Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A Freethinker's Guide to The Facts

A delicious irony is unfolding in the mainstream sports media, and it pertains to Mark Cuban’s interest in acquiring the Chicago Cubs. Bear with me, as I also think it pertains to Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders.

Here’s the scoop: Marc Cuban, rebellious owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, recently filed an application to acquire the Chicago Cubs. The sports media are nearly unanimous: Cuban would be a good thing for Major League Baseball, but the league will never let it happen.

Baseball, we’re told, has become too insular and exclusive. It is known as “The Club,” filled with safe, corporate, tradition-obsessed owners and executives. Unlike the NFL, Major League Baseball resists, and fears, progressive thinking, and it would therefore never let a renegade like Cuban into its ranks. In fact, baseball’s reactionary mindset is exactly why the NFL has stolen MLB’s thunder as America’s Pastime.

I heard this argument not once, but many times, over the past week. I actually agree with it—but only up to the point that the same people making the argument constantly bash Al Davis for being the very thing they claim to embrace.

That is, they say they want more independent freethinkers in the ranks of MLB ownership while trying hard to destroy the ultimate independent freethinker of the NFL: Al Davis.

Now, I’m not a big Mark Cuban fan, and I don’t mean to draw too much of a comparison to Al Davis, but there are some distinct similarities: a forward-thinking rebel, largely beloved by his players and despised by his league’s commissioner.

Anyhow, here’s what the talking heads will say to cover their flip-flopping tracks: “No, it’s just that Al Davis has lost it. We love freethinkers like Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones and Dan 'Money for Nothing' Snyder. After all, Sports Illustrated just ranked both Jones and Snyder among the NFL’s top owners, and even ran a glowing spread on Jones last week. See, we love freethinkers, just not Al Davis, because he’s lost it.”

Let’s review who’s “lost it” in the new millennium:

Number of NFC Championship games Synder’s Redskins have played in since 2000: 0

Number of Super Bowl appearances for Snyder’s Redskins since 2000: 0

Number of NFC Championship games Jones’ Cowboys have played in since 2000: 0

Number of Super Bowl appearances for Jones’ Cowboys since 2000: 0

Number of AFC Championship games Davis’s Raiders have played in since 2000: 2

Number of Super Bowl appearances for Davis’s Raiders since 2000: 1

Remember, Raiders Haters, emotions are not facts and numbers don't lie.

Now, I admit that Mr. Davis has blown some things over the past three seasons (don't tell me four, he was just coming off a Super Bowl year in 2003, returning with the same coach and players who got him there), particularly in matters of hiring coaches and relying on questionable characters at offensive skill positions and questionable talent on the offensive line. The result has been an unprecedented rough patch for the Oakland Raiders.

Well, let’s remember that Jerry Jones’ Cowboys were 5-11 for three straight seasons to start off this decade and haven’t done squat in the playoffs ever since. Meanwhile, Dan Snyder’s Redskins have had one season above .500 in this decade. Talk about rough patches.

Jones and Synder get a pass, however. But Al Davis? He’s not entitled to a rough patch in the notoriously competitive, parity-driven NFL.

So just remember: independent freethinkers are great for the ranks of sports ownership, unless you’re talking about the original and ultimate freethinker, the one with literally more Lombardi trophies than Dan Snyder has winning seasons, the one who unlike Jerry Jones actually has some postseason achievements in the new millennium, and who unlike Mark Cuban comports himself with dignity and maturity.

41 Comments:

Blogger BlandaRocked said...

RT, if I haven't said it before, I'll say it now. You run a smart, clear thinking web page. To my mind, you are the best Raider Fan Blogger out there.

I remember the As' Charlie O. Finley. I hated the way he treated his players (financially) and that was the ultimate reason for his downfall, but he was one of the few baseball renegade owners. He brought the A's to three consecutive WS titles. When free agency arived he sold off his stockpile of players in his system for cash. Even still, it took 10 years before the A's failed to have one of the very best starting pitching rotations in the history of the game. Just remembering.

As for Snyder - I never saw the big "whoop." Why is he even considered to be a competent owner? As for Jones, he has zero football background, and early on fans were threatening to force him to sell the team. He's always been a big Al Davis fan. He gets frequent advice from Davis, and over the years he's been slowly improving.

But RT, you and I actually follow sports. Those in the media have become too busy making six and seven figure incomes to follow sports. It's the same thing with Randy Moss. If Moss spent time on things like training and conditioning, what would become of all of his side businesses?

1:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RT:

C L A S S I C A L

This is why I keep coming back for more, you are precise and don't take texas manure from anybody. Keep it up my brother, I love your way of looking at things man!

raiderdecoachella

1:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

being in austin, i hear a lot about cuban, the mavericks, and the spurs. i also listen to rome, and he has had cuban on several times, and i like what i've seen and heard from the guy.
as far as being a "free-thinker" in comparison to davis, i don't know. i don't see him helping his sport solve financial issues the way al davis has for the afl, and the nfl.
i do think cuban is a tremendous innovator of marketing. he helps make his team fan friendly with not only the talent he puts on the court, but with special promos regarding the team. example, he gives out free tacos from taco bell, to all the fans in attendance when the mavericks lose a game. if he does that with the cubs, that's a lot of tacos!
where he may be a little of a rebel is to call out the officials, and the top brass of the nba on their policies, etc. i think that is truly something al davis has done in the past.
to me, as a owner, cuban is more comparable to george steinbrenner of the yankees, and the owner of the red sox. he is more prone to throw huge money at players to give himself a competitive team; where al davis has always made teams great with cast away players who deserve a second chance; drafting well, and paying them a fair market value in contracts according to their performance. cuban is a smart guy, and knows how to play the part of what people want to paint him out to be. meaning, he does a great acting job looking like a rebel, free thinker, and bad ass. but he hasn't really been known to take a risk when it comes to his team. he handles fixing his teams' problems by throwing money at a "star" who can fill the void. is that really "risk-taking?" or smart investing?

1:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

*-correction, i meant to say, "and john henry, the owner of the red sox"
not: "comparable to george steinbrenner of the yankees, and the owner of the red sox."

1:25 PM  
Blogger TheFreakingPope said...

BR - Agreed. RT is one hell of a guy!

Also, and this probably belongs in the previous post, but I thought you guys would want to see this:

Clayton of ESPN wrote:

Oakland Raiders -- First-year coach Lane Kiffin brings a new vigor to Raider practices. Assistants run up and down the field to encourage or teach young players. Offensive line drills have more intensity as coaches try to bring out more aggressiveness in the blocking schemes. Still, the treat of camp is the strong arm of JaMarcus Russell. Watching him throw is a thrill in itself.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp07/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2946253

2:23 PM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

Thanks for the kind feedback, guys!

The haters are hedging their bets, because they know the Raiders are on the rebound. Heck, even our friend at SI who ranks the owners moved Al Davis up five slots from last year.

Not bad when you can go 2-14 yet still scare a confirmed Raider Hater into moving you up five slots, you know, just in case.

3:13 PM  
Blogger Stick'em said...

You mean this Dan Snyder?

If you look closely, the top of MR. Snyder's head comes up to just about the level of Norv Turner's left testicle.

Now, this SI guy is going to make the case that that Dan "Oompa Loompa" Snyder is a better owner than Al Davis?

You can't be serious!

At 177 years old, Al could still beat this little punk into the fetal position.

'nuff said

3:30 PM  
Blogger PantyRaider said...

"Mediot"s Favortism....

Just look at JoeGibbs....how does he escape all the hits....he is still regarded as a "Winner" when he has done nothing sense his return to the NFL....go figure....

AlDavis has done a tremendous amount for the NFL including "spearHeading" the AFL-NFL Merger but he get NO credit from the hateful "Mediot"s....

It is a total pleasure to watch film footage of the Raiders SB victory over the "ForeSkin"s and see Thiesman get "Spankes" just like Jerosky did....it explains their hatred for the team and their bias speach on NFL Games....

NOT Realted....but did any body notice that Culpepper was released by the "Fish" last monday....and he has not signed with a new team yet....so what be happening....

MichealVick may be out of Atlanta....does any body want him....

PantyRaider...??????

4:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Raiders release Adam Treu....so we will have a new long snapper who can do more for the "OL"....

PantyRaider.....GoodNews!!!!

7:07 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Good job as usual RT.

I'm completely puzzled why Jones and Snyder are held up on a pedestal as owners. For what? Certainly not for putting a winning product on the field.

Let me take your facts one step further:

Cowboys:
* Last time they won a playoff game was in 1996. It was a wild card game.

* Since winning the wild card game in 1996, the Cowboys are 0-5

* For this entire decade the 'Boys are 0-2. Ouch!

Redskins:
* The Redskins have had only 4 playoff appearances since 1993

* They have won only 2 playoff games since 1993; wild card games in 1999 & 2005

* For this entire decade the Skins are 1-1 in the playoffs.

