Under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, the Raiders were competitive in most of the games they played last season, even with a new system on offense.
They had a revolving door at QB and nobody respected their passing game because they did not have one.
The D had trouble stopping the run on any kind of consistent basis, often doing well for a good part of the game only to allow a few huge runs at critical times. This was due to very poor tackling.
Even with all of this the Raiders could have very easily been an 8-8 club last year, losing more than a few games late in the fourth quarter after holding the lead for most of the game.
This year they will start the second season under Coach Kiffin with Jamarcus Russell at QB. Russell was able to watch and learn from the sidelines last year and got his feet wet toward the end of the season.
A full camp and preseason this year for Russell, along with the knowledge that he will be the starter on opening day, will be huge for Russell.
With the offensive line going into their second year under Coach Cable they should only get better. The running game last year was a bright spot. It is said that the blocking scheme Cable brought in takes a season or so for the linemen to learn, and they picked it up better then anyone could have expected last year.
One of the Raiders' LBs told a reporter that Bush was a monster and was one of the Raiders best kept secrets. With Fargas, the other RBs, and the added players on the O line the running game should only get better.
I expect the passing game to be much improved this year as well. The addition of two new WRs, the rookie TE going into his second season, the running game, and Russell should all contribute to the passing game going up.
I also think Rob Ryan and the D will have something to prove this year. Bringing in a safety who is a great tackler and can play the SS position was huge. Adding D. Hall only made an already good secondary better.
There will be more help coming by way of the fourth pick in the draft and whatever other draft day surprises Mr. Davis might have in store for us.
Through all the laughter and the past five bad seasons the Raiders have been adding some very good young players on both sides of the ball. Even the free agents were young; D. Hall is just 24 years old.
They still have work to do, but once fully built the Raiders will be a force for years to come. Much will be riding on how J Russell settles in. Once this kid gets some games in he has the potential to become great. The 2008 season will go down as the year that the Oakland Raiders started to rise from the ashes and reclaim their heritage.
The Raiders are headed back to doing what they have done in year's past that has caused them to be hated by so many today. Mr. Davis is doing it the way he has done it for more than 40 years—and that is his way.
The Raiders played in
- 3 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1960s
- 6 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1970s
- 2 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1980s
- 1 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1990s
- 2 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 2000s to date
- 5 SUPER BOWLS WINNING 3 to date.
- They were also literally a play or two away from playing in another 5 SUPER BOWLS
- Under Al Davis they have played in or had been knocking on the door to play in almost 25 percent of all Super Bowls played to date.
Like all teams in the NFL the Raiders have had their lows, but unlike most NFL Teams the Raiders have rose from the ashes decade in and decade out.
The one constant to all of the above has been the Great Mr. Al Davis
If you want to deal in FACT, put the Raider Organization and what they have accomplished up against other NFL Organizations and you will see that only a select few would not hold their head in shame when stood up next to the OAKLAND RAIDERS.
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4 months ago
Well said, sonny! Yes we are going to be the team to watch next year!
4 months ago
I like the story Sonny, and I agree that the Raiders will make some noise this season. However, in the 60's the games were played in the American Football League and not the AFC.
from 4 months ago
The Oakland Raiders played in the AFC Championship games in 1967 advancing to the Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. The Raiders also played in the AFC Championship games in 1968 against the Jets and again in 1969 against Kansas City.
In the first half of the 1960's you are right but from mid 1960 on it was all AFC. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on the article.
from 4 months ago
Sonny,
The AFL-NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). The merger paved the way for the combined league, which retained the "National Football League" name and logo, to become one of the most popular and powerful sports leagues in the world. This event is often referred to as the beginning of the modern era of professional American football.
After its inception in 1920, the NFL fended off several rival leagues. Prior to 1960, the most important rival was the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), which began play in 1946. The AAFC differed from the NFL in several ways, and the AAFC's perennial champions—the Cleveland Browns— were considered to be the best team in professional football during that time.
However, due to the AAFC's poor financial situation, it disbanded after the 1949 season. Three of its teams, the original version of the Baltimore Colts (who folded following the 1950 season), the Cleveland Browns, and the San Francisco 49ers, were absorbed into the NFL in 1950. The league was briefly known as the National-American Football League during the offseason, but reverted to the traditional name of "National Football League" by the time the 1950 season began.
