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News Archive
Oct. 1 - Dec. 15, 2006
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The trusty computer broke down in the late evening of Dec. 15 and wasn't fixed again until the second week of Jan. 2007, so there are no further entries for 2006 beyond those here. ¤¤
The estate of the late Mike Webster—"Iron Mike" of the great Steeler teams which had such a legendary rivalry with the Raiders during the period running from the late '60s through the '70s—won a major measure of vindication yesterday in an appellate court ruling.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the April, 2005 trial court ruling of U.S. District Judge William Quarles Jr., ordering the NFL Player Retirement Plan and the NFL Player Supplemental Disability Plan to pay all benefits owed under the plan retroactive to March 1991, when Webster became totally and permanently disabled by head injuries. The payment must also include interest, ruled Quarles.
The case originated in Baltimore, where the NFL's retirement plans are administered.
Here's a five-part background piece on Mike Webster by ESPN's Greg Garber: A tormented soul.
Here's the AP article on yesterday's appellate court decision as it appeared on Yahoo! Sports: Webster's estate entitled to disability benefits.
And here is the opinion of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals: http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinion.pdf/052386.U.pdf.
Source(s): Associated Press
OAKLAND: Out: RB LaMont Jordan (knee). Doubtful: G Corey Hulsey (knee); WR Jerry Porter (hip). Questionable: T Robert Gallery (elbow); WR Randy Moss (ankle). Probable: CB Nnamdi Asomugha (quadricep); DT Tommy Kelly (knee); G Barry Sims (abdomen).
ST. LOUIS: Out: OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa (hand). Questionable: DE Victor Adeyanju (forearm); SS Jerome Carter (ankle); FB Paul Smith (neck). Probable: QB Marc Bulger (ribs); OLB Isaiah Kacyvenski (concussion); DE Leonard Little (neck).
Source(s): Raiders.com
Deja vu: To fill the roster opening created by their waiver of Doug Gabriel, the Patsies signed fellow ex-Raider TE O.J. Santiago.
Source(s): MediaNews (San Jose Mercury News)
Late, late update: Here's a nice update we came across on what ex-Raider Tyrone Wheatley's been up to lately: Tyrone Wheatley - Back Where It All Began.
Late update: Details on the Gabriel acquisition: the Raiders were awarded Gabriel by the league on a successful waiver claim. Tennessee also submitted a claim but the player is awarded to the team with the worse record, and in this case that was Oakland.
Oakland's trade of Gabriel to New England in early September was for a fifth-round draft pick, not conditional. That means that, for what it's worth, the Raiders get to keep that pick and Gabriel also.
On the other hand, Gabriel's contract, which has a salary of $474,000 for this year, jumps to $1.7 million next year, so there's a distinct possibility that—absent a re-working of that contract—Gabriel won't be back next year.
Asked by reporters about the Raiders' reason for bringing Gabriel back, Shell said the fourth-year wideout was acquired because of the current injuries to Randy Moss (ankle) and Jerry Porter (hip flexor).
"Doug is insurance for us right now," Shell said Wednesday. "So that's where we are with that. I don't know if we'd have made that move if those guys all were healthy and ready to go."
Gabriel's old number, 85, is currently being worn by rookie TE John Madsen, and Gabriel wore No. 80 today at his first practice back at Alameda.
Source(s): Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, MediaNews, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that the Raiders have "re-acquired" WR Doug Gabriel and that he could rejoin the team as soon as Thursday.
First, of course, the Raiders would have to do the obvious and designate RB LaMont Jordan for injured reserve status. The team has been acting (for weeks now) as if it would somehow cost them a lot of money or some other ghastly penalty to do so. Or perhaps somebody told them that Jordan could grow a new MCL before season's end . . . Just another bizarre course of action for the same team that won't give WR Ronald Curry an every-down chance to play.
