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Stanny

Stanny

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Raiders | Team wants Morant to get more playing time
Thu, 5 Apr 2007 21:46:03 -0700

Steve Corkran, of the Contra Costa Times, reporting for the Sporting News, reports Oakland Raiders WR Johnnie Morant received extensive playing time late last season so that the Raiders could gauge whether he has any long-term value, and he played well in his audition, besides a few fumbles. He is buried behind WR Jerry Porter, WR Randy Moss, WR Ronald Curry, and WR Doug Gabriel, but his speed and ability to get open make him likely for more playing time in 2007.


Raiders | Three backs compete for top job
Thu, 5 Apr 2007 21:45:00 -0700

Steve Corkran, of the Contra Costa Times, reporting for the Sporting News, reports Oakland Raiders RB LaMont Jordan (knee) will have to hold off recent addition RB Dominic Rhodes and perennial challenger RB Justin Fargas for the starting job in 2007. Right now, Jordan and Rhodes stand to receive a comparable number of reps during training camp and exhibition games to see how the two-back system will work for the team.


Raiders | Jordan doing well in rehab
Thu, 5 Apr 2007 21:44:20 -0700

Steve Corkran, of the Contra Costa Times, reporting for the Sporting News, reports Oakland Raiders RB LaMont Jordan (knee) is making significant progress in his rehabilitation from a left knee injury he suffered in 2006. He has healed to the point that he is doing well in the team's organized team activities.
 
For my fellow fantasy geeks, here's some math:

Lamont Jordan indecision+One cut blocking system+Rhodes smarts=fantasy sleeper.

I know some round here don't like the Rhodes signing (I have no idea why), but anytime I saw the Colts, he hit the hole, and took what the defense gave him. He's plenty fast enough, you gotta be fast to run that stretch play of theirs.

In Cable's system, we need disciplined runners, that follow the line, and cut back where designed. Lamont, based on what we've seen the past two years, isn't that guy.

I wouldn't draft him early, this is the Raides after all, but I would take Rhodes over Jordan, and think he'd make an excellent 4th back.
 
The Way We Hear It — NFL draft

Buccaneers-Raiders rift still brewing, may impact first round

By Nolan Nawrocki
April 5, 2007


The draft content that last year was posted under the banner of our premium, fee-based channel "Draft Inner Circle" will be free this year, posted in the "Draft Extras" channel. This is the second posting in a four-week period that will conclude with our draft analysis. For a complete schedule of postings, click here.

When Jon Gruden left the Raiders after the 2001 season, the split up was acrimonious. Al Davis demanded a king’s ramsom in the form of cash and draft picks in exchange for his head coach. Gruden proceeded to beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl his first year in Tampa. Not long after, Gruden hired Davis’ top negotiator, Bruce Allen, away from the Raiders, and the tension only mounted as the two teams continued to play a game of tug-of-war with respect to the Raiders’ top resources — their people — with several other longtime Raiders employees crossing the country to join Gruden.

With both teams drafting in the top five and again potentially targeting the same player — Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson — the feud could escalate in the coming month. Gruden grew enamored with Johnson during the season, when he would bring tape into meetings and show it to his quarterbacks, and he highly covets the difference-making receiver for how he could help the team in the red zone, where they struggled a year ago. Concerns that have arisen with the immaturity of Michael Clayton and the age of Joey Galloway only fuel Gruden's desire, so much so that it is believed that the Bucaneers could potentially move up in the first round to land him.

According to one top-ranking team official, the Raiders have been pursuing two athletic quarterbacks who began their careers in Arizona — Jake Plummer and Josh McCown. Plummer is more highly sought, but he recently retired after being traded to the Bucs from Denver. McCown remains a backup in Detroit, which holds the second pick and is in the market for a franchise quarterback, as well.

There is the perception in league circles that Allen quickly moved to acquire Plummer for several reasons. First and foremost, the Bucs needed help at quarterback, but having just signed Jeff Garcia and with Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski already on the roster, the Buccaneers, some teams strongly believe, were simply acting to corner the market on available quarterbacks and then use their stockpile as leverage with QB-needy teams that precede them in the draft order, while also giving them added ammunition to strike a deal.

By taking Plummer off the market, Tampa Bay could potentially force the Raiders to address their need at quarterback via the draft, essentially pushing Johnson down a slot. Detroit GM Matt Millen, a former Raider himself who is uniquely slotted between the two adversaries, might turn out to be the biggest winner of the high-stakes game of poker being played. Millen, who continues to have ongoing dialogue with Allen, could gain more leverage if Johnson is available at No. 2 and could choose not to deal McCown until after the Raiders make their first selection in order to force the Raiders' hand. He may even have received that free advice, courtesy of Allen.

