Free Jeff George
I have a confession to make: When Jeff George briefly appeared on our sideline during the exhibition season several years ago, I got excited. I wanted to see the dude drop back and fling it one last time for the Silver and Black. But as I recall, he was gone as quickly as he came, and never even took a snap. I just listened Jason Whitlock's recent podcast interview with the old gunslinger, and now I'm jonesing for George again. Apparently, I'm incurable. I don't know what it is. I can't say I really like the guy...and yet I do. He still seems to have a little trouble accepting responsibility for some of his past missteps, and yet he also seems charming and grounded. And the dude has a cannon!
Okay, so he's 43 years old. But he's a young 43 years old, right? He hasn't been roughed up in years. Tell me he couldn't hold his own against Boller or Frye. Tell me! Even if you did tell me, you know you wouldn't believe it.
If you think George is too old, I have one word for you: Blanda, baby (well, two words). The Raiders have always been colorblind, and age-blind, too. Forget the birth certificate. Can he fling it? Yes he can.
Look, Jeff George has always been a freak of nature. He may not be a spring chicken, but he's not your typical 43-year-old, either. He's like the arm of Yeti bolted on to a human wearing eye-black and a backwards hat. It's nuts that the guy's been on ice for the past five years. Look at all of the stiffs who've taken the field during that period. You're telling me Jeff George couldn't fill their shoes? Au contraire.
Are you worried that he might be a malcontent, a disruptive presence in the locker room? Once upon a time, perhaps. But now? No way. His teammates would just say, "Pipe down, old man." No, this is a more mature Jeff George, a mentor in the making. Mark my words.
Free Jeff George. Bring him back to the NFL. Bring him back to Oakland, as insurance against an injury to Jason Campell.
And should that happen, you will thank me as the pigskin arcs majestically across the baby blue Alameda sky, spinning as tightly as a top, and nesting like a newborn bird into the suddenly feathered hands of Darrius Heyward-Bey. Touchdown, RAIDERS!
P.S. Please help me spread the word. Send this post to your friends. Join me in Tweeting it. Contact the Raiders, write your Congressperson, whatever it takes to free Jeff George.
P.P.S. Check out this video to behold what awaits us when we free Jeff George.
posted by Raider Take at 11:17 AM
60 Comments:
"RT"...
On this one we can agree...BUT!!!...I think the risk will shoot it in the foot because if the Raiders or anyone else brings back an old man like George and he gets seriously injured we will never hear the end of it...
George was one bright spot during Bugle's horrible reign....He threw for some 4,000 yds and our "O" was primed to kick some ass with him in there...Than the following season Gruden took a disliking to the man as he has done with so many others like Nap...George went to the scrap-heap and the rest is history as we struggled with the likes of_________!!!...
Don't even want to remember their names...
George never had the legs and that's very important to our "O" now with a run 1st attitude...I'm afraid the old guy would get absolutely murdered behind our young -n- developing "OL"...
PantyRaider...Better Than Boller -n- "JC" Is An Absolute!!!/_
Well we do need a QB coach still...
Watching Jeff George take the field would be like craning your neck to see a car wreck. Interesting and exciting yet ultimately unsatisfying.
If the Raiders organization ever bothered to develop a young QB over a reasonable period of time, then that would be beneficial and encouraging.
Yeah, Steve, he could mentor and coach and pinch hit, too.
Calico, good point. It would be like watching Boller and Frye, except with those two, we will miss the "interesting" and "exciting" parts.
See where I'm headed with this?
I agree, we need to develop a strong young QB, but seem to be institutionally incapable of doing so. A unit of Campbell, Boller and Frye demonstrates zero imagination and little long term view at the QB position. Either Campbell really steps up, or we're back to square one. Talk about a tough proposition.
I Like "J-Mac"s position on this one:
-----------------------------------
If the Raiders aren’t active players in free agency, it won’t be because of the salary cap.....It won’t stop the flood of “Raiders in trouble against the cap” stories, despite historical evidence to the contrary.
Does anyone remember before the the uncapped season how the Raiders would routinely have these huge overages against the salary cap _ as high as $40 or $50 million _ and then magically be under the cap and still be players in the free agent market?
It happened almost every year. Raiders cap strapped. Raiders make splash in free agency.
It made sense, because they routinely entered the free agent market by playing the salary cap the way people refinance their homes. They simply extended contracts to their top players, cut their salaries to the minimum and spread bonus money out over the life of the deal to lessen the cap hit.
Brown did it almost every season. There’s a certain amount of dead money created, but it isn’t difficult to keep playing the cap game and pushing debt into the next season without ever really being accountable or losing a chance to sign someone.
