For Brown it couldn’t have come as too much of a shock when he didn’t get that Hall call over the weekend. No doubt his hopes were high but the reality is that he’s been there before and chances are he’ll be back there again.

Next year brings another crop of players and coaches eligible for enshrinement and with them even fewer votes to go around. Considering Bill Parcells, a man once called the best coach of his generation, couldn’t get it and that Brown is buried behind his fellow receivers Cris Carter and Andre Reed you can see how much more difficult the task is for Tim.

For whatever reason, wide receivers just aren’t given the same credit for their production as other offensive players.

Some will argue that the receiver position is so closely tied to that of quarterback that it is hard to distinguish a Hall of Famer from a right guy in the right place at the right time. Even if we’re to entertain that logic it makes Brown’s career even more impressive.

It wasn’t until Rich Gannon came along that Brown finally played with an elite quarterback. Before then Brown’s best thrower was Jeff George. Despite playing with men like Jay Schroeder, Steve Beuerlein and the ageless wonder Vince Evans, Brown was a consistent producer. His stats reflect that and any man that had to cover Brown will tell you the same.
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If you only read the headlines, it would appear that this offseason has been business as usual for the franchise perceived as the NFL’s most dysfunctional.

Therefore, I’m going to take you through some of the key moments of the 2009 Oakland Raider offseason and will attempt to explain the logic – or lack thereof – behind each move.

Two of the best in the NFL

Nnamdi Asomugha and Shane Lechler cash in - Amazingly enough, when Albert Haynesworth inked a deal worth $100 million it caused less of a stir than Asomugha’s three year deal worth a reported $45 million and Lechler’s annual salary of $4 million for his punting services. While most will argue that Al Davis overpaid, keep in mind that these are the two best players at their respective positions. Sure, the Raiders could have easily lost 72 games in six years without the help of Nnamdi and Shane. It is just good business to let the rest of your roster know that the boss takes care of those who remain professional no matter the circumstances. Plus, after giving bloated deals to DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker and Gibril Wilson, Al owed it to Raider Nation to place his chips on a proven commodity instead of again risking his portfolio on a Bernie Madoff inspired hunch.

Cutting Gibril Wilson – This was the first shockwave that reverberated through Raider Nation in 2009. Wilson was given a six year deal worth $39 million yet only made it through one season. He survived on Raider Island longer than MeAngelo but his public criticism of the franchise and his inability to be any kind of a factor defending the pass made him expendable. Yes, the ’08 season began in turmoil but it ended with a renewed belief in Raider football thanks to Tom Cable. Wilson didn’t appear to be on board with the new regime and was thus allowed to go freely to Miami where he is sure to be torched by Randy Moss at least twice this year. Dolphin fans enjoy!

Re-signing Isaiah Ekejiuba – He is listed as a linebacker but he’s a special teams player by trade. Ekejiuba’s deal is worth $5.4 million with a fifth of it being paid up front via his signing bonus. Is it crazy to give a special teams contributor a three year deal? From the outside many would think so. Behind the iron curtain in Oakland though, it is a solid move. Again, this is about rewarding those who lay it on the line and have a professional demeanor. This has been sadly missed in the East Bay for more than half a decade now. Yes, it is sad to have to rebuild your team on basic football principles. Just keep in mind that this is all about baby steps.

Russell has Garcia over his shoulder

Cable keeps it competitive – Tom Cable is not a fan of scholarships. He wants his players to earn their keep by holding their feet to the flame with each practice. Thus, Khalif Barnes was brought it to push Mario Henderson. Jeff Garcia returned to the Bay to breath down the neck of JaMarcus Russell. Michael Bush was not traded so that Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas wouldn’t get complacent and Michael Mitchell was drafted to give Michael Huff one last chance to prove his worth (more on Mitchell later).  The headline is the supposed position battle ensuing between Russell and Garcia but the fact is that Garcia’s job is to try and take snaps away from Russell. This is not to say he was acquired to replace Russell. Instead, Garcia is in town to push JaMarcus through the door that is keeping him out of the NFL Quarterback club.

The draft heard round the world – According to Cris Carter, Darrius Heyward-Bey “can’t catch the ball”. According to Chris Berman, Michael Mitchell was not even listed in his NFL Draft program. According to Tom Cable, Heyward-Bey is a perfect fit for the Raider system and Michel Mitchell resembles “Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott“. Lost in the laughing and finger pointing is the fact that both are hungry, humble and hard working. Heyward-Bey’s potential is unquestioned and Mitchell’s hard hitting is an attempt to return to the Raider Way of football. Both are rolls of the dice. Both are unproven. Both have massive chips on their shoulders. The Raiders did miss out on the chance to address other needs in the draft. However, if this bet pays off, it will be a bold move to once again reestablish the Raiders as NFL mavericks. Should these two go bust, it will be yet another year of drafting in the top 10. This has the potential to be a make or break moment for Tom Cable’s tenure.

Lorenzo Neal’s in the house – Who doesn’t love this move? He’s got every quality Tom Cable and his staff has attempted to fill the locker room with and he’s the best blocking fullback in the history of the game. Since Al Davis is staying the course in attempting to resurrect the Raiders ways of old, Neal is the best acquisition this offseason.

