Archive for November, 2009

All year long the Oakland Raiders have played bend but don’t break defense. On Thanksgiving Day they broke leading the way as the Silver and Black went down 24-7 to the Cowboys. The offense did little to help the cause. Tom Cable’s play calling didn’t even take his team across midfield in the first half. But this loss really falls on the defense. Clearly, there is a flawed philosophy in John Marshall’s plan of attack. There is not a lack of talent on defense. Nor is this defense incapable of playing a masterful 60 minutes of football (see Philadelphia, Cincinnati as [...]

The Oakland Raiders have already proven they can beat the Dallas Cowboys in 2009. Back in August, these two teams tangled in a preseason tussle with the Silver and Black dancing off to the beat of a 31-10 victory. The Big Gradkowski was kind enough to share his thoughts with JBB on that victory. That was then, this is now. It would be the lone victory the Raiders experienced during the preseason. It was also the team’s best offensive showing in ’09. Since regular season play has started, the Cowboys have risen to the top of the NFC East while [...]

If LeBron James fancies himself an NFL receiver, then consider Mike Mitchell among the unimpressed. Paul Gutierrez of the Sacramento Bee caught up with Mitchell, who incidentally is getting some reps in at cornerback instead of safety (Mitchell that is, not Gutierrez. I highly doubt Paul G is suited for bump and run coverage). The former Ohio Bobcat is in the Jeremy Shockey camp when it comes to evaluating the prospects of King James in the NFL. “Yeah, that (James) could just drop in and do it, it really is (insulting) but, you know, basketball players, they do that,” Mitchell [...]

Nnamdi Asomugha is keeping some rare company these days. He’s already known as the best shutdown corner in the NFL. A defensive force so dominant that he did the impossible and kept Chad Ochocinco’s mouth shut for an entire Sunday afternoon. After receiving a mega contact this offseason, Nnamdi also joined the upper 5% of the NFL pay scale. Now, he’s being recognized for his best quality of all, his heart. The charitable work he does with disadvantaged youth in the Bay Area has not gone unnoticed. Asomugha was named to the “Dream Team for Public Service” for the Jefferson [...]

The Cincinnati Bengals were warned. They knew the Eagles were caught with a John Marshall sucker punch back in October. They knew Bruce Gradkwoski had a previous history of hunting big cats in the wild. What they didn’t know was that sitting in the sparse crowd at the Coliseum on Sunday were the two most inspirational members of Raider Nation. Watching from the stands were three-year-old Delaney Cooper and her mother Rebekah – the daughter and wife, respectively, of Marquis Cooper. Cooper’s presence was felt in the Coliseum the same Sunday when the two touchdown underdog Raiders defeated the Philadelphia [...]

He’s done it before and he’s poised to do it again. Back in 2006, rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski led the 0-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers downfield on a game winning drive to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals. Now that the Big Gradkowski has taken the reigns from JaMarcus Russell, the 4th year vet is looking to notch another “W” against Cincy. Justin Fargas isn’t hiding his enthusiasm for the prospects of Gradkowski getting the nod over Russell. If anybody in the Oakland locker room is opposed to Russell taking a seat then they sure aren’t saying so. As it stands, the 2009 [...]

McNabb and Reid Hold Another Secret Meeting – Inside the Iggles Derek Jeter Does a Great A-Rod Impression with Mina Kelly – Detroit4Lyfe Clippers Trying to Regain ’08-’09 Awful Form – Fully Clips Five Ways to Improve the NFL – Chronicles of Scott, The FanSided Sports Blog The Oregon Ducks Smell Roses (Rap Video) – Outside the Boxscore Exclusive Interview with Hall of Famer Gary Zimmerman – Predominantly Orange Preview: Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics – Howard the Dunk Dennis Rodman Arrested…In Germany – That NBA Lottery Pick Breaking News: Yale is Different Than Nebraska – Bootlegger Sports Interview With [...]

So, this is what it’s come down to. The number one overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft has been benched in favor of 194th overall selection in the 2006 draft. How Bruce Gradkowski’s career QB rating of 58.6 has become favored over JaMarcus Russell’s 65.5 is a quandary that now reflects the sad state of the Oakland Raiders. While the decision to bench Russell was long overdue, the fallout from it could be the pebble that ultimately creates enough ripples to turn the tide. At least that is what Tom Cable is praying for. Drafting Russell was a gamble. [...]

Breaking news from the “what took so long?” department: Bruce Gradkowski will be the starter at quarterback when the Raiders take the field against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. Now we can all trade in our #2 car covers for a #5 jersey.   Subscribe to JBB Follow JBB on Twitter

In light of recent events that have occurred at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, the National Institute of Mental Health has chosen to recognize a new phobia. Hence forth, the fear of pigskin shall be known as Heyward-Beyophobia. Here is the clinical definition: Heyward-Beyophobia: An acute fear of the substance pigskin, specifically when said pigskin is shaped into an oblong ball and thrown at the individual suffering from the phobia.  The results are generally a sharp reaction to the pigskin that includes developing a case of alligator arms, allowing the pigskin to bounce wildly off the chest and to bat the pigskin in [...]