Elephant in the room is Russell
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at 5:19 pm in Oakland Raiders.
There’s an elephant in the room at the NFL scouting combine, and it’s name is JaMarcus Russell.
The top quarterback in this year’s draft doesn’t figure to get the kind of money Russell received in 2007 once a rookie wage scale is in place within a new collective bargaining agreement.
But quarterback is a substantial investment, but a growing number of coaches and general managers are talking up work ethic, decision making and leadership skills _ all areas which Russell failed miserably, lasting three years and costing the Raiders $39 million.
The Raiders won’t be looking for a quarterback early in the draft, but one of their former quarterbacks, Rich Gannon, invoked Russell’s name when assessing Auburn’s Cam Newton for a story which will post later tonight and run in Sunday’s Bay Area News Group papers.
Newton raised eyebrows earlier this week when he talked about being not just a football player, but an “entertainer and an icon.”
You can imagine how that went over with Gannon.
“People are going to make the obvious comparison. A lot of people were in love with JaMarcus Russell. But I think there’s so much more to playing the position than pure skill. If you put Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in shorts and put him out there with some of these guys, it’d be embarrassing. They’d get clobbered,” Gannon said.
“But put them in a small space, in a system, these guys are like surgeons. From the shoulders up, how much professional football does this guy understand? Punts and coverages and pressure packages and can he get in and out of plays and audibles. It’s a process for a lot of young guys. Certainly the kid doesn’t lack confidence.”
Understanding the NFL will take countless hours and Gannon wonders if Newton is mature enough to be ready to put in the time.
“I’ve got to tell you, what’s really a concern for me is some of the comments he’s made, his conduct since the end of the season. A month before the combine, to have a workout in California for media only was a mistake,” Gannon said. “I think is comment about coming out and being an entertainer and an icon. That’s not the kind of guy I want in my building. I’m not looking for a guy on Tuesdays that’s doing commercials and signing autographs at the mall. I want a guy that’s in the building. I think he you turn a lot of people off when you make those kinds of comments.”
Newton acquited himself fairly well at his press conference. He talked about being dedicated and football being his top priority, and said his “entertainer and icon” quote had to do with promoting an endorsement deal with Under Armour.
Virtually all the quarterbacks talked up the preparation aspect, having been well-schooled by their agents.
The quarterback taking the worst beating at present is Arkansas Ryan Mallett, who declined to confront rumors of drug use (a denial would have been a good thing if he was in a position to deny it). Should Mallett fall far enough, he could find one fan by the name of Al Davis in Oakland based on this one quote alone:
Q: How far can you throw a ball?
Mallett: I can throw it 80-plus.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
February 26th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
1st
February 26th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
A lot of people were in love with JaMarcus Russell. including realmaddenraider
February 26th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
Arkansas Ryan Mallett reminds me of jim plunkett bwahaaaaaaaaa!
February 26th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
If we can get Mallett in the 4th or 5th round, he be worth the pick. He would need to ride the pine while learning about his team’s offensive system, how professional NFL QB’s must commit to learning and demonstrate those commitments for at least two years. JCampbell will be our starter, barring injury, for the next 2 or 3 years minimum. By then, if all the above happened we might be well off QB-wise for the next decade.
February 26th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Easy for Rich Gannon to sit on his high horse and pass judgement. He had two HOF WRs, one of which was named the best PLAYER of all time by the NFL Network. Try throwing to DHB and Murphy as rookies with no pass pro, run game or defense. Rich Gannon needs to STFU! I’d take Mallett or Newton on my team any day.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
OG John Moffitt has looked pretty solid at the Combine thus far, and he was a guy who wasn’t supposed to be all that impressive in drills.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
JaMarcus is the elephant in the room, in any building he walks into…ba da bing!….
February 26th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Rich Gannon?!?!?! Please go away, nobody cares what you think. Who does this dude think he is? That sb performance was the worst I have ever seen. Neil odonnel & Tony eason think Gannon stunk it up. Gannon couldn’t carry newton’s jock in an 18 wheeler!
February 26th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
How about Marcus Cannon in the 2nd? I know his 5.2 at 350+ impressed Davis.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Chris Landry NFL Scout on FSR: “JaMarcus Russell is still out of shape and hasn’t shown teams he’s motivated to play in NFL.”
February 26th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Yeah, this years QB class is nothing special.
Gabbard was a system QB and so is Newton. Newton just relied on his atheletic ability but he will wind up being another Vince Young IMO.
Mallett is doesn’t have good footwork and pocket awareness and he is a big stiff in the pocket. Plus he has problems in the head just like Newton.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Raiders need to take a hard look at TCU OL Marcus Cannon in Round 2.
He can play RG or RT and is a mauler with long arms and good footwork.
If Hue wants the O-Line to turn into some nasty bullies, than Cannon would be a good pick in Round 2….IF he is there.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
We could take Mallet with a 3rd rounder and I’d be ok with that.
Not a bad spot for a project if he falls that far.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
GoodOle00 Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
33. After Marinovich and He who shall not be named I wouldn’t worry about Oakland trying to draft Cam Newtron
================
Netron. Ha!
February 26th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Next year’s QB class is going to be far better than this year’s. No way should the Raiders take Mallett any higher than the 5th or 6th, and that’s only if no one else is there.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
So how many years was Gannon a failure before he was in the right system with the right coach? If he wouldn’t have been brought in, the Raiders wouldn’t have been as good but he would have gone down as a total failure. He needs to give every other player the same time to succeed or fail as it took him. Hypocrite.
How many other players have missed out?
