Raider Nation to NFL Analysts: Shame on You

Well, Raider Nation, it's déjà vu all over again.  Remember Draft Day, when the Raider-hating media dragged the Raiders through the mud?  Since the draft, the media have fallen way short of apologizing for degrading Darrius Heward-Bey and judging him unworthy of a No. 7 pick as the Raiders passed over the "great" Michael Crabtree.

Crabtree was picked at No. 10 by the 49ers, and Crabtree was instantly crowned the steal of the draft and the kind of pick the Raiders would regret not making.  However, Crabtree continues to hold out, showing that the only talent he has over Heyward-Bey is greed.  While Heyward-Bey is drawing double-teams, the real steal of the draft, Louis Murphy, is looking like the elite receiver that the Raiders allegedly passed on. 

Advantage, Raiders.

On the other side of the ball, the defense struggled to contain the run in preseason, as it has the last six years.  It looked as if they were facing the same struggle once again this upcoming season. 

The cry was heard by Al Davis and a big step was achieved on Saturday when New England announced that the Raiders acquired  five-time Pro Bowl and three-time defensive tackle Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots for a 2011 first-round draft pick.

The Raider-hating media of the likes of Adam Schefter, Nancy Gay and others pounced on the story with a negative spin in an attempt to once again make Al Davis and the Raiders look like bumbling idiots.

But here's a few things that these "consummate professionals" may have overlooked and why the advantage, once again, goes to the Raiders.

No. 1—Derrick Burgess was traded for a third- and fifth-round choice.  How does that affect the Seymour trade?  Essentially, Burgess and the 2011 first round pick were traded for Seymour plus a third and fifth-rounder.  Burgess was a good pass rusher, but was too small to contain the run.  He also is very injury-prone.

No. 2—Seymour wasn't traded because he is "washed up" like the haters would want everyone to believe.  No, he was traded because both Seymour and Wilfork were in contract years.  They couldn't keep both, and since nose tackles are harder to develop and are a commodity in the NFL, Seymour became expendable.

No. 3—2010 is an uncapped year, 2011 is a question mark.  It may even end up a strike season.  Al Davis has been instrumental in every deal struck between the players and the owners.  He knows what 2011 will bring.

No. 4—A first-round pick in 2011 to fix problems now makes total sense.  The defense is young and a three-time Super Bowl champion and a five-time Pro Bowler will have a great impact on the development of the younger players.

No. 5—Since Tom Cable has been a part of the Raiders, they have drafted well in all seven rounds of the draft.  Both Cable and Davis have a knack for finding the talent overlooked by the rest of the NFL.

No. 6—The "consummate professionals" in the media have claimed that Raiders tackle Mario Henderson manhandled Seymour for the whole game in last year's meeting between the two.  They are using that example to try and show that Seymour's best years are behind him.  What they have failed to mention is that Seymour matched his best year last year, compiling eight sacks.  He also often switched to a defensive tackle in the 4-3 alignment, negating any talk of him not being effective in anything other than a 3-4. 

The other thing the media have failed to mention is that Mario Henderson also manhandled the Texans' Mario Williams last year.  I'm guessing just maybe that Mario Henderson guy might be pretty good.  Oh wait, he plays for the Raiders...sorry media, I forgot my place.

Critics have complained that the Raiders should trade their first round pick.  Now they did, and they don't like that, either.  If Richard Seymour was traded to one of the "darling" clubs of the NFL, like Green Bay, San Fran, Denver, the Steelers, the Ravens or the Cowboys, there would be nothing but praise and elation right now.  But since it was the Raiders then it obviously was a bad deal.

So, welcome to the Raiders, Richard Seymour.  The media will hate you forever now...