Even here at BrickintheBox we can’t ignore the biggest NFL story of this off-season. Some sights will call this the biggest ever, but we seem to remember something to do with dogs, and another thing where players gained free agency, and I fail to see how an aging Diva overshadows those items, but none the less. We have decided to go with the time honored tradition of naming winners and losers long before the smoke clears and an actual game is played.
Brett Favre – Loser
Face it, Favre was going to get the loser tag no mater how this played out. His constant cries for attention grate on this blogger, he has gone from Green Bay Icon to a Diva the likes of T.O. But what cements his place in the loser category is where he ended up, the New York Jets.
Favre has gone from one of the youngest, best built teams, to the Jets. The Jets reek of desperation, and the Farve trade is just the latest lame attempt at regaining relevance. The Jets have watched the team they share the NY market, and a stadium, with win three Super Bowls since the Jets last appearance, they have failed at an attempt to get their own stadium, they have become an afterthought in their own division and their own city.
This off-season has seen them overpay for questionable talent in a manner that only Al Davis could truly appreciate. They have a coach, that thanks to busting his ex-employer in the spygate scandal, knows that once his welcome runs out here he most likely will be a pariah in NFL circles. They have a GM that knows his fate is tied to the pariah coach. This team must win at all costs, or these gentlemen will be on the streets.
It all adds up to an unfavorable situation for any player, let alone Favre, and then you look at the two offenses, and you have to wonder why Favre would accept a trade to the Jets.
Offensive Line – A quick look at the two teams and the Jets definitely have more name recognition across the line, but does that make them better? I say no. In fact the only starter on the Jets who I would take over the Green Bay starter would be Nick Mangold, who is one of the best young centers the league has seen in years. Ferguson is unsteady and could still go either way. Faneca was brought in with much fanfare, but those who call him the best guard in the league stopped watching the game in 2005. And Woody at right tackle, the Jets might have been better served to sign a NY subway turnstile.
While I wouldn’t put any of the Green Bay interior lineman above the Jets interior players, there is not as much of a difference as name recognition would lead you to believe, and Green Bay holds a decided advantage at tackle.
Wide Receivers – This isn’t even close. Would you take Driver, Jennings and Jones or Coles, Cotchery and ummm….yeah you get the point. Lets not forget the tight ends here either, Green Bay has Donald Lee, the Jets counter with Chris Baker, Dustin Keller (a.k.a. the 800th TE drafted in the 1st round by the Jets in the last 15 years) and Bubba Franks, well at least Favre will have someone to go to dinner with.
Running Back – Well here we go again. The Jets have Thomas Jones who proved he has little left in the tank last season, and Washington who is a great kick returner. The Packers have Ryan Grant, who may well be a one hit wonder, but behind him are a couple solid guys in Jackson and Morency.
Add it all up and Favre is going to go from National Media darling, to New York media punching bag as quickly as Lindsey Lohan downs a bottle of Dom. Mr. Attention Whore is going to get loads of print, but somehow I doubt he is going to want to read it. But at least Mrs. Attention Whore is getting a bigger market to parade herself on; maybe she can get a reality show out of the deal.
Green Bay Packers – Losers
They can’t like the way this all transpired, and this story isn’t going away anytime soon. Ted Thompson will be followed around by this Brett Favre trade for the rest of his career, hell his life. The only way that the Packers come out on top in this one is if Aaron Rogers leads them to a Super Bowl win this year. So in other words, they are losers also.
N.Y. Jets – Losers
Yeah Favre is an upgrade over Pennington, but they are the Jets, you can’t spell Jets without the letters L, O, S, E, R, S.
Tampa Bay – Winners
Sure they are going to have to deal with a disgruntled Jeff Garcia, but I see no way that Favre and Gruden could co-exist and succeed. Gruden is too controlling and Favre too much of a Gunslinger, that’s oil and water right there. The Bucs are better served to stand pat and try to win a week NFC South, where their only real competition is the Jeckle and Hyde franchise in New Orleans, than bring in Favre and his media circus.
And Finally, IMO, the biggest losers here are the fans. Not just those in Green Bay and New York, but all NFL fans. This story isn’t going anywhere. Every week will be a compare and contract of Rogers. We have weeks of preseason left for interviews with Farve, Pennington, the coaches and GM’s. This just isn’t going to end.
God, I hate when Attention Whores get what they want.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Bringing The Nasty Back
Attitude, if there is one thing that I came away with from my time playing and coaching the Oline, it is that you have to have a certain attitude to be successful. That attitude is one that is hard to develop; the player must come into it on their own. They must believe that they cannot be stopped, they must have a firm grasp of what they are doing and go into each play with the confidence that what they are about to do is right and that they have the ability to get it done.
It wasn’t until my playing days were over and I was coaching that I latched onto this belief. It was as I worked with high school lineman and saw guys with all the physical advantages play at a lower level than the guys who had that elusive attitude.