The Bucs are hoping they do not have to move up and can still land Johnson at No. 4. It remains a possibility. If JaMarcus Russell is selected first overall, team sources in Cleveland say Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson would likely land at No. 3. The question for Tampa Bay then becomes: Does it have to worry about Atlanta, which recently acquired two second-round picks in the Matt Schaub trade and needs receivers, moving up in the draft. Millen is concerned about the degree of scrutiny he would receive if he drafted a receiver in the top 10 for the fourth time in the last five years, and the team currently has too much money invested in the position to select another one so early. In the event a trade is not brokered, that could mean the Lions are left to choose between Clemson DE Gaines Adams, a Rod Marinelli favorite, and Brady Quinn, whom many suspect Millen personally covets. If either scenario takes hold, it would push Johnson to the Bucs, without them having to give up anything.

What could also help the Buccaneers' cause is the recent decision by Lions WR Mike Williams, who has worn on Marinelli, to pull out of the offseason program in Detroit in the hope that the Lions will cut him and allow him to sign with Oakland, his desired destination. That would reunite Williams with new Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, who coached him at USC. With the addition of another big receiver in Oakland, the option to draft a quarterback who can get on the field now and manage the game, which will not come easy for Russell, could become more attractive.

Read Nolan Nawrocki's blog entry, in which he says some NFL evaluators believe Levi Brown will become a better pro tackle than Joe Thomas.
 
Raiders' Mysterious Ways

JaMarcus Russell has impressed everyone this offseason, but the Raiders may not feel a quarterback can help them win quickly enough.
Bob Rosato/SI

Now that David Carr signed with the Panthers, the list of potential Raiders quarterbacks for next season is even smaller. And SI.com's Michael Silver wrote yesterday that Oakland is strongly leaning toward taking Calvin Johnson with the No. 1 pick, because Al Davis thinks the gifted receiver gives the Raiders a better chance to win now.

Taking Johnson makes sense, but the second half of Silver's report was a head-scratcher. Apparently, Davis is content with Andrew Walter as his starter. The notion of sticking with Walter, who threw 13 picks compared to three touchdowns last year, is either dementia or a smokescreen. Reports also surfaced that the Raiders are trying to acquire QB Josh McCown from the Lions, which indicates even more strongly that they're thinking Johnson at the top of the draft.

If Johnson goes No.1, the next five picks become chaotic. Everyone seems to think the Lions will trade down, so that could mean teams trying hard to move up to take Russell. And then Brady Quinn to the Browns seems like a layup.

All of that makes sense, but over the last couple years quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Matt Leinart have taken nose-dives the week before the draft. It's possible that either Quinn or Russell lasts longer than expected. I don't think that will happen this year, however, especially after a number of teams were burned by passing on Leinart.

Then again, the Raiders are mysterious, so who knows how this will play out? If I had told you at this point last year that Mario Williams would go No. 1 , you would have laughed at me -- even more than usual.

If you think you have a better idea of what's going to happen at the top of the draft, let me know in our comments section.
 
Stanny said:
Raiders | Team wants Morant to get more playing time
Thu, 5 Apr 2007 21:46:03 -0700

Raiders | Three backs compete for top job
Thu, 5 Apr 2007 21:45:00 -0700

Raiders | Jordan doing well in rehab
Thu, 5 Apr 2007 21:44:20 -0700
Click to expand...


Here's the whole article: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=193289

Raiders Team Report

Posted: April 1, 2007

Steve Corkran
For Sporting News


Incumbent RB LaMont Jordan is making significant progress in his rehabilitation from a left knee injury last season. He has healed well enough that he already is participating in drills during the team's organized team activities. His timely return is critical for his chances of holding off recent addition Dominic Rhodes and perennial challenger Justin Fargas. As it stands, Jordan and Rhodes stand to receive a comparable number of reps during training camp and exhibition games in an attempt to see how the two-back system works. However, don't be surprised if new coach Lane Kiffin leans upon one more than the other if a back goes on a hot streak. Rhodes and Jordan are players with similar styles in that they can run between the tackles and occasionally get free outside. Even so, both are fresh from sub par seasons in which they averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry rushing. As for Fargas, he appears to be the odd man out, though he will be given a long look during the offseason and training camp to see if he has what it takes to unseat Jordan and Rhodes, or at least cut into their playing time. Fargas gets the edge from the standpoint of his breakaway speed and decisiveness, something the two others aren't as adept at. . . .

