offers.
So, before the draft, when someone from the Raiders called Accorsi and said, “Mr. Davis wants to know what it would take to get the rights to Elway,” the response was, “You don’t have the arsenal.”
Accorsi wanted the three No. 1s and a No. 2 — with a top 10 choice. The Raiders had the 26th choice in Round 1, but were prepared to send Chicago several players to also acquire the sixth spot. Accorsi agreed to accept the Raiders’ No. 1 pick in 1984, too.
Everything was in place — except the final go-ahead from Rozelle. That never came.
“Davis had his suspicions that Pete killed it,” Accorsi said. “All I knew was I was going to get the best deal ever or I wasn’t trading him.”
True to his word, Accorsi didn’t trade Elway. Irsay did.
Now, let the record show that all that prevented Elway from becoming a Raider was Rozelle.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Whats going on Raider Dell?
I has been awhile & finally I can converse with people who have a clue of what they are talking about.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Worth it…not wort it…
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I have a question:
Why is Lamont still on the team? I’m starting to feel sorry for the guy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Man, what could have been….first thought in my mind was Elway, Marcus and Bo together for a few years.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Nice post Marley.
They say there is no “Conspiracy” against us.
Dell nice to see you back, are you pumped for the upcoming season or what!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
So Guys,
Do you guys thin because Al Davis is Hebrew is why everyone is against him (I guess the J word is verbotten)
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
HayesDaze#37
For the last few days, I’ve just been reading what others have said. Your post 208 was one of the most reasoned responses to MR. His response, copy an article by Jason Jones without crediting the author was typical. He will never accept your challenge as he is not capable of generating original thought. Good try and kudos for your post.
I’m in.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I wonder how many other smart “Al” type moves were stymied over the Rozelle era?
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Elway in S&B…that would have been great. Hopefully Russell is the next Elway.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
no koolkell I think its because he sold his soul to devil years ago and hell hounds like nancy gay and ann killion are on his trail.
Either that or he is the “Chosen One”
Your guess is as good as mine.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
John Elway was the First Guy that I know of who tried to leverage baseball to get out from the team that drafted him.
The League didn’t want that precedent set.
Was that personal against Al Davis, or in the best interests of the League?
You be the Judge
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
It was personal against Al Davis, anything else, or even an assumption of anything else is mutiny…
You can now walk the plank KoolKell……
j/k dude..
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I love you Marley.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
in 30 min. on NFL channel-top 10 controversial calls.should be interesting with a lot of Raider plays.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
lol
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
The Raiders need to go after Eric Parker before its too late.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
KoolKell…265
What?….
He was traded anyway, just not to the Raiders but to the Broncis and for much less than the Raiders offered.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Yeah, I’d like to see them try to explain the Tuck Rule.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Yeah, after Elway stuck to his guns and called the leagues bluff, If I’m not mistaken, this is all from memory of course. Elway left and attended spring training with the Yankees. Forcing the Leagues hand. It was a first time situation.
Of course Al & Pete hated each other.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Jerry Mac…
Has, Bay Area Newsgroup, sprung for the Greyhound ticket and the suite at Motel 6, for you yet???
Time, is a ticking.
Just
Cut
LaMont,
Baby!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
KoolKell,
Other owners of AD’s faith
Arthur Blank – Owner, Falcons Al Davis – Owner, Raiders Malcom Glazer – Owner, Bucaneers Robert Kraft – Owner, Patriots Randy Lerner – Owner, Browns Jeffrey Lurie – Owner, Eagles Art Modell – Owner, Ravens Dan Snyder – Owner, Redskins Andy Sugarman – Assistant Coach, 49ers Robert Tisch – 1/2 Owner, Giants.
I don’t believe its solely a discrimination issue. Goes back to the merger.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
if i remember right didn’t Pete also tell the coliseum commission not to worry-the NFL wouldn’t let the Raiders move?
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
That was from an old internet article. I know Art Modell is not an owner.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Art Modell? did’nt know that. He’s probably the only one who’s Al’s contemporary.
Yeah, I know , it goes back to the merger between Al & Pete. Why not Lamar Hunt? he’s the real bigwig of that and crowned Rozelle.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Al will forever be cloaked in immortality as a NFL legend once he passes.
