Bleacher Report - Articles by Al's Wingman

Pony Up a Few Million; Own 10% of the Raiders

Al's Wingman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:39:36 -0500

So the rumors are true. Just like everything else in Raiders HQ, there are no secrets as soon as Al Davis decides to make a phone call or two or three.

What does this tell us? No one cares about your privacy when it comes to business matters Al. They’ll all speak off the record since you have built your life around the legal system, but one way or the other everything comes out in the wash.

Al Davis has long been shopping a tantalizing piece of ownership of the Oakland Raiders franchise. But let’s be realistic, this would be as minority partners with no power or influence at all.

This was the allure for three wall street eggheads who thought they were getting a good deal a few years ago. Can you believe that? Who would walk into a business deal with Al Davis?

No sooner did the eggheads sign over their millions, when Al wheeled and dealed for Gibril Wilson, DeAngelo Hall in addition to laying out hefty sums for Tommy Kelly and Javon Walker.

Now that is funny, seeing the eggheads in their corporate suite at Oakland Coliseum clinking champagne glasses dancing around like they just bought into the good life adds up to priceless humor.

For several million less, they could have just bought season tickets for the suites because that’s all they’re getting out of the deal. That and lost vast sums of money, a whole lot of regret and misplaced hope they will ever see a return on that investment.

It’s all in DeAngelo’s pockets baby.

The Raiders franchise is plummeting in value, is an embarrassment to professional sports, not simply based on the (mostly) woeful performance on the field, but for the obvious inept leadership. The world knows how bad Al Davis is at managing his franchise.

I’m laughing and so is everyone else who looks at Al’s terms for buying in (if it gets that far, most likely, no one has stepped forward for serious talks since the Brent Jones investment group was rebuffed).

We can talk restructured contracts of the players not living up to their commitment as Raiders (no bang for the buck) or we can talk reality which is Al just wants more money to waste on bad personnel decisions and that’s why he wants to sell 10% of the franchise.

A new billboard a mile from Oakland Coliseum politely asking “Mr. Davis” to hire a GM is a fruitless wheel spinning exercise.

Great sentiment behind the gesture, no chance of success.

That’s what you get when you are dealing with a ship dead at sea.

Oakland Raiders' Punting Is Big News

Al's Wingman — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:38:51 -0500

A big win in dramatic fashion is the best medicine for a struggling team. It doesn’t get much better than scoring 10 points in the last 33 seconds of the game to knock off the Bengals last week.

In all fairness, Cincy really should have scored more points the way they controlled most of the afternoon’s action, but that's the way the ball bounces if you misplay your hand.

So far, two of Oakland’s three wins on the season have been big wins over very good teams (Philadelphia and Cincinnati). Can they do it again with Dallas on Thanksgiving Day?

Not a chance. Not on three days rest, with way too little depth on defense and special teams.

Despite QB Tony Romo being one of the best chokers in the business, the Cowgirls will find a way to win the game.

Tom Cable is still a lousy coach and a lousy play-caller. The Raiders run defense is still horrible despite the inspired play of Tyvon Branch at strong safety, leading the team in tackles (if your secondary is making that many tackles in the run game, that’s a problem).

Every Raiders fan is happy to see JaMeatloaf Russell benched. One of the worst football decisions of all time was Al Davis issuing faith in him to play up to his contract.

To his credit, Bruce Gradkowski is a gutsy QB and he will make some good plays, but he will not be able to carry the team. There is still some hope for the receiving game with Zach Miller, Louis Murphy, and now Chaz Schillens working himself back into shape. It’s just not going to be enough though.

Who really cares what Justin Fargas does at this point? His 40 yards per game average isn't really that important.

It’s one thing to beat a team at home because the other team makes a bad decision, replacing their kick returner at the end of the game and he ends up fumbling. It’s another thing entirely to try and win a game on the road just four days after their last game.

The Cowgirls will likely sleepwalk and score enough to get by.

The most telling sign of how boring/bad the Raiders are is all the discussion of their punting game. Seriously, who cares if a punter can hit a scoreboard? Next to the benching of JaMeatloaf, discussion of Shane Lechler hitting the scoreboard is the biggest story in Oakland.

That takes the cake. You know there's no news to speak of if a punter is highlighted over Tom Cable’s character assassination, which had previously dominated the first half of the Raiders season.

That’s right, the Raiders always have a punter to get them out of trouble.

Good stuff, what else they got?

What's Not To Like About Cincy?

Al's Wingman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:10:50 -0500

The Cincinnati Bengals are usually horrendous and one of the least-feared teams in the NFL, but this year they are doing very well for themselves and make for a dangerous opponent.

If the Pitssburgh Steelers were coming to town, the Raider Nation would have some gumption in their craw, eager to see their team stick it to their arch-rivals. Yet, even though the Bengals and Raiders are old AFL teams, there is no rivalry to speak of nowadys.

Cincy’s franchise and ownership are so conservative, that there is not even so much as a blip of animosity towards the Oakland Raiders or Al Davis. Nor between the fans for that matter. In fact, Cincy fans are overly polite with Midwestern notions of professional sportsmanship. I can’t find an iota of trash talking on any message forums leading up this Sunday’s game.

Does this mean not a single drunken lout with a chip on his shoulder exists within the Cincinnati fanbase?

If you can’t be ruffled by Al Davis through a 40-50 year existence, then you deserve some kind of credit for being so blissful.

On the surface, it is easy to get the idea the Bengals as the complete opposite of the Raiders. Cincy being so morally righteous (at least as far as the city's reputation) and Oakland being a troublesome environment for players, fans, coaches (and their wives, girlfriends).

Looking a little deeper, the Bengals are not a trouble-free team. They have had their fair share of players with brushes with the law. There is also Chad what’s his name’s consistent antics and subsequent wrist slapping by the NFL.

The difference is, the Bengals straighten their ship when they need to and are proving it with wins on the field and less attention off the field.

In terms of personnel, the Bengals could be labeled a quasi-outlaw type of team. It’s not often you think of the Bengals to give second and third chances to players who have made questionable judgment calls (Cedric Benson, Chris Henry and now Larry Johnson). Yet, that is exactly what a portion of their roster represents.

The bottom line is they have competent players, a solid quarterback, and competent coaching. With the exception of one game against Philly, the Raiders have been absent of competency so far in the 2009 season.

Maybe that’s why there’s no trash talking from Raider fans for this game. It’s not that they have abandoned all hope of an upset,Raider fans just need a reason to believe their team can step up and show they can deliver some competency—like the Bengals have.

Raiderhed Keeps The Mood Fun In Oakland

Al's Wingman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:42:16 -0500

With just about everything we’re hearing about the Oakland Raiders being bad news these days, there is actually a little bit of fun going on locally.

If you are old enough to get into a bar, enjoy consuming awesome bar food and commiserating with fellow Raider fans, then catching Raiderhed is a must. Raiderhed plays every Saturday night prior to Raider home games at Ricky’s in San Leandro, Calif.

If you have never been to Ricky’s, at all then it’s questionable you have lived the full Raiders experience. It’s all about atmosphere.

Lots of Bay Area bars support the Raiders but few truly represent the culture of the fans as Ricky’s has over the years.

Win or lose, you can always count on good times at Ricky’s, where you can talk Raiders all day and night, regardless of opinion and differences.

It’s where the fans come since the Internet just doesn’t hold up as meaningful enough.

Raiderhed also plays at the south end of the Oakland Coliseum parking lot on home game days. Tailgating at the Coliseum can be confusing to navigate so it’s best to plan ahead if you actually expect to find the south section of the lot.

They’re not the greatest band you’ve ever heard. To be perfectly honest, they are not even a good band but they don’t need to be.

Raiderhed is just good fun with their original lyrics sung (badly) over well known tunes such as Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train among many others.

My personal favorite is "Cleveland Sucks" (as if Browns fans need to be reminded of that) sung to the tune of Ian Hunter's "Cleveland Rocks".

You’ll just have to check them out yourself with a net search. Here are some youtube links to get you started

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH-RuEtlbVg (I Wanna Win)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZVCgv5ruck (I'm a Raiders Fan)

Chucky's Not Coming Back

Al's Wingman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:32:14 -0500

Why would he?

Some Raiders fans have noticed how diplomatic Jon Gruden is in everything he says or does concerning the Oakland Raiders, and this provides some measure of hope he would consider returning as head coach.

Well, that’s not going to happen so long as Al Davis is alive. Al is first of all threatened by Gruden’s popularity. In Al’s world, no one is allowed to take any credit for the team’s (potential) success more than he is. Al is a very smart guy but he’s also completely absorbed in his own megalomania.

This is why the team is so bad right now.

He follows his own patterns for failure in a mistaken belief he can fix everything by himself. To him, so long as he controls any possible turnaround (and therefore, controls the glory along with it), he is willing to begrudgingly absorb the failures each passing season.

Gruden would not take a job where he did not have final say on the roster, which was a sticking point in his being re-signed to a contract extension when he was head coach for Al. This led to his famous trade to the Bucs.

Every season, NFL head coaching jobs open up, and Gruden has to be considered a strong candidate for any of them. He has no reason to want to deal with Al again and he won’t. Despite what anyone says or thinks they know, only a true fool would walk into a situation set up for failure.

Gruden was able to succeed as Raiders' head coach because he worked extra hard to comply with Al's oversight. At this stage in his career, he doesn’t need to do that to be successful elsewhere. He can apply those extra energies to other things.

