Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE

I’ll always be a Lester Hayes fan. Dude would have to be convicted of smuggling children in zip lock bags for sale on the black market for me to stop being a Hayes fan. It’s one of those childhood things. He was one of my first football heroes and it was for one simple reason – Hayes kept it real.

Yeah, it’s a clichéd statement but with Hayes it is, has and always will be 100% true.

I was fortunate enough to attend a football camp in my youth that featured local pros from the Raiders and Rams back when both teams called the L.A. area home. Guys like former Rams QB Jim Everett and one-time Raiders running back Greg Bell were counselors at the camp and their general message was that football is a lot of fun. It was the other counselors, Hayes and Ronnie Lott that kept it real.

Lott looked every one of us dead in the eyes with a serious look on his mug and told us all, “football is war”. Hayes, who always addressed us as “gentlemen”, reiterated what Lott had to say about the game. He constantly reminded us that in this game you “sacrifice your body for the team”.

I can only imagine what the fallout would be in this day and age if a parent sent their kid to a camp with pros to be told to “sacrifice their body”. But that’s the game. No matter how the opinions of football may change the essence of the game remains the same.

I always admired Hayes for telling it like it was. He didn’t pull punches. Hayes wasn’t trying to trick us kids into thinking we were playing a game that was all touchdowns and postgame pizza parties. This game is a test of your manhood. Straight up.

So I couldn’t help but smile when I saw that Hayes is the “lone voice of dissention” in the current climate on concussion sensitivity.

Hayes did an interview with CNN giving his strong opinion on the multitude of law suits the NFL is facing and painted an all-too-real picture of what old school football was like.

To Hayes it’s the players, not the league, that are ultimately responsible for their own health.

“It’s all on the players, not anybody else, because the players have the same gladiator genes that existed in Rome over 2,000 years ago. They have a love of football to the 10th power. So the players make the final call. Trust me. No matter what they are told by doctors or anybody else, they will fight to play.”

That’s Hayes for you. He’s not going to shy away from telling it the way he sees it and could care less if it’s not a popular opinion. He’s also quick to remind you that his era was nothing like the era these players currently play in.

“Lord, have mercy. It’s so much safer to play in the NFL these days than during my time. We didn’t have any guidelines. You could actually lead with your face mask — putting your face mask on an opposing player’s face mask, without a $15,000 fine. You could throw a forearm shiver to the throat. People played with broken bones. Guys would carry smelling salt in their socks, so if you got a little woozy on the field, you’d reach into your sock for help.”

Most would argue that the Hayes mentality is that of a bygone era when there was no knowledge on the effects of concussions. Many will dismiss Hayes a dinosaur stuck in the past. Now to be fair there is plenty of merit to the current law suits. A league that has turned a blind eye to player safety has suddenly made it a priority largely because of the fear of legal action. The league does have some explaining to do.

But I still flashback to my encounter with Hayes who laid it out in plain English for a group of kids just learning the game. He didn’t pull any punches. He kept it real with us. If we were going to play this game then we had better be ready for everything that comes with it. Not a popular message but a real one, a message I still hold onto and apply to everything I engage in.

After receiving a mega contact this offseason, Nnamdi also joined the upper 5% of the NFL pay scale.

Nnamdi's talent is a rare as his character.

Now, he’s being recognized for his best quality of all, his heart. The charitable work he does with disadvantaged youth in the Bay Area has not gone unnoticed.

Asomugha was named to the “Dream Team for Public Service” for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. Asomugha will join a group that includes Justin Tuck of the New York Giants, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Venus Williams in New York on December 8^th at the third annual Sports Business and Philanthropy Luncheon.

Nnamdi was selected from 53 athletes in 10 different sports for the prestigious recognition and was nominated by the All Stars Helping Kids foundation. Among the 10 finalists, two will be chosen to be honored at the national Jefferson Awards on June 22^nd in Washington, D.C.

The Jefferson Awards were first established by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Robert Taft and Sam Beard in 1972. The goal of the ceremony was to create a “Nobel Prize for public service”. 

If Asomugha hears his name called for that award, he’ll be in even more rarified air. Among the past winners of the Jefferson Award are four Supreme Court justices, seven Secretaries of State, Oprah Winfrey, Alan Greenspan, Colin Powell, Lance Armstrong and Bill Gates to name a few.

Not that Raider Nation needed anymore reasons to be proud of #21 and all he does for his team. Now he’s finally getting the attention for the services he provides for his community.

Another all-time great defensive back that played in the Bay Area and who also happens to be the founder of the All Stars Helping Kids foundation – Ronnie Lott – had this to say about the “Dream Team” members whom he announced:

 “These champions represent a wide swath of success both on and off the playing field, and we are very excited to be able to honor this group. The real winners in this process are the millions of people that all these athletes have assisted in community service. It is an honor for us to recognize this group and assist all of them in their very noble endeavors.”

Congrats to Nnamdi for being bestowed with such a great honor.

He is a positive influence in the lives of so many children. At times we can lose focus on what is most important in life and it is refreshing to know that there are still real life heroes in our world.

Asomugha never intended to be recognized for his commitment to the community, he just does what comes naturally.

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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