Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The New Silver & Black

"Reggie's my guy. He did inherit a mess, and he's still cleaning. I can be patient with him..."

               -Mark Davis in Sports Illustrated

Everything we've been talking about lately here at Raider Take is now reported in great detail in the new issue of Sports Illustrated, in an extensive five-page spread titled The New Silver & Black: "SI followed Oakland's brain trust over the course of a year as it worked to transform the culture of an iconic franchise..."

Simply put, this is a must-read for all Raiders fans. 

From the story: "When McKenzie went to view the club's draft room last year, he discovered that none existed, so he had one built from scratch. When he requested the team's scouting questionnaires for evaluating college prospects, he learned there weren't any, so he created them."

In the piece, Mark Davis takes responsibility for the Carson Palmer deal. Dennis Allen is quoted as saying, "I want guys who love football, who are willing to put the team first...Who exemplify those characteristics." We learn that the Raiders were the only team that didn't subscribe to the psychological testing program available to each team before the draft.

This piece is ultimately a monument to hope, as achieved through radical change and, alas, necessary patience.

Please go read it, and then let's hash it out in the comments section.

61 Comments:

Blogger Raider Take said...

P.S. As we discuss this piece, I would like to encourage passionate views expressed with at least a measure of civility. Let's make this a place people want to come, not flee.

Here's a note I received from Scorpio that puts it well:

"Scorpio here...I haven't been visiting your blog lately mainly because I've been very busy with things outside of Raider football like - life. Just want to let you know that I am extremely disappointed in things here right now...Even when I started posting on your blog a few years ago I was VERY anti-Al Davis, but I've learned in my "old age" to tone it down. We Raider fans are among the MOST knowledgeable in the NFL. This is something I am very proud of. Following our team is a year-round deal. Raider Take used to be a place where we could all gather, and talk/discuss all things Raiders. But lately it's been so negative with the personal put-downs. Outside of the regulars ie: Calico, Raider Nate 75, Raider00, that's IT! H and others aren't around anymore. I and others like Scar & memdef pop in every now and then. Everyone has their reason and I'm sure they are all valid reasons but surely people can make time to stop in and post something but I'm sure when they see negative stuff like what's been posted lately, they get turned off. If for example we were to have a "get-together" gathering in the parking lot before a game, and of one guy disagreed with me on a comment I made, does that guy punch me in the face? That's what this has become - but on line. I may be wrong in my analogy but we need to grow up. Anyway, while I know you posted something last year for people to calm down and stop it with the insults and put-downs, there is only so much you can do. You can't delete everyone, you wouldn't have a blog. But it IS very disappointing that some of our Raider brothers can't make a comment without putting someone else down. Anyway, I'll still drop in sometimes but it's not the same as before. Have a nice day and as always - GO RAIDERS!"

1:58 PM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

I will have to find the SI and read the article. I wanted to shout out to Scorpio.

I know it isn't always fun to do on here, but I usually skip most of the content. I will read up on some of the comments, but when the string of insults and prepubescent name calling starts is when I scroll down. I hope you don't stay away long, I've always enjoyed the "chat/discussions" on this site with ya. I agree that we need to grow up some here, and not take everything so personal, or make everything so personal. I look forward to your "pop ins".

2:27 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

wow, someone actually "get's it"... amazing.

3:32 PM  
Anonymous Grayflannelsuit said...

What's the date on this issue? Want to make sure I get the right one.

3:55 PM  
Blogger nyraider said...

I remember media reports after Reggie came on board suggest that he was "updating" the draft room...

We all knew the Raiders were a mom & pop type operation but the deficiencies mentioned had to have contributed to their failures for many years.

One thing we knew, the Raiders could never put together a decent power point presentation when the wanted one.

4:43 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

clean up the trolls and then there can be civil football discussion. multiple names, anonymous attacks...they aren't even Raider fans...clean them out and you will have a good site. Encourage it and it is what it is.

JONES

5:39 PM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

Grayflannel, it's the April 22 edition with the Boston Marathon cover.

Run and get it, it's a great read. At the beginning, it talks about Reggie jogging the practice field and being amazed at their poor condition, with patches of dirt and uneven footing. There was no full-time groundskeeper, maintenance was outsourced. When Mark Davis calls it a "mess," he's not kidding.

6:50 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

Wow... worse organization than I thought. Weak.

2:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now this is something to look forward to this year. I assume you guys have seen this but thought it was worth putting up the link
thanks for the blog Raider Take
Sanderson

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/cgeXNWX9FFFDk6bGBf8WDg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnflexperts/veldheerresize.jpg

7:41 PM  
Anonymous memdf said...

SI (and our friends espn) have been haters forever.
I would not give them a dime. I;ll read it off the rack at barnes and noble.

8:01 PM  
Anonymous memdf said...

With Scorpio-
The bickering is frustrating and does tend to have me do a drive by rather than stop. Maybe the new silver and black article along with a new season will bring about a new, friendlier Raider Take.

8:18 PM  
Blogger nyraider said...

Am I'm reading the schedule right? Raiders have a prime time game plus they play in Dallas on Thanksgiving?

Even two games is a lot of national coverage for what will likely be nothing more than expansion team football.

If we only win one game this year, please be on Thanksgiving!

I have two opportunities to see them play in the Meadowlands but it might not be worth the price of admission, which includes taking smack from Giants and Jets fans... something I don't mind so much when I know we can win.

5:08 AM  
Anonymous grayflannelsuit said...

Read the article, and it seems things were worse than even the biggest pessimist suspected. I am happy to hear that Mark is giving Reggie a fair shot, and seems to understand how big a turnaround job this is. I for one am willing to be patient.

As for the comments - I suggest you move to a platform that will allow you to moderate more easily, such as Wordpress.

12:03 PM  
Anonymous Tokai Raider said...

is there any way of reading the SI articles online? the iphone app is crap. you can't buy any issue in it.

5:53 PM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

I haven't been able to find it online yet. It's worth tracking down. Some extraordinary details in it.

Good point, flannel. Wordpress would probably be better. But I guess I'm stuck in my ways of just being a blogger, not a moderator. The site doesn't generate revenue. It's a labor of love and a social experiment.

Stuck in my ways, not generating revenue, a social experiment...Maybe I should live in Alameda after all.

8:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Reggie's my guy," reiterates Davis. "He did inherit a mess, and he's still cleaning. I can be patient with him. I'm giving him the whole shot," meaning the five-year length of his contract.

"Now, I'm not saying everybody else gets that same shot, because not everybody else is my guy. But Reggie is the one hire that I made-him and Carson."

That's a message that even the players get. As Kelly walked out of the Qualcomm Stadium locker room following Oakland's 2012 finale, a 24-21 loss to San Diego, he professed a clear vision for where he saw the Raiders headed. "We [used to] have one dude running the show. Things would get changed at the last minute because he would get involved. That doesn't happen anymore. Now you've got a chain of command. The old man used to sit in on defensive meetings after practice. That doesn't happen no more. It's a tighter ship.... You can see where [McKenzie and Allen] said, 'We're going to bite the bullet our first year and ride out this tough season, get some more salary-cap room and go from there.' There ain't going to be no veterans around here. A lot of people are going to be sacrificed in the process, but they're going to get it right."

11:08 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

Go Carson Palmer! Good fit for AZ. I hope he excels... Oak really screwed themselves. Again.

11:38 PM  
Blogger nyraider said...

How so? Palmer reportedly wouldn't accept the same pay from Oak that he accepted in AZ. Should we have paid him even more $$ to watch over a rebuilding process, then let him leave just when we really need him?

IMO< letting Palmer go was one of the smartest things Reggie did this offseason.

4:48 AM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

I think Carson will excel in Arizona, if they get an O-Line.
I mean, he threw over 4000 yards with young WRs, and now he has Fitzgerald.

I don't think this is the fault of the Raiders. Carson made it clear he did not want to come back. We offered to pay him $10 million this year, taking the $3 million cut and adding it to another year in his contract. He said no, and left the Raiders no choice but to cut or trade him. We traded him.

OTB, I'm sure you know how to read; but I'm concerned if you really understand what you read sometimes.

7:21 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Palmer might have a decent season with the Cardinals but the team will struggle while picking up Palmer's hefty contract.

Come 2014, the Cardinals will be looking for a new, cheaper, younger QB.

Conversely, while the Raiders will stuggle in 2013, come 2014, we will know whether Pryor or Flynn are the real deal while also being in a MUCH better cap position.

I still haven't had the chance to read the SI article. If anyone finds an on-line link, please share.

