Not too overly confident in their 21- and 24-year-old starting safeties, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran Sammy Knight to a one-year deal worth $820,000.Commentary: The Jags current slated starters are third-year SS Gerald Sensabaugh and rookie Reggie Nelson, who have a combined four NFL starts between them. Jets 6 Sanchez AFL50th jersey
Knight, who last played for the Kansas City Chiefs, has appeared in 158 games in 10 years for three different teams. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder carries 939 tackles and 38 interceptions with him to Jacksonville.Fantasy Football Impact: This is good news for an already strong Jacksonville defense. The Jags' 'D' finished No. 2 overall in the NFL last season, and it capped off the regular season 10th against the pass. With these key offseason additions to their secondary, though, expect even better this season.Anthony acarroll . The Jacksonville Jaguars running game earned a reputation this past season and deservedly so. It was a major part of Jacksonville's regular-season success and playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Veteran Fred Taylor was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Maurice Jones-Drew nearly won rookie of the year in 2006 and had a solid sophomore season. But don't forget about Greg Jones. Jones on Wednesday signed the richest contract for a fullback in NFL history, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus. Jones' five-year deal reportedly is worth $17 million. After sitting out the entire 2006 season because of a torn ACL suffered in the preseason, Jones established himself as perhaps the best lead blocker in the league in 2007. He also scored four touchdowns (two rushing and two receiving) and was named a first alternate to the Pro Bowl. "I feel I can do better than what I did last season," Jones said. "They always say it's a year after the surgery that you become your normal self. Hopefully, this 2008 year will be better than 2007." Proximity played a role in Jones' decision to stay with Jacksonville. A native of Beaufort, S.C., Jones played at Florida State before being drafted by the Jaguars in 2004. "My family and I talked about (staying in Jacksonville)," Jones said. "I always wanted to stay here. It's close to home, and it's close to Tallahassee." And blocking for backs such as Taylor and Jones-Drew doesn't hurt, either. Taylor rushed for over 1,000 yards for 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
the seventh time in nine seasons and Jones-Drew added 768 yards and nine touchdowns. "Blocking for those guys is going to make me look good," Jones said. "That was one of the reasons for me to stay here - them, (running backs) coach (Kennedy) Pola, the offense - just the guys on the team. I love the guys on the team. I can see the future is going to be good."
2010年12月2日星期四
Jacksonville Jaguars, Jack Del Rio, Gregg Williams
When Gregg Williams was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars, there was lots of speculation about the move. Most of all, some people just didn't understand it.Why? It makes perfect sense.While Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio specializes on defense, he's shown that he's not afraid to delegate Dallas Cowboys jersey
responsibility. After Mike Smith left to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Del Rio moved quickly to secure Williams' services.The move also demonstrates that Del Rio is plenty comfortable in his situation, something of a rarity in the NFL. He has no job security issues, which is why he's willing to hire a former NFL head coach who almost took over the Washington Redskins after Joe Gibbs' sudden retirement.As for Williams, the job makes sense, too. He was guaranteed $2 million for next season, so he might as well find some work and make Redskins owner Daniel Snyder pay the difference. But more important, he likes what he sees in the Jaguars -- this is most definitely not a rebuilding job, but a fine tuning one. Besides, a great year or two with the Jaguars and another head coaching job will be out there for him.Williams will have much more autonomy to call defensive plays, more so than Smith did. While Smith was liked by the players, he wasn't necessarily all that respected. In fact, several current and former Jaguars wondered aloud how Smith got the Atlanta head coaching job.That won't be the case with Williams. He will be universally respected, if not liked. He has a beefy resume and a reputation as one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. Williams helped the Tennessee Titans reach the Super Bowl after the 1998 season; was the head coach at Buffalo for three years; and for the past four seasons, he had just about complete control running the Redskins' defense.While under Smith (and also, Del Rio), the Jaguars played a much more conservative defensive scheme; that'll change under Williams. Known as one of the most aggressive play-callers in the NFL, Williams will dial up blitz upon blitz and put opposing offensive 4 Brett Favre White jersey
lines as well as quarterbacks under extreme duress.That's a big deal for Jacksonville. The Jaguars feel they're pretty close to dethroning the as the top dog of the AFC South. And beating the Colts will require putting Peyton Manning on his back with increasing frequency.So Del Rio went after, and got, Williams. It's a win-win proposition. Especially because somebody else is paying for part of the bill ... what's not to like?
