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 pla