Teams Las Vegas Raiders - The Black Hole

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Nov 28, 2006
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Raiders to take Russell first, according to sources

It appears the Oakland Raiders have made their choice, and it's JaMarcus Russell. According to two sources, one with the Raiders and one close to Russell, the team called the LSU quarterback Friday to inform him he would be the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NFL draft.

Oakland quietly flew offensive coordinator Greg Knapp to New York on Thursday to meet with Russell and reassure him of his status as the team's preference over Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.

The Raiders had tried to leverage the players against one another in contract negotiations. Oakland does not have a deal in place with Russell, as often is the case with team selecting first overall, but the Raiders and Russell's agents, Ethan Lock and Eric Metz, have agreed to negotiate in good faith. But barring a blockbuster trade for the top pick -- and sources say nothing has materialized that the Raiders would accept -- Russell will be Oakland's choice.

The selection of Russell leaves Johnson, the draft's top player on many team's boards, available when the Lions select second overall. The Lions are then expected to select a receiver in the first round for the fourth time in the past five years. Johnson could perhaps then be dealt to the Buccaneers, who reportedly have been in discussions with the Lions regarding the second pick

As for Quinn, the Cleveland Browns, according to team sources, will, barring a trade, go with Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas over the Ohio native with the third overall pick.

Quinn is also not expected to be selected by the Minnesota Vikings, who are committed to 2006 second-round pick Tavaris Jackson. Quinn is expected to be on the board at the ninth pick when the quarterback-needy Miami Dolphins are on the clock.
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I expected this, and I welcome Russell to the Raiders, but I would've preferred Calvin Johnson.
 
Re: Raiders to take Russell first, according to sources

No point having CJ if you don't have someone to throw it to him.

Having said that though, big ask to expect Russell to start day one - especially if that o-line doesn't improve.
 

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Re: Al Davis - Man in Silver and Black

Don't know about the comparisons between Cuba and the Raiders, I mean, at least the Raiders escaped third world status for a time there...last time I looked they will be celebrating NYE 1969 (for the 28th time) in Cuba.
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Re: Al Davis - Man in Silver and Black

Don't know about the comparisons between Cuba and the Raiders, I mean, at least the Raiders escaped third world status for a time there...last time I looked they will be celebrating NYE 1969 (for the 28th time) in Cuba.

Lol. Yeah some dodgy writing in that article. Wasn't really put together well, all over the place, and Castro-Davis?? Geezus. But otherwise, it's an article about the great man, so :thumbsu:
 
Re: Al Davis - Man in Silver and Black

Lol. Yeah some dodgy writing in that article. Wasn't really put together well, all over the place, and Castro-Davis?? Geezus. But otherwise, it's an article about the great man, so :thumbsu:

Yeah the Castro/Davis comparison was a killer, the last great Cold War socialist meets the Californian Capitalist.
 
May 25, 2005
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Re: Al Davis - Man in Silver and Black

You better get used to that feeling, buddy...there's more where that came from starting Week 2!

Now you're really pumping up for the season.

Im still getting over that game we lost in the snow at mile high :mad:

Now that you've read a good article on him, here's another one :cool: -

Bad franchises: Blame the Raiders' mess on Al Davis
Paul Attner

..That legacy is all Davis has left, and he guards it with remarkable zeal. Everything about the Raiders is their past, the titles, the Hall of Fame players. But the present? The joke around the NFL is that no one does losing better than the Raiders. Even in the best of times, it is a dysfunctional organization.

cont...

Im in an NFL mood now... *goes and watches an old NFL game*
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Re: Al Davis - Man in Silver and Black

Now you're really pumping up for the season.

Im still getting over that game we lost in the snow at mile high :mad:

Now that you've read a good article on him, here's another one :cool: -



Im in an NFL mood now... *goes and watches an old NFL game*

Obviously written by a Bronco fan. Then again, pretty much every team hates us, so I guess it doesn't matter.

I actually ordered a book today about Al Davis from Amazon. That's porn for the brain.
 

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Re: Culpepper to the Raiders

Hey fuey, have a look at the stats for Culpepper and Moss for the 2004 season. I believe Culppper passed for a league-leading 4,717 yards, a Viking-record 39 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. Moss accounted for only 767 yards and 13 TDs that year.

I'd say Culpepper was made better by Moss, but he was much more than a gunslinger who relied on Moss to get the job done.

BTW Brett Favre has never thrown more yards in a season, never thrown more TDs in a season, and has never thrown less Interceptions in a season than Culpper did in 2004.
 
Re: Culpepper to the Raiders

Hey fuey, have a look at the stats for Culpepper and Moss for the 2004 season. I believe Culppper passed for a league-leading 4,717 yards, a Viking-record 39 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. Moss accounted for only 767 yards and 13 TDs that year.

I'd say Culpepper was made better by Moss, but he was much more than a gunslinger who relied on Moss to get the job done.

BTW Brett Favre has never thrown more yards in a season, never thrown more TDs in a season, and has never thrown less Interceptions in a season than Culpper did in 2004.

Point?

