The Eye Patch

The Madness Starts Early This Season

2009-08-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

I‘m trying to be more positive this season, so I’ll begin this post by trying to find the upside on the whole Tom Cable punching allegations. The good news is, the big distraction of the year has come before the regular season has even started. We don’t have to worry about a messy distraction getting in the way of things in the middle of a push to a possible playoff run.

No, things will be in disarray from the get-go this season. The Raiders also have a great excuse, should they lay another egg in the standings. They’re primed to make a run for the number one overall draft pick next year, which they can waste on someone like Tim Tebow, who they can then try to convert to a tight end or a free safety.

From the reports out of Napa, the Raiders offense was clearly focused on the game in day two of the integrated practice with the 49ers. A practice in which JaMarcus Russell threw five interceptions, fueling a week’s worth of fodder for San Francisco’s secondary. They held nothing back in post practice interviews, yuking it up with local reporters.

As for the alleged Cable incident, what more can you say. The regularity of these head scratching episodes have become so common, that they’re starting to lose the sensational effect that something like a fist fight between coaches would once garner. The baffling has become passé.

Since the organization’s better judgment is something in short supply, let me try and provide a litmus. If your actions would make Raider alumni from the 70’s squirm, it’s probably wrong. The renegade behavior of the great Raider teams never interfered with the ultimate goal.

Cable is obviously too stupid to know any better.

An NFL head coach punching someone is ridiculous. An NFL head coach punching one of his subordinate coaches is ludicrous.

Even in the military, where a primary job description entails killing other human beings, there is a code of conduct which prohibits any officer from striking a subordinate. Do it in any of the U.S. service branches, and you get kicked out.

How are any of the players supposed to buy into the concept of discipline? Not that discipline will be a problem for the team ranked third in penalties in 2008. If the coach can’t stay disciplined, why should the players?

The story is already old and we haven’t seen a down of football that counts.

Sad.

Raiders Trade Burgess to Pats

2009-08-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Man-o-man, someone please tell me why the Raiders continue to trade ANYONE to the New England Patriots. It's bad enough that they trade players within the conference, but to the Patriots?

They did that, by dealing holdout DE Derrick Burgess on Thursday.

New England isn't going to suck all of a sudden, and net you a decent pick. It also sends a terrible message. I despise the notion of guys signing contracts, then turning around and whining that they're under paid. If that's the case, DON'T SIGN THE FREAKING CONTRACT.

Another head scratcher. If Al Davis can let Marcus Allen sit and rot on the bench, then why not Burgess? At the very least, trade the guy out of the conference, so he's not the guy exacting any revenge on you.

From AP:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—The New England Patriots obtained defensive end Derrick Burgess(notes) on Thursday after the two-time Pro Bowl player held out of the Oakland Raiders training camp in hopes of being traded.

The Patriots gave up undisclosed draft considerations for Burgess, who is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he had 3 1/2 sacks in 10 games. New England released offensive lineman Al Johnson(notes).

The trade was announced on the ninth day of Burgess’ holdout from the team he recorded 38 1/2 sacks with in four seasons, including a club-record and league-best 16 in 2005. He had 11 the next year and made the Pro Bowl both times.

His total dropped to eight in 2007, but he missed two games.

In three seasons with Philadelphia and four with Oakland, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Burgess had 47 sacks in 85 games. He also missed the 2003 season with a torn Achilles’ tendon.

The Patriots were 11-5 last season but had 31 sacks, tied for 14th. The Raiders were 5-11 with 32 sacks.

Burgess is entering the final year of his contract with a $2 million salary and felt underpaid for most of his time with the Raiders. He joined them when he signed a five-year, $18 million contract as a free agent before the 2005 season.

New England and Oakland held discussions around the time of the draft in late April. Then Burgess stayed away from all the Raiders optional offseason workouts and did not go onto the field during May’s mandatory minicamp because of a reported upset stomach.

Raiders to don retro unis in 2009

2009-05-20T15:59:00.001-07:00

The Raiders are scheduled to wear their retro 1963 uniforms, including helmets with the "white" logo, as part of the NFL's tribute to the old AFL teams. Translation, the league is looking for ways to better market team merchandise, and jerseys command a pretty penny.

The Raiders have always had one of the most classic uniforms in the league, and these throwbacks are still fantastic looking. They'll just probably cost an arm and a leg.

The Raiders and San Diego Chargers will wear their "classics" during an opening week matchup on September 27th, which is part of a Monday night double-header.

They will folow that up on November 15th, when the New York Jets visit the Oakland Coliseum.

Oakland will wrap up the marketing tour on November 26th when the team travels to Dallas, as part of he NFL's Thanksgiving Day schedule.

Capsized Boat Found off FL coast

2009-03-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

CNN just reported that a capsized boat was discovered off the Florida coast and that a single survivor was seen clinging to the debris. No other details were provided. More to come on this breaking news.

*** UPDATE 3/2 10AM PST***

The Coast Guard says the overturned boat it found off Florida's Gulf Coast belongs to Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper. The survivor found clinging to the vessel is former University of South Florida player Nick Schuyler.

The Coast Guard says Cooper, Detroit Lions free agent Corey Smith and another former USF player, William Bleakley, remain missing.

*** UPDATE 3/2 4:30PM PST***

Still no word on additional survivors.

CNN reported that:

Schuyler told his rescuers that the boat was anchored Saturday evening when it was overturned by waves during a storm, Close said. He told them that all four men were clinging to the boat for a time, but became separated, Close said.

The four men embarked in a 21-foot single-engine boat from the Seminole Boat Ramp near Clearwater Pass about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard said. The search was launched early Sunday after friends and relatives realized they had not returned from their fishing trip.

LB Marquis Cooper reported missing off Florida coast

2009-03-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

The AP reports that two NFL players are among a group of boaters reported missing off Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Sports agent Ron Del Duca said his client, Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper were two of the four boaters who were reported missing Sunday morning by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard issued a statement saying the boaters were on a 21-foot vessel that left Clearwater Pass on Saturday morning for a fishing trip and did not return as expected. Crews used a helicopter and a 47-foot motor-life boat to search a 750-square mile area west of Clearwater Pass on Sunday.

Is Justin Fargas' Career Up In Smoke?

2009-02-06T01:01:00.000-08:00

On the day we should be plotting (and analyzing) the next course of the good ship Silver & Black on account of the hiring of Tom Cable as head coach, we are forced to interrupt this regular program to bring word of more head scratching news out of Alameda.

A video posted at worldstarhiphop.com shows a rapper who allegedly goes by the moniker “Yukmouth”, spends an evening at Raiders running back Justin Fargas’ house rhyming about the ganja. The rapper is seen with a box full of cash and bags of what appear to be the marijuana.

Fargas is never seen holding either the cash or the herb, but he is featured in the video, while Yukmouth goes on a profanity-spree throughout the video.

You have to wonder what Fargas was thinking? The only thing missing was Snoop Dog, playing Huggy Bear in the musical rendition of Up In Smoke meets Starsky & Hutch.

On the day that Olympic demi-god Michael Phelps lost his endorsement deal with Kellogg’s, you’d think pro football players would stear clear of promotional videos touting themselves and illegal drugs.

Oh, and the NFL has a SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY.

More to come on the Cable hiring later this week…just as soon as I finish up my home movie on free basing.

The Letter

2008-09-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

So much for an amicable parting of ways. The following letter, apparently couriered to Lane Kiffin on September 12th, was released by the Raiders this afternoon following one of the nuttiest days in team history.

September 12, 2008

By Hand Delivery and Federal Express

Dear Lane:

Over the past months, you have made a number of public statements that were highly critical of, and designed to embarrass and discredit, this organization, its players and its coaches. I left you alone during training camp in hopes that you would cease your immature and destructive campaign.

However, you continue to make public statements that are critical of the organization, its players as whole as well as individual players. Such statements constitute conduct detrimental to the Raiders and I will no longer stand silently by while you continue to hurt this organization.

Further, your contract is quite clear that you work “subject to the direction and supervision of the General Partner” and that the General Partner has “the exclusive right to do all things, which in its sole discretion are necessary to maintain and improve the Club, the football organization and their activities.”

I realized when I hired you that you were young and inexperienced and that there would be a learning process for you. Your mistakes on player personnel and coaches were overlooked based on our patience with you. But I never dreamt that you would be untruthful in statements to the press as well as on so many other issues. Your actions are those of a coach looking to makes (sic) excuses for not winning, rather than a coach focused on winning.