Of the time that I played, I only really had that attitude for a couple seasons. Sure I had it as a JV, but I was going against lesser physical talents. Getting bumped up to Varsity I at first looked at myself as a back up. If that is your attitude you will never get to that next level. Sometime during my junior of high school year it clicked for me. I didn’t care who you put in front of me; I was going to beat them. This attitude leads to a nasty disposition on the field. A failure of any type enraged me; I had that nastiness that draft nicks expound on when trying to describe an offensive lineman.
The thing about this attitude is that it can be fleeting. I went into college with this attitude. I took personal offense to a list of key freshman omitting my name, and listing another player at my position. Unfortunately health problems kicked in (try showing up for camp a week removed from food poisoning and play center at 205). My reduced weight, and poor attempts to put it back on lead to escalating injuries, the loss of that attitude, and eventually the end of my playing days.
It was in the subsequent year, working with high school players that I discovered the importance of attitude. I would call it confidence, but it is something more. There were many times that I had a player who wasn’t confident in what they were doing, but the attitude was “I will get it done anyway”. A coach can only do so much to develop the attitude; you can line the player up against an inferior player only so many times. You can coddle, or yell in an attempt to find a way through to the player. But in the end something must click inside the players, they must find that next level on their own.
So what is this diatribe doing on a blog about the Raiders? I never played for them, hell I was never at the level of any of these guys. It is because based on reports out of camp, it seems like a player that many have affixed the bust label seems to have rediscovered this attitude.
Jake Grove was called “Nasty Jake” during his time at VT. With a family member at Tech, I took a special interest in their team. Grove was a pleasure to watch as a guy who focuses on line play when he watches the game. I was genuinely excited when the Raiders selected him in the 2nd round. Tops on my Christmas list that year was an authentic Grove jersey.
Grove failed to earn the starting center spot his rookie year, but to do so is rare in the NFL, the center is the brain of the offensive line, he must have a full grasp of everything the offense is doing and what the defense will try and counter with. Maintaining a veteran presence at the position for a team with playoff aspirations came as no surprise, even if it was the questionable skills of Adam True.
Since that rookie year, Grove has struggled with injuries; he has played in a different system almost every year (this year being the 1st where he will have the same coach and system in consecutive years). When I watched Grove in the limited time that he was on the field, the nastiness was gone. He made the occasional good play, when I graded players he regularly did well, but there was a major difference between watching him and the elite, the attitude was gone.
Last season the Raiders did have a center with the attitude, Newberry however was all attitude, his body was failing, but based on camp reports, it seems some of that attitude may have rubbed off on Grove.
Grove did not enter this year’s camp as the anointed starter, despite the loss of Newberry. Veteran John Wade was brought in as competition for Grove and Chris Morris. If you had to assign a favorite it would be Wade based on health and body of work. But don’t try telling that to Grove this year. When asked about the center competition Grove responded:
"I plan on starting, we'll see what happens. But I feel if I can go out there and do what I can do, it won't be a problem."
Those 1st four words stood right out to me. He isn’t planning on competing, he is planning on starting, in his mind he is the best out there, whether or not it translates onto the field, he seems to have rediscovered that attitude. Camp reports seem to back this up, as Grove has reportedly grabbed the starting spot by the balls. The 1st game depth chart still lists both Grove and Wade as starter, but if those at practice are to be believed, the competition is essentially over.
Friday, we the fans get our 1st chance to see if this attitude translates into production on the field. The majority of the Raider Nation’s eyes will be firmly focused on Russell, McFadden and Harris as they attempt to get some feel for if this season will mark the 1st step in a return to respectability. However mine will be on #64 (at least on the 1st viewing) the attitude, or lack thereof, won’t be determined by the wins and losses on individual plays, it will be determined by the follow-through on the wins, and the reaction to the losses. When you have the attitude, the nastiness, the wins are dominating, and the losses result in an obvious reaction and a far different result the next time. With a man head up on Grove with the Niner’s 3-4, this game will be a great gauge of where Grove’s attitude truly lies.
It wasn’t until my playing days were over and I was coaching that I latched onto this belief. It was as I worked with high school lineman and saw guys with all the physical advantages play at a lower level than the guys who had that elusive attitude.
Of the time that I played, I only really had that attitude for a couple seasons. Sure I had it as a JV, but I was going against lesser physical talents. Getting bumped up to Varsity I at first looked at myself as a back up. If that is your attitude you will never get to that next level. Sometime during my junior of high school year it clicked for me. I didn’t care who you put in front of me; I was going to beat them. This attitude leads to a nasty disposition on the field. A failure of any type enraged me; I had that nastiness that draft nicks expound on when trying to describe an offensive lineman.