The Raiders have contacted QB David Carr's agent, with Carr likely as a one-year starter until whomever they draft in the first round gets acclimated to the pros. However, it's unlikely that Carr will sign with the Raiders under those circumstances unless he runs out of options as far as getting a long-term promise as a starter with another team. The Raiders landed Kerry Collins and Aaron Brooks in recent seasons by waiting until those players were unable to find better jobs elsewhere.

SCOUTING REPORT: WR Johnnie Morant received extensive playing time late last season so that the Raiders could gauge whether he has any long-term value. Morant showed that he is capable of getting open on a consistent basis and making catches on hard-to-reach passes. His lone downside is his penchant for fumbling. He is working hard on rectifying that problem and trying to earn more playing time. He is behind Jerry Porter, Randy Moss, Ronald Curry and Doug Gabriel on the depth chart. However, his speed and ability to get open deep makes him an intriguing prospect and someone the Raiders want to get on the field more often.

DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: For as good as the Raiders' defense was last season, it still struggled against the run, especially in crucial situations. To that end, the Raiders re-signed run-stopping DT Terdell Sands and intend to use him more on obvious running downs than they did starter Tommy Kelly last season. They tried this approach late in the season and enjoyed moderate success. Sands is bigger, stronger and more adept at stopping the run than Kelly and someone likely to get more playing time as long as he helps the Raiders shore up a weakness. Also, look for the Raiders to do more things to support the run defense such as playing SS Michael Huff near the line of scrimmage more often and perhaps adding a run-stopping tackle or end in the NFL draft later this month.

Steve Corkran covers the Raiders for the Contra Costa Times
 
R4Life said:
DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: For as good as the Raiders' defense was last season, it still struggled against the run, especially in crucial situations. To that end, the Raiders re-signed run-stopping DT Terdell Sands and intend to use him more on obvious running downs than they did starter Tommy Kelly last season. They tried this approach late in the season and enjoyed moderate success. Sands is bigger, stronger and more adept at stopping the run than Kelly and someone likely to get more playing time as long as he helps the Raiders shore up a weakness.
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If there's one complaint I have about Ryan, it was his reluctance to try new combos.

I mean, it was apparent early on that Kelly was not strong vs. the run last year, and that Brayton offered no rush. So why was Huntley inactive till the last 5 games? I mean, Lance Johnstone? Come now.

And there were many times we saw Sapp and Kelly on obvious rush downs. Terd needs to replace one of those guys.

It's encouraging that they are planning on focusing on the rush defense.
 
By taking Plummer off the market, Tampa Bay could potentially force the Raiders to address their need at quarterback via the draft, essentially pushing Johnson down a slot.
Click to expand...

Problem with this line of reasoning is the Raiders can't address the current need at QB via the draft. So that whole take that Gruden and Allen are somehow going to impact Davis' decision is a bit of a reach if you ask me.
 
SoCalRaider said:
Problem with this line of reasoning is the Raiders can't address the current need at QB via the draft. So that whole take that Gruden and Allen are somehow going to impact Davis' decision is a bit of a reach if you ask me.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm not following you here, unless you believe that no QB in this draft will have success in the NFL. That would make this QB class damn near unique in ineptitude and talent.
 
I think he's talking about how Davis wants a QB that come in and start immediately, rather than having to be developed.
 
R4Life said:
I guess I'm not following you here, unless you believe that no QB in this draft will have success in the NFL. That would make this QB class damn near unique in ineptitude and talent.
Click to expand...

'Current need at QB' as in finding a starter for next year. I don't see Russell as being ready to start for a couple years at least. The only way to address next year's QB situation is through FA or trade...
 
(April 5, 2007) -- Lost in attention surrounding the NFL's No. 1 bad boy, Pacman Jones, are the preparations the Oakland Raiders are making at No. 1.

Very quietly, Oakland hosted a visit Wednesday with Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, whom some around the league think will be the top overall choice.

Asked what the Raiders thought of his client, Johnson's agent, Bus Cook, said Thursday, "Instead of being a 10, he's an 11."

Though their admiration for Johnson is undeniable, the Raiders are hardly through looking.


LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell intrigues a number of teams right now.
Next week they will host a visit with JaMarcus Russell, the other player many people around the league expect to be the top overall choice. The visit is sure to command more attention than Johnson's, which got lost in the coverage of this week's meeting between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Pacman Jones.

For all the people that expect Johnson to be the No. 1 pick, more expect Russell to land with the Raiders. As one NFL insider said Thursday, "Oakland can take Johnson, but he can't throw himself the ball there, can he?"

More often than not, visits are not worthy of much discussion or speculation. But sometimes, the player and team are so intriguing, it is hard to overlook their get-to-know-you session.

This happens when the Ohio-born quarterback Brady Quinn visits the Ohio-based quarterback-needy Cleveland Browns, as happened over the past 24 hours.

Quinn's visit to Cleveland extended from Wednesday night into Thursday, and included a meeting with Browns owner Randy Lerner, who also attended the quarterback's workout at Notre Dame.

Quinn also is scheduled to visit the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins. Outside of his trip to the Lions, the team that is scheduled to pick No. 2, no visit will create as much intrigue as Quinn's to the Browns.

Some NFL general managers believe there has been a strong push from upper management to draft a quarterback; Lerner has steadfastly denied it, calling such speculation ludicrous and ridiculous.

Yet there is a widespread thought around the league that Cleveland will wind up drafting a quarterback, either Quinn or LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

And Cleveland is doing its due dilligence on both. Before Quinn arrived at the Browns complex, Russell visited first. Russell spent Wednesday meeting with Browns officials, some of whom already knew him plenty well.

Browns general manager Phil Savage has known Russell for years, since the quarterback attended the general manager's summer football camps in Mobile, Ala. But Russell had a chance to get to know other members of the Browns organization.

Cleveland also is taking other steps should it decide to go in a different direction. Earlier this week, the Browns hosted a visit with Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, who received the same scrutiny that Quinn did.

But nobody gets the attention that quarterbacks do. Quinn gets some now, Russell gets more next week.
 
Run Stuffing DT on the block

Per PFT

PANTHERS SHOPPING JENKINS

When the Carolina Panthers signed defensive tackles Ma'ake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis in 2006, some league insiders assumed that the moves were a sign that the team was thinking about to parting ways with defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

A year later, the Panthers reportedly are trying to make it happen.

According to Pat Yasinskas the Charlotte Observer, sources from multiple teams say that the Panthers have made it clear that they would be willing to trade Jenkins if the price were right. G.M. Marty Hurney declined to comment on whether Jenkins is on the trading block.

The Panthers also have Jorden Carstens under contract, and recently signed Chad Lavalais.

Jenkins started 16 games in 2006, and made it back to the Pro Bowl after two seasons that were marred by injury. But he has skipped out on the start of the team's offseason program, despite having a $175,000 workout bonus in his contract.

We're hoping that Jenkins gets traded to the Raiders, so that he can play alongside his idol (eye roll), Warren Sapp. Said Jenkins about Sapp in 2005: "I hate him. Everybody says I'm supposed to be polite when I talk to you all, but I hate him. He talks too much, he doesn’t make sense, he's fat, he's sloppy, he acts like he's the best thing since sliced bread. He's ugly, he stinks, his mouth stinks, his breath stinks, and basically his soul stinks, too."
:D :eek: :D

Jenkins also said that seeing Sapp celebrate on the Panthers' home field after a 2004 game that Jenkins missed due to a season-ending shoulder injury drove Jenkins to stop going to the team's games -- and to increase his consumption of alcohol.

Though Jenkins made a strong comeback in 2006, our guess is that other teams are still concerned about his work ethic, and his ability to stay healthy. It's a risk-reward thing, and the question is whether the potential downside will make another team shy away from a guy who still has a solid potential upside.

I'd give them a 5th rounder just to see him apologize to Sapp
 
http://www.kffl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121619

An interview with Terry Bradshaw. Not interesting but, he discusses Howie Long's sons:

Q. Doesn't Howie Long have some kids coming up?

"Howie's son, Kyle, is 6-7, 305. Throws a 93 miles per hour fastball with a change-up, a curve, slider. Left-handed. And the major league scouts are just drooling over this kid. But all the major schools are after this kid ... Notre Dame, Ohio State, he visited Florida. He's a stud.

"His oldest son, Chris, is a senior didn't come out for the draft but he's a first rounder next year. He's a 6-5, 285 defensive end, playing the two-gap and he is just amazing. His youngest kid is the good looking one and he plays quarterback. He's 6-1, about 190. Set a state record right there throwing touchdown passes. There's your quarterback right there. I can get him."