----------------------------------
Well now add to this a new report setting the Cap closer to $130 Mil according to LaCanfora today...
Than subtract about $17 Mil in Nam's "Dead Money" and we be in a nice position before all that maneuvering ever starts....Instead of some $10 Mil over maybe as much as $25 Mil under....
And "Some" were ready to start crying...Before the toss of a single coin no doubt!!!....
So time to post my official shopping list:
"UDFA"s and long list here plaeas..."OLB"/"OL" -n- Huge "DT"..
Sign Zack/Bush -n- get Whimbley a long term deal that's Cap friendly...
"FA"s...
"QB"..."VY"...As "RT" pointed out present company is very unexciting..."VY" will keep things exciting without a doubt...
"WR"....Plaxaco because Damn!!!...We don't have a #1 to go with our young #2's....
Supplemental Draft:
"QB" Slash....Pryor...
With whatever is left or created try to find a way to keep Nam...
PantyRaider...Let The Bidding Begain!!!/_
Jason Campbell, Jeff George and Vince Evans (at a young 57).
Unfortunately, the plan at QB is the same one we have at GM, i.e., there is no plan beyond the status quo. Both these positions are critical to the team but neither is given the attention it deserves.
Funny!!!...
How did "VY" become Vince Evens???...
And I don't even think it was a joke/mistake...He's for real...Really!!!...
Now why the tears about not addressing "QB" when on the last thread he posted "JC" was clearly the man...But than before that he bashed Al for pimping him...But than he also bashed me for talking "JC" down...So what really is his stance???...
Confused or just negative no matter the viewpoint in question...Always moving those flexible "Rubber Walls" which ever direction meets his needs at the time...
"Some" are just never consistent at all!!!...
Well that's not entirely true...
Consistently Negative!!!...
The Shutdown Scouting Report: Terrelle Pryor
Through three seasons, Pryor completed 477 passes in 783 attempts (a 60.9 completion percentage) for 6,177 yards, 57 touchdowns with 26 interceptions. He also rushed 436 times for 2,164 yards (a 5.0 per carry average) and 17 touchdowns.
Accuracy: Can fit the ball into larger windows, but often benefited from defenses adjusting to the run. Throws off balance a lot when he’s moving, which leads to passes that float when they should be humming. Threw deep to a lot of zone-busting receivers at Ohio State, but there isn’t enough evidence of his ability to consistently throw into tight windows.
Arm strength: Can zip intermediate throws, though deep seam and post passes tend to hang up a bit. Still working on the touch required for a standard NFL system; most throws are either on a rope or floating too long with an exaggerated “touch” concept to make up for the real touch he doesn’t have yet. Short passes tend to flutter, and his setup for such passes is still exaggerated.
Setup/release: Has a little hitch in his throwing motion, but it’s not a major impediment. Rolls a lot to his left and requires too much time to set his feet when he stops to throw. Tends to need to stop and plant; the motion to set and throw doesn’t look and feel natural just yet. Will stand flat-footed when throwing instead of using a more natural through-motion. He’s pretty indiscriminate when it comes to throwing off his back foot, especially when he’s on the run, and many of the resulting throws won’t make the cut in the NFL — even the intermediate passes tend to flutter and wobble.
Reading defenses: Single-read passer for the most part; Pryor is clearly set to predetermine a fairly simple set of route concepts and take off if whatever’s out there isn’t to his liking. Didn’t perform in a complex offense, and many of his successful passes were based on keeping defenses on a string with his running ability — a common claim among option quarterbacks. Isn’t tied to shotgun; can run things pretty well under center and doesn’t trip over himself on drop steps.
Mobility: Uses breakaway speed to make something out of nothing when a play has broken down. Tremendous second-level burst and agility. Dangerous player on the run, especially when running counter and play-action. Gets outside the tackles in a hurry, accelerated past second-level defenders, and squares his shoulders quickly to get upfield. Much better throwing when he’s rolling right; Pryor keeps his eyes downfield and understands timing. On motion throws to his left, his mechanics slow down and get rickety.
Conclusion: In college, Pryor faced a lot of simple zone schemes that were invariably altered by the need to pay attention to his running ability. In the NFL, where even teams running complex hybrid schemes out of nickel and dime defenses have figured out ways to stop mobile quarterbacks without sacrificing coverage, Pryor will struggle until he figures out a few things — how to derive increased velocity through proper throwing mechanics, when to cut out the read-and-run stuff and pick up progression concepts, and his own best way to become a thrower with touch and accuracy in short windows. It’s clear that he would have benefited immensely from a 2011 college season, but as the coaches like to say, “It is what it is.”