After the NFL absorbed the AAFC, it went unchallenged by rival leagues until 1960. Lamar Hunt, son of oil millionaire H. L. Hunt, rebuffed in his attempts to gain at least part-ownership in an NFL team, conceived the idea of a rival professional football league, the American Football League. The league established teams in eight American cities: Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills, New York Titans, Houston Oilers, Dallas Texans, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Though they had allowed a few black players to play, the NFL maintained an unwritten quota system, and had ignored the plethora of small colleges which had sprung forth to accommodate the rush of "GI Bill" students after World War II. Many of these small colleges were predominantly black, so many valuable football talents were largely ignored by the NFL.
The AFL signed stars from small colleges, such as Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton), Lionel Taylor (New Mexico Highlands), Tom Sestak (McNeese State), Charlie Tolar and Charlie Hennigan (Northwestern State of Louisiana), Abner Haynes (North Texas State), and a host of others. From major colleges, it signed talented players like LSU's Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon, Arkansas's Lance Alworth, Notre Dame's Daryle Lamonica, Kansas' John Hadl, Alabama's Joe Namath, and many more. The AFL also signed players the NFL had given up on: so-called "NFL rejects" who turned out to be superstars that the NFL had misevaluated, including Jack Kemp, Babe Parilli, Ron McDole, Art Powell, John Tracey, George Blanda, Don Maynard, and Len Dawson.
The AFL instituted many policies and rules that today are considered an integral part of professional football:
The two-point conversion (conforming to the college rule)
Official time on the scoreboard clock
Players' names on jerseys
One network television broadcast package for league games, first on ABC and later with NBC
The sharing of gate and television revenues by home and visiting teams.
The NFL had none of these features before the American Football League came into being. Additionally, the AFL played a more wide-open game, with long passes and reverses; and it promulgated colorful uniforms, team logos and playing field decoration.
War between the two leagues
At first, the NFL ignored the AFL and its eight teams. They assumed the AFL would consist of players that could not earn a contract in the NFL, and fans would not waste their time watching them when they could watch the NFL. Unlike the NFL's previous rivals, however, the AFL was able to survive and grow. After the AFL's Los Angeles team moved to San Diego (in 1961) and the Dallas team moved to Kansas City (in 1963), the league began to prosper. The New York team (rechristened the Jets) began to draw record crowds, aided by the signing of quarterback Joe Namath to an unprecedented $427,000 contract. NBC paid the AFL $36 million in 1965 to televise its games, ensuring the league's financial survival.
As the rivalry between the leagues intensified, both leagues entered into a massive bidding war over the top college prospects, paying huge amounts of money to unproven rookies in order to outbid each other for the best players coming out of college. The leagues resorted to aggressive tactics to sign players, and carefully monitored prospective draft picks to keep them away from the other league's representatives.
Because of the intense competition, teams often drafted players that they thought had a good chance of signing with them instead of selecting the best players. For example, 1965 Heisman Trophy winning running back Mike Garrett was expected to sign with an NFL team, so no AFL team picked him in the 1966 AFL draft until the 20th (final) round, where he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Garrett surprisingly shunned the NFL and decided to sign with Kansas City. Once they were signed, however, there was tacit agreement to honor the other league's contracts and not sign players who were under contract with a team in their rival league.
The unwritten agreement was shattered in early 1966, when the NFL New York Giants signed Pete Gogolak, the first professional soccer-style placekicker, who was already under contract and playing with the AFL's Buffalo Bills. The breach of trust by the NFL resulted in retaliation by the rival league. When Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders took over as AFL Commissioner, he began stepping up the bidding war, immediately signing eight starting NFL quarterbacks, including John Brodie and Roman Gabriel, to contracts with AFL teams. Both leagues spent a combined $7 million signing their 1966 draft picks.
The merger agreement
The intense rivalry led to serious merger talks between the two leagues. By June 8, 1966, they announced a merger agreement. Under the agreement:
The two leagues would combine to form an expanded league with 24 teams, which would be increased to 26 teams by 1969, and to 28 teams by 1970 or soon thereafter.
All existing teams would be retained, and none of them would be moved outside of their metropolitan areas.
AFL "indemnities" would be paid to NFL teams which shared markets with AFL teams. Specifically, the New York Giants would receive payments from the New York Jets, and the San Francisco 49ers would get money from the Oakland Raiders.