responsibility. After Mike Smith left to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Del Rio moved quickly to secure Williams' services.The move also demonstrates that Del Rio is plenty comfortable in his situation, something of a rarity in the NFL. He has no job security issues, which is why he's willing to hire a former NFL head coach who almost took over the Washington Redskins after Joe Gibbs' sudden retirement.As for Williams, the job makes sense, too. He was guaranteed $2 million for next season, so he might as well find some work and make Redskins owner Daniel Snyder pay the difference. But more important, he likes what he sees in the Jaguars -- this is most definitely not a rebuilding job, but a fine tuning one. Besides, a great year or two with the Jaguars and another head coaching job will be out there for him.Williams will have much more autonomy to call defensive plays, more so than Smith did. While Smith was liked by the players, he wasn't necessarily all that respected. In fact, several current and former Jaguars wondered aloud how Smith got the Atlanta head coaching job.That won't be the case with Williams. He will be universally respected, if not liked. He has a beefy resume and a reputation as one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. Williams helped the Tennessee Titans reach the Super Bowl after the 1998 season; was the head coach at Buffalo for three years; and for the past four seasons, he had just about complete control running the Redskins' defense.While under Smith (and also, Del Rio), the Jaguars played a much more conservative defensive scheme; that'll change under Williams. Known as one of the most aggressive play-callers in the NFL, Williams will dial up blitz upon blitz and put opposing offensive 4 Brett Favre White jersey
lines as well as quarterbacks under extreme duress.That's a big deal for Jacksonville. The Jaguars feel they're pretty close to dethroning the as the top dog of the AFC South. And beating the Colts will require putting Peyton Manning on his back with increasing frequency.So Del Rio went after, and got, Williams. It's a win-win proposition. Especially because somebody else is paying for part of the bill ... what's not to like?
2010年12月1日星期三
Dwight Freeney Bill Polian Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills
Despite struggling for much of the last four seasons, the constant of the ' defense has always been defensive end Dwight Freeney. Led by the former first-round pick, the unit finally rose out of the depths of the National Football League in 2005, finishing second in points allowed and 11th in yards surrendered en Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
route to a 13-3 season.The former Syracuse star was criticized by scouts and analysts upon entering the league for being too small, but the 6-1, 268-pounder has done more than enough to prove his detractors wrong. More importantly, though, he's proven the Colts' sensational president, Bill Polian, right.During his four-year career, the freakishly athletic pass rusher hasn't finished a season under the 11-sack plateau, when he did so in '03 and '05. While that number is Freeney's career-worst, plenty of pro defensive ends dream of tallying that many quarterback takedowns in a season. Freeney has done it despite having to deal with double and triple-teams on a regular basis.In 2002 and 2004, Freeney amassed a combined total of 29 sacks, with 13 coming in '02 (his rookie season). The wunderkind also set a record for first-year defenders, forcing a whopping nine fumbles. In '04, the Hartford, CT native compiled a league-leading 16 sacks and four more forced fumbles, becoming arguably the most feared end in the game.With the Colts' candle of high expectations continuing to burn brightly entering the upcoming season, so too should Freeney's. It may as well be a foregone conclusion that the 26-year-old will eclipse the double-digit sack line, as long as he maintains full health. That's never been a problem in his career, so don't expect it to become one now. In fact, Freeney has missed just one regular season game out of a possible 64 - not bad for a defensive lineman, right?The fact that 2006 is his contract season should motivate Freeney more. Even the most marginal of professional athletes have breakout years when their contracts are about to expire. Expectedly, the stars truly come out to shine during their contract seasons. Freeney's shined to the tune of 51 sacks and 23 forced fumbles in his career, and could reach the coveted 15-sack mark this season for the second time in his career. For fans, the possibility of yet another huge campaign from Freeney is 4 Brett Favre White jersey
excellent to ponder, but it will come at a heavy cost for the team's front office. However, don't think Polian won't try to lock up his prodigious young rusher. From the executive's days with all-time sack leader Bruce Smith and the Buffalo Bills in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he knows the importance of having a feared, game-changing presence on the defensive line.--Connor J. (1)