Source(s): Sacramento Bee
We've seen Raiders fans in some forums openly wish for a return by Ron Wolf to right what's wrong in Raiderland, while at the same time recognizing it won't happen while managing partner Al Davis continues running the ship.
Another good reason why Wolf won't return: he would have no incentive to do so. Check out this report from today's online edition of the Capital Times of Madison, WI:Packers: Wolf gets name on Lambeau facade
Former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf has been immortalized on the facade inside Lambeau Field, an honor typically reserved for Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees.
Wolf's name has been emblazoned in the northeast corner of the stadium between the upper and lower indoor club seats, the franchise announced today in a statement.
Wolf's name is listed apart from those of the inductees in Canton, but will receive the same standing.
"When you're with those people, you're with tall cotton," he said in the statement. "It's an incredible feeling. This is the best thing that's happened to me in my service in the National Football League."
It's discouraging to read that Barry Sims didn't play so much as one offensive down against Cincinnati. (He apparently did see action on special teams.) Sims fears the Raiders are phasing him out.
Art Shell was a great lineman in his day, but he's already made one very dumb move this season in moving Robert Gallery to left tackle over Sims, who has been Oakland's best offensive lineman for several years now. He will be compounding the error if he leaves Paul McQuistan in the starting lineup for a second time.
Against Cincinnati the Raiders gave up four sacks. As Raiders performances this year go that's roughly average, or slightly above average. One can make a fair argument that QB Aaron Brooks was getting rid of the ball before he was ready or the number of sacks would have been considerably higher. As a result a good number of Brooks' passes were off target. But, focusing on the line play, there was absolutely no running game. RG Kevin Boothe, who's probably better than McQuistan and took his starting job over when McQuistan was overwhelmed early in the season, was himself overwhelmed by Sam Adams Sunday when the Raiders only needed one yard for a first down. Adams pushed Boothe back into the backfield.
I saw an article today, entitled "Every Play Counts: Raiders offensive line," by a pundit (one of the so-called "Football Outsiders") who claimed to have watched Oakland's line on every single offensive play last Sunday and who pronounced that McQuistan had a pretty good game. Someone forgot to tell RB Justin Fargas that as he was getting hit in the backfield as often as not. This same "expert" anointed Langston Walker the best of the Raiders' offensive linemen. Huh?!?!?
It says here that Oakland needs Sims, whether it's at left tackle or left guard, while Boothe develops and while they see if Jake Grove is going to improve or not. We already know Gallery is a bust. Right now the Raiders need Sims' ability while they draft and look for offensive linemen in free agency.
If the front office thinks Sims is making too much money, then tell him that and discuss a contract renegotiation with his agent, but don't just show him the door. Sims came to the team as an undrafted free agent out of NFL Europe by way of arduous rehab from a serious knee injury in a post-season game. The odds were probably against his ever making the NFL at all. Instead he's had a nice career, including sharing a team award—the name escapes me, but it is awarded to the most inspirational Raider—with Ronald Curry several years back. Sims has a big cap number because the Raiders voluntarily rewarded him for good performance with a significant contract extension a couple years back. Shell's current dissembling about something being a "coach's decision" isn't far removed from outright lying. Show some class, Art!
Source(s): Oakland Tribune (InsideBayArea.com)
Where Are They Now Dept.: The New England Patsies waived WR and ex-Raider Doug Gabriel yesterday. He had fallen out of favor with the coaching staff there after fumbling in a 17-14 division loss to the Jets on Nov. 12. In the four games since, he had reportedly played no more than 30 snaps in all and had but a single reception.
When Gabriel was traded to New England on Sept. 2—as part of the final roster cutdown to 53 players—Oakland received a fifth-round draft pick in return, the same round in which he was originally drafted in 2003 by the Silver and Black out of Central Florida.
Source(s): The Sports Network, Pro Football Weekly
Late update: During a hearing this week of the Senate Judiciary Committee, outgoing Chair Sen. Arlen Spector (R-Pa.) said twice that he intends to introduce legislation in the next session of Congress which would remove the NFL's exemption from the nation's antitrust laws.