For example, with the exception of Gibril Wilson, you were involved in recruiting all free agents and determining salaries for them and you were explicit about your desire to sign Javon Walker and DeAngelo Hall amongst others. All were a must to sign in your eyes, Hall, in particular, because he played for Greg Knapp in Atlanta and Knapp gave him high grades. Do not run from that now.

I do realize that you did not want us to draft JaMarcus Russell. He is a great player. Get over it and coach this team on the field, that is what you were hired to do. We can win with this team!

In regards to your recent fabrications about the defense, during the final cuts you made every cut on offense and every cut on defense except for (Fred) Wakefield on defense and (Seth) Wand on offense. Furthermore, during the game Monday night (defensive coordinator) Rob (Ryan) played your Cover-2 defense and we got killed on an approximately 50-yard touchdown pass and an approximately 70-yard gain that led to a field goal.

You meet every week with the defensive coaches to go over both the past game and to get a general feel for what will happen during the week in practice. You have the ability and authority to provide your input during those meetings and the preparation of the game plan. I do not have weekly meetings with Rob—you do.

During the week no one has ever told you what to do on either offense or defense. In addition, no one has ever told you during a game what to do on either offense or defense and you call every play on offense. During a game if you want to blitz more, all you have to do is let Rob know what blitz you want and he will do it.

Although you continue to use the media to express your dissatisfaction with others, no one has publicly pointed out to you that in four preseason games and one regular-season game played this year, your offense has scored one first-half touchdown. That put tremendous pressure on the defense.

I know that you wanted to bring your father in to run the defense and that Monte told me that he wanted to come here even though he as (sic) under contract to Tampa. However I did not want to tamper with another team. In any event that was over seven months ago. Do not now also run from the defense and your responsibilities.

This letter constitutes notice that if you further violate any term of your contract, in any manner whatsoever, you will be terminated for cause. I trust that this will not occur.

A.D. Football, Inc.

So now it's he said, he said. Technically, the Raiders can now market the fact that they provide an "entertaining" product to their customers. The fact that was released simply makes the organization look petty, paranoid, and any other bad "p" word you can think of. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

The Kiffin Episode Ends

2008-09-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

Kiffin's Biggest Fan

The most predictable soap opera in professional sports closed another chapter on its dysfunctional history on Tuesday afternoon, when the Raiders fired head coach Lane Kiffin. KGO radio, ESPN and NFL.com all reported Kiffin’s dismissal, which was as big a surprise as a Raiders loss. The beleaguered coach has been waiting for the announcement to come since last January, but there’s nothing efficient about the Raiders these days.

For as hard as Al Davis tries not to be predictable, his once storied franchise is as easy to read as a Rob Ryan blitz scheme.

What I don’t understand is, what Davis thinks all of this is actually going to accomplish? I was actually holding out hope that Davis would throw everyone a curveball, including Kiffin, and keep him at the helm for the remainder of the season.

When Mike Shanahan was fired in 1989, the Raiders righted a 1-4 start to finish the season 8-8, but that was a much different team. That roster included the like of Bo Jackson, Marcus Allen and Howie Long.

The list of possible replacements does little to incite any belief that this will turn thins around. James Lofton seems like the most obvious choice, because his name has been dangled around since the day Kiffin was hired. He also seems to be the kind of yes man Davis can manage without distraction.

What’s most baffling (oh there are many things to be baffled by) is the fact that names like Tom Cable or Tom Rathman are even being talked about. Tom Cable, head coach. Really?

The one thing about Kiffin’s hiring was that it was a fresh perspective, bringing in a young offensive mind that actually seemed to be changing the losing culture that has plagued the Raiders. Ranted, he didn’t win, but what can you expect given the tools that he was handed (and the command that he wasn’t)?

Rather than arm Kiffin with the tools he needed to be successful, the Raiders blew most of their cap space on defensive retreads. You can argue that Darren McFadden cost the Raiders a pretty penny, but he was a draft pick. Where was the receiver the Raiders so dearly needed? Javon Walker? Ashley Lelie? Seriously?

I’m surprised Davis didn’t throw a couple million at Vince Evans to come out of retirement.

What’s worse is the fact that Kiffin appeared to be righting the ship. Blowing two 4th quarter leads isn’t the model of success, but put those loses into perspective. They came against a surprising 4-0 Buffalo Bills team and a San Diego Chargers team that’s supposed to compete for a Super Bowl this year.

What we’ll find out is if those two games were motivated by a roster that was playing to save their coach’s job. If it was, what does that mean for the remainder of the season?

Now Davis gets to select a fill-in for the remainder of the season, and we get wait for the next episode of this soap opera to play out. Who will be Davis’ next protégé turned nemesis? What head scratching moves come next?

Like Terdell Sands through the hourglass, these are the days of your Raiders lives.

No Control

2008-09-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

This is a franchise in control? This is the behavior of an NFL senior executive? Even if San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami did fabricate the infamous story of a Raider official handing out an ESPN story that discredited Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin (along with a bunch of other reporters), it doesn't excuse the fact that John Herrera's behavior oozes of paranoia and dysfunction.

Where will it end? I suppose a shooting in the press room isn't beyond this franschise right now. Heck if you're going to send a senior executive out to pick a fight with a beat reporter half your size, anything's possible.

If the job requirments for "Senior Executive" with the Raiders simply means you're willing to make a jackass out of yourself in front of a room full of reporters, sign me up!

There are only two possible explanations for this latest episode. Either Herrera was acting on his on volition, or he was ordered to confront Kawakami. It seems unlikely that anyone is dumb enough to confront a reporter in a room full of other reporters and cameras. Who would do that? So it would seem that this was yet another peculiar move orchastrated from the top.

If the Raiders brass didn't order the confrontation, then this team is more dysfunctional than anyone can imagine. I suspect that this is one that back fired on the Raiders, and in an attempt to save face, they tried to discredit Kawakami with a public spectacle.

The "us against the world" mentality will only go so far, so you have to question how this plays out on the field. If I'm a rookie and I pick up the paper and read what will certainly be coverage which leans in Kawakami's defense, so questions get planted in my head. Fresh out of the gate and those players already develop a huge mistrust of reporters, which doesn't bode well for their careers. Like it or not, the media plays a role in how the public perceives the character of many players. Does a Darren McFadden establish a good repoire with a Michael Silver as a result of something like this?

If I'm a veteran, I may start questioning the professionalism of the franchise that I represent. How do I focus on football, when there's a circus going on all around me. What the Raiders don't need right now is another distraction.

Guys like Jamarcus Russell need to be focused on developing their game, not focusing on how they're supposede to deal with the "evil media."

Regardless of how this latest ordeal was spawned, if the Raiders want to right this ship, they can Greg Herrera today. Make him he fall guy if it was a grander plot, or run him out of town for his stupidity if it was his own idea.

This organization needs a shakeup, plain and simple. Start playing by the rules. The renegade ways of yesteryear don't cut it in the multi-million dollar world of professional sports anymore.

Pathetic Season Opener

2008-09-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

I think Mike Ditka is a clown, but he said it best on Monday night with his comment about the Raiders.

“You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken shit,” said the ESPN analyst during the Raiders pathetic showing in their season opener.

When the visiting Denver Broncos weren’t moving the ball at will, the Raiders were tacking on 15 yard penalties by the bushel full. A porous defense, anemic offense and dumb penalty after dumb penalty, simply resulted in more of the same from a team that has won less than 30% of its games over the past six years.

The Raiders were embarrassed at home before a national audience, reaffirming the fact that this franchise is as dysfunctional as ever. The dumbfounded look on Al Davis face from the owner’s box reaffirmed the fact that it’s time for Davis to move on.

I’ve been a supporter of Davis’ for far too long. His legacy has afforded him far too many mulligans.

I don’t think anybody anticipated the pasting the Raiders would endure on opening night. I certainly didn’t. The difference on this night was that the Raiders seemed to take ten steps backwards (as if that were possible). There was nothing positive to take away from this game.

Well, except for the fact that Lane Kiffin will be able to resume his football coaching career sooner than later. This debacle will obviously fall on Kiffin’s shoulders, which means he’ll get canned that much quicker. Kiffin doesn’t fit in with the Raider mystique. He’s too progressive. Not a company man. Not an Al Davis man.

It was Kiffin after all, who wanted defensive coordinator Rob Ryan out. The same Rob Ryan, who’s defensive schemes allowed Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler to roam untouched all night long.

OK, maybe that’s not entirely fair…unless it was Ryan who convinced Davis to spend all that money on Tommy Kelly during the off season. Kelly played like a $50 million paper weight on Monday night. The Raiders defensive front did the impossible, making Namdhi Asomugha, Gibril Wilson, Deangelo Hall and Michael Huff look like a high school secondary unit.