No coach would want to deal with Al’s constraints unless they were not candidates for other head coaching jobs or they had a personal as well as contractual agreement with Al that clearly specified the boundaries of control the coach has.

Gruden was not able to get that the first time around but he worked within acceptable boundaries until it came time for a contract renewal. At which time, Al balked and let him go to Tampa Bay.

That pretty much sums up the reasons why Chucky will not be back to rescue the floundering rotting hulk, knows as the Oakland Raiders franchise.

Michael Huff Is Making an All-Pro Case for Himself

Al's Wingman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:48:19 -0500

Despite all the doom and gloom hanging over the Oakland Raiders franchise, there are some bright spots.

The inspired play of free safety Michael Huff has to be considered a welcome surprise.

After three lackluster seasons and a failed experiment at strong safety, Huff has come into his own. He is now a confident player making big plays as a free safety and nickelback.

In the past, Huff would be late arriving on tackles and pass plays, missing opportunities to slow down an opponent’s drive. Now he flies to the ball, disrupts passes and is more than pulling his weight as a situational safety.

For reasons known only to the coaching staff, Huff is only a part-time starter, sharing free safety duties with Hiram Eugene. While Eugene is a solid free safety, Huff seems to have turned the corner and is finally living up to his stock as a first-round draft pick from 2006.

Based on comments by former Raiders special teams captain Jarod Copper (now a post-game analyst for a local television station), Al Davis does not like Huff. That is the alleged reason why Huff is primarily used as a nickelback unless injuries to Eugene press him into service as a starting free safety.

We can speculate this might be true. Up to this season, there hasn’t been a lot to like about Huff's play. Though he was originally thought to be an answer at strong safety, that is not Huff’s strength. He is not a tough tackler. He is better suited to use his speed to provide pass defense.

There are also character traits to be admired about Huff. Despite the criticism from fans and media over the last three years, Huff never spoke out against the organization or the coaching staff. He never tried to defend his poor game-time performance. Huff has remained cool under pressure and has kept working towards becoming a better player.

If his high level of play stays consistent over the second half of the 2009 season, Huff has to be considered a possibility to make the AFC’s All-Pro team.

Currently, Jairus Byrd of the Bills leads AFC free safeties with seven interceptions, nine pass deflections and 32 tackles. Huff also has nine deflected passes and three interceptions with 27 tackles.

Close on Bird's and Huff’s heels as far as overall AFC stats for free safeties is Brodney Pool of the Browns.

If Huff continues making great strides to become a polished player, he should warrant consideration come time for All-Pro voting.

Al Davis: Top Secret Meeting Transcript

Al's Wingman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:33:33 -0500

Al Davis is getting a massage by a large massage therapist with a deep voice.

Massage Therapist: “How we doing Mr. Davis?”

Al: “Just fine. Holy sheep dip, did I ever need this. Oh lordy, that feels good!”

[knock on the door]

Al: “COME IN!”

Senior executive John Herrera, PR man Mike Taylor and General Counsel Jeff Birren enter Al’s office

Al: “Ah, my trusted team of "yes men". Have a seat. Listen, let’s not beat around the bush. I don’t like this Tom Cable mess and I’m tired of ESPN dragging us through the mud. What in Sam Hill is going on?”

Jeff Birren: “We’ve already advised ESPN”s legal division of....“

Mike Taylor: “I’m ready to release a timely public response sir....“

John Herrera: “I bet Tim Kawakami had something to do with it. Just say the word and I’ll kick his....”

Al: “SHHHADDDUP! Tell me something I don’t know. I want to know why ESPN is investigating Tom Cable’s history with women. I mean, who cares? I didn't even know he was married, twice even and then there's the girlfriend. What kind of woman would be interested in Tom Cable? He looks kind of—what's the word I'm looking for?"

John Herrera: “Overly aggressive?”

Al: “That's two words!”

John Herrera: "Bearish?"

Al: "I don’t know what the hell that means but I’m humored. I knew I kept you around for a reason John!"

(All politely laugh.)

Al: "Bearish! I get it, like Castro Street. That’s pretty good John.”

(Hearty laughter from all.)

Al: “Aright lets get down to business.... What i don't like about ESPN is this latest mud slinging has Chris Mortensen’s fingerprints all over it. Even when he’s not taking credit for coming after us, he’s involved.”

Jeff Birren: “The Cable story doesn’t target the organization, our role is tangential.”

Al: “It makes us look bad. Cable works for us and he’s smacking women around? That’s not what we’re about. Where do they come up with this garbage anyway? Why now, so close to the Hanson problem?”

John Herrera: “I don’t think the media likes us very much.”

Al: “No kidding. We never did find the mole in our ranks did we? I’m still not sure our conversations are not monitored and reported to Mortensen.”

Massage Therapist: “Can you please shift to your left, Mr. Davis, so I can get your other side?”

Al: “Oh sure”

Jeff Birren: “We’ve had your office swept for hidden recording devices at least ten times since Kiffin was fired. All computers are virus-free, according to our technical support people.”

John Herrera: “I’ll have another polite conversation with Kawakami to make sure.”

Al: “I’m talking about Mortensen, not Kawakami!””

John Herrera: “Right, got it”

Al: "While we’re at it. I don't need to remind everyone that this conversation is highly confidential. I don’t know how we can have a media leak is in this building. Our meetings are always held in private."”

Massage Therapist: "Should I leave Mr. Davis?"

Al: "No, no, you stay. Keep doing what you're doing. Mike, issue a press release."

Mike Taylor: "Of course sir."

Al: OK, Mike, write this down. Hey, Tim—I mean, Chris, I'm tired of you dishing out crap and calling it journalism! No wait, let me start over...."

Jeff Birren: "Maybe we should use some legal language, give it some backbone."

Al: I like that idea, Jeff. We can use fancy legal words. That'll show 'em we know our business. Nobody drags Allen Davis Football Inc. through the mud and gets away with it"

All: "YEA!"

Al: "John, fetch me my robe. I’m feeling proud."

"Uh...."

Al: "My bathrobe for cryin' out loud!"

John Herrera: “Do I have to really…touch it?”

Al: "Never mind. Alright, gentlemen, we all know what needs to be done."

John Herrera: "Fire Cable and hire a new coach?"

Al: “That goes without saying. Let's get to it. See if that Elkins fellow is available. We need new blood in here that won't embarrass the organization."

All: "YES SIR"

Will the Raiders Be Dragged Down by Coach Tom Cable's Past?

Al's Wingman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:42:16 -0500

Unpleasant working conditions have gotten a little worse than grim for Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable.

What Cable does and has done is a reflection of the Raiders organization. It does not look good at all when allegations surface of domestic abuse in Cable’s past.

We have to ask ourselves, why is this coming to light at this time? Two women, one a former wife, and the other a former girlfriend were interviewed by ESPN. For what purpose?

Why would ESPN intentionally paint a portrait of Cable as a man with an anger management problem? Who stands to gain from this?

Whatever their intentions, ESPN’s segment helps Randy Hanson and his legal team.

Is it coincidence the former girlfriend is interviewed in a lawyer's office (and if you doubt that, look at the background of the ESPN segment. It's pretty obvious).

Hanson has a notion his job with the Raiders will be restored by way of legal wrangling (since that is his only option left). It would seem his attorney is positioning his forthcoming civil suit case to do just that.

My speculation is Hanson’s legal team somehow got this idea rolling with a producer at ESPN. A scoop is a scoop, and Outside the Lines is pretty much designed to dig up dirt like this. So “why not?” asks ESPN. It’s not like the Raiders' front office is cooperative with us when we ask for simple things. This could be a bite back from the media.

Let's not underestimate the power of legal persuasion. Al Davis' massive team of lawyers are equipped to do endless battle through the legal system but is this something they really feel obligated to throw their weight into?

They may not have a choice.

Though this forthcoming case does not have the vim and vigor of an Al Davis fronted maneuver. It is a defensive posture yet history tells us Davis prefers to do battle before making a payout. Such as with the McGah family, for example. That was ugly.

There is the matter of high visibility, bad publicity and distraction to the organization. Is Davis willing to put with it? He can't be happy about an unwanted spotlight nor coach Cable's past coming to light.

Can anyone say background check? There are all kinds of legal things a sharpie shark (such as Hanson’s lawyer) can throw at Davis. You know, like why wasn’t a background check done on Cable to make sure he wasn’t the type of guy that could physically assault employees?

Is Davis willing to dole out a big cash outlay to Hanson simply for being the recipient of physical damage supposedly in some way as a result of Cable's outburst in close quarters?

Is this ugly incident enough to cast Davis at fault or is it Cable’s alone?

Perhaps Davis will cut his losses and fire Cable, let him flap in the wind and handle things on his own but will that make the problem go away entirely for the organization?

Questions and more questions.

It seems Davis handled things with decorum with Hanson immediately following the incident. He is paying Hanson through this ordeal which shows good faith. We have to give Davis some credit here; even though Hanson does not deserve his salary, Davis and his own sharks realized the legal ramifications could come back at them in the event of a civil suit, so why not suck up the loss and pay Hanson?

Smooth, baby.

Where the Raiders have a leg to stand on is not taking Hanson back as a coach or anywhere in the organization. He had his chance and (allegedly) hung up the phone on Davis. Hanson walked away from a scouting job or some other reassignment.