Right now, Pryor is a single-pitch pitcher with some potential; a good running quarterback with some natural physical advantages. But as is the case with most spread quarterbacks (and even in an NFL that caters more to those types of quarterbacks more and more every year), Pryor will most likely have to start out as a situational guy best suited to the teams that hold Wildcat and Pistol concepts most dear. He doesn’t have Cam Newton’s(notes) arm, nor has he proven to have Vince Young’s(notes) ability (at least, when Vince Young feels like it) to integrate passing into a more complex running scheme in an option offense. Not yet, at least. Right now, I’d compare him with one of the second-tier option guys who are still trying to get the hang of it in the pros. Tim Tebow’s(notes) one easy compare, but because of Pryor’s pure downfield speed, another name seems a better fit.
Pro comparison: Tarvaris Jackson(notes), Minnesota Vikings
PantyRaider...Good Scouting Report...Good Potential For Our 3rd Rd Pick...
My view on the QB position is simple. You have 3 QBs on the roster.
QB1 is the clear cut starter.
QB2 can come in off the bench and has the experience to get you a win and take the reins if necessary for a stretch of games.
QB3 should be a young QB who is being developed as a potential starter for the future.
I don't have confidence in either Boller or Frye as QB2 and they are not long term, developmental QBs (scratch QB3).
If Campbell lays an egg this year, going into 2012 we would be at ground zero for the QB position.
"CJ"...
Exactly...Although I will still pimp our #3 prospect as Prior because he translates well to multiple positions as the "Slash" even as a rookie and under Jackson -n- Sanders he may just develop...
We cannot...And I believe will not go into this season with everything relying on one man who has enough good to win but enough bad to destroy us..."JC"...
So the question is who...The only other body besides "VY" that I would look to is Carson Palmer but he will cost us so what do we give up in trade...Talk of Smith from across the bay sickens me...Trades with Denver are highly unlikely and I never liked Orton....Klob is the high $$$ man this season so out of our reach...No doubt there is some name that I'm missing here but that's who "JC" was...Just a "No-Name" "QB" who was brought in as our temporary savior....
PantyRaider...Expecting Some Movement But Not Sure Who!!!!/_
This Info From YahooSports:
the per-team cap figure for 2011 will be in the range of $120 million in salaries plus about $20 million or so in benefits, according to people with knowledge of the talks.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-nfllabor
after reading your take, I have to ask myself if someone hacked your account.
SCAR
No, it's me. And I'm serious here, in a lighthearted way. Maybe it's ridiculous, but I'm not sure. Look at our QB depth chart. I think I believe the dude could easily hold the #3 spot without any drop in ability or potential performance. So why not?
"RT"...
It's ridicules to think we should start the season as is...It's ridicules to think Kile Freakin Boller will win anything for us except maybe the #1 draft choice...
PantyRaider...Ridicules To Think Al Won't Try!!!/_
Davis just brought Campbell here last year and he still believes in him (frankly, I think Campbell deserves the chance). So why would Davis shop for another starting QB?
Now that's ridiculous!
The smart thing would be to find a young upstart to be the 3rd QB behind a veteran No.2.
I don't expect Davis to do anything earth shattering at QB. If he throws mega-millions at anybody it will be Nnamdi Asomugha because Davis is far more obsessed with the CB position than he is QB.
How many $40 Mil Guaranteed contracts were thrown at "CB"s....
How many 1st rd "CB"s has Al taken and how high.....
1. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU....#1
1. Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska...#23
1a. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, California...#31
1a. Phillip Buchanon, CB, Miami, Fla....#17
1a. Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan...#4
1. Todd Marinovich, QB, USC...#24
1a. Ted Watts, CB, Texas Tech...#21
1. Marc Wilson, QB, BYU...#15
1. Eldridge Dickey, QB, Tennessee St...#25
2. Ken Stabler, QB, Alabama...#52
1. Roman Gabriel QB, No. Carolina St...#2
2 high 1st rd "QB"s and 1 high 1st rd "CB"...W0W!!!...Now that really supports yopur claims...
Than compile the list of "CB"s that Al has traded for or signed to huge contacts as "FA"...
Like Jay Schreador...
Kerry Collins..
Jeff George...
Rich Gannon...
Hoss...
Plunkett..
Hell there's too damn many to list!!!...
Your Turn!!!...
I will help ya out:
Mike Hains "CB"...
Mad Bomber "QB"...
Woodson -n- Lott played "S"...
Keep Lookin!!!
"The smart thing would be to find a young upstart to be the 3rd QB behind a veteran No.2."
I agree 100%.
"CJ"...
I have been posting such but you have been disagreeing...
Terrelle Pryor...Cheap!!
