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Commitment To Excellence. Pride And Poise. Real Men Wear Black. These are all Oakland Raider slogans that went out of style in the early 1980s -- when the Silver and Black were winning championships.

Long gone is the Raiders' will to win that owner Al Davis has long talked about. Back then, folks around the league took him seriously. Today, Mr. Davis and the Raiders have become the laughing stock of the NFL, like it or not.

There's been many reasons for that. Mr. Davis, no doubt, deserves most of the blame, be it poor draft choices, too many coaching changes, league-wide conspiracies, etc.

All in all, it has led us to this point: Six straight losing seasons and another, no doubt, on the way.

Raider fans need to be heard loud and clear and this will be the place where you can vent about games, players, coaches, the owner etc.

So tell me Raider fans what did you think of the 2009 season so far.

Is Jamarcus Russell a bust? Can Darren McFadden ever stay healthy? Is the coaching up to snuff? Is the defense just too tired to stop the run from being on the field all day because the offense keeps producing three-and-outs?

I say it's disgraceful, embarrassing or whatever. This certainly isn't Oakland Raider football.

Enough is enough already.

NOV. 29, 2009

Time to put JaMarcus back in

All right so Bruce Gradkowski is a decent quarterback, but he's nothing more than a backup quarterback and that's all he'll ever be.

Now, the question is will JaMarcus Russell ever be a starter with the Raiders or in this league? But no one is going to find out if he's sitting on the bench playing behind Gradkowski.

The Raiders must re-insert him back as the starter to see if he is the Raiders' future. The Raiders, 3-8 at the moment, have nothing to lose now. They can't make the playoffs. And so what if they win a couple of more games? They'll wind up 5-11 instead of 3-13. That's window dressing if you ask me. That doesn't solve any of our long-range problems,

But maybe if they put Russell back behind center maybe something will click in his head and he'll do better than he did and win some games down the stretch. Maybe if he has a strong finish he can take that into next year. If he bombs out, then that's it -- he makes the decision easy for Al Davis. After the season, Mr. Davis gets to cut Russell's big ass.

But if Russell doesn't start these last five games, we're going to be in the same situation come next preseason with Russell penciled in as the starter. And he if doesn't improve when next season starts, then what? Davis will turn back to Gradkowski and the Raiders will be staring at another 4-12 season in 2010.

Yes, we can draft another quarterback, but even if that person is a stud it will take 2-3 seasons for that person to develop.

Head coach Tom Cable must stop this merry-go-round. He must start Russell the last five games. Case closed.

NOV. 27, 2009

Raiders lay big egg on Thanksgiving

It's a good thing the Raider defense worked on preventing big plays to the opposition during the week.

Imagine what the final score and total yardage allowed by the Raiders would have been.

The 24 points and nearly 500 yards offense posted by the Cowboys is enough to make any Raider fan throw up all the turkey and trimmings from yesterday's Thanksgiving Day meal.

Simply put, the Raiders laid and egg. A big one.

Their confidence was running high and there was a glimmer of hope following the Raiders' 20-17 victory over the Bengals last week.

Oakland coach Tom Cable liked the way his team was playing after the Bengal win, especially his offense and he was satisfied with his defense, except for their propensity to give up a big play every now and then.

He said they would focus on that shortcoming while preparing for the Cowboys. But someone forgot to tell Dallas, which exploded for 303 yards on just 10 plays, while gaining over 140 more the rest of the game.

This has happened far too much this season, which says to me the Raiders' man-to-man defense isn't working as Dallas head coach Wade Phillips indicated.

That means the Raiders' defensive scheme, incorporated by Al Davis, is antiquated. No one fears it. It's time to switch to a cover-2 or some type of zone package. The Raiders employed the Cover-2 defense against the Philadelphia Eagles a few weeks ago and the Raider defense looked as good as it ever was. Then all of a sudden, they reverted to their old ways.

That's because Davis probably told defensive coordinator John Marshall not to ever run the Cover-2 again or else.

So this is the Raider defensive mess Davis has currently created. Even the players are shaking their heads. Nnamdi Asomugha even went as far to say it is "embarrassing,"and compared Oakland trying to win two straight games "is like climbing Mount Everest."

And it's probably not going to change.

I remember when defensive back DeAngelo Hall was here for a handful of games before being released for his terrible play. On his way out the door, he criticized the Raiders (re:Davis) by saying the team asks you to do things on defense that no other team would ever ask you to do.

He meant trying to cover receivers one on one all day during a game.

It used to work 35-40 years ago, but the game has since changed.

This is 2009, Mr. Davis, not 1969. It's time to get your head out of your ass and smell the coffee.

Don't let us sit through another season, where the Raiders are all but eliminated from the playoff picture by Thanksgiving Day.

I can't take it anymore. Raider Nation can't take it anymore. Even your own players can't take it anymore.

We don't resemble a football team. Right now, we're just a bunch of turkeys.Gobble, gobble.

And everyone is gobbling us up.

NOV. 24. 2009

Raiders need to tighten up on defense on third downs

The Raider defense looked brilliant at times in last Sunday's win against the Cincinnati Bengals. On third downs, however, they couldn't get off the field.

