Archive for July, 2011

After wading through all the chest high piles of greed and knee high stacks of pointless media speculation, we the fans have emerged as the true victors in the NFL lockout debacle. That’s right! Our proud nation finally has its Sunday distractions in the fall back and I couldn’t be happier. Go tell it on the mountain…the NFL Lockout is over! Having seen Hue Jackson revitalize an offense that resembled a zombie in a Romero flick was inspiring. Though I didn’t agree with the timing of Tom Cable’s dismissal, I do love Jackson at the helm. With a young defense [...]

Looks like the wheels are rolling and the season is on. It’s okay now to put your gear back on. Dust off that jersey and clean off that hat. Call your buddies because the fantasy draft is back on! (GO Waterboys!!!! 2006 Champs!) FOOTBALL IS BACK! Now, what to expect this week; three months of football movement (aka free agency) in one week. This week is going to be crazy! Teams can come up big real fast this week. (Including the Raiders.) We need to sign our free agents first like Mike Bush then address the free agents are out [...]

The end of the NFL Lockout would appear to be a formality at this point. Reports surfaced early this morning that the terms of a new CBA had been agreed upon by both sides, all that remains is a majority vote from the players. On the heels of the aforementioned good news comes word that the free agency frenzy we’ve all been anticipating could begin as early as this afternoon. ESPN details a timeline of events that might or might not occur in the coming days.  •  Teams can sign their own free agents and begin talking with other unrestricted [...]

For once it would appear as if we have some actual signs of the demise of the 2011 NFL Lockout. Not another one of those premature speculations that somehow becomes a news piece. But an actual bit of news that signals an end to labor unrest in the very near future. Last week’s landslide vote by the owners gave way to this weekend’s review by the union formerly and soon again to be known as the NFLPA. This morning an ESPN report surfaced stating that the players are poised to vote on Monday. A “major” press conference is said to [...]

You’re never going to catch me calling any professional football player soft. Unless they’re punting or kicking balls through upright sticks for a living they’ve got nothing to prove in the toughness department. The lone exception, of course, is Sebastian Janikowski. That’s one kicker I never want to see in a dark alley. Recently more tidbits of information have come trickling out in regards to deal points of the newly proposed CBA. First it was the elimination of two-a-days from training camp. Mind you these days most NFL clubs only have players in pads for one of those two sessions. [...]

As we all breathlessly await the end of this ludicrous lockout here is a selection of the best Raiders readings to be found online. Enjoy! Ranking the top 40 players in the AFC West – ESPN’s AFC West Blog Raiders and 49ers in talks of sharing new stadium – SF Chronicle Bruce Campbell confirms his move to tackle – Football News Now Retaining Zach Miller won’t be easy – Inside the Oakland Raiders Predicting Nnamdi – ESPN’s NFC East Blog Wasn’t there supposed to be a deal done by now to end the lockout? – Silver and Black Pride

If Las Vegas was giving odds on which team would disagree with terms of the latest CBA the Raiders would have gone off as the favorites. Was there any doubt Al Davis would be the lone voice of dissension in the room? 31 owners fell in line. 1 went his own way. You’d expect nothing less from Al Davis. Those that are quick to mock Davis are sadly mistaken. No matter what any of us thinks we know about the current agreement the truth is we all know nothing. Those that are paid to cover and report on these drawn [...]

From the moment this lockout started it felt as if Al Davis was more aligned with the players than his fellow owners. While the rest of his companions were crying broke, AD went for broke inking mega deals on the eve of the owners’ padlock paradise. To further finger his felonious brethren Davis’ Raiders abstained during the owners’ vote on the current CBA. Maybe I’m reading too much into Al’s silence but it should be noted every other owner voted for the agreement, a solid 31-0 or roughly the first quarter score of Oakland’s demolition in Denver last season. Now [...]

Unless the NFL lockout has so offended your senses that you’ve completely ignored anything football related the last three months you’re well aware of all the Nnamdi Asomugha speculation. Everyday another round of speculation emerges in which football starved writers muse over which team will make the biggest push. As he’s the best corner in all of football and the most attractive free agent on the market, Asomugha’s services are sure to cause a bidding war. Since teams aren’t permitted to discuss any football business that leaves a lot of room for rampant rumors. For the most part we’ve been [...]

If the NFL lockout is the storm then Oakland, California, is the eye. Sitting calm and cool in the middle of labor madness is one Al Davis. While other owners panicked and cried broke, Mr. Davis opened his checkbook. As teams scrambled to shift campsites, Davis kept his commitments in Napa. During times of doubt, Davis believed. Say what you will of Al Davis but his experience has been invaluable during this season of unrest. Having seen the Raiders rise from the ashes of the AFC West it would have been all too easy for Davis to hit the panic [...]