Colt Brennen...Cheap!!
So now who is you man and how much???
PantyRaider...Pryor Fills Many Shoes!!!/_
4 months of no contact and little to no work and now these lazy bastards refuse to perform in "2-a-Day"s from now on in Camp!!!!....WHAT!!!...
"OldSchool" I would crack a whip on these lazy weak ass bastards who want all the $$$$ but are unwilling to work for it...Do less and get more!!!...Meanwhile they cried about that 18 game schedule too...
Welcome to the new "NPPFL" of professional football...Bud Grant is rolling over in his grave!!!...
PantyRaider...New "National Powder-Puff Football League"!!!!/_
PR,
I don't have any problems whatsoever if the Raiders take Terrell Pryor in the supplemental draft IF it is a long term project where Pryor is truly groomed and developed to become the potential starter down the road.
The cost and athletic upside of Pryor would minimize the risk as long as reasonable expectations are established by the organization and coaching staff. 2013/2014 (or later) would be a sensible targeted goal.
Pryor would likely cost the Raiders a 3rd round pick in 2012 (unless they could acquire him with a 5th), leaving them without a 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the April draft.
The guy is athletic but might be another Jamarcus Russell headache in waiting... and the Raiders' screening process to protect against bad choices like Russell has proven to be less than ideal.
"CJ"...
I agree a 2 yr window for Pryor is a good one as he serves the "Slash" role while developing under Hue -n- Sanders who can prolley stop our long line of failures at developing "QB" talent...
Maddeen did well at developing the "Snake" and Flores did as well as could be expected developing Marc Wilson who did post one Championship season out of so many mediocre..."85" led the Raiders to AFCW Champs but failed in the "PO"s...He wears 2 "SB" rings due to Plunkett -n- company...
But having Boller as our #2 is scary to say the least...
PantyRaider...Still Need A #2 Vet!!!!/_
If I had to watch Jeff George pout around the field and sidelines again, I would have a heart attack. He is a certifiable loser, weak minded and a whiner.
Roy
Hah, tell us how you really feel about Jeff George, Roy!
Roy - your description of George brings back my own memories of him. He had a world-class arm, but he never had Rich Gannon's drive to win.
That's one major problem with the Raiders scouting and player selection, always more concerned with athleticism than football acumen. Most of the best football players I can think of are not the best athletes.
You barley have to play college football to play for the Raiders, as long as you can run fast or throw a ball a country mile.
"Most of the best football players I can think of are not the best athletes."
Care to toss around a few names...Like MeFadden/Nmamdi/Ford/Seymour -n- ________________???
"Most of the best football players I can think of are not the best athletes."
Now ya gotta admit that one was really stupid!!!...
Just Laughin At Cha Baby!!!...
"According to sources, owners voted 31-0 to accept the proposed 10-year collective bargaining agreement, with the Oakland Raiders abstaining."
Always going against the grain, my Raiders.
I am glad that Davis did not vote. Hopefully it is a bad deal for him that will eventually force him to sell the team. My Raider friends and I were all just discussing how it is a dream of ours for him to one day sell the team. Oh well, a guy can dream, right?
Sarasota Raider
Key aspects of the proposal include:
" An agreement that covers the 2011 through 2020 seasons, including the 2021 draft.
" Reducing the offseason program by five weeks and reducing organized team activities from 14 to 10; limiting full-contact practices in the preseason and regular season, and increasing number of days off for players.
" Rookie wage scale to include four-year contracts for all drafted players (option for five years on first-rounders), three-year contracts for undrafted free agents, and strong anti-holdout rules.
" Creation of a new fund to redistribute, beginning in 2012, savings from new rookie pay system to current and retired player benefits and a veteran player performance pool.
" Unrestricted free agency for players after four accrued seasons; restricted free agency for players with three accrued seasons.
" Over the next 10 years, additional funding for retiree benefits between $900 million and $1 billion. The largest single amount, $620 million, will be used for a new “Legacy Fund,” which will be devoted to increasing pensions for pre-1993 retirees.
" Salary cap plus benefits of $142.4 million per club in 2011 and at least that amount in 2012 and 2013.
Here Is The NFLPA's Hold Up:
Actually, the player reps did vote Wednesday at NFLPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., but it wasn’t the type of vote that was expected. Instead of simply approving the draft that lawyers and staff had been working on for the last month, the reps conditionally passed it to the Brady plaintiffs, sources told NFL Network reporter Albert Breer.
In other words, the proposal will go to the 10 plaintiffs involved in the Brady antitrust case only if the league meets certain conditions in settling that piece of litigation, and also the TV rights fees case, in which players accused owners of setting up a $4 billion lockout-insurance fund.