Both leagues would now hold a "common draft" of college players, effectively ending the bidding war between the 2 leagues over the top college prospects.
While maintaining separate schedules through 1969, the leagues agreed to play an annual AFL-NFL World Championship Game, matching the championship teams of each league, beginning in January 1967. (This game would later be rechristened the Super Bowl.)
The two leagues would officially merge in 1970 to form one league with two conferences. The merged league would be known as the National Football League. The history and records of the AFL would be incorporated into the older league, but its name and logo would be retired.
The features of the merger depended on the passage of a law by the 89th United States Congress, exempting the merged league from antitrust law sanctions. When NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle and other professional football executives appeared before the Congress' Subcommittee on Antitrust, chaired by New York congressman Emanuel Celler, two points were repeatedly made:
Rozelle promised that if the merger was allowed, no existing professional football franchise of either league would be moved from any city
Stadiums seating less than 50,000 were declared to be inadequate for professional football's needs (thus compelling the Chicago Bears to move out of Wrigley Field, for example).
Eventually, Congress passed the new law to permit the merger to proceed.
As 1970 approached, three NFL teams (Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers), agreed to join the ten AFL teams (Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins had joined the original Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, and San Diego Chargers) to form the American Football Conference (AFC). The other thirteen NFL teams (Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins) became part of the National Football Conference (NFC). Since then, the Super Bowl has featured the champions of the AFC and NFC. Both are determined each season by the league's playoff tournament. As of Super Bowl XLII, former AFL teams have won 12 Super Bowls, pre-1970 NFL teams have won 28, and two games were won by a team created after 1970 (Baltimore in XXXV and Tampa Bay in XXXVII).
Although the AFC teams quickly decided on a divisional alignment, the 13 NFC owners had trouble deciding which teams would play in which divisions. It was settled after various combinations were drawn up on slips of paper, put into a hat, and the official NFC alignment was pulled out by Rozelle's secretary. Of the five plans put into the hat, only the one that was drawn had Minnesota playing in the NFC Central Division.
Meanwhile, all three of the major television networks signed contracts to televise games, thus ensuring the combined league's stability. CBS agreed to broadcast all games where an NFC team was on the road, NBC agreed to broadcast all games where an AFC team was on the road, and ABC agreed to broadcast Monday Night Football, making the NFL the first league to have a regular series of national telecasts in prime time.
from 4 months ago
Sonny,
The Continuation from the previous post.
Many observers believe that the NFL got the better of the bargain. Al Davis and New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin resisted the indemnity payments. Long-time sports writer Jerry Magee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote:
“ Al Davis taking over as commissioner was the strongest thing the AFL ever did. He thought the AFL-NFL merger was a detriment to the AFL. ”
A few devoted AFL fans held the belief that had Al Davis been given the opportunity to continue his efforts, the NFL would have been compelled to offer much more favorable terms to its rival, perhaps even accepting a permanent baseball-style "two league system" where the AFL could retain its unique rules and identity. Some have even suggested that Davis could have led the newer league to a position of dominance over the NFL, or even cause the older league to fold outright.
However, most observers consider those scenarios far-fetched since the NFL had a far richer television contract at the time of the merger, in large part due to market exclusivity in such leading population centers as Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore, while the AFL had teams in cities that were not among the nations leading media markets, including cities such as Miami, Buffalo and Denver, which had no other major league teams, and Kansas City which had only a failing (and ultimately relocated) baseball team. Some of these American Football League fans were disappointed because they wanted their league to continue. Those feelings were reinforced when American Football League teams won the final two AFL-NFL World Championship games after the 1968 and 1969 seasons.
The old-guard NFL at first dominated the merged league, winning the great majority of games pitting old NFL teams versus old AFL teams in 1970 and, to a lesser extent, in 1971. Furthermore, the old guard NFL had five of the eight playoff berths and both Super Bowl berths following the 1970 season, and six of the eight playoff berths following the 1971 and 1972 seasons. Eventually, the AFC teams caught and passed the NFC during the mid- to late-1970s. Even then, NFL proponents claimed that the three NFL teams that joined the AFL to form the AFC were largely the reason. While the Colts and Browns were respectable playoff contenders during this period, AFL fans especially hated the Steelers because of the team's dominance throughout the league, winning four Super Bowls in a six year span. (Ironically, before the merger, the Steelers had long been one of the NFL's worst teams, and in fact had a 1-13 record in 1969, tied with the Chicago Bears for the worst record between both leagues.) With a few notable exceptions such as the Raiders and Dolphins, this essentially made the AFC dominated by an "old NFL" team instead of an AFL team.