It took the Raiders 48 minutes before they finally put any points in the board, but that’s because the Broncos were starting to pack for the trip home.

To make matters worse, 1st round draft pick Darren McFadden left the game with an apparent shoulder injury, and Derrick Burgess also left the contest with an injury.

And that was just week 1 folks. Painful.

Al Davis departure can’t come soon enough.

2008 Camp Musings

2008-08-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

Training camp. It marks the end of summer and the launching pad to the start of another NFL season. It’s that time of year when the rust is supposed to come off, so when the games count, your players are ready to play for real. While it’s important to ramp up on the intensity, keeping those players healthy should be the number one goal of any NFL team.

So when they decide to hold practices with other NFL teams, I scratch my head and wonder if the schedulers really understand how important a healthy team is. You get 16 chances a season to bash your opponents into oblivion, so that you can earn the right to play for a championship.

The Raiders practice with the San Francisco 49ers is one of those situations that really is hard to understand. What real benefit do you get from practicing with another team, especially one that you’re set to face in the preseason that week?

I think back to 1994 when the Raiders decided to hold several practices with the Dallas Cowboys. Don Mosebar, a three time All-Pro center for the Raiders, got caught up in a pile of players, Raiders and Cowboys alike. In the middle of that pile, Cowboy’s defensive tackle Chad Hennings got his fingers inside Mosebar’s facemask and gouged out the eyeball of the 12-year veteran.

Just like that, Mosebar’s career was over. Freak accident or barbaric trench warfare, it could have been avoided altogether had there been no inter-team practice. These were players from opposing teams. Intensity got the best of Mosebar that day, and it cost the Raiders one of their all-time greats.

49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz summed it up best.

“This is pointless,” said the former Rams head coach.

Pointless indeed.

To Play or Not to Play

News out of camp that $55 million wide receiver Javon Walker almost hung up his cleats last week doesn’t really come as a shock. The 29-year old receiver has had a lot of distractions before playing a single down for the Raiders.

Getting beaten unconscious and left for dead in a Las Vegas gutter isn’t the best way to kick off a career with a new team. Practicing with his head in the clouds doesn’t make that situation any better.

Those distractions have irked Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin enough that Walker was being fast-tracked in the coach’s dog house. But as is the case with any $55 million that needs to be baby-sat, Kiffin (with or without the direction of his boss) straightened the matter out and Walker is “committed” to playing football again.
Hats off to Kiffin for at least voicing his displeasure.

"I'm not into the whole, you know, 'When the lights go on, I play well, 100%" Kiffin told the San Jose Mercury News. "That's not my deal. Trying to work him out of that mentality."

I say he’s out of the lineup by week 10 and inactive by week 12. Can you say “sounds like Jerry Porter all over again”?

Open Practice Sunday

Missed out on training camp this year. Don’t worry, everyone not on the Raiders payroll is in the same boat. Closed training camp has become the Raiders modus operandi as of late, but don’t fret. You can catch the team’s open practice at the Coliseum on Sunday as part of the Raider Nation Celebration.

The shin dig kicks off at noon, and you don’t need to pay a dime to get in.

Top 10 Greats Not in the HOF

2008-08-02T23:35:00.000-07:00

NFL Network's Top 10 show features the 10 greatest players NOT in the Hall of Fame. #6 on their list is none other than the great Kenny Stabler. Canton has eluded the Snake for far too long. It's bad enough Ray Guy and Cliff Branch still wait for their calling, but this show got it right when it ranked Stabler as one of the greats still waiting for the call.

The former Alabama star led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in SB XI against the Minnesota Vikings in 1976. He threw 150 career touchdowns for the Silver & Black during a career that spanned 11 seasons (1968-79).

There are 17 men in the Hall of Fame that held some association with the Raiders, but only George Blanda played QB for the Raiders. When you compare Stabler's accomplishments to Blanda, it's hard to understand why he's not in the Hall.

Silver Black-Balls Big Al

2008-07-22T23:54:00.000-07:00

Yahoo Sports (and former SI) columnist Michael Silver rates NFL ownership from the bottom up. The Raider's Al Davis ranks 31st (out of 32).

31. Oakland Raiders – Al Davis: Davis, 79, hasn’t just lost his fastball; the man has lost his changeup, and his metaphorical catcher keeps assuring him he’s better than Bob Gibson in his prime. The decline of a once-brilliant football mind would be sad if it weren’t so damaging, not to mention his behavior so nonsensical. Davis, after hiring 31-year-old Lane Kiffin as coach in January of ‘07, grew so disenchanted with him in less than a year that he drafted a resignation letter. But when Kiffin balked, Davis – in an apparent effort to save what a source says was $1.7 million – kept him around, albeit in emasculated fashion. Then, surrounded by yes men (along with top executive Amy Trask, who is smart enough to know better) and armed with the estimated $150 million he scored after selling 20 percent of the team to a trio of hedge-fund managers last fall, Davis went on a spending spree that baffled his peers, handing out huge bonuses for players like wideout Javon Walker, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Equally perplexing was the way he caved and gave a fair-market contract to No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell last September after the season had started, when the quarterback’s rookie year was essentially a washout. The Raiders, since their Super Bowl XXXVII defeat to the Bucs, are 19-61 over the past five seasons, the NFL’s worst record during that span. But in Davis’s distorted world, it’s always somebody else’s fault.

Can't say that I can argue with him. There just doesn't seem to be a silver lining in the direction the Raiders are headed.

Catch Silver's breakdown of those ranked from 17-32 on Yahoo Sports.

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas

2008-06-16T23:13:00.001-07:00

So much for a quiet summer, leading up to training camp. Javon Walker, one of the Raiders off season acquisitions was discovered unconscious on the streets of Las Vegas with his face caved in on Monday morning.

KVVU, Sin City's Fox affiliate reported that Walker was mugged after a wild party at the Wynn Hotel. according to the city’s Fox affiliate. Walker was reportedly seen “spraying the crowd with some of the 15 bottles of Dom Perignon Rose champagne he ordered,” according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

So now what happens to the Raiders already weak receiving corps if the guy slated to be the team's top wide out has a serious injury? Already a suspect signing, Walker was good for eight games in 2007 with the Denver Broncos. He had a paltry 26 catches for 287 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Raiders were hoping for some smash-mouthed football from their free-agent pickups this season, but this is rediculous.

McFadden Inked

2008-06-06T00:54:00.000-07:00

Reports out of Alameda suggest that the Raiders have signed Darren McFadden to a six-year $60 million contract. The deal calls for $26 million in gauranteed money. The Raiders are believed to be holding a press conference at 11am on Friday.

The Jamarcus Russell debacle last year prompted the Raiders to get their 2008 draft day prize signed so he would be in camp from day one. That ordeal turned out to be a plus or a minus, depending on how you look at it.

McFadden won't be a hold out like Russell was last season, but did that force the Raiders to sign the rookie running back at a higher price than they would have paid with a little more negotiating leverage?

Raiders Add Spires

2008-05-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Raiders added veteran defensive end Greg Spires to the defensive corps on Tuesday. Spires has 39.5 sacks in his 10-year career. He saw action in 10 games last year with Tampa Bay. A calf injury sidelined him for 6 games.

Spires had eight sacks in 2004 for the Bucs.

The Raiders also signed receiver Marcel Reece, an undrafted rookie from Washington.

Oakland also cut veteran cornerback Duane Starks and waived undrafted free agent fullback Matt Hahn.

Sapp says McFadden was the right choice

2008-05-01T21:25:00.001-07:00

Michael Silver, aka the best football writer in the NFL, writes about a conversation he had with Warren Sapp on Monday regarding the draft in a Yahoo Sports column.

“I understand that (coach) Lane Kiffin and (offensive coordinator) Gregg Knapp are supposed to be these guys who make their living by throwing the ball,” Sapp said. “But our offense is made for downhill guys. And this kid will make that offense go.”

Read more of Sapp's comments in the complete article.

And oh, I do intend to post more often. I'm almost over my 2007 season hangover.

Bucs considering Culpepper

2008-02-11T22:14:00.000-08:00

The St Petersburg Times reports that the Tampa Bay Bucaneers are considering signing Daunte Culpepper to backup Jeff Garcia. Checkout the story here.

Randy Moss: Super Bowl Loser

2008-02-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

Randy Moss

It was roughly a year ago that I launched TheEyePatch, after watching the Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. I did it to express my opinions on the state of the Raiders, which at the time was pretty bad. So here I am, basking in the depression that is another year without a Raiders Super Bowl. If you’re anything like me, it’s a pretty sad day.