The players also empowered Smith, their legal counsel and the 13-man executive committee to work out the remaining issues, according to sources. One is the players’ pursuit of $320 million in benefits lost as part of the 2010 uncapped-year rules, which were negotiated in the 2006 labor deal.
New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins and San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson, two of the 10 plaintiffs, are holding strong to their request for $10 million as part of the antitrust settlement, sources told Breer on Thursday. That’s one of a number of issues that relate to the plaintiffs in that case.
The NFLPA executive committee will not recommend that player reps vote on any deal until both lawsuits are resolved, multiple sources told La Canfora, and it’s unknown when that will be
This: They Can Do It And Let Players Cross The Line....
Team facilities will open Saturday, and the new league year will begin Wednesday, Goodell said — assuming the players approve the agreement, too.
NFLPA responded by e-mail:
“As you know the Owners have ratifified their proposal to settle our differences. It is my understanding that they are forwarding it to us. As you may have heard, they apparently approved a supplemental revenue sharing proposal. Obviously, we have not been a part of those discussions. As you know from yesterday, issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open, other issues such as workers compensation, economic issues and end of deal terms remain unresolved. There is no agreement between the NFL and the Players at this time. I look forward to our call tonight.”
As I Speculated...Here It Is:
The parties also could come to a compromise, according to a source, whereby the lockout is lifted before a full global settlement is reached — which would have to include recertification in order to have a full CBA — to allow players to report in the interim.
That would make it easier to collect signatures and cards of players currently under contract since they would be centrally located at team facilities. If that takes place, in theory, then the signatures needed could be obtained over weekend and allow the league year to begin next week.
"J-Mac"s Post Makes Some Things Clearer:
For now, here’s how things shake out.
Training camps are permitted to open Wednesday. No padded practices are allowed on the second and third days. The Raiders already are scheduled to kick off camp this day anyway, so no big deal here.
The Raiders can begin waiving players and renegotiating contracts Saturday. That’s a good thing because they will need time to get under the new salary cap limit of $120 million. Teams have until Wednesday to be in full compliance of the new cap limit.
The Raiders and other teams can being voluntary training, conditioning and classroom instruction Saturday. They also are permitted to sign drafted rookies and their own free agents, as well as franchise players.
Free agency starts Wednesday, with players who have four years or more experience considered unrestricted free agents. The new CBA reverts back to the terms of the previous agreement, whereas last year players needed six years or more to be an unrestricted free agents.
This is of utmost concern to the Raiders because tight end Zach Miller now is an unrestricted free agent. The one-year tender he received in March goes away because he no longer is considered a restricted free agent. The Raiders want Miller back in a big way. It’s likely going to take a big contract to secure the long-term services of their leading receiver each of the past three seasons.
The Raiders and other teams are free to go after any undrafted free agent Sunday. The Raiders typically are quite active when it comes time to targeting such players. Given their salary cap constraints, they figure to be just as active this time around.
– The ability of teams to carry as many as 90 players on their rosters, beginning Wednesday. They wouldn’t have to get down to 75 until Aug. 30.
PantyRaider..."CBA" Hanging On The Edge Of A Knife!!!!/_
31-0 vote? Does Davis think a new CBA is not important, or is he merely absentee? Either way, I think it's a bad reflection on the Raiders organization that they were the only team not to participate in such an important vote. Shameful. Should we blame Ricky's? Maybe Raiders exec's were busy looking for more photos of Gruden with Raider players.
I find it insanely odd what the Raiders deem as important verses what they deem unimportant.
How Freakin Stupid!!!...
Every time you open your yap you stick your damn dumb foot in it time and time again...
Even the freakin Denver Post is posting that Al Davis was the only voice of reason here and the players are pimping the man as the only Owner who gives a shit about his players...
What this Non-Vote accomplished:
#1...Higher recognition in the eyes of virtually every NFL player...Continued adversity against the NFL and assaults by the "Zebra"s which was already there anyway...
#2...Prolley a higher desire to play for the man and his team thus making it easier to sign our players and acquire desirable "FA"s too....
PantyRaider...The Man Is A Genius!!!/_
Then why didn't he vote against the proposal? Do you know what abstain means?
How is not voting "the voice of reason?" What did he say on the matter? Abstain doesn't mean he wants to give the players more.
If all the other owners withdrew themselves from negotiations and voting as Davis has, there would be no football this year. Where's the genius in that?
The owners want to collect revenues and the players want to get paid. But if it was up to the single non-vote cast by the Raiders, there would be none of the above.
Brilliant!