Nevertheless, the merger paved the way for a new era of prosperity for the NFL. Since 1970 there essentially has been only one major professional football league in the United States. Other leagues such as the XFL and the United States Football League (USFL) have never been a serious challenge to the NFL, folding after one and three seasons, respectively.
Post-merger relocations and expansions
See also: NFL franchise moves and mergers
Despite Rozelle's pledge to the 89th United States Congress, some teams have moved since the merger. After the merger, no NFL team moved to another metropolitan area until Raiders owner Al Davis won an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL in 1982, based on his contention that the NFL could not prevent franchises from moving, i.e. that Rozelle's public pledge had no legal standing against an owner that wanted to move his club in defiance of that pledge.
The following established teams moved to a different metropolitan area and/or state:
New York Giants moved from New York City's Yankee Stadium to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1976, with the New York Jets following them from New York's Shea Stadium to Giants Stadium in New Jersey in 1984, though both teams are still in the NYC metro area.
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders: from Oakland to Los Angeles in 1982 and back to Oakland in 1995
Baltimore Colts: from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984
St. Louis Cardinals: from St. Louis to Tempe, Arizona in 1988
Los Angeles Rams: from Los Angeles to St. Louis in 1995
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans: from Houston to Memphis in 1997 and to Nashville in 1998
Six expansion teams have been formed since the merger. All of these teams became the primary tenant in their stadiums:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers began to play in 1976
Seattle Seahawks began to play in 1976
Carolina Panthers had inaugural season in 1995
Jacksonville Jaguars had inaugural season in 1995
Baltimore Ravens began to play in 1996, as a result of the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy
Houston Texans franchise awarded October 6 1999, began to play in 2002
Officially, the Baltimore Ravens were designated as a "new franchise" coming into existence in 1996 (although they were specifically not designated an "expansion" team as there was no League expansion as a result of their starting play; likewise, the roster of players was not an expansion roster, but a roster carried-over from the 1995 Cleveland Browns). The Browns eventually resumed play in 1999, with new ownership, a new coaching staff, and players acquired through an expansion draft. Officially, however, the Browns franchise retained its original team history and records as if the club had suspended operations for the 1996-1998 period. Although some thought this arrangement was a mere public relations ploy, it was in fact required by the agreement entered to settle a lawsuit brought by the City of Cleveland.
Similarly, the Houston Texans expansion franchise replaced the old Houston Oilers in the Houston market. Unlike the Baltimore/Cleveland situation, however, the Tennessee Titans retained all the franchise records of the Houston Oilers (as well as their nickname, for a couple of years), while the Houston Texans history officially begins in 2002. Coincidentally, both of those AFC teams adopted nicknames that had been abandoned by original AFL entries in different cities (New York Titans and Dallas Texans).
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Seattle Seahawks, the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars were true expansion teams, entering new markets for the NFL at the time of expansion (though the Seattle Seahawks took the name of the Miami Seahawks from the old All-America Football Conference). Tampa Bay occupied an existing stadium that was expanded to meet the NFL's attendance requirements, while Seattle, Jacksonville, and Carolina eventually built new stadiums.
from 4 months ago
Jeff thanks for all the information on the merger I learned much that I did not know. So what you are saying is that the two leagues started playing Super Bowls prior to the official merger in 1970? Super Bowl I was played in 1966 and Super Bowl II between Green Bay and the Raiders was played in 1967. I did not think they started playing the Super Bowls until after the merger? Anyway thanks again for all the information.
4 months ago
win or lose I will be watching! In any case there is incredible potential for this upcoming season and a clear chance for a winning record. I only wish J Russ had a veteran QB mentor to help him along...but maybe quality coaching will make up for this...what do you think?
from 4 months ago
You'll be watching if they're not blacked out that is.......