route to a 13-3 season.The former Syracuse star was criticized by scouts and analysts upon entering the league for being too small, but the 6-1, 268-pounder has done more than enough to prove his detractors wrong. More importantly, though, he's proven the Colts' sensational president, Bill Polian, right.During his four-year career, the freakishly athletic pass rusher hasn't finished a season under the 11-sack plateau, when he did so in '03 and '05. While that number is Freeney's career-worst, plenty of pro defensive ends dream of tallying that many quarterback takedowns in a season. Freeney has done it despite having to deal with double and triple-teams on a regular basis.In 2002 and 2004, Freeney amassed a combined total of 29 sacks, with 13 coming in '02 (his rookie season). The wunderkind also set a record for first-year defenders, forcing a whopping nine fumbles. In '04, the Hartford, CT native compiled a league-leading 16 sacks and four more forced fumbles, becoming arguably the most feared end in the game.With the Colts' candle of high expectations continuing to burn brightly entering the upcoming season, so too should Freeney's. It may as well be a foregone conclusion that the 26-year-old will eclipse the double-digit sack line, as long as he maintains full health. That's never been a problem in his career, so don't expect it to become one now. In fact, Freeney has missed just one regular season game out of a possible 64 - not bad for a defensive lineman, right?The fact that 2006 is his contract season should motivate Freeney more. Even the most marginal of professional athletes have breakout years when their contracts are about to expire. Expectedly, the stars truly come out to shine during their contract seasons. Freeney's shined to the tune of 51 sacks and 23 forced fumbles in his career, and could reach the coveted 15-sack mark this season for the second time in his career. For fans, the possibility of yet another huge campaign from Freeney is 4 Brett Favre White jersey
excellent to ponder, but it will come at a heavy cost for the team's front office. However, don't think Polian won't try to lock up his prodigious young rusher. From the executive's days with all-time sack leader Bruce Smith and the Buffalo Bills in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he knows the importance of having a feared, game-changing presence on the defensive line.--Connor J. (1)
Slow Finish Tony Dungy Family Tragedy
You've seen the questions in articles all throughout the offseason and even now as the 2006 NFL campaign draws near. Are the on the decline after their poor finish on the field in 2005? Have they peaked? Is their window closing on that elusive Super Bowl win?Maybe those writers are onto something. Every decade since Nixon has had one or two hard-luck teams that get to the playoffs regularly but never wins the big one -- in the '70s it was the Minnesota Vikings, in the '80s the Denver Broncos and in the '90s, the Buffalo Bills. While the Colts 10 Santonio Holmes black jersey
could be the next in line for that dubious honor, I think it's too early to say. I know, the offense slowed a bit last year, they let Edgerrin James sign with Arizona, and 34-year-old Marvin Harrison's reception total went down for the third season in a row. But don't forget they won 13 straight games in '05 and scored a gagillion points the year before.Here's what I think happened last season. The Colts were on autopilot, coasting through their schedule like Walter Payton through a Detroit defense when, on Dec. 23, shocking news hit them like a tidal wave -- Tony Dungy's son James died suddenly at the age of 18. The young man who had most certainly been like a little brother to many of the Colts' players was gone -- tragically and suddenly taken from their world for seemingly no reason, his death heaping a heavy dose of reality on the team.I have not lost a child in my life and won't pretend to know what that feels like. But I have lost a parent -- as I'm sure many people reading this article have -- and I know that a death in the family like that makes you stop and think about life on a much bigger and profound scale than the way you perceived it the day before. The details of your job seem much less important, you find it hard to concentrate, and you appreciate the people who are still around you for just being there -- even those you maybe didn't like so much before your personal loss.I imagine that to a lesser or greater extent, Dungy's personal loss made each member of the stop and think about their mortality, their individual families, maybe their own deceased loved ones. And perhaps at that point, the 2005 season, the 13-game winning streak or the road to the Super Bowl didn't seem that important for a few days