The statements by Specter came as he expressed the view that the NFL should not use the exemption to negotiate exclusive programming packages such as DirectTV Inc.'s "Sunday Ticket," which allows viewers to watch teams outside their regional market.
Specter said, "As I look at what the NFL is doing today with the NFL channel with the DirectTV . . . a lot of people, including myself, would like to be able to have that ticket."
(Let us hasten to add here that we don't have cable TV ourselves and don't fully understand all the issues involved in the present furor over the NFL Network, DirectTV Inc.'s "Sunday Ticket," or the myriad other fine points of cable programming.)
That said, we can say that bringing the NFL under the antitrust laws might end some of the peculiar and, shall we say, quaint practices which are unique to pro football, e.g., the 72-hour home blackout rule, and might lead to demands that the NFL and the players union (NFLPA) deal at greater arm's length with one another than is currently observed.
Here's a link to the article: DirectTV's 'Sunday Ticket' Draws Fire.
Source(s): Associated Press
Here's the NFL final injury report for tomorrow morning's contest at Paul Brown Stadium. There are no changes on the Oakland side of things:
OAKLAND: Out: T Robert Gallery (elbow); RB LaMont Jordan (knee). Doubtful: G Corey Hulsey (knee); DE Lance Johnstone (knee, toe); WR Jerry Porter (hip). Questionable: G Barry Sims (abdomen). Probable: DT Anttaj Hawthorne (shoulder); K Sebastian Janikowski (back); TE Randal Williams (back).
CINCINNATI: Out: T Levi Jones (knee). Doubtful: C Rich Braham (knee); WR Kelley Washington (hamstring). Questionable: C Eric Ghiaciuc (knee). Probable: DT Sam Adams (knee); S John Busing (knee); WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back); CB Tory James (illness); DT Shaun Smith (illness); DT John Thornton (knee).
Source(s): NFL.com
Following a meeting between the NFL management council and team financial officers, NFL vice president and spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday that the league salary cap is expected to go up by about $7 million per team in each of the next two seasons, reaching about $116 million for 2008.
Those figures are approximations, Aiello pointed out, subject to adjustment following a final accounting of revenues and other items that go into determining the new cap, which takes effect in March of each year.
The current salary cap is just over $102 million, some $17 million higher than it was for 2005. (Actually, we're embarrassed to say we don't know just how far over $102 million "just" is; press reports rarely give to-the-penny figures.) The large jump came because of the extension to the labor agreement, reached last March after extensive bargaining between the NFL and its players' union. It is projected to be about $109 million in 2007, then go up an additional $7 million the next year.Source(s): Associated Press
Late update: WR Johnnie Morant is 25 years old today. If you care to you can send him a birthday greeting at his page on the NFLPA web site. Click on the "EMAIL ME" link.
Source(s): My database
We'll try to get to the Ted Daisher flip-out story this evening, but if not, look in the Articles Archive and check out the SF Chronicle podcast which was posted Wednesday evening (Dec. 6).
It's being reported that trash talker Chad Johnson of the Bungles is showing nothing but respect for Raiders CB Fabian Washington, but take that with a pound of salt. Here's Johnson's summation of his conclusions after watching film: "[Fabian Washington] is superb on film. I sat there with my receivers coach and I'm like, 'This fool can really play.' "
Chronicle beat writer David White aptly captured the dialogue in the locker room: " 'He trying Jedi mind tricks on you, Fab?' defensive tackle Warren Sapp shouted." [Emphasis added.]
Source(s): "Silver and Black Blog," San Francisco Chronicle
First, rookie lineman Paul McQuistan will move into the starting lineup at left guard to replace Corey Hulsey, whose MRI included not only his knee but also an ankle. Coach Art Shell says McQuistan looks much more comfortable on the left side than the right. He played principally at left tackle in college. Asked whether Barry Sims, who's listed as questionable, could play, Shell hedged but said he wouldn't start in any event.