4 months ago
Another Raider homer who has no credentials as an NFL analyst and who can't get his facts straight. Yawn.
from 4 months ago
I am a Raider Fan and not an NFL analyst or claim to be one. Fact is that the merger was announced in June of 1966 with Super Bowl I being played that same year. So although I admit that I was wrong to call the (3) AFL Championship games the Raiders played in the 1960's Conference games they are one and the same today.
I put up with reading about how bad the Raiders have been these past five years because it is true. Where I have to draw the line is when I read about the Raiders Organization and how bad it is from many Fans of teams that would like to be able to list a quarter of what the Raiders have been able to do as an organization not just a one point in their history like some teams but what they have done decade in and decade out.
If as they say the best way to predict the future is to study the past Al Davis and the Raiders have a bright future. For unlike say the Chargers, that have been to all of (3) Conference Championship games in their entire history only to have lived at or near the bottom for the remainder of their existence the Raiders have their lows but are time tested and proved to bounce back.
Even a broken watch is right twice a day and a organization say like the Chargers are bound to catch some luck sometime. The whole point is if you hold up say the Chargers Organization or 80% of the organizations in the NFL next to the Raider Organization most would have to bow their heads in shame, YAWN.
4 months ago
The Chargers have become one of the model franchises of the NFL under the leadership of AJ Smith. The Raiders have become exactly the opposite in the past five years because Al Davis refuses to retire.
from 4 months ago
The Chargers?!?!?! Oh please. The Chargers are toast my friend... The LDT gravy train is gone. You had a chance when he was viable but after his injury. Forget about it!
He's never been hurt like this, it's all new to him and he's too old to learn how to deal with it...
You guys screwed Marti and then hired Norv Turner as a coach... How smart was that?!?!?!
You say "The Chargers have become one of the model franchises of the NFL under the leadership of AJ Smith."
Goodnesss "under the leadership of AJ Smith"
What are you his mother or PR agent... I can't decide which?!?!?!
4 months ago
The Raiders aren't as close as you think.
While they were "a few plays" away from 8-8, a few other teams actually were 8-8, or actually were 10-6, or 12-4. Why? Because they executed. They won. The Raiders should consider their season a success this year if they improve to be that 8-8 team that executes.
It's all about the W, not about how close you were. Just ask Brady & Co. how much it sucked to be 18-1.
from 4 months ago
Thanks for pointing that out.
Obviously this article is trying to point out that last year's preformance coupled with the additions to the team this year points to a bright season ahead.
That's the whole premise. Not to celebrate last season but look forward to next season.
And we could care less about Brady & Co. Ask them how it felt to lose the big one.
4 months ago
We will be good this year and any nay sayers will know better by the end of this year.
Raiders fans should check this website out http://www.centsports.com/?opcode=75690 . It is free and you can not loose money only make it. Check it out
from 4 months ago
The best thing about Brady & Co. losing was watching Randy Moss on the sidelines !! LOL
Carma Mr. Moss, Carma !!!
4 months ago
Don't visit that site listed above. It's fishing for your personal information.
4 months ago
Well written article unlike that crap that was posted yesterday!
from 4 months ago
u talkin bout me???
4 months ago
Well done Sonny, you showed a lot of class by responding to Jeff's WAR & PEACE sized comments, rather, (LECTURE over here) the way you did. It also shows humility and that shows the color of your character & it shows very bright!
Thanks also to Jeff's dissertation, though rather lengthy, NO I mean EXTREEMLY lenghty... but I also took it well thou I didn't read all of it. It's just toooooooooo long. But thank you anyway, it was a lot of work for ya!
Here's to the Nation, the only Nation... the RAIDER NATION!
from 4 months ago
Thanks Snoopy, I am a long time Raider Fan that just gets so tired of reading how great these other franchises are in the NFL that may be on a hot streak but have really never done anything over their history.
I am not hear to knock them really but when their Fans knock the Raiders as an organization it stuns me. Thanks for taking the time to read the article and for your comment.
Raider Rock
from 4 months ago
Snoopy, I have to say that I wasn't trying to talk smack with my man Sonny I just wanted to make sure that he had the full story. I also want to apologize to him and the Nation for the long dissertation. I leave with a loud shout out to the Raider Nation.