and maybe weeks last winter.The offensive output from last season bears that out. In their first 14 games the Colts scored an average of 30.1 points. In their final four games (including their playoff loss to the Steelers) -- 16.2.True, other factors could, and probably did, affect the team's on-field results down the stretch, but likely none of them more than the death of the head coach's son.If you're a fan of the team, a fantasy geek or a Las Vegas gambler, give the Colts a mulligan for last January's debacle. Their final four games should have an asterisk next to them. They still have great young talent on both sides of the ball, including a 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback in his prime with a laser, rocket arm (sorry, Sprint).This team is fine. And there is no 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
reason to believe 2006 won't be just as successful for the Colts as the last few years have been. Reserve your playoff tickets, draft Manning and Harrison, and go with "the over" every week. Now that the team's 2005 personal loss is fading into memory, it's back to the business of winning football games for the . (2)
could be the next in line for that dubious honor, I think it's too early to say. I know, the offense slowed a bit last year, they let Edgerrin James sign with Arizona, and 34-year-old Marvin Harrison's reception total went down for the third season in a row. But don't forget they won 13 straight games in '05 and scored a gagillion points the year before.Here's what I think happened last season. The Colts were on autopilot, coasting through their schedule like Walter Payton through a Detroit defense when, on Dec. 23, shocking news hit them like a tidal wave -- Tony Dungy's son James died suddenly at the age of 18. The young man who had most certainly been like a little brother to many of the Colts' players was gone -- tragically and suddenly taken from their world for seemingly no reason, his death heaping a heavy dose of reality on the team.I have not lost a child in my life and won't pretend to know what that feels like. But I have lost a parent -- as I'm sure many people reading this article have -- and I know that a death in the family like that makes you stop and think about life on a much bigger and profound scale than the way you perceived it the day before. The details of your job seem much less important, you find it hard to concentrate, and you appreciate the people who are still around you for just being there -- even those you maybe didn't like so much before your personal loss.I imagine that to a lesser or greater extent, Dungy's personal loss made each member of the stop and think about their mortality, their individual families, maybe their own deceased loved ones. And perhaps at that point, the 2005 season, the 13-game winning streak or the road to the Super Bowl didn't seem that important for a few days and maybe weeks last winter.The offensive output from last season bears that out. In their first 14 games the Colts scored an average of 30.1 points. In their final four games (including their playoff loss to the Steelers) -- 16.2.True, other factors could, and probably did, affect the team's on-field results down the stretch, but likely none of them more than the death of the head coach's son.If you're a fan of the team, a fantasy geek or a Las Vegas gambler, give the Colts a mulligan for last January's debacle. Their final four games should have an asterisk next to them. They still have great young talent on both sides of the ball, including a 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback in his prime with a laser, rocket arm (sorry, Sprint).This team is fine. And there is no 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
reason to believe 2006 won't be just as successful for the Colts as the last few years have been. Reserve your playoff tickets, draft Manning and Harrison, and go with "the over" every week. Now that the team's 2005 personal loss is fading into memory, it's back to the business of winning football games for the . (2)
Time To Cut The Losses
The hits just keep coming for (or from depending on your perspective) Tom Cable, who may or may not be guilty of multiple counts of domestic violence. Any man will tell you striking another man, as Cable was accused of doing to ex-Raider asst coach Randy Hanson, is one thing. Striking a woman is another thing entirely. NOW, the National Organization for Women, emailed a proclamation to USA Today on Wednesday from Terry O'Neill, the group;s President. "Tom Cable's history of violence against women raises a question: why is he still the head coach of 6 Sanchez Purple AFL50th jersey