The terms of the CBA are based on long and hard fought negotiations. By definition, a successful negotiation is usually one in which compromises are made on both sides, i.e., nobody gets everything they want. The NFL (Davis's partners) and the players finally reach this climactic point in their negotiation, and Davis tells his league partners, "eh, I'm not voting."
Davis and the Raiders removed themselves from the process all along. They let others do all the heavy lifting which will ultimately benefit the Raiders.
I would have had more respect for a vote against the league proposal and some dialogue as to why, then a complete withdrawal from the process.
Once again, Raiders ownership and executive management is absentee. How can the CBA not be important to them?
Your an idiot and your stupidity doesn't even warrant a reply...
Nobody completely withdrew from this process you scrambled mental midget!!!...There was a comity formed of certain Owners while others were kept in the process as it went along...Just like not every player was involved in negotiating you ignorant ass!!!
This comment has been removed by the author.
If it doesn't warrant a reply, why did you?
What does "comity" mean?
You are no more than a troll who stayed up all night waiting for me to reply to your meaningless dribble.
I voiced my opinion and you don't like it. Too bad for you.
Congrats...You noted that I can't spell...What a remarkable achievement for a Walmart Greater...
"stayed up all night"...It's 11:30 PM Saturday on this end of the world you fool!!!...
"waiting for me to reply to your meaningless dribble."
You freakin Idiot!!!...I replied to your meaningless lies that any NFL Owner abstained from the proceedings...You can't even keep the simplest thing straight in you noodle...It's as twisted as your constant lies...
To me an "abstain" vote means Davis wasn't 100% behind the latest version of the CBA. Otherwise he would have voted "yes".
The reason he didn't vote "no" is he wanted to remain neutral and not impede an agreement.
The "abstain" vote is symbolic of attempting to straddle the fence and balance your individual belief with the collective good.
I'm sure there were plenty of owners who weren't 100% behind every single detail of the latest version of the CBA. However, 31 owners thought the version was more than good enough to vote "yes".
Ultimately to negotiate a very complex CBA there needs to be significant compromises. The core nature of a compromise is making concessions to reach an agreement that both parties can live with.
If there were major issues that Davis didn't agree with, I believe he would have voted "no". A few minor issues caused the "abstain" vote. To me, if it was only a few minor issues, he should have been united behind the ownership group and voted "yes". If you are going to get noticed for voting "abstain", I think you owe it to the fans, players, and league to articulate why you voted "abstain" at the appropriate time.
CJ - I pretty much agree with what you said (particularly at the end), except I haven't read anything that really proves Davis and the Raiders have been involved in the CBA process at all. (Amy Trask suggesting after the fact that they were involved all along is proof of nothing.) IMO, it's totally unfair to let everyone else do all the work, then complain you might not agree with the results after it's all done. Meanwhile, compromises or not, there is total solidarity in the ownership group, except for Al Davis. Perhaps there was a time that meant something special, but I just don't see it here.
It sounds a little too welfare to me.
Naturally, Davis might be upset that his 4-year players (like Miller) are now unrestricted free agents, but that's where the negotiations fell. The time to complain (or offer solution) has passed.
NYR,
I don't know what involvement (if any) the Raiders organization had in the CBA negotiations.
One would naturally think that Amy Trask, being a lawyer and CEO, would be intimately involved in the day to day meetings. I don't recall see any photos, videos, or articles about her presence.
You would also have to believe that Davis would be involved but not physically present. We have heard a peep from Davis since the Hue Jackson press conference.
Of course we don't know what has been going on behind the scenes, behind closed doors, etc. but it is very bizarre to say the least.
CJ - My gut tells me Davis is not strong enough Physically or mentally to handle all the demands of his overseeing the Raiders organization, pursuing a new stadium arrangement and participating with the CBA. Also, he may have a sense of entitlement, or even carry some resentment from being a major contributor to past CBAs.
And outside of Davis's direct oversight, I don't think even Trask would have authority to speak on behalf of the Raiders.
When has anyone spoken for the Raiders when it didn't sound like it came directly from Davis?
I believe if the Raiders had been involved in any way, it would have been newsworthy.
The final word we hope!!!
NFL owners and players have tentatively agreed to a plan that would allow for the players' executive committee to vote on Monday to recommend accepting the CBA and recertifying as a union, a source said Saturday.
Under the plan, players would begin reporting to training camps as early as Wednesday to physically vote on whether to recertify, with the hope that it will be done by Friday at the earliest, the source said.
According to the source, progress in other talks with the owners has put the 11-member NFLPA executive board in position to vote Monday to recommend the 10-year collective bargaining agreement the owners ratified Thursday.
PantyRaider...Back To Football!!!/_
"CJ"...