Then and only then will he get good press.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Ben Davidson and Lyle Alzado were also of AD’s faith.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Dickie V: I agree with you These was the gayest and sorriest comments every by a “reporter, gm, player personnel, wannabe”. Lombardi has shown he’s a complete B****. It’s fuuny that he said, ‘you can never leave” because he was kicked out! hahahaha
I’d be embarrassed of those remarks.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
MR Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Al screwed my mother in the late 60’s.
______________________________________
He said she was a lousy F***. Gave her 6 different STD’s. lol
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
so the Raiders tell Lamont Jordan dont even bother showing to camp/….I lOVE IT!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Football Season I Here,
I wanna see you guys walk it like you talk it. I’m pumped.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
does anyone know if john madden will be doing the commentary on the new madden 09?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Cry me a river.
People who liked Gruden are labeled Buc fans, but you guys can pine over Elway and it’s just fine. Uhm, the guy’s a Bronco, last I checked. Through and through. So it looks like we have some undercover Donks fans in here. Elway lovers…
If Davis would have weaseled his way to getting Elway, believe me, Elway would have demanded a trade by ‘86, right around the time it was evident the Raiders were falling apart. We would not have won a Super Bowl with Elway. 7 step drop? That’s part of the reason Elway clashed with Reeves. Reeves liked that leather helmet b.s., too. Elway wanted a more advanced, pass percentage offense. Obviously, he would not have gotten that in Los Angeles. Elway and Al would have been at each others throats. Al probably would have tried to pull a Marcus on Elway. In fact, anyone who knows Al Davis and the Raiders knows for a fact that’s how it would have wound up.
You guys are in fantasy land.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Check this one..
http://bleacherreport.com/article:the-bay-area-sports-press-where-ethics-go-to-die
Stuff you probably knew, but a good read nonetheless..
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
martial faulk is doing the commentary along with bret farve for madden 09
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
PACKER NATION
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Hey, you guys think Elway regrets not going to the Raiders? HA HA HA!!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Bleacher report is a fan blog. Most of you are actually smarter than the idiots who post there…so that tells you how seriously bleacherreport should be taken.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Well this Wesley signing is all about nothing. The guy is a long shot to make the team and if he does it’ll be as a benchwarmer.
as for the Yahoo! owners rankings, K-Rock was quick to take us down memory lane and mention Al’s 3 SB titles between 1977 and 1983. It doesn’t matter. Read what was said. The “once great” owner is past his prime and appears to be past his effective age.
Yahoo is ranking the CURRENT owners. They acknowledge he WAS great. WAS is the operative word. I’m surprised he was only second to last. K-Rock’s reasoning only reinforces the arguement that Al is out of touch. How do you go from being so good to being sooo bad under the same owner? The only possible answer is Al has lost it.
Pittsburg, Green Bay, Dallas all have gone from powerhouse to doghouse and back to powerhouse in Al’s tenure. How? They not only cut players who were past their prime and brought in youth, they also cut loose management that was living in the past.
Al Davis is an ownership Brett Favre. The more he tries to make one last boost to his legacy, the more he tarnishs it. Al would have far more respect and success if he showed the wisdom to get out of the way.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
There is not a more comforting, relieving, life affirming thought that passes through John Elways’ mind today than that of him winding up in Denver and not Los Angeles. There’s no bigger bullet that he’s dodged in his life.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
go buy your Wesley jerseys while they last.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Old people think they know it all, bless em.
At one time maybe they did. But times change. Life is change.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Preach, C.O.W. (pun re: K Rock being a pastor very much intended)
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
MR you are the one who earlier said the Raiders invented the wc offense and Walsh stold it. Get your stories straight and just maybe, highly doubtful, someone will take you seriously, until then stfu. Elway would have easily elevated the Raiders to the Superbowl. Its just another example of your pathetic spin on reality. Go phone M. Lombardi and Shell to run your moronic fantasy teams. Your flip flopping reminds me of Obama, oh I forgot you are in bed with him too.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Oops!! my bad, try this one:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/40356-the-bay-area-sports-press-where-ethics-go-to-die
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Another thing for people to remember is that these writers know that Jon Gruden built the most recent Raiders conference championship team. These guys have better sources than Raiders.com and blog dwellers like “Bob Marley”. So in case you’re wondering why Yahoo.sports didn’t factor in 2000-2002, it’s because Al had very little to do with it, other than hiring Gruden. And when you consider what he wound up doing with Gruden, and how it cost him both on the field and off, it nullifies whatever good came out of that era. It’s just another testament to how much Al has lost it. I agree with Coach. I can’t believe Al was ranked as high as he was.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Coach on Wheels = Voice of reason.