:eek:
 
Hmm... wonder how many dudes would charge the mound on Howie's kid?
 
I wonder how many bad commercials they will be in!
 
Our main man Jerry MacDonald's latest:

The media friendly Raiders
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Monday at 6:05 pm
Took a few days off in lieu of any real hard news, but that ends Tuesday when the Raiders have granted the media access the the final 25 minutes of a voluntary minicamp practice and the chance to seek interviews on the field after it is over.

Then it's time to begin gearing up for the draft, something I've tried to avoid until April hits double figures.

Historically, the Raiders have been the league's most closed-off team with regard to the media. They're not the only ones, of course, but in the past they've been in a category of one with regard to off-season access.

From the time Art Shell was hired last season, no one talked to him until he met with writers at the annual coaches breakfast at the NFL owner's meeting. Then he went underground until after Oakland made Michael Huff the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

Minicamps and the offseason workout program were pretty much a well-kept secret.

Frankly, with the exception of Jon Gruden, it wasn't much better in previous regimes.

Gruden figured there wasn't much a bunch of dumb writers could possibly figure out that could truly hurt him _ he's right, of course _ and that the whole mystery/secrecy thing was more than a little overdone.

Kiffin may be of the same mind. He earned compliments nationally at the coaches breakfast in Arizona, and then just two days later at an off-season workout session stood and fielded questions again from the locals.

Four players were made available, all chosen by the team. It was filtered access, but it was better than nothing.

He's scheduled to be available again Tuesday after reporters have a chance to talk to players _ this time without filters. The word is anyone can be approached, and while some may say "get away from me," that's OK. All you can ask for in this business is a chance to ask a question.

This is groundbreaking stuff.

I joked with Raiders executive John Herrera that all this access was going to ruin their reputation, and it drew a hearty laugh instead of a paranoid chip on the shoulder.

It's always amused me that when I take an occasional swipe at the Raiders for their media access, so many e-mailers and comments on this blog back up the team as if it's a good thing.

It's not.

There is no one more starved for information and coverage than a Raiders fan. Lord knows I'd rather be reporting and formulating opinions on things that were said by team members than formulating opinions based on prior knowledge and educated guesses.

If the early days of the Kiffin regime are any indication, it will be better for reporters, and by extension, the fans.

News and notes:

– NFL Network is reporting Tory James could be in the mix to return to Oakland, but labeled New England, New Orleans and Green Bay more likely destinations.

James isn't going to start for the Raiders, not with Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington around. His signing would represent a vote of no-confidence in Stanford Routt, a second-round pick in 2005.

– The Josh McCown rumors continue to swirl, and, as stated before, they make sense. It's getting toward the end of the game of quarterback musical chairs, with David Carr signing with Carolina and Joey Harrington agreeing to terms with Atlanta.

McCown had an 11-11 record as a starter in Arizona, and .500 with the Cardinals is not bad. In his last two starts he completed 58 of 80 passes for 591 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in a 27-21 win over Philadelphia and a 17-13 loss to Indianapolis.

He's in the last year of his contract and eager to put some starts on his resume _ perfect for a transitional quarterback should Oakland take JaMarcus Russell.

– You'll hear lots of talk in the coming weeks when character issues come up about a particular player about how the Raiders (snicker, snicker) MUST be interested.

Of course, they haven't drafted anyone who was a social rotten apple for some time now. But what fun is it to bring that up when you can have a laugh at the expense of the so-called "mystique."

– Interesting quote from USC wide receiver Steve Smith in a CBS Sportsline.com story about the Trojans' offense, which was co-coordinated by Kiffin. Smith ran a faster-than-expected 4.44 time in the 40-yard dash and said, "I guess people didn't see it because we didn't run a lot of go-routes at USC. And when we did have a lot explosive plays, a lot of balls were underthrown. That's the only thing I can think of why people didn't think I was that fast."

The Kiffin-Steve Sarkisian offense (by way of Norm Chow) made excellent use of ball-possession passing and did plenty of damage after the catch. They worked seams for big yardage more than they heaved it down the sideline.

– The Denver Post reports guard Cooper Carlisle, an eight-year veteran who started all 32 gamesin the past two seasons for Denver, may visit Oakland. Carlisle is 6-foot-6 and weighs 295 pounds _ the only guard on the Oakland roster, according to the club's Web site, under 300 pounds.