Kind of like the trolls here, how much better would their lives have been if Davis hadn’t pissed in their Cheetoes? Then again, haters gotta hate so they would have just been complaining about something else, somewhere.
BAN THE TROLLS or add in user up/down moderation with a level filter.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Chris Landry is on the local Tampa Buc’s radio station every Friday and gives this on Russel and Quinn
http://www.620wdae.com/main.html
Russell
* refuses to learn how to break down film
* turned off scouts and FO personnel with his statement at the combine “prefer to go to whatever team pays me the most’ and being out of shape
Brady Quinn
tutored by best offensive mind in the NFL will be very successful.
Also on this station various agents have reported that Russel will not be successful.
( don’t kill the messenger)
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
This POS lives near LSU and has been bashing JR since his college days. Wonder what he thinks of Brady Quinn now? Out of shape? Yeah, just like he was 300 pounds before last year’s minicamp. We’ll see.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Gabbard was a system QB and so is Newton. Newton just relied on his atheletic ability but he will wind up being another Vince Young IMO.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Rooki of the Year? 30-17 as a starter? A Pro Bowl? Think I’d be happy with that if I were him.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Russell is not going to be playing in the NFL again. Especially not for the Oakland Raiders.
February 26th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Who is rich Gannon without rice, brown gruden & Al Davis? Rusty Hilger maybe, probably not even that good
February 26th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Mistic1 Tha Supavillain Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Who is rich Gannon without rice, brown gruden & Al Davis? Rusty Hilger maybe, probably not even that good
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Agreed. You should have heard the guy make every excuse in the book for Carson Palmer the other day on Sirius. He said having a rookie TE, dealing with T.O./Ochocinco and a bad defense affected his performance, but that he’s still a franchise guy. He’s never mentioned one thing about JR’s supporting cast in 2009. It’s to the point when I hear him on the radio, I change the station.
February 26th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Debo we all know Gannon is a hater that was upset that Davis wouldn’t take him back after his neck injury. What a loser.
February 26th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
I see Mallet as a Derek Anderson type. Good arm, throws to many picks. Don’t see him having successful NFL carreer. K
February 26th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
The Raiders have been very important to me ever since Bo ran into the tunnel on that Monday in Seattle. I was 8 at the tine and have no memory of us winning Super Bowls. Since that time Gannon has been the best QB we’ve had. The only QB who had given us multiple playoff victories. When you here him speak you can tell he likes the Raiders and wants to see them do well. Don’t understand the team or any fans having a problem with this guy
February 26th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Al Davis is the Rooster.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
The Raiders should consider drafting a backup QB. Hopefully they are able to keep Bruce as a back-up QB.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Guy Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
How about Marcus Cannon in the 2nd? I know his 5.2 at 350+ impressed Davis.
……………….reminds me of jim plunkett
February 26th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
jim plunkett reminds me of jim plunkett
February 26th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Mistic1 Tha Supavillain Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Rich Gannon?!?!?! Please go away, nobody cares what you think.
********************************
Actually, he gets paid very well by two of the biggest NFL media networks (CBS and Sirius) to tell people what he thinks, and is pretty well-regarded in the industry.
He is not going away anytime soon, in fact his media presence continues to grow every year, because PEOPLE CARE WHAT HE THINKS.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Should I even be watching the combine?
Just saw young Wisnewski run the 40. Wasn’t too impressed, lol.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
what movie was jim plunkett in?
February 26th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Combine …
Pro Days …
Team workouts ….
Seems like a bit much.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Just drove home and ESPN radio is reporting Cam Newton is floudering in the individual team meetings.
Reports that he stole from this teammates lockers while at Florida are coming up as well.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
does cam newton have a lot of bling?
February 26th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
we need too play like a team this year ,theres no I in raiders.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
The people here putting down Gannon are idiots.
Gannon is one of the brightest guys in the league.
And he was one helluva quarterback.
He completed 42 out of 63 passes to beat the Steelers. He threw for over 4,000 yards and was the league MVP.
When was the last time a Raider quarterback did that?
February 26th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
JB Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I’m amazed at all the people in here worried about what AD spends on a player. IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY. It’s technically his
*********************************
No offense JB, but this take is the dumbest and most childish thing anyone can say.
Of course it is not my money. But it is my favorite team, and when they spend money unwisely (Javon Walker, Hall, Larry Brown, etc.) if effects their ability to win games, which is all we want as fans.
What are you going to tell me next, that I don’t actually own the team, so I shouldn’t get too mad or happy when they win or lose?
February 26th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
What are you going to tell me next, that I don’t actually own the team, so I shouldn’t get too mad or happy when they win or lose?
—————————————————–
Yup!
February 26th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
No offense JB, but this take is the dumbest and most childish thing anyone can say.
——————————————————
What does “no offense” mean?
February 26th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
16. NEVER! Down with censorship!
Heres one sure way to ditch the trolls. IGNORE THEM…
February 26th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
phatcable Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
what movie was jim plunkett in?
airport 75
February 26th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
post 30 and when double OO ran his 40,no one cared.My point is,you cant measure HEART,the young man comes from a FOOTBALL family,lets take a look at the package, RAIDERS!!!!!
February 26th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
The way those SB runs ended destroyed Gannons well earned legacy.
If not for fat Siragusa, the tuck rule and Callahan Gannon could’ve been remembered as an alltime Raider great instead many try to forget and worse many completely discount those years altogether going as far to claim the Raiders haven’t had a winning record since the 80’s.
Watch any of those games from that era and yiu’ll see a masterful QB operating a system at the highest possible level.
