One thing players and its union have in common with owners is the desire for money.
Who gets it and who should has been a bone of contention especially in recent years with billions in revenue being generated.
Since the Paul Tagliabue sell off and even before, the tone and consistency of the game has changed from one of pride and honor to one of greed and selfishness.
Not exactly great news for a so called “team” sport.
Whether the retirement this year of Brett Favre is the complete end of such seemingly antiquated notions like playing for the love of the game is debatable, but more than ever, the NFL, like most monolithic business ventures in Dick Cheney’s America, is focused now on explosive, unsustainable growth and the almighty dollar.
Thats not necessarily a bad thing for players, but it has brought about the issue of guaranteed money in the $10s of millions of dollars to guys who’ve never played a down of professional football.
Simply “paying the guys who’ve earned it” sounds like a feasible and logical plan, after all, paying veterans who produce over long periods of time makes more sense, but this too could have unforseen affects not only rookies wallets, but on veterans careers too.
Some veterans play seasons into the double digits not only because they love the game and can, but because the kid waltzing into camp in pre season signed for more guaranteed money than they may make in their entire careers.
Some veterans stay and play to get the pay.
With distribution of big money to high caliber veterans instead of rookies, one wonders if careers might get shortened by vets who could still have tread on the tire, but are suddenly set for life. Several, lives actually...
It would likely have the affect of inspiring greater play and dedication from new comers looking to one day earn their place in the sun, but as it stands now, some young players day one in the League realize they and their family / entourage might not have to worry a whole lot about money ever again.
Its not too far of a leap to think this might be counter inspirational, especially for todays 20 somethings brought up on a steady diet of consumerism through corporate hypnosis and an artificial “Thug life” the less informed tend to gravitate toward. Some of them have yet to learn materialism means very little in the end and sadly, some of them never will.
Most of them find out how fleeting the success they strived for all of their adult lives is, unless they’re the rare exceptional athlete, really lucky and or have a solid, honest foundation supporting them. In fact, the most successful usually have all three.
The less succesful ones end up working regular jobs after their brief taste of the NFL.
Whether some of todays players will suffer in later years from might have beens, regretting opportunity for glory and immortality lost is anyones guess, but if the system were reversed and veterans got the pay, problems would likely still persist.
With the current system, it seems some players are content to take the money and coast or are foolish and arrogant enough to jeopardize potential future earnings with questionable and often illegal behavior.
Even with morality and performance clauses, players often come away far richer than they had been.
For that matter, some veteran players may coast after hitting it big and or retire earlier.
Yet, its harder to believe vets who worked themselves into a position to theoretically earn those back half big bucks would simply bail out with tread on the tire, but with the risk of injury always a "Spectre", long suffering families and potential for broadcast and advertising dollars, an early retirement is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Whether current commissioner Roger Goodell’s apparent lambasting of todays system means anything or is simply an opinion, will be born out over the next 3 years (Gene Upshaw, former Raider great and current Executive Director of the NFL players association, fired a shot back across the commissioners bow, stating “Mr. Goodell represent the owners. Not the players.”) but its still not clear if the “businness men” in charge of the NFL know how to do anything other than rape and pillage, let alone nuture and expand what for all intents and purposes is a proverbial golden goose.
If they run the NFL like they have the country...
The point is, changes to the current NFL pay system seems long over due, but will likely have short and long term ramifications both seen and unseen for years, even decades to come, not only for exiting veterans and rookies alike, but most importantly for the fans.
Lost in all of this by both sides is the simple fact players and owners seem to forget with out us, the fans, there will be fewer billions to squabble over.
Well, Hitman and I have had scheduling issues with the blog, but this week I will tackle the subject of the new offense, and, scheduling permitting, HItman will take on the defense next week...so, with that, here it is:
Offensively the Raiders are now more uncertain than in recent years. In the past, the consensus was that the offense was just plain bad, but that is not as easy to access these days. So, a run down is in order:
QB: This is the biggest wild card on the offense. Russell will get the job from day #1, and it will take a virtual act of God to pull the reigns away. But who really knows what the Raiders have here. Conflicting reports have the big fella either the rocket armed general or the rookie being taught to touch pass. But a year on the sidelines will give the strong armed QB some time, a thing he undoubtedly needed, and an opportunity to learn the playbook. In addition, the Raiders went out and got the young signal caller some weapons over the last two years. But weapons and time are not enough to give any feel for what Russell will do once he is under center full time. This is the one area that gives the faithful fans no real information once the season starts.