Coach what is up sir? good to see you alive and active.
NATION what is up?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Rebel, I said that Stabler “practically” invented what the Niners used in the ’80s. I specifically said Stabler. Al Davis? Stabler had Al Davis on IGNORE his entire career in Oakland. Al always badgered Snake to force the deep ball, according to Snake, in his book. Snake would just “yes” him and do what he wanted, instead. That’s how we win. When we have people with enough will to simply run the team under Al’s nose, their way.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Elway 13-16 versus the Raiders lifetime.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hi fellas!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
My goodness C.O.W, what a bummer article. It’s what I’ve been saying all along though.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Madden called the plays not Stabler, keep spinning your myths MR. Back to Gruden again I see, more b.s. You can cover your azz but its your face thats doing all the stinking. Keep trying MR we are enjoying your stupid posts. I bet you were abused as a kid, which anyone in their right mind would consider a good thing for you.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I wish all the writers would quit quoting Mike Lombardi. He doesn’t provide insight, he provides revengeful hatred. He is despicable, what he did to leak info while employed by the Raiders was atrocious. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word loyalty. The article he wrote two weeks ago for SI was a thinly veiled attempt to slam the Raiders again. For him to say Kiffin can’t call a game because he called a run on a 3rd and 2 in KC in week whatever was ignorant and childish. I won’t read him again and hate to see his quotes in places like this.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Rebel, Madden has said repeatedly that Stabler calls his own plays. Do you know anything about the Raiders? Other than the mythological B.S. the team spews anymore?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Stabler used what is called an audible MR.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
“Those were great times,” he said. “Quarterbacks called the plays in those days, and John basically just threw the playbook at me at the start of the week and said, ‘Pick out what you want.’
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/06/05/SPGPKD3F5S1.DTL
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
NIce post and nice read.
“The fact that the Raiders aren’t a team to air their dirty laundry in public has apparently given the hacks out there the green light to embellish things to their little hearts’ content”
This is exactly what I have been saying in this forum for years about nancy gay, ann killion, monte poole etc.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Mike Lombardi: ” A modest little person, with so much to be modest about.”–Winston Churchill
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Rebel, again, do you know anything about the Raiders? Haven’t you ever read Snake’s book? It’s one of the best books ever written about the Raiders, a sentiment shared by both Davis kool aid drinkers and realistic critics, alike. Snake says repeatedly that he called his own plays, in his book. Madden has said so repeatedly. Have you ever read anything about the Raiders other than the fairy tales from Raiders.com?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Again, rebel.
This is a direct quote from the Snake:
“Those were great times,” he said. “Quarterbacks called the plays in those days, and John basically just threw the playbook at me at the start of the week and said, ‘Pick out what you want.’
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/06/05/SPGPKD3F5S1.DTL
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
“As for Nancy Gay, she is to the Raiders what Alanis Morrisette is to men”
How does this guy do it? He nails it every time I swear I have said these things in here many times.
Bleacher Report RULES!!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Kenny “The Snake” Stabler, my all time favorite QB
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
See you guys tonight.
Johnny Rebel, seriously, study some other sources on the Raiders than just Raider press releases. Ken Stabler and John Madden are not conspiring Al bashers. They’ve both written great books on the Raiders, and have both said that Stabler called his own plays when he was here. This is practically common knowledge. You have to be 10 years old to not know this.
You really got owned today for jumping the gun on something you obviously know nothing about.
See you tonight, dude.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Thec
What’s up my main man!!
Football is ready to start.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Dell,
What up Brother….? Waiting for some info, stoked about the NATION in general.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
SNB666
My Raider brother, holding down the poisonous writers we all know to be snakes, liars. and above all else, have very little football knowledge.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Good I am glad you said it, Stabler had a playbook to follow, he did not just make up plays on the field you idiot.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Thec
Did you get your tickets to Raiders vs SD at Qualcomm?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
So Mr. lets get this straight, AD deserves no credit for 00-02 because it was mostly all Gruden’s doing. Fine. But who hired that young kid who had never had a head coaching job at any level?? Does he deserve credit for that or did Gruden hire himself?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I am waiting on some friends to decide but i will be at the game they eliminated the 3 game purchase rule.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Stabler called the plays during the game.a game plan was made beforehand,then the QB ran the show,not like today when the coaches call the plays and the QBs run them.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
By the way, Raiders are 2 point underdogs opening night? There is an old saying in Vegas “home dogs cover”. Let’s hope they don’t lose by a point
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Dell did you read that article it was great!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
As we continue to work our way out of the NFL’s basement, we find ourselves stumped.