12:28 PM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

So I just finished the Article. What amazed me the most in the article was the story that Al Davis to quote the article, "several years before his death" was negotiating with a players agent and had to quit the conversation due to health issues (the article explains more what was going on). The next day, Davis called the agent and asked, "Where did we leave off." The agents reply was they were discussing a deal with so much guaranteed $$, and what the agent said was $1 million more than what was really discussed, and Al approved it. That to me was the most appalling part of the story.

If I had to guess as to which player that was, it would have to be Tommy Kelly, or DeAngelo Hall.

The other part of the story was the telling of hiring Mike Lombardi to bring technical upgrades to the Raiders, only to have Al refuse to make the changes and fire Mike. It was so far behind in technology, that Al did not offer direct deposit for anyone; nor did he even keep a paper Ledger for accounting purposes; he kept it all in his head!

If he were to be audited, he would have been fined, reported, and under investigation for fraud and possibly jailed. I can't believe what this article says about how he ran day-to-day business.

The practice facility's lack of grounds keeping will give you the perspective of why our WR's, DB's, and RB's cannot keep healthy hamstrings or groins. The whole article has given me a validation in saying the last 5 years, that Al was interfering with the success of the Raiders than helping.

It also gives you a perspective that a "Commitment to Excellence" was a "Commitment to doing it Al's Way." I don't want to spoil everything, but put it this way; what we've discussed about this team and how Al handled himself was the tip of the iceberg that this article reveals. But it made me appreciate more what Reggie is currently doing now, and left me with a "minty fresh" feeling about where this team is going to wind up. We have $45 million in dead money this year from the players we've released and traded; but will be $50 million under the cap ceiling at the start of next. Now let's see what big Reg does with the draft!

JUST WIN, BABY!

1:26 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

I would just like to hear 1 "crew" member come back here and tell us all how they were completely off-base when defending the era of 'post gruden'. Can't remember how many times I was attacked for stating what was obviously happening at Alameda.

The TRUTH always makes it's way into the open and there is no more rearranging of the history now. It can no longer be refuted and not one of them able to admit how full of crap they were.

The same crowd is now looking to hide because McKenzie is doing a bang up job, they were complaining about him because Hue is gone and "what could of been" with the old culture and being mediocre. Where are they now?

JONES

6:13 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Many Raider fans made the statement 6+ years ago that Al needed to hire executive support and modernize how business was being conducted.

The "mom & pop" analogy of how the Raiders were run is 100% spot on.

Don't want to pile on Al (RIP) but it is clear that his stubborness and inability to adpat and change made the "committment to excellence" slogan rather hollow. Doing things his way was more important to winning.

8:59 PM  
Anonymous Sactown Raider said...

Read the article, thanks for the heads-up on that. The article validates my considerable faith in Reggie and his "team" to get this job done. The Raiders didn't degrade overnight and it is going to take a lot of time, energy, thinking and patience to right this neglected franchised.

2:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Roland McClain is the Baltimore Ravens' problem now.

The former Raiders first round pick was arrested again on Sunday in his hometown of Decatur, Alabama, marking the second time this calendar year that the linebacker has found himself behind bars.

According to eyewitnesses, McClain refused to abide by police orders to vacate a public park after a large crowd had gathered there. He continued by allegedly using profanity directed at the police officers. The official arrest charges were for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

McClain was also arrested back in 2011 on assault and menacing charges.

9:29 PM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

I'm glad that guy is not on our team anymore. He has some serious issues. Of course, he will blame it on profiling like he's done the last 2 arrests; and not his own actions.

6:24 AM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

Not too mention that Baltimore signed him to a no-risk contract; meaning none of the monies agreed on is guaranteed. They can cuthim for this and not pay him a dime.
Why do I have Forrest Gump quotes going through my head?

6:29 AM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

In the article, we learn that the Raiders didn't have a draft room, and that they didn't subscribe to the psychological testing program for potential draft picks. That might partially explain the head cases (Jamarcus, Rolando) and reaches (DHB) in recent drafts.

7:51 AM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Not to mention that Mr. Davis subscribed to the theory of "body types". Mr. Davis said he could tell by the body type (lean muscles etc) if a player was NFL worthy. He would then believe that they would be able to coach/mold them into being a good football player. This may have worked years ago, but the game and the 'kids' have changed and the Raiders never changed with it.