Raiders:
* In this decade alone the Raiders have played in 7 playoff games going 4-3 to include 2 AFC Championship appearances and 1 SB appearance.

How bout' them Boys & Skins?!

7:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about this one. While Jones and Snyder keep retreading coaches(Parcells, Gibbs, et al) Mr. Davis has had enough of that.

How about having the gonads to hire the youngest head coach in NFL history with no previous head coaching experience at any level.

Part of being inovative and forward looking is the willingness to take chances.

H

7:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bama7
RT, you sound like an attorney working a long case, trying to persuade a jury of non-Raiders to be swayed into coming back with a verdict of, "The jury finds all non-Raider fans guilty of bias against the Raiders... we officially declare last year's 2-14 season, and the prior two seasons, a complete aberration... the jury awards that from this day forward all NFL power polls will begin listing Oakland in the top 10 based on unfair media coverage and unfair refs... and furthermore on counts 2 and 3 we the jury find Al Davis a genius in that Alvis Whitted & James Jett were incredible talents, stats and performance be damned."
Sorry, but it's just getting old. When you walk around like we Raiders have for 40 some odd years declaring ourselves the baddest, toughest hombres in the NFL (and we once were) then everyone that got bullied is going to rejoice and kick you when you're down. And then you make matters worse by going out and bringing in Art Shell and Tom Walsh to "lead you back to glory" well, fuck, you're going get laughed at. And laughed at hard. We should have been 1-15 last year... the Pittsburgh game was simply too bizarre.
Face it we've sucked for twenty years sans the gruden era. Period. Gruden fought the old fart for several years and turned things around, then Al's ego got in the way... again. And I know, I know, look at Gruden now... well yes, but if we had him 2002 we would have one the whole damn thing. Period. Gruden knew our offense and destoyed Gannon.
But alas, I think Al has really changed. he wants to win and he wants to win so badly he's willing to sit back and let someone else make decisions.
Did you hear? Supposedly Al wants Gallery at RT while Kiffen wants him at LG due to the fact that the guard pulling is so important in the new blocking scheme (I bet Gallery plays better wherever he lands simply because Art Shell & Co were the epitome of incompetent).
The 2006 draft is going to prove to be one of our best. And I think Kiffen made most of the picks. I think Kiffen has made all of the FA acquisitions as well.
If Kiffen's totally in charge then Whitted, Cortney Anderson, James Adkinson, Johnny Morant, Randall Williams, Carlos FRancis and Morant will all be cut early from the glut of WR's.
And i Travis Taylor and Justin Griffith stay healthy I bet they prove to be our our most important additions.
We're about to be back with a vengence and then we can start sticking it back at the media and other fans... not through crying foul about media coverage or referres... but BY KICKING PEOPLE IN THE ASS HARD ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD. Stop the run and learn to run the football. It's all we need to get it all started.

7:52 PM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

Bama 7, I have to say, that was really funny. Nice job.

I don't agree about Gruden, though. Yes, he may have had OUR number in the Super Bowl, but that doesn't mean he would have gotten US to the Super Bowl. He played things tight and conservative in pressure situations (see Snow Bowl v. Patriots). He surely helped set the table in Oakland (just as Dungy helped set his table in Tampa), but
I think that Callahan was the right guy at the right time for us, a sort of strange alchemy, short lived but effective.

I don't think it's a given that we would have reached the Super Bowl under Gruden that year. But I do agree that he was a catalyst for a lot of positive changes.

9:27 PM  
Blogger nyraider said...

It's funny that no matter how many times and different ways it's presented, some media (and fans) simply choose not to acknowledge the truth. For some mediots, denial helps feed their Raider-hater appetites.

6:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just looking at that picture of Michael Silver at SI (link) I just want to kick and taser him. Does anyone know where their offices are located?
Psycho

6:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is a great blogg. I actually read the article by Mr. Silver when it originally hit SI's website. I sent a comment to Mr. Silver and here it is as well as his responce. Enjoy!

Micheal,

I liked the article about the "Top" owners. But you should have put a time frame on your evaluation of these owners. Maybe a title something to the affect of "Top owners the past 6 years". To put Mr. Davis anywhere behind Mr. Snyder is simply a travesty. To think that Mr. Snyder is anywhere near the owner that Mr. Davis is, at this point in time, is at least a very bad evaluation. Mr. Snyder's teams have fallen very short of the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl Championship. And although Mr. Davis's Raiders have been bad as of late he has still fielded a team that has been to the Super Bowl this decade. To have the opinion that Mr. Snyder's contributions to the NFL are parallel or surpass those of Mr. Davis is quite simply an uninformed uneducated opinion. The introduction of Cheerleaders, drafting the first African American Quarterback, as well as hiring the first African American head coach and the first female GM, all are just a few of a long list of accomplishments that Mr. Davis contributed to the NFL.