Hanson has shown disloyalty and therefore is barred from the Raider organization.

Can you see the tears welling up in Hanson's eyes? Let's all cry for him. His boyhood dream is in tatters.

"PLEASE, MR. DAVIS, I MADE A MISTAKE. I WAS UPSET, OH GOD PLEASE..."

Cry us a river, Randy baby—you are a traitor! But you stand to be a rich traitor so cheer up kiddo.

But as for Cable...wow, can Davis get any worse at picking a head coach?

Based on what I perceive to be the credibility of the women reporting the incidents, I'm personally convinced Cable's past relationships with these women paints a picture of a guy with a valid anger management problem.

Domestic violence is no joke, and it's something that triggers because of whatever the guy's temperament happens to be. Most guys are able to put things into context when getting angry. Most of us realize you don't just hit a woman (or anyone unless you want a battery charge). It's flat out wrong unless you are defending yourself or some unusual circumstance.

Whoever came up with the idea to reach into Cable past is either building a case against him for purposes of a civil suit or they just don't like Cable or want to damage the Raiders. Any way you slice it, these are underhanded tactics and it smells like the work of sharks out for blood.

Isn't it ironic that Hanson's salary from the Raiders organization "earned" while he sits on the couch is paying for the attorneys attacking the organization?

A 3 Step Blueprint for Jamarcus to Turn His Season Around

Al's Wingman — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:30:18 -0400

How often does Al Davis place a call to a journalist?

Not very often. It would even be more rare for Al to call a journalist for a positive conversation.

However, recently he did in fact call Jarrett Bell of USA Today .

I'll speculate that his reasons could not have been because he likes the media and wants to provide accurate information. If that were the case, Al would be a lot more proactive with communicating with "newspaper men" (as he refers to them as).

It's not like Mr. Bell is the only reporter asking questions about the suitability of Jamarcus as an NFL QB. So why phone Bell out of anyone else asking the same questions? A chance encounter in an elevator? Nah, c'mon.

But let's leave on the table the fact that Mr. Bell is black and the subject at hand was black quarterback Jamarcus Russell and Al's historically generous attitude towards black people. Even though, you know, Al politely declined interviews with journalists of other races and nationalities at the same NFL meeting in Boston a few weeks back.

It's documented elsewhere in various beat writers blogs. Al granted no interviews at that meeting except for Jarrett Bell of USA Today after meeting in an elevator.

Let's look past all that. Maybe it was a feel good moment for Al.

Let's look at the JR problem for what it is.

As a less than smart southern boy, lacking maturity and professional discipline, Jamarcus has several drawbacks plunging him into failure.

In his defense, it's a bad idea starting two rookie wide receivers. He's not getting much help there. There is very little to no chemistry with his rookie receivers and JR is attempting to imply this is a major stumbling block for him.

We feel ya JR, we really do but you still have to show a little something something. You are too inconsistent to be anything close to playing decent football.

You are bad at fundamental things like protecting the football, not tossing up interceptions like its no big deal, taking command and accountability, being in great physical shape, that sort of thing.

JR has long believed being in the NFL would be like being in pee wee, high school and college where he was tailor made to rise above the competition.

So let's just bring this down to fundamental things JR can control at this stage in his lousy career to date.

Here is what JR needs to do to salvage the 2009 season:

1. Lose the "aw shucks" southern boy mentality and ignorance. It's not endearing. Speak like a man with confidence who has a clue, not like you are on a farm talking to hayseed reporters. Perception is reality so if you sound like you are not getting it we are going to think you not getting it. It's that simple.

2. Step out of your comfort food zone. You are fat and we don't like fat quarterbacks unless you are retired. You should be pelted with rotten fruit, not boos. Get in shape! Commit yourself to being a superior athlete. Perception is reality so look the part. You have the potential to do much better if your body is prepared for the game. Mental discipline follows suit when the physical is up to par. If you eat poorly, your mind suffers. It’s true. See step one for verification.

3. No one has time to let you mature. Get it done or get out of town. Yes, you are responsible for the team's losses. Even if you aren't the job of the QB is to take the team on his shoulders. Even Kerry Collins knew that. By doing so you set a locker room example your teammates can respect. It is obvious your locker room does not respect you, based on comments from your offensive teammates. Perception is reality so figure it out, no one is cutting you any slack except Al Davis and he is looking foolish for putting his faith in you.

Oh yea, by the way, all Al really wanted to do with Jarret Bell on the phone call was convince him other successful QBs have taken time to mature. Well, other QBs who Al cited as successful (Troy Aikman, Dan Fouts among numerous others) were much smarter than Jamarcus. JR has to follow the three step blueprint if he has any chance at all.

Bill Callahan Comes Full Circle, Raiders Still Stuck In First Gear

Al's Wingman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:22:33 -0400

Unless you count the Norv Turner era as respectable, the last, best hope the Raiders had at success was when Bill Callahan was Head Coach. I know that is a tough pill for many Raider fans to swallow but show me a better offensive line coach the Raiders have had since.

Art Shell? Ok, maybe 20 years ago but his hire was a pretty bad thud when he signed on for a second tour of duty.

Callahan, as you may recall, got it done with the offensive line. If not for Barrett Robbins losing his marbles, setting the wrong tone on the eve of a Super Bowl, who knows what could have been different about the Bucs/Gruden game of retribution.

Unfortunately, Callahan also made a ton of errors which tarnished his time with the Raiders. Much like Tom Cable started out doing great as offensive line coach and is now collapsing like a ton of bricks.

It so happens Bill Callahan has rehabilitated himself in the NFL and is doing just fine as offensive line coach of the New York Jets. How does the O-Line opening things up for the backs to run for over 300 yards against the Oakland Raiders sound as far as evidence?

So we have to ask ourselves, if Bill Callahan can fix the Jets offensive line, why can't the Raiders fix their own offensive line?

Khalif Barnes, playing for the first time as a right tackle, gave up 2 sacks against the Jets.

Is Cornell Green any better? No, he pretty much is no help.

Langston Walker is a retread, not expected to offer much help either.

What is a retread? A guy who could not make another team's roster. In the case of Langston Walker, he was willfully allowed to leave the Raiders, go to another team and then come back. So he is a double retread. He's not a solution.

So the useless retread offensive line crew of the Raiders consists of Erik Pears, Kalif Barnes, Copper Carlise, Cornell Green and guys that are just average like Chris Morris and Samson Satele.

Then at the bottom of that heap is Paul McQuistan. He is so useless that he does not even get mentioned as a possibility to replace Robert Gallery when he was lost to injury. Why is McQuistan even on the roster if he serves no function? If he is injured, then put him on IR to make room for a guy who can help the team.

Strangely enough, the only guy who has really stood out on the line is Robert Gallery, the one time bust who has managed to salvage his NFL career. We also have to give left tackle Mario Henderson his due as another guy who is doing better than everyone around him. He has not emerged as a rock but maybe with better players helping out, he will get there.

The reasons why the Raiders are woeful offensively has to start with the line.

The offensive line has been neglected. You would think with such a large investment in your QB the next logical step would be to want to protect that investment.

This hasn't happened over the course of several seasons, with lamers being claimed off waivers, a revolving door of other teams' retreads being installed.

So this tells us Al Davis is more concerned with finding defensive players that he wrongly believes will fit in with his man to man system rather than building a credible offensive line.

This is the same trail of errors associated with overpaying guys like DeAngelo Hall, Gibril Wilson and whatever other guys not pulling their weight. Not a single established offensive lineman has been brought in to compete for a job.

Until there are better offensive lineman brought in to stabilize the protection, the passing game will suffer.

It has been pointed out a few times by lots of people, Jamarcus Russell (or whoever is playing QB for the Raiders) does not have 7-8 seconds to throw.

Taking your drop (any more than 3 steps) is tough when your protection breaks down almost immediately.

So we're back to handing the ball off to Fargas every down but that is what happened in 2006 (until he gets hurt again).

Jawgate Fallout: Al Davis Again Fails To Bar the Media

Al's Wingman — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:15:47 -0400

Hanging out at Raider fan headquarters (Ricky’s in San Leandro, California ) I heard the first plausible explanation for Randy Hanson’s broken jaw.

First, as new details have come to light, we just have to laugh at the scenario in the Napa Marriot hotel room where Jawgate took place.

According to the D.A. account of events, Randy Hanson was leaning back in his chair with his feet on the table.

What kind of NFL assistant coach would attend a staff meeting with his feet on the table when his boss is trying to get his point across to you? That seems a little suspicious but considering that a man of legal stature is telling us this information, we have to assume that this version of the story is credible.

If this is in fact true, what seems likely is that Hanson really did fall over when bumped into (rather than being struck). As one of the many ardent Raider fans at Ricky’s explained, when one’s body is impacted (as Hanson would have done hitting the floor or some furniture), smashing your chin against your own collarbone is a perfectly reasonable way of causing not only a break in the jaw but also can cause damage to the teeth,

So there you go.

As for whether Coach Cable’s tirade is somehow at fault for what occurred is speculative but we will see how the civil case pans out.

One thing is certain; the very fact that criminal charges against an NFL head coach is even part of the discussions about the Oakland Raiders has tarnished Coach Cable’s reputation, made the Raiders organization mode of operations even sketchier than it already is perceived and is just a useless distraction no one needs.