(As a side note, Brad Badger seems to have slid as far down the depth chart as one can slide. That's a strange turn of events for a versatile guy who started quite a few games both in Oakland and Minnesota, and at both guard and tackle.)
On a somber note, DE Lance Johnstone said that the MRI on his still-aching knee showed that there's "something in there." He plans to get a second opinion, but expects to need season-ending surgery. Fortunately, DE Kevin Huntley flashed big time last Sunday and will be the beneficiary of extra snaps. Hopefully he'll be able to avoid the rash penalties he was prone to commit during training camp and the pre-season.
Source(s): Associated Press, "Silver and Black Blog" (San Francisco Chronicle)
Here's the league's preliminary injury report for Sunday's game:
OAKLAND: Out: T Robert Gallery (elbow); RB LaMont Jordan (knee). Doubtful: WR Jerry Porter (hip); DE Lance Johnstone (knee); G Corey Hulsey (knee). Questionable: G Barry Sims (abdomen). Probable: TE Randal Williams (back); DT Anttaj Hawthorne (shoulder); K Sebastian Janikowski (back).
CINCINNATI: Out: T Levi Jones (knee). Doubtful: C Rich Braham (knee). Questionable: C Eric Ghiaciuc (knee); WR Kelley Washington (hamstring). Probable: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back); DT Shaun Smith (illness); DT John Thornton (knee); S John Busing (knee); DT Sam Adams (knee).
Source(s): SportsTicker
Not good—Corey Hulsey's knee is bothering him enough that he's listed as doubtful. And we somehow get the feeling from the way events have been transpiring lately that, notwithstanding that coach Art Shell was a great, great left tackle in his day, he is perhaps not the most astute personnel talent in the league. Others (including Carl Steward, as we repeat ourselves here) have pointed out the obvious, that this is perhaps not the best time to have a communications breakdown between coaching staff and personnel guys, what with injuries having seriously depleted the roster . . .
Source(s): SportsTicker, InsideBayArea.com, San Francisco Chronicle
Defending the colors: Some fool posted on the Sporting News web site that Chad Johnson is going to take CB Nnamdi Asomugha to school Sunday. Or, in his words, "have a career day" against Asomugha. He said something about Champ Bailey being unable to cover Johnson and added that Asomugha isn't in Bailey's class.
Well, we Raiders fans know better. Nnamdi is having a Pro Bowl year, and I said as much. I added that Cincy may beat Oakland Sunday, but it won't be because of anything that loudmouth Johnson does.
I also put in a good word for Warren Sapp—the guy wrote also that Sapp must regret not having signed with the Bungles instead of the Raiders.
If you want to peruse the thread or add your two cents worth, it's at http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=155551, right under the Raiders Team Report written by Steve Corkran.
This is hard to believe, but Art Shell says he still sees no reason to sign another kicker and plans to fly into frigid Cincinnati with just Sebastian Janikowski available for field goals and kickoffs.
Carl Steward had it right in his column today about the team desperately needing some internal communication. Someone, somehow, needs to get Shell to see that it is absolute lunacy not to put LaMont Jordan on IR and sign another kicker as insurance. It's 32 frickin' degrees right now in Cincinnati (shortly before 10:00 p.m.) as we write this and you don't rely on someone with a stiff back in those kinds of temperatures!!!
Where Are They Now Dept.: LB Jay Foreman, who spent some time on the Raiders roster during the 2005 off-season but was released in the final roster cut on Sept. 3 of that year, signed with the Whiners today.
Source(s): Associated Press
Pro Football Weekly—the site, not the print magazine—rambles as far as its organization, and as a result I don't check it really regularly, since it's easy to spend a lot of time looking around without coming up with much of anything related to the Raiders in particular. Today I did come across an article which was published there on Nov. 21 on the Ryan Brothers, Rob and Rex, which refers to them and their famous father, Buddy, as the First Family of Defense. It's linked in the Articles Archive. Take a look.
