Last offseason, Matt Flynn joined a new team with expectations of being the starting quarterback. Instead, he finished second in a three-way quarterback competition to a rookie mid-round pick with the surname Wilson.He is at risk of falling victim to the same scenario in 2013.Flynn went into last offseason's competition against rookie quarterback Russell Wilson and incumbent quarterback Tarvaris Jackson as the favorite to start for the Seattle Seahawks. He proved to be no match for Russell Wilson, though, who made a case for being the NFL's top rookie quarterback last ...
Some key storylines, including the signing of Charles Woodson, have highlighted the Oakland Raiders’ offseason OTAs thus far. With a roster that is full of new faces, like Woodson, and one that is expected to have competition throughout the offseason, the most noteworthy of OTA storylines will always include how those new players are faring, and the status of the most heated position battles. Although media access to the weekly three-day minicamps is limited to just one day, we can take some important information from that, while also remembering it is still quite early in the offseason. Here are five ...
And so it goes for the Oakland Raiders: another long season; another strange offseason; another chance to look ahead to the future of the franchise. It’s been quite a while since we could look at the Raiders without some sense of bewilderment. Once one of professional football’s most successful organizations, Oakland has fallen to the NFL wayside, an island of misfits looking for direction at every level. And so it goes. Yet things aren’t always as bad as they seem. Sure, 10 straight non-winning seasons don’t look all that promising for the future of the franchise, especially after a 4-12 ...
It’s safe to say JaMarcus Russell blew his first chance in the NFL. Russell, who was thought of as a safe, blue-chip prospect entering the 2007 NFL draft, ended up shocking everyone by doing nothing right in Oakland. Russell threw 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 680 pass attempts with the Raiders, and he posted a repulsive 65.2 passer rating. The former LSU star made mental gaffes and was inaccurate. Russell, who owns one of the strongest arms of all time, wasn’t able to complete enough passes, as evidenced by his miserable completion percentage (52.1 percent). When he completed passes, ...
The Oakland Raiders, a franchise that has been hampered by losing seasons over the past decade, are trying to find hope for the future. From principal owner Mark Davis and all the way down to general manager Reggie McKenzie, the Raiders continue to find themselves transitioning away from their years of losing with the hope of returning to the "Raider Way."Yet, the pressure to turn this franchise back into a winner is as high as it's ever been. With a fan base that continues to uphold expectations upon this franchise, the remaining question ultimately is when this franchise will turn ...
What a team.There was the superstar Cuban outfielder with the iron body and the flair for showmanship, bopping forearms with the young, somewhat awkward slugging first baseman who let his play do most of his talking.There was the acquisition of the future Hall of Fame left fielder earlier in the year, known as much for his malaprops and eccentricities as his superlative diamond skills. Their clearly under-appreciated and under-valued manager had been fired from his last gig despite breaking a lengthy postseason drought for his former club; he kept the ship steady through injury-stained waters.Their rotation had no real holes, with ...