What needs to be pointed out is Al Davis is at fault for this because it is he who hired Randy Hanson and it was his decision to keep him on staff after dismissing Lane Kiffin last season. Obviously Hanson felt he was secure in his position enough to have his feet on the table during a defensive coaches meeting with the head coach.

But most things don’t change at Raiders HQ, as evidenced by the attempt to ban Yahoo Sports writer Michael Silver from a media production meeting.

Hey…wasn’t that what Al tried to do with CBS Broadcast Analyst Rich Gannon just a few weeks ago?

One would think Al Davis would have gotten the message by now. You don’t have the authority to ban anyone with valid media credentials from covering the Raiders wherever production meetings are held. In fact, Al Davis has no authority to stop anyone from informing the public about the glaring deficiencies within the organization.

Do you get it Al? You have no authority. How does that make you feel? A little powerless? Does it make you feel like a smaller man than you thought you were all these years? You really gave Pete Rozelle a shot in the gut didn’t you. How’d that make you feel? Like a big man for a few days.

But, unfortunately for you Al, the party’s over. Your team stinks to high hell and the world knows it. There is no bounce back to glory. You are done and past the point of no return. You have muffed harshly on just about every draft pick since your last super bowl appearance and have caused calamity within your own ranks.

It took defiance by your defensive coordinator to change the scheme so they could manage to sack Donovan McNabb a few times en route to a meager four-point victory because your horrible offense can only manage a few drives here and there and a lucky break for a change of pace TD.

Al's ego is what keeps the Oakland defense predictable. Believe it or not Al thinks man to man/single high safety can be effective. Somehow he thinks opponents won’t see it coming or that the Raiders can match up man for man as well as overwhelm an opponent with a four-man rush (no blitzing) all game.

In another instance of bad management, Al trotted out Chaz Schilens for a press conference just last week.

Chaz is a solid receiver when healthy but clearly, showcasing him for the media was intended to give Jamarcus Russell a break (since he’s not cutting it as team leader). You were so hoping Chaz would be able to lift the team’s fortunes.

So close but so far.

Let’s see, what other recent bad judgment by Al Davis has the hurt the team?

Well, there was cutting Gary Russell after preseason. That’s because Al (or maybe Kelly Skipper, Running Backs Coach) figured Oren O’Neil or Luke Lawton could adequately handle the fullback role. Though Gary Russell is a short yardage running back, the coaching staff's (and Al’s) poor assessment of Russell led to his release, only to bring him back and find out how valuable and versatile he is.

RB Louis Rankin surely was worth keeping as well.

There’s more but it can wait for another article.

Raiders-Jets Rivalry Has a Long History

Al's Wingman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:47:58 -0400

The hilarity of the episode can’t be understated. It was a playoff game in January 1983. The New York Jets were on the road playing the Los Angeles Raiders. A phone call came through to the Jets locker room at halftime.

Jets head coach Walt Michaels was handed the phone. The voice on the other end claimed to be Jets owner Leon Hess. What followed was a tirade, making Michaels feel the heat for his Jets underperforming.

Michaels knew it was a prank, but his anger bubbled over.

"I'm gonna have something special to say about this damn Raider organization," he promised after the call.

Obviously, Walt thought the prank was the work of the Raiders. What he did not know was that the prank was from a New York bartender.

Well, unfortunately for Raiders fans, the Jets beat the Raiders 17-14 that game. Afterwards, Walt Michaels said, "I just want to say that whatever member of the Raider organization called me on the phone at halftime and said my owner wanted to talk to me is a sick SOB. It's a sick, rotten way to try to disrupt our team. His initials are A.D. and I don't care if he knows it or not."

Comedy gold.

So how did a bartender manage to make a phone call and catch an NFL head coach in the locker room to begin with?

The security guy who initially answered the call said later,

"The guy said he was Leon Hess, the Jets' owner, and he had to talk to Walt Michaels. He sounded quite normal. When Joe Namath was here you'd get a lot of crazies calling, but Carroll Rosenbloom (then the owner of the LA Rams) used to call down a lot at halftime, too, so how was I to know? Anyway, Walt just happened to be in the hall at the time, so I gave him the call. I feel like a fool now."

More comedy gold.

It turned out the bartender came clean, though, and told the press.

“The conversation lasted about 30 seconds. I told Coach Michaels to tell his team to fight harder in the second half, to go out and kick hell out of the Raiders, and to make (defensive end) Mark Gastineau stop doing his sack dance because he looked like a real jerk.

"The coach kept saying, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah.'

"I heard that Al Davis was getting blamed for it and I didn't want it laid on Al so I called the press to give my side of it."

The Jets and the Raiders, two original American Football League teams, have been playing each other since 1960. The rivalry came on strong in the late ’60s. The Raiders’ Ike Lassiter broke Joe Namath’s cheekbone in 1967. The following season, on their way to winning Super Bowl III, the Jets beat the Raiders in the AFL championship game at Shea Stadium as Namath threw three touchdown passes.

Earlier that season, the Jets and the Raiders played in the famous Heidi game. The Jets took a 32-29 lead with 65 seconds remaining when, at 7pm on the east coast, NBC cut to the start of Heidi, the television movie scheduled to begin at that time. Viewers missed witnessing two stunning touchdowns by the Raiders, who won, 43-32.

Michaels is a man who remembers it all. Including those trips to Oakland to play Al's Raiders when Michaels was Jets head coach Weeb Ewbank's defensive assistant.

He remembers that Al Davis fired him as a Raiders assistant before he joined Weeb's staff. Needless to say he remained aware of the enlarged photograph at Raiders' HQ of Ben Davidson knocking Joe Namath's helmet off.

Walt remembers Al Davis causally coming into the Jets' hotel to talk shop with Namath on the eve of a game. He remembers Al’s paranoia that the Raiders locker room was bugged at Shea Stadium and the supposed retaliation in Oakland when the tarps were mysteriously unrolled on the field in 1968 where the Jets were to practice.

Walt remembers the league fine the Jets absorbed when Michaels stormed the referees locker room after a loss at the Oakland Coliseum as he hammered the door with his fists trying to get the last word in with the refs.

Yes, Walt remembers. Maybe winning that playoff game in 1983 was some measure of consolation for him.

One thing is certain: the Jets-Raiders rivalry is no longer that intense.

The 1983 playoff game was in front of 90,000 fans in the LA Coliseum, a game with 10 turnovers. Two offsetting personal foul penalties had been called in the first quarter. Raiders defensive end Lyle Alzado had ripped off the helmet of Jets tackle Chris Ward and flung it at him. The game-ending quarterback kneel down at the very end by the Jets Richard Todd was marked by a flurry of fists.

Oakland Raiders Barely Survive in Win Over Philly

Al's Wingman — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:03:38 -0400

Let's hope the hard-fought win over the Eagles was not the shining moment for the Raiders this season.

It's nice to be 2-4 instead of 1-5, but let's see this win for what it is—a great defensive effort and a barely acceptable offensive effort.

The running game still has not emerged and one passing touchdown does not make up for the underwhelming output JaMarcus Russell and the receiving corps has accomplished to date.

While Russell threw for over 200 passing yards, a good chunk of that came on one touchdown to Zach Miller. In terms of passing production, Russell is still not getting it done.

In both Raider wins this season, a single touchdown in each has enabled the win.

If not for Sebastian Janikowski's perfect 9-for-9 on field goals thus far, the Raiders could be 0-6.

While the Eagles represent a quality opponent, it is obvious they did not bother to show up. Let’s give them their due. Maybe the long distance flight made them sleepy or maybe they did not consider working for a living on Sunday.

And even if Tom Cable manages to avoid more legal troubles, he will likely blow a gasket if he continues to get all worked up on the sidelines. Blowing a gasket when you are a middle aged fat man usually leads to bad things.

A word of advice: have some salad and relax, Tom. We already know you have a temper. You have nothing to prove to us.

While we like to see some emotion, overreacting to every little thing is pointless and paints you as desperate.

The Oakland defense finally moved off from their glaringly obvious man-to-man/single high safety look to Cover 2. The change helped, but let's not kid ourselves. Donovan McNabb has seen Cover 2 defenses before, so changing up the look did not fool anyone. It just so happens the Raiders played good defense and McNabb did not bother to focus on the game. (Just like he did in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots a few years back).

The last time we saw good defense from Oakland was in the opener against San Diego. (We'll leave out the Chiefs game out of mercy to Kansas City).

At this pace we can expect good defense from the Raiders every five games.

How long can the defense prop up a sluggish offense?

One touchdown does not a season make. Russell is not off the hook so easily. He still has everything to prove in the NFL.

More is also expected from the receivers if the Raiders are to have any chance at more wins.

Raiders Coaches Close Ranks on Jawgate

Al's Wingman — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:04:07 -0400

"There must be some kind of way out of here,"

Said the joker to the thief,

There's too much confusion,

I can't get no relief."

-All Along The Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix

If only the cloud of dust would dissipate and we could get a clear picture of what really happened between Randy Hanson and Tom Cable.

Jaws don't break themselves. Hanson is alleging felony assault against Cable.

The backdrop is a hotel room in Napa, CA, where a defensive meeting was taking place. Defensive Coordinator John Marshall along with secondary coaches Lionel Washington and Willie Brown were also present.

It makes sense that witnesses to an alleged crime would cooperate with a police investigation. BUT, in this case Tom Cable has not been charged with a crime yet (or at all).