I am responding to your article as it pertains to Mr. Davis not to "slam" you, but rather so that you will be able to write a more informed article next time. It is truly hard to fined an author (outside of the Bay area) that have positive things to say, or have positive opinions about, Mr. Davis and his Oakland Raiders. I can tell by your writing that you are talented and that your talent warrants the posting of your article on SI's website. But unfortunately this article, as it pertains to Mr. Davis, is not original, but just par for the course. Hopefully next time your investigation of Mr. Davis his victories and loses will lead you to a higher evaluation and opinion of this Iconic figure in NFL history.

Best regards,

Sean Fuentes

Responce from Mr Silver:

Thanks for the feedback. I totally appreciate it. I lived in Oakland for many years and am well aware of Mr. Davis's good and bad qualities. But I appreciate the heads-up.

Mike

I think it is obviouse that Mr. Silver wrote this article as a "Hater".

Sean Fuentes

6:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The article ranked Dan Snyder at #5 with this quote "But hey, at least he's trying," when he made his excuse for all of Snyder's missteps during his tenure as owner.

If just the act of trying is all it takes, Al Davis should be #1.

Al Davis never stops trying. He has stated himself he does not believe in "Rebuilding." Every move he makes is to "Win Now". They don't alway work, but hey, at least he's trying.

Michael Silver, give me a break.

H

8:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sean!

You missed the fact that not only did he hire the first african american coach but also the first hispanic coach.

raiderdecoachella

On a separate note my son just had a son (I guess that makes me a grandpa) his name is Michael Raider II.

8:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jones has zero football knowledge??? Wasn't he teammates with Jimmy Johnson on a national champion Arkansas team? Yeah ..He's devoid of any football knowledge.

9:21 AM  
Blogger PantyRaider said...

AlDavis also drafted the first Hispanic "QB" in the NFL who later became "HC"....Flores....and later became the first Hispanic "GM" in the NFL hired by da "SeaChickens"....

So...I gues MrDavis can reconize tallent....but it takes forever for the rest of the sports world to reconize his accomplishments.....But then again....he is in the "Hall-o-Fame" is he not....so...in retrospect....are any of the other great owners in the "H-o-L".....

Can you see "JJ" in da Hall....for what....firing a "HC" who built a great team and got him to the "SB"....(the other "JJ")....was that a great decission or what....and then he hired that dork from "OkyHoma"....not to mention the long line of poor coaches who have followed....Except for the "Tuna"....where the hell is his "Greatness"....and even the "Tuna" has failed under "JJ"s headship....and they said AlDavis was disruptive....Ha!

PantyRaider....Discusted!!!!

11:24 AM  
Blogger PantyRaider said...

Copy/Posted from an artical about "JJ"....

Jones was named Enemy No. 1 (least favorite sports personality) by Sports Illustrated

So what the hell has he done to change that history.....

But alas....now that same "SI" puts him above MrDavis as a "GraetOwner"....

PantyRaider....ItComesBackToBiteYourAss!!!

11:32 AM  
Blogger Doobie said...

Great take, RT. Unfortunately, I think this all can be summed up in seven words.

Al Davis is not a media whore.

Unlike other owners who are quick to embrace the media spotlight, Al tends to keep to himself. Because of this, the media treats him like a dark, mysterious figure whose legacy is a person who menacingly prowls the sideline and encourages his team to beat the crap out of the other players. He's not seen in photo shoots selling ice cream like Mark Cuban and he doesn't own "America's Team"...a team who's coverage is so ridiculously positive that as soon as their undrafted backup QB had a few good games and started dating celebrities, the media was ready to elevate him to Joe Montana status.

Al Davis owns the team that has a history of intimidation and "dirty" play. A style that he himself molded and permitted to flourish. This is the guy who wouldn't throw a parade for his team that finished second in Super Bowl XXXVII. If anyone deserves the Darth Vader analogy, it's Al Davis himself. And I think he loves it.

12:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No NFL owner has made the impact that Al Davis has had on the history of the league. Perhaps you could argue that Halas and Brown compare favorably to Davis, but I think if you look at the league's history close enough, they will pale in comparison to what Davis has done. I think only when Davis is long gone will he get the amount of credit he deserves in influencing the game.

