The Oakland Athletics have started preparing for the 2011 season, as per usual with GM Billy Beane.
Third baseman Eric Chavez, who has been riddled with injuries over the last three years, has finally been released. He looks to start fresh with another team, but realizes he is a 12-year veteran.
Susan Slusser, writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, published this telling quote from Chavez:
"If things had been different, I would have wanted to stay in Oakland my whole career," the six-time Gold Glove third baseman said. "I've had therapy, I've had treatment, I've had surgeries. The only thing left is to ...
This Sunday, Jamaal Charles and the surprising Kansas City Chiefs will head to Oakland Coliseum to take on red-hot Darren McFadden and the resurgent Oakland Raiders.The Raiders are playing for a rare third straight win and to go 3-0 in division, while the Chiefs are looking to leave no doubt they are the team to beat in the AFC West.This match up features the top two rushing attacks in the league, and two drastically improved defenses.It should be a classic Raiders/Chiefs smash-mouth battle.Let's have a look at where the Raiders can win—or lose this important divisional game...Begin Slideshow
During college days, there was the acronym "BMOC" which stood for "Big Man on Campus."
In the '60s, the BMOC was usually a tough guy, a football player, tall and muscular and ready to fight for what he believed in, at the drop of a hat.
The BMOC got his tag because he was like an undefeated champion on the college campus. Few folks would tease or intimidate this man.
Well, the Kansas City Chiefs come from Missouri and that is the state that used to have the motto, "Show me, I'm from Missouri." In just a few more days, the Oakland Raiders will ...
Much has been made as of late about JaMarcus Russell and how poor of a prospect many fans and analysts feel him to be.
Labeled as the "greatest draft bust in NFL history" by some, Russell has continued to be ridiculed and criticized for both his performance on the field and his behavior off of it.
I'm no apologist and I do not seek to provide the readers with a laundry-list of excuses.
Russell's performance in Oakland after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2007 has been well documented; albeit a bit skewed if the intent is to make an honest evaluation of his ...
Betting Overview
It is kind of interesting how the football betting experts set the NFL picks for each week. The Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) barely beat the Buffalo Bills (0-7) last week, so the Chiefs become underdogs to the Oakland Raiders (4-4) who pummeled the Seattle Seahawks (4- 3) last week. But when you take this game between the Chiefs and the Raiders apart, you start to realize that things are not what they seem, and take note as a NFL betting handicapper.
The Chiefs beat the Bills on a last-second field goal in overtime. The Bills had ...
All season one of the Raiders main concerns has been the offensive line, specifically left-tackle, center and right guard.
It would seem that now, finally, the Raiders are looking to improve or, at least, add depth at center. As the Raiders worked out their former center, Jake Grove, on Tuesday.
While with the Raiders, Grove has always been productive along the o-line when healthy. The problem, however, was that he was often injured or banged up, starting in only 46 games in his five years in Oakland.
When Groves contract with the Raiders expired at the end of the 2008 season, he opted to ...
The last two weeks have been a joy to watch. The Oakland Raiders have played with a passion and intensity not seen in some time. The offense has executed in both the running and passing game. The defense has been ferocious and special teams have been solid, if unspectacular. The question I keep asking myself is, who are these guys and where have they been? This is what I expected all along. Maybe not the margins of victory, but the quality of football I thought I would see from this year's Raiders. Just two short weeks ago, I thought I ...
As the AFC debate continuously gathers momentum, the Raiders find themselves in a precarious position.When they looked at the 2010 schedule, games against Pittsburgh and Indianapolis were circled: Oakland hasn't gotten to that part yet.As you've read, and heard mention of how surprising the raiders are, this may be a good time for Raider fans across the globe to reflect on what's to come.Starting with this coming Sunday, Oakland finds themselves in several match-ups that are of epic value.The underdog card is something Oakland garners, no matter what the circumstances provide. Stereotypically the league's bottom feeder for the past decade, ...
The NFL season has reached the midway point, and several teams seasons are effectively over. Teams thought of as contenders entering the season have woefully underachieved, creating parity across the league. Heading into Week 9, unlikely contenders like Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and St. Louis are in position to make runs at playoff spots.Let's take a look at what surprises are in store this week.Begin Slideshow
Holla at me, RAIDER NATION!
Well, here we are at the midway point of the season.
I know that you've been waiting (and waiting) for our team to turn the corner, and with the Raiders winning their last two games in impressive fashion (racking up...oh, lets say 90-plus points) and moving their record to .500, I know that everyone wants to open their windows or go to their rooftops and scream "The Raiders are back!!"
I can't say that I blame you.
However, I'm here to remind you that we need to show a little restraint:
A) The season is only half over, and
B) Let's remember who we were ...