I’m certainly not getting any younger, and recent news on more in fighting at the Raiders Alameda headquarters just brings more disdain for the whole situation. Super Bowl Sunday has become more of a day of mourning than a day to celebrate the best the NFL has to offer, because the day is so far from including anything resembling silver & black that it’s just down right depressing.

The funny thing, today looked like it was going to go from bad to worse. Outside of the Raiders current situation, the only thing that could have made it worse was watching Randy Moss win a ring. To have him catch the game winning touchdown in the final 2 minutes of the game would have iced this day as one of the worst ever.

I made it no secret that my disdain for Moss is unparalleled. Moss quit on the Raiders. He quit on every one that supports the Raiders. To see him have a monster year in New England only a season removed from his pout-fest in Oakland was revolting. He’s a “me” guy, not a team guy. And me guys make me sick.

So before you chalk me up as some homer, I’ll tell you that I think the New England Patriots are one heck of a team and that I envy their offensive line. Logan Mankins is a stud, and he’s probably the third best lineman on that team (although today didn’t really reflect that).

Randy Moss, for all his worthlessness today, still had the class to make that swimming move after catching the TD that put the Patriots up late in the 4th. Up to that point he did nothing. In the biggest game of his life, he did nothing to help carry the load, and for that I can only bask in the pleasure of the fact that Randy Moss will get no ring this year. Hopefully ever.

His touchdown came after the defender that was covering him fell down. Yet, the guy acts as if the center of the football universe should take note that he’s some sort of football god.

No Randy, you’re the epitome of selfish, and karma got the better of you today.

More Super Bowl Musings

Besides Moss, I couldn’t be happier that Bill Belichick, Rodney Harrison and Tom Brady get to stew on this loss for a while. Belichick is a cheater. Harrison is a cheap shot artist and Brady was exposed today as the overrated quarterback that he is.

Without guys like Mankins, Brady is a mediocre signal caller. The Giants showed the world that by putting a little pressure on him, he’s just no football demi-god. I just hope the rest of the league takes notice and starts putting him on his back more often.

Good for Kurt Warner pressing the subject on the Pats spygate rumor now swirling around Super Bowl XXXVI. If the Pats did in fact tape the Rams walkthrough before the Super Bowl, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should have the stones to really ding the Patriots. Losing a 1st round draft pick and some cash was a slap on the wrist.

Hit’em where it hurts commish!

I can’t wait to hear Tiki Barber’s spin on Eli Manning. Wasn’t it Barber who ripped his former teammate after retiring last spring? Barber questioned Manning’s leadership ability and effectiveness as a passer. The guy looked pretty darn good to me on that final Giants drive.

Oh, and no, they don’t give rings out to retirees.

Live Blogging Game 13

2007-12-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 13th game of the season vs the Green Bay Packers.

• (END OF REGULATION) GB 38 - OAK 7 And it ends...thank God. Raiders were overmatched by a team playing for something. Fret not, the Raiders help their draft position with their 9th loss of the season.

• (Q4 4:11) Favre hits Donald Lee who then carries Hiram Eugene and Schweigert 46 yards on his back. How these guys have jobs in the NFL is baffling. Schweigert couldn't tackle my grandmother. GB 38 - OAK 7

• (Q4 5:15) Packers killing the clock on the ground. Raiders run defense finally doing something right (allowing it to happen, so this game can mercifully end!)

• (Q4 8:21) Zach Miller 's catch falls a yard short on 4th down and the Raiders turn the ball over on downs.

• (Q4 12:09) Andrew Walter makes his 2007 debut. Kiffin throws in the towel, and rolls out the sacrificial lamb in Walter.

• (End of Q3) GB 31 - OAK 7 What a disaster of a period. 17 unanswered points off mistakes, missed tackles, and a lack of execution.

• (Q3 :34) McCown chucks the ball into traffic and it's picked off by Atari Bigby. Bigby rumbles 73 yards for the touchdown, but a gutless hit by Cullen Jenkins on McCown during the return brings the ball back to the Packers 23 yard line. I don't understand how the league allows crap like that to happen. If there's going to be intent to protect the QB, then do it.

• (Q3 3:10) 3rd & 1 and the Raiders give the ball to Lamont Jordan, who has the acceleration of molasses in January. Run is stuffed. Drive stalled.

• (Q3 4:50) Tim Dwight takes the punt then losses the ball on the tackle. Green Bay scoops it up, then recovers the ball in the end zone. Nothing is going right for the raiders today. Dwight is called down on the 11 yard line, but it is overturned on the challenge. Raiders would be wise to get on the plane now. GB 31 - OAK 7

• (Q3 8:53) Raiders fail to convert on 3rd and long because the Packers bring the house on top of McCown. It's baffling that the Raiders don't do the same thing when the Packers are in the e same situation. Sebastien Janikowski misses teh 44 yard field goal to add to Oakland's misery.

• (Q3 8:26) Ronald Curry makes his first catch of the day, beating Woddson for 29 yards.

• (Q3 9:11) Stanford Routt gets used by Greg Jennings, going 80 yards for the Green Bay touchdown. Routt totally mistimes the jump, then falls flat on his face as Jennings walks into the end zone. GB 24 - OAK 7

• (Q3 9:37) Former Raider Charles Woodson gets away with a push and the Raiders drive stalls. McCown missing the magic he had last week against Denver. The inabilitiy to establish teh running game has left the Raiders with some unmanageble situations.

• (Q3 10:46) Big Warren Sapp stuffs the 3rd down attempt, forcing the 44 yard field goal attempt. Crosby hits it, to push the Packers lead to 10 points. GB 17 - OAK 7

• (Q3 13:30) Raiders had the Packers 3rd and 18, and they allow the 20 yard pass play to Greg Jennings. No pressure on Favre means lights out.

• (HALFTIME) GB 14 - OAK 7 That drive to end the half has revitalized the Raiders. Hopefully they figure out that Favre is a weaker QB when he's on his back.

• (Q2 :26) Jerry Porter makes a HUGE catch, taking the ball away from Al Harris and a TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! The 26 yard pass play is now being reviewed. Officials looking for any reason to take the points away from Oakland, but unfortunately for them, Porter did not step out of bounds. The catch stands. GB 14 - OAK 7

• (Q2 :40) Raiders move the ball quickly to midfield, then call timeout with 40 seconds left in the half.

• (Q2 1:12) Raiders finally bring pressure on Favre and the Packers QB is forced to get rid of the ball, stalling the Green Bay drive. Nathan Crosby then misses the long field goal.

• (Q2 3:06) Favre starting to heat up. Picking the Raiders apart. Somebody needs to hit Brett Favre.

• (Q2 5:23) McCown goes deep. Al Harris outruns Jerry Porter to the ball for the pick. Raiders simply forgo having their drive killed by the officials and simply hand the ball back to Favre.

• (Q2 5:40) Chris Carr takes the onsuing kickoff, then scampers 100 yards. Nope, referees call Carr down by contact, even though whistle is blown. Carr gets to exert all that energy for nothing, because the officiating team can't blow a whistle...they have no issues throwing flags however.

• (Q2 5:44) Raiders forced to punt from deep within their own zone. Will Blackmon takes the kick 57 yards for a touchdown. It's the 1st punt returned for a TD in Shane Lechler's career (573 punts). GB 14 - OAK 0

• (Q2 7:40) Now a 25 yard plass play to Zach Miller is called back on a holding penalty. Incredible.

• (Q2 8:03) 26 yard pass play is negated on the bogus pass interference call on Porter. Horrible call. The penalty not only takes away the big play, but it forces the Raiders back again.

• (Q2 8:51) 4 linebacker set on 2nd & goal from the 6 and there is nobody there to tqackle Ryan Grant. How is Hiram Eugene the only guy there to fill the gap? Grant easily raches teh goal line. GB 7 - OAK 0

• (Q2 13:47) Gerrard Warrenmakes a nice tackle behind the line to force a 3rd & 7. Favre converts with an 11 yard pass play. Not sure what the Raiders are doing dropping Warren Sapp into coverage? Favre is not 100%, so you go after him with relentless pressure. Raiders are too passive in passing situations.

• (END OF Q1) Gah! McCown had Porter wide open along the left sideline, but he throws the ball too far, carrying Porter out of bounds before the catch.

• (Q1 1:18) A holding penalty on Jeremy Newberry backs the Raiders up to thier own 7 yard line.

• (Q1 1:47) Stu Schweigert comes up with the deflection off Koren Robinson. Big INT to stop another Packers drive.

• (Q1 4:54) Raiders gamble on 4th down and lose. I like the call. I like the play selection. It just didn't work out. Great defensive play to bring down Fargas behind the line.

