Other Things-04.08.06...

[Angry Pope]

Here is an audio from back on September 10, 1978 of the final minutes of the "Holy Roller" game against the Chargers. It is legendary Bill King doing the play-by-play. It starts when we were down 20-7. The audio plays almost instantly. I loved it...

Press to play.... (http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/raiders/raiders-chargers_sept-10-1978.ram)

[Angry Pope]

Here are Bill Kings' dialogue in print....

The play-by-play call

Almost as memorable as the Holy Roller play was the account of it by Bill King, who called the game with his color commentator, Monty Stickles, on the San Francisco radio station KGO-AM.

BILL KING: Ten seconds left, (Fred) Biletnikoff out, (Morris) Bradshaw in, the ball on the 14, Oakland trails 20 to 14. The crowd takes up a chant of "Defense!" (Terry) Robiskie and Banaszak are the backs. Slot right, (Cliff) Branch inside Bradshaw.

Stabler back. Here comes the rush. He sidesteps and HE FUMBLES! HE'S SACKED! The ball, flipped forward, is loose! A wild scramble! Two seconds on the clock. Casper grabbing the ball. It is ruled a fumble. Casper has recovered in the end zone! The Oakland Raiders have scored on the most zany, unbelievable, absolutely impossible dream of a play!!

Stabler, while being hit, the ball squirted forward. (Raiders coach John) Madden is on the field; he wants to know if it's real. They said yes, get your big butt out of here! He does!

They [unintelligible] wildly found him inside the 10. [Unintelligible] goes on the field. Stabler, it is ruled, has been hit and fumbled. Banaszak knocked the ball forward, it bounded crazily. I'm looking at a replay now. Ultimately, Casper fell on it in the end zone. On the replay you see Banaszak go after it, it's knocked away as he shovels it forward. It's bounding inside the 5, Casper flips it with the fingers and falls on it.

And I have to tell you, I think Kenny Stabler threw the ball away, belt-high with a little flip and got away with it.

MONTY STICKLES: I'll tell you what, I think Kenny threw the ball away and got away with it. I think Banaszak fumbled it forward. But on all of that, Casper still has the presence of mind to get it in the end zone.

BILL KING: There it is, the kick by Mann is up - IT'S GOOD! THERE'S NO TIME LEFT!

There's nothing real in the world anymore! The Raiders have won the football game! Fifty-two thousand people, minus a few lonely Raider fans, are stunned! The Chargers are standing, looking at each other, looking at the sky. They don't believe it! Nobody believes it! I don't know if the Raiders believe it!

It's not real! A man would be a fool to ever try and write a drama and make you believe it. And now, this one will be relived - forever! Bitterly here in San Diego, joyfully in Oakland. Final score: Oakland 21, San Diego 20!''

[Angry Pope]

Here is more...check out Stabler's comments near the end....

The play

With 10 seconds left in the game, the Raiders had possession of the ball at the Chargers 14-yard line, trailing 20-14. Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler took the snap and found himself about to be sacked by Chargers linebacker Woody Lowe on the 24-yard line. Stabler lost the ball, and it rolled forward towards the San Diego goal line. Running back Pete Banaszak tried to recover the ball on the 12-yard line, but could not keep his footing, and the ball was pushed even closer to the end zone. Raiders tight end Dave Casper was the next player to reach the ball but he also could not get a handle on it. He batted and kicked the ball into the end zone, where he fell on it for the game-tying touchdown as time ran out. The Raiders won, 21-20, with the ensuing extra point by placekicker Errol Mann.

During the play, the game officials ruled that Banaszak and Casper's actions were legal because it was impossible to determine if they intentionally batted the ball forward, and thus a penalty. The National Football League (NFL) also backed up referee Jerry Markbreit's call that Stabler fumbled the ball instead of throwing a forward pass. 1

However, when asked after the game by radio announcer Bill King if he intentionally fumbled, Stabler said, "You bet your ass I did." 2 Banaszak and Casper also admitted that they deliberately batted the ball towards the end zone.


Reaction

The Chargers and their fans were furious. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts said the officials blew the call. After the game, Chargers fans began wearing T-shirts depicting a fat, blindfolded referee signaling a touchdown. Under the referee were the words "IMMACULATE DECEPTION." The nickname refers to the Immaculate Reception, another history-making play that went against the Raiders. That time, in a 1972 playoff game, it was the Pittsburgh Steelers who turned a great defensive play by the Raiders into a controversial game-winning touchdown.

Before the 1979 season, the NFL passed a new rule restricting fumble recoveries by the offense. Now, if a passer intentionally fumbles forward, it is automatically an incomplete pass. Rules against illegally batting the ball were strengthened and a fumble in the final two minutes of a game, or on fourth down at any time in the game, may not be advanced beyond by the offense beyond the spot of the fumble unless the player who fumbled recovers the ball. (In such situations, the defense can recover and advance a fumble as always.) In later years the NCAA passed a similar fourth-down fumble rule for college football, though without the provision for the last two minutes of a game.

[Angry Pope]

Here is a sequence of photos that shows how it unraveled....

Stabler is almost sacked.... (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/Holyroller1.png/128px-Holyroller1.png)


Stabler throws the football.... (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c2/Holyroller1a.png/128px-Holyroller1a.png)


Pete Banaszak shoves the football goalward... (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9c/Holyroller2.png/128px-Holyroller2.png)


Dave Casper attempts to attempts to recover the football at the two yard line.... (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Holyroller3.png/128px-Holyroller3.png)


Casper recovers the football in the endzone.... (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c8/Holyroller4.png/128px-Holyroller4.png)

[Angry Pope]

Some comments by Bill King on Al...

Al Davis is ever-fascinating, an enigma to many, perhaps even more so if people were able to see certain aspects of Al from being a little bit closer to him. Al has great feeling and great caring in areas that are not often explored or at all covered by the media. When you say something about a man with foresight, you often say, "Well, he's several steps ahead of the game." Most of the time that I've observed Al over all these years, I would say that when one guy is four steps ahead, Al's about two blocks ahead. He has a great capacity to focus on whatever the issue is. And loyal. I would always put "loyal" in a word description of Al Davis.

[Angry Pope]

Here is a cartoon about the Broncos....

Here... (http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/drew/032206drew.gif)

[Rupert]

Regarding the Broncos free agent strategy: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Angry Pope]

Some of Mario Williams' likes....

Williams: Taking the pop quiz

(April 7, 2006) -- This special entry is Mario Williams' pop quiz. While it's not the Wonderlic exam, it's certainly a good way to find out more Williams.

Full name and position: Mario Jerrell Williams, defensive end
Date and location of birth: Jan. 31, 1985, Richland, N.C.
College and major: North Carolina State, Sports Management


1. What is the one thing you will miss most about college?

Williams: My teammates.

2. What was your favorite night-before-the-game meal?

Williams: Rice and butter. I eat pieces of chicken and stuff, but I eat a lot of rice and butter.


After being an RB in high school, Mario Williams wouldn't mind a return to the position.
3. Who was the toughest player you faced in college?

Williams: (Former Florida State OT) Alex Barron.

4. What other position do you wish you could play?

Williams: Probably running back. That's because you can score touchdowns.

5. Who were your idols as a child?

Williams: Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith and Lawrence Taylor.

6. Whose throwback jersey do you most want (or already have) in your closet?

Williams: I don't wear jerseys at this point because they're too expensive for me. But probably Lawrence Taylor.

7. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Williams: Clean my car. I have a big S-250 I call "Big Country."

8. Finish this sentence: The first thing I will buy after signing an NFL contract will be …

Williams: A house in the city I'm going to, but I will have a house in North Carolina eventually as well.

9. Name the most important thing you learned in college?

Williams: Discipline. That sums it up basically.

10. Pick one: Fame or fortune.

Williams: Fame, because I believe fame will always be there. Like, say, Lawrence Taylor. Everyone will remember him. But with fortune, you can always run out of money. With fame your name will be in everyone's head for a long time.

11. Do you have any superstitions?

Williams: I still think about splitting the pole, where I would walk on one side of the pole and someone would go on the other side. That's the only thing I really think about.

12. Let's say you got to host NFL Total Access for one day. Who would your guests be?

Williams: If I could have anybody in the whole world, I would want Martin Lawrence, Vida Guerra and Russell Simmons.

13. Which NFL stadium are you most looking forward to playing in?

Williams: Indianapolis. I liked their turf from when I was at the Combine.

14. What do you want people to know about N.C. State football that they might not already know?

Williams: We are disciplined. We don't jump offsides or anything, because that would be uncharacteristic of us. We are disciplined all the time.

15. It's 100 years from now. How are people going to remember you?

Williams: That I was one of the greatest defensive players of all time.

[Angry Pope]

Regarding the Broncos free agent strategy: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Hopefully, they will think that way.

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of an interview with and a look into the personality of Mario Williams....

Hit it here.... (http://play.rbn.com/?url=nfl/nfl/open/nflfilms/demand/s2006/nfln-ta/off/first_draft_mario_williams_300k.rm&rpcontexturl=http://www.nfl.com/fieldpass/includes/promo&rpcontextwidth=417)

[CrossBones]

Williams: We are disciplined. We don't jump offsides or anything, because that would be uncharacteristic of us. We are disciplined all the time. We could use a guy who knows how to use his brain!

[Angry Pope]

Brayton and his racing gig....

Pascarella rides high in SuperMoto event


Vacaville's Joey Pascarella captured second place in the Super Lightweight division when the NorCal SuperMoto USA Series stopped at Argyl Park in Dixon last Sunday.
Pascarella also placed third in the 250F and 450 races.

Pascarella is scheduled to compete in the Nevada State Line Nationals today.


Top the Cops debuts

The law doesn't always win, it seems.

High school students won six of nine Top the Cops races Wednesday at Infineon Raceway. Winners included, Peter Wnifeman and Freddy Kornbacher of Martinez, Pittsburgh's Taylor Dorsey and Danny Jestadt, Napa's Chris Ellicock and Santa Rosa's Zack Marshall.

Ellicock, with his '02 Ford, went on to edge Dorsey's '89 Honda Civic for the High School championship with a near-perfect run on 18.39 seconds at 71.79 mph.

The Oakland Raiders' Tyler Brayton suffered a rare defeat in the Comp Rod class when he fouled out. His '64 Chevelle crossed the finish line just a split-second under his dial-in time of 12.15 seconds. Napa's Alan Cardwell took home the prize in his '78 Camaro.

Windsor's Joe Laskowski ('97 Mustang) won the Street class final ahead of Napa's Dan Overby ('70 Chevy truck). Newark's Rick Mcilmoil ('01 Toyota) took the Sport Street title from Hercules' Ryan Salandaman ('99 Honda).

[Angry Pope]

A player that we drafted is making a HOF....

Central hall of fame to induct 3 athletes, 2 teams, 1 coach


Three athletes, a coach and two teams will be inducted tomorrow into the Central Catholic athletic hall of fame. The dinner and ceremony begin at 6 p.m. in the school's Sullivan Center.

Among the inductees are:

JoJuan Armour (class of 1995) earned four varsity letters in football and was the first Irish freshman to win a varsity letter in more than 25 years.

Armour was the City League player of the year in 1994 as a senior, and was All-City first team as both a running back and linebacker as a junior and senior. Armour was named All-Ohio second-team linebacker in Division I as a senior.

He played at Miami University where he was twice named MAC defensive player of the year as a linebacker. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1999. He played three seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, and then with Barcelona of NFL Europe and British Columbia of the Canadian Football League. He currently plays for Hamilton in the CFL.
Kathy Szenderski (1972) earned eight varsity letters in basketball, track and tennis. During her three years on the varsity basketball team, the Irish lost only one game and won three league titles. She was twice named All-City.

Jim Flynn (1959) earned letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was named All-City first team in football as a senior and helped the Irish win CL titles in basketball and baseball.

Dick Finn was the baseball coach from 1956-60 and athletic director from 1957-59. He also served as intramural moderator from 1955-58, and as an assistant football and basketball coach. Coach Finn's baseball teams won CL titles in 1958 and 1959, a district title in 1959 and sectional titles in 1958 and 1959.

The 1958-59 boys basketball team finished with a record of 18-1 and had the only undefeated regular season in the modern era of Central basketball. The team was ranked as high as fifth in the Associated Press state poll. The team also won the City League championship.

The 1969-70 girls team was the first Irish girls basketball team to participate in interscholastic competition and won the CL title with an 8-0 record.

Brothers Brad Delp (1980) and Cleves Delp (1982) will be awarded the Citizen's Award. Both were athletes at Central and are active behind the scenes working with the administration, coaches and booster groups.

[Angry Pope]

Ron Wolf and Mosebar....

In 1983, former Packers general manager Ron Wolf was Davis' top personnel assistant with the Raiders, who had just moved to Los Angeles. With their No. 1 pick, the Raiders drafted USC All-America offensive tackle Don Mosebar.

Unbeknownst to Wolf, as the Raiders were announcing their selection of Mosebar, the lineman was lying in a Los Angeles hospital bed, having just had back surgery.

"That was a huge screwup on our part," said Wolf, now retired in Annapolis, Md. "I should have been fired for that."

He wasn't; Mosebar recovered and became a Pro Bowl center.

[Angry Pope]

An article from last season regarding strange draft moments...

The Strangest NFL Draft Moments


Jeff Merron

Some people love to do mock drafts. At Page 2, there's more of an inclination to mock the draft. So, with the NFL flesh-fest just five days away, we went in search of oddity. Turns out that strange things can happen when draft day rolls around ...


10. If only the games weren't on Sundays

Eli Herring starred at offensive tackle for BYU, and was projected to be drafted somewhere between the first and third rounds in 1995. But Herring literally had a higher calling, and he informed each NFL team that he did not intend to play in the NFL because Sunday is a holy day – not a football-playing day – for devout Mormons.


So, most teams passed on him. But the Raiders (who else?) decided he was worth a try, and took him with their sixth-round selection. Their reasoning: $500,000 a year has a certain "gift from God" quality about it, too.


Herring resisted temptation. But newspaper headline writers did not. For example: "RAIDERS GO FISHING AGAIN ... FOR HERRING"

9. Maybe they should go to a no-huddle war room

In 2003, the Vikings, picking seventh overall, were forced to "pass" on their pick because they let their 15-minute allotment slide. They'd been in the process of talking trade with the Ravens, Jags and Pats, and somehow the clock watcher got distracted. Jacksonville and Carolina then went to their hurry-up pick offenses and got the seventh and eighth choices before the Vikings were able to get their pick in.


"What happened is very bizarre," said Seahawks GM Bob Ferguson. "In 28 years, I've never seen it before."


8. The signal caller who couldn't

Bobby Garrett was a great, All-American quarterback at Stanford in the early 1950s. So the Cleveland Browns, needing a solid QB to take over for the aging Otto Graham, made him the first overall pick in the 1954 draft. Garrett looked like a no-brainer, a big-school player who had put up big numbers.


There wasn't a lot of scouting back then.


Turns out Garrett, as Browns coach Paul Brown found out in training camp, had a big problem. He could throw. And he could play. But within a few weeks he was shipped off to the Packers in a six-man deal that clearly favored Green Bay. Or so the Packers thought.


"He stuttered," former Packers fullback Fred Cone told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He couldn't get the plays out in the huddle. We had to crack him on the back so he could spit out the play. He couldn't say words that started with an 's,' like split left or split right.


"That was a real surprise to us. I think Coach Blackbourn was surprised, too. Bobby had a lot of ability and he was a real nice guy. You kind of felt sorry for him. But a quarterback has to get up there and bark out the signals, and he couldn't do it."


Garrett played only nine games in the NFL.


7. The sportswriter who integrated the Redskins

Redskins owner George Preston Marshall didn't want black players on his team. He didn't even try to be subtle about it – he owned the southern NFL market in the 1950s, and aimed to please the vast majority, even if it meant losing.


In 1952, Marshall let the Post's Mo Siegel make one of the Redskins' late-round picks. "Marshall's theory was writers didn't always know as much football as they should," said Siegal, quoted in "The Pro Football Chronicle." "I told him, 'Give me a pick in a later round, and we'll see what I can do.'"


Siegel told him to select Tennessee Tech end Flavious Smith, who, he'd been told by a knowledgeable insider, was black. He relished the opportunity to play a part in Redskins history. Marshall picked Smith in one of the late rounds.


Marshall said, "Congratulations, you've just become the first sportswriter to draft a player." Siegel replied, "Congratulations, George. You've just integrated the Redskins."


Officially, Flavious Smith was not drafted in 1952. It's probable that Marshall convinced NFL commissioner Bert Bell to whitewash the records. But we'll probably never know. Smith didn't hear the story until decades later. And as it turned out, the joke was on both Marshall and Siegel. Smith was white.


6. Why computers will never replace scouts

The Cowboys are well known for pioneering the use of objective stats and computers in evaluating players. The team was truly revolutionary in this regard ... but mistakes, shall we say, were made.


For example, the Boys had had very good fortune with fast wide receivers – Bob Hayes, for example. So it seemed natural for them to go for speedy David McDaniels, a tall wide receiver from Mississippi Valley State. McDaniels could run. He'd clocked a 4.4 40 at his college track.


So the Cowboys picked him in the second round in 1968. Then came training camp. And boy, did McDaniels look slow. Out came the stopwatches. Forty yards: 4.73. Once more: same results.