When you have Randy Moss in his prime, you double or triple team him EVERY play. That leaves the rest of the skill players to have their way and they did. Ask Jermaine Wiggins.

And please don't quote me Brett/Daunte numbers... Daunte doesn't deserve to be in the same breath. If Brett had a talent like Moss to throw to, he'd have similar numbers. Hell, if any half decent QB had him to throw to, they'd put up GREAT numbers.

Randy had more talent than any receiver to grace the Green and Gold in the past 30 years, and I include Sterling and James Lofton, if not the most talent of any receiver in the NFL during the same time span.

Brett made average WRs good. And good ones great.

Daunte does not have that ability. Fact is, his numbers have dipped SIGNIFICANTLY when Randy Moss is not on his offense.

Average QB, pure and simple.
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Re: Culpepper to the Raiders

:rolleyes: At the NFC Northeners

You packers and vikings rivalry aside, the truth is that Culpepper is a fantastic QB, who, when healthy, would be a welcome acquisition for any team.

Look at Culpepper's career stats, dont just focus on his 2004 season.

He's got a great TD-INT ratio, something like 150-80. You dont get that by being over-rated, a bum, or relying on a receiver.
 
Re: Culpepper to the Raiders

Culpepper = comeback player of the year 2007. On the back of taking the Raiders to the playoffs to boot.

Bookmark it!

Holy Cow Batman !! Is g.g. really the Joker in disguise??

joker.jpg
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Riader set to smash NFL record

Enough with the glamor boys.

Great to see recognition towards a great current day punter. The best of the NFL bunch.

http://www.nbc11.com/sports/14611472/detail.html

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Shane Lechler is already etched into the NFL record books as the league's career punting leader.Now the Raiders' veteran kicker is trying to add to his legacy by doing something no other player in history has accomplished.With less than two months left in an otherwise disappointing season, Lechler is tied for second with a 49.9-yard average but is leading all punters with a 44.5-yard net average.

That's nearly 8 yards better than his career average and would put him into an elite category in the league record books.Since 1976 when the NFL first began tracking the statistic, no punter or team has carried a net average of 40 yards or more.At this rate, Lechler will shatter that mark, though he's not alone in his quest for history. San Francisco's Andy Lee (43.6) and the Rams' Donnie Jones (41.3) also have a chance to break the league record of 39.4, set by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1992.

"It's important because that's a reflection of our punt team and the effort those guys are playing with," Lechler said Thursday. "Net is what I am looking for because everybody is kind of down on the Raiders (saying), 'Hey, you've got a punter who can punt it out there but you can't cover it.' But now we've kind of stepped up to the calling."Lechler and Oakland's special teams had their best game of the season last week against the Chicago Bears and return specialist Devin Hester.Hester, who has three TDs on returns this season and eight for his career, was held in check all afternoon despite the Raiders kicking right at him rather than avoiding him, as most teams have done. He averaged just 2.3 yards on punt returns and 17 yards on kickoffs.

It was one of the few bright spots for Oakland in the 17-6 loss to Chicago that dropped the Raiders to 2-7 under first-year coach Lane Kiffin.That's a pattern that has become frustratingly familiar for Lechler, the two-time Pro Bowl punter. He regularly ranks among the league leaders, but after going to the playoffs in his first three NFL seasons, the Raiders haven't been back to the postseason since."I feel like I am hitting the ball well (and) our net average is unheard of right now," Lechler said. "That's a credit to those guys because after I kick I really don't have anything to do with it. It's those guys making the plays."A year ago, Lechler didn't care much about his net average. Frustrated and disillusioned under then-special teams coach Ted Daisher, he had a career-high 47.5-yard gross average but had a career-worst net of 36.4. He also had 19 touchbacks, his most since entering the NFL as a fifth-round draft choice in 2000.

Daisher was fired, along with much of the Raiders' staff, during an offseason coaching makeover. Kiffin, who was hired by Al Davis to replace coach Art Shell, brought in Brian Schneider to handle special teams, and the two made it a point to smooth out any differences Lechler might have had with the previous coaching regime.They also wanted to make sure Lechler regained his focus and concentrated on putting up better net numbers.It's worked. Heading into Sunday's game in Minnesota, the Raiders lead the NFL in net average while Lechler has just two touchbacks."He's had great averages over the years," Kiffin said. "It was more about net and more about pinning (opponents) deep instead of touchbacks. His touchback percentage is way down, which has been huge to help the defense create long fields."Lechler's punting has also bailed out Oakland's offense, which has been dreadful this season. The Raiders rank near the bottom in several major offensive categories, including total yards, passing, sacks allowed and scoring.Meanwhile, their special teams continues to march toward the NFL record books."I took a lot of frustration out on the ball [last] year," Lechler said. "Now it's just I know how much the defense appreciates it and they let us know. It's a night and day difference."
 
Sep 18, 2007
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Re: Riader set to smash NFL record

will never be in the same league as Ray Guy :D, but will be one of the best in the history of the NFL when he's career is over ... I still laugh remembering that botched play against SD (i think), fake punt that Schwiegert miss called, and Lechler nearly runs it for a first down.
 

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