It Only Gets Worst

I am one pissed off Raiders fan.  All season long there has been talk of how well first year head coach, Lane Kiffin, has run this team, but now I want him gone.  Today Coach Kiffin made roster moves that have made me more furious than any professional sports organization that I’ve ever rooted for.  In the ensuing notes you’ll find that Dominic Rhodes and LaMont Jordan were very close to being cut, Michael Bush is ready to play, and Robert Gallery is being moved around in a very disrespectful way.

Here are the infuriating notes and quotes from Inside Bay Area:

"Dominic Rhodes was diplomatic but couldn’t hide his disappointment.LaMont Jordan had no comment.Michael Bush, friendly and accommodating all season, was nowhere to be found in the Raiders’ locker room.With a 2-8 record and six difficult games remaining to be played, it’s not exactly a big, happy family in Alameda.The lone transactions Wednesday found the Raiders placing starting right tackle Cornell Green on injured reserve and signing Seth Wand, a 6-foot-7, 327 pound tackle who didn’t make it out of training camp with the Tennessee Titans.At practice Wednesday, Paul McQuistan and Robert Gallery worked at right tackle. Gallery started at right tackle in his first and second seasons, moving to left tackle last season and left guard this season. Gallery will do what is asked, but did not appear thrilled with the idea of being on the move again.The deadline to put Bush on the 53-man roster came and went. Bush remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and will be there for the rest of the season ineligible to practice or play with the team. He will work out on the side with injured players and attend all meetings and functions.Still on the roster are Jordan and Rhodes, who were thought to be the 1-2 punch back in training camp only to be passed on the depth chart by Justin Fargas. Jordan reportedly asked to be released. Rhodes clearly wouldn’t have minded it.Kiffin conceded Bush was ready to play and that the experience would have helped him.The end result is the Raiders have a healthy running back who they would like to see play on a physically unable to perform list (technically the non-football injury list) and two veteran running backs who they haven’t wanted to put in the game still on the roster.They’ve also got a fourth quarterback in Andrew Walter who in no way fits into the club’s longterm future other than as a low-priced backup _ something Walter does not want to be.It’s not hard to envision Kiffin wanting Bush active, but Al Davis deciding he didn’t want to see one of his veteran running backs helping Kansas City or Denver over the next two weeks.The Chiefs will start Kolby Smith, a fifth-round draft pick and former Louisivlle teammate of Bush, against the Raiders. Larry Johnson is out with a foot injury and Priest Holmes retired Wednesday after a neck injury.In Denver, Travis Henry is battling a bum knee and is reportedly facing a possible suspension. When I asked Kiffin if the Raiders were hesitant to cut a running back which could help an opponent, he said, “You mean like the team we’re facing Sunday? Yeah, sure. Everything counts. You’ve got to look at everything and I’m sure that’s a part of it. Denver and Kansas City need a running back.”Rhodes said he is as confused as anyone as to why he is not getting much action even as a change-of-pace back. When asked if he wished he had been waived to make room for Bush, Rhodes broke into a smile and said, “Oh, man, I’d really rather not answer that kind of question, know what I’m sayin? Like I said, I’m just here trying to help this team right now and that’s the bottom line.”Later, Rhodes conceded the obvious _ that he wouldn’t have signed with Oakland if he had any idea how things would play out."

Okay, let’s break this down.  Gallery has played very well this season, and after three seasons he’s finally found where he belongs on an NFL offensive line.  But now it looks like he’ll be moved to the right tackle spot to relieve an injured Cornell Green, and what do the Raiders do, they sign a guy who got cut by the Titans in training camp.

Michael Bush is ready to play, and the Raiders need to see him play, but now we’re going to have to wait until next year to see him.

Rhodes isn’t happy, Jordan isn’t happy, but now they’re both going to have to play for a team that doesn’t even want them.  What happens if Fargas goes down, or needs to relieved; would you run hard for a team that doesn’t want you.  It is disgraceful moves like this that make free agents, and even NCAA draft talent not want to come to Oakland to play football.

What the f*** kind of organization are they trying to run!!!