Los Angeles Raiders Part Deux?

Obviously part deux because the Raiders have moved to Los Angeles before, and there’s always going to be the threat of them moving again.

In a perfect world I’d prefer the Raiders to remain in Oakland, but as a fan I also have to think of their long-term survival.

This uncapped season looming in ’10 has plenty of owners in the NFL scared of Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones, and Bob Kraft. These owners could turn their NFL teams into versions similar to the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels. High salary cap teams that pay to keep their own homegrown talent.

The case can be made that once the NFL’s salary cap becomes similar to the MLB, then small market teams will compare talent wise to teams like the A’s, Royals, and Brewers. They’ll field competitive teams occasionally, but won’t be able to afford to build monster teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels have been able to.

I’m afraid due to the small market of Oakland, the Raiders won’t be able to turn as large a profit that’ll be needed to resign key young players (that typically go to the Yankees and other teams in baseball) and keep their team together.

The Raiders can't turn into the Cowboys' pipeline whereby the team is providing its proven young talent for their draft picks and young potential stars.

Owners with deep pockets and media money from their large markets will allow them to field consistently good teams. Small market teams will field a good team for a year or two and then dismantle it and rebuild via trading talent for potential talent.

Jerry Jones alone will become the George Steinbrenner of the NFL. Before long NFL owners will broadcast their teams’ games across their own network, with the soon to be seen Cowboys Network.

Like baseball there will be the haves and the have-not’s.

On the other the hand, there is one big difference about the Raiders and the other small market teams in baseball. And that is their merchandise sales.

Even when the Raiders are doing poorly on the field their merchandise still has no problem selling, even worldwide. How many people reading this have bought plenty of Raiders' gear during these last six years? I’ve bought plenty. When the Raiders are awesome, sales are through the roof.

So I’m curious if moving away will determine their survival, or will a new or upgraded stadium in Oakland with more merchandise sales be the survival of the Oakland Raiders?