• (Q1 6:59) Nice call on the sweep left on 3rd & 1. Fargas makes the 1st down easily.

• (Q1 8:20) Raiders stop the Packers on downs after Green Bay drives the ball to the Oakland 26 yard line. Raiders got away with a push in the secondary on the Pacakers 4th down play.

• (Q1 14:11) First drive stalls. Raiders do move the ball to midfield however. Not a great start, but not a bad one either.

• (15:00 before kickoff) Green Bay Packers Inactives: QB Aaron Rodgers, TE Bubba Franks, WR Shaun Bodiford, RB Brandon Jackson, LB Tracy White, G Allen Barbre, DT Daniel Muir, DT Johnny Jolly.

• (15:00 before kickoff) Oakland Raiders Inactives: QB JaMarcus Russell (3rd QB), QB Daunte Culpepper, RB Dominic Rhodes, CB John Bowie, C Jake Grove, T Mario Henderson, DT Josh Shaw.

Live Blogging Game 12

2007-12-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 12th game of the season vs the Denver Broncos.

• Game Balls: Josh McCown (14/21, 141 yards, 3 TDs), Justin Fargas (33 attempts, 146 yards, 1 TD), Raiders Defensive Fron 4 (29 rushing attempts, 86 yards rushing allowed).

• (END of REGULATION) OAK 34 - DEN 20 And there you have it. 2nd win in a row. 2nd win in a row vs AFC West opponents. Unbelievable performance against a pretty decent Broncos team.

• (2 Minute Warning) We get 2 minutes to savor this one. The Black Hole starts the taunts. Where is Shannon Sharp? Bet he's not flapping his gums right now.

• (Q4 2:20) Stokely out of bounds killing the Broncos drive on 4th down. Raiders ball.

• (Q4 3:04) Put a form in em! Fargas goes for 5 with the monster block from Oren O'Neill for the TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! Huge game for Fargas today. huge game for the Raiders offensive line today. Man alive! OAK 34 - DEN 20

• (Q4 3:08) Timeout Broncos. Shenannigan paces the sideline nervously. Hopefully he pays for this season with his job.

• (Q4 3:48) Ha! Kiffin waits a play for the bootleg, rolls left and get teh 1st down. 1st and goal on teh 5.

• (Q4 4:45) Fargas is stopped on 2nd down. I would have liked to see Kiffin call play action and go to the end zone on that play. Broncos loading up the box.

• (Q4 5:31) Holy Toledo what an effort by Griffith to convert the 3rd down after slipping three tackles. 13 yards on 3rd & 11. McCown calls timeout as the play clock winds down.

• (Q4 6:48) Fargas goes around the left end for the first down byt Robert Gallery gets flagged for holding.

• (Q4 7:14) Fargas goes 9 to bring up a 3rd and short.

• (Q4 7:29) McCown can't convert on the 3rd down, but the Broncos are flagged for illegal contact. 1st down Raiders! Nice to see someone else shooting themselves in the foot for once...even better that it's the Broncos.

• (Q4 7:50) Raiders now go to work on the clock. More points would make the clock meaningless.

• (Q4 8:48) Offcials taking forever to figure out if the play stands. Finally after 5 minutes, the play is ruled as stands. Raiders ball on the Broncos 43.

• (Q4 8:48) Fabian Washington with the MONSTER pick. Oh man what a nice catch. Shenannigan throws the red flag, challenging the play.

• (Q4 8:59) McCown ends the drive with a dying quail that falls short on a screen play. Fargas had nothing but green in front of him if he makes that catch. Janikowski barely slips in teh 44 yard field goal to push the Raiders lead to 7. OAK 27 - DEN 20

• (Q4 10:35) McCown threads a needle with a 26 yard plass play to Miller. Miller follows that up with a 19 yard catch.

• (Q4 11:21) Travis Henry waltzes in to the end zone, capitalizing on the McCown fumble. Henry was untouched on the 3-yard run. OAK 24 - DEN 20

• (Q4 11:46) Raiders holding the Broncos to 74 yards rushing thus far.

• (Q4 12:54) Michael Huff blows up Henry on a screen misdirection. 3rd down and long for Denver. Cutler then converts it with another bullet. Raiders need to keep Denver out of the end zone.

• (End of Q3) OAK 24 - DEN 13 Raiders letting the Broncos back into this game with careless mistakes. First Janikowski's miss, then the big pass play to Stokely, followed by the McCown fumble.

• (Q3 :02) Oh no! McCown fumbles the snap and DJ Williams recovers on the Raiders 35 yqard line. First turnover by Oakland today.

• (Q3 1:37) Jay Richardson sacks Cutler on a big 3rd down play to stop the Broncos drive. Even when the Broncos begin to pick up some momentum , the Raiders shut them down. Elam converts the 44 yard field goal, but that wqas a big stop. OAK 24 - DEN 13

• (Q3 3:23) Cutler drills Stokely with a 33 yard bullet. Cutler follows that up with another long pass to tight end Tony Scheffler. Broncos turn two plays into 50 yards, now sitting on the Raiders 20 yard line.

• (Q3 4:40) Raiders botch the shovel pass, but McCown runs for 9 before getting popped. Janikowski MISSES the 35 yard field goal.

• (Q3 6:36) Fargas coughs up the ball, but the Raiders recover. Fargas makes up for it by filling a 10 foot hole then scampering 29 yards to the Broncos 25 yard line.

• (Q3 7:25) Even special teams is getting it done. Carr brings back the kick return 38 yards.

• (Q3 7:25) Culter gets flattened by Clemmons on 3rd down. Conversion fails. Jason Elam punches home the easy 29-yarder to cut the Raiders lead to 14 points. OAK 24 - DEN 10

• (Q3 10:02) Brandon Stokely slips past the Raiders secondary and goes for 58 yards on the play. If Cutler doesn't throw that ball short, Stokely goes for 6 easily.

• (Q3 11:04) McCown drifts left, waits, throws, then gets blasted by Ian Gold. Oh, and the pass lands in Porter's arms in the back of the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! Gutsy play by McCown to stay with the play as long as he did. OAK 24 - DEN 7

• (Q3 11:40) Henry coughs up the ball on a strange inside misdirection play. Chris Clemons recovers the ball.

• (Q3 12:45) Jerry Porter makes a circus catch with the left hand, but th eRiaders drive stalls. Janikowski converts the 38-yard field goal to push the Raiders lead to 10 points. OAK 17 - DEN 7

• (Q3 14:12) Thomas Howard openes the 3rd quarter with a big INT deep in Raiders territory.

• (HALFTIME) OAK 14 - DEN 7 One of the best openeing halfs of the season for the Raiders. Fargas 84 yards on 17 carries. McCown with a 128.9 QB rating. Broncos had 41 yards of offense on the 4 drives following their openeing TD drive.

• (Q2 :50) Hey look what play action buys you! McCown with the bootleg right to Zach Miller for the TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! The rookie tight end pays some dividends with thise big mitts. Leads all rookie TE's with 28 catches on teh season. OAK 14 - DEN 7

• (Q2 :56) Justin Griffith with the catch, then makes three Broncos pay! Time out Oakland.

• (Q2 2:00) 2 Minute Warning. Raiders have a decent shot at going into halftime with the lead. Let's see what McCown can do.

• (Q2 2:58) McCown back in at QB. Good call by Kiffin. Bring the kid up to speed slowly. McCown with the 1st down conversion on a nice pass to Jerry Porter.

• (Q2 3:07) Henry coughs it up on the Broncos 35 yard line. Raider ball! Tyler Brayton with the recovery. Robert Thomas with the huge strip.

• (Q2 4:13) Kiffin elects to go for it on 4th down & 1 and the Broncos defense stuffs Fargas. Janikowski's injury most likely helped with that decision. WOuld have preferred to see somre more creativity in the play calling. Run left is about as predictable as it gets.

• (Q2 5:03) Russell shows some decent mobility in the pocket, sidestepping a defender then running for 4 yards.

• (Q2 6:40) Big Russ shows off that ar with a bullet that hits Ronald Curry after Champ Bailey slips.

• (Q2 7:00) Raiders running game starting to establish itself. Fargas has 71 yards on 12 carries thus far.

• (Q2 8:14) Raiders defense holds for the second straight series. Could it be the day the D returns? Dwight with the decent return, puts the ball on the 30.

• (Q2 9:56) Sebastien Janikowski's 58-yard field goal attempt is a line drive that falls short. Janikowski looks like he's hurt on the play, hobbling over to the sideline.

• (Q2 10:13) Russell's first drive dies on a bad snap that floats outside his grasp. The kid looks poised.