an NFL team?;Why indeed, one might ask. Innocent until proven guilty is the correct answer, but that still doesn;t exonerate Cable in the court of public opinion.O;Neill continues by pointing out, "Mr. Cable admits having battered his first wife, and he stands accused of battering two other intimate partners as well. As a survivor of domestic violence, I know that women do not make such accusations lightly. Indeed, women have much more to lose than to gain by coming forward to tell their stories."Especially when making allegations of this nature against men in powerful positions. And for those rising to defend Cable, note that by his own admission, he is now guilty as charged. While it;s easy to take shots at Al Davis;s hapless Raiders, one thing the embattled owner has managed to do is keep the organization free from the riff raff that has plagued other locker rooms over the last ten years. There was a time when professional football players were the ultimate role models for our country;s youth. However, allegations of rape, child abuse, spousal abuse, and even murder have been leveled at NFL players in recent years, collectively reducing their reputation to thugs or worse. Keep in mind, the ratio of NFL players who fall on the wrong side of the law is very minor, but under the scrutiny of the national media, one out of every five hundred can be magnified to appear as if it;s one out of every two. Nevertheless, the have been relatively free from this sort of thing over the last decade. That is, until now. Going further, O;Neill states "The , properly, say they are undergoing a 'serious evaluation' of these recent allegations. At the very least [Tom Cable] should be suspended during this process... A man who has admitted battering his wife has no business being a role model for all of us who would like to be able to look up to the head coach of an NFL football team."While some may view this as a woman kicking Coach Cable when he;s down, her concerns are credible, valid and spot on. It;s only a matter of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
time before NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, known for being heavy handed against players who violate ethical and moral codes, steps in and takes action. While Al Davis has a very public history of fighting with NFL Commissioners, this is a battle he should avoid at all costs, knowing full well Raider Nation is comprised of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and children of all shapes and sizes. The last message Davis needs to send is that it;s okay to strike a woman.
an NFL team?;Why indeed, one might ask. Innocent until proven guilty is the correct answer, but that still doesn;t exonerate Cable in the court of public opinion.O;Neill continues by pointing out, "Mr. Cable admits having battered his first wife, and he stands accused of battering two other intimate partners as well. As a survivor of domestic violence, I know that women do not make such accusations lightly. Indeed, women have much more to lose than to gain by coming forward to tell their stories."Especially when making allegations of this nature against men in powerful positions. And for those rising to defend Cable, note that by his own admission, he is now guilty as charged. While it;s easy to take shots at Al Davis;s hapless Raiders, one thing the embattled owner has managed to do is keep the organization free from the riff raff that has plagued other locker rooms over the last ten years. There was a time when professional football players were the ultimate role models for our country;s youth. However, allegations of rape, child abuse, spousal abuse, and even murder have been leveled at NFL players in recent years, collectively reducing their reputation to thugs or worse. Keep in mind, the ratio of NFL players who fall on the wrong side of the law is very minor, but under the scrutiny of the national media, one out of every five hundred can be magnified to appear as if it;s one out of every two. Nevertheless, the have been relatively free from this sort of thing over the last decade. That is, until now. Going further, O;Neill states "The , properly, say they are undergoing a 'serious evaluation' of these recent allegations. At the very least [Tom Cable] should be suspended during this process... A man who has admitted battering his wife has no business being a role model for all of us who would like to be able to look up to the head coach of an NFL football team."While some may view this as a woman kicking Coach Cable when he;s down, her concerns are credible, valid and spot on. It;s only a matter of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
time before NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, known for being heavy handed against players who violate ethical and moral codes, steps in and takes action. While Al Davis has a very public history of fighting with NFL Commissioners, this is a battle he should avoid at all costs, knowing full well Raider Nation is comprised of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and children of all shapes and sizes. The last message Davis needs to send is that it;s okay to strike a woman.