The thing about this attitude is that it can be fleeting. I went into college with this attitude. I took personal offense to a list of key freshman omitting my name, and listing another player at my position. Unfortunately health problems kicked in (try showing up for camp a week removed from food poisoning and play center at 205). My reduced weight, and poor attempts to put it back on lead to escalating injuries, the loss of that attitude, and eventually the end of my playing days.
It was in the subsequent year, working with high school players that I discovered the importance of attitude. I would call it confidence, but it is something more. There were many times that I had a player who wasn’t confident in what they were doing, but the attitude was “I will get it done anyway”. A coach can only do so much to develop the attitude; you can line the player up against an inferior player only so many times. You can coddle, or yell in an attempt to find a way through to the player. But in the end something must click inside the players, they must find that next level on their own.
So what is this diatribe doing on a blog about the Raiders? I never played for them, hell I was never at the level of any of these guys. It is because based on reports out of camp, it seems like a player that many have affixed the bust label seems to have rediscovered this attitude.
Jake Grove was called “Nasty Jake” during his time at VT. With a family member at Tech, I took a special interest in their team. Grove was a pleasure to watch as a guy who focuses on line play when he watches the game. I was genuinely excited when the Raiders selected him in the 2nd round. Tops on my Christmas list that year was an authentic Grove jersey.
Grove failed to earn the starting center spot his rookie year, but to do so is rare in the NFL, the center is the brain of the offensive line, he must have a full grasp of everything the offense is doing and what the defense will try and counter with. Maintaining a veteran presence at the position for a team with playoff aspirations came as no surprise, even if it was the questionable skills of Adam True.
Since that rookie year, Grove has struggled with injuries; he has played in a different system almost every year (this year being the 1st where he will have the same coach and system in consecutive years). When I watched Grove in the limited time that he was on the field, the nastiness was gone. He made the occasional good play, when I graded players he regularly did well, but there was a major difference between watching him and the elite, the attitude was gone.
Last season the Raiders did have a center with the attitude, Newberry however was all attitude, his body was failing, but based on camp reports, it seems some of that attitude may have rubbed off on Grove.
Grove did not enter this year’s camp as the anointed starter, despite the loss of Newberry. Veteran John Wade was brought in as competition for Grove and Chris Morris. If you had to assign a favorite it would be Wade based on health and body of work. But don’t try telling that to Grove this year. When asked about the center competition Grove responded:
"I plan on starting, we'll see what happens. But I feel if I can go out there and do what I can do, it won't be a problem."
Those 1st four words stood right out to me. He isn’t planning on competing, he is planning on starting, in his mind he is the best out there, whether or not it translates onto the field, he seems to have rediscovered that attitude. Camp reports seem to back this up, as Grove has reportedly grabbed the starting spot by the balls. The 1st game depth chart still lists both Grove and Wade as starter, but if those at practice are to be believed, the competition is essentially over.
Friday, we the fans get our 1st chance to see if this attitude translates into production on the field. The majority of the Raider Nation’s eyes will be firmly focused on Russell, McFadden and Harris as they attempt to get some feel for if this season will mark the 1st step in a return to respectability. However mine will be on #64 (at least on the 1st viewing) the attitude, or lack thereof, won’t be determined by the wins and losses on individual plays, it will be determined by the follow-through on the wins, and the reaction to the losses. When you have the attitude, the nastiness, the wins are dominating, and the losses result in an obvious reaction and a far different result the next time. With a man head up on Grove with the Niner’s 3-4, this game will be a great gauge of where Grove’s attitude truly lies.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Losing the Love - the Javon Walker Story, IMO
Lamont is gone, Nnamdi is in camp, Lane seems to have the ear of the troops, I was starting to think that the Big-Top was too busy in Green Bay to set up a 3rd ring in Oakland. Well I was proven wrong Saturday.
Javon Walker had to be talked out of retiring earlier in the week. Here comes the fucking clown car.
I wasn’t a fan of the Walker signing. The guy was coming off of a serious injury, and had reportedly been having trouble getting his head back in the game since witnessing Darrent Williams murder. Walker was a huge risk for the Raiders, and they compounded that risk by handing him a huge contract, filled with guaranteed money.
Since OTA’s, there has been little positive news coming out of practices on the Javon front. According to reports and Lane, he showed up out of shape, and showed little of the burst that had gotten him big contracts in Denver and Oakland.
Then the whole Vegas incident hit the wires, complete with unbelievable stories of being abducted from hotel rooms and spraying of Champagne.
Honestly at that point I was ready to cut bait with Javon. He was partying like a rap-star instead of getting ready for an OTA that week, or attending an event in William’s honor. He was once again making the bad decisions that he is becoming known for.
Lucky to be alive, and miraculously not suffering from any career threatening injury, Javon showed up to training camp ready to compete…physically. And here is where I believe the real issue lies. Javon has all the physical tools that he needs to be a dangerous WR for the Raiders. What he lacks is the mental fortitude to be an NFL receiver.