• (Q2 12:35) Nice call by Kiffin with the screen play call. Russell floats the pass over the right end to Fargas who goes for 13 yards and a 1st down. Fargas follows that up with a 19 more.

• (Q2 13:41) The Jamarcus Russell in Oakland begins. The big guy boot-legs right then hits Jerry Porter with a 16 yard bullet to the right sideline.

• (Q2 13:59) Raiders stop DEnver's drive, but Dwight almost costs the Silver & Black by coughing up the punt on his own 18 yard line.

• (Q2 14:54) McCown has all day, but can't find a receiver. Drive stalls. Now we get to see if this defense is going to help win a game this season.

• (END of Q1) OAK 7 - DEN 7 Nice to see the Raiders capitalize on Denver's big mistake, but the defense has got to show up at least once this season.

• (Q1 :51) Travis Henry right up the gut for 4 yards a nd a touchdown. Incredible how bad the defense is. OAK 7 - DEN 7

• (Q1 4:16) Selvin Young with three straight carries for a combined 24 yards. Raiders horrendous tackling still killing this team.

• (Q1 6:47) Damn! Raiders fail to bring down Brandon Marshall who goes for 32 yards and converts on 3rd down. Raiders had the Broncos stopped.

• (Q1 8:13) What a catch by Tim Dwight in the left corner for the TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! Pass interference on Denver is declined. Man, what a nice toss by McCown. OAK 7 - DAN 0

• (Q1 11:14) Another nice run by Fargas. 7 yards for the 3rd down conversion.

• (Q1 12:42) Thank you Cecil Sapp. The Bronco runs into Shane Lechler, and the Raiders get the ball back with the penalty. 1st down at midfield.

• (Q1 12:49) Risky pass by McCown into coverage. Drive stalls.

• (Q1 14:43) Justin Fargas picks up where he left off. Busts the 17 yard run for a 1st down.

• (Q1 15:00) Raiders win the toss elect to receive. Chris Carr takes th touchback.

Limit Russell's PT

2007-11-29T22:07:00.000-08:00

Jamarcus Russell

So the notion of playing Jamarcus Russell this weekend against the Denver Broncos isn’t the worst idea in the world, granted Lane Kiffin doesn’t get greedy and play the kid significant reps, or worse on a continuing basis the remainder of the season. Here’s why I say that. The Raiders are banged up everywhere, but most notably on the offensive line. Sticking Russell out there for the wolves to devour makes no sense if the intent is to simply get his feet wet.

Kiffin needs to limit Russell’s stint to 10-15 plays from scrimmage this weekend, preferably with the game out of reach (one way or the other). I think Mike Shanahan would like nothing more than to knock around the Raiders future, regardless of his own job status in Denver. Don’t give Shanahan the opportunity to muddy the waters by either injuring the kid or making his first taste of NFL caliber ball a thumping.

The fact that the Raiders decided to do this at home is smart. Russell won’t be playing in a hostile environment, and the Coliseum has no shortage of his supporters.

I’d love nothing more than to see Russell tear up the Broncos secondary with laser beam passes being delivered all over the place, but the Raiders need to be patient. Let him get a taste of the pace, before extending him against hostile defenders.

Of the teams remaining on the Raiders schedule, this is probably the weakest opponent remaining. Jacksonville is ranked 28th in passing defense, so let him air things out in week 16 against the Jags. The Raiders face the Colts and Charges at home, but both of those teams are embroiled in division chases.

Forget about giving Russell any lengthy time over center next week at Lambeau. The weather will most likely be bad and the Packers will still be battling for some semblance of home field in the playoffs. Brett Favre’s injury on Thursday night may make that game more interesting from Green Bay’s perspective, but the Packers pass defense has been one of their strong suits this season.

Let Russell build confidence against teams he’ll have any opportunity to succeed against. Yes, Jacksonville is in the playoff hunt, but that secondary is just what Dr Kiffin ordered. Yes, I’ve heard that the Raiders are a “running team” (or at least until Big Al reminds Kiffin that he isn’t shelling out $80 million to someone so they can hand off the ball), but Russell needs to cut his teeth in the air.

Limit his reps against Denver, extend them against Jacksonville, then wait and see if San Diego is playing for anything on December 30th. If they’re not, turn him loose then.

Then start scouting offensive lineman that you can build an offense around. Russell won’t do squat laying on his back 5-10 times a game or on the IR.

Live Blogging Game 11

2007-11-25T10:06:00.001-08:00

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 11th game of the season vs the Kansas City Chiefs.

• Game Balls: Justin Fargas (119 yards rushing, 1 TD), Jerry Porter (3 catches 75 yards receiving), Michael Huff (7 tackles, 2 assists, 1 INT).

• (END OF REGULATION) OAK 20 - KC 17 The Raiders break a 9 game losing streak against Kansas City and a 17 game losing streak against the division. And the Raiders do it on the road. Kiffin learned a thing or two about his opponent and finally had a chance to apply it. The Raiders were a running team today.

• (Q4 1:54) 3rd & 11, Chiefs take their last timeout. That challenge by KC may prove costly. Raiders can end it with a 1st down. Justin Fargas scampers 21 HUGE yards to hammer the final nail in the coffin. Holy Toledo!

• (Q4 2:00) Two Minute Warning. 2nd and 14 on the Chiefs 47 yard line. Get that ball another 15 yards to give Janikowski a chance to force the Chiefs to have to drive the entire length of the field to take this one.

• (Q4 3:23) Play action fake on the obvious run down, Culpepper to Curry for 9 yards.

• (Q4 3:51) Fargas rumbles for 12 yards and a 1st down. Tack on another 11.

• (Q4 4:26) Chiefs lose the challenge and go for it on 4th and 1. Smith is stacked up two yards short of the marker. Raiders defense tackles a runner for the first time today...parade scheduled for downtown Oakland tomorrow morning!

• (Q4 4:26) Kennison makes a crazy catch between his knees. Cheifs are short of the 1st down by a yard. KC calls timeout to figure out what they want to do. Now Herm Edwards challenges the spot of the catch. If he loses, that means KC will have burned two timeouts on the play.

• (Q4 6:36) Croyle finally figuring out how to use Gonzalez. The big Tight End converts his second 1st down of the drive. Smith with 150 rushing yards is killing the Raiders.

• (Q4 9:34) Justin Fargas busts up the middle for 14 yards and a TOUHDOWN RAIDERS! HUGE run by the Raiders tailback. 96 yards on the day for the USC alum. Raiders reclaim the lead. OAK 20 - KC 17

• (Q4 9:45) Culpepper hits Miller for 28 yards, then follows it up a 35 yard pass to Porter. Raiders inside the red zone for the 3rd time today.

• (Q4 10:51) Croyle kills the Cheifs drive with two bad passes. Rayner hooks the field goal attempt badly, keeping the game a 4 point ballgame.

• (Q4 12:20) Raiders finally stop the run, but Michael Huff commits teh personal foul facemask infraction. Move the ball another 15 yards.

• (Q4 14:25) Chiefs open thier drive with a run. Note to Rob Ryan: The Cheifs are going to run the ball this quarter. Run, run, run, run, run. Load up the box and tell your guys to gang tackle for god's sake.

• (Q4 14:44) Raiders open the 4th quarter with a dud. 3 & out, followed by a 30 yard punt. Bleccchh.

• (END of Q3) KC 17 - OAK 13 Nice to see the Dominic Rhodes contributing with his 3rd kickoff return of the game. The Raiders offense is so potent, they can relegate a guy like Rhodes to kickoff returns.

• (Q3 :47) Smith goes 5 for his 2nd touchdown of the day. Raiders defense hucks up all the momentum the offense had generated with that awful series. KC 17 - OAK 13

• (Q3 4:17) Tony Gonzalez makes a big 22 yard catch to extend his consecutive catch streak to 110 games.

• (Q3 5:15) Derrick Burgess follows up Richardson's gaff with the big sack.

• (Q3 5:49) Brainless penalty by Jay Richardson, tacking on an additional 15 yards to Croyle's run.

• (Q3 6:10) Lamont "Release Me" Jordan takes the pitch right, then rumbles for 5 yards and the TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! Give Culpepper credit for getting that drive started early. Fargas added two key runs for 1st downs. OAK 13 - KC 10

• (Q3 8:00) Raiders try a little razzle dazzle and Tim Dwight turns it into a 9 yard gain after the containment looked like they had him trapped.

• (Q3 12:35) McQuistan kills a 3rd and inches opportunity with a false start. Inexcusable penalties.

• (HALFTIME) KC 10 - OAK 6 The rookie Smith goes for 94 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The only thing that has stopped the Chiefs offense thus far, is the Cheifs offense. Penalties after teh Miller turnover saved the Raiders at teh end of the half.