Time To Cut The Losses
The hits just keep coming for (or from depending on your perspective) Tom Cable, who may or may not be guilty of multiple counts of domestic violence. Any man will tell you striking another man, as Cable was accused of doing to ex-Raider asst coach Randy Hanson, is one thing. Striking a woman is another thing entirely. NOW, the National Organization for Women, emailed a proclamation to USA Today on Wednesday from Terry O'Neill, the group;s President. "Tom Cable's history of violence against women raises a question: why is he still the head coach of 6 Sanchez Purple AFL50th jersey
an NFL team?;Why indeed, one might ask. Innocent until proven guilty is the correct answer, but that still doesn;t exonerate Cable in the court of public opinion.O;Neill continues by pointing out, "Mr. Cable admits having battered his first wife, and he stands accused of battering two other intimate partners as well. As a survivor of domestic violence, I know that women do not make such accusations lightly. Indeed, women have much more to lose than to gain by coming forward to tell their stories."Especially when making allegations of this nature against men in powerful positions. And for those rising to defend Cable, note that by his own admission, he is now guilty as charged. While it;s easy to take shots at Al Davis;s hapless Raiders, one thing the embattled owner has managed to do is keep the organization free from the riff raff that has plagued other locker rooms over the last ten years. There was a time when professional football players were the ultimate role models for our country;s youth. However, allegations of rape, child abuse, spousal abuse, and even murder have been leveled at NFL players in recent years, collectively reducing their reputation to thugs or worse. Keep in mind, the ratio of NFL players who fall on the wrong side of the law is very minor, but under the scrutiny of the national media, one out of every five hundred can be magnified to appear as if it;s one out of every two. Nevertheless, the have been relatively free from this sort of thing over the last decade. That is, until now. Going further, O;Neill states "The , properly, say they are undergoing a 'serious evaluation' of these recent allegations. At the very least [Tom Cable] should be suspended during this process... A man who has admitted battering his wife has no business being a role model for all of us who would like to be able to look up to the head coach of an NFL football team."While some may view this as a woman kicking Coach Cable when he;s down, her concerns are credible, valid and spot on. It;s only a matter of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
time before NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, known for being heavy handed against players who violate ethical and moral codes, steps in and takes action. While Al Davis has a very public history of fighting with NFL Commissioners, this is a battle he should avoid at all costs, knowing full well Raider Nation is comprised of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and children of all shapes and sizes. The last message Davis needs to send is that it;s okay to strike a woman.
an NFL team?;Why indeed, one might ask. Innocent until proven guilty is the correct answer, but that still doesn;t exonerate Cable in the court of public opinion.O;Neill continues by pointing out, "Mr. Cable admits having battered his first wife, and he stands accused of battering two other intimate partners as well. As a survivor of domestic violence, I know that women do not make such accusations lightly. Indeed, women have much more to lose than to gain by coming forward to tell their stories."Especially when making allegations of this nature against men in powerful positions. And for those rising to defend Cable, note that by his own admission, he is now guilty as charged. While it;s easy to take shots at Al Davis;s hapless Raiders, one thing the embattled owner has managed to do is keep the organization free from the riff raff that has plagued other locker rooms over the last ten years. There was a time when professional football players were the ultimate role models for our country;s youth. However, allegations of rape, child abuse, spousal abuse, and even murder have been leveled at NFL players in recent years, collectively reducing their reputation to thugs or worse. Keep in mind, the ratio of NFL players who fall on the wrong side of the law is very minor, but under the scrutiny of the national media, one out of every five hundred can be magnified to appear as if it;s one out of every two. Nevertheless, the have been relatively free from this sort of thing over the last decade. That is, until now. Going further, O;Neill states "The , properly, say they are undergoing a 'serious evaluation' of these recent allegations. At the very least [Tom Cable] should be suspended during this process... A man who has admitted battering his wife has no business being a role model for all of us who would like to be able to look up to the head coach of an NFL football team."While some may view this as a woman kicking Coach Cable when he;s down, her concerns are credible, valid and spot on. It;s only a matter of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
time before NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, known for being heavy handed against players who violate ethical and moral codes, steps in and takes action. While Al Davis has a very public history of fighting with NFL Commissioners, this is a battle he should avoid at all costs, knowing full well Raider Nation is comprised of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and children of all shapes and sizes. The last message Davis needs to send is that it;s okay to strike a woman.
What;s Gone Right?