One of many examples is the signing of malcontent players. Davis used to be the only one doing it. Now, everyone does it, even the Patriots. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

People may not like Davis, but they cannot deny his impact on the game of pro football. Screw the critics.

12:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i would love to see Cuban hng out with Al and have Al teach some him things about football. Also, if he brought in the right football guys such as Pat Kirwan and possibly his side kick (T-Rock) both SC guys who know Kiffin well, It could be a marriage made in heaven. I'm sure he would get a stadium built.

2:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

as much as i bash al for all his frivolous lawsuits, i do admit that he does deserve to be up there as far as ownership rankings and accomplishments in the NFL. yeah, i too cannot believe synder and jones got props and al did not. as greg papa would say INCREDIBLE!

here's an article from the yahoos at yahoo sports;
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?
slug=jc-afcquestions072007&prov=
yhoo&type=lgns

"For those of you old enough to remember the last time the Raiders were truly great (sorry, the Rich Gannon years don't qualify)"

the other day (i think it was last week) i saw a different article on yahoo sports where each of their writers ranked the raiders at or near the bottom for the 2007 season.

anyway, enough of that negativism. mike bush signed. i see that he used to be a QB so will we see some 1/2back option passes in the near future? i hope they bring this kid along very slowly. i just think of how i'll cringe the first few times he's tackled until he proves his leg is 100%.

4:18 PM  
Blogger BlandaRocked said...

Check out Raidernews. There's a new post by that bit... um, Nancy Gay.

According to her, True was released because Kif is so insecure about his age that he's going to fire everyone over the age of 32. Also, she says, don't expect to see JRuss on the field - Davis won't sign him.

Fact is, I've never known Al to have trouble signing anybody.

4:59 PM  
Blogger PantyRaider said...

BlandaRocked:

If some "Bit" is compleatly stupid and un-popular and she wants to be listend to what can she do.....write crap that is far from the truth to get attention so she can gain popularity at the expense of another....

Point is...Why would we read her "Crap"....She is just a "Clone" who can't fill a jock....I even bet her panties stink!!!!!

Scorpio:

Bush is going to be a "monster"....I can't wait to see him play....the closest thing we could come to the reincarnation of "Bo"....But I agree...."LightDuty" while he tests his limb abd than un-leash the "Monster"....Maybe against the "Donk-0"s so they have NO time to prepair for it.....

AlDavis:
He is the one who instituted an agressive "D" which disrups the "O"....a relentless attack at the "QB" with "HardHitting" Intimidation of the "WR"s and "TE" and "HeadHunting" the "RB"....now everyone wants to do it but they don't want to give any credit to the the one who invented it....1961....CoachDavis.....

It is stated in NFL films presentation of the "History-o-da-Raiders".....So they have to give credit but are in denile most of the time....just like Thiesman-n-Jeworsky....2 "QB" who took the punishment in the "SB"s and now live to bash the Raiders Brutality....

Did you know that the coach for "Pitts" tried to sue the Raiders for playing too rough in 1976 after getting their asses kicked twice that year and missing the "SB".....He was crying...."They beat us up"...."It's Unfair"...."Those Dirty Raiders"....

PantyRaider.......LovenIt!!!!!

6:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bing, a fourth-round pick in 2006, missed all of last season with a neck injury. He was moved from linebacker back to his college position of safety during offseason workouts but was still cut loose.

FREAKIN' A!!!!! this is what i was afraid of when they signed darius! an injury prone, one dimensional older vet taking up roster space of one of the young guys. now we'll NEVER see what contributions darnell bing could have brought to this team! so much for the usc connection. mike williams watch out. you're next!

6:10 PM  
Blogger PantyRaider said...

Darnell Bing -n- Cooper are released....wow....did not expect the "Bing" thing....I see this as giving these players an opertunity to land with another team....release them early rather than late in the Pre-Season....but maybe if Bing does not sign he will be back on the practice squad...for less money...

Now I understand...."Kiff" released him because he is Olded????

PantyRaider....Surprised!!!!!

6:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh i don't know, Lew Wolfe wasn't an insider........ just a frat brother of the commissioner.

-kvn

7:21 PM  
Blogger Stick'em said...

Blanda ~

Kiffin is going to $h!tcan everyone 32 or older? Ya don't say...

Guess they are going to give this guy a bus ticket in two weeks.

He'll be 32 then. Seems a shame to have signed 'em for millions only to keep 'em for a month...

