Matthew Emmons

Here we go again. It doesn’t matter that Reggie McKenzie is running things differently in Oakland. It doesn’t matter that Al Davis had officially checked out of the knucklehead market prior to his passing. It doesn’t matter the Raiders already have a crowded collection of talented and young receivers. None of that matters because Chad Ochcocinco is a free agent and the NFL offseason is hitting a lull in the news cycle.

So without fail, the moment the Pats parted ways with their $6-million mistake named Ochco the speculation of the Raiders being interested in his services began.

It’s the same tired and lazy approach Raider Nation has become used to. It will happen every offseason so long as there are knucklehead receivers looking for work the silver and black will forever be linked to said knuckleheads.

For the record I don’t in anyway associate Ocho with T.O., the two are totally different. Chad might walk around with his head in the clouds but he’s mostly harmless. Dude can’t seem to wrap his head around an NFL offense which only makes his success even more impressive. But otherwise Ocho’s antics are detrimental only to himself and none of his teammates. Terrell Owens is the exact opposite. His actions destroy teams.

Still, if I’m Reggie McKenzie I’m staying away from Chad.

There’s no need to disrupt the development of Oakland’s receivers that have been working with Carson Palmer all this offseason. Last year Hue Jackson selfishly brought in T.J. Houshmandzadeh to give CP3 a familiar face. All that did was take away reps that could have gone to receivers with more room for growth than Housh who is currently out of the game.

There’s no need to bring in a vet that couldn’t digest the playbook of a pass-happy offense. If Chad wasn’t motivated enough to play with Tom Brady in a career salvaging year then why would he be any different with Palmer? Chad knows Carson so that means he knows what he can get away with. Letting him lineup with Carson under center would only enable Ocho’s tendencies to Tweet instead of study.

There’s no need to waste money even if Chad is willing to play at a discount. No matter how much or little you pay for his services you know you’re only getting the 34-year-old Ochocinoc for a year at best. Why waste the cash? McKenzie and the Raiders are cash strapped. Save some of that for a rainy day and go to war with the men who have been there and done that in the black hole. Ocho is desperate and willing to play for pennies but that doesn’t make him a bargain. It makes him a money whore.

Reggie McKenize can and likely will say “thanks, but no thanks”. Just say no to Ochocinco.

Heyer joins a small faction of former Raiders that have found work wearing green in NYC. The Jets boast of former Raiders receivers coach Sanjay Lal who will continue to coach up Chaz Schilens and now are joined by reserve lineman Heyer.

Heyer saw time at tackle and guard last season including making two starts both of which came against the San Diego Chargers. His value was found in providing depth for the O-line during his one season in Oakland.

Until yesterday Heyer was listed on the Raiders roster under the Unrestricted Free Agent heading. His name is now gone leaving the likes of Kyle Boller, Darryl Blackstock and T.J. Houshmanzadeh among others that are still Raiders in theory only.

Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

It is the rumor that just won’t die. Every year we go through this same song and dance. An unemployed Terrell Owens insists he can roll out of bed and still grab 80 balls for 1,000 yards and some lazy journalist cranks up the T.O. to Oakland rumor machine.

It is the Jason Voorhees of football rumormongering. A sad and pathetic attempt to constantly resurrect a headline from the grave that was never meant to be…but this time it’s a little bit different.

This time the Owens in Oakland rumors are a directly result of the Raiders themselves…sort of.

Darrius Heyward-Bey Tweeted a photo earlier this week of himself and a few teammates after a workout in Los Angeles. Oh…Terrell Owens happened to be in the photo too.

Yep, T.O. is working out with DHB, Carson Palmer, David Ausberry and Eddie McGee.

So…the Raiders have to be considering going after Owens right? Wrong!

Palmer is a SoCal guy. Ausberry is a Central Valley native that played at USC. DHB is getting in a workout with his QB and McGee is trying to stay employed. If anything Owens is just trying to get to where McGee is, that’s why he’s hugged up with college QB turned NFL receiver. Plus T.O. and Palmer have a history having spent a season playing together in Cincinnati.

That is all folks…nothing to see here.

Now last season Palmer did manage to get one of his guys a job when T.J. Houshmandzadeh landed an undeserved roster spot. But Hue Jackson had a little something to do with that too, it wasn’t all Palmer.

There’s just no way Reggie McKenzie will extend an offer to Owens. Not when T.O.  was out of the NFL for all of last year and not when he’s toiling in an indoor football league in Texas. Certainly not when all Owens is playing for is a check that will rid him of the deadbeat dad label.

So can we please kill this rumor once and for all, never to speak of it again? Most likely not. I’m sure this hideous notion will rise from the grave and I’ll be back to posting this same tirade again and again and again…