Raiders: Believe In Them, Nope, But I Think Its The Year!!!!

After 6 NFL seasons of loosing and dispair most people believe for some reason this will be the year the Oaklnd Raiders rise out of their slump and be the great team everyone hated. I on the other hand don't believe this will be the year. After 6 straight NFL seasons of saying "Ya I believe the Raiders will win the AFC West" I have to say I don't believe it anymore. Just look at the history over the years. 2003 we had the SuperBowl slum. 2004 Just couldnt catch a break. 2005 Jerry Rice, Rich Gannon, and Rod Woodson retire and Tim Brown never had a comeback. 2006 Randy Moss can kiss my A$$ for those half A$$ED performances and Kerry Collins wasn't playing well. 2007 Aaron Brooks wasn't the QB we hoped would make an impact and Art Shell became my most unfavorite coach.

   2008 gave me some glimmer of hope when we drafted JR brought in Lane Kiffin and Daunte Culpepper. But of course we had a holdout with JR, for some reason Daunte was sideline and Josh Mccown sucked at QB. But that season did emerge the Raider Nations affection for Zach Miller and I fell in love with him(no homo). The next year seemed bright with Russell starting, McFadden in the backfield, Javon Walker starting at WR, Zach Miller at TE and a defence which compiled with talent. I though we would have the best secondary in the league with newly acquired Deangalo Hall, unbeatable Nmandi Aso, and safeties Gibril Wilson and Rashad Baker(oh boy was i dead wrong). Hall was the worst man to man corner i had ever seen play in my life gettin burned by second string WRs!!!!!!!(ex. Eddie Royal, and Michael Jenkins). But before hand a had my hopes and dreams, BELIEFS that the Raiders would pull off a comeback year. That is of course until Denver beat the crap out of us in our own house. Then here came the Chargers that untill the end of the second quarter the Raiders were killing the Charger. Then on a last minute drive the Raiders were the victim of a BS holding call on the goal line and a i was madder then hell.

    Then of course we had coaching troubles when Kiffin and Davis were almost at each others throats(if Davis could stand that is). So then came along the newly nicknames Cable-Guy who did happen to create some hope and one the last two games of the season under an interim tag. Then the offseason came(oh boy) the Raiders for some reason decided to let the starting safeties Baker and Wilson go. But have some hope with safeties Eugene, bust labeled Huff, hard hitting rookie Mitchelle, and speedy Tyvon Branch. Thank god we got rid of OL Kwame Harris who had worse timing on snaps then two bling racers waiting for the light to turn green. But had opened the door for Mario Henderson who played well against some of the best DE in the league not allowing one sack.

     Then came the NFL Draft where the Raiders were once again criticized for their actions by taken Darrius Heyward-Bay over Crabtree and Maclin, and taking safety Mike Mitchelle in the second round. We then pick up QB Jeff Garcia, DE Greg Ellis, OT Kalif Barnes and C Samson Satele. Awkward offseason by the Raiders but nothing to be all excited about. Now were trying to trade Burgess who i wish was healthy and still killing QBs or getting holding call on the OTs guarding him. But noone knows what will happen for sure. But now back to the point. I am not going to believe its the year im going to hope its the year. I honestly think its the year. Russells improving accuracy, WRs are catching balls and running routes better, OL is blocking better. Coach seems to know what he is doing. So who knows maybe this different offseason that confused a lot of people was the direction we need to go in.

           This is the season guys. Even thought with Barnes breaking his ankle dont worry we got Henderson so i aint worried much. 2009 yhe year I know the Raiders will be back on top!!!!!!!!!!