Apparently, it's ok for witnesses to not cooperate with a police investigation. Oakland Raiders lawyers must be providing a legal shield.

For their part, Napa legal authorities are not too keen to forge ahead with charges. Politics are in play. They benefit from good relations with the Raiders for training camp during summer.

Still, a citizen was injured and has the legal right to want to prosecute the accused.

But there are several gaps in detail, despite lengthy articles from Nancy Gay of NFL Fanhouse and Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports.

Things are not adding up. First it was mentioned Hanson was knocked out of his chair and into a cabinet. That didn't wash very well but Hanson now says he was knocked out of his chair and into a table. This is what caused the jaw fracture and cracked teeth.

A table did that huh?

It's not out of the question he was blindsided, somehow tossed into a table or perhaps hammered face down into it. I have an image of an enraged Tom Cable tossing the guy around like a rag doll. Cable looks like a guy you don't want to tick off.

And let's also be clear, claiming Cable said "I'm going to kill you" is not that big a deal. That's what guys say when they are pissed off at each other. It happens. It would be insane to conclude Cable had any intention of really killing Hanson.

Machismo is about intimidating the other guy. That's what this was about. Hanson got roughed up and now he wants his payday.

This is most assuredly about money and pride.

Yet, witnesses are not talking. Tsk, tsk

We know that Cable must have stepped over the line because medical reports are pretty good evidence.

But the game is now a legal one which means stalemate.

On one hand it is unfortunate the guy got hurt. On the other hand, why was this guy even on staff?

Al Davis, you only have yourself to blame. Your bad management of the franchise is at fault here. If the guy is not serving a useful purpose on the coaching staff and getting people upset, confusing players, why is he there?

If your head coach and his staff feel he is not productive, why don't you let the guy go?

Oh that’s right, you threw him a bone for his cooperation with your last head coach hiring mistake.

The Next Head Coach Of The Oakland Raiders Is...

Al's Wingman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:14:22 -0400

Let's play what ifs.

If Jon Gruden was given the personnel authority he needed as head coach of the Oakland Raiders, would the Raiders have made it to the super bowl in 2002?

Why not?

Would Tampa Bay have made it to the SB without Gruden?

Nah. Even without pointy headed Tony Dungy leading the way, the Bucs NEEDED Gruden for that achievement.

If Jon Gruden remained head coach of the Raiders (and obtained personnel authority), would they have slipped to the debacle they are today?

Not a chance.

Will Jim Harbaugh leave his peachy position as head coach of the Stanford Cardinal to become the next head coach of the Raiders?

Doubtful BUT, he is the likely leading candidate on the burner right now.

If for some reason Jim Harbaugh decides to leap into the fire, will he have a chance at being successful?

He'll have to work his tail off as Gruden did, but chances are slim for success without personnel authority.

It's just not possible to be a hard charging, innovative head coach for Al Davis because the Raiders are all about Al's ego. He does not stand for independent thinking. As much as people may deny it, you have to follow a script. If Al does not have the glory of the seeing his decisions pan out then it's not ok for the head coach or a GM to take any credit. That's what this is all about, a little boy and his sandbox.

Gruden had to painstakingly prove through film cuttings why Al's ideas would not work and then defy his master more than a few times to get his point across, ultimately leading to his trade to the Bucs.

All of Al's hires have to be submissive to his authority not just in word, deed, and action but in conscious belief system.

Gruden managed to do this because he needed to at the time. As a young head coach, he had to establish his path in the NFL. He did this successfully as best as possible.

Jim Harbaugh is similar in this regard and therefore stands a chance at following the same blueprint but it's a long-shot he will rise to the occasion. The Raiders were not in as worse shape as they were when Gruden took over. Harbaugh would have to be superman to turn the ship around.

Bottom line is any coach would have to be the very best there is to work with Al's ego and return the Raiders to a semblance of a competitive team.

NFL Plays Hardball With Blackout Policy

Al's Wingman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:06:48 -0400

How sad is it I cannot find any really cheap Raiders tickets online (except for 300 section nosebleed which SUCK regardless of what anyone hypes otherwise). You would think people want to unload their tickets any way they can but people spent a few hundred (or a few thousand) bucks before the season in hopes this year would be different. Well, those folks now are having buyer's remorse and want a return on their misplaced investment.

No can do. No one is paying face value for Raiders tickets unless you have absolutely nothing else to do on Sunday or money to burn.

What is even sadder is I actually want to go to this game because it will be blacked out (since the game will not sell out unless Al buys a lot of empty seats).

Can you believe the NFL blackout rules even extends to satellite networks? We can't even go to a restaurant or bar with a feed. How shameful is this NFL blackout policy when we can't even watch our beleaguered Raiders?

Not only are hard working fans expected to shell out top dollar to sit in the stadium, we are not even entitled to a mercy exemption. Hey Roger and NFL Office underlings, we're under the bus here. All we want is to watch the game, even if it's another blowout.

You see, we're addicted to watching the Raiders on Sundays every Fall. You know this and you depend on that for your revenue stream. We have to watch the game even though many of us are losing faith (or in my case have lost it entirely).

I think this makes you culpable of extortion to insist we pay full price to attend the game. It is clear to everyone paying attention, we are being force fed an inferior product unworthy of even half what full price tickets are going for.

You can claim this is a personal choice how we spend our money but in the end, it is you who are living a fat cat existence and we who are paying the price for our franchise owner's pathetically stupid methodology for bringing his team into the grave with his rotting carcass.

If we are not granted a mercy exemption, sad to say, we don't like you very much Roger and other NFL underlings.

Just thought you would want to know.

Randy Hanson Speaks to the Media, Tom Cable Hides His Wallet

Al's Wingman — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:38:49 -0400

Is it coincidence Randy Hanson chooses to speak to the media rather than wait for criminal charges to play out against his former boss, Tom Cable?

Hardly.

I'm not a lawyer, nor do I have any significant knowledge of the legal field. BUT it doesn't take much to realize that by speaking to the media and telling your side of the story, you are basically so confident you would win a trial that you don't expect it to go that far.

Otherwise, you keep your mouth shut (no pun intended) and keep everything under wraps so the legal system has no reason to dismiss your case.

I don't even watch much TV, and I could figure that much out.

So what are Hanson's motivations and expectations?

Prior to the jawgate incident, it is obvious he felt alienated on the coaching staff of the Raiders. His lawyer trumpets Randy's lifelong love of the Raiders and his dream of being a coach for his favorite team now blown to bits.

Can you just see it all unfold before your eyes in a courtroom? Hanson's lawyer turns in a dramatic pose and points his finger at Tom Cable: "AND THANKS TO THAT MAN, MY CLIENT'S DREAM IS NOW SHATTERED"

Boo-hoo. Hanson is a minion, a nondescript recipient of a solitary statement of praise from former boss Brad Childress, an annoying human being, and pretty much talentless in all respects according to people who have worked with him.

Let's all shed a tear for Randy Hanson, a man we should never even know except for his big mouth getting slammed into a desk or table or whatever it was.

Let's see this for what it is.

Pride and feigning poise. Then, of course, money.

Randy must reclaim his honor after being fingered as the odd man out on the Raiders coaching staff and being belittled by Tom Cable before suffering physical damage, and he is now positioning himself for a chunky cash settlement.

This is not going to court. The Napa County District Attorney's office can drag its feet as long is they want. Hanson knew he would be collecting salary through the end of his contract regardless if he was coaching or not. His lawyer made sure of that.

Now, he is speaking on record, which basically says, "I know my case is solid enough to win, so Coach Cable should prepare himself with a nice settlement offer befitting my hurt feelings and damaged jaw."

This could be a major wallop to Coach Cable's wallet—maybe seven figures.

Looks like Tom could be living out of his car again as he did in his hard-luck days.

Are The Giants Just Too Good For The Raiders To Handle?

Al's Wingman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:58:19 -0400

Most fans would seem to be writing off the Raiders season as yet another washout. Though, a win for Oakland on Sunday against the mighty NY Giants would be a huge boost for the franchise and the sullen Raider Nation.

Is it possible?

We have to consider that it is possible if Eli Manning is out with injury as expected. Eli is just too good a QB for the Raiders defense to deal with.

David Carr, however, is another story. If the Raiders can apply pocket pressure and handle the running game (no easy task all things considered), maybe get a few tunrovers to give the offense more chances, things could turn out favorable.

If the Giants get a large lead in the first half, then all bets are off, time to grab dinner, and forget about it.

The Giants defense is no joke. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is no joke. This is in contrast to the Raiders current head coach who initially showed promise, but would appear to be now on his elongated way out (as par the course, Al Davis will mull this for a while, keeping us guessing).

We don't need to look at the finer points of the Giants-Raiders matchup. Personnel-wise, the Raiders are outmatched, but this is exactly the type of game that has potential for the unexpected. A few breaks and the Raiders could have a shot.

It has been known to happen.

So long as JaMarcus Russell is not counted on to generate points, there is hope. Not that we would want to put any pressure on our young millionaire team leader.

At this point it really looks like JaMarcus is tired of being JaMarcus, based on his body language and second hand reports he is not bothering to show up for QB meetings. His play, though not as bad as his stats reflect, certainly make him seem like a flop. It could very well be time to let the guy disappear from the team into his private world of expensive living.

Though, let's not jump the gun. JaMarcus has led the team to a few wins here and there. Maybe his receivers will step up and beat someone this week.