ThanYou for being a good voice of reason...
Just like in politics representatives and senators are divided into groups with the responsibility to develop certain criteria...To say others are not involved is pure stupidity...After the matter is established everyone casts a vote...Yes-No-or-Abstain which does happen allot....
In the NFL we have the "Compition committee"..."Nagotiating committee"...To say the other Owners are not involved is to be totally ignorant of and due process...
Re: Davis Abstaining...He had a 2nd reply to this already and some have speculated it had to do with something the other Owners were trying to sneak by the NFLPA...I don't know the details but it sure seems that the majority of comments from NFL Players are favorable to Mr Davis and even the "Mediot"s who normally hate on him like the Denver Post -n- KS Star -n- The "Sapp" who still referred to the man dishonorably as he was patting him on the back...
PantyRaider....Now Back To FootBall Time Is Here Again!!!/_
Projections anyone:
I will go on record now @ 11-n-5 AFCW Champs....
This:
But the NFLPA does have its 13-man executive committee and 32 player reps on standby for Monday, with a plan to bring the executive committee to the trade association's Washington headquarters in place, pending continued progress through the weekend. In addition, the NFL's labor committee, which has negotiated with the NFLPA's executive committee throughout, held a Saturday afternoon conference call to discuss the remaining issues.
By damn how does anything get done with all those damn "Committees" while all the other Owners -n Players abstain from doing anything at all????
Only a complete idiot would ask such a thing...
Just laughing at cha Baby111
Salary Cap:
$126.5 Mil In Salary -n- Bonus + $22 Mil In Benefits...
$120 Mil base w $3.5 Mill incentive package w $3 Mil advance on future years…
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Salary-cap exemptions in 2011 and 2012
This is good not only for teams who are up against the $120 million salary cap but also for players set up to be cap casualties.
Teams basically will have a $3.5 million credit this season to help pay veteran players. Teams also can borrow up to $3 million from future salary caps to help pay veterans. That $6.5 million cushion can be used on multiple players.
In 2012, teams can borrow up to $1.5 million against future caps for veteran players.
Game-day rosters now at 46
Teams no longer must designate their No. 3 quarterback as the “emergency” QB. This might be the best news of the year for running quarterbacks like Vince Young and coaches who can figure out ways to use them in spot situations.
Terrelle Pryor resembles that comment too!!!….
PantyRaider...Back To FootBall And Smiling Big Time!!!!/_
NFL Lockout Update: Why Raiders Al Davis Comes Out The Biggest Winner Among NFL Owners - SB Nation Kansas City
My guess is that Davis reaps something of a reward in all of this — that at the very least, the players are thankful for one owner who has an issue with the way today’s agreement went down. He’s easy to laugh at or poke fun of, but in this instance, Al Davis is the one owner who comes out looking good.
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Now that was from the "Squaws" for crying out loud...But somehow "Some" from some 2500 miles NE can see with some long distance X-Ray eyes something that's happening under that "Cone-o-Silence" and make some report here...
So to some it all up...
I don't think so!!!
Gotta see the freakin humor is this one as "Some" continue to try and project their Mental Midget Mentality onto a man who has accomplished more in one season than they will in an entire lifetime...
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My gut tells me Davis is not strong enough Physically or mentally to handle all the demands of his overseeing the Raiders organization, pursuing a new stadium arrangement and participating with the CBA.
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Well I guess I believe the slob...His "Gut" speaks to him which is very understandable sense it's obviously the only noodle that he can think with...May I suggest he wash out his brain with his vinegar dueshbag...The access point would be your diaper...Ya know the one that speaks to you...
FART!!!!.....
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This:
Also, he may have a sense of entitlement, or even carry some resentment from being a major contributor to past CBAs.
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Just another example of rejection syndrome as he portrays another as if like himself...Prolley too fat -n- lazy to get out of his chair and got fired by Walmart for failure to greet properly and has returned to his welfare Bennies that he's always posting about while again trying to project his mental deficiencies onto another who far exceeds his mental capacities...
Well all is not lost -n- lonely...He does have his Shadow LIAR to hold his fat little hand!!!!....
Whoops!!...I forgot the O -n- got an S instead of a C -n- the E was out of place...Other than that it was just fine...
"dueshbag" -vs- "DoucheBag"
Well it still applies...
Now how perplexing is all this...
1. What about 2011 draft choices?
Rookies would report to the teams that drafted them Wednesday, beginning the much-needed classroom sessions and playbook review with coaches. When training camp begins Friday or Saturday, and the rookies aren't under contract, what happens?