Really too bad…
February 26th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
To all posters, Gannon is a joke. Everyone acts as if this dude was special, he wasn’t. He came to Oakland & became a star, thanks to Davis, the talent & coaches Davis gave him. He is clearly a raider hater, stop excusing him.
If you aren’t old enough to remember our glory too bad for you, that doesn’t mean I or anyone else should accept his bs.
Gannon was a bench warming nobody. He had a good run for a quick minute, that is all. The superbowl should have shown you his true colors. He sucked!
February 26th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
35.phatcable Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
we need too play like a team this year ,theres no I in raiders.
===============
Uh, yeah, there kinda is…
February 26th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
44. Just look at his numbers and the way he led. That team functioned because of Gannon.
He knew everyones job on every play and made that team the Super Bowl contending machine that it was. If anyone gets too much credit its Chucky
February 26th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Gannon never won the big games,. Davis put the talent & coaches in place to win it all. Gannon couldn’t deliver. I still remember his 5 picks, with 2 pick 6 in the superbowl. Worst superbowl performance in history. Face it he didn’t get it done, yet he has the nerve to speak as if he was Joe Montana!
Gannon…. Comical
February 26th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
POST44,cant agree with ya that Gannon was a nobody,if that was true,sign ME UP!He did a great job for the RAIDERS as a QB,period! Gruden knew the OFFENSE,not a friggin chance for the Raiders that SB,unless you are aware of something Im not.That said,RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 26th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Hendu who was he before the raiders? Answer bench warming nobody. Check out the qb he backed up; grbac, Salisbury, kramer. Garbage!
February 26th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Mistic1,all I can tell ya is he/players/Gruden led the Raiders to 3 years of winning,PERIOD!!!!!!!Lets see now,GARBAGE got the Silver and Black to the SB? Dont think so
February 26th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Rich Gannon has the most pass completions in Raiders’ franchise history.
Gannon has the most passing yards in any single season; 4,689 passing yards in 2002.
Gannon is the second all time passer in Raiders’ history, with 17,585 yards, only second to Ken Stabler.
I would put Jim Plunkett above Rich Gannon for his two Super Bowl victories, but on any given Sunday, Gannon was a better bet than Plunkett. The numbers don’t lie.
Gannon is the 3rd best Raider quarterback in franchise history, for all intents and purposes, when you round it all up.
He is easily the best QB to wear the silver and black since Jim Plunkett, and is arguably the Raiders’ most valuable player since Bo Jackson.
February 26th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
As far as Gannon’s poor SB performance goes? Rich giveth and Rich taketh. If Rich Gannon is not the starting QB of the 2002 Raiders, they’re not a playoff team, possibly not even an 8 win team.
February 26th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Rich Gannon is in any sane person’s Raider hall of fame. You take his same contributions to any franchise other than the Raiders, and his number is retired, not necessarily for his feats, but his pivotal role in resurrecting the franchise from ridicule. It is common knowledge around the NFL that in the late 1990s, Jon Gruden and Rich Gannon made the Raiders respectable again. If you were to ask any expert, reporter, league official, former player, former coach, current coach, or even fan around the NFL who the two most pivotal people were in bringing the Raiders back to playoff contention in 2000, at least 90% of them would almost immediately sound off with “Gruden and Gannon”.
February 26th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Gannon is a self promoting ingrate what would hadn’t play with all those great players Mr Davis allowed him to play with. Yet he wants everyone to think HE knows better than anyone in this organization. He’s never done anything of significance in this league without that supporting caste he enjoyed here.
When he actually does something of note wake me up!!
February 26th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Hey MR,did someone drop somethin in youre adult beverage? At this moment,proud of my fellow Raider fan.Now how far back do you go as a RAIDER fan? You may say BO I may say Marcus,I say Clem Daniels,hb, and you say? Talkin RBs,of course if you wish to comment
February 26th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
tj,when the mornin comes,read post 54, and lets debate those years of WINNING,and the QB was ???? Gannon
February 26th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
Not sure I understand what you want me to.
February 26th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
These pine sitters are trying to drive their financial status up by being as outragious as the punks from, where ever. Who cares about a hoe from Jersey? The thinking of these young players is I’m in it for me? Hey ME, you haven’t done a thing, you are not elite, you were picked, deliver! Not in my lifetime, just a faithful fan sinc 64. I hope they break these punks down to their production numbers in the NFL! Aint’t got any? Earn them! New NFL concept! Ticket prices go down! People show up……..Sad
February 26th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
priesttj Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Gannon is a self promoting ingrate
…………
Laughable, coming from an Al Davis supporter.
February 26th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
Hendu, Gannon came into a TEAM that needed a QB, not the other way around, now he’s a hero, not!
February 26th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Night people.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
I LOVE how the Nation can have completely opposite views of the very same thing and still all love the Raiders.
We are the best.
We are Raider Nation!
February 26th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Gannons 4 years were nice but no hardware. I don’t care about his coleco vision techno bowl numbers he failed. Trent dilfer won, jim mc Mahon won , with average numbers. Gannon was given a dream job in Oakland & he loused it up. Maybe some of you are happy with runner up status so you champion Gannon. In raider land second place is unacceptable. You probably loved cables 8-8 too. Gannons years in Oakland are underachievment, I could have won the super bowl with brown rice & gruden!