There were several third-and-very-long situations and one second-and-22 that the Bengals converted on, which eventually led to Bengal points.

Take away those big plays and the Raiders would have allowed at least a 100 less to the Bengals.

Raider head coach Tom Cable, in his Monday press conference, said the team and coaches need to take a better look at why that is happening. Cable says sometimes it's the result of an individual or two being out of position or not making a tackle.

Cable is right in that regard and if it's not the coaches' fault then the players must be held accountable. Bench 'em, sit 'em or whatever, but this has been going for the past seven years and it's costing the team games.

And the way the Raiders are playing, sometimes just one blown play can be the difference of a win or a loss.

Against Dallas on Thursday, the Raiders need to stay in their gaps. The Cowboys have been struggling mightily on offense and there's no need to help them out with any blown coverages that will lead to big plays.

If the Raiders can do that, they will have a chance to stay in the game and beat the Cowboys at the end.

There's also other factors as to why I think the Raiders will be victorious on Thursday. Look for that story right here on Wednesday.

Nov. 23, 2009

Raiders surprise Bengals, everyone else

Just when Raider Nation -- myself included -- had given up on the Oakland Raiders, Tom Cable's troops managed to pull one out of the hat with yesterday's stunning 20-17, last-second victory over the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals in front of a sparse crowd at the Oakland Coliseum.

To be honest, I thought the Raiders would lose by more than 30 points and when the Raiders fell behind 14-0 early in the second quarter yesterday, I figured I would be right again.

But the Raiders, led by backup quarterback turned-starter Bruce Gradkowski, toughened up, fought back and by game's end were in position to win.

That's when Gradkowski was at his best, picking up a first down on fourth-and-10 to midfield to Chaz Schilens, who looked liked the receiver he was the last few games of last season. A few moments later, Gradkowski hooked up with wide receiver Louis Murphy, who had been non-existent in the game up until that point, on a 29-yard strike that Murphy hauled in at the 2-yard line and then had to battle his way into the end zone.

The Raiders would win seconds later, when the Bengals fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a game-winning 33-yard field goal with 19 ticks left on the clock.

The game was won because Gradkowski did a great job of managing the game, unlike previous starter JaMarcus Russell had done the first nine games of the season. Gradkowski fired two touchdown passes, matching Russell's output the first nine games, and was picked off only once when he was hit early while releasing the ball deep downfield to Murphy. If Gradkowski didn't get hit, he would have connected with Murphy on a TD pass because Murphy easily had his defender beat.

Gradkowski also was not sacked, escaping several times on plays that would have gone for negative plays had Russell been the starter.

I wasn't big on replacing Russell as the starter and I voiced my opinion about it here because I feel he still may be the Raiders' future, but I'll take the win.

Nov. 20, 2009

Bengals to have way with Raiders

Sunday's game between the visiting Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders figures to get ugly. Real ugly.

The Bengals are a bruising team on defense and one that can light it up offensively. Forget that they have Ochocinco. Raider killer Larry Johnson, two weeks removed from the Kansas Chiefs, returns to Oakland in a Bengal uniform to pick up where he left off with the Chiefs, which means a 100-yard rushing day isn't asking much.

There's some hope in Raiderland now that head coach Tom Cable has benched starter JaMarcus Russell in favor of journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. But Gradkowski will soon find out what Russell already knows: That his receivers stink and his offensive line can't block all that much. Sure, Gradkowski will be able to escape some pressure and probably will do a better job of hanging onto the ball, but, in the end, it won't matter very much.

Defensively, the Raiders will struggle mightily against the balanced passing and running attack of the Bengals, who could very well be the best team in the AFC. Bengal QB Carson Palmer is among the league's best passers and will pick apart the Raider secondary if the defensive unit doesn't blitz.

All in all, it will be another miserable day at the office for the Raiders, who will be lucky to keep this game within 20 points.

Prediction: Bengals 33, Raiders 9

NOV. 18, 2009

Why bench Russell now?

I just don't see Raider head coach Tom Cable's decision to bench starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell in favor of backup Bruce Gradkowski.

The Raiders bring a 2-7 record into Sunday's tilt against the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals, who are expected to demolish the Raiders and would do so even if Joe Montana was the Raider signal-caller.

Yes, Russell hasn't been effective at all, but he need starts to see if he's ever going to materialize into anything. And the Raiders need to see that, too, so they can make a decision on him at the end of the year.

And it's not like Russell has been given the best of conditions to perform. He's had a beat-up and oft-injured offensive line. His receivers flat out stink and the running game has been suspect at best. Sure, Russell has looked bad, but his numbers would be much better if his receivers could catch.

Gradkowski isn't the Raiders future. Maybe, Russell isn't either, but is JaMarcus better off on the bench the last seven games or is he better off on the field? That is the $30 million question.

So what if Gradkowski wins one or two more games and the Raiders go 3-13 or 4-12 instead of 2-14. What's the difference, except that we will get a lower draft choice come April.

I'm not worried about the other players in the locker room being disheartened that we haven't won more games. As far as I'm concerned no one there is worth a dime, except for a handful of players.