Typically, players stay away from team facilities until a deal is done. In this case, when they've already been in the building with coaches and taken physicals, would they take their playbooks and videos to their apartments until they're under contract?
Would the players be allowed to stay with the team and take part in all non-physical activities (no agent would allow his player to practice -- and maybe train -- while not being under contract because of injury risk)? Could the player also watch drills to get mental reps?
These are questions that agents are asking.
That uncertainty might only be solved by teams quickly signing their draft picks. With so much other activity expected (trades, signing undrafted rookies, the waiving and re-signing of veteran players), it's no slam dunk that all draft picks will be under contract to avoid this potentially odd scenario.
2. Will free agency be total guesswork?
Signing free agents in a hurry could be a blind leap for some teams, especially when it comes to undrafted rookies. One team's high-ranking personnel official said the immediacy to fill rosters puts personnel guys in somewhat of a bind because they will be signing a lot of players sight unseen.
The example he gave was (hypothetically) that his team planned on signing a kid who was 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds when he saw him last in March. Will that kid still be that size and look that good, or will he now weigh 275 pounds, or 340?
Multiple agents said many undrafted rookies weren't funded by agents and didn't have the financial wherewithal to afford to work out at some of the top training facilities like Athletes Performance, Competitive Edge or with Chip Smith in Orlando, where hundreds of pro athletes train. Some might have trained where they played collegiately, but others had to go bunk with their parents and work out at their high schools and neighborhood gyms, so their fitness could be a guess.
As for free-agent veterans, the concern isn't as great, although there is some.
Before most deals are consummated, the passing of a physical is mandatory. Most vets know this is their chance for a big payday, so they don't do anything physically risky and stay in shape during the offseason. However, teams often have at least 24 hours to wine and dine a free agent -- and give him the eye test. There won't be time for that in this frenzied market, so there could end up being some buyers' remorse before a free agent even plays in a game.
3. How damaged are opportunities for undrafted rookies?
The placement of undrafted free agents. First off, don't devalue this element of the NFL, especially with so many undrafted players -- Arian Foster, LeGarrette Blount and Sam Shields -- playing major roles last season (every season for that matter).
Agents usually know what teams' rosters look like because free agency and the draft have occurred before undrafted free agents are signed. Agents take head counts and send their undrafted clients to teams where they have a chance to make the team.
For example, Blount backed out of a deal with the San Francisco 49ers after last season's draft because the Tennessee Titans had a more appealing situation since they needed a big back. Blount earned a roster spot there, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers poached him when the Titans placed Blount on waivers in hopes of eventually putting him on their practice squad.
Under the post-lockout circumstances, agents won't have as defined locales because veteran free agency hasn't occurred. For instance, if a team didn't draft a safety but is in need, the agent could send his undrafted safety to that team. A day or two later, the team signs a veteran free-agent safety. That wouldn't rule the undrafted player out of the mix, but he won't get the reps the vets will because they need to learn the new scheme and would be on the practice field a lot more than Mr. Long Shot.
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Who'ed a thunk!!!...It's the agents who decide where an "UDFA" goes NOT the team or their scouts or perhaps the player...Well that's depending on if more than one team is bidding...
PantyRaider...Things I Didn't Know!!!/_
"J-Mac"s Gone???.......Steve Corkran Takes Over???
Jerry McDonald has been assigned the Raiders beat writer position, effective immediately. I am switching from the beat writer the past 14 years to the full-time blogger. So, for those of you who crave your Raiders fix from Jerry, he’s still a click away, as well as in the paper. I have the task of trying to fill Jerry’s shoes, which won’t be easy. He was on the leading edge of papers incorporating blogging into their coverage and he quickly developed into one of the best in the nation.
PantyRaider...That Blog Is Diminished!!!/_
In reading some of the bullet points of the new CBA, it would seem the players did very well; significant increases in structured compensations, shift of salaries from rookies to vets, increases in the salary cap and the salary "floor" making teams boost their overall payrolls, etc.
In looking at the terms sketched out, I can't see how players thought of Al Davis as their "savior" through this process.
What a bunch of happy horse shit!
Now that free agency will be in full swing, $50 says Sam Williams will get a new contract with the Raiders. Any takers? This guy wouldn't even get a return phone call in arena FB. He offers the Raiders zero opportunity for growth and is a waste of a roster spot.
I predicted long ago that when the Raiders can let go of Williams (and players like him), they will have a chance to succeed again. Williams represents a connection to an old school way of doing things in Oakland that has help stunt the Raiders development for many years.
Gruden, Kiffin and Cable all tried to break that spell but they were all sent packing for their efforts.
New take is up. What's your take?
Just More Of Your Bull Shit Lies And Unworthy Of Comment....
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