Gannon stinks on ice & should just disappear.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
post 62 simply said, RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 26th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Owner Jerry Jones had a curious response Friday when asked if the Cowboys would release any players before next week’s March 3 deadline. “No,” he said. “No. “There could be one exception, but I probably won’t do that. Jones refused to mention the player, joking it was the media’s “job to figure it out.” You can figure out he’s talking about running back Marion Barber, who receives a $500,000 roster bonus if he’s on the roster after March 3.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Al Davis’s spinmeisters can try to bring Gannon down all they want to, but they simply can not put up an effective argument against Gannon being the Raiders’ most valuable player since Bo Jackson. They can put up weak arguments, using anecdotal evidence, and that’s about it. It’s just one of those scenarios where the Davis minions are shooting their pygmy darts at an unstoppable giant. And the unstoppable giant is Rich Gannon’s legacy as an Oakland Raider. He was a great Raider, the greatest since Bo Jackson. It wouldn’t be a stretch to even say that it’s common knowledge at this point to pretty much everyone outside of Al Davis’s loyal following.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
Mistic1 Tha Supavillain Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Gannons 4 years were nice but no hardware. I don’t care about his coleco vision techno bowl numbers he failed.
………..
The stats I posted weren’t video game numbers. They were actual NFL stats. I know as someone who doesn’t like Gannon, you can’t be much of a fan of NFL stats, either. They don’t do your arguments much justice.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
And I love it. It was a team effort, created by Al Davis, where Gannon was just a spoke in the wheel…yet when it comes to the Super Bowl loss, it was all on Gannon. LOL. Fair enough, then. Let’s stick with that logic. If the SB was all on Gannon, then that means ALL OF THE SUCCESS between 2000 and 2002 was on Gannon. Have it your way.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
al was dead on about kiffin
February 26th, 2011 at 11:31 pm
Post 60,not sure Im getting youre point, but Ive never thought of Gannon as a HERO,just a heck of a QB!
February 26th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
# phatcable Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
al was dead on about kiffin
……………..
Where he said that Kiffin couldn’t be trusted, or that he was the better than Jon Gruden?
February 26th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
I don’t get the criticism of Gannon. Heck, he was an MVP of the league with Oakland and won some big time games. I remember that beautiful pass to Tim Brown in OT against SF as one of my favorites.
He was a winner with us plain and simple and a great Raider QB. I don’t know about retiring his number 12, but he was big time with the Raiders.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
I’ll say it. Gannon was a hero. I think stats back that up convincingly.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Al is all about the team,team owner,there is no I in davis!!!
February 26th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
I blame that SB loss more on not “counter game planning” against Gruden than anything else, although admittedly Gannon did suck that game. Our D was horrendous too and put Gannon in a spot where he had to pass and take some risky shots to try to get us back in it.
Barrett Robbins’ Tijuana meltdown didn’t help either, but there was much more to that SB disaster than just Gannon for sure.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Comparing JaMarcus Russell to an elephant is an insult to elephants throughout the world.
February 26th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
76.ELWAYs TEETH Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Comparing JaMarcus Russell to an elephant is an insult to elephants throughout the world.
—
Ha. That’s the truth.
Maybe Russell would’ve done a little better with another coaching staff, maybe not, but I don’t see how coaches can be blamed when Russell was falling asleep at meetings, always last getting to the next drill in practice, and always out of shape as if he just didn’t give a crap.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:10 am
Sorry 4 years of stats & no trophies doesn’t make greatness. Qb’s that don’t win siperbowls must be great throughout their career like marino. Had Gannon won it would be different, as it stands now he is just an also ran that nobody outside of Oakland even knows.
Gannon should change his name to dannon. At least then he would have a reason to be fruity.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:11 am
I think the better team won Super Bowl 37. I think Tampa’s defense was better than our offense. I think they had the better coach. They simply had the better team. Losing a Super Bowl is tough, but being in denial of the clean and obvious reason for it isn’t going to help.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:12 am
mr,in my opinion,a hero is men and women fighting in Two Wars,I give them the hero tag before any football,baseball,basketball player,PERIOD! Understand youre point,but it bothers me when some refer to players as special,young 22 year olds,when our finest are 18 and up!DH,prior service,Yes
February 27th, 2011 at 12:14 am
He didn’t have to care, he already had his money. He didn’t do anything he didn’t have to do, and he didn’t get any better. What a waste….
February 27th, 2011 at 12:14 am
It’s not Gannon’s fault that his mere 4 good years with the Raiders makes him the second best passer in Raider history.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:16 am
Hendu, we’re discussing heroes within the context of sports. I was under the assumption everyone here was smart enough to understand that.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:18 am
Al got hustled by a top draft pick? Boo hoo. Couldn’t have happened to a better man. There’s a few former employees of the Raiders, who gave their hearts and souls to the franchise only for Al to screw them, smiling. That’s for certain.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:41 am
Post 83,by the way,jackass,YOU brought up the word HERO,Im simply pointing out that IMO 18 and up in the military are the BEST of US,that deserve being called HERO,that are on the front lines,risking all.Bottom line,if you arent wise enough ,thats youre problem,mrs
February 27th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Oh, shut up. Anyone with a brain knows I was speaking in the context of sports. Let it go, drama queen.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:53 am
Anyhow, goodnight. Interesting convo about Gannon until some drunk moron started a fight where there wasn’t one. I’ll close with this: RICH GANNON IS A HERO! Goodnight, all.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:58 am
OK,Mrs ,the Queen Bit– of this blog,I wont let it go until YOU admit youre a Niner B and you turn LEFT at all signals! RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 27th, 2011 at 1:29 am
I think everyone would know why Mystic doesn’t like Gannon.He doesn’t fit his profile-wink,wink.
Debo says Gannon should STFU and he’d take Mallet and Newton on his team any time.Right,and you also wish we still had the bust as QB.Your credibility isn’t the greatest.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:30 am
I really don’t understand all the people here who are hating on Gannon. Maybe they weren’t watching football when he was playing.