The report that Javon wanted to retire casts many of his actions since the days in Green Bay in a new light for me. The truth is, many NFL players don’t play for love of the game. I know that is a hard pill to swallow for NFL fans, many of whom would give up their right nut to suit up one day in the NFL. Now the lack of love is usually attributed to the big-nasties on the line, who have been pushed into football since child hood since they were bigger and stronger than their classmates. But limited the pool of players who play for money only to guys over 300 lbs is foolish.
Javon put up 1 big season in Green Bay and then looked for his payday. NFL careers are short, so I really don’t fault him for wanting to get paid, but the way he went about it, publicly calling out the Packers struck me as wrong. The fact that his teammates (Brett Favre in particular) came out on the side of management was confounding. Players rarely speak out against fellow players, unless there is something more there.
After his short hold out, Javon lasted 1 game before going down with injury. An off-season trade to Denver seemed to give Javon the fresh start he needed. And he did produce that 1st season in Denver. Then things turned sour in Denver also. Walker held Williams in his arms as he died. He returned to Denver and was no longer the clear cut #1, a young receiver was pushing him for that featured role. Then the injury bug returned.
I believe that Walker has lost whatever love for the game he ever had. He has gotten a bad taste of the business side in Green Bay; his teammates have turned on him in two separate cities. He has twice seen the bad side of what the NFL spotlight has to offer.
Who’s love wouldn’t be tested by what Javon has been through? Would you still love the game if it had cost you as much as it has cost Javon?
I’m not trying to start a pity party for Walker, I still say that one needs to have the wherewithal not to put themselves into a strangers car in Vegas, that his actions that night were inviting trouble. His decision-making has been questionable since the Green Bay days. But if you look at his decisions to date, is it that hard to think that he has placed the blame for what has happened to him on football? Could he think that his success in the game has been more curse than blessing?
That is why I question the Raiders desire to talk him out of retirement. I don’t see this year’s Raiders being the kind of team that can help Walker rise above and rediscover a love for the game. The Raiders have too many soap opera storylines floating around, to give Walker the support he needs. Walker needs some time as a role player, where little would be expected of him. He needs his Plunket year(s) on the bench where the mistakes of the past can fade. Right now the weight of the Raiders expectations for the passing game rest squarely on Walker’s shoulders, I believe he will crumble under the pressure at this point, hell he already is.
I have developed some sort of sympathy for Walker over the last few weeks. Something I didn’t expect from my cynical ass. But even with my newfound sympathy, I see no reason for the Raiders not to grant Walker his wish, and let him walk away from the game. There is too much money tied up in Walker’s contract for a player who has no love for the game. A Larry Brown type signing is the last thing this team needs as it struggles to return to respectability.
Al, If I am right about his mental state, Javon will come to you again this off-season with his desire to leave, I urge you to accept. Cut your losses. I know you have resurrected many a player’s career. But those players had the fire; they just lacked the proper outlet. Walker has the outlet, but no fire, and that fire is hard to reignite when you have nothing to play for. Walker has the money, he has the fame, and the NFL has nothing to offer him. There is no spark for Javon in Oakland as things stand.
Javon Walker had to be talked out of retiring earlier in the week. Here comes the fucking clown car.
I wasn’t a fan of the Walker signing. The guy was coming off of a serious injury, and had reportedly been having trouble getting his head back in the game since witnessing Darrent Williams murder. Walker was a huge risk for the Raiders, and they compounded that risk by handing him a huge contract, filled with guaranteed money.
Since OTA’s, there has been little positive news coming out of practices on the Javon front. According to reports and Lane, he showed up out of shape, and showed little of the burst that had gotten him big contracts in Denver and Oakland.
Then the whole Vegas incident hit the wires, complete with unbelievable stories of being abducted from hotel rooms and spraying of Champagne.
Honestly at that point I was ready to cut bait with Javon. He was partying like a rap-star instead of getting ready for an OTA that week, or attending an event in William’s honor. He was once again making the bad decisions that he is becoming known for.
Lucky to be alive, and miraculously not suffering from any career threatening injury, Javon showed up to training camp ready to compete…physically. And here is where I believe the real issue lies. Javon has all the physical tools that he needs to be a dangerous WR for the Raiders. What he lacks is the mental fortitude to be an NFL receiver.
The report that Javon wanted to retire casts many of his actions since the days in Green Bay in a new light for me. The truth is, many NFL players don’t play for love of the game. I know that is a hard pill to swallow for NFL fans, many of whom would give up their right nut to suit up one day in the NFL. Now the lack of love is usually attributed to the big-nasties on the line, who have been pushed into football since child hood since they were bigger and stronger than their classmates. But limited the pool of players who play for money only to guys over 300 lbs is foolish.
