McFargas

The writing is on the wall; Darren McFadden needs to be traded. DMC was one of the most talented running backs drafted by the Oakland Raiders since Marcus Allen. McFadden came with all the accolades any running back could ever achieve at the college level. Awards, after awards line McFadden’s trophy wall from college but the NFL wall is empty.

The Oakland Raiders have definitely not helped McFadden career at all to be fair. DMC has had maybe 5 different coaches/offensive coordinators/schemes in his 5 year career. Who the hell could be productive with that type confusion from the franchise who employs you. If you change the dollar menu at any McDonald’s franchise, the drive through lady may be able to overcome it, but she isn’t going to rush for 1,000 yards.

McFadden hasn’t helped himself much either to make matters worse for his pro career. Baffling injuries have hampered him his whole career. The toe injury in 2009 was anonymity. A toe injury causes you to lose 14 weeks on the field. Ronnie Lott would have cut that toe off at half time and played the second half. Then again, Lott was never paid $60 million dollars with $26 million guaranteed. (If he was, he would have cut his whole foot off.)

Career wise, DMC has had only one year worth bragging about in 2010. That year he had over 1,000 yards rushing and over 500 yards receiving with 10 touchdowns. That’s about it. The rest of his career stats look like Justin Fargas career stats. Fargas hit the 1,000 yard mark once in his career also. Last year DMC flirted with 1,000 combined yards but was put on the shelf for yet another injury.

I know Raider family, I’m being hard on the dude, but DMC is healthy right now and let’s face it; we are not a Super Bowl team this season. A healthy Darren McFadden has good market value in the NFL and we should trade him while he is still upright. I would love to see DMC run for 2,000 yards with 20 touchdowns but I can’t see it. The argument about DMC being a draft “bust” will soon be something the fans may began to speak of.  We all know the guy is one step away from a home run every time he holds the ball, but holding the ball on the side line doesn’t help anybody. We are rebuilding this franchise from the bottom up Raider Nation. We need draft picks, we need intelligent veterans with a good moral compass, and we need to get back that blue collar state of mind which embodies Oakland, California pro football.

Raider Nation for life!

Greg Simon

JBB Staff Writer

@simonizr

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Apr 27, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Detailed view of a NFL Network microphone during a press conference introducing Houston Texans first round draft pick defensive end Whitney Mercilus of Illinois at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t pretend for one moment that the Raiders haven’t had their struggles over the past 10 years.  However, it just gets me riled up when I hear a former Oakland Raider player blasting his team in the Newspaper, on Radio, or on Television.  A player whose career was not stellar by any means, and one who never lived up to what his name is supposed to mean, “Great.”

Akbar Gbaja-Biamila played Defensive End and Linebacker for the Oakland Raiders from 2003-2004.  He mostly backed up the likes of Travian Smith and Tyler Brayton.  After the short stint in Oakland, he played for the Chargers in 2006, Dolphins in 2007, and, in 2008, he was signed as a practice squad member only with the Oakland Raiders.  With his football career not panning out, Gbaja-Biamila turned to a career in Sports Broadcasting.  Currently, he is a member of NFL AM on NFL Network.

This morning, he was asked to answer a question from NFL AM’s Double Coverage.  The question was, “Which team will have the biggest win differential from last year?”  Gbaja-Biamila stated the following, “Well that’s easy, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs.  I think they go from two wins to about eight or nine, maybe even ten, when you look at what they have…”  He goes on to talk about the dynamic players that the Chiefs have in his opinion, of course.  Then, he makes the comment that just sent me through the roof.  After running his mouth about the Chiefs some more, Gbaja-Biamila states, “And of course, they’re (Chiefs) playing in the AFC West where, they’ve got the Chargers who haven’t yet stepped up, and then the Oakland Raiders who you can just walk over.”

Walk over?  He said the Raiders are just a “Walk over team.”  Last time I checked, the Oakland Raiders are a professional football team.  They have had their struggles, but a walk over team.  This is ridiculous.  Gbaja-Biamila should be blasted on Twitter and Facebook.  So, I am calling on Raider Nation to let him know how we feel about his comment.  Absolutely absurd comment that comes from a has been and never was player.  Nation, his Twitter account is @Akbar_Gbaja.  He even has a picture of himself in a Raiders uniform on his profile page.  Yet he openly blasts his former team.  His phone should be blowing up with the Raider Nation’s comments on how we feel about his negativity toward our team.

Our team is young and hungry.  We are underestimated this year, but that will be the undoing for the teams playing us.  Keep thinking that we won’t win more than two or four games this year NFL Network.  Your surprise will be coming.  We’ve been the under-dog before, and we won the Super Bowl that year.  Go Raiders!

Another thing I gained from my Dad was passion.  I remember one time he said, “If you love what you’re doing, you’re doing it right.  Give it everything and it will give back to you.”  This is where I derive my passion for all things in life.  From the man who was my Father, Thomas Wayne Schilperoort.

So I ask you, Raider Nation, to give something to Just Blog Baby.  Send me your comments about the best moments you can remember with your fathers.  Let me know who they are or were, and let me know how they shaped your lives.

Yes Raider Nation, that’s me in the Kenny Stabler shirt 30 years ago with Dad, Mom, and my little Brother.  I want to know my readers, and I think my readers have a right to know me better.  This is our way to connect with those who support Just Blog Baby.  In the end, we are all part of Raider Nation, and the Nation is created equal.