Archive for May, 2011

Raider rookie Chimdi Chekwa might be done playing football for Ohio State but he’s just begun to defend his Alma mater. In lieu of the sky falling on the once proud Buckeye football program Chekwa took to Twitter yesterday to defend his former school and take a few shots at the SI report that ultimately ushered Jim Tressel out the door. Mann this sports illustrated article is trash. They really reaching. Its sad that outsiders will only know what they hear in the media. You can understand where the young DB is coming from on this. Clearly there was plenty [...]

When Al Davis parted with a first round pick for Richard Seymour the Raider hating world laughed. A reinvigorated roster, one Pro Bowl election and a self-organized camp later Davis is the one that’s getting the last laugh. Turns out giving up a first round pick in a draft doomed by the lockout wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Raider Haters might say Davis got lucky but you’re fooling yourself if you didn’t think every move made by every NFL owner over the last two years didn’t have this summer in mind. Like many I’ve had my moments when [...]

No matter when this lockout comes to an end there has already been irreparable damage done to the 2011 season. Not having free agency has affected every team. Not having OTAs has delayed the process players and coaches go through to prepare for the season. Not having any idea of when we may see the owners reopen their doors is forcing teams to make some tough decisions. Right now we’re heading towards the crossroads. Until this point most teams haven’t truly felt the sting of the lockout but that could all change soon. Certain organizations, such as the Cincinnati Bengals, [...]

Today in Duluth, Georgia, Camp Campbell got underway. While there are few details reported from the first day of the Seymour-Campbell Camp Collaboration, Jerry McDonald confirmed that 34 Raiders in total were present for the first fay of the voluntarily lockout camp. Last week an estimated 25-30 Raiders were expected to make the trek to Georgia. As somewhat of a surprise, that number climbed to 34 thanks to three of the newest members of the Silver and Black making their unceremonious debuts. Top pick Stefen Wisniewski, speedster DeMarcus Van Dyke and sixth round selection Richard Gordon showed quite an early [...]

PFT reports that the Oakland Raiders are among seven NFL franchises that have promised to pay their coaching staffs their full salary even if the lockout lingers into the regular season. No real surprise there. Al Davis pretty much spit in the face of owners’ argument for needing another billion off the top by inking huge contract just prior to the doors being locked. Not saying Davis is siding with the players more so than he is with his fellow owners but Oakland’s front office has made moves in stark contrast to what the owners are using to build their [...]

Let me begin by saying a few things about the world of reality television. I’ve had both the fortune and shame of making a living working on reality shows over the years. For the most part they’re hastily thrown together productions run by neophytes who were given their jobs based on relationships instead of actual acumen. What appears on screen is reality only in the sense that no CGI is used to manipulate images. Most of what you see is the product of clever editing and what we refer to as Frankenbiting. This is where you take dialogue and edit [...]

Well, this is what it’s come down to. At this point I find it nearly impossible to not side with the players during this pointless lockout. As more and more details emerge of Oakland’s workout week in Georgia the more I’m reminded of just who the true professionals are in this labor dispute. According to reports, the Raiders could engage in an 11-on-11 scrimmage with the Atlanta Falcons during their self-imposed week long camp. Now on the surface there are many reasons why this is not a good idea. Many will be quick to throw that injury word out as [...]

Last week we learned that Jason Campbell and Richard Seymour were organizing team workouts during this never ending lockout. Today Jason La Canfora made us aware just where the 25-30 Raiders expected to attend will be training. If you had your money on the ATL then you just got paid. No specific place has been mentioned but reports confirm that Camp Campbell will be held in Atlanta. That’s the good news. The bad news – aside from this lockout being pushed well into June – is that only players currently under contract will be in attendance. 25 Raiders who are [...]

What Hue Jackson did for Oakland’s offense in 2010 was nothing short of a miracle. What he has to do in 2011 (if there is a 2011 season) is going to be much more difficult. In one season at the helm of the Oakland offense Jackson transformed the Silver and Black attack from unwatchable to unstoppable. Jackson’s main point of emphasis was to get the Raiders back to the basics by dominating on the ground. Having a healthy Darren McFadden was instrumental as Run DMC had a breakout season. Beyond McFadden, Michael Bush proved again why he is such a [...]

No matter how many workouts Jason Campbell and Richard Seymour organize on their own dime and time there is nothing that can be done to prepare the most important unit in Oakland – the offensive line. With more question marks than the Riddler’s pajamas, the O-line is in dire need of time. Time to gel as a unit. Time to learn new positions. Time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. Time in front of coaches and not just fellow players. As it stands there could be a total of four new starters along the offensive line. Rookies Stefen [...]