Javon put up 1 big season in Green Bay and then looked for his payday. NFL careers are short, so I really don’t fault him for wanting to get paid, but the way he went about it, publicly calling out the Packers struck me as wrong. The fact that his teammates (Brett Favre in particular) came out on the side of management was confounding. Players rarely speak out against fellow players, unless there is something more there.
After his short hold out, Javon lasted 1 game before going down with injury. An off-season trade to Denver seemed to give Javon the fresh start he needed. And he did produce that 1st season in Denver. Then things turned sour in Denver also. Walker held Williams in his arms as he died. He returned to Denver and was no longer the clear cut #1, a young receiver was pushing him for that featured role. Then the injury bug returned.
I believe that Walker has lost whatever love for the game he ever had. He has gotten a bad taste of the business side in Green Bay; his teammates have turned on him in two separate cities. He has twice seen the bad side of what the NFL spotlight has to offer.
Who’s love wouldn’t be tested by what Javon has been through? Would you still love the game if it had cost you as much as it has cost Javon?
I’m not trying to start a pity party for Walker, I still say that one needs to have the wherewithal not to put themselves into a strangers car in Vegas, that his actions that night were inviting trouble. His decision-making has been questionable since the Green Bay days. But if you look at his decisions to date, is it that hard to think that he has placed the blame for what has happened to him on football? Could he think that his success in the game has been more curse than blessing?
That is why I question the Raiders desire to talk him out of retirement. I don’t see this year’s Raiders being the kind of team that can help Walker rise above and rediscover a love for the game. The Raiders have too many soap opera storylines floating around, to give Walker the support he needs. Walker needs some time as a role player, where little would be expected of him. He needs his Plunket year(s) on the bench where the mistakes of the past can fade. Right now the weight of the Raiders expectations for the passing game rest squarely on Walker’s shoulders, I believe he will crumble under the pressure at this point, hell he already is.
I have developed some sort of sympathy for Walker over the last few weeks. Something I didn’t expect from my cynical ass. But even with my newfound sympathy, I see no reason for the Raiders not to grant Walker his wish, and let him walk away from the game. There is too much money tied up in Walker’s contract for a player who has no love for the game. A Larry Brown type signing is the last thing this team needs as it struggles to return to respectability.
Al, If I am right about his mental state, Javon will come to you again this off-season with his desire to leave, I urge you to accept. Cut your losses. I know you have resurrected many a player’s career. But those players had the fire; they just lacked the proper outlet. Walker has the outlet, but no fire, and that fire is hard to reignite when you have nothing to play for. Walker has the money, he has the fame, and the NFL has nothing to offer him. There is no spark for Javon in Oakland as things stand.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Brett Favre's True Legacy
Well what do you know, after seeing how well it has worked for Favre and Strahan, somebody else has decided to jump on the “this might be my last season, love me” bandwagon.
Welcome to full time attention whore status Tony Gonzalez.
Here is the best part, Tony is 95% sure he will return next year, but would most likely retire if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl….HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Holy Shit, Tony no need to go attention whore to increase your visibility to better your chances of a media spot when you retire. Your future clearly is in comedy. By your estimation the Chiefs have a 5% chance of winning the Super Bowl. How many concussions have you had? Because that is pure comedy gold right there.
Tony, I know you are a football player, and math may not be your strong suite. But if all things were equal, your team would only have a 1 in 32 shot at the Super Bowl, that’s 3%. And all things aren’t equal, your team sucks, Raiders fans look at the Chiefs and go “At least we aren’t them”. Hell Lions fans have Matt Millen running the show, and they have more reason for optimism.
Nope, there is one thing that is clear here; Tony has no intention of retiring after this season. Tony has an eye on retiring in 2 or 3 years, and is trying to increase his visibility in places other than Kansas City. Tony has seen what success Strahan had with toying with retirement, Jason Taylor had as a dancer who then threatened to retire, and the permanent circus Tent erected by the number 1 retirement waffler, Brett Favre. They have all elevated their status from Pro Bowl footballer, to solid B-list celebrity by having their names constantly in the headlines.
So welcome to Attention Whore status Mr. Gonzalez, lets hope your future cries for attention are as comical as the Chiefs having a 5% shot of winning the Super Bowl this season, my sides are still hurting from that one.
Welcome to full time attention whore status Tony Gonzalez.
Here is the best part, Tony is 95% sure he will return next year, but would most likely retire if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl….HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Holy Shit, Tony no need to go attention whore to increase your visibility to better your chances of a media spot when you retire. Your future clearly is in comedy. By your estimation the Chiefs have a 5% chance of winning the Super Bowl. How many concussions have you had? Because that is pure comedy gold right there.
Tony, I know you are a football player, and math may not be your strong suite. But if all things were equal, your team would only have a 1 in 32 shot at the Super Bowl, that’s 3%. And all things aren’t equal, your team sucks, Raiders fans look at the Chiefs and go “At least we aren’t them”. Hell Lions fans have Matt Millen running the show, and they have more reason for optimism.