For the past 20 years, he’s the ONLY QB who has provided stable success during the years he was here. Hell, the only other QB who got us into the playoffs during that time I think was Hofstetter.
I always thought the play calling was a bit conservative with Gannon in, but man, we still moved that ball with all those short slant routs etc. and he was very efficient at executing that. I’d happily have Gannon on our team now if he were in his 30’s again. I’d take him over any QB in the league except for Manning, Brees, Brady, Rodgers and maybe Vick.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:37 am
# Mistic1 Tha Supavillain Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Gannons 4 years were nice but no hardware. I don’t care about his coleco vision techno bowl numbers he failed. Trent dilfer won, jim mc Mahon won , with average numbers. Gannon was given a dream job in Oakland & he loused it up. Maybe some of you are happy with runner up status so you champion Gannon. In raider land second place is unacceptable. You probably loved cables 8-8 too. Gannons years in Oakland are underachievment, I could have won the super bowl with brown rice & gruden!
Gannon stinks on ice & should just disappear.
———————————-
Gannon wasn’t given a DREAM JOB in Oakland. Ask ANY of the QBs since him (I think there are about 14 of them)! He came into a team that was 4-12 and helped turn them into a winner. In fact he had the only winning seasons since….gosh it seems like the 80’s it’s been so darned long…
February 27th, 2011 at 2:42 am
Should have put the ball in Wheatley’s hands and let his big ass gash them up like he did at the end of the year before when then they had a better D 45-3 Oakland in that game …….Nice job Bill Callahan..
February 27th, 2011 at 4:51 am
You should be 86ed for life for lame arse comments such as this. Barrett barhopping in Mexico, Gannon having his worse game ever, and Callahan = knucklehead but noway were they better then the Oakland Raiders.
The entire Tampoon bay org was and is a loser. They are wannabee raiders with their pirate boat and their gay as SF logo
The Real MaddenRaider Says:
They simply had the better team.
February 27th, 2011 at 5:32 am
Mistic1 couldn’t help slobbering all over Mike Vick all last season.
Curious, because I didn’t see him win anything last year. Rich Gannon was NEVER one and done in the playoffs here.
But according to him Rich Gannon is a loser, and Mike Vick is the wave of the future and the best QB in the league.
Riiiiiiight
February 27th, 2011 at 5:43 am
Analysis on Wiz 2.0
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/Stefen-Wisniewski?id=2495250#tabs:tab-analysis
February 27th, 2011 at 6:32 am
Lefty I have no clue what your talking about, & you don’t either
February 27th, 2011 at 6:34 am
If, by being such a huge failure, Jamarcuss Russell has inspired owners to stop paying rookies such huge contracts before proving they are capable of success, Jamarcuss Russell has affected this entire league and made it better through his dismal showing. But he still is, and always will be a failure associated with my beloved Oakland Raiders. Loser.
February 27th, 2011 at 6:40 am
Ricardo Lockette just ran a 4.41
Not the 4.2 speed he was talking about.
February 27th, 2011 at 6:43 am
Jfb, don’t try to confuse the issue. Vick has nothing to do with gannons yearly playoff flops. He had probowlers & hall of famers on both sides of the ball on a just add water superbowl ready team & he failed. Four years of good numbers do not eaqual greatness. I can’t think of anyone else that played well for such a short period of time never won the big game & gets a pass like he does. His numbers are worthless. Had he sustained that kind of performance for 10 years maybe you could call him great, he didn’t.
Bottom line he couldn’t cut the mustard. I still see him turning the ball over ending playoff runs & yelling at his teammates as if it was their fault.
4 years no trophies equals a hot streak not greatness
February 27th, 2011 at 7:07 am
The reason the Raiders lost that Superbowl was because our o-line got their butts kicked. Simeon Rice was all over Gannon all day and we couldn’t run against Sapp and co. Robbins’ meltdown contributed too. What QB could win under those conditions? If we had Gannon in his prime last year we would have gone at least 11-5 and made the playoffs. He was far superior to anyone we’ve had since.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:08 am
Thurman Thomas on twitter:
If u guys think Cam Newton is better than Fitz right now, U need a drug test
February 27th, 2011 at 7:10 am
I can’t think of anyone else that played well for such a short period of time never won the big game & gets a pass like he does.
**************************************
I can think of someone.
Mike Vick.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:13 am
Oh yeah; Gruden knowing our offense inside-out didn’t help either.
As for Newton: He didn’t impress me one bit in his bowl game. The o-line and running game won it.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:13 am
# RaiderDebo Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Easy for Rich Gannon to sit on his high horse and pass judgement. He had two HOF WRs, one of which was named the best PLAYER of all time by the NFL Network. Try throwing to DHB and Murphy as rookies with no pass pro, run game or defense. Rich Gannon needs to STFU! I’d take Mallett or Newton on my team any day.
============================================
Gannon is right, but what good is it, questioning Newton nationally? Let the kid run his mouth and do his thing at the combine, what does saying he made a mistake have to do with anything? Gannon isnt a GM. Or a head coach, a VP or anything else. Yes, he’s the ONLY QB who has provided stable success … he should ease up on the commentary, though.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:22 am
Haven’t watched one second of the combine and I haven’t missed anything. You want to draft winners? Look at their play in big games and interview them to see where their head’s at. All the combine’s good for is checking out late round “athletic” prospects.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:26 am
The combine is like the Oscars…A crock of doodoo.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:29 am
Jfb,
your not making any sense. Why would you bring up vick in a discussion about Gannon? Maybe because you can’t refute the case I have laid out. Gannon was a nobody before he came here, & ultimatley a failure that flames out when it mattered most.