• (Q2 :22) Why would the Raiders burn two timeouts with 4 downs to go and under 30 seconds???? That makes absolutely no sense.

• (Q2 1:42) Raiders playing out the half with the goal of keeping teh Chiefs off the board. "We're a running team"

• (Q2 3:11) Miller now with the false start to back the Raiders up to their own 2 yard line. Fargas 12-yard run then called back because fo a hold on Paul McQuistan.

• (Q2 3:33) Cheifs offense looks like the Raiders on the ensuing series, moving backwards, then punting. Raiders will start on their own 5-yard line.

• (Q2 4:30) Zach Miller coughs up the ball deep in the Raiders zone, but the bigger question is why Culpepper is throwing the ball 10-yards short of the markers on 3rd down? This guy is supposed to be the seasoned veteran? What exactly is he teaching Jamarcus Russell?

• (Q2 5:30) Raiders stop the Chiefs drive, but not before KC moves the ball 68 yards to the Raiders 12-yard line. Dave Rayner converts the short field goal to push the Chiefs lead to 4. KC 10 - OAK 6

• (Q2 9:41) Missed tackle by Michael Huff, followed up by the lack of a pass rush allowing Cheifs to march down the field. Down to the Raiders 32 yard line.

• (Q2 10:43) Porter catch is now ruled a drop. Drive stalls. Janikowski nails the 54-yard field goal to cut the Cheifs lead to a point. KC 7 - OAK 6

• (Q2 10:54) 3rd and long, Jerry Porter makes the catch, then gets popped. 16 yard gain to keep the drive alive. Chiefs will challenge.

• (End of Q1) KC 7 - OAK 3 Run defense needs to buckle down and make Croyle put the ball in the air.

• (Q1 0:49) Ronald Curry drops a very catchable ball to stall the Raiders drive. Gotta make those catches.

• (Q1 1:53) I like the play action fake after the sequence of run plays. Way to mix it up a bit. Patrick Surtain hurt on the play.

• (Q1 6:02) Smith dances through the pylons for a 10 yard touchdown run. Raiders defense is pathetic. KC 7 - OAK 3

• (Q1 7:25) Smith busts another 16 yard run. Why even bother to throw the ball against this papier mache run defense?

• (Q1 8:23) Herman Edwards got the scouting report on the Raiders run defense. Goes for it on 4th and inches, and converts with a 19 yard run.

• (Q1 10:55) Jarrod Cooper injured on the kickoff. Sports Illustrated ranked the top 4 most losing players in teh NFL (team winning % as a member of the teams that player has suited up for)...Cooper was ranked 2nd. Cooper being carted off the field

• (Q1 11:15) Raiders drive stalls, even though they move the ball inside the 20. Sebastian Janikowski converts the short pooch chot for the first score of the game. OAK 3 - KC 0

• (Q1 13:23) First big play of the game...Michael Huff picks off Croyle giving the Raiders the ball deep in Chiefs territory

• (15:00 before kickoff) Kansas City Chiefs Inactives: QB Tyler Thigpen (3rd QB), RB Larry Johnson, CB Rashad Barksdale, T Herbert Taylor, T Will Svitek, WR Eddie Drummond, DT James Reed, LB Kendrell Bell.

• (15:00 before kickoff) Oakland Raiders Inactives: QB JaMarcus Russell (3rd QB), QB Andrew Walter, FS Stuart Schweigert, CB John Bowie, LB Isaiah Ekejiuba, C Jake Grove, T Seth Wand, DT Josh Shaw.

Live Blogging Game 10

2007-11-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 10th game of the season vs the Minnesota Vikings.

• (END OF REGULATION) MIN 29 - OAK 22 Chester Taylor, a backup, 2nd rate running back, runs for a rediculous 164 yards and 3 TDs. Tack on the 38 receiving yards for 202 total yards. My grandmother could go for 100 against this Raiders defense. Taylor carried teh ball 22 times, none for a loss.

• (Q4 :00) Final Hail Mary gets bated down in the end zone...I'm surprised Culpepper had enough time to get the throw off.

• (Q4 :12) Raiders stop the clock by downing the ball, but they get called for a false start, forcing 10 seconds to be removed. This is comedy at its finest.

• (Q4 :44) Raiders chipping away with 4 and 5 yard plays.

• (Q4 1:48) 83 yards to go to tie the game...Culpepper throws the pick, but Chad Greeway then fumbles the ball back to Oakland.

• (Q4 2:00) Taylor carries teh ball right down to the 1st down marker. The measurement says short. Raiders will get the ball back, so we can agonize for a few more minutes.

• (Q4 3:04) Morrison shoots the gap to stop Taylor (one of the the few times today), the Raiders burn their final timeout.

• (Q4 3:23) Fake onside kick, pooch it over the blockers and the ball dribbles out of bounds. Raiders football at its finest folks.

• (Q4 3:23) Raiders can't sustain the drive, but they lean on Janikowski for yet another field goal. Down by 7 with 3:23 to play. MIN 29 - OAK 22

• (Q4 7:24) Taylor draws the peronal foul for the leg whip. I think that may be the first penalty called ont eh Vikings in the 2nd half.

• (Q4 8:05) Vikings milking the clock, inching the Raiders closer to that top 5 draft pick.

• (Q4 11:35) Culpepper sacked for teh 4th time today, offense continues to go backwards. 3rd & 22, all the Raiders cando is dump off the screen play...which nets 2 yards.

• (Q4 14:52) Vikings take the Culpepper turnover and drive it 75 yards, capped by a rediculous touchdown run by Taylor. The Vikings running back leaps over the pile at the 5, but he's stood up and the pile carries him forward for 5 yards. MIN 29 - OAK 19

• (End of Q3) Vikings driving downfield. Quarter ends on a receiver pass, that floats like a duck, but a Vikings receiver still makes a shoestring grab to convert the 1st down.

• (Q3 2:44) Culpepper gets hit, fumbles teh ball, then two Raider lineman have a chance to fall on the ball, but they fight each other for it, spitting it up to the Vikings. This team isn't 2-7 for no reason.

• (Q3 3:01) Culpepper dances around the rush, then finds Jerry Porterfor the 31-yard gain. Backing the Vikings into the red zone, the Raiders elect to run on the subsequent play for no gain. Fall start Paul McQuistan to back the Raiders up another 5.

• (Q3 4:42) Chris Clemons with his 2nd sack of the day, ending a Minessota drive. The front 4 has shown life today.

• (Q3 5:53) Run, run, pass, drive stalls. The Raiders might be the only team the Patriots don't need to cheat agains, because everyone already knows what's coming.

• (Q3 8:23) Vikings march down field, capped by Taylor's 15 yard run. Longwell hits another mid-distance field goal to give teh Vikings the lead back. MIN 22 - OAK 19

• (Q3 11:07) For whatever reason, Kiffin & Knaoo are intent on establishing a run game. Drive nets 13 yards after 7 plays, then the drive stalls.

• (HALFTIME) OAK 19 - MIN 19 Raiders running game has gone nowhere. They're moving the ball when putting it up top. Defense still needs to start wrapping up people.

• (Q2 0:00) Raiders move teh ball downfield, then Janikowski cashes in to end teh half all tied up. Nice sequence to draw even. OAK 19 - MIN 19

• (Q2 :58) Tarvaris Jackson is leveled, then fumbles the ball. Sapp recovers. Raiders back in business.

• (Q2 1:47) Two incompletions stal the drive. Janikowski converts to cut the Vikings lead to 3. MIN 19 - OAK 16

• (Q2 2:00) Nice play action fake on 3rd & short, then Culpepper finds Curry for a big gainer. THAT is the kid of play calling the Raiders need more of. 2 minute warning, Raiders in striking distance.

• (Q2 3:25) Justin Fargas blows up Lieber with a monster block.

• (Q2 8:30) The brain trust calls for a short plass play on 3rd & 15, but Curry is tackled well short of the sticks. Drive stalls.

• (Q2 9:17) Raiders learn to tackle this week...ah, just kidding... tackling is as shoddy as ever. Taylor rumbles 38 yards for the TD. Vikings retake the lead. MIN 19 - OAK 13

• (Q2 12:00) 3 & 12 deep in Vikings territory, playing the worst pass defense int eh league, and the Raides run a sweep right for no gain. Janikowski converts the short field goal, but the Raiders fail for the second time today to get the ball in teh end zone from the red zone. OAK 13 - MIN 12

• (Q2 12:44) Holy Toledo, the Vikings cough up the ball again. Sapp knocks the ball loose from Taylor, and Jarrod Cooper pounces on it.