Since pointing out what;s gone wrong with the Raiders over the last six and half seasons is like shooting fish in a barrel with a 50mm cannon, with laser guided shells, while the fish are in a coma, it seems high time we took a look at what;s gone right. When looking over the records, roster, draft and overall team performance, not much really jumps out. In 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
fact, if you remove Nnamdi Asomugha, Zach Miller and Shane Lechler, there really isn;t much to see. Asomugha is considered by many to be the best corner in the league. An easy wager on that would be had by placing him on the Colts, Giants, Vikings, Steelers or Patriots. If he called one of those cities home, his media profile would be much higher and the teams win output far greater, assuring him a place in the Pro Bowl every year and the Hall of Fame five years after his eventual retirement. However, for now, he languishes in semi-anonymity on the Silver & Black. Then you have Zach Miller. If Miller has done this well (128 career receptions for 1643 yards and five touchdowns) in only two and a half seasons with the underachieving Russell on the other end of Miller;s stats, imagine what a force he could be in New Orleans or Pittsburgh, Indianapolis or Minnesota. And then there;s Shane Lechler, arguably the only man capable of unseating Ray Guy from the throne of greatest punter ever. Now, it;s well known a punters stats go way up when the teams offensive output goes way down, but the stat that sets Lechler apart from all others is his average which currently sits at an amazing 52.3 yards per punt. Many great coaches have said if they could have one star player on each facet of the team, they could build a championship contender. So, whoever takes the reins from Cable will have those three already enshrined. What else is right with the Raiders these days? Not much that;s easily quantifiable. So, let;s take a look at some of the x-factors. An example of what;s gone on in recent years in the NFL comes readily to mind. For starters, every 1970s era powerhouse team has returned to prominence recently, except the Raiders, even Dallas is finally winning again. Secondly, historically bad teams have found ways to become winners; just look at New Orleans, Tampa Bay and the Arizona Cardinals. If those teams can overcome a losing culture, the Raiders should have an easy time of it when the fog finally lifts and the sun shines on three Lombardi trophies and an AFL Championship. The team is loaded with first round quality talent. Obviously Cable can;t make this sports car race with the big dogs, but that Dallas Cowboys jersey
doesn;t mean someone else can;t. No one saw John Madden, Tom Flores or Jon Gruden coming, but they made the machine roar. Who;s to say the next Al Davis ;puppet; can;t do the same? The odds are stacked against them, but beating the odds is what makes football worth watching.
fact, if you remove Nnamdi Asomugha, Zach Miller and Shane Lechler, there really isn;t much to see. Asomugha is considered by many to be the best corner in the league. An easy wager on that would be had by placing him on the Colts, Giants, Vikings, Steelers or Patriots. If he called one of those cities home, his media profile would be much higher and the teams win output far greater, assuring him a place in the Pro Bowl every year and the Hall of Fame five years after his eventual retirement. However, for now, he languishes in semi-anonymity on the Silver & Black. Then you have Zach Miller. If Miller has done this well (128 career receptions for 1643 yards and five touchdowns) in only two and a half seasons with the underachieving Russell on the other end of Miller;s stats, imagine what a force he could be in New Orleans or Pittsburgh, Indianapolis or Minnesota. And then there;s Shane Lechler, arguably the only man capable of unseating Ray Guy from the throne of greatest punter ever. Now, it;s well known a punters stats go way up when the teams offensive output goes way down, but the stat that sets Lechler apart from all others is his average which currently sits at an amazing 52.3 yards per punt. Many great coaches have said if they could have one star player on each facet of the team, they could build a championship contender. So, whoever takes the reins from Cable will have those three already enshrined. What else is right with the Raiders these days? Not much that;s easily quantifiable. So, let;s take a look at some of the x-factors. An example of what;s gone on in recent years in the NFL comes readily to mind. For starters, every 1970s era powerhouse team has returned to prominence recently, except the Raiders, even Dallas is finally winning again. Secondly, historically bad teams have found ways to become winners; just look at New Orleans, Tampa Bay and the Arizona Cardinals. If those teams can overcome a losing culture, the Raiders should have an easy time of it when the fog finally lifts and the sun shines on three Lombardi trophies and an AFL Championship. The team is loaded with first round quality talent. Obviously Cable can;t make this sports car race with the big dogs, but that Dallas Cowboys jersey
doesn;t mean someone else can;t. No one saw John Madden, Tom Flores or Jon Gruden coming, but they made the machine roar. Who;s to say the next Al Davis ;puppet; can;t do the same? The odds are stacked against them, but beating the odds is what makes football worth watching.
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