RB: A strong area last year, there is nothing to indicate that it will level off. If anything, the Raiders added two weapons that had success in college in the persons of McFadden and Bush. Both were college phenoms, and both will bolster a running attack that will also feature Justin Fargas, Justin Griffith and Oren O'Neal. All have been role players on the team with results that put the Raiders top 5 running the ball last season. The expectation is that this unit will not only continue, but improve this year. The odd man out, Jordan, will doubtlessly find a home elsewhere, but with this busy back field, his days in Oakland are all but over.
WR: It starts and ends with nothing but questions. Other than Curry, the Raiders will count on players who will move into the system from the outside, or be so inexperienced that predicting productivity is all but useless. The big name on the unit has suffered with severe injuries and off field issues, The other outsider being asked to step in and make a difference is another Al Davis speedster with not much of a track record. Finally, there are youngsters who have much to prove, and little experience. The one bright spot in the group very well be the tight end who a year ago began to show the potential that the Raiders had hoped for almost exactly a year ago when he was signed.
O-Line: The glue that holds the entire group together is a unit that performed well rushing the ball, but had constant issues with providing time for the pass a year ago. Not much has changed on the line with the exception of the new LT for the team. This former first rounder has not impressed in his first years in the league, having lost his job in SF last season. The Raiders will count on this man to protect the blind side of jamarcus Russell, and with the rest of the unit also having struggled to protect the passer, it very well may be this part of the offense that ultimately determines the future for the Raiders.
Coaching: The Raiders ran the ball very well last year. They also showed that the penalty bug that has plagued the team for years has not gone away. The play calling was conservative, but with the team in flux, a conservative play calling was the least of the concerns. The young head coach made errors in judgement and was outcoached in several key games. While the coaching staff could not create the discipline needed to move forward, they did give the Raiders a bit more credibility than in recent years. But that, frankly was not a big accomplishment. To be successful, the conservative offense must find wings or 8 man defensive sets will be the norm against the Raiders.
Conclusion: It may start with the vision and skill of Russell, but for the Raiders to return to an offensive team that threatens other teams, the line must improve. If Russlel lacks time to execute, he will struggle in his second year, and his first as a starter. Nothing the Raiders did with the line indicate they addressed this issue with any certainty and as a result, one must question what we can expect from the passing game this year. The only positive that you can throw out there is they have weapons. We just don't know if they are going to be able to execute.
Over all, while the off season was a busy one, I think in the end we are still looking at an offense that ranks in the mid to high twenties when considering them against the league next year.
Perhaps my partner in crime will paint a more favorable picture of the defense next week....
Welcome to my show and today I sit down with a Miami Dolphins fan and get an outsider
point of view on the Oakland Raiders so I welcome him to the show and lets get right
into it here it goes.
BlackHeart-When you think about the Oakland Raiders whats the first thing that comes to mind?
Dolphins fan-Lately, a team thats easy to beat, fans that wear horns and alot of face paint. ...
Like I said before I'm also going to start to do some Q&As with some of our own fellow RFN members to get their take on whats going on with the team we all enjoy the Oakland Raiders and my first victim...LOL I mean guest with me today is Kyh0mpb so I welcome him so lets get right into it.
BlackHeart-When did you become an Oakland Raider fan ?
Kyh0mpb-I was pretty much born into it. Both my mom and dad...
My girlfriend has some Raiders collectibles that she wants to sell.
I am talking vintage stuff, her brother used to be their # 1 fan, and had license plates that read Raiders1, which she would sell to another die hard fan, given the oppertunity. Also three signed game balls from the 70's which have all been signed by the entire team.I believe the late 70's and perhaps the years they won something like division. ??? we need help and would appreciate...
The media has perpetrated the crime of the centry. The Crime of over exaggerating everything to make it more sinister, more dark, worse than it really is. I for one am whole heartedly tired of it. Are you?
The media has to make the story interesting even if there is nothing there to be interested in. They over exaggerate headlines to get you to read the articles. The television news always over states their tag lines to get you interested enough to watch the news and it almost...