4 months ago
Sonny...awesome Jeff...lame
from 4 months ago
I history is lame being anonymous is worst
4 months ago
Sonny, Great read. I agree with you completely. I live in San Diego and I have a black heart and bleed silver-have since about 8yrs old. You nailed it on how it really is. The Bolt fans in this town do exactly as you described.
Jeff, you are obviously good at cutting and pasting. Keep your comments smaller in the future so we all don't lose interest, please.
The real NATION is the RAIDER NATION. Live on Al Davis !!
from 4 months ago
I was merely sharing information with another member of the Raider Nation. My Comments weren't to show that I can as you say cut and paste. Point well taken on the length and I will keep that in mind. I still feel it was a good read and I will still give a loud shout out to the Raider Nation.
from 4 months ago
Jeff,
I have to disagree with Anonymous' comments on length. I'd rather a long article/comment that teaches me something new than a short, easy to read comment which offers nothing. Don't be afraid to write anything and everything you're thinking because some people get headaches after reading more than a paragraph. They're usually not worth it anyway (especially if they're too lazy to read everything AND too lazy to spend 5 seconds to become a member). I appreciate the info, I didn't know much of it!
4 months ago
The Chargers have been awesome. I met one of them at a mall in San Diego. I was admiring his Super Bowl ring. He bought it on Ebay.
Also, when I went to Canton, I saw the bust of AJ Smith. Again I was awstruck. My bad. As it turns out, I was looking at the bust of RED BADGRO. I guess RED actually belongs there as his career was significant.
Viva RED BADGRO!
4 months ago
The funny thing about the bolt fan, not all but most, is when their team was only winning a few games a year they never showed up. I go to the Raider-charger game in SD every year and for all the losing years we Raider fan ruled their home turf. Now that they are winning and the chargers do everything to keep Raider fan out of the game with their ticket sales. Anyway it just showes you what kind of fans they have and you would never see a true Raider fan give up on their team.
As far as the team this year I can only expect better and I can only hope Mr. Davis will just let Lane coach the team and try to build a better relationship. The only way we can be successful is stability within the team and it would be nice if this team becomes a place where players want to come and play. With all the additions to the team it is going to be very hard to throw on this team and I cannot wait to see them take the field.
The draft is almost here and I am nervous about the pick. I have seen some clips of D-MAC and he looks good but you know they are only going to show the good. I still am hoping someway somehow we can get our hands on Chris Long, he belongs in Silver and Black, but I know it is a long shot. How sweet would it be to see another Long up on the D-Line! I will say we need to to stay we a DL player at the number 4 spot. Go Raiders!
4 months ago
Well put, a man with straight up facts!
4 months ago
Anything is possible, but for the Raiders to be a factor, the stars are going to have to align perfectly.
JaMarcus has to play well for the Raiders to be a factor
We can't predict where he is right now because he has not had enough reps for us to judge.
So, that being said, the jury will be out on the Raiders for some time.
One game at a time
from 4 months ago
True statements one at a time is the best method no need to get ahead of yourself.
from 4 months ago
John,
We need not worry about J Rock as he has shown us what he can deliver as long as we can give him half way good protection. He has shown multiple times already that he can sustain long scoring drives. What i remember from this past season is when he could'nt sustain the drive, it was usually due to an O-line breakdown. As the protection goes, so will J-Rock's performance. The jury needs to look at the enhancements to our O-line and our run stop enhancements-this i feel is what it will take for the Raiders to be a factor.
4 months ago
raaaiiideeerrs
4 months ago
Go Baltimore Colts! Sorry... I had nothing else to add. Yet again... duped into reading another incredibly popular Raiders article. But in all honesty Sonny, nicely done. Although I don't really believe the Raiders are going anywhere for a while, I hope you're right and I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong. We need another story outside of "Boo hoo the Patriots cheated", "Who the hell is Miami's QB... no, really?", and "Cincinatti Bengal (insert name) was arrested at a strip club last night...". I'm not knocking anyone's team, I'm just saying it'd be nice to have a positive story for once.
So good luck Raiders, I guess. I'm not buying it, but if it happens, I'll let everyone know I heard it here first!
from 4 months ago
You are the type of Fan that makes sports great. I do not expect everyone to agree with me and it is just my opinion. I remember telling my father which was a huge Bears Fan that the Bears were positioning themselves to have a very good team soon and he said I was crazy. As a Raider Fan I hope my intuition this time turns out as well as it did for my Father. Thanks for taking the time for the read and all the best to you and yours.