We’ve already taken care of the Falcons, Dolphins, and Chiefs, three teams that should abandon all hope as they enter the 2008 season.
Now it’s getting tricky. The Rams were 3-13 in 2007, but if their offensive linemen can stay healthy, they will be a lot better this time around. The Jets were 4-12, and they have spent at least enough money to go 6-10, maybe 7-9. The Raiders were bad (as usual, of late), but they have improved the roster as well – even though they arguably overpaid tremendously for more than a few of them.
So we put the names in a hat and pulled one out engaged in lengthy and careful discussions and deliberations, and we have decided that, of this trio, the team that deserves the No. 29 spot on the preseason power rankings is the (drum roll, please) Raiders.
Remember, these rankings aren’t a prediction about how a team will finish, but only a snapshot of where they are right now. We think that the Raiders will improve as the season progresses, and that they could flirt with a .500 record.
For now, though, the team is a bit of a mess. Rumors have flown about the status of head coach Lane Kiffin, who might be destined to be dumped after the season (if not sooner) regardless of how well things turn out this year. The ability of JaMarcus Russell to become a high-end quarterback is still in doubt, and it’s unknown whether rookie running back Darren McFadden will be the next Adrian Peterson . . . or the next Reggie Bush.
Then there’s Javon Walker. As rumor has it, Raiders owner Al Davis thinks that Walker will be the key to the team’s fate in 2008. If that’s the case, Walker won’t be spraying champagne come February. (At least, not in a locker room.)
On defense, the presence of DeAngelo Hall could be a force, if the defensive line can put some/any pressure on the quarterback. Gibril Wilson shores up the last line of defense. If Michael Huff finally can play like a top-ten draft pick, the secondary could be among the best in the league.
Still, for now, there are too many negatives to ignore.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Ok PFT is slowly starting to come around, it takes wins to be loved again. The day is here, today the change is starting.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
SNB666
I read the article, anybody that can write and places a smile on my face is alright by me.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Stabler always called his own plays. Back then, that’s how most teams did it. He and Madden would gameplan beforehand, but Stabler ran the show on the field. Everybody knows that.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Thec
You have to go, we need all the Nation there to scream and yell.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Mike Florio, at pft.com. Has the Raiders ranked 29th. Ahead of the chefs, Dolphins and Falcons, respectfully.
Idiot.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
not everybody!
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Dell my brother i will be there wearing my black fadden authentic.
I will watch as the NATION ascends to its Birthright.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Gruden is god.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
NFL network has us 27,i believe.until we show otherwise with some wins,that’s about right.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Dell… damn, beat me to it….lol…
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Stabler had a list of plays to use just like in todays NFL. He did not just go out there and make up plays to run, he followed the script and changed it up when he had to. In almost all the crucial situations the coaches called the plays using a timeout to discuss what needed to be done or by platooning players in and out of the lineup. To say Stabler called all his own plays is stretching the truth like MR loves to do to try and validate his moronic points about Davis.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
909raiderlifer
I will never again post any article without you being the first to know.
I love your moniker, pretty nice.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Friendly reminder of the events that lead to Rich Gannon becoming a Raider….from “the horse´s mouth”:
Source: Jon Gruden´s Book, Do you Love Football? Winning with Heart, Passion and Not Much Sleep. September 2003.
“Jeff George had an option in his contract after the ’98 season, and we didn’t pick it up, thus allowing him to become a free agent.
There were a couple of other free-agent quarterbacks available whom we were interested in—Rich Gannon, who had been with the Chiefs, and Trent Green, who had been with the Redskins.
The 1999 draft also was going to be a big one for quarterbacks with Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith, Daunte Culpepper and Cade McNown expected to be first-round picks—which they were.
Gannon was thirty-three years old and had kind of bounced around the league.
But he had played well against the Raiders, and Al Davis and Bruce Allen wanted me to take a look at him.