Some of the hostility immediately following the unfortunate incident involving Raider wide out Javon Walker may have been exacerbated by the fact Oakland, just like Walker, has struggled in recent years.
Fans watched a once proud Silver and Black standard plummet from the lofty heights of the new Millenium to a 5 year skid of embarrassment and frustration.
Wary of and unsure if Al Davis is a genius or mad man, Raider fans were left dizzy from an off season spending spree featuring enormous contracts for injured and in some cases untested players.
The Raider Nation waits for 08' to see if Davis' gambit has boldly lead his team back to glory and solidified his legend as one of the greatest sports pioneers of all time, or whether his moves this year will tarnish his legacy, painting him a desperate gambler who mortgaged his teams future in a failed effort to chase glory and instead, sinking them deeper into the abyss.
Theres a lot riding on 2008 for Oakland and ancy Raider fans know it. Most swimming with a heady mix of excitement and tempered apprehension, anxious to see if their new acquisitions will pan out, or become the next in a growing list of recent failures.
Aside from Oaklands slide, the knee jerk reaction some Raider fans had to Walker’s breaking news may have inadvertently been affected by the seemingly constant flow of negative stories recently surrounding the NFL, its teams and its players.
Perhaps, just seeing Javon’s name in the news had fans assuming the worst, that Walker was yet another athlete who was selfish, entitled and engaged in criminal or unprofessional activity.
Other than enjoying an ill advised night out, as of this moment, criminal or unsavory behavior on his part hardly seems to be the case.
The back lash from some fans and sectors of the media reporting rumor and blatant speculation ranging from career ending injuries to kidnaping and set up, have run rampant since the story was first released.
Derogatory and negative comments about Walker's unfortunate episode surfaced just as fast, but as more facts came to light, the majority of Raider fans seem to have shown genuine concern and compassion toward Walker's plight. All this despite the fact he’d been with Oakland only a short while.
Walker joined the Raiders after a public falling out with the team that originally drafted him, Green Bay. The Packers sent him to Raider division rival Denver.
After the murder of team mate Darrent Williams and injuries, Walker fell out and eventually left on bad terms and under a dark cloud.
Those who've followed Walker's career know his departure from Denver was yet more of the roller coaster highs and lows he's endured since joining the NFL.
From a 1st round draft pick, to the Pro Bowl, to injury and surgeries, from unemployment, to a large multi year contract, to murder, to release, unemployment and back to being a multi millionaire again.
Looking at the totality of it, can one really blame him for being slightly overwhelmed on occasion?
Raider fans hope Javon finds a home to settle into in Oakland and turns his career around, because in many ways, whether its understood or not, Javon’s fate and the Raiders could very well be one and the same.
In the days proceeding the incident, Raider fans seem to be taking Walker under their wing posting notes of encouragement and well wishes, despite the fact Walker is so new to the team “Because,” explained on Raider fan, “Once your an Oakland Raider, your a Raider for life.”
It may sound trite or corny to some, but clearly, the saying has meaning and is a demonstrable fact. Raider fans are unusually loyal and very often that spreads from one generation to the next.
Fathers teach sons, names like "Matuszak" "Allen", “Biletnikoff" and Bo. Darryl Lamonica “the Mad Bomber", Jim Otto and George Blanda. Together, they watch games, lament indignities and regale in victories hard fought and won.
Truth be told, those vitories have been few and far between in recent campaigns.
Raider fans hope Javon helps Oakland write the next great chapter in Raider lore, so that their sons can regale theirs about how the Raiders turned their fortune around with the help of a young man who like Oakland, suffered years of trials and tribulations, but together, triumphed and found success and glory again.
At this moment in time, in many ways, the fans, the team and Walker himself are reliant on each other for sucess because in a very real way, Javon’s story is Oaklands and Oaklands is his.
They’ve both known highs and lows in recent years and fate has not been kind.
Yet, in Oakland of all places, Walker may have something he feels has been missing in other cities with other teams.
A kindred spirit and acceptance.
Acceptance by a team and fans who want nothing more than to see him and their beloved franchise click together and begin to compete.
Though Walker is relatively new to the team and raised eye brows with his sizable off season contract, the general consensus among the Silver and Black in response to his plight seems to be positive. Some even see a closing of the ranks around a fallen comrade and a genuine concern for his well being.
