Raiders 50th Anniversary website - If you’re a Raider fan and you haven’t visited this site yet, then you’re Nation card could be revoked! Make sure to play the audio on the main page.

Ever seen a Raider parrot? - This might be the only pet bird worth having. Thanks to the homies over at Arrowhead Addict for this video. According to them this parrot is the last Raider fan. Ha! Ha! Funny. At least the Raider parrot cheers for a team that acutally wins in Arrowhead…

Around the sporting world

Detroit4Lyfe would like to thank A.J. Burnett for sucking everytime he take the hill in the “D”.

Babes Love Baseball send congrats to Ryan Howard for getting to 200 faster than…Ralph Kiner?

Life On Dumars ponders the best former Pistons to watch next season. My pick is Bill Laimbeer.

I doubt you'll find this book in the Al Davis library

When Al Davis began to cut checks last summer to the tune of some $250 million spent on player contracts, he unknowingly awoke an ancient evil. On the other side of the country, in a douche filled bar in South Beach, the wafting scents of the ink from Al’s pen jilted the senses of one Drew Rosenhaus.

One year later, Rosenhaus has arrived in Oakland and is carefully positioning his chess pieces on the Raider checkerboard.

First, super agent Drew convinced Mario Henderson to join the dark side. Henderson’s impressive play at the conclusion of 2008 had many thinking he could be in line for being bestowed the highest honor of all for an offensive lineman’s wallet; Franchise Left Tackle.

Now, the man who took T.O. to Buffalo has poached a young Raider receiver by talking 4^th round selection Louis Murphy into leaving his current representation for the Rosenhaus family .

Does this mean that Henderson and Murphy are destined to be NFL stars? Not necessarily. Does this mean that they are assured to get mega millions for minimal contributions? That is very possible considering that Al Davis inked Javon Walker to the worst contract this side of the deal the L.A. Dodgers gave Andruw Jones.

Murphy can't wait to get his hands on his first NFL check

Murphy, like first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey, is in contract limbo as the Raiders continue to pare down their roster for the start of training camp.

With this week’s surprise release of 6^th round pick Stryker Sulak, it is clear that Al Davis is in no mood to play games with young and unproven players. Now that Rosenhaus is in the mix, one can only imagine how some of those phone conversations might go in the ensuing weeks.

At least the Raider front office will get a small glimpse into the tactics Rosenhaus and his staff are sure to utilize when it comes time to get Mario Henderson to hold out for more money in 2010.

Let this be a lesson to all NFL franchises out there. You can’t just go around cutting checks to the like of DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker and not expect Drew Rosenhaus to eventually show up for a hand out. I hope you’re listening, Dan Snyder.

The pundits had a field day lampooning the misguided Raider front office as it appeared that Al Davis had once again restocked the cooler of Haterade in Bristol, Connecticut.

Raiders missed out on Raji

In the long run, taking DHB over Crabtree could prove to be a moot point. Neither the 49ers, who selected Crabtree, nor the Raiders are a receiver away from contending. Mike Singletary has already nearly brought the former Texas Tech stud to tears in an OTA and Heyward-Bey’s hamstring is looking like the 2009 edition of Darren McFadden’s turf toes.

Where the Raider Haters worldwide missed the boat on draft day were the two opportunities the Silver and Black had to attempt to fix the true Achilles’ heel of the past six years; the run defense.

With the decision to draft DHB when the best defensive tackle in the draft, B.J. Raji, was on the board, the message was clear. Al Davis wasn’t going to commit $20 million to a rookie defensive lineman. Heyward-Bey’s name was called and the first chance to select a run stopper went by the wayside. The Green Bay Packers, also a team in need of better run support, took Raji at #9.

Pats made a move to get Brace

By the start of the second round, yet another chance to get a solid defensive tackle presented itself. Raji’s Boston College teammate Ron Brace was on the board. This time, the Raiders deferred instead opting to trade with the New England Patriots. (Note to Al Davis, stop trading with the Pats! Ok, so the Doug Gabriel deal was a wash, but the Randy Moss move nearly gifted the Hoodie a big piece of history were it not for the stickum on David Tyree’s helmet)

The Raiders, seeking to add draft picks, swapped second round picks with the Pats and gained an addition pick in the 6^th round. Of course, New England moved up to take Ron Brace while the Raiders slid back to grab the surprise of the draft, safety Michael Mitchell.

That pick in the 6^th round from New England was used to select Missouri defensive end Stryker Sulak. The now infamously waived prior to training camp Stryker Sulak.