Sonny
4 months ago
You wrote :The Raiders played in
3 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1960s
6 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1970s
2 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1980s
1 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 1990s
2 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES in the 2000s to date
5 SUPER BOWLS WINNING 3 to date.
They were also literally a play or two away from playing in another 5 SUPER BOWLS
Under Al Davis they have played in or had been knocking on the door to play in almost 25 percent of all Super Bowls played to date.
Well done! Most of the guys you post on this cite fail to spend the time to research a team, but you on the other hand, go in-depth that not only show' s your abiltiy to do quality work, but it show's you took the time to educate the reader, and possibly teach a Raider fan a thing or two.
Good job!
from 4 months ago
Thanks, I just get tired of always being talked down to from Fans like the Chargers. The way I look at is the Chargers have only been to 3 AFC Championship games total in their history. I always tell them when they play in another 11 and match the Raiders or win at least 1 Super Bowl come talk to me.
Facts are facts but the haters really do not likes it when they are brought out. Most are stunned and walk away saying Wow I did not know the Raiders Organization did all that. They take all the BS articles written by much of the main stream media on the Raiders as gospel. What they fail to realize many on ESPN for example are older x jocks that played on teams that the Raiders use to hand their lunch to and have an axe to grind.
Raider Rock my Brother.
4 months ago
Even the NFL is expecting greater things from the Raiders this season. Did anyone notice the prime time appearances on this years schedule?
4 months ago
It's funny to me that 75% of AFC Rival fans think that this year will be just like years past and liken our signings to the dark Moss/Shell 2 period of Raider football.
They claim we suck, we won't win more than 4 or 6 games, etc. Yet, if you look at the facts, KC is terrible, Denver has been steadily declining for the last three years (Both have done nothing to get better this offseason) and SD has misfired three years in a row and is now dealing with repercussions of injuries to its major stars. At best SD is looking at this year and next as a potential dominate force barring more injury. The irony of course is the fact that they claim we're living in denial and yet they refuse to acknowledge that we incrementally improved last year and added more talent for this year.
Sonny you speak the truth and after we wipe the floor with Denver on Monday night everyone will realize the Raiders are on their way back.
from 4 months ago
Thanks for the read and I cannot wait for the Monday Night Game against Denver.
Raider Rock my Brother.
4 months ago
the gayders will loose always becouse they lost mike shahnanan and he is a genios and wil baet them 4evar/ al davuis has nevr done anytheng right in the nfl and he always drafts stopid playrs who get in truoble and are fat like jemarces russel. jon linch is the best safty in the nlf and the all of the riaders are scarred of him go brocnos!
from 4 months ago
They say that some very bright people have been bad spellers, you my friend must have the IQ of a genius.
4 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: Hey SONNY. That Anonymous person above you can't spell worth a shit!!! It sounds like you were talking to "WARREN" from the movie "THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY". LOL!!!!!
4 months ago
GOOD ARTICLE MY BROTHER
THE OAKLAND RAIDERS ARE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE ACROSS THE LEAGUE THAT THE BLACK & SILVER ARE COMING, THEYRE SEEING, THEYRE CONQUERING.
2010 WILL BE OUR YEAR, I PROMISE AN AFC CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE.
REAL MEN WEAR BLACK
4 months ago
RAIDER STEVE: I still think that we need a "Big Time WR". Javon Walker isn't even as good as Jerry Porter. Ronald Curry is our #1 guy now and he's a possession WR. We need to get back into the 2nd of the Draft so that we can get a WR. I think that we go D-line with the #4 pick in the 1st round. We will realize this season how much we will miss Jerry Porter.
4 months ago
dude we will not miss porter, he is a slow mo fo
he can create no separation, you need speed and hands
4 months ago
dude we will not miss porter, he is a slow mo fo
he can create no separation, you need speed and hands
4 months ago
Watch out! Here comes the big disappointment...Redskins Part Deux... At least I hope not...
I can see the headlines now:
Walker injured, out for the season
JaMarcus throws another INT
Tommy Kelly re-injures his knee
Fargas out with a torn ACL
DeAngelo Hall creating chaos in the locker room
Sebastian Janikowski kicks 65% of his field goals
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