Walker’s mis adventure and injury may be folly, but in some strange way, it may also be the impetus and lightning rod that ignites and unites Oakland together as they rally around, no matter how new, one of their own....
For those of you ready to show Javon the door, a little perspective...
Javon being victimized and robbed is much different from the bar related activities and felonius behavior his fellow NFL players have been involved in recently and in years past...
[I]Seattle Seahawks safety Ken Hamlin was in serious but stable condition Monday with a fractured skull and other head injuries following a fight outside a downtown Seattle nightclub. [/I]
[I]Janikowski was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor vandalism and being drunk in public after a fight broke out at Slates Supper Club.[/I]
[I]Lewis was charged with murder, along with two friends in his limousine, when a street brawl left two young men dead outside a nightclub. For that -- even after a plea bargain produced a [/I]
[I] ...I'm guilty of is being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people," he said. "But I feel like what I'm most guilty of is being successful."[/I]
[I]New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant was stabbed in the neck, and a pregnant woman was shot and killed early Sunday in an altercation at a nightclub in the southwest Georgia town of Blakely.[/I]
*Grant was indicted for the woman and babies death earlier this month.
[I]This season's off-field transgressions started in July, when New York Jets linemen Jumbo Elliott and Jason Fabini were arrested with a former Jet for their part in a bar-room brawl. During the season, Indianapolis Colts defensive back Steve Muhammad was charged with beating his wife just days before she died from labor complications later attributed to a car accident. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in her death but still faces domestic battery charges, according to authorities. Troubled running back Cecil Collins was released by the Miami Dolphins after being picked up for burglary.
Even the Super Bowl playing field wasn't immune. Rams linebacker Leonard Little played despite being only a little more than a year removed from killing a woman during a drunk-driving incident.[/I]
[I]Officers said they saw the men who were arrested assaulting the victim, Reier said. [B]After the man was knocked unconscious, he continued to be kicked, punched and stomped on his body and head[/B], police spokesman Ron Reier said. [/I]
[I]Keglar was officially charged with battery, false informing and disorderly conduct. Three other Purdue players were charged. One of Keglar’s teammates, Selwyn Lymon, was stabbed in the upper chest during the altercation. [/I]
[I]Minnesota offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie was charged with felony aggravated battery in a Miami-area bar fight.
• And [B]Seattle All-Pro middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, fresh off signing a new, $42 million contract, hung up a very big number on a breathalyzer test that preceded his being charged with driving under the influence.[/B]
And there's more, of course. Always so much more. Pittsburgh receiver Cedrick Wilson and Steelers linebacker James Harrison were charged with hitting women, the same offense Cincinnati linebacker Ahmad Brooks and then-Oakland cornerback Fabian Washington incurred. Bengals receiver Chris Henry -- who probably owns his own monogrammed orange jumpsuit by now -- was cut by the team after his fifth arrest since 2005, this one for allegedly punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle. At Henry's hearing, the judge described Henry as a "one-man crime wave," which probably isn't a label he'll rush out and try to trademark.
Bills receiver/return man Roscoe Parris picked up a DUI charge in February. Colts running back Kenton Keith was arrested for refusing to leave a nightclub parking lot and public intoxication. Browns cornerback Kenny Wright was charged with unlawful restraint, evading arrest and marijuana possession. Meanwhile back in [I]Buffalo, police are said to be growing impatient with Bills running back Marshawn Lynch, who had yet to meet with them three days after his vehicle was involved in an early morning hit-and-run accident.[/I]
And you know things are tough on the personal conduct front in the NFL when even the guy who suited up as [B]the Steelers' "Steely McBeam" mascot at Heinz Field gets arrested -- and hastily fired by the team -- for driving drunk[/B][/I]
Murder, felonious assault, bar fights and a number of unsavory acts by and against NFL players.
Even Kenny Hamlin had a part in instigating the fight that left him in serious condition.
Not saying Javon didn't, we just don't know, but at this point to lament him and calling for his suspension or job seems, premature at best.
Given the scant facts we have at this moment and compared to the activities of some of his fellow "professionals", his purchase of expensive champaign and subsequent beating and robbery seems tame and more of a victims mistake and bad judgement, but not a reason to threaten his lively hood.