To all other Gannon worshipers on this board, the fact that he was better than any qb we have had since ( maybe), doesn’t change the point of this topic. He is a guy that has no superbowls & was terrible for 3/4 of his career. He is a silver medalist, & a brides maid.
Let’s be real & call it what it is, a nice little run that means nothing.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:37 am
Mistic1,
I brought up Vick because you asked a rhetorical question, and I answered it.
As far as “being real and calling it what it is”, please let’s do that.
I am a 31 year old die-hard Oakland Raiders fan. In my 23 or so years watching every game passionately, I have seen my team make 3 conference championship games. Only 3.
One we almost lost by 50 points in Buffalo. Another we lost to Baltimore, and another I got to watch from my season tickets up on Mt. Davis, in which we beat the Titans and went to the Bowl. Gannon had ridiculous numbers in that game.
So until another QB in Silver and Black wins a conference championship game in my lifetime, I will place Gannon on that pedalstool.
If he is “failure” (your words) during his time here, I am curious what you would call the other 10 years before and after Rich Gannon.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:45 am
The reaction to newtons comments are really ridiculous. The word icon is often used in sports as it refers to a player that is one of the all time greats. Why should anyone have a problem with cam wanting to become one of the all time greats?
Last I checked pro sports is entertainment business, & it follows that athletes are entertainers. Athletes want to do well on game day & put on a show for the fans. More often than not guys get endorsements as their stock rises based on performance. The best players get commercials.
These comments don’t tell me he wants to be a rapper or anything other than an NFL qb. Peyton manning does the most commercials, does this mean he isn’t serious about playing qb? Does anyone believe that manning is in commmercials against his will? No he wants to be an entertainer, it’s called cross over & we see it every day from entertainment biz.
People don’t like cam because they think he broke rules & went unpunished. But let’s get rid of this double standard. It’s tired & unfounded.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:52 am
Ryan mallett has skills..but does he have. Work ethic leadership an good decision making skills.
Kapernick looks to have skils as well
February 27th, 2011 at 7:57 am
Jfb it’s simple, if you don’t win the superbowl it’s failure. Especially in gannons case where for 3 years our team was good enough to win it all & he couldn’t get it done. Flopping in the playoffs & the worst performance in super bowl history, absolute failure.
The NFL is not little league darts where everyone gets a trophy, it’s all or nothing. Gannon isn’t even Jim Kelly or tarkenton fours or marino guys that never won but played at a high level year after year.
Gannon is boomer esioson, not even worth a spell check when typing his name. A qb that had a few good years went to one superbowl and lost. Boomer at least played well when he got there. Gannon wasn’t even on gradkowskis level in that superbowl.
February 27th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Gruden was written all over that lost in the SB
Gannon face the guy who knew him best an he trained his defense on how to stop him
as well as told his QB where woodson would jump a play
gruden is y we lost. Cannons play was just a part of it all
February 27th, 2011 at 8:06 am
Exactly, the NFL is all or nothing.
Raiders in my lifetime have only came close to winning it once, and that was when Gannon was here.
That’s a Raiders problem, not a Gannon problem.
February 27th, 2011 at 8:18 am
Jfb you have low standards because you didn’t see snake & plunk. Sorry runner up is never good enough.
February 27th, 2011 at 8:24 am
So that’s what it is? My raiders are not your raiders. I clearly remember when we were the best, & it was sweet. As a result I will never accept gannons failure. His numbers as a raider were nice, but give me plunk & snake all day long. They won the big games, Gannon choked like he had a fish bone in his wind pipe!
Gannon….. What a joke
February 27th, 2011 at 8:27 am
Mistic1 Tha Supavillain Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
February 27th, 2011 at 8:14 am
People can make all the excuses they want for bich Gannon but it doesn’t change the facts. He was the worst super bowl qb of all time! 5 ints & 2 for pick 6!?!?!? Putrid!
Let’s forget that super bowl for a second ( I have been trying to forget for years ), he failed in his other play off runs with the raiders as well.
Gannon has to look in the mirror & admit he wasn’t that good. He became a good system qb when Davis / gruden saved him & surrounded him with legends & probowlers. Nothing more.
February 27th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Oops the mods are Gannon fans
February 27th, 2011 at 8:43 am
Ryan mallet?!?? You can’t be serious! Mallet is a terrible pick in any round, he is a poor mans Ryan leaf, & I mean a piss poor mans Ryan leaf
February 27th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Mistic is making great points. If Gannon would get off his high horse and show some humility, I’d be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as a Raider legend. But since he keeps popping off, his career here deserves more scrutiny. With him as QB, we never had a chance against Baltimore in the AFC Championship. The next season, we had 3 or 4 chances to lock up home field advantage at the end of the season, but lost every game. That’s why we ended up in NE in the snow. And we don’t even have to talk about the Super Bowl. We were favored to win that game. Terrible, terrible game. No more free passes for that one. Gannon needs to STFU! He didn’t have a good enough career to be so judgemental. He’s totally ignoring Newton’s accomplishments and talking about him in a condescending manner. That really posses me off.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Strange story emerges from Chiefs-Raiders game in November
Posted by Mike Florio on February 27, 2011, 8:48 AM EST
The Kansas City Chiefs worked overtime on November 7 in Oakland before emerging with a 23-20 loss. After the game, the Chiefs worked overtime in an effort to get out of town.
Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Transportation Safety Agencies detained the Chiefs’ buses by three hours after the game, based on a belief by a TSA agent that she saw a bag of white powder fall out of the jacket of a Chiefs player. The powder was believed to be cocaine.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Gannon is paid to be judgemental.