Letting go of Sulak is not as big a deal as many are making it out to be. His chances of making the squad were slim after a failed attempt to convert the pass rusher into an outside linebacker. He was not going to unseat any of the other ends in front of him, including third round choice Matt Shaughnessy. In a lot of ways, the Raiders did Sulak a favor by giving him enough time to line up another suitor.

6^th round picks are a gamble and very few make it through three years of pro football. There are always exceptions but this was a numbers game.

After it is all said and done, the 2009 season could very well be defined by the draft. With two chances to get invaluable help against the run, the Raiders chose to try their luck elsewhere.

DHB might be able to stretch the field for JaMarcus Russell, but that means little if the opposition is consuming the clock by pounding the rock.

A recipe for disaster might have been created by constructing a big play offense who might not keep the ball long enough to save a drowning defense that might not be good enough to get off the field on rushing downs.

The last time the Raiders selected a defensive tackle higher than the 6^th round was in 2000 when Arizona State’s Junior Ioane was picked in round 4. In fact, in the last eight years only two defensive tackles have been drafted by the Raiders - Anttaj Hawthore (2005) and Chris Cooper (2001).

Many will debate Crabtree or DHB, the truth is that the real discussion point is DHB and Mitchell over Raji and Brace. Unless John Marshall is a miracle worker, it seems like this could be the talking point for the next six years.

There is no guarantee that either Raji or Brace will pan out. However, drafting either would have been much better than what the Raiders have done thus far to address their woeful run defense, which has been to do nothing at all except to change the rug when there is clearly a hole in the ceiling.

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Stryker Sulak we hardly knew ye

The Raiders have severed ties with sixth round selection Stryker Sulak, a defensive end from Missouri.

News of the release has been reported by numerous outlets including Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Florio takes the Ed Werder approach to reporting by attempting to create a story from nothing.

So, basically, the Raiders have cut Sulak before his rookie training camp.  Said the source, “I’ve never seen that happen before.”

The reason for the Raiders’ decision to cut Sulak isn’t known.  Yet.

Suddenly the Raider franchise is in a free fall now that the 199^th pick in 2009 draft has been released before rookie camp. Al Davis has locked all players out of the facility. Tom Cable is holding Darrius Heyward-Bey hostage, Mario Henderson wants a new contract and Keith Davis has been released. (Ok, so only the last one actually happened)

Gasp! The horror!

This is bizarre indeed that the Raiders would release a rookie defensive end after signing a veteran one, Greg Ellis, just over a month ago.

No matter the case, the fact is that Raider Nation is losing the chance to chant the name “Stryker” in proud unison on Sundays. I hope Sulak finds his way to the octagon where his name is meant to be seen in lights.

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He’s 260 pounds of punishment with a license to destroy.

He’s Lorenzo Neal and he was born to play for the Oakland Raiders.

Tom Cable’s mission has been simple since he took over as the interim head coach in 2008. Cable is attempting to resurrect the Raider Way.

After that deflating loss in the Super Bowl, the Raider franchise has spun out of control like a teen actor on a drug binge. Six years of losing, discontent and misdirection have turned a once feared franchise into a constant source of humor and irrelevance.

So Coach Cable went back to the basics.

Raider football used to be an attitude. It was a mentality. It was Jack Tatum standing over Sammy White. It was Bo Jackson running out of the Kingdome.

Recently, Raider football has been an embarrassment. It is Andrew Walter repeatedly getting sacked. It is Michael Huff missing open field tackles.

Insert Lorenzo Neal.

Neal is part of the plan to remind the NFL what it’s like to line up against the Silver and Black on Sundays in the fall.

Off the field, Neal is a soft spoken family man. On the field, he’s a bowling ball with a laser scope. Lorenzo has spent nearly two decades of making a living by inflicting pain. The former Fresno State Bulldog and Central California native began his career as a halfback with the New Orleans Saints. On the first start of his career, he ran for 89 yards on 13 carries. Then, just two weeks later, Neal suffered a career changing injury. He was placed on IR after an ankle injury and was told that his days as a runner were over. Neal became a fullback and was out to make the opposition pay.

What could have become a reason to return to his hometown of Lemoore and sulk over what could have been instead became a call to arms.

With stops in New York, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Cincinnati, San Diego, and Baltimore the legend of Lorenzo has spread throughout the world of professional football.

He’s been the battering ram that has paved the way for some of the all-time leading rushers in NFL history.

Neal is more of an offensive lineman than he is a back. He derives his pleasure from seeing others succeed through his efforts. Neal is selfless and dedicated. He’s exactly the kind of guy Tom Cable needs in his locker room and Justin Fargas, Michael Bush and Darren McFadden need to become the next name in Lorenzo’s 1,000-yard rolodex.

Plain and simple: Lorenzo Neal was born to be a part of the Raider Rebirth.

