The 2011 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now during the NFL lockout, teams are preparing for a season that may not have training camps and other offseason workouts. Due to the fact that there is very little to report on other than the lockout itself, I thought it would be interesting to look toward the next NFL Draft in 2012. When the Raiders begin to succeed, and people start asking when did the change in culture begin, they will look at the 2010 draft. That was a draft that truly set the foundation of this team. With nine ...
New York Mets fans have got to be sick of hearing the names of their top players brought up in daily trade speculation pieces. As Oakland A's fans, this is something we can sympathize with Mets fans. Typically, the trade talk, and free agency talk for that matter, circles around which Oakland players we will be forced to part with for budgetary concerns, or to rebuild a depleted farm system. This season is different. The A's do have a few players that would spark interest at the trade deadline if they were to fall out of contention. Despite not being ...
Some folks have read their crystal ball and it says, "the season will start on time." Others, say, "No way." Now some of us have heard that Roger Goodell is blaming the lawyers. Others say it was better to leave the dealings at the negotiation level and not at the litigation level. Even some of the lawyers are saying that the issues need to be argued at another level and not in court. Now since the lockout issues are being argued in the court system, the lawyers are turning over facts and issues, upside down and all around, to get ...
"The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been."-Henry KissingerWhat is going on with my beloved Oakland Raiders? Not only are they improving in the wins column, but now we are seeing true leadership in a time of uncertainty.There is a lockout in place with no end in sight. The owners and the players are far apart according to everything we are reading in the press. With all of that being said, the Oakland Raiders are flying under the radar but are getting the job done. Why are they ...
Since his being drafted in 2008, WR Chaz Schilens has spent the majority of his NFL career as a bench warmer for the Oakland Raiders. The Oakland Raiders had high expectations for the 6'4", 225 lb WR. Schilens is a big target for any QB and has great hands when he is on the field. However, that's the problem for the three- year veteran, he cant stay healthy. Many Oakland Raider fans including the coaching staff felt Schilens would become the number one receiver. Chaz Schilens was even assigned jersey number 81, the former number of Oakland Raider great, Tim Brown. ...
The Introduction, the inspiration
You don't often hear about football players who are good at mathematics and outstanding on the football field. You don't even hear enough about their compassion for others.
I have known several of them since I tutored some of the college players during the Sixties.
In fact, I met a retired Oakland Raider in college when he was sent to the math lab for tutoring. The young man who became an Oakland Raider would tell me, in so many words, that he may not talk mathematics but that he was thinking it.
I guess he meant he was thinking mathematically on the football field ...
Bo Jackson. That name alone represents an era in Oakland Raiders history when the RB was feared by all opponents. Bo Jackson was a two-sport MVP player during the '80s and made a name for himself alongside the Oakland Raiders. Bo Jackson was also a machine on the gridiron. His powerful running attack swept aside would be tacklers as they stood or laid in the dust of NFL's most prolific player. Bo Jackson was a household name.
Bo Jackson may also have been the greatest athlete of all time. In high school, weighing over 200 lbs, Jackson could run the 100 ...
The 2011 NFL Draft is over and new Oakland Raider head coach Hue Jackson, along with a newly revamped coaching staff, look toward continuing the turn-around set in motion during the 2010 NFL season.The draft addressed some serious needs, but fell short of fixing everything. There are several positions that are still somewhat lacking and some that are extremely short on depth.There is much more to a winning program than having a few super-stars or getting that big-name player to be your savior. Talent is important, some would argue that depth and chemistry are equally critical, if not more so.What ...
The NFL Lockout has given me plenty of time to think about where the Raiders franchise is headed.For years, the mantra has been: "Speed kills." or "Bad character? Your point is...?"Now, it's "Speed kills. Bad character kills our team."Al Davis is clearly focusing on not only measurables but a love for the game when drafting NFL prospects, which is a main reason for Oakland's rise last year.I think it's clear who the Raiders are trying to be this year: A smart, classy team who will beat you by sheer athleticism and look good coming off the bus. And I'm fine ...
Not since the glory days of Tim Brown, Jerry Porter and even Ronald Curry have the Oakland Raiders had a great pair of hands. Even now the best receiver on the team is the tight end, Pro Bowler Zach Miller.The offense of the Oakland Raiders could become unstoppable if they could rely on a solid WR to catch the ball 95% of the time.You need great play calling so the WR's can get open , yet as of late, the Silver and Black have been faltering in the catching area. WR Louis Murphy, the leading WR posted 41 receptions for 609 ...