It was like entering an Indianapolis 500 with a car from the 60's vs todays cars. It just wasn't going to work. One of the most unique situations in all of sports, that was the Oakland Raiders......but it's all changing now and FINALLY the Raiders are in this century.

The Raiders are being talked about again and it is no longer because they are stuck in a time warp. This Org is going to turn a lot of heads in the next few years.

JONES

10:36 AM  
Blogger GGRaider said...

I thought it was very cool that Mark Davis took responsibility for the Palmer trade. That one has unfairly been hung on hue and it's hurt him professionally.

1:40 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Hue hurt himself...Hue had to be part of the trade, he wanted to make the playoffs just as bad as anyone, to further his career.

Hue had a history with Palmer, I'm sure Hue had some, if not a lot of influence on that trade.

Hue's attempted power grab when Mr. Davis passed, his off-field "getting his nails done instead of being in meetings" ....these were his downfall. Hue is like the players the Raiders dumped this offseason....over-rated and very 'me first'. Let's see if Hue get's at least a coordinators job this year...if not, it's all his own doing.

JONES

2:22 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

...a few of you crack me up, a veteran champ QB wants to leave town, why? Because it's irreparable in the near future. Yes they should have fixed things FOR the pricey Palmer. Stupid! 2017. Betcha, and not a day sooner. Can't even get a practice field! Wake up, you guys are drinking your own koolaid, laughing... hard.

2:41 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

Reggie better buy some freaking sod. Boneheaded Al Davis... I called it first, in the Mike White era, before the internet experts u all claim to be. Bunch of ladies at the freaking salon..., some of you really are.

2:46 PM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

OTB, are you saying the current direction is wrong, and that instead of rebuilding, they should be building around Carson Palmer?

A guy who has had two career playoff appearances and no playoff wins, who quit on the Bengals, and who hasn't shown much in the leadership department? You mean that "veteran champ?"

2:53 PM  
Blogger nyraider said...

Mark Davis may have taken the blame for Carson Palmer but that trade was all Hue Jackson, IMO. Again, IMO, nobody with knowledge of the situtation (or football for that matter) would think otherwise.

OTB, you're entitled to your opinion. However, perhaps you can explain what you think Carson Palmer could have brought to the Raiders during this much needed rebuilding process.

In 2016, 2017, or whenever it is you think the Raiders will be winners again, Palmer will be retired and the Raiders will likely have a franchise QB in place. So how does keeping Palmer now benefit the Raiders (now or in the future)?

3:47 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

"...a few of you crack me up, a veteran champ QB wants to leave town, why?"

I honestly believe that you not a fan of the Raiders nor NFL football in general. What other conclusion can be drawn when you are descibing Palmer as a "champ QB"?

6:50 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

Look at his stats with the measly organization, it was too little, too late, unfortunately. Just watch, and we'll see who knows his football. 2017. OK Take: Current direction's fine, I guess, but they blew it (again) with the Palmer opportunity, as they were never really "all in" with him, and the costliness of not sticking with an investment. It's pretty basic.
NY, dude... Palmer had poise, accuracy, experience and season-spanning talent. Jack, your opinion is weak. He was one of the better first round acquisitions, son...

12:22 AM  
Blogger nyraider said...

You make it sound like he's a nice shiny toy you want to keep.

Back to the point; if the Raiders are not contenders until 2016 or 2017, why pay Palmer $13mm a year to babysit the rebuilding process, only to then need another QB when he retires or his skills deplete?

Not a very smart investment. The better play is to search out a franchise QB while you're rebuilding. Build a team around that person.

In the end, it really didn't matter. Palmer was offered the same money to stay but he bailed on his team and his teammates. Is that the QB you want??

I'll take my chances with Flynn and Pryor... et al.

4:19 AM  
Blogger nyraider said...

P.S. I wonder if McFadden will still be a Raider after the draft. IMO, he probably shouldn't be. I'd rather have the draft pick(s), and I think Reggie would too. Of course, that presupposes somebody would actually trade for him... which is questionable.

4:24 AM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

NY, I agree. I'm not sure McFadden is here for the long term either. I don't know if we will trade him for more picks; but I think he will finish this year with the Raiders, and sign elsewhere next season as well. We don't really have the $$ to go after a top line RB, at least not until next season. When we do, I really hope we go after a Garner-Wheatley combination in our running game.