Turned out the 40 McDaniels ran was really more like a 38.


This wasn't a lost cause for Dallas, though. On Jan. 28, 1969, the Cowboys traded McDaniels to the Eagles for Mike Ditka. "I don't think the Eagles ever asked about his time, and we sure didn't tell them," Dan Reeves told Michael Knisley of the Sporting News back in 1985. "We knew they were looking for a wide receiver. It was after that that Gil Brandt made sure the scouts measured off the full 40 yards."


cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd....

5. The battle for "Mr. Irrelevant"

Since 1976, the last player chosen in the draft – dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant" – has also been the most-feted draft pick. All thanks to Paul Salata, a former Colts receiver who decided to hold a celebration in Newport Beach, Calif., for the last man drafted. In 1976, Kelvin Kirk became the first to be officially celebrated.

The week-long celebration includes a trip to Disneyland, a golf tournament, beach parties, celebs galore and plenty of bikini-clad women. It's a big deal.


And it became a big deal quickly. In 1979, the Steelers had the last pick. The Rams had the next-to-last pick. But the Rams wanted Mr. Irrelevant. They wanted the publicity. They wanted it bad. So they passed and let the Steelers go ahead of them. The Steelers wanted the big, irrelevant party, too, and passed also. Rams' turn. Back and forth it went, with each team refusing to take the next-to-last pick.


Finally, Pete Rozelle put an end to the madness. And he instituted the "Salata Rule," which prohibits teams from passing for the purpose of picking last.


By the way, the Steelers "won" that battle of wills. And Mike Almond became the first draftee to receive the Lowsman Trophy.


4. And from Fort Apache State ...

In 1972, the Atlanta Falcons drafted John Wayne. Yes, that John Wayne. The 6-foot-4-inch Duke had been a pretty fair football player in his day, winning a gridiron scholarship to USC in the late 1920s.


NFL Films caught the draft scene on tape. Round 17: Atlanta Falcons coach Norm Van Brocklin stands up and yells to his staff, "Do we want the roughest, toughest s.o.b. in the draft?!" The response, of course, was affirmative. So Van Brocklin calls NFL HQ and says, "Atlanta picks John Wayne of Fort Apache State."


Pete Rozelle disallowed the pick.


But Wayne should have been allowed to be an honorary draftee. There's this famous Vince Lombardi saying: "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Lombardi stole it. From John Wayne. Who said it in "Trouble Along the Way," a 1953 movie in which Wayne happened to play ... a football coach.


3. George Allen's double dealing

Here's the thing about draft picks: They don't exist anywhere. They're intangible, ordered numbers on a page, pure potential, so abstract that it can be lots of fun to trade them for real, live, breathing players who have names and playing experience and things like that.


Which is why Redskins GM George Allen loved trading draft picks. For example, he loved trading his second-round pick in the 1973 draft. He traded it to the Jets for defensive end Verlon Biggs. Then he traded it again to the Rams for safety Richie Petibon.


He loved trading his third- and fourth-round picks, too. He doubled them up in a deal for Bills defensive end Ron McDole. Then he sent the same bundle of picks to the Chargers for Speedy Duncan.


It took a year for the NFL to notice. The Skins were fined a whopping $5,000 and forced to surrender additional draft picks for the players. Allen said, "There was no intent to deceive," citing his busy life as an excuse. But Pete Rozelle didn't buy it: "It also happened a couple of times when Allen was coach at Los Angeles," he said.


2. Gosh darn it, we want Cal Rossi!

There are many reasons the postwar Redskins enjoyed a long reign of mediocrity. Reason No. 1: The guys running the team weren't the sharpest pencils in the drawer.


Cal Rossi played halfback for UCLA, and he was one of the best – the two-way player was an honorable mention All-American three years in a row, and probably would have been an All-American in 1945, when he rushed for 679 yards in just five games before being called away by the Navy.


After he led the Bruins to an undefeated regular season in 1946 (the Bruins lost to Illinois in the Rose Bowl), the Redskins decided he was their man. With their first-round pick, they made Rossi the ninth selection overall in the 1946 draft. The only problem was that Rossi was still a junior, and ineligible to play in the league.


The Redskins were undeterred. With the No. 3 overall pick in 1947, they again selected Rossi. At which point he told them he had no interest in playing pro football.


1. Darn. It was supposed to be a secret

The Eagles drafted Syracuse fullback Norm Michael in the 18th round of the 1944 draft. Michael didn't find out about this until he read it in the paper – in 1999. There, in agate type, his name appeared in a list of every Syracuse player ever drafted. "That was the first I heard of it," Michael told NFL.com.


"My son sent them a letter after we found out," Michael said. "I think he wanted to see if the Eagles owed me a signing bonus. Think of the interest I could have had. Fifty-seven years' worth."

[Angry Pope]

Speculation that Denver wants to move ahead of us to select Vernon Davis...

Is Maryland tight end big in Broncos' plans?

By Bill Williamson
Denver Post



As the draft hot stove heats up, speculation making the national rounds is the Broncos will package their No. 15 and No. 22 picks in the first round to move up to No. 5 (Green Bay) or No. 6 (San Francisco) to take Maryland tight end Vernon Davis, whose football ability, size and speed make him an off-the-charts NFL prospect.

Davis is not likely to be on the board past the seventh pick. San Francisco and Oakland (the Raiders pick seventh) like him. Interest from Denver makes sense, because the Broncos need a tight end and a playmaker. Davis qualifies as both.

But there are reasons Denver might not want to trade up that high. The Broncos might not want to pay a player as much as a top-five pick would earn. Denver likely would rather spread its money between two first- round picks.

Some teams believe a tight end, no matter how highly rated, is not worth a top-five pick. Denver probably would rather take a player like Davis in the No. 8 to No. 10 range.

What to do with Lelie

The player hotly rumored to be on his way out of town is Broncos receiver Ashley Lelie. His name has been mentioned in San Francisco and Green Bay. It's all just talk, of course.

It's unclear if there is any connection between this talk and Lelie's decision to skip the first week of the Broncos' offseason workout program to work out on his own in Arizona.

In any case, there is a good chance Lelie will leave Denver after this season as a free agent.

Perhaps Denver should consider trading him. The Broncos are likely to add a starting-caliber receiver, most likely via the draft. Florida's Chad Jackson and Ohio State's Santonio Holmes are the top candidates likely to be available with the No. 15 pick. Denver also could rekindle trade talk with the Packers for Javon Walker. If Green Bay trades Walker, it will be near or during the draft.

It wouldn't be surprising if Denver makes another run at Walker and offers Lelie in a package to the Packers - who, with or without Walker, need wideouts. Lelie is a great deep threat, but he doesn't seem to fit Denver's system.

If no receiver is brought in, Lelie will be part of Denver's plans this year. But if a receiver is brought in, Lelie's absence from the offseason workouts might be the beginning of the end of his stay in Denver.

Is McNair out?

Tennessee is expected to take a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick. That could mean the end of former NFL MVP Steve McNair's time with the Titans.

McNair might be released for salary cap reasons. McNair may welcome that, especially if the Titans select a quarterback in the draft and start him as a rookie.

There could be a market for McNair. A likely landing place could be Baltimore, where he likely would be the starter.

The Broncos also could be a possibility if McNair is interested in being a backup. McNair flourished under Mike Heimer- dinger, now the Broncos' assistant head coach, in Tennessee.

America's team

Don't get too worked up over the notion the Broncos will be the most-watched NFL team in 2006. Reports that Denver will have 12 nationally televised games this season are a tad misleading. The Broncos have four prime-time games on national television.

There are eight other possibilities as part of national doubleheaders, and each has a chance to be a nationally televised game. If the Broncos are gangbusters, several of these games will be televised. The total number likely will be closer to 12. Denver was on national television for half its 16 regular-season games last season.

It's no surprise Denver has a chance to have 75 percent of its games on national television. The Broncos are consistently competitive, they have a large fan base and they have a competitive schedule. Games against Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Seattle will have national appeal.

[Angry Pope]

You too can be an NFL GM or an NFL Scout....

Press here.... (http://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/coursedescription_footballgm.asp)

[Angry Pope]

Draft analysis done before last year's draft...take it for what it is worth....


The Ultimate NFL Draft First Round
The best selections at each first round draft slot


By Pete Fiutak

It's been well established that finding quality in a draft pick after the first round is an exercise in futility, but the top picks aren't always sure things either. Teams invest/blow tens of millions of dollars every year on first round picks expecting them to be the cornerstones of their franchise, but more often than not they drain money and disappoint.

Here are the best, and worst, of all-time with a very subjective look at the Ultimate NFL Draft First Round with the best player ever taken at each first round slot. It's far more difficult than you might think to find a sure-thing, Hall-of-Fame star for each first round pick. However, it's easy to find the epic misses that set teams back years.

What's most stunning was how horrible the picks were to choose from in certain spots. The fifth pick, the 15th and 18th have been traditional wastelands, while the late 20s are utterly worthless. Learn from this you NFL teams; late first round draft picks aren't worth the money. History says they just don't work out (look at the "stars" to choose from at No. 22 & 24.)

Keep in mind that there were only more than 30 picks in the draft (at least regularly) from 1995 on. One more rule: A great pick is weighed based on what the player did for the team that drafted him. John Elway was the greatest player of all-time taken first overall, but not for Baltimore so the Colts, in effect, blew the pick. Let the debate begin.

Pick
The Greatest Pick
The Worst Pick


1.

Terry Bradshaw, QB Louisiana Tech
taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1970

Tom Cousineau, LB Ohio State
taken by Buffalo Bills, 1979

Also considered: O.J. Simpson, RB USC (1969), Troy Aikman, QB UCLA (1988)

Once again, Elway would be the choice except he didn't play for Baltimore. Simpson, Aikman, Earl Campbell and Bruce Smith are all fantastic choices for the greatest number one pick of all-time, but Bradshaw's four Super Bowls trumps anything the other players accomplished. Bo Jackson wasn't a bust of a player, but Tampa Bay completely blew it by alienating the Heisman winner so much that he chose to play baseball instead never suiting up for the Bucs. He would've been the choice for the worst pick if Buffalo didn't have the Tom Cousineau experience. The Ohio State star didn't sign with the Bills playing for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes where he was a marginal player at best. He came back to the NFL and played for Cleveland and San Francisco.


2.

Lawrence Taylor, LB North Carolina
taken by NY Giants, 1981

Tony Mandarich, OT Michigan State
taken by Green Bay Packers, 1989

Also considered: Randy White, DT Maryland (1975), Tony Dorsett, RB Pittsburgh (1977)

White, Dorsett, Tony Boselli and Eric Dickerson were all worthy and Donovan McNabb deserves a bit of consideration, but L.T. is the obvious choice. There have been some tremendous busts at number two over the years and there's certainly an argument for Johnny "Lam" Jones, Blair Thomas and Rick Mirer, but Ryan Leaf is the only real challenger to Mandarich. The whiny brat from Washington State set San Diego back years after Bobby Beathard traded away a ton to get him. However, Mandarich gets the nod because of the players taken after him. The next three picks after steroid boy? Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders. Oops


3.

Barry Sanders, RB Oklahoma State
taken by Detroit Lions, 1989

Akili Smith, QB Oregon
taken by Cincinnati Bengals, 1999

Also considered: Anthony Munoz, OT USC (1980), Steve McNair, QB Alcorn State (1995)

If there could be a tie, there would be one here between Munoz and Sanders. Do you take the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history over, perhaps, the greatest running back? No argument if you say yes. Surprisingly, the third pick has been a traditional dud as players like Nebraska CB Bruce Pickens, Miami RB Alonzo Highsmith, Florida State DE Andre Wadsworth and Tennessee QB Heath Shuler were just a few of the busts. Michigan State LB Carl Banks in 1988 and Penn State RB Curt Warner in 1983 are some of the main notables, and they weren't that great. Akili Smith finished his Cincinnati career with five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions forcing Carson Palmer to be the first overall pick in 2003. The next four picks after Smith? Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey. Daunte Culpepper went 11th. Ouch.


4.

Walter Payton, RB Jackson State
taken by Chicago Bears, 1975

Keith McCants, DL Alabama
taken by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990

Also considered: Joe Greene, DT North Texas State (1969), John Hannah, OG Alabama, Jonathan Odgen, OT UCLA (1996)

Obviously there's no other choice for the best No. 4 pick of all-time, but it could be argued that as the cornerstone of the Steel Curtain, Greene was a more important player than Sweetness. McCants was Tampa Bay's worst draft pick ever, which is saying a lot. He set the standard for looking like Tarzan, but playing like Jane. It also hurts that he was taken one pick ahead of Junior Seau. Auburn RB Brent Fullwood, Ohio State QB Art Schlichter and Michigan WR Desmond Howard were also in the running for worst pick.


5.

Junior Seau, LB USC
taken by San Diego Chargers, 1990

Mike Junkin, LB Duke
taken by Cleveland Browns, 1987

Also considered: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB TCU (2000), Mike Haynes, CB Arizona State (1975)

Deion Sanders would be the slam-dunk choice for the greatest No. 5 pick if he didn't have his Hall-of-Fame years with San Francisco and Dallas instead of Atlanta. When all is said and done, Tomlinson will probably be the greatest No. 5 pick over the somewhat overrated Seau (has there ever been a player that danced more after making a tackle nine yards down the field?) Penn State RB Curtis Enis, Nebraska LB Trev Alberts and Oklahoma LB Cedric Jones didn't work out at the five, but Junkin was a legendarily bad pick. Cleveland traded draft positions with San Diego for two rounds and gave away LB Chip Banks to get the five taking Junkin at least two rounds too early. Penn State LB Shane Conlan went two picks later.

6.

Tim Brown, WR Notre Dame
taken by Oakland Raiders, 1988

Rich Campbell, QB California
taken by Green Bay Packers, 1981

Also considered: Jimbo Covert, OT Pittsburgh (1983), Torry Holt, WR NC State (1999)

Brown is the pick for his Hall-of-Fame-to-be career scoring points for so many years of solid play. However, Covert probably deserves the all-time No. 5 slot. Campbell beat out Houston QB David Klingler and Nebraska RB Lawrence Phillips for the worst pick, but it's close. Campbell's career in Green Bay? Three years, 386 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions. Brett who?


cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

7.

Phil Simms, QB Morehead State
taken by NY Giants, 1979

Andre Ware, QB Houston
taken by Detroit Lions, 1990

Also considered: Champ Bailey, CB Georgia (1999), Troy Vincent, CB Wisconsin (1992), Sterling Sharpe, WR South Carolina (1988)

Like the third pick, the seventh has been a historic graveyard of mediocre selections. Simms is the choice almost by default winning a Super Bowl and taking the Giants to another. There are some fantastic, legendary dogs with the seven from Boston College DE Mike Mamula to Tennessee OL Charles McRae to Penn State QB Todd Blackledge, but Ware is the biggest bust of the bunch throwing for 1,112 yards and five touchdowns with eight interceptions in his four years.

8.

Ronnie Lott, S USC
taken by San Francisco 49ers, 1981

Larry Stegent, RB Texas A&M
taken by St. Louis Cardinals (1970)

Also considered: Willie Roaf, OT Louisiana Tech (1993), Shane Conlan, LB Penn State (1987)

Obvious no doubter on the greatest No. 8 of all-time. For the worst player, there's a bunch of old-timers in the hunt. Mississippi State RB Michael Haddix had a mediocre career with Philadelphia, but his biggest problem was being taken one pick ahead of Bruce Matthews. Larry Stegent's career? One catch for 12 yards before getting hurt.


9.

Bruce Matthews, G USC
taken by Houston Oilers, 1983

Kevin Allen, T Indiana
taken by Philadelphia Eagles, 1985

Also considered: Brian Urlacher, LB New Mexico (2000), Richmond Webb, OT Texas A&M (1990)

Matthews was one of the NFL's all-time rocks on the offensive line. Kevin Allen was the opposite holding the unofficial distinction of being Buddy Ryan's least favorite player of all-time in his total bust of a career. He was later arrested and sent to prison on sexual assault charges.


10.

Rod Woodson, DB Purdue
taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1981

David Verser, WR Kansas
taken by Cincinnati Bengals, 1981

Also considered: Marcus Allen, RB USC (1982), Al Toon, WR Wisconsin (1985), Herman Moore, WR Virginia (1991)

How do you possibly choose between Allen and Woodson? Had Al Davis actually used Allen for his whole career, it wouldn't be a debate. Woodson was one of the all-time greats for the Steelers making the NFL's All-Time team. Florida WR Travis Taylor can thank his lucky stars for David Verser who caught 23 passes for 454 yards and three touchdowns in his four year career taken one pick ahead of Keith Van Horne.


11.

Michael Irvin, WR Miami
taken by Dallas Cowboys, 1988

Jerry Tagge, QB Nebraska
taken by Green Bay Packers, 1972

Also considered: Daunte Culpepper, QB UCF (1999), Wilber Marshall, LB Florida (1983)

The Playmaker had a huge career for the Cowboys catching 750 passes for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. Alcorn State LB John Thierry was in the running for the worst pick, but Tagge blows him away. In three years, the former Husker quarterback threw three touchdown passes and 17 interceptions for the Packers.


12.