If Al Davis told Cable to sit JaMarcus then so be it, but if this is strictly Cable's decision then this will, no doubt, be his ticket out of town.

The playoffs are out of the question and so should installing Gradkowski as the starter.

The Raider receivers have been dropping balls all season on Russell, and now Cable has dropped the ball with this senseless decision.

God help us. God help Raider Nation.

NOV. 13th, 2009

Another blackout for the Silver and Black, thank God

Thank goodness for Raider fans who live within a 75-mile radius of Oakland that Sunday's home game against the Kansas City Chiefs will be blacked out.

Think of all the pain and suffering the TV network will be saving those folks for having to sit and watch two inept offenses with a combined 3-13 record trying to move the ball a yard or two. Both teams' offenses are among the worst in the league and points, no doubt, will be far and few between.

It'll be the fourth straight home blackout of the season for the Raiders, who haven't sold out since opening night against San Diego.

Think Raider fans are sending a message to owner Al Davis? And what could that message be? How about, "Hey, Al, if you want us to come to games and spend some money, you better put a better product on the field."

Because right now, the Raiders couldn't pay me enough to them play.

I was stupid a few weeks back when I attended the Raiders-Giants game at the Meadowlands in New Jersey with my daughter. I spent close to $500 bucks on everything from tickets to spending money in the park.

All that and the Raiders looked good for about 2 minutes. And we nearly got laughed out of the park by the Giant faithful.

I was supposed to go to the Raider-Steeler game in Pittsburgh early next month with some cousins of mine who are Steeler fans, but after sitting through that Giant debacle I promised myself I wouldn't put myself through that ever again. To boot, I don't want to drive 400 miles to Pittsburgh and spend money on a hotel room to watch the Raiders lose 48-0.

The Raiders look so bad that even my Steeler-loving cousins have backed out of going to that game in fear that it will get ugly fast and be over by the end of the first quarter.

For me, I will watch it that day on my NFL Sunday Ticket and yell at the TV screen for a while and throw a few things around the house.

Such is the life of a Raider fan. Embarrassing to say the least.

NOV. 11, 2009

Raiders could have used Larry Johnson for one game

Not that I am a big fan of his, but I would have loved for the Raiders to sign former Kansas City running back Larry Johnson for one game this week against the Chiefs.

It would have been nice to see a revengeful LJ gash his former club, which released him earlier this week for comments he made about gays and some of his coaches two weeks ago.

The LJ signing all but would have assured the Raiders of a victory. But in reality, I realize the Raiders have three good backs in Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas. Bringing in Johnson would have just clogged up the backfield.

As far as Johnson's status goes, he says he wants to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team I think will win its second straight Super Bowl. If the Steelers can add Johnson to their backfield, it would give them a bruising back they haven't had since Jerome Bettis departed from the Steel City.

The Steelers are good enough without LJ, but if they can find room for him on the roster it will make them that much more dangerous.

But I think LJ will really wind up with the Green Bay Packers. And don't count out the Detroit Lions, although LJ will probably not want to go there.

NOV. 9, 2009

Must-win for Raiders vs. Chiefs

If the Oakland Raiders are to salvage their season and somehow get back close to ending the season with a .500 record -- which would almost be a miracle considering some of their opponents in the second half -- they need to start the second half of their campaign against the Kansas City Chiefs with a victory.

And the Raiders will have most everything going for them.

No. 1, they are at home.

No. 2, they are coming off a bye, while the Chiefs got beat by the Jaguars this past Sunday.

No. 3, the Raiders will be getting some key players back, including offensive linemen Robert Gallery and Cornell Green, running back Darren McFadden and receiver Chaz Schilens.

No. 4, gone is Chief running back Larry Johnson, a Raider killer through the years. Johnson was released earlier today for conduct detrimental to the team.

No. 5, the Raiders beat the Chiefs earlier this season in a game KC dominated for the first 58 minutes.

A win and the Raiders will be 3-6 and will no doubt gain important confidence for the stretch run, not that it will be easy with Cincinnati, Dallas and Pittsburgh on the docket.

A loss will result in a 2-7 record and it's anybody's guess how poorly the Raiders will finish, but certainly a 2-14 mark and the top pick in next April's NFL Draft is not out of the question.

No doubt, the Raiders are tired of stockpiling top picks in the draft. It has gotten them nowhere, thanks to Al Davis' terrible and far-reaching selections.

But if the Raiders want to somehow avoid all that, they will need to put up some 'Ws' fast, starting with this week's encounter against the lowly Chiefs.

NOV. 8, 2009

Hey, good news Raider fans: We can't lose today

I'm sitting here watching the games on this the NFL's ninth Sunday of the season and I'm feeling more relaxed than usual.

Could it be I feel this way because the Raiders have a bye this week and won't suffer yet another loss?

Hey, that's not a bad Sunday is it?

As a matter of fact, the Raiders figure to pick up a half of game this week if the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the AFC-West leading Denver Broncos Monday night as I suspect will happen.

Hopefully, the Raider players are watching today's games on TV and are getting the itch to come back and perform like heck the second half of the season.