• (Q2 12:57) Culpepper finds John Madsen all alone in the end zone, TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS! The O-line started to collapse, but Culpepper slid forward to avoid the rush. MIN 12 - OAK 10

• (Q2 14:12) WOW! What a catch by Ron Curry. Splits two defenders in the secondary and snatches the ball out of the air for the 49 yards.

• (Q2 14:56) Ryan Longwell converts the 30-yard pooch shot to put the Vikings back up by 9. MIN 12 - OAK 3

• (End of Q1) Minnesota having their way on the line of scrimmage (both offense and defense). This could be a long afternoon. MIN 9 - OAK 3

• (Q1 1:14) Schweigert is on the sidelines nursing a hip injury. Hiram Eugene in at safety. Chester Taylor looking like Ladanian Tomlinson against the porous Raiders defense.

• (Q1 4:45) The turnstiles allow Culpepper to get sacked again. Sebastian Janikowski converts the 42 yard field goal to get on the board. MIN 9 - OAK 3

• (Q1 5:33) Culpepper prefers throwing 15 yard touchdowns to 6 yarders, so he backs the line of scrimmage up by taking a 9 yard sack.

• (Q1 6:20) Culpepper unleashes the cannon and hits Curry with the big 46 yard pass play. 1st & goal on the Vikings 6 yard line.

• (Q1 6:50) Kirk Morrison pounces on the Minnesota fumble. Finally a break in the Raiders direction.

• (Q1 8:30) So Asomugha's brain cramp results in 2 points for the Vikings. The Raiders offense stays consistent in moving the ball backwards. MIN 9 - OAK 0

• (Q1 9:51) Vikings get great field posession, then drive the ball right down teh Raider's throats again. Namndi Asomugha stops the drive with a pick in the end zone, then runs the ball out and gets tackled on teh 2 yard line. Brilliant. Help your inept offense by starting their drive on the 2 rather than the 20.

• (Q1 14:10) Chester Taylor pounces into the end zone for the easy 5 yard TD run. Schweigert playing deep in the end zone so he doesn't get burned again. MIN 7 - OAK 0

• (Q1 14:30) My computer's not even warm and Stu Schweigert bites on the end around and gives up the deep ball. Only reason it wasn't a touchdown was that the ball was under thrown.

Live Blogging Game 9

2007-11-11T13:16:00.001-08:00

Welcome to The Eye Patch's live in-game blogging of the Raiders 9th game of the season vs the Chicago Bears.

• Game Balls: The parking attendants (they had the Coliseum gates open on time. It was the only thing that wnet as planned today.

• (END OF REGULATION) Ah, the icing on the cake with an INT by McCown. Hopefully the Raiders wrote (un)incentives into McCown's contrac...like he pays the Raiders for every INT he throws. this season. CHI 17 - OAK 6

• (Q4 1:06) If you're going to go through the motions, why not just chuck it downfield on every play from here on out? What does a 10 yard dump off do?

• (Q4 1:39) McCown hit, fumbles, Bears recover on the Raiders 3. Cedric Benson punches it in for a TD. Paper bags available at all Raider Image stores on Monday. CHI 17 - OAK 6

• (Q4 2:24) Just over two minutes to play, Raiders need 4 to tie and they elect to punt. It's unreal that these people get paid as much as they do to make these kinds of decisions.

• (Q4 2:36) Raiders need a first down to extend the drive, and McCown elects to chuck it downfield, then overthrows his receiver by 10 yards.

• (Q4 2:58) Raiders couldn't sustain a drive al lseason, and there's no reason to believe they're going to do it here. McCown can't even hit a wide open Zach Miller.

• (Q4 3:11) Grossman to Berrian with the 59 yard TD with 3 minutes to play. Raiders football at its finest. Who are the top 3 draft prospects again? Why does Chris Carr have a job in the NFL? He should be parking cars for a living. Berrian ran right past hm and had 15 yards on him as he crossed teh end zone. CHI 10 - OAK 6

• (Q4 4:04) Janikowski hits from 52-yards. Could he be the Raiders savior? OAK 6 - CHI 3

• (Q4 7:12) Oh my god, are you kidding me? How can this team continue to try running up the middle on 1st & 2nd down? This is absolutely rediculous.

• (Q4 11:18) Run, Run, incomplete pass. Lane Kifin is supposed to be an offensive genius??? I'll do his job for half the pay and give the same dead ends.

• (Q4 12:44) Back-to-back sacks will give the Raiders the ball back at midfield. If the offense is going to do anything today, this is the drive to do it.

• (Q4 14:06) Incomplete pass, penalty, penalty, draw, end of drive. This is Pride & Poise? I'd hate to see Indifference & Futility.

• (End of Q3) OAK 3 - CHI 3 I could take a nap and still be more productive than either of these offenses.

• (Q3 5:09) Magic 8 Ball is correct. The offensive turnstiles let the Bears bust into the Raidres backfield. McCown throws it 2 yards out of bounds.

• (Q3 5:33) 3rd & 8...I'm guessing a pass play. I can't tell you if they'll convert or not. Magic 8 Ball says "unlikely".

• (Q3 7:29) Here is where the Raiders will lose this game if they can't move the ball out of their own end. Chicago will get the ball with great field position.

• (Q3 10:13) Raiders play calling is becoming so predictable, the Bears are loading up the box on run plays. Now Fargas coughs it up.

• (Q3 11:36) Gould misses the 53-yard attempt short.

• (Q3 11:44) Officials turning a blind eye to the holding while Gross man rolls out. No Fair League.

• (Q3 12:40) Muhammed goes for another 33 yards on the reception from Grossman. Blitz fails.

• (Q3 13:40) 2nd down and long and the Raidres elect to run the ball setting up 3rd and long. Ensuing play goes for a pass play well short of the sticks, which is irrelevant because the receiver drops the ball. Do any of these coaches know how down & distance works?

• (Q3 14:15) First 1st down of the drive killed because of a holding penalty. More of the same. Moving backwards.

• (HALFTIME) OAK 3 - CHI 3 Raiders can do nothing on offense and the defense has dodged bullets. Only bright spot has been kick coverage, which has not allowed Devin Hester to return anything.

• (Q2 :25) McCown gets sacked, then has to scramble for his life, thus ending any chance for a late score before the half. Raiders offense is pathetic.

• (Q2 :44) Griese, left shoulder injury. Taken into the lockerroom for x-rays.

• (Q2 1:08) Tim Dwight replaces Higgins on punt returns. He doesn't fumble on his first chance...good start.

• (Q2 1:22) Nice to see Grossman in his prefered position...laid out on on the turf

• (Q2 1:32) Rex Grossman warming up after Griese gets banged up on the Kirk Morrison sack.

• (Q2 3:54) Awful play selection and exceution on 3rd & 3. Another drive stalled. Terrible.

• (Q2 5:41) Justin Fargas pounding out yards, but he needs to bust one to get the offense kick started.

• (Q2 6:51) Raiders defense bends, but doesn't break. Robbie Gould hits the 31-yard field goal to tie the game. OAK 3 - CHI 3

• (Q2 11:45) Secondary exposed. Mushin Muhammed for 45 yards.

• (END of Q1) OAK 3 - CHI 0 No offense to speak of from either side.

• (Q1 1:00) Johnnie Lee Higgins resumed his punt return duties today...that may may have been his last of the day (season maybe).

• (Q1 1:07) Nice coverage by Chris Carr to stall the Bears drive

• (Q1 1:53) Brainless penalty by Jarrod Cooper. Uncontrolled mayhem does not win championships

• (Q1 4:55) Stu Schweigart lays out Bernard Berrian on that sideline throw. Gotta send a message with Asomugha and Washington out in the secondary.

• (Q1 9:22) Drive stalls, but Sebastian Janikowski converts the 37-yard field goal for the lead. OAK 3 - CHI 0

• (Q1 12:40) I told you McCown should be the starting tailback on this team! 45 yards on the opening offensive play.

• (Q1 13:20) 3 & out for the bears. Good opening defensive series for the Raiders

• (20:00 before kickoff) Chicago Bears Inactives: QB Kyle Orton (3rd QB), CB Nathan Vasher, DB Brandon McGowan, RB Lousaka Polite, LB Rod Wilson, G Josh Beekman, WR Mike Haas, DE Antonio Garay.

• (20:00 before kickoff) Oakland Raiders Inactives: QB JaMarcus Russell (3rd QB), QB Andrew Walter, CB Nnamdi Asomugha, CB Fabian Washington, LB Sam Williams, C Jake Grove, T Mario Henderson, DT Josh Shaw.