Maybe, just maybe, the O-line will stave off the Giants pass rush and be equally adept at opening up some space for the running game to succeed. Whew, that’s a tall order.

Ok, maybe Janikowski will kick a bunch of field goals and Johnnie Lee Higgins will return at least one or two for TDs.

Or maybe…uh, hmmm….

Columbia Lions Off to a Roaring Start

Al's Wingman — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:36:11 -0400

Let's put it this way, for the Columbia Lions to have plastered the Princeton Tigers 38-0 this past weekend is more than a historic achievement. I don't have the patience to check the history of Lions football but it could the first time in a very long time Columbia has won an Ivy League game that convincingly.

Usually, it is the reverse with the Lions looking like they don't belong out there.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We know that M.A. Olawale is an excellent QB. The guy has speed when he is on the move and he can throw with accuracy. That has been an issue for the Lions in years past is having a versatile QB that can make plays rather than hurt his team.

It seems when they do have a good QB they don't have the offensive line to help him out. This year is a vast improvement from last year's horrid O-line issues.

Columbia's defense finally looked legitimate. I can't remember the last time that was the case. Though, I knew this was not the same Columbia team from year's past when they beat Fordham to open the season.

Fordham has turned the corner and is stocked with talent. I am still skeptical Columbia has that sort of stockpiled talent and I am also skeptical the Columbia coaching staff are mastermind game planners.

Still, to beat Fordham is monumental and then to follow it up with a hammering of Princeton (in between a loss to Central Connecticut State). I have to raise a toast and cheer.

It almost makes me want to forget too many years of Columbia football inadequacy from a turnstile of coaches. Too many years of lackluster performances. Just a few key players have helped manage a handful of wins over too many years of frustration.

Despite the Lions having lost to Princeton for five consecutive seasons, it does seem that Columbia beats Princeton when they really need to. It was Princeton, if you recall, that was the victim of Columbia when they ended their 40 something game loss streak way back when.

So there is some mojo there.

Also, Princeton has always been a middle of the road program it seems. They have had some solid runs to a title but more often than not, they are beatable.

This game showed how beatable Princeton really is but gives Columbia hope they have the wheels to stay on track.

I'll be less skeptical if they beat traditional power Harvard and tough nuts Yale and Brown. Penn has looked vulnerable thus far this season. Cornell is improved. What has happened to the Dartmouth program? A shame they are a doormat.

Next weekend, the Lions face powerhouse Lafayette and then Penn the following week. This will be a true test and one that I will be looking forward to.

If Columbia finishes with a winning record that will be at least better than what we are used to seeing from them.

No Answers In Sight For Oakland Raiders Decline

Al's Wingman — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:19:00 -0400

In just a short stretch, Tom Cable went from an NFL offensive line coach with a stellar reputation to being on the brink of another failed Raiders head coach. He just might add a rap sheet to his resume as well.

Is the franchise cursed? Probably, but it seems outlandish to blame the supernatural for all that has gone wrong since the Super Bowl XXXVII loss.

Fans are still left bewildered and demanding answers as well as a quick fix. There is no more patience left to tap into. That all went out the window after previous failed seasons and optimism leading up to each new season. There's only such much frustration and disappointment fans can take.

There are no credible answers any longer. We know Al Davis must take responsibility for all that has happened one way or the other. But even that is not enough of an explanation.

Outdated defensive tactics? That plays a part of it. Though they are playing better defense this season than in years past and with better personnel.

A highly overpriced/overvalued JaMarcus Russell spinning his wheels getting the team nowhere? Yeah, that's a big factor. It is certainly worth a shot putting a different quarterback in there. As long as it's not Marques Tuiasosopo, there is some hope. At least Bruce Gradkowski can get some first downs and start scoring touchdowns hopefully.

Injuries? Always in the mix.

Questionable playcalling? Sure, that has to be factored in but can't be isolated as "the" reason.

Stagnant progress in building a credible offensive line? This seems to be the most glaring flaw on the field but hardly the only one.

So what is it that makes the Raiders the worst franchise in professional sports?

Given the bad performances as of late, it seems highly unlikely home games will sell out or even generate much enthusiasm in the stands. I have to wonder if the team's slide is reversible at this point.

Raiders Tough Guy PR Approach Is Backfiring

Al's Wingman — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:34:46 -0400

“Hey you! Yea, that’s right, I’m talkin’ to you. See, I’m a tough guy. I get to wear a Raiders shirt, back slap with Al Davis and crack the heads of all youse media types writin’ nasty tings ‘bout us heah in Raiders HQ”

Isn’t it funny how John Herrera has made a career of being a shoe shine boy for Al Davis?

What’s even more funny is the authority this guy is allowed to wield with Raiders activities. He contacts newspaper editors and tries to get Raiders beat writers fired. He tries to bar Raiders beat writers from covering the team and even tried to bar a former Raider player turned broadcaster from meetings broadcasters are entitled to attend.

It is easy to speculate Herrera is just a thinly veiled veneer for the real voice of the Raiders, Big Daddy Al Davis. Though it is John Herrera providing the machismo muscle so therefore he is worthy of ridicule.

Herrera makes his living doing the dirty work, trying to control everything said publicly about the Raiders. It would not be surprising if he is shaking the tree at whoever calls the shots at Bleacher Report to try and get anything said here removed as well.

See how predictable the Raiders public relations strategy is?

John Herrera’s job is to stick his mug into every situation we are interested in with the Raiders and attempt to manipulate it.

He cuts interviews short. He suppresses information and does not release even the most common of details concerning the team unless it is a league rule to do so.

Most laughable is he tries to intimidate reporters with his pseudo mafiosa attitude.

Raider fans who complain about the media ripping on the Raiders only have to look as far as the shoe shine boy to get an idea of why they write what they do.

Then of course there is the ugly performance on the field which does not help matters. Next, there is the refusal of the organization to accept reality and a further refusal to try and improve things by changing their approach. Clinging to the past means the organization is dying with the past.

The Raiders organization’s lesson to be learned is that it does not control anything except short term annoyances (such as reporters asking questions). We all know the truth anyway, regardless of Herrera’s attempts to block information flow.

The walls are coming down. The Raiders are the worst organization in professional sports.

Of course, fans are catching on to the joke. They realize Raiders HQ is full of baloney. Look no further for evidence in the plummeting values of the franchise, coming in 31st out of 32 NFL teams according to Forbes 2009 rankings.

You can blame the economy but you can also blame the organization for their ignorant and backwards policies and showing the fans an unispired product on the field. Failure in all this, including mafiosa style handling of routine matters, translates to fan disgust and abandoning their team loyalty.

Tom Cable Interviewed By Napa Police

Al's Wingman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:25:13 -0400

Napa Police Investigator: “Can you tell us what happened between you and Randy Hanson?”

Tom Cable: “Well—“

John Herrera: “Randy slipped and fell into a cabinet.”

Napa Police Investigator: “Sir, let Mr. Cable speak.”

Tom Cable: “I—“

John Herrera: "This interview is over."

Napa Police Investigator: “Sir, this is a police investigation. You'll need to wait outside while we speak to Mr. Cable.”

John Herrera: "According to NFL rules, all players and coaches of the Oakland Raiders can be accompanied by a team spokesman."

Napa Police Investigator: "Ok, well this overrides that. It's a civil justice and legal matter."

John Herrera takes legal papers out of his pocket and hands them to the investigator.

Napa Police Investigator: "I've never seen anything like this. Al Davis Football, Inc. says it has legal authority in all matters concerning the team, including the jaw of a defensive assistant and the fist of the head coach and all furniture in the room, including chairs and cabinets. Hmmmm..."

John Herrera: “You lose, pal. Like I said, Hanson fell and got hurt. Capiche? Or do I need to get our legal department involved?”

(John’s cell phone rings)

Herrera picks it up and says to Napa Police investigator: "It's for you."

Napa Police Investigator: "...Yes, Mr. Davis. I understand. No problem. Sorry for the inconvenience. No—no, there's no problem. Right. Ok, well, good luck to you too. I hope you guys turn it around this season. JaMarcus couldn't be that bad, could he? Yea... alright, take care."

Napa Police Investigator: “Mr. Cable, there's been a misunderstanding, you can go."

Raiders Attack Rich Gannon Instead of the Broncos

Al's Wingman — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:19:19 -0400

As an Al Davis staff member, imagine getting an order to collect video, audio, and text clips of all things perceived as negative said about the Raiders. This is the exact same sort of tactics used by the former communist secret police. It's called a dossier.

No one is allowed to speak ill of the regime lest they face serious consequences.

A Rich Gannon dossier must exist front and center on Raiders senior executive John Herrera's desk because he is able to rattle off all kinds of statements to try and paint Gannon as a villain. Not just a villain mind you, Herrera wouldn't stop there. Herrera would have us believe Rich Gannon should be shamed in Raiders lore for a lost Super Bowl.

Thank you John Herrera for once again showing you are insecure and immature. Or maybe you are really just a good soldier thinking you are saying what the boss wants you to say. Though you lack the fortitude to admit that and instead, choose to end an interview abruptly rather than confront the main issue at hand.

In the mind of the Raiders front office, the most important issue is getting their side of the story out. That is the mistake Al Davis has believed to be the way to go about solving every problem prior to a lawsuit.

Anything that does not fall in lock step with that side of the story is labeled as hateful or damaging to the organization.