If I was Raider head coach Tom Cable I wouldn't have given the team off this past week. I would have made them work their fannies off to get back on the right track.

Do you think former head coach Bill Parcells would have let his team off the hook so easy if his squad was 2-6 at the break?

And what about Coach Cable letting Richard Seymour go back East a day earlier to be with his family while the other players had to stay and practice? Why the special treatment? That will come back to bite Cable in the butt at some time this year. He's sure to lose the locker room as this season spins out of control. You know some players will be storing that in the back of their minds.

Well, at least we can watch some football today without getting indigestion or having to look away from the TV set every two seconds.

Enjoy the games, Raider Nation. Enjoy the day, because next Sunday's it's back to the Pepto-Bismol.

NOV. 5, 2009

A constant merry-go-round in Raiderland

So Raider boss Al Davis and head coach Tom Cable met the other day in a meeting of the minds, and Cable says the subject of his alleged problems recently in the news never came up.

Cable says the two just talked football, scouted their remaining opponents and talked Xs and Os.

That's exactly an Al Davis move: When everyone in the world is calling for Cable's job, he just blows off everyone and doesn't pay any mind to it.

It's when everything appears great in Raiderland that you have to watch out for Big Al dropping the hammer.

But everything, these days, isn't so peachy, but it's nothing Cable and Davis can't fix. Surely, they put together a game plan for the second half of the season. In other words, Mr. Davis did most of the talking -- if not all of it -- at that meeting.

Which means we'll see more Raider ineptness in the second half: Missed tackles, poor throws, no defensive strategy, no offensive game plan. No nothing.

And that's how obscure this Raider franchise has become. If it wasn't for Cable's exploits this season, the Raiders wouldn't have been in the news at all. Heck, are the local TV news stations still covering them?

If some members of the media are still covering them, they won't be at the end of the season when the Raiders are 3-13 or 4-12.

But they'll emerge a few months later when the Raiders are on the clock for a top 5 pick in next April's NFL Draft. That's when Big Al will take another fast cornerback or supposedly great receiver much to the dismay of Cable's successor, whomever that might be (hey, is Staten Islander Rich Kotite still available?).

And that's when the madness starts all over again.

NOV. 4, 2009

Cable distraction a good thing for Raiders

All the hoopla surrounding Raider head coach Tom Cable's alleged hand problems when it comes to women is a good thing if you're a Raider fan.

It's good because it takes the focus off how bad this Raider team really is. Now when fans of pro football log on to any NFL Web sites, stories of Cable pop up instead of blogs on how bad the Raiders are playing.

The latest news on Cable is that he's going to meet with owner Al Davis sometime this week to discuss those alleged stories. Just whether they are true or not remains to be seen, but if they are don't expect Big Al to send Cable packing his bags anytime soon. At least not for eight more games.

This is not what the Raiders need now at the midway point of another horrible season. The Raiders don't need another interim coach. Raider quarterback JaMarcus Russell doesn't need another head coach and play-caller. Hasn't he been hampered enough by the constant changes in head coaches and coordinators?

The Raiders need some stability right now, albeit it's rocky at best, but if Al Davis changes head coaches again, it will put the focus back on how bad the Raiders are playing.

And for now Davis doesn't need any reminders of that. The Cable distractions let Big Al buy time until the end of the season when he can cut Cable loose. After all, it's going  to be an easy decision coming off a 3-13 or 4-12 season. Then he can throw in Cable's problems and fire the man for cause and not pay him for the remainder of his contract just like he did Mike Shanahan and Lane Kiffin.

That's what Al Davis will do. Right now, Cable's problems are an excuse for the Raiders' ineptness, and that's what Davis wants because it keeps the focus off the Raiders' problems on the field.

Yes, it's so sad, but true.

NOV. 2, 2009

Raiders get A for effort, but get saddled with another L

I'm not going to say anything bad about the Raiders today. They played a solid game against the San Diego Chargers and were in position to win the game at the end, which is all you could ask.

It's better than getting blown out by 20-25 points, don't you think?

In my book, the Raiders get an A for effort, but in the end they got hit with another L -- or loss.

It was the 13th straight setback to the Chargers, dating back to 2003, although it feels like the Raiders haven't beaten the Chargers since the days of Moses.

To boot, it was Charger coach Norv Turner's sixth straight win against Oakland, his former team in which he won only 9 of 32 games before being shown the door by Al Davis.

This loss is on the Raiders' passing game. If you want to include quarterback JaMarcus Russell in that you can. But San Diego's five sacks is a telling story that perhaps Russell isn't getting adequate time to throw downfield, and when he does he seems to be hurrying his throws which result in interceptions.

The fact the Russell completed only 2 of his 14 completions to wide receivers supports that theory, but the truth is if the Raiders are to win they must be able stretch the field.

Overall, Russell was 14 of 22 for 109 yards -- a much-improved performance from the previous week against the Jets, but not good enough to get the Raiders a much-needed W.

Now, they head into the bye week with a 2-6 mark. They come back from the break with a winnable game against the Chiefs, one of the teams the Raiders beat this year. Then the next three games get progressively tougher when they face the Bengals, the Cowboys (on Thanksgiving Day) and the Steelers.