Warren Sapp, DT Miami
taken by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1995

Cade McNown, QB UCLA
taken by Chicago Bears, 1999

Also considered: Chuck Foreman, RB Miami (1967), Warrick Dunn, RB Florida State (1997)

Drug rumors dropped Sapp from being a sure-thing top five pick down to 12. He was the cornerstone of one of the NFL's most dominant defenses (where would Minnesota had been if Dennis Green had taken Sapp instead of Florida State's Derrick Alexander?) McNown was thrown to the wolves too early in Chicago and got eaten alive throwing 16 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions.


13.

Franco Harris, RB Penn State
taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1972

Leon Burns, RB Cal-State Long Beach
taken by San Diego Chargers, 1971

Also considered: Kellen Winslow, TE Missouri (1979), Tony Gonzalez, TE California (1997), Keith Jackson, TE Oklahoma (1988)

Tight ends turned out to be the value picks over the years, but Harris and his 12,120 career rushing yards and 100 total touchdowns makes him the pick. Leon Burns gave the Chargers 223 yards and one touchdown.


14.

Jim Kelly, QB Miami
taken by Buffalo Bills, 1983

Derek Brown, TE Notre Dame
taken by NY Giants, 1992

Also considered: Randy Gradishar, LB Ohio State (1974), Eddie George, RB Ohio State (1996)

After a stint with the Houston Gamblers, Kelly turned in a Hall of Fame career leading Buffalo to four Super Bowls (would Kelly be any better a quarterback if Scott Norwood had pushed his kick two feet the other way?) Derek Brown gave New York 11 catches for 87 yards for their 14th pick investment.


15.

Alan Page, DL Notre Dame
taken by Minnesota Vikings, 1967

Ethan Horton, RB North Carolina
taken by Kansas City Chiefs, 1985

Also considered: Dennis Smith, DB USC (1981)

Possibly the worst of all the first round draft slots, the 15th pick is littered with various take-a-flier picks that didn't come close to working out. Alan Page was the obvious exception. It took something special to be the worst 15th pick of all-time, and Ethan Horton was up the challenge. Converted to tight end, he ended up being a Pro Bowl player ... for the hated Raiders. He caught 28 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown for the Chiefs. That's significantly less production than the player taken with the 16th pick in the 1985 draft: Jerry Rice.

16.

Jerry Rice, WR Mississippi Valley St
taken by San Francisco 49ers, 1985

Dan McGwire, QB San Diego State
taken by Seattle Seahawks, 1991

Also considered: Russ Francis, TE Oregon (1975), Jevon Kearse, LB/DE Florida (1999)

The gap in production and talent between Rice and the second best receiver of all-time is possibly greater than any position in any sport. Dan McGwire threw for 745 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions for the Seahawks.


17.

Emmitt Smith, RB Florida
taken by Dallas Cowboys, 1990

Clyde Duncan, WR Tennessee
taken by St. Louis Cardinals, 1984

Also considered: Gene Upshaw, OL Texas A&I (1967), Doug Williams, QB Grambling (1978)

Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. The pick before him? Fresno State DB James Williams to Buffalo, and don't forget that Blair Thomas went second overall to the Jets. Clyde Duncan gave St. Louis four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in his two years. Used as a kickoff returner, he lost three fumbles.

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

18.


Art Monk, WR Syracuse
taken by Washington Redskins, 1980

Don Rogers, DB UCLA
taken by Cleveland Browns, 1984

Also considered: Chad Pennington, QB Marshall (2000)
Another total wasteland of picks, Monk and his 12,721 receiving yards and 68 touchdowns makes this the easiest pick on the board. It took something out of the ordinary to be the biggest bust at the 18, and Don Rogers did it dying of a cocaine overdose in 1986.


19.

Jack Tatum, DB Ohio State
taken by Oakland Raiders, 1971

Steve Pisarkiewicz, QB Missouri
taken by St. Louis, 1977

Also considered: Marvin Harrison, WR Syracuse (1996), Randall McDaniel, OL Arizona State (1988)

Harrison should probably be the pick over Tatum. Southern Miss RB Tony Smith should've been a lock, but Missouri QB Steve Pisarkiewicz made this a no-brainer throwing for 785 yards, three touchdowns and seven interceptions in his career.


20.

Jack Youngblood, DL Florida
taken by Los Angeles Rams, 1971

Darryl Sims, DE Wisconsin
taken by Pittsburgh Steelers, 1985

Also considered: Mark May, OL Pittsburgh (1981), Steve Atwater, S Arkansas (1989)

There haven't been many superstars selected with the 20th pick, but over the years its been among the most consistently solid. Youngblood's Hall-of-Fame nod gave him a slight edge over May and the very underrated Atwater. Darryl Sims came to Pittsburgh, stunk for two years, and that was it.


21.

Randy Moss, WR Marshall
taken by Minnesota Vikings, 1998

Vaughn Dunbar, RB Indiana
taken by New Orleans Saints, 1992

Also considered: Lynn Swann, WR USC (1974), Robert Smith, RB Ohio State (1993)

Yes, you take Randy Moss over Lynn Swann in a non-debatable heartbeat. Over his nine year career, Swann caught 336 passes for 5,461 yards and 51 touchdowns. Moss caught 525 passes for 8,375 yards and 77 touchdowns over his first six seasons. Dunbar ran for 574 yards and three touchdowns for the Saints.


22.

Harris Barton, OL North Carolina
taken by San Francisco 49ers, 1987

Stan Thomas, OT Texas
taken by Chicago Bears, 1991

Also considered: Andre Rison, WR Michigan State (1989)
Welcome to another traditionally lean draft slot. Barton was a yearly Pro Bowl player but if he's your best choice, you know the 22nd pick has stunk. Several players gave it a good run to be the worst No. 22 of all-time, but Stan Thomas takes the prize. Mike Ditka *****ed and moaned about the pick, and then Thomas banged up his shoulder. The Bears were planning on him taking over for the aging veterans. Instead, this pick set the Chicago line back a few years.


23.

Ozzie Newsome, TE Alabama
taken by Cleveland Browns, 1978

Mike Schad, T Queens University
taken by Los Angeles Rams, 1986

Also considered: Ray Guy, P Southern Miss (1973), Deuce McAllister, RB Ole Miss (2001)

Do you take the greatest punter of all-time over, perhaps, the greatest tight end of all-time? Schad played seven games for the Rams.


cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

24.

Rodney Hampton, RB Georgia
taken by NY Giants, 1990

Leonard Renfro, DT Colorado
taken by Philadelphia Eagles, 1993

Also considered: Craig Heyward, RB Pittsburgh (1988)
Now this is a lost pick. Craig Heyward? Yup, the pickins are slim. Hampton never got his just due for a solid eight-year career rushing for 6,897 yards and 49 touchdowns. Leonard Renfro was a major-league bust for an Eagle D hoping to replenish the defensive line.


25.

Stanley Morgan, WR Tennessee
taken by New England Patriots, 1977

Terrence Flagler, RB Clemson
taken by San Francisco 49ers, 1987

Also considered: Louis Oliver, S Florida (1989)
Are you getting this yet? Louis Oliver? Late first round draft picks just don't become stars. Save your money and go after proven free agents. Stanley Morgan caught 68 touchdown passes for the Patriots. Tommy Maddox was worthy of worst No. 25 pick status proving to be used as a power play between Dan Reeves and John Elway while only throwing for 758 yards, six touchdown passes and nine interceptions in his Bronco career. Flagler was even worse rushing for 145 yards and one touchdown for the Niners.


26.

Ray Lewis, LB Miami
taken by Baltimore Ravens, 1996

Reggie Dupard, RB SMU
taken by New England Patriots, 1986

Also considered: Joe Delamielleure, OL Michigan State (1973)
Thank you. Finally, a worthwhile late first round pick. Lewis might be the greatest linebacker of all-time. Reggie Dupard ran for 574 yards and four touchdowns for the Patriots. Chicago took Neal Anderson with the next pick.


27.

Dan Marino, QB Pittsburgh
taken by Miami Dolphins, 1983

Todd Kelly, DE Tennessee
taken by San Francisco 49ers, 1993

Also considered: Neal Anderson, RB Florida (1986)
Marino is the all-time first round value pick as bizarre and unfounded drug rumors caused him to slip. Just when San Francisco needed to boost up the defense in the arms race with Dallas, Todd Kelly came in and provided two mediocre years of service.


28.

Darrell Green, CB Texas A&I
taken by Washington Redskins, 1983

Andy Katzenmoyer, LB Ohio State
taken by New England Patriots, 1999

Also considered: Derrick Brooks, LB Florida State (1985)
Green is the gold standard for cornerback consistency. He'll always be considered among the fastest defensive backs to ever play. Katzenmoyer was considered a bit of a risk going in the first round. After a few years of undistinguished play, a neck injury knocked him out of football.


29.

Nick Barnett, LB Oregon State
taken by Green Bay Packers, 2003

Dimitrius Underwood, DL Michigan State
taken by Minnesota Vikings, 1999

Also considered: Derrick Alexander, WR Michigan (1994)
Remembering that there haven't always been No. 29 picks, there aren't many great players to choose from. Barnett had a strong rookie season proving to be better than Derrick Alexander and the rest of the 29ers. USC WR R. Jay Soward would be a lock as the worst 29 of all-time if it weren't for the bizarre and sad case of Dimitrius Underwood. Considered a flier at best in the mid-rounds. Minnesota's Dennis Green and staff didn't do their research to realize Underwood was battling depression, among other things, and wasn't going to be a productive pro.


30.

Keith Bulluck, LB Syracuse
taken by Tennessee Titans, 2000

Marcus Nash, WR Tennessee
taken by Denver Broncos, 1998

Also considered: Sammy Davis, CB Texas A&M (2003)
Bulluck is the pick be default as there are only a few 30s to choose from. Detroit RB Kevin Jones will get the honor in a few years. Marcus Nash caught four passes for 76 yards for the Broncos.


31.

Todd Heap, TE Arizona State
taken by Baltimore Ravens, 2001

Trezelle Jenkins, OT Michigan
taken by Kansas City Chiefs, 1995

Also considered: Al Wilson, LB Tennessee (1999)
Trained well by Ozzie Newsome and Shannon Sharpe, Heap has perennial all-star written all over him. Trezelle Jenkins stunk from day one getting cut in 1997 after two years of service.


32.

Patrick Ramsey, QB Tulane
taken by Washington Redskins, 2002

Craig Newsome, DB Arizona State
taken by Green Bay, 1995

Also considered: Tyler Brayton, DE Oakland (2003)
There's only four No. 32 first round picks to choose from and Newsome isn't that bad a player. Ramsey is a pick for potential.

[Angry Pope]

Our best kickers were on the sidelines last season...thanks for keeping us in the game though.....

Hit it here..... (http://www.raiders.com/uploads/files/AMNPBANEOKNF/040906raiderettes-large.jpg)

[CrossBones]

Our best kickers were on the sidelines last season...thanks for keeping us in the game though.....

Hit it here..... (http://www.raiders.com/uploads/files/AMNPBANEOKNF/040906raiderettes-large.jpg)That'll work! :)

[Angry Pope]

Here is an article on one of our scouts (who played for us too) and his sons who are in scouting for the 49ers...

Scouting Profiles: Dave McCloughan Back

Wednesday, April 05, 2006
By: Chrissy Mauck


Scot McCloughan’s college scouting staff spent 20 days straight in February at the Santa Clara headquarters discussing and preliminary ranking players for the upcoming draft. While they were enjoying their short 15-minute intermissions, 49ers.com was able to get the “inside dish” on the staffs personalities and scouting style along with key insight on what they are looking for in future players for the 49ers. Like most scouts, they wanted to keep things close to the vest, but 49ers.com dug deep and the results are seven straight days of profiles on each of the college scouts and their director Dave McCloughan. Enjoy getting to know a little more about the “players” involved in determining the 49ers upcoming draft....

Scouting has become a family affair in the McCloughan household. Last spring, Vice President of Player Personnel Scot McCloughan brought on board his brother David, who spent nine years scouting for the Oakland Raiders prior to taking over as the Director of College Scouting for the 49ers.

The pair inherited their love of football and scouting proclivity from their father Kent, who played as a defensive back for five years at Oakland before becoming a college scout for nearly three decades with the Raiders.

David, older than Scot by almost four years, has only vague recollections of his father’s playing days, but they were enough to inspire him to follow in his footsteps.

“I started playing football in the fifth grade and I always thought I’d play professionally like my dad,” said McCloughan. “I know I sure did like scoring touchdowns.”

Touchdowns got put on hold when McCloughan, a Loveland (Colorado) high school running back standout was converted to defensive back at Colorado where he went on to win a National Championship.

But the new position, the same one his father played, allowed him to live out his childhood dream as a professional football player. McCloughan was the 69th overall pick in 1991 by the Indianapolis Colts. He played with the Colts for one year before being traded to Green Bay. After another season with the Packers, McCloughan was traded to the Seattle Seahawks where he played for another two years before an ankle injury prematurely finished his playing career.

“I still wanted to play but I had a bad wheel that really held me back,” said McCloughan. “I lost some speed and I finally decided to quit. I tried to come back the next year because I thought the ankle was getting better but it swelled and I had to have another surgery. I didn’t have much cartilage left and my playing days were over.”

So were his days of doing any kind of running. Instead he started getting his exercise by riding a spin bike that was given to him by friend and former Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert, and he got his fill for football by moving into the world of scouting.

“My dad asked me if I’d like to get into scouting like Scot had just done, but I wasn’t sure,” recalled McCloughan. “I had just gotten married and I knew how much time I’d be away, so I did just a few schools on a part-time basis that first year and my wife said she could handle it, and I’ve been at it ever since.”

Although Kent encouraged and supported his sons in their football endeavors, there was never any pressure.

“My dad didn’t really care what we did as long as we worked hard at it,” recalled McCloughan. “If you didn’t work hard, he was going to kick your butt, but he also wanted you to be the one to want it. I can remember he’d be on the couch watching golf and I’d say that I wanted to go throw the ball and he’d hop up and say ‘let’s go.’ He’d stay out there and throw to you until his arm fell off because he’d never be the one to say that was enough. He wanted us to work hard at everything we did.”

That work ethic served McCloughan well during his tenure working with Raiders owner Al Davis.

“Al is notorious for coming up with names late and wanting to know all about them,” said McCloughan. “He’ll bring up some kid’s name right before the draft and if you don’t remember everything about him, he gets pissed. If you look up a 40 time on the kid, he’ll shake his head and say, “well, I could do that myself.’ He wants you to know it without looking when he asks.”

In some ways leaving Davis behind and going to work for his younger brother might seem like an easier job, but McCloughan argues that in many ways it’s even more pressure filled.

“It’s tougher because you know at work, just like life, you are going to make some mistakes, and that’s definitely a part of scouting because you are not always going to be perfect,” explained McCloughan. “So it’s tough because you absolutely don’t want to screw up anything because not only would you be letting your boss down, you’d be letting your family down.”

And as the big brother, Dave takes the role of looking out for his younger brother seriously. While growing up in the McCloughan household, epic battles were often waged with their middle, and bigger, brother Mark.

“They never let Mark play football because he had brain surgery as a child, but he was the biggest and the toughest of all three of us,” said McCloughan. “I’d have to keep Mark off Scot when we were little because Mark was a giant and Scot really was so much younger than the two of us.”

Of course, siblings never fully grow out of bickering but unlike the bruises and scrapes that come about from childhood fights, these days those disagreements between the two brothers lead to beneficial results for the 49ers.

“If there’s a big disparity between what Scot thinks of a player and what I think about a player then we both feel like we probably need to go back and do some more work on that guy until we figure out which of us is right,” said McCloughan. “You can never really predict how much heart a guy has or how far that can take him, but you definitely want to make sure you account for all the variables that you can measure. In the end, we want to make sure if we miss on a guy, it isn’t because of not putting enough work evaluating him.”

Similar to their choice in professions, their father’s work ethic obviously has rubbed off.

[Angry Pope]

Here is some info on Ralph Wilson, owner of the Bills, and our Raiders....

They formed the American Football League to compete with the established circuit, bringing the television-ready sport to hungry markets. Wilson and his colleagues understood the importance of a healthy league. He even floated a loan to keep the Oakland Raiders alive long before their national cult of followers developed, even as his own team was still losing money.

[Angry Pope]

Here is Hostetler's nephew who is a senior and staying for another year. Jonathan has a brother who WVU is interested in...I already mentioned Hoss's son....

Jonathan Stupar

Class:
Junior

Hometown:
State College, Pa.

High School:
State College Area H.S.

Height / Weight:
6-3 / 245

Position:
TE

Experience:
1L








WORTH NOTING: Highly regarded tight end who had an injury riddled season as a redshirt freshman last fall ... joins Tom Santi as the only tight ends with game experience on the roster.

AT VIRGINIA: 2004--Was expected to be a contributor at tight end but things didn't work out as planned ... was hampered by a foot injury all season ...injured his foot during training camp and missed the first five games ...his first action came against Florida State when he pulled in a 13-yard reception ...played the next week at Duke, but that was his last action due to injury.