The moment he stops being judgemental will be the moment he stops receiving paychecks.
And since when does a comentators career matter into how judgemental they can be?
Ron Pitts, Charles Davis, Mike Mayock, Tim Hasselback, Andre Ware……these guys were all stiffs in the league.
So can Tim Hasselback not be as judgemental as Dan Marino? That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard!!!
February 27th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Name to watch on the Raiders radar from this combine.
Edmund Gates.
He leads WR’s in almost every event out here.
Late-round pick potential from Abilene Christian.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Mistic1 Tha Supavillain Says:
February 27th, 2011 at 8:43 am
Ryan mallet?!?? You can’t be serious! Mallet is a terrible pick in any round, he is a poor mans Ryan leaf, & I mean a piss poor mans Ryan leaf
————————–
Hell…to the NO!!
Homeboy be sippin on that sizzurp!!
Heard it through the grapvine that him and the Elephant Man be sizzurin it up!
February 27th, 2011 at 9:08 am
BTW, Herm Edwards said all the exact same things as Rich Gannon did on ESPN on Friday.
He told Cam to shut his mouth and worry about playing football.
Since he might have had a better overall career than Gannon, and was a HC, does he have the right to be judgemental?
February 27th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Mistic1 Tha Supavillain Says:
February 27th, 2011 at 8:18 am
Jfb you have low standards because you didn’t see snake & plunk. Sorry runner up is never good enough.
***************************************
I don’t deny this.
The Raiders have mostly sucked in my lifetime.
The only time they were relevant was with Gannon, and my appreciation probably compounds with the fact that I held season tickets from 99-03.
Some of the best days of my life.
They start winning some Super Bowls, I will certainly knock Gannon down a few levels, but until than, he had the best 4 year run of any Raider player I ever watched at any position.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Cam Newton runs a 4.6 @ the Combine.
Locker 4.52
Gabbert 4.61
February 27th, 2011 at 9:23 am
I agree with Debo, Gannon is off base on newton.
Everyone wants to lump cam in with Russel & young & it’s dead wrong. Newton is a winner & on the field his team rally around him. He handles adversity & comes through in the clutch like a champ. In fact he comes through AS the champ.
He is a much better player than vy coming out of college, & doesn’t get the credit for his passing game.
He is a dedicated hard worker who took it upon himself to work out with Warren moon to improve his game, yet he gets knocked.
Ridiculous
February 27th, 2011 at 9:24 am
Mayock shot down the comparisions between Cam and Jamarcus.
Said basically Cam is a chiseled freak and prepared for the combine while Jamarcus showed up 20 pounds overweight.
How on earth you can consider taking a guy #1 overall who shows up for his biggest job interview 20 pounds overweight, is beyond me.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:24 am
JFB and Mysitc both bringing up good points on Gannon.
Gannon is not in the same league as Plunkett, Snake because he didn’t get it done. Also, Gannon was a flash in pan in that he was only here for a few years.
However, its undeniable that Gannon was very effective in his brief time in Oakland. He is also the best QB to play in Oakland in 25 years….its not even close.
If not for Gannon and Gruden, Davis’ 25 year record would be an undisputed laughingstock
February 27th, 2011 at 9:28 am
Gannon – Fabulous field general, limited by a noodle for an arm. Gruden’s dink and dunk offense and a solid supporting cast contributed greatly to his success, but he was a helluva leader and a guy that could move the chains. Still, will always be remembered for his SB meltdown.
JaMoron – If JaMoron is the elephant in the room, then the elephant’s name is Dumbo. Jamoron is an incoherent, incomprehensible, blathering idiot. Bottom line on JaMoron – doesn’t matter how motivated or what kind of shape he gets into, he’s too stupid to play in the NFL.
Mallet – Cannon for an arm but is helpless if he has to move and throw. Possible he could be coached up, but I strongly doubt it. Almost a certain NFL bust.
Kim Newton – Has character issues and comes off as a pompous prick, but his physical ability is off the charts. Despite his checkered backgound, he is NOT an idiot like JaMoron. At least he can put together a coherent sentence. Unlike Vince Young, has a nice throwing motion and a powerful arm. Looked like a man amongst boys last year. Don’t think there’s middle ground with Kim – it’s gonna be boom or bust. Not certain which one it’s gonna be, but if I had to choose – I’d say boom. 10 times better than Tebow, which is why he’ll go in the top 10 and should be the first QB drafted.
JaJason – sucks.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:28 am
The biggest knock on Cam is he only threw 250 passes in college, and everyone one of them was from the shotgun.
He’s like a one and done guy in College Basketball.
Could be great, but could have some flaws that weren’t noticed due to the small sample size.
SEC DC’s never got a year to watch film on him, so who knows. He didn’t look all that great in the championship game, with a costly turnover at the end of the game that almost lost the game (Mistic1’s favorite in-game analysis from the STL game this year; the “almost cost us the game” category) and a brutal INT that was off target by close to 10 yards.
I still don’t think he will slip past #15, but I can’t remember a 1st round pick at QB who didn’t play 15 games in his career.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:28 am
I think cam will come in with a chip on his shoulder eager to prove people wrong. He won’t be like no.2 or vy that had a since of entitlement, he has had to scrap & fight just to get his shot. This is why he is at the combine.
I think it’s a little strange that gabbert is considered a better prospect by some & doesn’t have on field success that newton had. If you took newton off that auburn team they probably don’t win mmore than 5-6 games.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Cam showed plenty of guts dealing with the off the field adversity. Deserves credit for that.