Nope, there is one thing that is clear here; Tony has no intention of retiring after this season. Tony has an eye on retiring in 2 or 3 years, and is trying to increase his visibility in places other than Kansas City. Tony has seen what success Strahan had with toying with retirement, Jason Taylor had as a dancer who then threatened to retire, and the permanent circus Tent erected by the number 1 retirement waffler, Brett Favre. They have all elevated their status from Pro Bowl footballer, to solid B-list celebrity by having their names constantly in the headlines.
So welcome to Attention Whore status Mr. Gonzalez, lets hope your future cries for attention are as comical as the Chiefs having a 5% shot of winning the Super Bowl this season, my sides are still hurting from that one.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Camp Reports – Opiate of the Football loving masses
The reports are starting to filter out of Raiders camp; the NFL’s slow season (the NFL is too big to truly have an Off or dead season) is truly over. As fans we have been salivating for Football since February, and Raider football since, well 2003. So every little drop of information is scrutinized and picked over in a desperate attempt to gain some insight on the status of our team. We are truly addicts looking for a fix.
Day 1 of camp gave us a laundry list of tasty nuggets. Tommy Kelly and Derrick Burgess were unblockable, at LT Harris was a turnstile, and when someone was foolish enough to throw at Nnamdi, he picked the ball for 6.
This is all well and good (except of course for Harris) but we need to remember, this is practice. Often the offense and defense knows what the other guy is going to try on them. A D-lineman often knows that the play the offense is going to run is a pass, and abandons any semblance of run responsibility. D backs look like heroes as they go against WR’s they see every day, and know inside and out. Running backs look like future hall of famers, as the D is instructed not to take them to the ground, so they can dance like Jason Taylor.
One need only think back to last year, when Warren Sapp was revitalized due to his weight loss, Donovan Darius was going to bring back the fear factor, and the offense, well we knew the offense would suck.
Every season there is some incredible hype that comes out of training camp. Randy Moss is ready for his best season ever, and Kerry Collins is the best QB he has ever played with. This is Jerry Porter’s breakout year. Kenny Shed is ready to give the Raiders a legit #2 across from Tim Brown.
So enjoy the Hype and Hyperbole, we need it, otherwise what would we read about, Baseball? Fuck that shit. But take it all in with a grain of salt. Every year there will be another great training camp story, the coaches will lavish praise on a player, and the media will eat it up and regurgitate it to the masses. And the fans will get wet with anticipation of their new star. I won’t claim to be above it all, I’m sure I’ll go overboard reading into some report or another, but hey I need my fix too.
But if you find yourself getting hyped up over a player who has reportedly put it all together this season, or some undrafted rookie who is hauling in rainbow after rainbow for huge gains, just remember 1 name:
Quentin Moses
The unblockable, unquestioned steal of the draft from last years training camp. In the end these reports mean next to nothing when the players take the field in September. Now where the hell is Jerry Mac’s next Raider blog entry, I need my fix.
Day 1 of camp gave us a laundry list of tasty nuggets. Tommy Kelly and Derrick Burgess were unblockable, at LT Harris was a turnstile, and when someone was foolish enough to throw at Nnamdi, he picked the ball for 6.
This is all well and good (except of course for Harris) but we need to remember, this is practice. Often the offense and defense knows what the other guy is going to try on them. A D-lineman often knows that the play the offense is going to run is a pass, and abandons any semblance of run responsibility. D backs look like heroes as they go against WR’s they see every day, and know inside and out. Running backs look like future hall of famers, as the D is instructed not to take them to the ground, so they can dance like Jason Taylor.
One need only think back to last year, when Warren Sapp was revitalized due to his weight loss, Donovan Darius was going to bring back the fear factor, and the offense, well we knew the offense would suck.
Every season there is some incredible hype that comes out of training camp. Randy Moss is ready for his best season ever, and Kerry Collins is the best QB he has ever played with. This is Jerry Porter’s breakout year. Kenny Shed is ready to give the Raiders a legit #2 across from Tim Brown.
So enjoy the Hype and Hyperbole, we need it, otherwise what would we read about, Baseball? Fuck that shit. But take it all in with a grain of salt. Every year there will be another great training camp story, the coaches will lavish praise on a player, and the media will eat it up and regurgitate it to the masses. And the fans will get wet with anticipation of their new star. I won’t claim to be above it all, I’m sure I’ll go overboard reading into some report or another, but hey I need my fix too.
But if you find yourself getting hyped up over a player who has reportedly put it all together this season, or some undrafted rookie who is hauling in rainbow after rainbow for huge gains, just remember 1 name:
Quentin Moses
The unblockable, unquestioned steal of the draft from last years training camp. In the end these reports mean next to nothing when the players take the field in September. Now where the hell is Jerry Mac’s next Raider blog entry, I need my fix.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Football Is Back MotherF-ers
Its here, its here, Football Season is upon us as training camps open up across the NFL. Preseason games start in a little more than a week with the Hall of Fame game. Sure the starters will barely touch the field, and I don’t even know what teams are playing this year, but its still real football, even if it is more watered down than my old man’s Vodka after my parents entrusted their teenage sons to watch the house for a weekend.