What John Herrera and Al Davis have failed to learn in their many years of experience is their methods have always failed to win fan sentiment. Most of us think both of those guys are insensitive and out of line. If you don't see that, then look at this latest episode and try and come up with a rationale for it that really makes sense.

Unless you just don't like Gannon in which case, it all makes perfect, legitimate sense.

Let's put this latest episode of Raiders vs. Gannon on the back burner since it most likely will go away and rightfully so. It's a disgrace for the Raiders front office to openly discredit the deeds of Rich Gannon and treat him as some wayward journeyman.

The Raiders did not make Gannon great. Gannon made Gannon great and he got beat in the Super Bowl by the man who helped him become great, Jon Gruden. This is ancient history now and for Herrera and/or Davis to not acknowledge that is pathetic.

But onto team matters. Today's game against the Broncos was awful. It was awful because of the stifling heat. It was awful from the very start when it was plain as day there was no energy on defense. There is no excuse for how soft the defense played. The goal line stand in the first quarter was nice but it never should have come to that.

So in essence, the team took one step forward in Week One against the Chargers but two steps back by Week Three against Denver.

Also setting the tone was JaMarcus Russell throwing an interception in the first quarter.

Let's just admit this Raider fans, JaWalrus isn't getting it. He's had enough time to develop his skill set. Aside from a few pretty good moments in this career thus far, his consistency is just not there. This year, he should be showing a lot better polish under the tutelage of Paul Hackett.

I won't say JR's a bust but his play is barely marginal. My opinion has always been JR is not about the game. He is about the coin. His heart is not into being a pro football player.

This is where Al Davis has made the majority of his mistakes. He still believes players want to be Raiders and this will bring out greatness in them. He genuinely lives by that sentiment.

One would think a guy as smart as Al would come to his senses by now and see the light through the trees. Players these days want the coin, not the greatness. It doesn't matter what they say. The bottom line speaks for itself.

Al has invested too heavily into marginal players and now the franchise is paying the price. JR's arm is great but he doesn't have the intangibles or the will to take the team on his back as every QB leader must do.

Are we going to see anything from DHB or is he just running in circles out there?

As for Darren McFadden, when your best offensive weapon fumbles three times it's pretty much over.

Not that it would have mattered but the Raiders had chances to score more points today but they beat themselves.

Oakland Raiders' Offense Is Suffering: Why Isn't Javon Walker Playing?

Al's Wingman — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:46:14 -0400

It’s no secret the Raiders have a struggling quarterback. More than anything, what is needed are guys who can make plays downfield to help ease the burden. With Chaz Schilens injured, most of the playing time has been going to rookies Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy.

DHB is a ways away from being a consistent playmaker. Louis Murphy has made the most of his opportunities or at least has been positioning himself as best as possible.

Zach Miller has been unable to spring free much of the time from the tight end position.

We only see brief glimpses of Todd Watkins.

Johnnie Lee Higgins is also used sparingly as a receiver.

There is, however, a guy on the roster who has the experience to make big plays happen and he is not being given any playing time.

Last year, Javon Walker was considered a joke after his Vegas mugging experience and then wanting to quit the team. He did not produce on the field very much either.

Then he had leg surgery without informing the team this past offseason

Though Walker appears to be in playing shape right now, Head Coach Cable says Walker is still recovering from injury or sometimes he hints that Walker has not earned playing time.

For his part, Walker has looked sharp in workouts. He may be a little rusty with his routes but a guy with his experience just needs the reps and he’ll get back into the routine.

So at this point, does it not make sense he is a solid option to be a reliable target for JaMarcus Russell? Is there a legitimate reason why Walker is not getting any time on the field?

Let’s be realistic, Walker is not playing because Al Davis insists on DHB and Murphy getting the majority of playing time.

This is not a Sanjay Lal call (WR coach) or a decision by Tom Cable. This is direct influence by Al Davis to deny Javon Walker.

We have to ask why this is so since the evidence is staring us in the face.

Every season, Al selects his doghouse victims, while oblivious to how much he is paying those guys he just doesn’t want to see them play. That is the sum total of Al's reasoning.

One would think he would just waive the guy, despite a guaranteed contract. Al does not seem to care he is paying them anyway to sit. One would think the sight of his doghouse victims in a Raiders uniform would disturb Al but it does not.

Al just does not want some guys to play for whatever reason.

I think Al just likes making guys bewildered and frustrated. It’s a personal thing, not a football thing or a medical thing or business decision.

There is no reason Javon Walker is not playing other than he is being punished for (in all likelihood) getting surgery without team consent.

So Al continues to make bad decisions based on his own ego. Rather than help the team when they desperately need a veteran receiver on the field, he chooses the egotistical way.

He will of course tell us that he expects DHB to become great.

The sad part is Javon is oblivious to Al’s vendetta. Javon says he’s ready to play. No one has communicated to him any explanation why he is not on the field even a little bit. That would be par the course as a member of the Raiders. The front office can’t be bothered with those types of details.

So, the offense suffers. Who’s to blame? Not the coaching staff.

Can The Raiders Get It Done On The Road Against The Chiefs?

Al's Wingman — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:10:15 -0400

In the football betting world, the odds always tend to swing in favor of a team playing at home against a team who played on Monday Night Football the week prior.

If we just look at the theory as a theory, that would point to the Kansas City Chiefs having the upper hand this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

On the field, reality tends to give some credence to the theory. A short week to prepare in the NFL is a challenge, especially considering the Raiders lost a very tough game at home, expended a lot of energy, and invested their heart and soul into it.

But this is supposed to be a new Oakland Raiders team, full of vim and vigor. Some new personnel have injected hope where very little existed prior. That has to count for something.

The question is, can they muster the strength and same sort of effort against the Chiefs on the road?

It’s a lot tougher than it sounds.

The prevailing thinking as to why the Raiders lost to the Chargers last week points to a fourth quarter prevent defense rather than sticking with the pressure tactics that had been working so well.

We have to question why the defensive coaching staff felt this was the right decision. It looked like they ran out of energy and were trying to simply to hold on.

As for the Raiders ability to score points, with JaMarcus Russell, Raider fans are just going to have to accept his inconsistency. He will make some great plays, but balance that with some misfires and INTs and what we have is a 50/50 quarterback.

The offense has some explosive capability with Zach Miller and Louis Murphy. Perhaps Javon Walker will get his opportunities as well.

Establishing the running game is essential so I would expect a heavy dose of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

Losing Johnnie Lee Higgins is a major hit to special teams.

A strength of the Raiders this season appears to be their defense. One of the keys to a win in Kansas City will be to getting to the quarterback, whether it be a fragile and undersized Brodie Croyle, Matt Cassell coming off injury, or a much improved Tyler Thigpen. Collapsing the pocket is essential and stopping the Chiefs running game has to happen.

The betting trend to go against a team playing on the road after a Monday night game has been mostly accurate over the years.

However, the Raiders have shown they can achieve the unexpected and buck the trend (at least so far this season) so it would be wise to give them a chance to do the same come Sunday.

Raiders Vs Chargers: 4th Quarter Breakdown Hurts

Al's Wingman — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:12:07 -0400

First of all, I admit I was wrong. I thought San Diego would dominate the Raiders as they usually do. Turns out, the opening game for both teams was better than expected as far as being competitive.

As John Madden often said when he was head coach of the Raiders, "We may not win every game but the other team is going to know they were in a football game"

San Diego looked physically manhandled for much of the game. They actually lost two starting offensive lineman to injury.

Phillip Rivers did come through in the clutch for his team but he looked embattled to that point.

In reading the San Diego media reports, the Chargers thought they should have put the Raiders away much quicker opening the game on Monday Night Football.

If not for Richard Seymour anchoring a newfound Oakland defensive front, that just might have been the case.

Mr. Seymour had two sacks in his first game as a Raider with no practices under his belt.

One sack for Greg Ellis at the opposite end of the line.

It is safe to say the upgrades at DE of those two players made all the difference for Oakland on Monday night.

Not just because of the sacks. More importantly was the impact Seymour and Ellis had in rejuvenating a dormant Raider defense.

Suddenly, the defensive line is looking like a beast if the interior of Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren can be just as consistent in holding their ground against the run and applying pocket pressure.

Speaking of the run, the Raiders held San Diego to under 100 yards total rushing for the game. That is an improvement from the forgettable last few seasons.

The big factor in the Charger opening game loss was physical conditioning. The 4th quarter is when you need to play your best in close games. The Raider D was picked apart, especially the secondary which had played so well to that point in the game.

It was a tough loss at home. Could things have gone better?

In a nutshell, yes. A big play in the game that could have been the difference, a nice pass from Jamarcus Russell to Louis Murphy for a TD was nullified.

Instant replay clearly showed Louis Murphy’s end zone catch was bobbled and fell to the ground. The referee explained the ball was not in control of the receiver in the end zone.

Tough break but isn’t that always the case with the Raiders.

Al Davis Fools Only The Fools In Seymour Press Conference

Al's Wingman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:12:22 -0400

Every time Al Davis speaks to the media, he shows more and more how his vision for the Oakland Raiders franchise is a shadow of its former self.

During the Richard Seymour press conference, Al spoke of greatness in terms of former trades that paid off. He talks of players from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s who fit the Raiders system and helped define the franchise.

Now the future has arrived. There is no doubt Richard Seymour is a great player but in looking at the path he took to become a Raider, Al’s words ring hollow. Raider greatness no longer exists in any form except the past.