But didn’t experience a lot of on-the field adversity.
What if he gets drafted by the Bills or the Bengals? He will lose more games in the first few months than he probably has his whole life.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:38 am
I only have one question about Newton – can he read an NFL defense? Thing is, it’s a pretty big question. JaMarcus could have been a Mormon Harvard graduate, but if he couldn’t read an NFL defense the end result would have been the same.
Some guys just can’t do it. No one questions Alex Smith’s intelligence or work ethic, but five years into his career he still struggles reading defenses.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Raiders have no business drafting any young QBs. Al Davis doesn’t build the environment or have the consistency in coaching to allow a young QB to succeed.
Plus the substandard talent at wide receiver, offensive line means instant failure for a young QB here.
Gotta go with the ole vets…guys like JC…
February 27th, 2011 at 9:43 am
Newton is throwing for the WR drills, and the WR coach told him to throw it outside… Newton throws it inside…
February 27th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Newton won’t be a Raider anyway. Just look for the receiver running the sub 4.4
February 27th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Strange that Lockette hasn’t been in any drills since running a disappointing 40. Wonder if he tweaked a hammy or something.
February 27th, 2011 at 10:41 am
If the Raiders DO take a QB, it should be Josh Portis from California (PA) in the 7th round.
February 27th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Kapernick did not look good throwing the drills earlier today.
Was high and outside on more than a few of the throws.
February 27th, 2011 at 10:44 am
Ricardo Lockette and Edmund Gates ran 4.37.
February 27th, 2011 at 10:47 am
I guess Lockette has been in there, I just managed to miss him somehow.
Either way, would not surprise me to see him or Gates be late-round picks for the Raiders.
February 27th, 2011 at 10:55 am
Jfb,
adversity is being down 24-3 to to the defending sec & national champion crimson tide in Tuscaloosa. One of the greatest games I have ever seen a college qb play, all guts & mind boggeling talent.
Pointing out 2 ints doesn’t even come close to defining his season. He put up very impressive numbers (int / td), was a ferocious competitor & put his team on his back on several occasions.
Best qb in this draft and it isn’t even close.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
[...] = "0000FF"; google_color_text = "999999"; google_color_url = "191919"; Looking to buy Ceramic Elephant [...]
February 27th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
# The Real MaddenRaider Says:
February 26th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Rich Gannon has the most pass completions in Raiders’ franchise history.
Gannon has the most passing yards in any single season; 4,689 passing yards in 2002.
Gannon is the second all time passer in Raiders’ history, with 17,585 yards, only second to Ken Stabler.
I would put Jim Plunkett above Rich Gannon for his two Super Bowl victories, but on any given Sunday, Gannon was a better bet than Plunkett. The numbers don’t lie.
Gannon is the 3rd best Raider quarterback in franchise history, for all intents and purposes, when you round it all up.
He is easily the best QB to wear the silver and black since Jim Plunkett, and is arguably the Raiders’ most valuable player since Bo Jackson.
—————————————————–
Amen. But Al az liccing apologists Mystic1 and Priesttj are loathe to give anybody outside their fallen mythical hero credit for the early 2000’s. You guys are fugin pathetic. Gannon singlehandedly whipped that offense into shape, instilled discipline, and willed that team into elite status. There hasn’t been anything close to that much-needed type of leadership since he and Gruden left. Grow up.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
As for what did Gannon accomplish, my Al liccing acolytes? How about the American Dream? A stunning late career resurrection against all odds in a league where QB longevity is the exception and not the rule? How about a guy who won by not tolerating the lax atmosphere Davis let rot the culture of the franchise? A guy who retired with all his faculties and transitioned into a lucrative announcer gig?
A guy who lived long enough to support his family and who’s not afraid to courageously speak his mind about the rotting culture of this franchise?
No, the question is, why does your pathetic false sense of loyalty to that old coot (unrequited no doubt, unless you’re both ringers) boost your sense of self worth? And, while you’re at, why don’t you tell everybody what you’ve accomplished?
February 27th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
129.SnB Production Says:
February 27th, 2011 at 9:24 am
JFB and Mysitc both bringing up good points on Gannon.
Gannon is not in the same league as Plunkett, Snake because he didn’t get it done. Also, Gannon was a flash in pan in that he was only here for a few years.
However, its undeniable that Gannon was very effective in his brief time in Oakland. He is also the best QB to play in Oakland in 25 years….its not even close.
If not for Gannon and Gruden, Davis’ 25 year record would be an undisputed laughingstock
—
Gannon was great, but I hate it when guys point to someone and say “if that guy wasn’t there they wouldn’t have won anything etc.” Well, with that line of thinking:
-If Brady didn’t go to New England the Pats wouldn’t have won anything.
-If Jordan had not of gone to the Bulls you wouldn’t be talking 6 titles for Chicago.
or..
-If not for Rodgers the Packers wouldn’t have even made the playoffs this year.
Problem is those guys WERE THERE and it is what it is.
Gruden and Gannon WERE THERE and the Raiders DID have some success, and as much as people hate it, it counts.
February 28th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
We shouldn’t throw major money at these rookies any year. You must prove themselves right off the bat. Let’s not repeat the mistake the team made with Russell. With the CBA, incoming players from the draft should make no more $500k for the first year then once proven. They get big money. Given these rookies more than minimum is asking for trouble! DCRaiderfan recommends it!
April 3rd, 2012 at 10:20 pm
knjigovodstvo fimak…
[...]Elephant in the room is Russell – Inside the Oakland Raiders – A look inside the world of the highly classified Oakland Raiders from the writers of Bay Area News Group[...]…