Of course the focus here will be the Raiders, and then will branch out to college football in another month. And we should finally have some real news to break down as Raiders camp opens today. No more talk of Javon Walkers inability to hit his mouth with Champagne, or get in the right car. Finally the players on the field will be the big story.
And Raiders camp has kicked off with a bang, as Nnamdi Asomugha showed up yesterday and signed his tender. No holdout to try and force the Raiders to agree to not franchise him next year. Nnamdi showed up and proved his commitment to this team. Lets hope the team does the right thing and rewards him next off-season. Nnamdi has saved the team from a huge distraction, there will be no protracted media circus, and the last thing this team needs is another circus.
Oh, wait… never mind. The Raiders have told Lamont Jordan not to show up to camp, So much for no media circus. Al is seemingly intent on setting up a big top in Napa. Honestly, what is the point? We all know Lamont won’t be a Raider this season. We all know he has little to no trade value. And most of us remember what happened with Steve McNair in Tennessee. The Raiders cannot prevent Lamont from showing up, no matter how much they ask. If Lamont wants to force their hand, all he has to do is show up. Then the Raiders have to cut or trade him, or risk being on the hook for his salary should he injure himself during camp. And if there is one thing Lamont has proved during his time in Oakland, he can find the trainers table with his eyes closed.
Fortunately the Lamont circus should be over by the end of the weekend. He will show up, and the team will trade or cut him. Oh, who am I kidding, this thing has the potential to go weeks with Al pulling the strings.
But at least between the constant questioning of every team member and water boy about their thoughts on Lamont, some actual reports of the players on the field should start leaking out tomorrow. We’ll get to hear about every rookie mistake JaMarcus makes, every block Harris misses, every coverage Hall blows.
That’s right, Raider Football is back Baby.
Of course the focus here will be the Raiders, and then will branch out to college football in another month. And we should finally have some real news to break down as Raiders camp opens today. No more talk of Javon Walkers inability to hit his mouth with Champagne, or get in the right car. Finally the players on the field will be the big story.
And Raiders camp has kicked off with a bang, as Nnamdi Asomugha showed up yesterday and signed his tender. No holdout to try and force the Raiders to agree to not franchise him next year. Nnamdi showed up and proved his commitment to this team. Lets hope the team does the right thing and rewards him next off-season. Nnamdi has saved the team from a huge distraction, there will be no protracted media circus, and the last thing this team needs is another circus.
Oh, wait… never mind. The Raiders have told Lamont Jordan not to show up to camp, So much for no media circus. Al is seemingly intent on setting up a big top in Napa. Honestly, what is the point? We all know Lamont won’t be a Raider this season. We all know he has little to no trade value. And most of us remember what happened with Steve McNair in Tennessee. The Raiders cannot prevent Lamont from showing up, no matter how much they ask. If Lamont wants to force their hand, all he has to do is show up. Then the Raiders have to cut or trade him, or risk being on the hook for his salary should he injure himself during camp. And if there is one thing Lamont has proved during his time in Oakland, he can find the trainers table with his eyes closed.
Fortunately the Lamont circus should be over by the end of the weekend. He will show up, and the team will trade or cut him. Oh, who am I kidding, this thing has the potential to go weeks with Al pulling the strings.
But at least between the constant questioning of every team member and water boy about their thoughts on Lamont, some actual reports of the players on the field should start leaking out tomorrow. We’ll get to hear about every rookie mistake JaMarcus makes, every block Harris misses, every coverage Hall blows.
That’s right, Raider Football is back Baby.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Procrastination costs the Raiders
It’s a sad day for Raider Nation. We are less than 3 hours from the deadline to sign Nnamdi Asomugha to a long-term deal under the franchise tag, and there seems to be no movement on getting the deal done.
Sure Al has pulled rabbits out of his hat before, and deals have gotten done when there was no prior indication that talks were even ongoing. Snatching Warren Sapp from Cincinnati immediately comes to mind. But in this case the silence has been deafening since the tag was applied months ago.
Al has played this game before. I need remind no one of the multiple years that the tag was applied to Charles Woodson. Al doesn’t redo contracts ahead of time, players are expected to play out their deal, and then Al will take care of them. Unless of course they under perform, then Al will look for them to redo their deal or cut them. Look, I understand this is how the NFL CBA is set up, and its Al’s prerogative to deal in this manner with his players. Unfortunately Al has started to get stuck in a trend of not being able to retain his best players and overpaying to keep those that stay.