2003--Was on the travel squad but did not play in a game ... red-shirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: One of the country's top tight end prospects at State College Area High School for head coach Dave Lintall ... SuperPrep All-American ... PrepStar "Dream Team" ... All-American by Tom Lemming ... ranked as the nation's #2 tight end by SuperPrep, #6 by both Tom Lemming and Rivals.com, and eighth by Max Emfinger of TheInsiders.com ... #86 player in the country by Rivals100.com and 92nd by Tom Lemming ... 4-Stars by Rivals.com ... #94 overall in country by Collegefootballnews.com ... #15 player in Midwest region by Rivals.com ... #17 player in the Atlantic East region by Rivals.com ... second-best player in Pennsylvania according to SuperPrep and #4 by Rivals.com ... played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio ... named to the Associated Press Big Schools (Class AAAA and AAA) all-state first team as a senior when he set a school record with 45 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns ... also made 75 tackles on defense ... led team in receiving as a junior with 30 catches for 360 yards and eight touchdowns, while recording 75 tackles, seven sacks, and 12 tackles for loss ... all-conference his last two years ... also played basketball ... averaged in double figures and led the team in rebounding as a junior in helping his school advance to the second round of the state playoffs ... member of the national award winning acappela high school music group "Master Singers" ... Honor Roll student.

PERSONAL: Jonathan David Stupar ... born 7-27-84 in State College, Pa. ... son of Cheryl and Steve Stupar ... has two sisters, Dyanna (23), and Katlyn (19) and two younger brothers, Nathan (17) and Robby (15) ... his father played at Penn State in the late 70s ... nephew of former NFL quarterback Jeff Hostetler ... announced his intentions to attend UVa during a Tom Lemming chat on ESPN.com ... sports medicine major

[Angry Pope]

Here is a list of Undrafted Free Agents who were currently playing (done last season)....

Quarterback



Jake Delhomme: Louisiana-Lafayette: Carolina Panthers


Billy Volek: Fresno State: Tennessee Titans





Running Back



Priest Holmes: Texas: Kansas City Chiefs



Fullback



Brad Hoover: Western Carolina: Carolina Panthers



Tight End



Antonio Gates: Kent State: San Diego Chargers




Offensive Tackle



Matt Lepsis: Colorado: Denver Broncos



Barry Sims: Utah: Oakland Raiders




Offensive Guard



Brian Waters: North Texas: Kansas City Chiefs



Brandon Moore: Illinois: New York Jets




Center



Hank Fraley: Robert Morris: Philadelphia Eagles




Wide Receiver


Drew Bennett: UCLA: Tennessee Titans


Rod Smith: Missouri Southern: Denver Broncos



Wayne Chrebet: Hofstra: NY Jets



Defensive Line



James Hall: Michigan: Detroit Lions


Adewale Ogunleye: Indiana: Chigago Bears



Sam Rayburn: Tulsa: Philadelphia Eagles



Pat Williams: Texas A&M: Buffalo Bills



Linebacker



London Fletcher: John Carroll: Buffalo Bills



Shelton Quarles: Vanderbilt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers



Antonio Pierce: Arizona: Washington Redskins



Cornerback



Nick Harper: Fort Valley State: Indianapolis Colts .



Kelly Herndon: Toledo: Denver Broncos



Kevin Kaesviharn: Augustana (SD): Cincinatti Bengals




Safety



Sammy Knight: USC: Miami Dolphins



Brian Russell: San Diego State: Minnesota Vikings




Special Teams



Brian Moorman: Pittsburg State: Buffalo Bills


Adam Vinatieri: South Dakota State: New England Patriots



Mike Vanderjagt: West Virginia: Indianapolis Colts



Eddie Drummond: Penn State: Detroit Lions

[Angry Pope]

Here are some more....an older list...

Despite those challenges, the list of undrafted players currently making their living in the NFL is impressive. Some of the more prominent names include: quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Jeff Garcia; receivers Smith, Wayne Chrebet, Oronde Gadsmen, Terrence Wilkins, and David Patten; running backs Priest Holmes, James Allen. Dominic Rhodes, Mack Strong, and Stacey Mack; offensive linemen James "Big Cat" Williams, Derrick Deese, Jeff Saturday, Matt Lepsis, and Mark Dixon; defenders Eric Hicks, London Fletcher, Hollis Thomas, Sammy Knight, Willie Whitehead, and Pat Williams; kickers Adam Vinatieri and Olindo Mare; and punter Tom Rouen.

Those players have followed in the footsteps of the likes of Dave Krieg, Deron Cherry, San Mills, and Joe Jacoby, who had long careers in the NFL even though they weren't drafted.

[Angry Pope]

Here is where our offense and defense has ranked throughout the years...

Year - Points Scored - Points Allowed - Win/Loss

1960- 08 of 21- 19 of 21- 6-8
1961- 20 of 22- 22 of 22- 2-12
1962- 22 of 22- 18 of 22- 1-13
1963- 04 of 22- 09 of 22- 10-4
1964- 13 of 22- 18 of 22- 5-7
1965- 14 of 22- 04 of 22- 8-5-1
1966- 14 of 24- 12 of 24- 8-5-1
1967- 01 of 25- 06 of 25- 13-1
1968- 01 of 26- 06 of 26- 12-2
1969- 02 of 26- 06 of 26- 12-1-1

1970- 09 of 26- 19 of 26- 8-4-2
1971- 02 of 26- 14 of 26- 8-4-2
1972- 03 of 26- 08 of 26- 10-3-1
1973- 10 of 26- 03 of 26- 9-4-1
1974- 01 of 26- 09 of 26 - 12-2
1975- 04 of 26- 07 of 26- 1-3
1976- 04 of 28- 12 of 28- 13-1
1977- 01 of 28- 15 of 28- 11-3
1978- 10 of 28- 10 of 28- 9-7
1979- 07 of 28- 18 of 28- 9-7

1980- 07 of 28- 10 of 28- 11-5
1981- 25 of 28- 15 of 28- 7-9
1982- 02 of 28- 22 of 28- 8-1
1983- 03 of 28- 13 of 28- 12-4
1984- 09 of 28- 04 of 28- 11-5
1985- 12 of 28- 04 of 28- 12-4
1986- 16 of 28- 19 of 28- 8-8
1987- 17 of 28- 08 of 28- 5-10
1988- 16 of 28- 25 of 28- 7-9
1989- 18 of 28- 10 of 28- 8-8

1990- 13 of 28- 07 of 28- 12-4
1991- 15 of 28- 12 of 28- 9-7
1992- 23 of 28- 12 of 28- 7-9
1993- 14 of 28- 21 of 28- 10-6
1994- 19 of 28- 17 of 28- 9-7
1995- 15 of 30- 10 of 30- 8-8
1996- 12 of 30- 08 of 30- 7-9
1997- 17 of 30- 28 of 30- 4-12
1998- 22 of 30- 20 of 30- 8-8
1999- 09 of 31- 16 of 31- 8-8

2000- 03 of 31- 09 of 31- 12-4
2001- 04 of 31- 19 of 31- 10-6
2002- 02 of 32- 06 of 32- 11-5
2003- 27 of 32- 25 of 32- 4-12
2004- 14 of 32- 31 of 32- 5-11

[Angry Pope]

Here is a list where they analyze the draft only after three years...take it for what it is worth and find your own interest in it....

(done last year around draft time)......

With that said, here are the players that represented the best picks of each round in a given year, going back 35 years. As the years go by we will update this list with the best picks of 3 full years previous.

Round 1

Year- Pick- Team- Player

1970 01 Steelers QB - Terry Bradshaw
1971 22 Rams DE - Jack Youngblood
1972 13 Steelers RB - Franco Harris
1973 04 Patriots OG - John Hannah
1974 21 Steelers WR - Lynn Swann
1975 04 Bears RB - Walter Payton
1976 05 Patriots DB - Mike Haynes
1977 02 Cowboys RB - Tony Dorsett
1978 01 Oilers RB - Earl Campbell
1979 13 Chargers TE - Kellen Winslow
1980 03 Bengals OT - Anthony Munoz
1981 02 Giants LB - Lawrence Taylor
1982 10 Raiders RB - Marcus Allen
1983 27 Dolphins QB - Dan Marino
1984 11 Bears LB - Wilbur Marshall
1985 16 49ers WR - Jerry Rice
1986 08 Chargers DE - Leslie O'Neal
1987 09 Eagles DT - Jerome Brown
1988 11 Cowboys WR - Michael Irvin
1989 03 Lions RB - Barry Sanders
1990 23 Cowboys RB - Emmitt Smith
1991 25 49ers DT - Ted Washington
1992 08 Falcons OT - Bob Whitfield
1993 10 Rams RB - Jerome Bettis
1994 02 Colts RB - Marshall Faulk
1995 12 Bucs DT - Warren Sapp
1996 16 Colts WR - Marvin Harrison
1997 13 Chiefs TE - Tony Gonzalez
1998 21 Vikings WR - Randy Moss
1999 02 Eagles QB - Donovan McNabb
2000 02 Redskins LB - Lavar Arrington
2001 05 Chargers RB - Ladanian Tomlinson
2002 02 Panthers DE - Julius Peppers

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Round 2

Year- Pick -Team -Player

1970 20 Jets TE - Richard Caster
1971 08 Steelers LB - Jack Ham
1972 01 Bills OG -Reggie McKenzie
1973 11 Rams QB - Ron Jaworski
1974 20 Steelers LB - Jack Lambert
1975 07 Chargers DE - Fred Dean
1976 14 49ers OC - Randy Cross
1977 05 Jets WR - Wesley Walker
1978 28 Cowboys TE - Todd Christensen
1979 13 Jets DE - Mark Gastineau
1980 20 Dolphins OC -Dwight Stephenson
1981 20 Raiders DT - Howie Long
1982 14 Patriots LB - Andre Tippett
1983 21 49ers RB - Roger Craig
1984 10 Bengals QB - Boomer Esiason
1985 09 Eagles QB - Randall Cunningham
1986 24 Giants LB - Pepper Johnson
1987 07 Chiefs RB - Christian Okoye
1988 13 Bills RB - Thurman Thomas
1989 11 Cowboys FB - Moose Johnston
1990 23 Packers DB - LeRoy Butler
1991 06 Falcons QB - Brett Favre
1992 08 Cowboys WR - Jimmy Smith
1993 11 Giants DE - Michael Strahan
1994 17 Cowboys OG - Larry Allen
1995 18 Eagles DB - Bobby Taylor
1996 06 Patriots DB - Lawyer Milloy
1997 13 Bengals RB - Corey Dillon
1998 14 Dolphins DB - Patrick Surtain
1999 10 Rams DB - Dre' Bly
2000 16 Raiders WR - Jerry Porter
2001 13 Panthers DT - Kris Jenkins
2002 19 Broncos RB - Clinton Portis

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Round 3

Year -Pick -Team -Player

1970 01 Steelers DB - Mel Blount
1971 15 Bengals QB - Ken Anderson
1972 02 Bengals lb - Jim Leclair
1973 12 Chargers QB - dan fouts
1974 01 Cowboys QB - Danny White
1975 18 Cowboys LB - Bob Breunig
1976 26 Rams Ot - Jackie slater
1977 06 Cowboys WR - tony Hill
1978 05 Jets TE - mickey shuler
1979 26 49ers qb - Joe montana
1980 17 Patriots DE - Steve McMichael
1981 13 Redskins OC - Russ Grimm
1982 20 Seahawks TE - Pete Metzelaars
1983 28 Redskins DE - Charles Mann
1984 08 Jets LB - Kyle Clifton
1985 12 Saints LB - Jack Del-Rio
1986 05 Saints LB - Pat Swilling
1987 07 Lions DT - Jerry Ball
1988 25 49ers LB - Bill Romanowski
1989 01 Cowboys OC - Mark Stepnoski
1990 05 Cardinals WR - Ricky Proehl
1991 04 Cardinals DB - Aeneas Williams
1992 06 Packers WR - Robert Brooks
1993 26 Bucs DB - John Lynch
1994 23 Steelers LB - Jason Gildon
1995 10 Patriots RB - Curtis Martin
1996 28 49ers WR - Terrell Owens
1997 13 Dolphins DE - Jason Taylor
1998 15 Seahawks RB - Ahman Green
1999 12 Steelers DE - Joey Porter
2000 16 Jets WR - Laveranues Coles
2001 12 Panthers WR - Steve Smith
2002 26 Eagles RB - Brian Westbrook

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Round 4

Year -Pick -Team -Player

1970 23 Cowboys OT - John Fitzgerald
1971 01 Broncos DE - Lyle Alzado
1972 22 Raiders OC - Dave Dalby
1973 10 Broncos LB - Tom Jackson
1974 04 Steelers WR - John Stallworth
1975 17 Broncos WR - Rick Upchurch
1976 25 Seahawks WR - Steve Largent
1977 07 Rams QB -Vince Ferragamo
1978 14 Oilers WR - Mike Renfro
1979 07 Cardinals WR - Roy Green
1980 05 Colts WR - Ray Butler
1981 12 Bears DB - Todd Bell
1982 03 Saints PK - Morten Anderson
1983 07 Bears OC - Tom Thayer
1984 13 Saints OC - Joel Hilgenberg
1985 16 Giants TE - Mark Bavaro
1986 14 49ers DE - Charles Haley
1987 14 Patriots QB - Rich Gannon
1988 07 Packers DB - Chuck Cecil
1989 02 Lions DB - Ray Crockett
1990 08 Seahawks RB - Chris Warren
1991 15 Seahawks PK - John Kasay
1992 07 Cardinals OL - Jeff Christy
1993 12 Cowboys OG - Ron Stone
1994 11 Bears DB - Raymont Harris
1995 24 Dolphins TE - Pete Mitchell
1996 07 Redskins RB - Stephen Davis
1997 02 Oilers WR - Derrick Mason
1998 01 Colts OL - Steve McKinney
1999 34 Ravens OG - Edwin Mulitalo
2000 11 Giants LB - Brandon Short
2001 05 Bengals RB - Rudi Johnson
2002 16 Dolphins TE - Randy McMichael

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Round 5

Year- Pick -Team -Player

1970 12 Falcons OC - Kem Mendenhall
1971 02 Steelers TE - LARRY BROWN
1972 06 Cardinals OG - Conrad Dobler
1973 14 Vikings RB - Brent McClanahan
1974 21 Steelers OC - Mike Webster
1975 12 Patriots QB - Steve Grogan
1976 07 Chargers LB - Woodrow Lowe
1977 14 Raiders DB - Lester Hayes
1978 06 Packers LB - Mike Douglas
1979 15 Jets LB - Stan Blinka
1980 04 Chiefs WR - Carlos Carson
1981 08 Redskins DE - Dexter Manley
1982 01 Patriots DB - Fred Marion
1983 05 49ers LB - Riki Ellison
1984 09 49ers DT - Michael Carter
1985 02 Cowboys RB - Herschel Walker
1986 25 Steelers TE - Brent Jones
1987 10 Steelers LB - Hardy Nickerson
1988 16 Oilers DB - Chris Dishman
1989 20 Giants RB - Dave Meggett
1990 20 Browns DE - Rob Burnett
1991 02 Dolphins LB - Brian Cox
1992 13 Vikings LB - Ed McDaniel
1993 06 Packers QB - Mark Brunell
1994 14 Chargers DB - Rodney Harrison
1995 24 Dolphins DT - Norman Hand
1996 34 Raiders DT - LaRoi Glover
1997 22 Eagles DE - Ndukwe Kalu
1998 19 Eagles LB - Ike Reese
1999 20 Raiders DE - Rod Coleman
2000 24 Chiefs WR - Dante Hall
2001 24 Eagles QB - AJ Feeley
2002 06 Browns LB - Andra Davis

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Round 6

Year -Pick -Team- Player

1970 23 Cowboys DE - Pat Toomay
1971 17 Cardinals WR - Mel Gray
1972 22 Colts DB - Bruce Laird
1973 26 Dolphins OG - Ed Newman
1974 11 Patriots P - Chuck Ramsey
1975 05 Bears QB - Bob Avellini
1976 05 Bears OT - Dan Jiggetts
1977 05 Jets DL - Joe Klecko
1978 12 Lions DB - Dwight Hicks
1979 28 Steelers PK - Matt Bahr
1980 27 Steelers OT - Tunch Ilkin
1981 24 Chargers WR - Bobby Duckworth
1982 01 Colts TE - Pat Beach
1983 27 Dolphins P - Reggie Roby
1984 12 Cowboys LB - Eugene Lockhart
1985 18 Cardinals TE - Jay Novacek
1986 08 Redskins QB - Mark Rypien
1987 10 Steelers LB - Greg Lloyd
1988 22 Redskins QB - Stan Humphries
1989 07 Bucs P - Chris Mohr
1990 22 Packers LB - Bryce Paup
1991 16 Seahawks DE - Michael Sinclair
1992 17 Packers TE - Mark Chmura
1993 23 Redskins TE - Frank Wycheck
1994 21 49ers LB - Lee Woodall
1995 25 Broncos RB - Terrell Davis
1996 41 Packers OG - Marco Rivera
1997 30 Raiders DT - Grady Jackson
1998 34 Packers QB - Matt Hasselbeck
1999 10 Broncos TE - Desmond Clark
2000 33 Patriots QB - Tom Brady
2001 06 49ers WR - Cedrick Wilson
2002 16 Broncos TE - Jeb Putzier

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Round 7

Year -Pick -Team -Player

1970 07 Bengals DB - Lamar Parrish
1971 05 Eagles WR - Harold Carmichael
1972 20 Raiders DB - Alonzo (Skip) Thomas
1973 -- -- N/a
1974 13 Lions PK - Efren Herrera
1975 20 Bears QB - Pat Haden
1976 09 Eagles DE - Carl Hairston
1977 03 Bills DB - Mike Nelms
1978 01 Falcons WR - Alfred Jackson
1979 03 Bengals OL - Max Montoya
1980 01 Lions PK - Eddie Murray
1981 23 Chargers TE - Pete Holohan
1982 12 Vikings TE - Steve Jordan
1983 10 Giants DB - Perry Williams
1984 05 Chiefs DB - Kevin Ross
1985 13 Bengals OT - Joe Walter
1986 14 Bills TE - Butch Rolle
1987 15 Raiders RB - Bo Jackson
1988 01 Falcons WR - Michael Haynes
1989 16 Chargers RB - Marion Butts
1990 27 Broncos TE - Shannon Sharpe
1991 06 Cowboys DT - Leon Lett
1992 23 Dolphins TE - Dave Moore
1993 28 Cowboys DB - Brock Marion
1994 24 Broncos OC - Tom Nalen
1995 22 Packers OL - Adam Timmerman
1996 35 Bills TE - Jay Riemersma
1997 28 Jets DT - Jason Ferguson
1998 37 Cardinals DB - Pat Tillman
1999 07 Packers WR - Donald Driver
2000 48 Bears DB - Mike Green
2001 04 Bengals WR - TJ Houshmandzaedh
2002 33 Patriots WR - David Givens

[Angry Pope]

To summarize...our Raiders selected (according to the article)...