They close the year out by facing the Redskins, Broncos, Browns and Ravens. Perhaps, the coach Tom Cable's crew will muster up a win or two from that bunch, but it's not likely if their passing game doesn't improve.

But, hey, yesterday's game against the Chargers was encouraging and might be a start of something good -- even though it didn't produce a W.

NOV. 1, 2009

Another November, another Raider playoff ouster

This November figures to be just like the past six when the Raiders get ousted from playoff contention.

Prior to that and especially in the 1970s and 80s, November was a time for me to check the standings and see what the Raiders had to do to clinch the division or whom they might have to beat out for a wild-card spot.

Now, November for me is seeing where the Raiders rank with the worst teams in the NFL to see where we might be pick in next April's NFL Draft. Not that that really matters since owner Al Davis has managed to mess up most of our first-round picks, like last year by taking Darrius Heyward-Bey as the first receiver in the draft when there were at least five betters receivers on the draft board.

But today will go a long way in determining if this November will be any different from the last six. A win against the San Diego Chargers and Raider Nation can still hope for a playoff appearance.

On the other hand, a loss will drop the Raiders to 2-6 and make for another long and dreary November and an even tougher December.

Here's hoping for the former.

OCT. 30, 2009

Raiders vs. Chargers, Sunday, 1 p.m. CBS

Las Vegas oddsmakers think it's going to be a long day for the Raiders Sunday against the San Diego Chargers as they have been tabbed a 16.5-point underdog.

I say the final score could be worse than that and the only reason it isn't pushing 20 is that the Raiders played the Chargers tough on opening night, suffering a last-minute 24-20 loss.

That's not to say the Chargers are world beaters because they are not. And I'm not even saying the Chargers have improved all that much from the opener because they haven't. But the Raiders, on the other hand, have regressed. Big time.

Oakland has been outscored 147-25 in its last five games, including a stunning 13-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, which was their only win during those five games.

The Chargers, with quarterback Drew Brees throwing to a talented receiving corp, can light up the scoreboard against anyone. Then they have a solid 1-2 running attack in LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles going against the No. 31-ranked run defense in the league in the Raiders.

The only thing holding this Charger team back is Norv Turner, who is no doubt a nice man and great offensive coordinator, but a terrible head coach.

Meanwhile, the Raider offense hit rock bottom last week in an ugly 38-0 loss to the New York Jets. Raider QB got benched in the second quarter after throwing two interceptions and fumbling on the first snap of the game at the Raider 5-yard line, leading to a quick Jet TD.

The Raider receivers are terrible and the run game is useless when you're trailing big so early in games.

Head coach Tom Cable is doing his best to keep this bunch from falling apart, but a 13th straight loss to the Chargers should push the Raiders over the edge and make for a long second half to the season.

PREDICTION: Chargers 30, Raiders 9

OCT. 30, 2009

If Raider players have JaMarcus' back then so do I

All right, so a handful of Oakland Raider players have gone on the record saying they support quarterback JaMarcus Russell and hope he can get past his struggles.

As long as Raider owner Al Davis is signing those players' checks, what else do you expect them to say?

But let's say they are telling the truth and truly have Russell's back. Well, if that is the case, then I have the big guy's back, too.

After all, it was I, who said last month, that the Raiders need to give JaMarcus a full season behind center to see what he can do. No one expected the Raiders to make the playoffs anyway before the season started and now since they are 2-5 and going nowhere fast, you might as well keep JaMarcus where he is and evaluate him.

I will tell you this: JaMarcus has had little to work with this year. His offensive line, without Robert Gallery, is as porous as a piece of Swiss cheese, and his receiving corp, including starting rookies Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey, are killing him by not being able to hold on to passes in critical spots.

Although JaMarcus hasn't been all that accurate, he's had at least 20 balls dropped on him in the games that I've watched so his completion percentage should be better.

I think the benching of Russell in last week's game against the Jets was deserving and may serve as wake-up call. It already seems to be working as some in the Raider facility said they say JaMarcus arrive the other day at 6:30 a.m. to break down film. Did former QB Rich Gannon escort JaMarcus in?

Hopefully, this will carry over from week to week and JaMarcus will improve with every outing. I thought he turned the corner in the game against the Eagles, but it turned out to be only a mirage based on his performance against the Jets.

Now, I'm not asking for a lot from JaMarcus the rest of the way in terms of wins. But by looking at the remaining games on the schedule, I think three more W's out of JaMarcus isn't asking too much.

If that doesn't happen, then maybe -- just maybe, it will be time to go in a different direction next season.

OCT. 28, 2009

Cable gets blame for first fumble vs. Jets

The other day Raider head coach Tom Cable in a press conference admitted he called for a throw deep downfield on Oakland's first play of the game deep inside its own territory.

The play resulted in a sack of Raider quarterback JaMarcus Russell and a fumble at the 5-yard line. Four plays later, the Jets were leading, 7-0.

I say that miscue is on Cable. While the bomb in that situation would have been the element of surprise, Cable should have known the Jets would be blitzing from all over.

It would have served Russell better to hand off or perhaps throw a short pass or quick out in that situation.