The analysts will tell you about the X’s and O’s. They’ll diagram plays and will wax poetic about quarterbacks making perfect throws and running backs moving with effortless grace. What they fail to discuss is the true nature of football. Football is a physical game. Lorenzo Neal knows this, its all he’s known for the last 16 years of his professional life.

With the right mentality, the wins will eventually come. This is Cable’s philosophy. Lorenzo Neal embodies everything the head coach preaches and he’s the man who will lead the new Raider Way one punishing block at a time. 

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According to a brief blurb authored by Michael Lombardi for the National Football Post, Russell made a friendly bet with Cable.

 I hope (I really do) that JaMarcus Russell wins the bet he made with his head coach, Tom Cable, about losing more weight before training camp.

Russell carries the weight of Raider Nation

There is no word yet on what the two have levied for the agreement but I’m guessing that it could be a wager that involves the job of being named the starting quarterback. Although one must wonder if Jeff Garcia would up the ante by offering Coach Cable a reverse Indecent Proposal in exchange for the chance at taking Russell’s job. (No disrespect Carmella DeCesare Garcia)

Lombardi, a former personnel executive with the Raiders, is a constant source for silver and black rumor mongering. During the free agency period in February he reported that the Raiders and Cowboys were in trade talks for brining diva extraordinaire Terrell Owens to the East Bay. Later, Lombardi stated that Khalif Barnes signed a one year deal with Al Davis only after he was promised that the Raiders would not select a left tackle in the draft. Most recently Lombardi broke the news that Russell was a no-show at the last day of OTAs.

Make of it what you will. If there really is a gentlemen’s agreement between Russell and Cable then it is for the best. If this is yet another figment of Lombardi’s bored imagination then it is just another attempt to stir the pot.

JaMarcus Russell’s weight has been the easiest target for those members of the media who not so secretly desire to see him fail. Though it should be noted that Lombardi “hopes” that Russell wins his bet.

From where I sit, Russell’s weight is not the issue. If he shows up in better shape it is only a plus. Gaining more confidence in his offense while getting more throws on target would be even better.

Another report surfaced stating that Russell kept his word by having a private workout with some of his receivers in his home state of Alabama.

While the negative reports grab the headlines, it is the subtle progression of Russell that continues to keep Raider Nation in a positive frame of mind.

If the reported bet is in fact true, then my money is on Russell giving Cable his first loss of 2009. Of course, if Russell wants to repay his coach, he’ll hand him a win over the Chargers on the Monday Night opener.

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Al Davis sees a middle linebacker in a tight end - Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman reports on phone call made by Al Davis and Tom Cable to a former Boise State tight end.  

Terdell Sands is the newest trade bait rumor - PFT is at it again. Have the Sands of time run out for the Raiders to deal their DT?

What would Tim Brown say to Darrius Heyward-Bey? - Want to know what past Raider greats have to say to the current roster? Just ask David White of the SF Chronicle.

Trevor Scott might not be under the radar after 2009 - Patirck Patterson continues the “Under the Radar” series at Thoughts from the Dark Side by taking a closer look at the young defensive end.

Who will be the defensive starters in Oakland? - Check out this piece penned by Ramone Brown at Bleacher Report as he takes a pass at filling out John Marshall’s starting 11.

Raider quotables - More Raider greats offering sage wisdom to the current members of the silver and black. A few items that didn’t make it into David White’s article.

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As you know by now, McNair died at the young age of 36 over the 4^th of July holiday.

Steve McNair: The Image of Leadership

I’ll refrain from getting into the details of his death instead choosing to remember him as one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of football.

From his days at Alcorn State to the final moments of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, “Air” McNair defined leadership. He played with a multitude of injuries and never used any of them as an excuse when he performed poorly. He remained professional even after his long time employer, the Titans, locked him out of the team facility amid a contract dispute. When he was named co-MVP of the NFL with Peyton Manning, he deferred the attention from himself, opting to dedicate the award to his teammates while explaining what an honor it was to share the moment with his rival. 

McNair might just be the last of his kind. In an era when so many have become consumed with the spotlight and fame, Steve sought the respect of his teammates and the love of the fans. He played every game as if the season depended on it and had a never say die attitude.

Raider fans are sure to recall his performance in the 2003 AFC Title game in Oakland. The Raiders defeated the Titans that day by a score of 41-24 in route to the Super Bowl. The score does not reflect just  how nervous Raider Nation was every time McNair’s offense took the field. McNair accounted for all three of the Titans touchdowns that afternoon, running for two and throwing for the other. He never quit on any play, frustrating the Oakland defense by making plays out of nothing.