The best first round selection of 1982 in Marcus Allen...

The best second round selection in 1981 in Howie Long...

The best second round selection in 2000 in Jerry Porter...

The best fourth round selection in 1972 in Dave Dalby...

The best fifth round selection in 1977 in Lester Hayes...

The best fifth round selection in 1996 in Laroi Glover...

The best fifth round selection in 1999 in Rod Coleman...

The best sixth round selection in 1997 in Grady Jackson...

The best seventh round selection in 1987 in Bo Jackson...

[CrossBones]

Well we have two HOF on there (Marcus and Howie). Who said we can't draft?

[Angel]

Well we have two HOF on there (Marcus and Howie). Who said we can't draft?
Drafting is one thing, keeping the players happy is another......see Marcus Allen!! We love him here in KC!! :)

[Angry Pope]

Here is the roster and how we put together our 1983 Raiders who defeated the Redskins in the Superbowl....

Marcus Allen RB

Drafted in 1982 by our Raiders in round 1 and number 10 overall.

Lyle Alzado DE

Drafted in 1971 by the Denver Broncos in round 4 number 79 overall.
Traded to our Raiders in 1982 by Cleveland to reduce their salary cap burden.

Chris Bahr K

Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1976 in round 2 number 51 overall.
Became a Raider in 1980.


Jeff Barnes LB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1977 in round 5, number 139 overall.

Malcolm Barnwell WR

Drafted by our Raiders in 1980 in round 7, number 173 overall.

Rick Berns RB

Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1979 in round 3, number 80 overall.
Became a Raider in 1982.

Don Bessillieu S

Drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1979 in round 5, number 134 overall.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Cliff Branch WR

Drafted by our Raiders in 1972 in round 4, number 98 overall.

Darryl Byrd LB

Went undrafted.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Tony Caldwell LB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1983 in round 3, number 82 overall.


Todd Christensen TE-RB

Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1978 in round 2, number 56 overall.
Became a Raider in 1979

Dave Dalby C

Drafted by our Raiders in 1972 in round 4, number 100 overall.

Bruce Davis T

Drafted by our Raiders in 1979 in round 11, number 294 overall.

James Davis CB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1981 in round 5, number 118 overall.

Mike Davis S

Drafted by our Raiders in 1977 in round 2, number 35 overall.

Ray Guy P

Drafted by our Raiders in 1973 in round 1, number 23 overall.

Charley Hannah OG

Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1977 in round 3, number 56 overall.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Don Hasselbeck TE

Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1977 in round 2, number 52 overall.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Frank Hawkins RB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1981 in round 10, number 276 overall.

Lester Hayes CB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1977 in round 5, number 126 overall.

Mike Haynes CB

Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1976 in round 1, number 5 overall.
We traded, in November of 1983, a 1984 first round draft selection, and a 1985 second round draft selection to New England.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Ted Hendricks LB

Drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1969 in round 2, number 33 overall.
Became a Raider in 1975.


Kenny Hill S

Drafted by our Raiders in 1980 in round 8, number 194 overall.

David Humm QB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1975 in round 5, number 128 overall.
We reacquired him in 1983.

Derrick Jensen RB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1978 in round 3, number 57 overall.

Shelby Jordan T

Drafted by our Raiders in 1973 in round 7, number 157 overall.

Kenny King RB

Drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1979 in round 3, number 72 overall.
Became a Raider in 1980.

Reggie Kinlaw NT

Drafted by our Raiders in 1979 in round 12, number 320 overall.

Henry Lawrence T

Drafted by our Raiders in 1974 in round 1, number 19 overall.

Howie Long DE

Drafted by our Raiders in 1981 in round 2, number 48 overall.

Rod Martin LB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1977 in round 12, number 317 overall.

Mickey Marvin G

Drafted by our Raiders in 1977 in round 4, number 112 overall.

cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

Vann Mc Elroy S

Drafted by our Raiders in 1982 in round 3, number 64 overall.

Odis Mc Kinney S

Drafted by the New York Giants in 1978 in round 2, number 37 overall.
Became a Raider in 1980.

Matt Millen LB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1980 in round 2, number 43 overall.

Cleo Montgomery RB

Went undrafted in 1980 and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Became a Raider in 1981.

Don Mosebar T

Drafted by our Raiders in 1983 in round 1, number 26 overall.

Calvin Muhammad WR

Drafted by our Raiders in 1980 in round 12, number 322 overall.

Ed Muransky T

Drafted by our Raiders in 1982 in round 4, number 91 overall.

Bob Nelson LB

Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1975 in round 2, number 42 overall.
Became a Raider in 1980.

Irvin Phillips CB

Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1981 in round 3, number 77 overall.
Did not play in 1982.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Bill Pickel NT

Drafted by our Raiders in 1983 in round 2, number 54 overall.

Jim Plunkett QB

Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1971 in round 1, number 1 overall.
Became a Raider in 1979.

Greg Pruitt RB

Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1973 in round 2, number 30 overall.
Became a Raider in 1982.

Derrick Ramsey TE

Drafted by our Raiders in 1978 in round 5, number 136 overall.
Only played two games for us.

Archie Reese NT

Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 in round 5, number 127 overall.
Became a Raider in 1982.

Johnny Robinson NT

Drafted by our Raiders in 1981 in round 4, number 111 overall.

Jim Romano C

Drafted by our Raiders in 1982 in round 2, number 37 overall.

Jack Squirek LB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1982 in round 2, number 35 overall.

Dave Stalls NT

Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1977 in round 7, number 191 overall.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Steve Sylvester C-G

Drafted by our Raiders in 1975 in round 10, number 259 overall.

Greg Townsend DE

Drafted by our Raiders in 1983 in round 4, number 110 overall.

Ted Watts CB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1981 in round 1, number 21 overall.

Dokie Wlliams WR

Drafted by our Raiders in 1983 in round 5, number 138 overall.

Chester Willis RB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1981 in round 11, number 304 overall.

Marc Wilson QB

Drafted by our Raiders in 1980 in round 1, number 15 overall.

[Angry Pope]

Grogan still upset...

Still painful after all these years
1976 playoff loss gnaws at Grogan


Ray Duckler
Monitor Staff


April 09. 2006 12:00PM


Steve Grogan admits it. When the Patriots won their first Super Bowl title in franchise history four years ago, the former New England quarterback wasn't hopping around like the Easter Bunny, overjoyed for Tom Brady and the boys.

At least not right away.

The memory of 1976, of that three-point loss to the Raiders in the playoffs, of that ridiculous call by referee Ben Dreith, returned to haunt him.

"I'll be honest with you," said Grogan, who played for the Patriots from 1975-90 and who signed autographs at Freedom Cycle yesterday. "My initial reaction when the confetti started to fall and the clock had run out was probably human. I was envious. I really was in a way jealous. I was thinking to myself that we came that close in '76 of knowing what those guys were feeling, and I never had a chance to do that. When I saw it happening, I'm thinking, 'Man, I wish I could have been part of that.'"


But he wasn't. That game, that call, is not in the same category as Bill Buckner's error or Bucky Dent's home run, but it remains a very dark moment in New England sports history.
The Raiders cruised to the Super Bowl championship, while the Patriots went home. The 40-plus crowd remembers it all too well, and no doubt dads have passed on the story to their sons.

The incomplete pass by Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler. The clean hit on Stabler by Raymond "Sugar Bear" Hamilton. The flag for roughing the passer, thrown by Dreith. The automatic first down. And, later, the 1-yard bootleg by Stabler, running left and diving over the goal line, with 10 seconds left in the game.

Raiders 24, Patriots 21.

"I'm not driving down the highway thinking that Ben Dreith screwed us out of the game out there," said Grogan, who owns a sporting goods business in Mansfield, Mass. "But if somebody wants to talk about it, it makes the hair on the back of your neck bristle just a little bit."

That's because 1976 was the Patriots' year. Or at least it should have been.

They were the Patriots of Russ Francis and Sam Cunningham, of John Hannah and Mike Haynes.

And Grogan was the leader, the quarterback who played hurt and who rushed for an NFL-record 12 touchdowns that year.

They ran the ball down your throat, they threw it over your secondary and they pressured opposing quarterbacks until the cows came home. They totaled 47 sacks and permitted just 19.

The Patriots entered the playoffs winning eight of nine games and six straight. Early in the season, they beat the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers, 30-27, in Pittsburgh, no less.

And, in perhaps the most telling fact of all, the Patriots handed the Raiders their lone regular season loss that year, a 48-17 whipping at Schaeffer/Sullivan/Foxborough/ Stadium.

"We killed them," Grogan said. "It wasn't even close. We totally manhandled them. We were very confident after the way we played them earlier in the year. We were just playing good football. We had been on a roll all year, and there was nobody who was going to beat us. Unfortunately we didn't get it done when we had to."

They should have. The game was played in Oakland on Dec. 18, 1976. Grogan hit tight end Russ Francis with a 26-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Jess Phillips ran it in from three yards out later in the quarter and it was 21-10, Patriots.

Mark Van Eeghen brought the Raiders back, scoring from one yard out to make it 21-17.

And that's how it should have ended.

But on third and 18 from the New England 27, Stabler dropped back and threw one to Carl Garrett near the left sideline. The pass fell incomplete and the Raiders, it appeared, were down to their last play.

But Dreith saw things differently. While replays clearly showed that Hamilton buried Stabler just as the ball left the Snake's left hand, the defensive lineman was flagged for roughing the passer, breathing new life into the Raiders.

With an automatic first down, Oakland proceeded to milk the clock and score the winning touchdown. "It was an awful call," Grogan said. "Our sideline erupted."

The Raiders went on to beat the Steelers, 24-7. Pittsburgh played without running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, both of whom rushed for 1,000 yards that season. Then the Raiders beat the Vikings in Super Bowl XI, 32-14, for their first NFL title.

"There's no question we would have beaten Pittsburgh," Grogan said. "And Minnesota just wasn't that good of a football team, so it would have been our Super Bowl championship, the first one for the Patriots. But you can't change history now. It's over and done."

The Patriots finally broke through in Super Bowl XXXVI four years ago, beating the Rams, 20-17. Along the way, they beat the Raiders in the infamous Tuck Game, a result deemed as sweet revenge and justice to fans around here.

Grogan, though, didn't quite see it that way.

"I had people come into my sporting goods store after the Tuck Game with the Raiders," he said. "They'd say, 'Oh, you must feel vindicated that the Patriots stuck it to the Raiders,' and I'd say, 'The fans can feel vindicated, but those of us who played in that game in '76 will never feel vindicated.'

"We had something special taken away from us. We got screwed."

[CrossBones]

Get over it Steve.

[Rupert]

Awww poor Steve. Them's the breaks bubba, but I sure as hell know how he feels. I've played in games (not football) where the refs robbed us and gave the victory away (granted, I pulled in 2 technicals in the last minute after a lousy call and had to sit and watch our 6-point loss to a team that should have blown us out except for our determined play). Yeah, I know what he feels like. You never forget that stuff. I'll let him stew over it, since I know it doesn't go away. Even if it's a meaningless church basketball league title game.

[Raiders_Rock]

suck on it Steve - suck it long and hard

[Angry Pope]

Here is some information on the blackout policy in the NFL...

Blackouts- Have they out lived their usefulness?


History of the Blackout Rule

The seeds of the blackout rule were planted in the early 1960’s as television became more popular. Then Commissioner Pete Rozelle feared that football would become a studio game, where fans, if given a choice of coming out to the stadium, or watching on TV at home, would opt for the comfort of their sofas, in effect, killing the sport. This line of thought seemed reasonable at the time. Baseball was still our number one past time, and the NFL was competing with the AFL in different markets for its fans. Rozelle knew another thing as well, and it was that television was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it was a new medium, and not everyone owned one. On the other, football, with its slow paced high drama, was tailor made for television, and certainly was an opportunity to grow the sport that was not to be passed up. So Rozelle compromised. He would allow every team’s road games to be televised back to the team’s home market, but would allow absolutely no local broadcasts of home teams. That’s the way it stayed until 1973.

In 1971, the Washington Redskins hired Head Coach George Allen away from the Los Angeles Rams. Allen had great success in Los Angeles throughout the 1960’s, and instantly turned the fortunes of the Redskins around. This of course, sent interest in the team skyrocketing, and being in the nation’s capital, the Redskins became a hot ticket with the politicians who set up residences there. Unfortunately, 55,004 seat RFK Stadium wasn’t large enough to accommodate the demand. Those without tickets could not see them play. Period. Demand reached a fever pitch in 1972, when the team went 11-3, and earned themselves a spot in Super Bowl VII. The natives were angry. The best season in the Skin’s forty-year history, and most fans were blacked out for half the season, as well as the playoffs. Congress immediately went to work, and threatened to pass legislation that eliminated blackouts completely. Upon meeting with politicians and hearing their intent, Rozelle capitulated and instituted the seventy-two hour rule, which would take effect in the fall of 1973. That meant that if a team sold out their home game seventy-two hours before their scheduled kickoff time, the blackout could be lifted, and the game broadcast locally. This is where the NFL has stood for thirty-two seasons.


Conclusions

So why does the NFL, especially in this day and age of satellites, and subscriber only NFL Sunday Ticket still cling to it’s antiquated blackout rule? It’s difficult to understand the rationale. It certainly does nothing to improve attendance, as evidenced by the 49ers, and Jaguars. San Francisco has been terrible, yet continues to sell out, while Jacksonville, a relatively new and successful franchise, continues to struggle to sell tickets. So the question remains…why does the NFL consistently try to limit the exposure of its product by applying a blackout policy, that has varying levels of unfairness to different clubs? Don’t the owners realize that by limiting exposure they’re tuning out the next generation of fans? At the very least, they’re cutting deeply into their own merchandise market.

What must be considered, are the economics of the blackout. They’re very short term. Yes, the fan in the stadium will buy the seven-dollar beer, and the five-dollar hot dog. Unfortunately, in-stadium advertising is only seen by those actually in attendance at the game, resulting in pro rated ad fees, and the team losing out on much needed revenue. The same goes for the ads on television. Rates are pro rated due to the uncertain number of games that will be telecast on the local affiliate. Broadcast a game locally, and the local companies line up to purchase ad time.

There are also intangibles to think about as well. In today’s instant gratification society, if you’re not on the tip of everyone’s tongue, you’re very easily forgotten. Madonna and Britney Spears understand this, why doesn’t the NFL? Like Madonna, television is an ad medium in its own right. The game should be it’s own marketing tool. Show how much fun it is at one, and people will want to go. Showing Elvis in the stands, or showing the group of guys dressed as lady hogs, is a better sales pitch than any marketing person could ever dream of.

The reality of the situation is that those who wish to attend games, and have the means to, want the entire package. They want to be in the stadium, they want to tailgate, and they’re going to do it, no matter the cost. Displaced Bills fans are notorious for planning their vacations in the fall, around home games. The bottom line is, the NFL’s logic is terribly flawed on this issue. The blackout rule, which might have been instrumental in building the league in the 1960’s, is now chocking it, and that can’t be good for any business, much less one where the competition for the entertainment dollar is so fierce.

[Rupert]

Oooh, this is a great topic!

What's to be done though?

The problem I see is the local affiliates.

One one hand, you can free the local network affiliates to broadcast it, but what happens if they don't want to or can't? NFL Sunday Ticket? What happens if the Raiders are hosting an NFC team and San Fran is in Seattle. Both games are 1pm (Pacific) games and on the FOX network. The local (no shock) broadcasts San Fran.

On the another hand, you let a local cable channel broadcast it, but would that cannibalize NFL Sunday Ticket sales? Could you get more money that way by selling ALL home market games to a regional channel, like baseball? Then Sunday Ticket becomes an out of market vehicle?

