You'd Have To Be Psychic To Guess What The Raiders Will Do Next

I read plenty of articles from the so-called 'experts' day in and day out.

Sometimes I read something, scratched my head, and came to the realization that the 'expert' knows about as much about football as my eight-year-old nephew. 

Other times I think, "Wow, that guy really knows what he's talking about!"  As events unfold, I've found over time that both the clueless and extraordinary 'experts' are right about 50 percent half of the time, while being 100 percent wrong the rest of the time. 

In my bio, you'll see that I'm an avid Raider fan.  It's true, I've been part of the Nation since I've been watching football in the early '70s. I was that kid at school with the Raiders book bag, jacket, hat, shirt, and even the shoes.

That's why I find it odd when I read 'experts' and other fans' predictions about what the Raiders are going to do next.  The last time that I was right about a prediction for the Raiders, it was the Robert Gallery pick.  We all know how well that's worked out to this point.

Al prides himself on being able to do the unexpected or be the 'genius' that he at least once was.  If you're part of the Nation, then you probably feel that the off season has been the most fun part of being a Raider fan over the past five years because it's been where the Raiders have shined every year. 

Mr. Davis always seems to put the enthusiasm and hope back into rooting for the team with moves that are not only surprising, but also very logical after they've all played out.  This year is probably his finest in both confusing the world and making the best moves possible...so far.

So far, he's paid huge amounts of money for DT/DE Tommy Kelly while letting DE Chris Clemons go.  I like Kelly, but the last time I checked, Clemons had a better season in 2007 and finished it healthy.  He let viral malcontent WR Jerry Porter go (for reasonable money) and spent a boatload of money to bring in viral malcontent WR Javon Walker. 

He's in the process of trading away a second— and a sixth-round pick for malcontent CB DeAngelo Hall while still not resigning nickle back/return stud Chris Carr and while still carrying five other corner backs on the roster, three starters, and the guy he drafted just last year with the pick received for the Randy Moss trade. 

He released his starting LT Simms and signed underachieving RT Harris.  He's also made moves that make complete sense (right now) like the signings of WR Carter and SS Wilson.  On the surface, even the most confident Raider fan has been left scratching his head once or twice this off season, but anyone who's been paying close attention over the years understands that there is a master plan.

As a lover of everything Silver and Black, it's difficult to zip my lip when the Haters come out of the woodwork after any of the moves are made.  How do you tell someone who won't understand that there is a master plan that is being played out and after the pre season starts everyone will realize what it was? 

It's not like the Hater is going to be around in three months so you can say, "SEE?!?!  I told you that you were an idiot!"  No, I prefer to wait and keep quiet for now.  There's no point in talking a bunch of smack since I don't even have a good record to boast about, and I haven't a clue what's next. 

What I do know is that when it's all said and done, a look back to day one of the free agency period to the beginning of preseason will look like the work of a mastermind has been completed. 

Whether you're a fan or not, whether any of the moves pan out or not, it's pretty hard to criticize the effort that's put into a Raider off season.  As long as Mr. Davis is around, Raider Nation can at least be proud of that.