It would have gotten Russell and the rest of the offense into the flow of the game.

Sure, this all Monday morning quarterbacking, but with a signal-caller like Russell, who needs confidence and needs to be put in the right play-calling situations, this was a bad call at a bad time. Had the play been called around midfield, I would have loved it. But not in that situation -- standing in the shadow of your own goal posts.

To boot, the Raiders have only completed one bomb this season -- in the opener on 4th-and-15 against the Chargers -- so the odds of JaMarcus throwing downfield with success was going against the odds.

So, now, instead of handing off or throwing some sort of short pass, you're quarterback fumbles the ball and the Jets recover. Now, you've lost the quarterback for the rest of the game because his confidence is shaken.

  The proof of that comes a few moments later when Russell gets picked off at midfield and the Jets return it for another TD. Russell would get intercepted once more later in the game in the Jet end zone, which just about ended his day.

Had Cable called a different play on the Raiders' first play from scrimmage, the game might not have gotten so ugly, and who knows, maybe the Raiders score first, build some confidence and find a way to win.

Wishful thinking? Yes. But you never know how things would have turned out.

OCT. 27, 2009

Everyone laughing at the Raiders

I was sifting through a New Yok Jets Web site on Monday, one of the things I normally do the day after a Raider game to see what the opposition's fans are saying about the Raiders.

As expected, the comments were not complementay toward the Raiders. As a matter of fact, they were just the opposite as one might expect after the Raiders' 38-0 loss.

Here's what some Jet fans had to say:

-- mrjet: "Wow, what an easy win. It was like a walk in the park. Things got so easy, Mark Sanchez decided to eat a hot dog right on the sideline during the fourth quarter."

-- jetcrazy: "I didn't think it would be this easy after the way the Raiders manhandled the Eagles the week before. But yes, the Raiders do stink."

-- jetmom: "I can't believe how far the Raiders have fallen. They used to give the Jets all kinds of problems. I'm glad we face them almost every year. It's an easy win for us."

Of course, there was much more where that came from.

And by looking at a replay of the game, there was not much to hang our hats on.

The only bright spot was the punting of Shane Lechler, who booted the ball five times for a 53.0 average. When one has to single out the punter as positive you know it was a long game.

The game's negatives: There were plenty of them, starting with the horrible play of JaMarcus Russell, who has regressed from last season.

The run defense was equally terrible. It has regressed (there is that word again) under new defensive coordinator John Marshall after most everyone blamed former DC Rob Ryan for the Raiders' defensive problems.

Bottom line is that it wasn't Ryan or isn't Marshall. It's our players. They suck, they can't fill gaps and are always in the wrong spot or take a bad angle to tackle someone. Simply put, Al Davis does a terrible job drafting players. We need a scouting department and need it badly.

Until Al gives up those duties, the Raiders will have many more games like this and continue to be the laughing stock of the league whether Raider Nation likes it or not.

OCT. 26, 2009

Playoffs seem light years away

Anyone still buying into Richard Seymour's belief that the Oakland Raiders will make the playoffs?

Well, for one, I never believed it, and as a matter of fact I laughed at his crazy remarks last week following the Raiders' improbable 13-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

My question is: Is Mr. Seymour on drugs or does he sip the same Kool-Aid Al Davis is drinking?

The proof that the Raiders aren't going anywhere but home after the regular season was on display yesterday when the Jets dismantled Oakland with a 38-0 beating -- the worst home loss in franchise history -- that sent the Raiders nosediving toward another 2-14 or 3-13 season.

All the blame on this loss goes to Raider quarterback JaMarcus 'I'm turning out to be a bust' Russell, who fumbled the ball after being hit at the 5-yard-line on the Raiders' first play from scrimmage. The Jets scored four plays later to take a 7-0 lead.

Then a few minutes later, a scrambling and off-balanced Russell threw an interception into the hands of a waiting Jets defender who took it back 60 yards for another Jet score which made it 14-0 New York, much to the dismay to the booing Oakland Coliseum fans. To whom Russell was throwing to on the play is anybody's guess since no receiver was in 15 yards of the Jet defender.

A few minutes later when Russell had the Raiders driving and had a chance to turn some of those jeers into cheers, the Raider quarterback got picked off in the back of the Jet end zone trying to connect with Todd Watkins.

“The first interception was a matter of a guy coming across my face and getting to the spot," said Russell. "I tried to get it down but it was too late. As far as the second one, I thought I gave the guy a chance to make a play on the ball. As far as what I was seeing. I didn’t see him come down with it. The ball in the air had a 50-50 chance, we just didn’t come up with it.”

One offensive series later, Russell was lifted in favor of Bruce Gradkowski, who moved the Raider offense, but couldn't get in the end zone, although first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey dropped a pass in the end zone late in the game.

Afterward Cable explained Russell's benching.

"He was really out of sorts early in the game,” Cable said. “In the first play of the game he could not get the formation lined up the right way, and then they drop into quarters when it should just be a check down to the back, kinda holding it and looking down field and he shouldn’t be there. And then the two interceptions, first one, no reason for that and the second one really just kind of threw it up. So I just did not feel like at that point he gave us the best chance to have the success we needed to have offensively and made the move.”