When I watched his game film, I saw a great athlete; he was always a threat to run the ball. I saw an accurate passer. The bottom line was that the guy was a winner.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Dell…fair enough… lo..effin..l…
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
LaMont is going to be a distraction as soon as he gets on that field. His lawyer will file a grievence and win the lock out judgement!
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
New post
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Yahoo Sports Rates NFL Owners.
31. Oakland Raiders, Al Davis
Davis, 79, hasn’t just lost his fastball; the man has lost his changeup, and his metaphorical catcher keeps assuring him he’s better than Bob Gibson in his prime. The decline of a once-brilliant football mind would be sad if it weren’t so damaging, not to mention his behavior so nonsensical. Davis, after hiring 31-year-old Lane Kiffin as coach in January of ‘07, grew so disenchanted with him in less than a year that he drafted a resignation letter. But when Kiffin balked, Davis – in an apparent effort to save what a source says was $1.7 million – kept him around, albeit in emasculated fashion. Then, surrounded by yes men (along with top executive Amy Trask, who is smart enough to know better) and armed with the estimated $150 million he scored after selling 20 percent of the team to a trio of hedge-fund managers last fall, Davis went on a spending spree that baffled his peers, handing out huge bonuses for players like wideout Javon Walker, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Equally perplexing was the way he caved and gave a fair-market contract to No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell last September after the season had started, when the quarterback’s rookie year was essentially a washout. The Raiders, since their Super Bowl XXXVII defeat to the Bucs, are 19-61 over the past five seasons, the NFL’s worst record during that span. But in Davis’s distorted world, it’s always somebody else’s fault.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Johnny Rebel
I can tell with MR you guys are going to be spliting hairs on this subject.
Your post #344 is correct.
I remember this and I started watching the Raiders in 1967, I was 10.
On crucial downs during the course of the game, Madden many times would change personell based on the score and yardage, those players who came in the huddle relayed plays to Stabler from big John.
The person who usually did was Pete Banaszak. Stabler has a list to work off of as you said, but during the game many crucial calls were made on the sideline by staff and big John.
I may be old but my eyes still work, this was when I attended games at the old Coliseum and watching them on TV it appeared to me Stabler was getting plays from the sideline as well.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I’ll be there i am a San Diego native Raider fan.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Folks, reality is all that matters. I know, I know, it is so much more fun to think Darnell Bing is a freak and Donovan Darius is going to make the Big Nickel a force but then reality crept in.
People whine about “haters” and bitter writers but what is the reality? The RAIDERS give guys like Lombardi credability every time the step on the field or into a strip club.
Going into this season the Raiders had the number 4 draft position. That means based on ACTUAL ON-FIELD PERFORMANCE we are the 29th best team in the league. This comes a year after being the WORST team in the league. This comes on the heels of a five season stretch with the worst record in the league. Any ranking above 29 is unearned optimism.
Nancy Gay didn’t hire Art Shell. Monte Poole didn’t overpay Javon Walker, he just wrote about it. Writers can’t keep the Raiders out of the playoffs but Al Davis sure can.
I’m In? Really? How do you go into camp as a player and say “I’m in” when the owner has said, “I’m not in”?
Al has made Kiffin, Gnapp and Cable into lame duck coaches. You think Kiffin is inexperienced? Lofton has never called plays! He has never been more than a position coach at any level. He is Al’s next Art Shell. Great. When someone writes about reality instead of killing the messanger maybe we should look at those who are accoutable. Starting at the top.
No writer with any credability is going to say Walker was a good signing at this point. Why? Oh because their haters of course.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
It’s pretty clear that MR was Gruden’s secret lover. I have never heard a guys swing on another guys the MR does with Gruden.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
303 — No way that’s the real COW. COW knows how to spell Knapp, among other things…
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Regarding Lombardi, the dude should let it go already. No one likes to be fired but have just a little class.
Since the Denver Bronco’s told him to hit the road after a short time of him working for them for nothing. Wow, when a team lets you go when you are working for nothing that says something. He has not been able to find another NFL job since.
If one has been watching Lombardi anytime he can get a dig in on the Raiders he goes for it. He should have known the Raiders were going to fire him once it came to the public and Raiders attention he was the Rat in the house during Shells stay.
This guy is a real clown and has the character of a slug.
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