One way or another, baseball, basketball, and hockey ALL sell broadcasting rights to home games, and it doesn't appear to hurt attendance. What happens if the game is a rain-soaked or snowed-under affair? The game will go on, but attendance WILL suffer, as some people will NOT attend. And with the game blacked out, they lose out. This way, as the author suggests, local and national advertising will still get fed.

I think the author is right, the NFL is missing out on marketing opportunities and revenues.

With the advent of revenue sharing, the NFL should be looking to increase revenues every way possible. Do the players still get 59% of it? Certainly, but 41% of $0 is still $0. And every additional dollar is $.41 more for each club.

Hell, let the networks bid for the rights to televise blacked out local games in the next contract. Make it like local channels on DirecTV. Pay an extra 10% for the local feed. Let them battle it out with local cable chanels (like the Fox Sports affiliates). I see financial possibilities.

[Angry Pope]

Here is an article about Danny Clark from January....

Leading the Way


LB Danny Clark has become an emotional leader for the Raiders defense.

January 9, 2006

By Courtney Jeffries



With poised leadership and an inner drive synonymous with seasoned veterans, linebacker Danny Clark has made his mark on The Oakland Raiders defense. After completing only his second year with the Silver and Black, the 2005 season marked the sixth of his professional career and with that, Clark brings experience and a commitment to defensive excellence to a relatively young unit that has battled injuries and opposing offenses all season. His approach to the game has been recognized by fellow teammates, as Clark has been identified as a source of strong leadership.

"I'm lucky enough to get voted team captain by my peers," said Clark, the 6'2", 245-pound University of Illinois graduate. "Anytime you receive an honor like that, you have to live up to it." Clark, who views his position as more than tallying high defensive statistics, welcomes the responsibility of leading the defense. His underlying respect for his teammates' intensity, combined with a drive for squad cohesion is driving the Raiders defense to steadily improve.

"Whether it's a young guy or an old guy, if he's willing to learn, I'm willing to learn," explained Clark. "It is a great opportunity to be a leader of men. People of all different personalities, come from different backgrounds, who feel differently about things...and I'm working to get us all on the same beat."

It would have been easy for Clark, 2004's leading tackler, to approach this season with priorities of racking up gaudy tackle, sack, and turnover numbers, but those are secondary goals for the linebacker. Well before the 2005 season began, Clark set aside personal benchmarks for the betterment of the team in order to deliver a unified defensive squad come game day.

"All off-season I was uncomfortable about us not being a football team first. That was my biggest goal, to do things on and off the field that would bring us closer together," he said. "When you get in the heat of the battle you have to know how guys are going to respond."

Now when Clark looks in the eyes of his teammates come game time, he is confident that the defense is ready to perform with passion and intensity.

"It's great to look into each guy's eyes after each play," he explained. "When I line up in the huddle I get the call from the sidelines and I look at the other 10 guys in that huddle. I connect with each one of them in a different way and know we're going to get the thing done on that following play."

Clark's intensity and drive is apparent off the field as well. Not only is he committed to the community, sponsoring events for the Danny Clark 55 Foundation that benefits underprivileged children, but he is also working towards a career in broadcasting upon retirement from professional football. With a degree in speech communications from the University of Illinois, and a budding portfolio of work featuring components like "D.C. Online" on the Raiders website - www.raiders.com - "Down With Danny" on Comcast SportsNet, and serving as a correspondent on Rome is Burning, Clark is pursuing these goals with the same passion he brings to the football field.

"Television is kind of my second love outside of football. I did some minor stuff in college and I found out I'm decent at speaking in front of the camera. Broadcasting is definitely a thing I want to do," Clark said. "I love football, I won't lie. And once I'm unable to play, or choose to not play anymore, I'd like to talk about it. It would be great to stay in the business of football and talk the sport I love." Until that day comes, however, Raider Nation can count on Danny's dedication to leading his teammates, both experienced veterans and fresh rookie talent, to excellence on the football field. And while the end result is most important for the team and fans, the heart, desire, and pride displayed by the Silver and Black defense parallels the expectations of The Team of the Decades.

"It's still my goal to be the number one defense in the league," promised Clark. "I'm shooting for perfection, and if we fall short, at least we gave it all we had. When you turn on the film, you can see The Oakland Raiders defense is going to be out there to play," Clark continued. "That's what I'm most appreciative about and I'm proud of us for that."

[Angry Pope]

Here is Danny Clark's website....

Hammerhead..... (www.dannyclark55.com)

[CrossBones]

Sunday Ticket it pusing it IMO.

About 3 years ago they started that "local affilate" program where the game is blacked out on Sunday Ticket if the local affiate buys and is showing the game. I complained about it and they turned on the local stations (DirectTV) for me at no cost. This last season I had to get very upset and I think next season they wil tell me to either buy the local stations or get screwed. Not happy. Sunday Ticket advertises they will show all the games unless the local team is blacked out due to a non sellout. Actually I think they changed the language last year slightly to allow for this loop hole. What crap.

Kinda got us by the balls though.

[CrossBones]

Here is Danny Clark's website....

Hammerhead..... (www.dannyclark55.com)The forum on his stie has less posts then we do! :eek:

His has "zero". :rolleyes:

[Rupert]

Well, go invite him over. He's more than welcome to hang here.

[Angry Pope]

We seem to be interested in Brickshaw, Justice, and Winston in the draft.

[CrossBones]

We seem to be interested in Brickshaw, Justice, and Winston in the draft.I was wondeing what people think about adding another stud OT. Wouldn't hurt my feeling. But of course I'm partial to that potentially great DE so Mario would be my choice.

Does it seem like Ferguson is starting to drop? That would mean Yound would have to go in the top 6 with Leinart...wouldn't hurt my feeling there either. I don't want to be on the clock with Young still on the board. That would be hurtful to the Raider Nation and my blood pressure to say the least.

[Rupert]

I don't know where, but sometime in the past I asked the question about drafting a tackle. Hell, you can always convert them to guard to get them on the field, but it's harder to convert a guard or center to tackle.

Sure, you don't draft a guard in the first round unless he's killer, but if you like a tackle, you can put up the tackle spots to competition and figure out the guard spots afterward. Simple stuff really. I'd do it if I couldn't move up for Williams or Hawk.

[gst8]

I was wondeing what people think about adding another stud OT. Wouldn't hurt my feeling. But of course I'm partial to that potentially great DE so Mario would be my choice.

Does it seem like Ferguson is starting to drop? That would mean Yound would have to go in the top 6 with Leinart...wouldn't hurt my feeling there either. I don't want to be on the clock with Young still on the board. That would be hurtful to the Raider Nation and my blood pressure to say the least.

I wouldn't be opposed to taking an OT in the first round. Depending on how you feel about Gallery (and I have my doubts), it could actually be considered a need position. What I've read lately about Ferguson is that teams are concerned about his ability handle smaller 3-4 type rushers. Still, I doubt he'll be there at our pick. Besides, like you, I'm enamored with the possibility of Mario Williams.

[Angry Pope]

Chester and E-40 opening up restaurants in the bay area....

True confessions from a cheeseburger-lovin' Fat-head

By Jim Harrington, STAFF WRITER



IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN a new hip-hop CD to spur my first visit to Fatburger in Pleasant Hill.

I blame it on that strangely pervasive Bay Area mentality that leads locals to climb the Eiffel Tower or wade in the waters of the Caribbean long before they sample many of the treasures right here in our own backyard. Another excuse — and, as my ex-wife would tell you, I've got a million of them — is that the restaurant has only been open since July.

Still, the shame burns deep, especially since I consider myself a Fat-head (my moniker for fans of this franchise). I've wolfed down a Big Fat Deal (which consists of the holy fast-food triumvirate of a burger, fries and Coke) at 1:30 a.m. on the Las Vegas Strip. I've jumped all over Los Angeles, which is where Fatburger got its start back in 1952, to sample the goods from as many different grills as possible. I've consoled myself after the A's were blown out in a spring training game with a Fatburger, minus the onions, at a stand in Tempe, Ariz.

There have been many other cities, and many other Fatburgers, but it all starts to blur together after a while. Suffice it to say that if there were a Fatburger equivalent to frequent flyer miles, I would be munching for free right now.

So, as you can see, it really makes no sense why I went so long without visiting the very first Bay Area outpost of this wonderful franchise, which is so vastly superior to other hamburger chains like In-N-Out, McDonald's and Wendy's.

Luckily, I came to my senses when I started hearing the buzz about East Bay rapper E-40's new CD, "My Ghetto Report Card," released in mid-March. Everyone was raving about the album's single, "Tell Me When to Go," and this new "hyphy" hip-hop sound that was

coming out of the Bay Area. Being amusic critic, the hype got my attention. Being a Fat-head, I decided it was high time to visit Fatburger.

E-40, you see, is one of the co-owners of the restaurant. Another is Chester McGlockton, a 13-year NFL veteran and former defensive tackle with the Oakland Raiders. The Pleasant Hill store is the first of five franchises that this investment team plans to open in the Bay Area over the next two to three years. Hopefully, the next one will be in my driveway.

It makes sense that E-40 is onboard for this venture. Fatburger is the unofficial hip-hop hamburger, forever immortalized in the great Ice Cube song "It was a Good Day."

"Two in the morning," Ice Cube waxes poetically, "got the Fatburger."

I'm feelin' ya, Cube, even it was more like two in the afternoon when I got my first Fatburger in the Bay Area.

Entering the building, I was immediately glad to see that the menu hadn't been run through the Northern California wringer — no tofu-sprout burgers, no grilled Gouda-cheese sandwiches, no promise of organic produce grown by independent local farms. It was just the same old Fatburger menu that we Fat-heads have come to love. It seems that the chain's motto — "converting vegetarians since 1952" — still applies.

There is, however, one token nod to beef-a-phobic health nuts, who must have mistakenly walked into Fatburger instead of Jamba Juice. The restaurant does serve a turkey burger. It might even be a good turkey burger. I'll never know.

For me, it's all about the juicy 1/3-pound burger. I'm a big enough eater to go for the Kingburger, weighing in at a solid half pound, but I rarely do. Fans have their quirky beliefs and, although it doesn't really make sense, I firmly believe that third-pound burgers actually taste better than their larger cousins.

Unlike at other fast food restaurants, you won't want to rush through your meal at Fatburger. For one thing, the staff won't let you — it can take up to 20 minutes to get your burger even when the place isn't that crowded.

But I also find the atmosphere quite inviting for a lengthy stay, which usually involves me refilling my Diet Coke cup three or four times. I like the '50s-style dinner vibe, complete with neon lighting, counter seating and open kitchen, and the Web-enabled digital jukebox, which is capable of playing more than 200,000 songs. I'd say it's a fine place for a casual first date, a leisurely lunch with a co-worker or a solo trip with just the sports page for company. Just find a reason to visit.

When my name was finally called, it was like music to my ears, as if E-40 himself was rapping out "Jim." The first bite was everything I had hoped for, yet quickly forgotten as bites two, three and four soon followed.

Then, once again, I felt the shame. I really shouldn't have waited so long for my first Bay Area Fatburger. What a Fat-head.



Jim Harrington is ANG's music critic and an admitted Fat-head. Talk jazz music or cheeseburgers with him by writing

[Angry Pope]

Here is a nice story on Ngata....I want this kid to succeed no matter where he plays....

Physical Therapy: Haloti Ngata mourns his mother while preparing for NFL draft

By Rob Moseley
The Register-Guard
Published: Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Even at a gargantuan 6-feet-4 1/4 and 338 pounds, Haloti Ngata sometimes is reminded he's no bigger than the rest of us.

Ngata was in Houston honing that massive physique when the most recent instance occurred. He was barely two weeks removed from his decision to leave Oregon a year early and enter the NFL draft.

His primary motivation for doing so had been to support his mother, who was in the early stages of treatment for a kidney ailment. Then, on Jan. 13, while undergoing her third session of dialysis, Olga Ngata died at 44 after suffering cardiac arrest in a hospital in Phoenix.

"I was the one who called him and told him," said Olga's brother, Haloti Moala. "He couldn't talk to me. He just started crying on the phone."

More tears have followed for Ngata, who lost his father, Solomone, during his freshman year at Oregon. He visited his parents' graves last week, and Moala, who has been by Ngata's side throughout the past three months, could see the sadness lingering in his nephew's eyes the next day.

"I get these little moments when I think about my mom and cry a little bit," said Ngata, who is currently at home in Salt Lake City. "But it makes me happy to know she's with my dad.

"I miss her a lot. I would always call her to see how she was doing, and I really miss our little talks we used to have on the phone. I just really miss her."

He isn't big enough or strong enough to avoid the pain completely. But he can escape from it temporarily, thanks to that massive body.

The NFL draft will be held April 29-30, and by all accounts Ngata will be selected in the first 15 picks. To ensure that, he has been training tirelessly, in both Houston and Salt Lake City. He attended the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in February and was interviewed by countless teams. Next week he will travel to Baltimore, Buffalo and Cleveland for more interviews. The week after brings a West Coast swing.

Ngata has had no choice but to push his sadness over his mother's passing into the back of his mind for such occasions. And he has learned to welcome those opportunities.

"That's his way out," said Moala, who became something of a father figure to Ngata after Solomone's passing in 2002, and whose role in Haloti Ngata's life has only increased since Olga's death. "That's what's keeping him going is football, and looking forward to the NFL draft. ...

"I don't think he's ever been more focused, since I've known him, on preparing and training."

Ngata's teammates have the same impression. Current UO defensive lineman Matt Toeaina said Ngata has been "preoccupied" with the NFL draft during their phone conversations, though he seems to have grown even closer to his four siblings since his mother's death.

But even though Olga's passing isn't specifically mentioned, it colors her son's conversations with his former teammates.

"We don't have to talk about it," UO center Enoka Lucas said. "Our auntie was like another mom to us. Every time she came down, she took care of us."

Ngata spent the weeks before the combine in Houston training under the direction of his agent. After his mother passed, he asked Moala - Ngata's namesake - to join him in Texas.

Moala is a former college football player himself. He played linebacker at Utah beginning in 1984, the same year Ngata was born. When Ngata was young, he had a picture of his uncle in uniform. This is my uncle that I'm named after, Ngata would tell people. He didn't make it to the NFL, but I will.

Since the combine, Ngata has been in Salt Lake City with his uncle, and he is tantalizingly close to realizing the dream he first had as a child. According to one projection by Scouts Inc., Ngata will be picked 12th overall by the Browns. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. believes Ngata will go one pick later, to the Ravens.

More than two weeks remain before the draft, and already Ngata is tiring of the anticipation.

"I feel like I've been waiting forever," he said. "I just can't wait to know which team I'm on."

With that professional elation, though, will come more family matters. Ngata will become the wealthiest member of a family that includes two older brothers, Finau and Solomone Jr., a younger brother, Vili, and one younger sister, Amy.

Ngata plans to watch the draft from Las Vegas, where he intends to eventually live with all of his siblings except Vili, who is playing junior college football in southern California. When he signs his multimillion-dollar contract, his siblings will also reap the benefits.

"He will always take care of his brothers and sister," Moala said.

But uncle and nephew realize they need to be careful. Lately, Moala said with a laugh, "we have more cousins than we ever knew we had." Because of that, checks will be put in place so Ngata's generosity can't be exploited. A recently hired financial adviser will be there to monitor the purse strings. And that will extend to Ngata's siblings.

"My dad raised us to know that everything isn't easy, and especially that money is hard-earned," Ngata said of Solomone, who worked two jobs to support his family. "I don't want them to think I'm just a money tree for them."

Assist but don't support is the theme of Ngata's plan. He will establish allowances for his siblings, but none so great they can afford to stop working.

The lessons Solomone Ngata imparted to his son are clearly resonating. They are as tangible as the memories of Olga Ngata, whose family will mark the three-month anniversary of her passing Thursday.

"My parents are gone, but I know I'll see them again," said Ngata, a devout Mormon. "Now, I'm just trying to enjoy this time, trying to get to the NFL."

[Angel]

Grogan still upset...
Man....still bitter after 30 years!! :eek:

[Angry Pope]

It appears that minicamp is going on....

Shroud of secrecy on minicamp

Raiders bar media from team's first sessions under Shell

Column by Jerry McDonald



THE OAKLAND RAIDERS are engaging in covert operations at 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway.

It's extremely sensitive material, with security clearance granted only to a chosen few who wear silver and black and know the secret passwords that have something to do with the greatness of a certain organization and a commitment to something far beyond 13-35 over the past three years.

Curious about what the Raiders are up to in the Art Shell era?

Get lost.

The Raiders are far too busy with on-field instruction to bother with something as unimportant as giving their fans an idea how things are going and why members of Raider Nation would consider plunking down their hard-earned money for a season ticket in the post-PSL era.

Many veterans have assembled for a predraft minicamp, an extra session of practices allowed to teams that have hired new coaches.

It will have to be left up to the imagination to determine who showed up and who didn't, because this minicamp is a closed shop. No media access, no interviews and, therefore, no distractions.

So in the next few days, you won't be reading some of the following stories:

-Quarterback conundrum — Is it Aaron Brooks, Marques Tuiasosopo or Andrew Walter? The salary scale says Brooks, Shell says it's an open competition.

When Brooks was signed, the Raiders never even bothered to set up a conference call, a common occurrence even among the most media-shy teams when it comes to a man who could (or should) be the starting quarterback.

