The Spin Starts Here

As of today, Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the Raiders' most important player, does not know who our head coach is for 2010.

Quote: “I think he’s (Cable) back, they’re probably still going over stuff, but if he is the guy, me, just like the the other players, you would like to hear that.”

If Cable is the guy. Just like the other players, Asomugha would like to hear that.

Paging John Herrera.

You'll recall that Asomugha last year inked a three-year deal worth $45.3 million with $28.5 million in guarantees. He's not exactly Eric Frampton on the proverbial totem pole. Yet he doesn't know who his head coach is for 2010, but he would like to know.

Hey, you and me both, Nnamdi.

For weeks, I've been listening to all sorts of insufferable justifications as to why the Raiders will not throw their official support behind Tom Cable as their head coach for 2010 if, indeed, he is their head coach for 2010.

Well, apparently Nnamdi Asomugha hasn't been reading some of the comments here at Raider Take, otherwise it would all be quite clear to him.

Just so we're clear on this: Cable is our guy, so there's no need to say he's our guy, except for the fact that everyone, including our most important players, are wondering if he's our guy, which, as with the fans and media, is really none of their business, right?

Got it.

A Raider Take Apology

I have an apology to make.

I am sorry for taking a largely dim view of an operational approach that has resulted in the extension of the worst stretch of consecutive seasons in the history of the National Football League.

Despite all the sunshine the Raiders have brought us lately with seven consecutive seasons of 11 or more losses, I have been responsible for spreading gloom.

My predictions of continued failure in the absence of tangible change have been accurate yet nevertheless erroneous.

If only I had been wrong, I would have been right.

As penance, I am going to jump off the Oakland bandwagon and move to Detroit, where I will establish a Matt Millen fan club. I will urge Lions fans to stop criticizing the team and to, in fact, re-hire Matt Millen as GM.

Lions fans will feel shame when I point them to this blog, where in my former life, I, like them, dared to agitate for tangible change. They will see how, every January, a dedicated band of self-proclaimed optimists returned here to demonstrate that results are immaterial to analysis, and that substantive change in the face of failure is an unrealistic, unreasonable and, in fact, outrageous expectation.

Lions fans reached a breaking point. They demonstrated for change. They agitated for a new GM. In doing so, they revealed that they are not true fans, but bandwagon fans.

I will show them the shining light of Raider Take, where you can come each January, like the swallows of Capistrano, with the same shameless sales pitch in the wake of yet another failed season, shouting down those who would dare to recommend a new GM or express disappointment.

I will share my story: "If only I had been wrong, I would have been right."

Lions will then see the error of their ways, Matt Millen will return a conquering hero, as performance will no longer be a criterion for the GM job.

Negative words will no longer be uttered by Lions fans, and Raiders fans, inspired by their example, will embrace a new motto: Commitment to Sunshine and Lollipops.

And that is my plan to save the Raider Nation from its misguided disappointment in an organization that that has produced three winning seasons out of the last 15.

Hooray!

Free Ricky's!

Word is now out that the Oakland Raiders asked Ricky's Sports Theatre & Grill to remove photos from its web site depicting Raiders employees partying with ESPN commentator Jon Gruden in December.

I have two words for that: Free Ricky's!

So many bogey men, so little time. Rich Gannon. Boo! Jon Gruden. Boo! The zebras. Boo! Ricky's. Boo! Who has time to look for a GM with all these bogey men out there?

Never mind that Ricky's has done more to nourish the Raider Nation more than any other place besides the Coliseum asphalt. Never mind that the Gruden party was a harmless and increasingly rare feel-good celebration of the Oakland Raiders.

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.

We have reached the point of truly surreal absurdity, have we not? Can we afford to waste one atom of energy on such things, mired as we are in a record-setting streak of losing seasons?

Apparently, we can. Which would explain a lot.

Free Ricky's. Free the Nation.