Cable added that JaMarcus is still the team's starting quarterback, and at this point of this season with the Raiders owning a 2-5 record, what difference does it really make?

The playoffs are out of the question (heck Seymour even changed his tune after the Jet debacle, saying the Raiders couldn't have beaten a high school team) and we might as well see if Russell can bounce back from his terrible start to to the season. If he can't, Mr. Davis might as well bring in a proven free-agent quarterback next year and blow up this team and start from scratch.

Only then will the Raiders have a chance to make the playoffs, which right now seem light years away.

OCT. 23, 2009

Hey Al, time to lower ticket prices

Doesn't Raider owner Al Davis get it?

For the 72nd time in 116 games since the Raiders' return to Oakland, local fans of the team won't be able to watch their beloved squad on television. That's right. Sunday's game against the New York Jets has been blacked out, per league rules.

What a shame and what a sham.

The latest black out isn't a surpsrise considering the Raiders are 2-4 and face a team that is 3-3. Also, the Raiders haven't put a competitive product on the field the previous six seasons, unless you talk to Davis, who thinks otherwise

But c'mon this is the NFL, which is supposed to sell itself. The New York Giants have sold out the Meadowlands the past 30 years and they have had some horrible teams during that period.

It seems Mr. Davis is still paying the price for leaving Oakland the first time and chasing money in Los Angeles and then coming back to Oaktown after playing to half-empty seats at the L.A. Coliseum.

I'm not buying the theory that there aren't many Raider fans around. The Raiders are one of the most popular franchises in the NFL and there is always a strong following of Raider fans for road games.

Maybe, the reputation of the type of fan the Raiders attract in Oakland are keeping people and families away. I don't know if I would take my family to a game in Oakland after all I heard.

Also, followers of opposing teams keep away from games in Oakland for the same reason.

It all adds up to poor attendance. One way to combat that is to lower ticket prices to try to put fannies in the seats. Tickets for Raider games are among the highest priced in the NFL. And for what? To see a team that has gone 26-76 the past 6-and-half years. The Patriots and Steelers don't even charge that much and those franchises have won multiple Super Bowls the last 10 years.

Raider fans have nothing to look forward to, but another top 5 pick in the NFL Draft, another selection that will get bungled by owner Al Davis. Another top 5 pick, who will get 10s of millions of dollars.

Which means Raider ticket prices will be increased again. Which in turn will keep aways fans and lead to more black outs.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

 OCT. 21, 2009

Did I hear Seymour correctly?

Wow, it's amazing what one victory will do.

While speaking on a radio show Wednesday afternoon, Raider defensive lineman Richard Seymour told hosts Atrell Hawkins and Charles Fisher of Two Deep Zone that Raiders will make the playoffs this season. That's right you read that correctly.

"You can mark it down," said Seymour.

Does Mr. Seymour still think he's playing for the New England Patriots? Is he aware that the Raiders are currently 2-4 and would need to go 8-2 or 7-3 in the least the rest of the way to earn a postseason spot.

Is he aware that Denver, Dallas and defending world champion Pittsburgh are left on the Raiders schedule?

I love Seymour's confidence, and a 13-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles was very uplifting, but it doesn't support Seymour's remarks. I think his words may have been a bit  too premature.

Let the Raiders win 2, 3, 4 games in a row and then I could see him saying like that. But right now. No way, even for me a diehard Raider fan.

Until that happens, I'm marking it down that the Raiders won't be in the postseason dance this season. The Raiders are probably even longshots to make the playoffs in 2010.

At this stage of the game, I'll be happy with a 5-win season.

OCT. 19, 2009

An unexpected win for Raiders

All right, I have to admit, I didn't give the Raiders much of a chance to beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

As a matter of fact, I didn't give them any chance at all.

But head coach Tom Cable and the Silver & Black proved me wrong -- big time. Yes, they are capable of winning games.

That's because the defense used an attacking style not seen before by the Raiders, blitzing more than 40 percent of the time and applying constant pressure to Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. When the Eagle signal-caller wasn't getting sacked (the Raiders took him down 6 times), he was being hit and rattled on most every pass. The secondary, minus, Nnamdi Asomugha most of the game, played stellar, blanketing the Philly receivers on most every throw,

The big story, though, was JaMarcus Russell, who showed he can play quarterback in this league. The big guy was 17 of 28 for 229 yards and 1 TD and 2 INTs, but I counted at least four drops and one of the INTs wasn't his fault. Credit Cable's playcalling for JaMarcus' success as he stuck to short, quick patterns. The one time JaMarcus tried to throw deep he was picked off trying to get the ball into tight end Zach Miller.

Miller was also spectacular, hauling in six balls for over 130 yards, including his catch and run of an 83-yarder that put the Raiders up 7-3 in the first quarter -- the Raiders' first offensive TD in a little over three games.

Another offensive factor was the emergence of fullback Gary Russell, who was cut after leading the team in rushing in the preseason, but was recently resigned. Russell bailed out JaMarcus on several occasions by getting open as the outlet receiver in the backfield and had some big runs after catches, including a third-down, catch-and-run with just under 2 minutes in the game that gave the Raiders a first down that sealed things for the Raiders.