-The other Walsh — offensive coordinator Tom Walsh — may never speak to the media, given the Raiders' position in recent years on the issue of allowing grown men who aren't the head coach to speak forfrom Sports 1


themselves.

Still, it would be nice to know what the quarterbacks and receivers think of the man who is supposed to put a charge into an anemic attack.


-Sapp update — defensive tackle Warren Sapp was having a nice comeback season before he suffered a torn rotator cuff in a win over Washington.

The Raiders lost their last six games, and while at least one person who would know is saying Sapp is doing fine, it's always more entertaining hearing it from the man himself.


-Maryland's biggest fan — running back LaMont Jordan was conspicuous in his support of Maryland's run to the NCAA championship in women's basketball. Nice notebook item, and does Jordan think he could use a second ball carrier to help with the load?

-Gallery and Co. — exactly what does the offensive line think of having Shell and assistant line coach Jackie Slater — both Hall of Famers — as tutors, and what are the Raiders planning, from left to right?

-Randy Moss ... oh never mind. Based on last year's season of silence, the Bay Area media are to blame for all his P.R. problems, although it's hard to remember exactly when Bryant Gumbel worked locally.

Even by Raiders standards, the minicamp media blockade is extreme.

The only people who have talked to Shell at length since the day he was hired had to go to the owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., to do it. Because there were no current players other than Kirk Morrison at the press conference announcing his hiring, only a few Raiders contacted by phone have been available to talk about Shell's return to football.

The cone of silence comes after a nicely done press conference the day Shell was hired and then an earnest, well-prepared presentation of the team's new ticket policy by CEO Amy Trask not long afterward.

Tickets, by the way, which might sell at a greater rate should the team make any effort at all to keep itself in the public eye.

For every fan who will respond with an e-mail chastising any position that holds the Raiders and the great Al Davis accountable for anything, five more arrive with simple, logical questions about what's going on with the team.

It's not as if the Raiders are picking favorites, either. Their own Web site has nothing about what's going on in their own minicamp, choosing instead to highlight the "life-changing experience" that goes with being named to the 2006 Raiderettes.

It wouldn't have been difficult to make at least a few players available to talk about what's going on.

They're perfectly capable of saying "no comment" when the mood suits them and are probably smart enough to separate the prying of the dreaded media from learning a new system under a new coach.

Oh, well. At least they're playing into the whole "mystique" angle by being so guarded and secretive.

If the Raiders haven't figured out a way to approach .500, it will be interesting to see how many tickets that sells.

[Angel]

It appears that minicamp is going on....
Dang AP......I finally posted something before you did!! :p

[Angry Pope]

Dang AP......I finally posted something before you did!! :p

I am sorry Angel, I missed it....where did you put it?

[Angry Pope]

We flew in Hawk for a private workout....per Scout.

[Rupert]

Scout? Who's that? I like the report. Just wondering how much credence to give it (I'm new to some of these things, even though many of your unnamed sources have been spot on in the past).

[Angry Pope]

Scout? Who's that? I like the report. Just wondering how much credence to give it (I'm new to some of these things, even though many of your unnamed sources have been spot on in the past).

Scout.com :)

[Angry Pope]

Being a sports agent...details near the bottom half...you can become the next Drew Rosenhaus...

So you're sold on being a sports agent?
Job looks glamorous, but it's much more than 'show me the money'



02:13 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 12, 2006
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News


IRVING – To some, they are a caricature. They have slick hair to go with their slick attitude.

Movies like Jerry Maguire and television shows like HBO's Arli$$ made the sports agent business boom so much that Spike ran an American Idol-like show called Super Agent, a reality show that ended with a player whittling down contestants and picking an agent.

Three percent, the general fee an agent charges per player, of a multimillion contract can be an enticing entry into the sports world.

Jordan Woy, a Dallas-based agent who has represented athletes since 1988, has run several classes for the MBA program at the University of Texas-Dallas.

"A lot of them just think it's just fun and think you just go out and negotiate contracts," Woy said. "I try to give them the reality of how tough a business it is and how competitive it is."

The spotlight – good and bad – follows several agents, like Drew Rosenhaus, who has almost 90 clients, including Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.

Major Adams, who represents UT quarterback Vince Young, recently was questioned and mocked by some in his profession after a series of events involving his client.

Adams had Young, considered a top-five draft pick, compete in a made-for-TV skills competition. He first said Young would work out at the NFL Scouting Combine then reneged on it. And, finally, there was the reported low score on the Wonderlic Test.

It can be a harsh business, built more on flash than substance. Roughly 1,300 agents are registered with the NFL Players Association, according to spokesman Carl Francis, to represent about 1,800 players.

"Everybody's got their own spiel, and some guys drive fancier cars and have fancier suits and talk faster," said Pat Dye Jr., who runs Atlanta-based ProFiles Sports Management and counts the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware as a client.

While each agent has differing job styles, there are similarities that run throughout the agent community as it relates to the upcoming draft. After an agent signs a prospect, they have one job.

"We prepare our players and we leave no stone unturned," said Neil Schwartz, an agent since 1991. "We try to prepare them for every what-if."

The biggest change in preparing a player for the draft starts with specific combine training at facilities all over the country.

Schwartz and his partner, Jonathan Feinsod, send clients to Fischer Sports in Phoenix, as do Kennard McGuire and Fletcher Smith of CSMG Sports. Dye sends his players to facilities closer to a player's school – Ware trained in Montgomery, Ala., while finishing school at Troy University.



Sports agent Drew Rosenhaus (right), representing Terrell Owens, has almost 90 clients. The cost can run between $10,000 and $20,000 per player when factoring training, housing, leasing a car and food. If their client is not chosen in the first three rounds, an agent could lose money.

Largely, agents do their share of networking throughout the NFL to make sure teams know about their players.

Starting at the January all-star games, such as the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., agents will spend time talking to coaches, scouts, general managers and personnel directors, finding out where their clients need improvement. When the combine rolls around in February, agents repeat the process. They do it one more time at the player's on-campus workout.

Dye has an advantage over some agents because his father, Pat Dye Sr., was a college football coach for almost 30 years, spending 12 years at Auburn. His 19-year record of 153-62-5 helped him into the College Football Hall of Fame.

"I know that only gets me so far, but the ability to get the decision-makers on the phone, it's a huge advantage," Dye said. "I use that to the best of my ability without abusing it."

By the time last year's draft came around, Dye knew Ware would be selected between the 10th and 15th pick in the first round. He went to the Cowboys at No. 10.

Ware said he interviewed more than 30 agents before choosing Dye. It helped that Troy's head coach, Larry Blakeney, was an assistant for Dye's father.

"Everybody else was money, money, money and what kind of car they could get me," Ware said. "I just thought it was a critical decision to make, and he had my values and my best interest at heart. That's why I chose Pat."

But there's more than the football side. There's money to be made in marketing, from player appearances to autograph shows to endorsements.

"How many football players have been on Sesame Street?" said Schwartz, who represents former NFL and Super Bowl MVP Terrell Davis, who hung out with Big Bird and Oscar as a player with Denver. "You want to be creative."

Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush already has a deal with Subway Restaurants and is close to a deal with Adidas. He could earn millions off the field before he even steps on it.

But there are not many Reggie Bushes, and that's where experience can make a difference.

"What happens is people think it is 100 percent glamour," McGuire said. "Actually it's 95 percent work and 5 percent glamour. But it is gratifying work knowing that you played a part in changing someone's life."

E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com


REPRESENTING MORE THAN YOU THINK

Being a football agent is more than opening a line of credit for a player or driving a fancy car. Here's what you need to get started, according to the NFL Players Association:

•A nonrefundable application fee of $1,650.

•Have undergraduate and post-graduate degrees from accredited university/college.

•Most states require agents to register and/or pay a fee to represent players from that state.

•Purchase malpractice insurance of at least $2,500 for new applicants.

•Pass open-book, multiple- choice test about negotiating and the NFL salary cap.

•Pay the cost of a player's training ($10,000-$20,000).

•Must represent at least one player over three-year period or repeat application process.

[CrossBones]

Hmmmm...private workout. Is this real or smoke screen.

Only AL knows for sure.

[Angry Pope]

Here is info on our next minicamp....

Also, the Raiders concluded a three-day mini camp Wednesday. Their next one is scheduled for the first week of May.

[CrossBones]

Here is info on our next minicamp....

Also, the Raiders concluded a three-day mini camp Wednesday. Their next one is scheduled for the first week of May.Man the Raiders know how to keep things quiet.

Not a single word about this mini camp and what may have happened. Sigh.

[Rupert]

Well, you know the Raiders Bones. Their PR department only prepares statements for the regularly scheduled team activities. An extra mini camp is such a rare thing that it's really impossible for them to put together the usual "No comment," in a timely manner.

[Angel]

I am sorry Angel, I missed it....where did you put it?
I always post this stuff in the News Articles section!! No need to apologize though, it's cool :)

[Angry Pope]

Gannon gets a two year contract....

Look for an announcement that former Vikings quarterback Rich Gannon, who retired from the Oakland Raiders a year ago and last season was TV analyst for Vikings' exhibition games, has signed a two-year deal with CBS-TV to be an analyst for a full schedule of regular-season NFL games as well as for the Green Bay Packers' exhibition games.

Gannon, who worked some NFL games for CBS-TV last season, will team with former Timberwolves play-by-play voice Kevin Harlan.

"I enjoyed the opportunity to do the Vikings games, but this is an opportunity to work with Kevin, and it makes a lot of sense," Gannon said Wednesday.

Gannon, 40, who lives in Excelsior, was a regular on KSTP-TV's Sunday night Mike Tice Show last season.

"I'm learning and I'm excited," the former NFL most valuable player said.

[Angry Pope]

Here are the Raiders in the Hall of Fame and the way we acquired them...

Name- Pos- Seasons -Year Inducted

Jim Otto C 1960-1974 1980

Drafted in 1960 by our Raiders.

George Blanda QB/K 1967-1975 1981

Signed by our Raiders as a free agent in 1967.

Willie Brown CB 1967-1978 1984

Traded to our Raiders (along with Mickey Slaughter) on January 21, 1967 for Rex Mirich and a third round draft selection.

Gene Upshaw G 1967-1982 1987

Drafted in the first round in 1967 by our Raiders.

Fred Biletnikoff WR 1965-1978 1988

Drafted by our Raiders as the first selection in the second round of the 1965 NFL Draft.

Art Shell T 1968-1982 1989

Drafted by our Raiders in the 1968 NFL Draft in the third round number 80 overall.

Ted Hendricks LB 1975-1983 1990

Drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1969 in round 2, number 33 overall. We sent two first round draft choices to the Packers for the rights to Hendricks, signing him as a limited free agent. Became a Raider in 1975.

Al Davis Owner 1963-present 1992

Mr. Davis was the offensive end coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 1960-62, before being named Raiders head coach/general manager at age 33.

Mike Haynes CB 1983-1989 1997

Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1976 in round 1, number 5 overall.
We traded, in November of 1983, a 1984 first round draft selection, and a 1985 second round draft selection to New England.
Became a Raider in 1983.

Eric Dickerson RB 1992 1999

Drafted by the Rams in 1983 as the number two overall selection. Signed by our Raiders in 1992.

Howie Long DE 1981-1993 2000

Drafted by our Raiders in 1981 in round 2, number 48 overall.

Ronnie Lott S 1991-1992 2000

Drafted by the 49ers in 1981 in the first round, number eight overall. Signed by our Raiders in 1991.

Dave Casper TE 1974-1980, 1984 2002

Drafted by our Raiders in 1974 in the second round, number 45 overall.

Marcus Allen RB 1982-1992 2003

Drafted in 1982 by our Raiders in round 1 and number 10 overall.

James Lofton WR 1987-1988 2003

Drafted by the Packers in 1978 in the first round, number 6 overall. Signed by our Raiders in 1987.

Bob Brown OT 1971-1973 2004

Drafted by the Eagles in 1964 in the first round, number three overall. Signed by our Raiders in 1971.

[CrossBones]

More menories! :cool:

[Angel]

More menories! :cool:
At least they can be nice ones!! :)

[Angry Pope]

Great turnout at camp....

RAIDERS DIDN'T VIOLATE NFL MEDIA POLICY

In response to our recent One-Liner regarding Jerry McDonald's April 12 report that the Oakland Raiders had barred the media from their first minicamp under new-old coach Art Shell, a league source raised with us the question of whether the Raiders violated the NFL's revised media policy, which was explained to the 32 teams at the recent ownership meetings in Florida.

The source forwarded to us a copy of a the Power Point slides that were used for the presentation. Here's the one that applies:



Key phrase: "Daily practices open in their entirety."

However, we've separately learned that the camp was voluntary, not mandatory. As a result, the last line of the slide applies, making the decision to close the camp fully justified.

For teams with new coaching staffs, an extra offseason minicamp is permitted. It is the team's option as to whether the camp is mandatory or voluntary. In this specific case, all but one of the Raiders players attended, and the person who was absent had a scheduling conflict

[Angry Pope]

It seems that our Raiders always make lists of accomplishments. This one is the SI Top Ten Impact Rookies In The Past 25 years....take it for what it is worth...

10. Brian Urlacher-Bears, 2000

Urlacher hit the NFL like a freight train, extending the Bears’ proud tradition of excellence at middle linebacker. Urlacher had a team-high 165 tackles, eight sacks and seven tackles for a loss and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.


9. Jeremy Shockey-Giants, 2002

Shockey immediately proved to be a dangerous weapon for the Giants’ offense. The University of Miami product had 74 catches for 894 yards and two touchdowns in 14 starts. The Giants took advantage of Shockey’s versatility, lining him up all over the field and creating headaches for opposing defenses all season long.


8.Charles Woodson-Raiders, 1998

It’s not unusual for shutdown cornerbacks to have big first seasons, because quarterbacks don’t avoid throwing in a rookie’s direction. With his incredible athleticism, Woodson became an immediate factor at cornerback and had five interceptions his rookie season. Teams did start to avoid him by the latter part of the year, and he was an outstanding tackler for a cover corner at that point in his career.


7.George Rogers-Saints, 1981

Rogers entered the NFL after winning the Heisman Trophy at South Carolina and became an unstoppable force with the Saints. The burly Rogers led the NFL with 1,674 rushing yards and ran for 13 touchdowns. Rogers’ career was hurt by off-field problems, but as a rookie he was one of the best.


6. Ben Roethlisberger-Steelers, 2004

Rookie quarterbacks usually struggle, but Big Ben was magical from the start. He went 13-0 as a starter, by far the best start for a first-year signal-caller. Roethlisberger threw 17 touchdowns, completed 62.7 percent of his passes and had a 98.6 passer rating.


5. Barry Sanders-Lions, 1989

After rewriting the NCAA record book at Oklahoma State, Sanders took the NFL by storm in Detroit. The Lions made the short running back the No. 1 overall pick, and he didn’t disappoint. Sanders ran for 1,470 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first season.


4. Jevon Kearse-Titans, 1999

Coming out of Florida, Kearse was considered as a bit of a ‘tweener, since he was undersized for a defensive end. But “the Freak” had a rare combination of speed and power and was impossible for offenses to match up with. Kearse racked up 14½ sacks as a rookie and helped the Titans reach Super Bowl XXXIV.



3. Eric Dickerson-Rams, 1983

He didn’t look fast, but if there was a hole, Dickerson would get through it. Dickerson was an immediate smash, setting rookie records for most rushing attempts (390), most rushing yards gained (1,808) and most rushing TDs (18).


2. Lawrence Taylor-Giants, 1981

No one had ever seen a linebacker with the speed and athleticism of Taylor, who was dubbed “Superman” by his teammates. Taylor, who had 133 tackles and 9½ sacks, transformed the Giants’ defense into one of the most feared units in the NFL.


1. Randy Moss-Vikings, 1998

Teams passed on Moss in the draft because of his off-field problems, and the talented wide receiver made them pay by lighting up the NFL his rookie season. Moss caught 69 passes for 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns to help the Vikings go 15-1.

[Angry Pope]

Approximate salary cap space as of April 4th...take it for what it is worth...

Projected 2006 NFL Salary Cap Space for Each Team

Rank Team $ Under the Cap

1 San Diego Chargers $19.5 M

2 Green Bay Packers $19 M

3 Philadelphia Eagles $18.5 M

4 New England Patriots $18.42 M

5 Cincinnati Bengals $15.9 M

6 Jacksonville Jaguars $15.297 M

7 San Francisco 49ers $15 M

8 New Orleans Saints $14.95 M

9 NY Jets $14.535 M

10 Arizona Cardinals $14.243 M

11 Dallas Cowboys $13.168 M

12 Chicago Bears $11.89 M

13 Seattle Seahawks $11.5 M

14 Cleveland Browns $10.935 M

15 St. Louis Rams $10.785 M

16 Minnesota Vikings $10.207 M

17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers $9.775 M

18 Kansas City Chiefs $9.755 M

19 Indianapolis Colts $8.912 M

20 Denver Broncos $7.325 M

21 Baltimore Ravens $6.87 M

22 Houston Texans $5.16 M

23 Miami Dolphins $4.84 M

24 Buffalo Bills $4.8 M

25 Pittsburgh Steelers $4.8 M

26 Washington Redskins $4.355 M

27 Oakland Raiders $3.947 M

28 NY Giants $3.93 M

29 Detroit Lions $3.5 M

30 Atlanta Falcons $3.494 M

31 Carolina Panthers $3.325 M

32 Tennessee Titans $462300

[Angry Pope]

Ronnie Lott has a new role....congrats Ronnie...