I'm still not sold that we take Sharriff with the overall #3 pick. I still think we trade down, pick Tayvon Austin, and get a 2nd rounder as well.

OTB, we did NOT let Palmer go. Palmer made it clear he did not want to stay. He would not take a $3 million pay cut, with that $3 million put in an extension to his contract. He declined that to take less to play in Arizona. Good for him, I think he will do well there. But to say that the Raiders gave up on him, is anything but true. Mark Davis made it clear that Palmer was his guy and wanted him and his leadership around. He and Reggie did everything they could to keep him; but in the end, Palmer wanted to leave to have a chance to win now. He gives Arizona that opportunity. Get your facts straight.

To call him a "veteran champ QB" is just silly; unless you're referring to Carson's USC days. Stats in the regular season do not make you a champion, just ask Dan Marino, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo, Dan Fouts, and Frank Tarkenton. They may make you a HOF QB, but not a champion. Big difference.

But to say that Carson has no leadership ability is just plain silly too. To be quite honest, he was the anchor to the Raiders' offense last year when our bonehead OC was taking a Knapp. He was also the QB who took Pryor aside and helped him gain knowledge on how to help his career. He has plenty of leadership qualities, but he needs to hone in on those qualities and quit acting like Mark Sanchez at times.

6:34 AM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

That's my point dudes, they can't even stick with the plan They Chose! Very expensive plan. I know he wanted to leave, I mean, c'mon, pot holes? The Raiders are a money grubbing franchise, period. Poor practice facilities are like economic indices, they reveal internal probes that started with the pride over substance of one Mister A. Davis. Sorry, but the jig is up. Busted. I called him out in season75, and my unpopular opinion, smart but unpopular, was praiseworthy in a paid publication, so your second-guess blog-swamees are really just streetcorner comedians singing the blues because RaiderGear is just Thug now.

10:56 AM  
Blogger nyraider said...

Huh? Was there a football point in there?

McKenzie didn't chose the "expensive plan." Just the opposite; partly out of choice but mostly out of necessity.

Still waiting for the answer to this: what makes Carson Palmer the right choice now for a team that you project won't be winners until 2016-2017? Where do you think Carson Palmer will be in 2017?

IMO, Palmer and his 2012 stats are overrated. In the one game Pryor played, he showed more leadership and desire to win than Palmer did in all games he played.

Now Palmer gets to play for a team that led the league (or close to it) in sacks given up. 2013 could be a long season for Mr. Palmer.

11:21 AM  
Anonymous Derick from Section 344 said...

Its pretty clear now that the situation Reggie walked into last year was unprecedented for an incoming GM in the NFL. That's why I CAN'T STAND when you hear people compare the Raiders situation to the Colts last year. (Bad team the year before, first year GM, etc.)

You think Ryan Grigson had to have a draft room built from scratch? You think Ryan Grigson had to hire a fricking groundskeeper?

No, Ryan Grigson had to pick Andrew Luck first overall in the Nfl Draft. Poof Genius.

Theres no doubt that the Raiders are finally becoming a modern NFL franchise, and that's the best news a Raider fan has had in 10 years. I'm not convinced that D.A. is in the long term plans yet, but I think Reggie is and I truly believe that the future is bright. (lets just hope that future is not in L.A.)

Can't wait for the Draft.

11:28 AM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

They wisely chose CP and then we're not really all in, they pretended to be a running team with a weak ankled razorback. Hit the rewind, it's leadership 101... Make solid choices and build on them. They blew it, twice! The Oakland Potholes, not even a Commitment to Landfill!

11:34 AM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

Derick, face it, Oakland is about done with this company, and they will move. By 2018.

11:37 AM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Troll says:

"Busted. I called him out in season75, and my unpopular opinion, smart but unpopular, was praiseworthy in a paid publication"....

Someone is hitting the methamphetamine hard today, crusin Raider sites and trying to get a rise...what a waste.

JONES

3:46 PM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

Which paid publication was it? What year? Was it in the "Letter to the Editor" sections, or were you paid for writing the article? Which year are you predicting the Raiders will turn things around; 2016, 2017, 2018, or 2019?
Oh, and remember, I heard it here first?