Having come from the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Gary Russell is a hard-nosed player, who knows how to win. He should be on the field all the time, As a matter of fact, every player the Steelers cut should be immediately signed by the Raiders because Pittsburgh's players breed success and it's always good to have that it in your locker room.

The only disappointing thing I could take away from yesterday's tilt is the lack of a return game on kickoffs and punts, The Raiders returners are getting swarmed upon as soon as they get the ball, which means to me the blockers up front aren't doing a good enough job.

But the main thing is the Raiders (2-4) got a much-needed 'W' and hopefully it will give them the confidence they need to go on.

Now suddenly a victoty against the fading Jets (3-3) this Sunday at home isn't out of the question.

But that's in a few days. For now, the Raiders should just savor a rare Monday where they were victorious the day before.

OCT. 17, 2009

Gruden headed back to Oakland? It could happen

FoxSports analyst Tim Ryan was talking about the upcoming Eagles-Raider game the other day on the Gary Radnich Show on KNBR on the West Coast and he indicated ex-Raider coach Jon Gruden would be open to a return to Oaktown.

Ryan is a personal friend of Gruden's and said he wants to coach again. Ryan also said he's never heard the current Monday Night Football announcer say anything bad about the Raiders or Al Davis in public or private.

The only question now is whether Davis wants "Chucky" back, and by the way this season is unfolding, the sooner he brings Gruden back the better off the Raiders will be.

During his four-year tenure in Oakland, the Raiders posted a 38-2 6 mark, finishing .500 his first two years before winning two straight AFC West crowns (they won a third the following year under Bill Callahan, who took the Raiders to the Super Bowl). Despite Davis' presence, Gruden loved his time in Oakland and adored the the fans.

It's unclear whether or not Al  wants Gruden back, but Raider fans across the nation are voicing their opinions in favor of him.  In a poll at Silver & Black Pride, 96 percent of the 436 voters want coach Gruden to return to the Raider sidelines. Two percent of the others want Big Al to pick from the long list of qualified candidates other than Gruden, while 1 percent of the voters are hoping for an Art Shell de ja vu.

If the Raider owner comes to his senses he would welcome Gruden back with open arms. But Davis would only be interested in a reunion with his former head coach only if Gruden thinks JaMarcus Russell's career would be salvagable. If not, there will be no reunion.

If anyone can save JaMarcus it would be Gruden, who would instill a great work ethic in Russell. Gruden's West Coast offense would also work wonders for Russell since the 5 and 7 step dropbacks the Raiders employ now aren't working.

Gruden would also want to bring back former Raiders executive Bruce Allen, who got fired along with Gruden in the Tampa Bay purge after last season.

Chucky's return is a longshot, but at least the idea is on the table.

 OCT. 16, 2009

Raiders losing more than games

Forget about the Raiders' 24-76 record -- or whatever it is -- the past six seasons and counting. We all know they have been a mess and will continue to be that way unless major changes are made now and continuing forward.

But what owner Al Davis fails to realize is that the Raiders are losing more than games on the field.

Because of their ineptitude, the Raiders are losing fans and future revenue, and it has a spiral effect.

Every season the Raiders fail to make the playoffs, they are losing a future fan base. It is estimated that every time a franchise gets to the Super Bowl they pick up half a million new fans across the nation. After all, people like winners. It's the way I became a Raider growing up in New York in the 1970s and 1980s. The two local teams -- the Giants and the Jets -- stunk, while the Raiders has a certain allure.

That's the reason why the Raiders picked up so many out-of-town fans back in the 1970s and '80s, when Davis' bunch was one of the elite franchises, right there next to the Pittsburgh Steeers and Miami Dolphins. Everytime they won, they picked up new fans, which might explain the Silver & Black's worldwide popularity.

But that popularity is waning -- and fast.

The Raiders' fan base is getting older by the day. No longer do I see kids wearing Oakland Raider jerseys like 30 and 40 years ago when Stabler, Casper, Guy, Shell, Allen and Long jerseys were being sold at record numbers and can be seen at stadiums across the nation.

Now, none of the kids even know who the Oakland Raiders are. They are being put in the same category as the hapless Detroit Lions.

My 12-year-old daughter has been a Raider fan and has experienced nothing but losing seasons ever since she knew what a football was. She even asked me once, "why I root for a losing team?"

I used to tell her, of course, about the glory years of the Raiders. But kids nowadays are not big on history. They only care about current events and who's winning now.

It's no wonder the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are building their fan bases to the tune of record merchandise being sold and playing before sellout crowds. That all adds up to big bucks in the pocket of those franchises' owners.

The Raiders are light years away from getting back to the playoffs as it stands now. And that means the Raiders will continue to slip into oblivion.

The result will be less fans in the seats at the home games, which leads to more televised blackouts which leads to an eroding fan base as Raiders fans across the nation begin to die off.

When will it end? Unfortunately, it won't until Mr. Davis either dies or gives up control of the team, which isn't likely anytime soon.

Which means, of course, the once-proud Raider franchise is the NFL's new Detroit Lions.