Monday, May 08, 2006

News You Can't Use

I’ve had the following News You Can’t Use in the hopper for a week or so, but I’ve been too busy obsessing over Paul McQuistan to deal with it. Now it’s time to catch up, because while the Raiders Haters can run, they can’t hide.

In this instance, we have Sport Illustrated’s resident Raiders Hater slamming the organization and saying that
Michael Huff is a bad fit for the Oakland Raiders. Direct quote: “I hate to see great talents wind up in dysfunctional organizations.”

Since any top 10 pick in the first round is going to be considered a great talent, and since he gives no other specific reason why he thinks Huff is a bad fit for the Raiders, what our columnist is really saying is that he hates the Raiders and that there is no such thing as a good fit in Oakland. So under the guise of draft "analysis" he finds yet another excuse to blast the organization.

Of course, we cannot forget that this is the same columnist
who actually stated that “the Raiders need him (Kerry Collins) more than he needs them”—on the very same day that the Raiders signed Aaron Brooks! He wrote that the Raiders should sign Collins “quickly” because “it's the only logical move for a team that rarely makes sensible decisions.”

Let’s just say that when this guy starts wielding the word “logic,” we should all be afraid. Michael Huff: bad fit for the Raiders? Kerry Collins: great fit for the Raiders? You can hurt yourself with logic like that. It's the mental equivalent of running with scissors.

And that, Raiders fans, is news you can’t use.


P.S. Thanks to Calico Jack and Stick'Em for alerting Raider Take to this piece.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

great catch. following this guy's logic, the only player who should play for the raiders is someone who sucks. so, if the raiders drafted a total loser, like todd marijuanovich, to cite a painful example, or ryan leaf, then this guy at SI would be happy. but i'm sure he would still find a way to blame the raiders even more, writing that the player might have had more success if he had gone elsewhere. he'd also blame the raiders for only drafting players who suck.

so why does this guy get paid to do little more than rip on teams he doesn't like? and why can't i get that job? i could rip on the whiners and the burritos, and here i am writing for free ...

5:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Little Jeffri says, "The Raiders are a hopelessly dysfunctional organization"... well, let's see what Michael Huff says, Jeffri, shall we?

From an ESPN chat Michael Huff had with the fans pre-draft:

"Angelo west haven ct : How do you feel about the Raiders...How was the visit? .

SportsNation Michael Huff: The Raiders is probably the best visit that I had. Everything's so comfortable up there. They said they'll use me like the Steelers use Palamalu. But like I've been saying I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much and stay level."

So the truth must be either Michael Huff is dysfunctional too - for Huff liked the Raiders the best out of ALL the teams he interviewed with and said so BEFORE the Raiders drafted him and dysfunctional people enjoy dys functional places - or Jeffri must be spewing out the same old tired clichés without doing his homework.

You be the judge. But if you ask Huff, there is no where he'd rather be than Oakland. He says so himself.

5:43 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

This throw-away line by Lil Jeffri caps off his bias piece:

"I'm hoping Huff is mentally strong enough to deal with an environment filled with very few characters worth following"

So Jeffri, are you saying a young man like Huff shouldn't follow a staff that includes HOFs Willie Brown, Fred Bilitnekof, Art Shell, Jackie Slater, and owner Al Davis? He needs to be mentally strong because he won't be able to learn anything from these men? What?

Granted, Jeffri has a cleverly spelled name. However his logic is faulty, lazy, and not clever at all.

7:33 AM  
Blogger StickUm25 said...

I'm thinking this guy is just a general idiot, as opposed to having something against the Raiders specifically. His comments regarding the other 4 selections were just about as asinine as his rant on Huff.

On a more positive note, the Raiders sign Robert Thomas. Another legitimate LB. Looks like the plan is coming together.

1:01 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

It is exciting that the pieces are starting to come together on our D.

With the signing of Robert Thomas, a healthy Sam Williams, and rookies Howard Thomas + Darnell Bing, the Raider LB corps is solid & deep.

The entire D now has depth in each positional group. I like that Brayton is being moved back to his natural position of DE and I think the signing of situational DE Johnstone will pay dividends.

DC Ryan should be able to effectively apply pressure to the QB and mix and match personnel depending on down and distance.

Here is how I have each positional group;

Defensive Ends(*projected starters)
* Burgess, Hamilton
+ Kelly, Johnstone, Brayton, Riddle

Defensive Tackles
* Sapp, Sands
+ Kelly, Hawthorne, Irons

Linebackers
* Clark, Morrison, Williams
+ Thomas, Howard, Bing, Grant,
T. Johnson

Cornerbacks
* Asomougha, Washington
+ Routt, Poole, Starks, Carr

Safeties
* Huff, Schweigert
* Cooper, Bing, Gibson

6:54 PM  

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