That roster, by the way, lists Paul McQuistan as a tackle. McQuistan was a left tackle at college who started at right guard for the first two games and ended the season as the starting left guard.

The only guards listed on the roster are Brad Badger, Corey Hulsey and Kevin Boothe. Hulsey, an unrestricted free agent, was in uniform at the team's off-season workout session which was open to the media but has not been listed as signed.
 
Jerry Mac said:
It's always amused me that when I take an occasional swipe at the Raiders for their media access, so many e-mailers and comments on this blog back up the team as if it's a good thing.

It's not.

There is no one more starved for information and coverage than a Raiders fan. Lord knows I'd rather be reporting and formulating opinions on things that were said by team members than formulating opinions based on prior knowledge and educated guesses.
Click to expand...

Good article. Loved this part here. Jerry Mac is on point as usual.
 
There is a good interview with Newberry (and a medocre one with Fabs) at http://www.raiders.com/multimedia/Default.aspx?id=88#

He says that from what he sees at minicamp and what he knows about the system, the Raiders should have a top 5 running attack in 2007. Honmer - yeah - but let's say top 10. Shutdown defense and even a mediocre passing game should get us back to around .500.
I hope they pound the rock all year long with Dominc Rhodes, Jordan, Fargas and Battle :D
from KFFL:
Raiders | Battle visits team
Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:43:22 -0700

John Murphy, of Yahoo! Sports, reports Houston RB Jackie Battle visited with the Oakland Raiders last week.

This guy has Raider written all over him. Physical freak. Averaged over 5 yards per carry for his entire NCAA career as a COP back, but still had over 400 carries and he's never fumbled. Not even once. He's 6'2", 250 lb monster (but has gotten down to 235 for his pro day workout, though he plays at 245-250) who runs a 4.42, but was never invited to the combine.

My little Al gift to you all - remember where you read it first. :p

Lock him in at 165
 
R4Life said:
There is a good interview with Newberry (and a medocre one with Fabs) at http://www.raiders.com/multimedia/Default.aspx?id=88#

He says that from what he sees at minicamp and what he knows about the system, the Raiders should have a top 5 running attack in 2007. Honmer - yeah - but let's say top 10. Shutdown defense and even a mediocre passing game should get us back to around .500.
I hope they pound the rock all year long with Dominc Rhodes, Jordan, Fargas and Battle :D
from KFFL:
Raiders | Battle visits team
Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:43:22 -0700

John Murphy, of Yahoo! Sports, reports Houston RB Jackie Battle visited with the Oakland Raiders last week.

This guy has Raider written all over him. Physical freak. Averaged over 5 yards per carry for his entire NCAA career as a COP back, but still had over 400 carries and he's never fumbled. Not even once. He's 6'2", 250 lb monster (but has gotten down to 235 for his pro day workout, though he plays at 245-250) who runs a 4.42, but was never invited to the combine.

My little Al gift to you all - remember where you read it first. :p

Lock him in at 165
Click to expand...

Ahem!

I actually have Battle in my Li'l Al entry at the end of the 3rd round. His pro-day 3 weeks ago was "lights out" (f*ck you, Merriman!). His workout probably sneaks him into the 1st day. I have him going with the last pick of the 3rd round, but he could sneak into the mid-3rd come 4/28.

But you did remind me to go in today and change my 2nd round pick now that Carlisle is signed. Looks like my dream of taking Grubbs in the 2nd is looking less and less likely.
 
Raider Nation said:
Ahem!

I actually have Battle in my Li'l Al entry at the end of the 3rd round.
Click to expand...

True. My assumption has been that nobody has their "real" picks up right now and that the lead-in is hype, hyperbole and smack-talk. I can't find him ranked higher than 4th round anywhere, but if he goes 1st day, it won't likely be to us.

Also - found this gem at si.com from a Raider fan blasting Dr. Z for hating the raiders:

"Why do you dislike the Raiders so much?" asks Steve of Dudley, Mass. "It shows constantly in your articles."

I don't dislike them. It's just that ... how can I put this? It's like having a son you were once very proud of. A little rough at times, but he struggled and achieved and overcame a lot. Many people were against him. And then he just gave up. You look at him and you see a slouching person, nearing middle age, hair thinning, cigarette smoke staining his fingers, talking out of the side of his mouth, continually lying. Is this really your son? Well, yeah, and you still love him underneath it all. You just don't enjoy being around him.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dr_z/04/13/mailbag/1.html
Regardless of the analogy, he's admitting he editorializes in the negative about the team.
 
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