I'm willing to give Javon the benefit of the doubt.
I wish him the best of luck, a speedy recovery and an apology for some who maybe need just a little more perspective.
Outstanding Cornerback for the Raiders , Stanford Routt had this to say on Yardbarker last night regarding the incident...
[I]This is life. We all like to have a good time and clear our heads from work (regardless of what some believe, this still is a job and not a hobby). A man can express himself whatever way he wants to. Maybe we all get caught in the wrong spot sometimes, cause I have myself. But one thing is for sure......he sure didn't inflict harm on himself!! As long as that's the case he still is not the TRUE one to blame!!! [/I]
Thank you Stan and wish him well for us please!...
I'm back once again with another interview with a rival SD Charger fan who actually is a well known poster on this Charger forum that he asked me not to name to get his take on the team some of his fellow fans can't stand and thats our Oakland Raiders. Just to remind you these interviews are 100% real and I post exactly what they have said to me so lets get right into it. Here it goes.
Kwame Harris is a highly intelligent and multi talented Stanford man who plays classical piano and violin.
A renaissance man, ala Rosie Greer.
The Jamaican born Harris, selected 26th overall in the 2006 Draft has been considered a bust by many Niner fans and yes there are youtube vids of him whiffing on pass protection and drawing flags like pre schoolers on Veterans day, but can he turn it around and salvage his career across the Bay in Silver and Black?
He was switched to Right Tackle after his first 2 seasons at Left Tackle, but what really seems to have hurt Harris was the 49ers switch from a zone blocking scheme to a more traditional straight line power scheme.
In fact, Harris was one of the last hold overs of the last hold overs of the Terry Donahue era.
Now, in Oakland he can get back to the scheme he seemed to be slated for.
His pass protection has been called into question and truthfully, at times he's looked bad in the afore mentioned system. Something his Coach duly noted.
In an article that appeared in the Press Democrat 49er's Coach Mike Noland pulled no punches regarding Kwame and the lack of pass protection.
"By the way, I've looked at every sack the 49ers have surrendered this season -- all 18 of them. In my opinion, Harris has allowed pressure that in some way contributed to 10 of those sacks. He was entirely responsible for five sacks and partially responsible for another five."
Whether Harris can improve is something Raider fans will be watching closely as Jamarcus Russell, their Franchise face and 1st over all pick in the 2007 Draft, begins his first year at starting quarterback.
Harris started every game over the past 2 seasons and continued to draw the ire of Frisco fans who were more than disappointed in his percieved lack of production and advancement.
He has been praised by his Coaches for his run blocking and is credited in a major way toward the 1,695 yd Franchise record RB Frank Gore posted.
Despite his contributions to the running game, many were feeling his time was short in San Fran. It was nearly telegrammed when the 9ers picked Offensive Tackle Joltin' Joe Staley 28th overall in last years Draft.
Harris didn't have to wait long for the axe to fall, losing his starting job to him after the 3rd Pre Season game.
Some felt the renaissance man wasn't mean and nasty enough and didn't make the best use of his strength.
The 6-7, 322 lb. Harris seemed to lack "punch" according to some and failed to fire off the line and blast opponents, again, not his forte' but something Oakland will likely try to address.
He should fair better in the ZBS and after last years "miraculous" turn around in Oaklands line production, who knows what else could be possible?
Unless the Raiders some how end up with Michigan's Jake Long, serious questions will remain about blind side protection for Russell. Even if J. Long ends up a Raider, most feel he is much better suited to contribute at right Tackle.
Anything could happen and scenario's of the Raiders trading down have come to mind, (and although die hards note Al Davis NEVER trades down, the Raiders have NEVER been on such a prolonged losing streak.) the only "real" Left Tackle in the Draft in my opinion is Vanderbilt's Chris Williams who is slated around the teens or early 20's in most Draft projections.
The Raiders need help elsewhere (especially on the D line) but may opt for Arkansas home run hitter Darren McFadden. Either way, the Raiders offensive line may already be cast and if so, a lot of attention is going to be heaped on Kwame and wether he can revive his stalled career in his new home, Oakland.
Fans of the Silver and Black, desperate for signs of life, are emphatically hoping the answer to that question is "Yes" and that they won't be the ones next year playing the "Blame Kwame Game" ....
