Al Davis, Oakland Raiders: What Is Considered a Good Move?

For an odd reason, I'd like to open this topic up with a question. Since it seems that whatever move the Raiders make is a bad one, no matter whom they sign or release: What would they consider a good one?

Getting rid of Al Davis? It's been mentioned, but at the same time, when Carmen Policy was no longer in control of the 49ers, you could see what the results looked like.

Getting rid of Jerry Porter? Sure, he had some good talents, occasional good grabs...but he also had the attitude problem Moss did, without the big contract. Figure that one out.

One move I'm still waiting to see happen is the Raiders locking up Nnamdi. The guy is a phenom, and he is willing to punish other receivers...and in return, the best we can do is tag him for a year. Hopefully, a breakthrough comes in the next couple days.

Adding Hall, for the naysayers, was needed. Stanford Routt just wasn't cutting it, nor was trying to use different looks. We may have had a good secondary, but if the line is the same consistency as Swiss cheese...it will not be good.

Losing Sapp will hurt as well, but it's time. Sapp, a vocal, strong player, showed us his good side and his bad side during his stay in Oakland. He was pathetic the first year with Ryan coaching, then seemed to have a resurgence.

Now, if that can translate into more improvement along the line, that's just more good news.

The odd part of the comments that you read is people will nitpick on issues that make no sense. Would they have complained if we had gotten John Elway back in 1984? Or Joe Montana, instead of the Chiefs?

I know some people questioned the senior-citizen-home maneuver, when we got a bunch of 30-plus vets like Rice, Rod Woodson, Charlie Garner, etc. The plan worked for a while, the only problem we had was the coach we faced at the end of 2002...our own. We might as well have given him a mic in the huddle.

As I see it, first of all, Al's still the owner...it's his money to play with. It's not Jerry Jones, Pat Bowlan, or even Kraft's cupcake sale.

In 2002, when Al assembled this squad, a lot of people questioned his motives. Now, six years later, he's starting to collect again.

I think it'll be a good season, surprising a few people.

They'll probably still complain that we did something wrong...

Like winning.