I don't think that the Raiders are the only team in the League that has had an owner neglect their team, and what their team does. I think the KC Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins (who are paying to have their practice field renovated for the first time in 20+ years), Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, St Louis Rams, Philly Eagles, and the Detroit Lions have all been in the same boat; or still are in the same boat of bad ownership, lack of quality practice facilities, etc. The only thing that has the Raiders beat on these things is the fact that there was no draft prep. IMO, I think as Jerry Jones climbs the age ladder, the Cowboys will be in that boat as well.

I agree with Derrick, with Reggie at the helm, I think he turns this around pretty quickly after this year; especially since he has rid of some outrageous contracts.

JUST WIN, BABY!

4:23 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

"wisely chose CP", "veteran Champ QB" -- laughable noise filler.

An ingnorant troll on meth = not a good combination for an intelligent discourse (key word: intelligent).

7:17 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

See, say something about the Raiders that ain't flattering... hey if you want another year of clown car, go for it, but when 2017 rolls around, well, told ya so. I expect more from a team that knew how to win. You can leave your standardslow, but as for me, well, it's just a show. And a really poor one at that. LA Raiders again, guaranteed!

10:54 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

...Funny, but who's got who's attention here? Sorry Take, at least we know this is just a blog about a game. Some guys, well, ok, these is the newer breed of fan... '17

11:05 PM  
Anonymous gary said...

Cork said there were some complete inaccuracies in that SI article. He said there was a draft room already built... and that lots of teams don't get the Combine report.

There was one other point, but I don't feel like sorting through all the chat comments to find it.

Don't believe everything you read, RT!

10:14 AM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

Draft is tomorrow. I'm still not sold on Sharriff Floyd being our pick. I still think we trade down and pick up a 2nd Rounder as well (trade for one of the Jets 1st rounders, and 2nd rounder). I think we take Tavon Austin with our first pick, and a DT in the 2nd round (maybe Hankins from Ohio State).

We'll see what happens! JUST WIN, BABY!

10:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a general rule, I usually refrain from these discussions but the following statement from OTB is just too much catnip for me to ignore: (I quote below for those in the cheap seats who need a second viewing)

"See, say something about the Raiders that ain't flattering... hey if you want another year of clown car, go for it."

Seriously?? That doesn't even make sense when you say it out loud.

The whole pretense of the take from RT is that the SI article paints an "unflattering" picture of the organization as a whole and how it had operated. And the clown car is used to in fact point out something that is CLOWNISH...use whatever synonym you would like for clownish, (idiotic, foolish, stupid, clumsy) choose whichever one you like. They all point to something that is in fact unflattering. Hhmmmm, there's that word again, what is one to do? Bet everyone is going to get up in arms about that; oh well, I am an apologist for the truth!

Sweet moses. If you want to stir things up, fine. But at least make some modicum of sense.

Blue Monday

2139 - See, others can choose some random arbitrary year that no one will either be around to validate or remember was noted but if we can all self-authenticate, then it is guaranteed I am right! Just win in the 22nd century baby!

6:54 PM  
Blogger OakTownBlues said...

Anonymous, at least pick a name bro. That's some really pointless smack. Up yor game and have a point!

10:04 PM  
Blogger nyraider said...

There are too many teams looking to trade down, and not enough talent at the top of the draft to entice teams to trade up. That doesn't bode well for the Raiders at #3.

Jets need a replacement for Revis and maybe they trade up to secure CB Dee Milliner, but media is reporting they want to trade down. Conceivably, they could trade up and trade down in the first round, with #9 and #13 picks at their disposal.

According to the 2013 draft value chart, Raiders #3 pick is worth 2,200 pts. That should be enough to capture the Jets #9 pick, their second round pick and possibly a late round pk. I doubt the Jets would value it that high.

The other option for the Raiders to get back into the 2nd round is to trade McFadden.

This should be interesting!

4:30 AM  
Anonymous Raider Nate 75 said...

The Jets are one possibility. The Vikings are looking to possibly move up. The Lions, Browns, Dolphins, Panthers, and Titans are looking to move up as well. In fact, the Browns have expressed interest in moving into the top 3 (according to Albert Breer of NFL.com).

So yes, those in the top picks are looking to move down, and those in the low teens are looking to move up. Could bode very well for the Raiders.

6:37 AM  
Blogger Raider Take said...

New take is up, it's Draft Day, baby!

7:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1207435/1/index.htm

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