Far too often we use hyperbole to describe the attributes of athletes. For McNair, there are really no words that do justice to the heart he displayed and the passion he played with. The game of football lost a great player when he retired and now a family has lost its father with his untimely death.

While most remember McNair for his pass to Kevin Dyson that came up just one yard short of the goal line in the heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to the St. Louis Rams, it was the previous play that defined the will and desire he always played with.

Thanks for sharing your gift with all of us, Steve McNair. You will be missed but never forgotten.

For those intereted in keeping abreast of any news regarding the life and death of Steve McNair, be sure to visit TitanSized.com.

In all of sports, few figures are as iconic as Raiders owner Al Davis.

He’s held the titles of commissioner, head coach, owner and general manager. He’s been called a “tough S.O.B.” by Mike Tyson. And he happens to be one of the biggest reasons why I’m a Raider fan for life.

I was raised just outside of Los Angeles. When Mr. Davis brought Raider football to the L.A. market, my father immediately purchased tickets. My youth was spent watching the likes of Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Tim Brown, Todd Christensen and Howie Long play the game I grew up loving. After the Raiders returned to Oakland, I remained a die hard fan, feeling that they were back in their rightful community, while still making trips to the Bay to see them play.

Much has been said and written about Mr. Davis. His presence is ominous. His football acumen is legendary. His place in history is already established as one of the faces etched on the Mt. Rushmore of football in North America.

On Saturday, July 4^th, he’ll celebrate his 80^th birthday. 

No matter what your feeling are towards Al Davis and his practices, if you’re a Raider fan then you’re forever a part of a worldwide family.

This weekend, while you’re standing over a hot grill, take a moment to remember why this holiday is truly important for our country. Then, as you watch the fireworks at night, just remember that the owner of your favorite team wants nothing more than for you to see a winner take the field in 2009.

When Raider play-by-play announcer Greg Papa wished Mr. Davis a happy birthday during a recent interview, Davis responded, “Well, it’ll be happy when we win.”

We’ll all be happier when we win, Al. These last six years have been a real test for all Raider fans. Al’s decisions have been the biggest reason why we’re mired in this rut of perpetual losing. Yet still, we support and hope for a better day. 

On Saturday, we celebrate the independence of our country, a country with a checkered past and an uncertain future. None the less, it is a country we can proudly proclaim as our own.

On Saturday, an owner who truly defines the American independent spirit celebrates his 80^th birthday. He’s an owner with a glorious past and whose team has an uncertain future. None the less, he is an owner who makes fans such as me proud to proclaim the Raiders as my team.

Happy birthday, Mr. Davis!

Enjoy the holiday and a special thanks to everyone who reads this blog. Hopefully, we’ll be celebrating a winning team in 2009 if not one that at least puts forth an effort to be proud of.

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The list ranks professional franchises in North America based on a very scientific set of parameters to ultimately decide what franchise gives fans “what they want”. Parameters such as “affordability”, “title track” and “bang for the buck”.

In this economy, how do you even define “affordability”? Isn’t that a relative term?

But I digress.

It was far from a surprise to find the Oakland Raiders, a team that has won just 24 games in six years, near the bottom.

In fact, of the 122 teams ranked, the Raiders are 116^th.

What would make Raider fans happier? Beating the Chargers or having a better selection of microbrews?

I’m not a genius. I attended Cal State Northridge not MIT. My feeble mind could never conceive a complex system of algorithms and scientific principles to extract empirical data that shows exactly who the best fan friendly franchises are.

In the end, I only look at wins and losses.

What an idiot I am.

How foolish to think that fans are happier when their team wins as opposed to when their stadium vendors offer family packages that include nachos, corn dogs and soda. Perhaps if Al Davis were to put a pirate ship in the Black Hole or had a mountain with cascading waterfalls in the parking lot - as the top ranked Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim do - then he would see happier fans in the stands.

I guess all those years when Cowboy fans were showing up to that dump of a stadium to watch Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson hoist Lombardi trophies that they were secretly miserable because their seats did not have cup holders.

No, I’m clearly as naïve a fan as there is.

I’m always begging Al Davis for a winner instead of a massage parlor in Oakland Coliseum.

Maybe one day I’ll be smart enough to realize that having team organized autograph sessions with practice squad scrubs is more important than a team I can be proud of.

Until then, I’ll just have to hope that ESPN shines its light on our poor little team once we install a megaplex complete with churro vendors and a laser light show.

You hit the nail on the head Disney. Al Davis is an owner that loves his team too much. Why couldn’t he be like Donald Sterling, the man whose franchise sits at the bottom of your list?

Trust me when I say this: Winning cures all. I’ll be more than happy watching a winning team play in a low rent stadium with high ticket prices than a losing team play in the Mall of America with discount corporate rates.

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