Ronnie Lott Accepts Play It Smart Leadership Role


Former Trojan and NFL star will chair new National Advisory Board for National Football Foundation's mentoring program


April 13, 2006

Former USC and NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott has agreed to serve as chairman of the National Advisory Board for the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's highly-successful Play It Smart program and as the honorary chairman of the Play It Smart Fundraising Committee, the NFF announced today (April 13).

"Play It Smart helps thousands of kids each year," said NFF President Steven J. Hatchell. "Ronnie's reputation on and off the field makes him a great ambassador for this unique program as we look to grow its impact nationwide."

Launched in 1998 and currently in 136 high schools (listed at www.playitsmart.org) in 35 states, Play It Smart trains "academic" coaches to work with high school football teams in underserved areas during the entire school year, taking the transferable life skills learned on the field and applying them in the classroom and the community.

Current Trojan All-American wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett participated in Play It Smart while at New Brunswick (N.J.) High. Incoming USC football players Alfred Rowe, Vincent Joseph and Travon Patterson of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High also were involved with Play It Smart.

"Football changed my life," said Lott. "It taught me discipline, teamwork, tenacity, and other valuable life skills that I use everyday as a businessman. By providing Play It Smart academic coaches to schools in underserved areas, we can have a dramatic impact on the lives of thousands of at-risk kids by connecting their success on the playing field to what they need to do in the classroom."

With major financial support from the NFL and the NFL Players Association, corporations, communities and individuals, the program has achieved dramatic results, including:

*98% of participants graduating high school, compared to a national rate of 86%;





*80% of seniors enrolling in college compared to 64% of their peers;

*Participants completing more than 25,000 hours of community service annually;

*Rosters increasing by 35% for teams with fewer than 40 players.

As chairman of the NFF's newly created Play It Smart National Advisory Board, Lott will provide critical visibility for the program during a $5-million fundraising drive while lending his name and credibility to a proven program that high schools across the country are clamoring to implement. The National Advisory Board, comprised of leaders in the fields of education, business and community affairs, will provide financial oversight and support as the program continues to expand.

A legend in college football as a defensive back at USC (1977-1980), Lott went on to a pro career that spanned 14 seasons in the NFL (1981-95) with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders and New York Jets. He earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

He has achieved significant success in the business world as a partner in several award-winning auto dealerships and as the co-founder of HRJ Capital (formerly Champion Ventures), a $759-million private equity investment firm that concentrates on venture capital, leveraged buy-outs and the real-estate sector. In 2001, Lott also founded Olympius Capital, a minority-controlled firm that manages $195 million and is committed to providing investors with access to world-class alternative asset funds, including domestic and offshore partnerships.

A fixture with numerous community organizations, Lott serves on the board of Villa Montalvo, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring a love of the arts, and as an Honorary Guardsman, a service organization devoted to advancing at-risk Bay Area youth by funding indoor and outdoor education programs. In 1989, Lott founded All Stars Helping Kids, a non-profit organization, which helps disadvantaged youth in the Bay Area. The organization touts the All Stars Technology Room and children's garden at the UCSF Children's Hospital among its many achievements. In 2002, Lott was voted into the Golden Gate Chapter of the Young President's Organization (YPO), an exclusive network for exchanging ideas and strategies between more than 8,000 of the world's most influential corporate presidents. Lott and his wife Karen reside in Cupertino with their three children.

[Angry Pope]

Here is who SI believes will be eight draft prospects ready to produce right away....take it for what it is worth....

Instant impact

Eight draft prospects ready to produce right away

Posted: Thursday April 13, 2006 12:41PM; Updated: Thursday April 13, 2006 3:23PM



Two weeks before the draft, almost everyone looks like a potential impact player. But history tells us that the reality will be far different come fall. Few rookies will truly help turn their teams' fortunes in 2006. For every Shawne Merriman, Lofa Tatupu, Carnell Williams or Kyle Orton, there will be a bevy of disappointments like Cedric Benson, Braylon Edwards, Troy Williamson and J.J. Arrington.

Who are the collegiate prospects best positioned to make their presence felt right away? We talked to league personnel men, coaches and even last year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, the Chargers' Merriman, to try to identify this year's Shawne Merriman. Here are the elite eight:

•Vernon Davis, tight end, Maryland: It's no surprise that the first name out of Merriman's mouth was that of Davis, his former Terrapins teammate and the talk of this year's NFL Scouting Combine thanks to his freakish workout.

"I know his work ethic, and that's going to help him separate himself in the NFL,'' Merriman told SI.com this week. "In this league as a rookie, everything gets thrown at you very fast, but it's how much time you're willing to put in and learn that gets you ahead of the curve. Vernon will do what it takes to be a difference maker.''

Size, speed and athleticism are Davis' calling cards, and his skills conjure up comparisons to Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez. But at least one club personnel man I talked to sounded a cautionary tone regarding Davis, who likely won't make it past No. 6 (San Francisco).

"He'll be productive in the passing game right away,'' the personnel man said, "because he's so athletically gifted. But he's a bit one-dimensional. He's going to be a train wreck if anyone has to rely on him as a blocker. He's not good at it and has no interest in it. If he has to stay in as a blocker, he's going to be a problem.''

Then again, if Davis finds the end zone enough times, chances are his new team will forgive deficiencies in his blocking.

• Ernie Sims, linebacker, Florida State: Sims has risen steadily in first-round projections this offseason, and he's now considered a top 15 pick. The team that gets him will have one of the early favorites for defensive rookie of the year, because Sims will roll up the kind of statistics that garner votes in that particular horse race.

"People love his speed, range and athleticism,'' a longtime personnel man said. "He's going to get you seven or eight tackles a game and make some big plays. That's how Merriman and Tatupu did it last year. They made you notice them by being around the ball so much.''

Said Merriman of Sims: "He's already got an NFL-style game. He gets to the ball and he's a relentless player. To make a play when it's coming right at you is pretty easy. But a guy like him can go sideline to sideline and make plays all over the field. That's what NFL teams want, a guy who gets to the ball.''

• Laurence Maroney, running back, Minnesota: First off, our apologies to USC's Reggie Bush, whose impact potential is so obvious it seems redundant to even point it out at this late date. But after Bush goes No. 1 overall to Houston, which first-round running back has the best chance to pay early dividends? Folks I talked to like Maroney, who is thought of as either the third- or fourth-highest-rated ballcarrier in this year's draft.

"I think he's going to be a shocker to a lot of people,'' Merriman said. "I think he'll come out and perform right away. He reminds me a whole lot of Edgerrin James. He's a complete back who can do a little bit of everything and get it done for you.''

One personnel man said he has Maroney ranked only behind Bush in terms of NFL readiness and adds that there are doubters out there when it comes to DeAngelo Williams' and LenDale White's ability to quickly adjust to the mental demands of the pro game.

cont'd....

[Angry Pope]

cont'd....

• Mario Williams, defensive end, North Carolina State: A slam-dunk top-four pick in the draft? That's no guarantee of production, as Chicago's Cedric Benson (No. 4 overall) proved once again last year. Still, Williams figures to be the first defensive player taken for good reason. He's got the kind of pass-rushing skills that a team can get something out of right away, even while he continues to work the rough edges off his game.

"Mario Williams is going to be a hell of a football player,'' said a personnel man. "I don't know if he's polished enough, but he's raw enough to get on the field as a rookie, and he's raw enough to make plays in the NFL this season and for a long time after that.''

Save the Julius Peppers comparisons for now. The talent evaluators I talked to don't necessarily buy that one, saying Williams' and Peppers' body types aren't as similar as some believe. But nobody quibbles with the notion that Williams has a skill set that could help him produce double-digit sack totals as a rookie.

"For a while last year, that's all I had to play on, my athleticism and my talent,'' said Merriman, who led all 2005 rookies with 10 sacks. "And that carried me along until I learned my playbook and my assignments better. He's such a physical specimen that he'll make some plays on sheer athleticism.''

• Joseph Addai, running back, LSU: Most people have Addai going early in the second round. But if the other four higher-rated running backs are gone by the time the Colts pick at number 30 in the first round, don't be shocked to hear them call Addai's name.

"He's a perfect fit for the Colts' offense,'' said a personnel man. "He's got speed, he can block, catch passes out of the backfield and he can help you some in the return game. He's an all-purpose guy. He's kind of intriguing.''

Addai opened eyes when he clocked a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, and his value in relation to his pick projection is considered high. Of course, last year at this time we were saying the same thing about Cal's ultra-productive running back J.J. Arrington, and he wound up being a second-round flop in Arizona.

• A.J. Hawk, linebacker, Ohio State: Between Merriman, Seattle's Tatupu, Cincinnati's Odell Thuman, Dallas' DeMarcus Ware and Kansas City's Derrick Johnson, a host of productive linebackers were selected in the first two rounds of last year's draft. Will this year's crop of Hawk, Sims, Iowa's Chad Greenway, Ohio State's Bobby Carpenter and Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley (a 3-4 linebacker/defensive end type) be as impactful? League talent evaluators don't seem to have any reservations about Hawk, who won't last past the top five.

"He's going to be really productive right away, because he'll be on the field a lot,'' said a personnel man. "He'll play that weakside position and he'll fly around and be around the ball and get in the middle of a lot of plays. He could have strong numbers, because the team that takes him is going to need him on the field right away. And he's smart enough that he'll be able to be out there from Day One for you.''

• Sinorice Moss, receiver/return man, Miami: This one comes with a caveat: The Hurricanes' mighty mite has to go to a team that knows how to use his versatile package of skills in order for him to make a splash as a rookie. Are you paying attention, Pittsburgh at number 32?

"The Steelers would know how to use that guy,'' said a veteran personnel man. "They're one of the teams that could get a lot out of Moss right away, using him in that Antwaan Randle El role. If he goes somewhere like that, where he'll catch the ball, help you in the return game and they'll find creative ways to get him the ball, he could make an impact this year.''

But any hopes he has of becoming the difference-maker that his older brother, Santana, was in Washington last season starts with staying healthy. Which he was not always able to do at Miami.

"From a talent standpoint, yes, this guy has some tremendous talent and could make an impact for you,'' a personnel man said. "But is he ever going to make it to the field? He's hurt every spring, and he's hurt every season. He always has a problem of some sort. He couldn't even run this spring because he was injured. He's a difference-making talent, but he hasn't been able to stay on the field in the fall or even in spring ball.''

• Manny Lawson, defensive end, North Carolina State: Before his teammate and fellow Wolfpack end Mario Williams kicked it into a higher gear in the second half of last season, Lawson was considered the better playmaker. And as we get closer to the draft, Lawson's stock as a pass-rushing talent is rising, with some believing he could crack the bottom of the first round.

At 6-5, 245 pounds, Lawson may be a candidate to play 3-4 linebacker, because he gets overmatched at times against huge offensive tackles. But he's got a burst off the edge, and there is a team out there that will find a way to use him, either with his hand on the ground or otherwise.

"I can see him being one of those 4-3 ends who comes off the edge just flying after the quarterback,'' said Merriman, whose Maryland teams competed against Lawson in the ACC. "He's fast. And they could use him like a KGB in Green Bay or a Robert Mathis in Indianapolis, one of those situational rushers who create havoc.''

[Angry Pope]

A basketball player to enter the draft....

UConn Hoops Player to Pursue NFL Career

The Associated Press

STORRS, Conn.

Connecticut basketball player Ed Nelson has decided to pursue an NFL career.

The 6-foot-8, 265-pound senior power forward, who did not play college football, plans to work out for NFL teams April 21 on the UConn campus.

"I have gotten great feedback in the last week that I am an individual that NFL teams could and will be very interested in," Nelson said Thursday. "I am anxious for the chance to show scouts next week that I can help their team in the future."

Nelson's agent, Joe Linta, said the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns have committed to send representatives to the workout.

"I came up to work out Ed with little expectations and came away convinced that he is an NFL prospect at the tight end position," Linta said. "He is very quick, has outstanding hands and great lower body strength."

Nelson, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., played 29 games as a reserve for the UConn basketball team after transferring from Georgia Tech, where he was the ACC rookie of the year in 2001-02. He averaged three points and three rebounds per game at Connecticut.

"He clearly has the talent to play basketball at the professional level, but if anyone can make the transition, it's him," UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun said.

[Angry Pope]

Barry Sims helping out at a benefit...

Zito's bash

Barry Zito is hosting an All-Star Celebrity Bash to commemorate the first anniversary of his Strikeouts For Troops program, which helps wounded soldiers and their families. The event will be held Thursday at the Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Tickets, priced at $60, include a buffet, drinks, live auction and an opportunity to meet "celebrity" bartenders, including Zito, Huston Street, Nick Swisher, Joe Blanton, Golden State Warriors guard Mike Dunleavy and Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Barry Sims.

Zito enlisted the services of many major leaguers last season. The program raised nearly $150,000 in its first year. Tickets can be purchased at ww.strikeoutsfortroops.org. Space is limited.

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of the Broncos against us in 1994 with Art as our head coach and Walsh our OC...

Hit it here.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl8VsmJruyU&search=raiders%201994)

[Angel]

Basketball players seem to make good TE's!! ;)

[Angry Pope]

From Corkran, so take it for what it is worth...

DRAFT BUZZ: There is speculation the Raiders are considering taking a run at New Orleans' No. 2 overall spot. With that pick, they could have their choice of the big three quarterback prospects: USC's Matt Leinart, Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler or Texas' Vince Young. If the asking price is too high, the Raiders could stand pat and see how the draft unfolds. If it looks like all three quarterbacks might be off the board before they pick, they could be forced to overpay to move up.

TARGETING: The Raiders drafted QB Andrew Walter in the third round last season and signed veteran QB Aaron Brooks this spring, but they have a chance to land a franchise quarterback in this draft. Given a choice, the team would prefer Leinart because he is the most polished. Owner Al Davis probably doesn't have the patience to wait for a quarterback to develop. If the Raiders stay at No. 7, expect them to pick Young, who has the arm strength Davis prefers. The Raiders will try to bolster the offensive and defensive lines early in the draft. Michigan run-stuffing DT Gabe Watson probably will be available in the second round. He is strong and polished enough to start right away, though he has a reputation for underachieving. California OT Ryan O'Callaghan (6-6.5, 340) is a possibility in the third round. He is technically sound and has the size (6-7, 330) the team covets. Because SS Derrick Gibson is inconsistent, the Raiders probably will draft a safety in the middle rounds who they hope eventually can compete with Gibson for the starting spot. After that, look for the team to add a guard and an outside linebacker -- problem spots last season that haven't been sufficiently addressed.

[Angry Pope]

Here are our members in the other HOF...

Oakland Raiders in the
American Football League Hall of Fame

Fred Biletnikoff
George Blanda
Willie Brown
Billy Cannon
Clem Daniels
Ben Davidson
Tom Flores
Claude "Hoot" Gibson
Dave Grayson
Wayne Hawkins
Daryle Lamonica
Gene Mingo
Jim Otto
Vito "Babe" Parilli
Art Powell
Art Shell
Gene Upshaw
Al Davis

[Angry Pope]

Here is a place that has a lot of NFL history in the AFL days. You can read up on our players that are in the AFL Hall Of Fame, newspaper clippings, pictures, etc. For me, it was a very interesting site...

Hit it here... (http://www.conigliofamily.com/Raiders.htm)

[Angry Pope]

Not missing the draft...

Got a cellphone? You might see NFL Draft live

Updated 4/13/2006



By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY

Some football fans will be able to watch live coverage of the 2006 NFL Draft on a new medium: their cellphones.

The NFL and Sprint are planning to offer 16 hours of live coverage from the NFL Network to more than 20 million cellphone users during the April 29-30 draft.

SPORTS ON TV: More on the NFL-Sprint deal

The 71st annual draft from Radio City Music Hall is expected to be one of the most closely watched ever, with college stars Reggie Bush, Vince Young and Matt Leinart tapped by their first pro teams.

The NFL wants fans at the grocery store, on an errand or any place with no TV to keep abreast of the action. "For the first time fans will be able to follow the draft — wherever they are," says NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.

More than half of Sprint's direct base of 40 million customers use hand-sets capable of receiving the live feed from the NFL Network, according to Steve Gaffney, Sprint's director of sports marketing. Those users will also be able to tap into personality profiles of the top 30 projected draftees; video highlights; player interviews and six draft preview shows.

Sprint won the rights as part of its estimated $600 million, 5-year agreement last year to become the NFL's official wireless telecommunications partner. Despite broadcasting the draft for the last 27 years, ESPN will not be able to offer its own live coverage to Mobile ESPN cellphone users. ESPN will offer 17 hours of live TV coverage over two days, anchored by Chris Berman.

[Angel]

Here are our members in the other HOF...

Oakland Raiders in the
American Football League Hall of Fame

Fred Biletnikoff
George Blanda
Willie Brown
Billy Cannon
Clem Daniels
Ben Davidson
Tom Flores
Claude "Hoot" Gibson
Dave Grayson
Wayne Hawkins
Daryle Lamonica
Gene Mingo
Jim Otto
Vito "Babe" Parilli
Art Powell
Art Shell
Gene Upshaw
Al Davis
And soon to add......John Madden :)