Converting a tight end and waiving a defensive end – From the bizarre news department comes the stories of a tight end turned middle linebacker, a rookie who was waived before ever putting pads on and the release of a fan favorite who never even played single game. Frantz Jospeh was an undrafted free agent middle linebacker from Florida Atlantic with a heart warming story. Raider Nation was pulling for him to make the roster and become the feel good story of the Raider Rebirth. Instead, he was released before training camp and the Raiders opted to convert another UFA, Chris O’Neill, from tight end to middle linebacker. Then there was the news that the organization opted to part ways with 6^th round selection Stryker Sulak before training camp began. Attempting to explain the logic in this whole scenario is daunting but it doesn’t seem to be as aimless as many assume. To begin, the Raiders still have to trim the roster down to in order to open camp. This is war and there will be collateral damage. Not giving Sulak a chance to compete in pads is a harsh move but his only hope was moving to linebacker. Many believe he is better suited to stand up in a 3-4. With the addition of Greg Ellis, the inability to trade Derrick Burgess and a few other defensive ends on the roster, Sulak was just squeezed out. As for O’Neill, well we’re going to have to wait and see if the former Boise State Bronco can transition to his new position.

Many question the methods. Most have already chalked up another 5 wins for the Raiders in 2009. If there is any method behind this madness it is the stubborn attempt to reconstruct the Raider Way. While it might not be the best formula, it is a blueprint none the less. With the way the past six years have gone, devising a plan – no matter how it is viewed – is a step in the right direction.

Now, it is time to live up to the adage that defines the Oakland Raiders.

Just win baby!

Otherwise, all of the above is simply the ramblings of a myopic fan who roots for a mislead organization.

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Now that Samson Satele is searching for a home in the East Bay, it is time to take a look at what has been gained and lost in the trade that brought the Hawaiian center from South Beach to the Yay Area.

To begin, let’s examine the details of the trade.

The Raiders traded a sixth round pick and swapped picks in the fourth round with the Miami Dolphins for Satele. The Draft Value Chart reveals that the Raiders took a significant hit in swapping picks in the fourth round with Miami. The Raiders were to select 8^th in round 4 which carries a value of 86, whereas the newly acquired pick from Miami, which is currently 26^th in round 4, is valued at 50.

Of course, these values are relative to their position overall in the draft and could shift up or down in accordance with the addition of supplemental picks or the removal of picks from other franchises.

The loss of Oakland’s sixth round pick carries a value of 25. Not much lost there, however, the Raiders’ 5^th round pick belongs to the Atlanta Falcons due to the DeAngelo Hall acquisition, meaning the Raider draft is now limited to picks in rounds 1-4 and 7.

While the value chart is utilized by teams for trade evaluation, it means little in regards to a team’s ability to evaluate talent and unearth gems in the later rounds.

The Raiders had a definite need at center and would have turned to the draft had this trade not transpired.

Alex Mack of Cal Berkeley and Max Unger of Oregon are considered the top two prospects at center. Mack is expected to be a late first round selection, meaning Unger could be an early second round choice.

However you slice it, the Raiders would have been gambling on either Mack or Unger being available in round two for them since using the #7 overall to select a center was out of the question.

Therefore, losing the 6^th round pick and moving down in the 4^th would seem a logical trade off in acquiring a center that was originally a second round pick in 2007 and has started in every game of his two year career.

As far as trade value goes, the Raiders did well for themselves in opening their second round options for the purpose of filling immediate needs such as wide receiver, safety and defensive line, all depending on what they do in round one.

Next, the question must be asked, how does Satele fit into the system?

By all indications, Samson is a perfect fit for the zone blocking scheme which values agility and athleticism over size and strength for the offensive line.

Satele is listed as 6-3, 300 lbs, but it is believed that his playing weight is closer to 295. Samson is a pure athlete who ran an impressive 5.24 in 40 yard dash, did 25 reps on bench press and recorded a 33″ vertical at the NFL Draft Combine in 2007.

In addition, the former Hawaii Warrior played both guard positions and left tackle in college and has seen some time at guard in the NFL. He adds versatility and depth to the line, which is always a plus as injuries mount throughout the rigorous NFL schedule.

Another plus is that Satele played in a Miami offense that ran plays out of the “Wildcat formation” which is sure to be included in the Raider playbook in 2009. Having a center with a familiarity to these sets is a big advantage in helping to integrate a new player at such a key position. 

All things being considered, he is ideal for the Raider philosophy and Samson will only continue to grow under the tutelage of Jim Michalczik.

Finally, let’s take a look at why the Miami Dolphins were willing to part with the young center.

It would seem almost too good to be true that the Dolphins would deal a young talent who anchored a line that helped the Miami franchise to the greatest turnaround in NFL history.

Of course, the obvious reason is that the Dolphins had committed nearly $30 million to former Raider center Jake Grove.

The popular belief is that Dolphin Executive VP of Football Operations, Bill Parcells, desired a stronger center to deal with the nose tackles of the AFC East. Thus, Satele became expendable.

Simply put, Samson did not fit the Dolphin scheme. One man’s loss is another’s gain. Satele is a perfect fit for the Raiders and looks to be a fixture for years to come.

Overall, this is a shrewd personnel move by the Raider brass and grades out very well.

One last issue of note is that Satele is rehabbing a shoulder after having had surgery to repair a torn labrum muscle. While the status of his shoulder may give Raider fans pause, the silver lining in this gray cloud is that he played through the regular and post season with the injury.

Bottom line is that Samson Satele is tough guy who is a great acquisition for Tom Cable’s Raiders.

Welcome to the Nation Samson!