Archive for July, 2009

He was destined to be a member of the NFL’s all-name team. Now if that is going to happen then it won’t be in silver and black. The Raiders have severed ties with sixth round selection Stryker Sulak, a defensive end from Missouri. News of the release has been reported by numerous outlets including Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Florio takes the Ed Werder approach to reporting by attempting to create a story from nothing. So, basically, the Raiders have cut Sulak before his rookie training camp.  Said the source, “I’ve never seen that happen before.” The reason for the [...]

Where ever he goes, 1,000-yard rushers follow. He’s 260 pounds of punishment with a license to destroy. He’s Lorenzo Neal and he was born to play for the Oakland Raiders. Tom Cable’s mission has been simple since he took over as the interim head coach in 2008. Cable is attempting to resurrect the Raider Way. After that deflating loss in the Super Bowl, the Raider franchise has spun out of control like a teen actor on a drug binge. Six years of losing, discontent and misdirection have turned a once feared franchise into a constant source of humor and irrelevance. [...]

If JaMarcus Russell sticks to his guns then he’ll give Tom Cable a loss on the first day of training camp. According to a brief blurb authored by Michael Lombardi for the National Football Post, Russell made a friendly bet with Cable.  I hope (I really do) that JaMarcus Russell wins the bet he made with his head coach, Tom Cable, about losing more weight before training camp. There is no word yet on what the two have levied for the agreement but I’m guessing that it could be a wager that involves the job of being named the starting [...]

Here is some Raider food for thought. Enjoy these links and get your fill as we countdown the days until training camp begins. Al Davis sees a middle linebacker in a tight end – Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman reports on phone call made by Al Davis and Tom Cable to a former Boise State tight end.   Terdell Sands is the newest trade bait rumor – PFT is at it again. Have the Sands of time run out for the Raiders to deal their DT? What would Tim Brown say to Darrius Heyward-Bey? – Want to know what past [...]

I’m taking a break from my normal Raider ramblings to write a few words about former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair. As you know by now, McNair died at the young age of 36 over the 4th of July holiday. I’ll refrain from getting into the details of his death instead choosing to remember him as one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of football. From his days at Alcorn State to the final moments of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, “Air” McNair defined leadership. He played with a multitude of injuries and never used [...]

In all of sports, few figures are as iconic as Raiders owner Al Davis. He’s held the titles of commissioner, head coach, owner and general manager. He’s been called a “tough S.O.B.” by Mike Tyson. And he happens to be one of the biggest reasons why I’m a Raider fan for life. I was raised just outside of Los Angeles. When Mr. Davis brought Raider football to the L.A. market, my father immediately purchased tickets. My youth was spent watching the likes of Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Tim Brown, Todd Christensen and Howie Long play the game I grew up [...]

In Disney’s continuing effort to convince the world that they are the authority on anything sports related, ESPN is set to unveil its seventh annual list of the Ultimate Standings upon the July 13th release of ESPN the Magazine. The list ranks professional franchises in North America based on a very scientific set of parameters to ultimately decide what franchise gives fans “what they want”. Parameters such as “affordability”, “title track” and “bang for the buck”. In this economy, how do you even define “affordability”? Isn’t that a relative term? But I digress. It was far from a surprise to find the Oakland Raiders, a [...]

Tom Cable has a problem on his hands. He’s got three very talented running backs with three very different skill sets and just one pigskin to go around. On paper, the Oakland Raiders have weapons on offense that might have caused former president George W. Bush to declare anyone wearing silver and black as a domestic terrorist. From the WMD attached to JaMarcus Russell’s right arm to the Lester Hayes stickum hands of Zach Miller, the 2009 Raiders could be an offensive juggernaut. The truth is that the road to offensive dominance will be paved by the likes of Samson [...]