Woodson, Coleman, Barton, Jackson, the names of players who should have stayed in Silver and Black, but ultimately went elsewhere and performed continues to grow. None of these players leaving came as a surprise, as they out performed their initial deals, and Al failed to restructure them with a year remaining. All were allowed to ultimately test the free agent waters, and found that they could go somewhere that would treat them better in the short term.
Had Al taken care of Nnamdi last off-season, after his breakout year, the deal most likely could have gotten done much cheaper than what the current market is demanding for a premier corner. Nnamdi had just one outstanding season under his belt. And the market was about 2 mil less a year than it is now.
Instead Al waited to see Nnamdi do it again, know that he could always just use the franchise tag if a deal didn’t get done. He didn’t count on Nnamdi actually becoming the premier shutdown corner in the league. Teams went so far in avoiding Nnamdi that this years ProFootball Prospectus had to adjust their requirements to even rank Nnamdi.
Then the off-season hit, and the corner market got even more insane. Guys who aren’t in Nnamdi’s league (Samuels, Hall) got deals that a year before would have been up for biggest ever. The price that Nnamdi could now command entered a league previously know only to quarterbacks with names like Brady and Manning. The worst part, Al helped drive this market into the stratosphere with his overpaying of the exceedingly average Daunte Hall.
With the time expiring on the window to sign franchise players long term, the Raiders are left with two choices next season. Franchise Nnamdi for a 2nd season (at a 20% increase over this years tender, or 11.36 million) or let him test the free agent market, where chances are he will go elsewhere.
And if the Raiders do franchise Asomugha for a 2nd year in a row, they are really compounding their problems going into the following season when Howard, Morrison, Routt, and Janowkowski will also be looking at free agency.
So enjoy what may well be the last season of Asomugha in Silver and Black Raider fans. Chances are if not next season, then the following, Nnamdi will be patrolling the secondary for another NFL squad. And the Raiders will be left with the imposing tandem of Hall and Routt (well if he doesn’t leave for greener pastures) to stop the pass. But hey, at least we know that Al has nothing against spending 1st round picks on CB’s to replace his Probowl corners.
Sure Al has pulled rabbits out of his hat before, and deals have gotten done when there was no prior indication that talks were even ongoing. Snatching Warren Sapp from Cincinnati immediately comes to mind. But in this case the silence has been deafening since the tag was applied months ago.
Al has played this game before. I need remind no one of the multiple years that the tag was applied to Charles Woodson. Al doesn’t redo contracts ahead of time, players are expected to play out their deal, and then Al will take care of them. Unless of course they under perform, then Al will look for them to redo their deal or cut them. Look, I understand this is how the NFL CBA is set up, and its Al’s prerogative to deal in this manner with his players. Unfortunately Al has started to get stuck in a trend of not being able to retain his best players and overpaying to keep those that stay.
Woodson, Coleman, Barton, Jackson, the names of players who should have stayed in Silver and Black, but ultimately went elsewhere and performed continues to grow. None of these players leaving came as a surprise, as they out performed their initial deals, and Al failed to restructure them with a year remaining. All were allowed to ultimately test the free agent waters, and found that they could go somewhere that would treat them better in the short term.
Had Al taken care of Nnamdi last off-season, after his breakout year, the deal most likely could have gotten done much cheaper than what the current market is demanding for a premier corner. Nnamdi had just one outstanding season under his belt. And the market was about 2 mil less a year than it is now.
Instead Al waited to see Nnamdi do it again, know that he could always just use the franchise tag if a deal didn’t get done. He didn’t count on Nnamdi actually becoming the premier shutdown corner in the league. Teams went so far in avoiding Nnamdi that this years ProFootball Prospectus had to adjust their requirements to even rank Nnamdi.
Then the off-season hit, and the corner market got even more insane. Guys who aren’t in Nnamdi’s league (Samuels, Hall) got deals that a year before would have been up for biggest ever. The price that Nnamdi could now command entered a league previously know only to quarterbacks with names like Brady and Manning. The worst part, Al helped drive this market into the stratosphere with his overpaying of the exceedingly average Daunte Hall.
With the time expiring on the window to sign franchise players long term, the Raiders are left with two choices next season. Franchise Nnamdi for a 2nd season (at a 20% increase over this years tender, or 11.36 million) or let him test the free agent market, where chances are he will go elsewhere.
And if the Raiders do franchise Asomugha for a 2nd year in a row, they are really compounding their problems going into the following season when Howard, Morrison, Routt, and Janowkowski will also be looking at free agency.
So enjoy what may well be the last season of Asomugha in Silver and Black Raider fans. Chances are if not next season, then the following, Nnamdi will be patrolling the secondary for another NFL squad. And the Raiders will be left with the imposing tandem of Hall and Routt (well if he doesn’t leave for greener pastures) to stop the pass. But hey, at least we know that Al has nothing against spending 1st round picks on CB’s to replace his Probowl corners.
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