Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

In the last year the Oakland Raiders have added four former Penn State Nittany Lions to the roster. After taking Stefen Wisniewski in the second round in 2011 draft the Raiders have raided Happy Valley by drafting Jack Crawford and Nathan Stupar in 2012 then signing undrafted free agent Chaz Powell just over a month ago.

While Penn State University has been in the news for all the wring reasons lately none of their alumni on the Raider roster are talking. Except for Stupar’s Tweets last Friday, none have discussed their views on the Jerry Sandusky tragedy.

You can certainly understand why none of them would want to say anything on the record. For one it’s highly unlikely anything they’d have to say on the matter would be fit for publishing. Secondly, there is still an ongoing FBI investigation that is certain to reach plenty of former players in due time.

Here at JBB this post marks the first time we’ve mentioned Sandusky and there’s a good reason for that too. I’m not going to get on my soapbox on this one but I’ll just say that there is no punishment admissible by law that suits Sandusky. His misgivings are of the most unforgivable nature and the amount of lives he’s affected cannot ever have peace no matter his fate.

I’m sure that plenty of Penn State alumni have a difficult time discussing the issue. Out of respect none of the local media have pressed any of Oakland’s former Nittany Lions for a statement with Wisniewski choosing not to comment at all when the news first broke in 2011.

This is a tough subject to cross. Many crimes, even those that involve victims, can be rationalized in some way depending on the circumstances. However for what Sandusky has perpetrated there is absolutely no logical reasoning what so ever. Same goes to anyone involved in trying to sweep his many criminal acts under the rug.

Behind closed doors, among those that can be trusted, I’m sure the Penn State alums roaming the Raiders locker room have shared their views. They might not ever do so publicly nor are the ever required to. However their silence says it all. Sometimes something so unspeakable doesn’t deserve a response. Then again, that’s partly how this whole situation got to be the tragedy it is.

Despite still being far ahead of how long it used to take teams to get their rookies under contract, the Raiders are among the last teams to get down to business. Today they took their first steps towards getting their new class officially on the roster by signing 5^th round pick Jack Crawford, 6^th rounder Christo Bilukidi and 7^th round pick Nathan Stupar.

For the record Oakland’s entire draft class has been participating in OTAs. So too have men like Desmond Bryant who didn’t officially sign his offer sheet until yesterday. That speaks well of the team mentality Dennis Allen and McKenzie are building.

No matter the time taken in getting around to handling this order of business it’s still much better than in the past. Usually the Raiders were among the best at getting their draftees signed in time for camp (#2 notwithstanding) even though that often meant having rookies sign the same day they reported to training camp.

Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE

That’s why one-time Raider executive turned broadcaster Michael Lombardi pegged Crawford as one of the members of his All Value Team. Seems the Raiders and Lombardi are both thinking along the same lines in seeing nothing but massive potential for a highly coachable D-lineman like Crawford who is still learning the game.

Lombardi goes as far as to say the Raiders might have drafted man that could be starting in 2013.

Time will tell on that. DIRECTV on the other hand wasted no time in honoring all the members of the All Value Team. As DIRECTV offers the best value there is to its customers in the NFL Sunday Ticket at an incredibly low price of $199 it was only right they give all members of the All Value Team a free year of service.

So during the season Crawford can enjoy all the benefits of DIRECTV just for being singled out as one of the draft’s best values. Meanwhile the rest of us can enjoy every game on Sunday by purchasing the best value there is to be found. Too bad Crawford can’t enjoy his Sunday Ticket. He’ll be too busy terrorizing quarterbacks for that. But, hey, at least he can enjoy all the Sunday action during Oakland’s bye week.

Now we’ll have to wait and see if Crawford does in deed pan out to be a true value pick. However you can cruise over to DIRECTV now and get your Sunday Ticket at 40% off what is would have cost you last year. That’s one value that doesn’t require the wait and see approach. Well…except for having to wait until the NFL season starts at least.