And to think, Kiffin cut Cooper and Bing before realizing that he'll have to axe Darius before the start of the season. We'll have no one behind Huff and Stu then...

So the Raiders have now become the NFL version of Menudo (according to Gay).

7:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

cooper i could care less about. carr is more valuable than him. he can actually play some d. see: 100+ yard touchdown pick vs. pittsburgh last year.

just because they do sign these guys (darius) doesn't mean they'll make the final roster. what's the name of that vet linebacker they signed a few years ago, took a look at him in camp and ended up letting him go? perhaps this is the same deal. i hope bing will end up on OUR practice squad but he won't. for less money? he was a 4th round pick. how much less can he get than being a 4th round pick? how could this happen? he was one of the top 2 safety prospects in the nation in last years draft!

what's kiffin thinking here? any ideas anyone?

9:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah it sucks that Coop messed up, and Bing didn't live up to expectations, and Treu is gone.
But I think the biggest issue in Raider Land today should be the contract status of Burgess. I don't see any articles on the situation, and nobody is talking except Adam Schefter. He reported that Burgess is super pissed because when he asked for a new contract around March the Raiders said they'd get back to him soon and they blew him off. Then he had to call in like in June and they told him "it 'aint gonna' happen". WTF?

Maybe more media coverage isn't a good thing and it's for the better, just knowing how Al dispises it. But we fans aren't even talking about it. I for one am very concerned about a holdout, and a possible trade. We did draft Moses around the time the Raiders were supposed to get back with Burgess so for that reason I suspect the Raiders consider Burgess expendable now that they have Moses & Huntley, and Burgess is possibly trade bait if he doesn't go out and put up 16 sacks for peanuts.

You can't argue numbers. Burgess is a freak and our D would not have been what it was without that kind of threat on the edge. Nnamdi & Fabe wouldn't have as many opportunities to make so many plays. I don't care if Moses is good or not because he's not proven and therfore has to be considered a step down until he can come up with a 16 sack season or two. I'm getting pissed, you keep a guy like Burgess if at all possible and he is worth a lot more than what he's getting.

I posted this over at Jerry McDonald's blog and I cut & pasted because I'm lazy, so if anyone here mentioned Burgess then 'my bad'.

Psycho

7:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just heard on the news that Russell just signed!

Do you guys know if that is indeed the case?

raiderdecoachella

7:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i'm not seeing anything yet on russell signing. last i heard, they were trying to get a deal before camp, and russell's agent came out yesterday saying that it was going to take a lot longer than they had thought.

7:45 AM  
Blogger BlandaRocked said...

The decision to release Bing, to me, is obvious. Bing is slow, and he's a little oversized for a DB. He's a hard hitter. But the only place he fits in is SS. But the Raiders don't employ a SS anymore, just a left and a right S. That means that Bing has to do more than supply run support, he has to be good in coverage.

Bing will catch on with some team looking for a hard hitting SS.

8:01 AM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

Bing's departure just means that we can draft more DBs!

8:52 AM  
Blogger nyraider said...

Releasing Cooper seems obvious given his high salary (for a ST’er) and recent suspension, however, releasing Bing is somewhat of a mystery to me. I think a lot of us envisioned him as possibly providing some run support at the SS position and Huff moving to FS. I don’t believe it’s fair to say Bing had been given any opportunity to prove himself, since he was on injured-reserved his rookie year. Nor is it fair to criticize him for being "oversized," because wasn’t it the Raiders (Shell and company) that asked him to bulk-up and play LB??

All I can say is, in Lane I trust.

9:13 AM  
Blogger BlandaRocked said...

NYRaider:

It's true that they asked Bing to gain some weight, but he was in the low 240s when they drafted him. And again, he's slow. While he could provide excelent support against the run, it appears as though Kiff is looking for Ss who are both fast and hard hitting.

Several days ago, the Raiders listed all of their DBs. There were way too many for each to get a fair number of reps in camp. With Kiff saying that all positions are open for competition, some positions must be reduced in the number of competitors for that competition to occur. I also wouldn't be surprised to see some WR cuts come very early in camp.

10:13 AM  
Blogger nyraider said...

BR, what you're saying certainly makes sense. I just hope it's the right move.

6:14 PM  
Blogger Stick'em said...

In case you had any doubt, "Sports Illustrated writer Michael Silver was banned from Oakland training camp for writing critical articles about the organization."

Bill Chackhes says so.

Any friend of Bill is a friend of mine!

6:34 AM  

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