In Al’s world, he thinks he’s sticking it to critics who suspected Seymour did not want to be a Raider because of his failure to report after being traded from New England. Seymour’s mention of his childhood acknowledgement of the Sliver & Black is supposed to validate Al’s belief that all players want to be Raiders.

What Seymour’s presence in the Raiders lineup indicates is he is a victim of being sold down the river by his former coach Bill Belichick.

It’s a reality in professional sports that every player is eventually expendable or replaceable, regardless of their achievements. It all comes down to how well you can adapt to the ups and downs of winning, losing, being injured and of course traveling.

The wear and tear of travel is a key component of pro sports. So to say that Seymour was not reporting because of family concerns is a blatant admission that he really just didn’t want to change teams.

People with a lot less money find ways to make do when the head of the household has to travel for work. You don’t need to uproot your family on a moment’s notice. You have enough money to take planes in your free time.

Sure, it is hard being separated from loved ones but this is your chosen profession. You signed up to make several million dollars. Travel is part of the deal.

Lots of players have families, kids in school, and all sorts of related issues. You don’t refuse to report to your new team and then file a grievance with the NFLPA when your new team sends you a five day notice unless you have serious resistance.

Then, in the same breath as showering Seymour with greatness praise, Al informs us sending him the five day notice was his entitlement.

What’s a little legal nudge when greatness is concerned?

It’s all a complete sham. This episode puts the dot on the i and crosses the t in pointing how the better players want nothing to do with Al Davis or the Raiders. Not that the team can’t get better any given season, but more because Al’s reputation has sunk to new lows.

He’s got nothing left to offer anyone except a large paycheck.

The reason Al won’t ever win again is because his manipulative ways are all backfiring. What comes around goes around. He’s doomed in far too many ways we can count, and as Raiders fans, the most entertainment we get are the dog and pony shows he creates out of press conferences.

History Does Not Lie: San Diego Chargers Will Dominate Oakland Raiders on MNF

Al's Wingman — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:30:32 -0400

It's a sad day when your team has not improved one iota since Sep. 11, 2006. On that day, Art Shell's second debut as head coach careened into a brick wall with a 27-0 smackdown at home against a dominating Charger team.

If you saw that game, you may recall not only was the Charger defense a beast, the Oakland O-line may has well been standing still. Aaron Brooks looked as bewildered as the subdued Raider Nation in the stands. For their part, the Chargers offense ran all night at will against a very feeble Raider defense.

We can say, well, the Chargers ran amok thanks to LT. He always finds a way against Oakland. Or we can look at reality and admit, nothing seriously notable or substantial has been done to improve the run defense since that unbelievably embarrassing MNF matchup.

Knuckleheads waving the John Marshall banner, have another hot dog.

Also, if you recall there was a whole lot of wasted energy displayed before the game by fans expecting a better performance. The Raider Nation was pumped up and honestly believed they had a chance. They laid out whatever cash to be part of the excitement. A night game is a rare event at Oakland Coliseum, so the place was packed.

The feeling of despair and dread that night after it became apparent how horrible the franchise had sunk was unbelievable. Today, some three years later, there are just a smattering of optimistic fans who believe change has arrived. Why not, it’s a new season with lots of unknowns. But this would just be fantasy. The reality is Al Davis is once again showing us how inferior his leadership of the franchise is by fielding a half-baked defense.

The run defense is the problem that needed fixing back at that fateful Sep. 11, 2006 game that Al Davis thinks he can fix overnight in 2009 by trading for Richard Seymour at the 11th hour of this season’s opening MNF matchup.

Knuckleheads waving the Richard Seymour banner, have another hot dog.

Why trade for a pro bowl DE at this stage? Desperation perhaps?

Plenty of DEs have been drafted since 2006, some have been marginally successful. None have made a lasting difference. Also, not a single DT has been drafted by Oakland since 2005 (Anttaj Hawthorne, sixth round).

We can always refer to free agency and trades to prove or disprove whatever point, but the bottom line is the lack of run defense problem has not been addressed properly by Oakland.

Raiders fans and non-Raider fans can all agree the Oakland defense has been abysmal against the run. There is no reason to believe it is going to change come Monday night, with or without Richard Seymour.

Oakland Raiders Could Be Sunk by Injuries

Al's Wingman — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:34:14 -0400

Mike Mitchell has a pulled hammy for the second time, Chaz Schilens breaks his foot, Jon Alston gets plantar fasciitis, Kirk Morrison dislocates an elbow, and now, Nnamdi has a fractured wrist.

Who is going to replace him at CB if it comes to that? Stanford Routt is a liability with his penalties and ineffectual play. Remember, this is a guy who played very little defensive back at the University of Houston. He was drafted relatively high by Al Davis because of his track speed. He's been a project from day one, and he has never improved.

In fact, let's just say it: He sucks as a player, and his attitude sucks too. We know this because of the incident when he refused to enter the game on a special teams assignment.

It is hard to believe that a professional football player would refuse to obey an instruction from the head coach. You have to believe Routt felt secure in doing so. Whatever his reasons, it does not reflect well on him.

So who is left that can play CB?

John Bowie is not a good option. The only reason he is still on the roster is because Al Davis refuses to acknowledge he got a raw deal in the Randy Moss trade. Bowie ended up being a draft pick obtained in that trade. It’s like squeezing blood from a turnip, as the saying goes.

Justin Miller (also injured currently) plays CB, but his role is more for kick returns.

Darrick Brown has been a laughing stock in previous camps but seems to have improved a bit. We might see him if Nnamdi can't go.

Strong Safety prospect Mike Mitchell's hamstring injury seems serious, despite his claims that he will be ready for opening day. He's not ready to play, anyway. He has been bad in coverage in practice. The bottom line is that he's not ready to make an impact.

Fans focusing on his big hitting ability are missing the point of what a strong safety needs to do; you have to be a complete player in reading your pass coverage and run assignments. He’d get burned if he played.

So right now, Tyvon Branch is all they have at strong safety, unless Michael Huff is pressed into duty. We already know that is not the best place for him.

We might see Huff anyway at free safety because starter Hiram Eugene’s injury seems a bit serious as well.

Linebacker is another liability. The only safe bet is the weak side where Thomas Howard plays very well and seems healthy. Middle linebacker is soft with Ricky Brown playing there in the absence of Kirk Morrison. Brown is good in pass coverage, and he is okay against the run but gets mowed down by bigger backs and blockers.

Jon Alston's emergence as a decent strong side linebacker was set back by a serious foot injury. Other than Brown, there isn't anyone on the roster who can play a decent strong side LB.

Newcomer Slade Norris is struggling, and he also is injured. Other newcomer David Nixon is doing about as well as Norris and can’t be relied on to hold down that spot. Journeyman Morlon Greenwood was brought in more for special teams.

Tom Cable has his hands full already with too many issues and can’t plug these roster gaps so easily. It’s a game of attrition now.

Oakland Raider Fans, No need to panic...yet

Al's Wingman — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:14:34 -0400

Just because the Saints preseason game brought the Raiders to the same low as parts of the last few seasons, that doesn't mean it will happen every game.

Look at this way: Sean Payton and the Saints have the Raiders' number. They clobbered the Raiders last season and they know how to execute against a generic Raiders defense.

If you think Defensive Coordinator John Marshall was going to pull out the stops, put any wrinkles in the game plan to show on film, that would have been a mistaken expectation. They went with a base defense or vanilla, take your pick.

Contrary to hick analysis on BR, the Raiders offense is not high flying. In fact, they did not even convert any third downs until Jeff Garcia went into the game.

The Raiders offense is inconsistent, more inexperienced than not, a little less capable in key areas such as the passing game right now. To counter that, if they ran all day that would expose the weaknesses of the offensive line. There is no way the lard duffs on the offensive line have the game conditioning to run all day. Not in the heat, not any time really.

Here are some bottom lines to be taken into consideration:

1. If your offense does not make first downs or turns the ball over, your defense is forced to be on the field longer. In the heat, with little depth, bad tackling. It's a recipe to make the defense look worse than they already are.

2. Despite the hammering on the scoreboard, it would have been prudent for Tom Cable to be conservative in this game anyway. The reason is Sean Payton is no stranger to how to beat an Al Davis defense. He has a blueprint for it. You don't want other teams to watch the game film and get good ideas what to expect in the regular season.

3. Al Davis must take full responsibility for bad personnel planning in staffing the defensive line. They got very lucky with a rookie free agent signing in Desmond Bryant who just might be the best they have right now. Tommy Kelly is pretty much a joke, worse than Terdell Sands who seems to be on his way out the door.

Hey Al, would it have hurt your ego that bad to suck this one up and face the fact Kelly is not the answer to be a sack leader or quality run stopper? You said it yourself, you gave "the money" to Tommy Kelly and not Derrick Burgess. That was your power play to show Burgess up and this is what drove Burgess to hold out of camp.

Yea, they play different positions but the defense needs a leader, a sack master. You invest in your best player. Ok, Burgess gets hurt a lot but you took a chance giving “the money” to Kelly who hasn’t even proven himself yet and was coming off injury.

You have given money away before so chalk Kelly up as yet another of your bad personnel decisions. You needed more than one DT or free agent in the draft who can play like winners. You need to stop the run, pressure the QB and you are not going to do it with a lame defensive front and no depth at linebacker.