Late update: Time to encourage anyone who hasn't to cast a Pro Bowl ballot.
We're not in the habit of blindly voting for umpteen Raiders simply because they're Raiders. There is much to be said for voting based on merit, even if many fans probably don't make their choices that way. And most of the Oakland Raiders are having seasons that, frankly, mirror the team's record. But there are some deserving players this year who wear Silver and Black.
One Raider who's the best at his position in the entire league is punter Shane Lechler. Coach Art Shell is openly plugging cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, a former No. 1 draft pick who's really come into his own this year and has five interceptions.
Middle linebacker Kirk Morrison is playing very, very well, although he needs some work on his Lambeau Leap-like attempt to join the fans in the Black Hole. (In case you missed it, after his interception he tried to jump into the stands and fell far short, crunching into the barrier. Those monstrous thighs of his aren't built for high jumping. 
)
Finally, we suggest to readers that two defensive linemen are having very good seasons. DE Derrick Burgess has ten sacks to date and, what's more, he plays the run stoutly as well. That's unusual for an end who weighs less than 270 pounds. And "old man" DT Warren Sapp, the oldest member of the starting defense at 33, has found his internal 'fountain of youth' again, as his seven sacks attest.
How to vote? Simple—just use this link. 
Injury notes:
On top of everything else that went wrong yesterday, G Corey Hulsey has a sore knee and was to have an MRI done on it today. Should Hulsey go down as far as availability, coach Art Shell said he had no idea who would replace Hulsey, but clearly the options would be limited to either Brad Badger or Paul McQuistan.
T Robert Gallery is still probably two weeks away from being able to play. That would mean he was available for the season's final two contests.
G Barry Sims may be listed as questionable these days, but it's increasingly obvious that he's nowhere near ready to return to action.
The Raiders' trainer is reported to have told Shell this morning that Sebastian Janikowski's back is fine, but it seemed clear to observers at yesterday's game that Seabass was hurting. He pulled up short on the 87-yard kickoff return by Houston's Jerome Mathis and multiple writers, as well as the radio team of Papa and Flores, described Janikowski as looking stiff and unnatural.Which brings us to the $64 question, Why on earth doesn't Shell put RB LaMont Jordan on injured reserve? What is gained by keeping him on the active roster? And why wasn't Paul Edinger, a decent place-kicker, signed as insurance for yesterday's game?
Coaches should know better than to listen to players tell them how they're feeling. Raiders fans saw this back in 1995 with QB Jeff Hostetler insisting to then-coach Mike White that he felt great. See our opinion piece on the matter, "Hoss Should Sit for a While."
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle, MediaNews, InsideBayArea.com
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I knew something was wrong with the numbers . . . There were one too many practice squad members. I'd missed seeing the news that QB Kent Smith was released from the practice squad on Monday. The Treu and Morris moves (noted in the entry for Nov. 30, immediately below) followed on Tuesday; and the two practice squad signings came on Wednesday, according to the Raiders.com Transactions page.
A day late and a dollar short? Or perhaps, penny-wise and pound foolish . . .
ANG NFL writer Jerry McDonald duly noted in a blog post as today's game started that the Raiders' decision not to sign one of the kickers they'd had hanging around this week might come back to bite them. Boy, did it ever! This corner doesn't fault Janikowski—like most athletes he's reluctant to say he can't go. It's the coaches' responsibility to provide insurance.
The three missed field goals today would have meant a tie game. Even supposing that Paul Edinger—the man whom Oakland would most likely have signed—had missed the 53-yarder (the first attempt), having those other two threes would have forced Houston to play catch-up, arguably changing their strategy. Instead they were able to go conservative and hand the ball to Ron Dayne since the Raiders weren't mounting any serious threats as far as scoring in the second half.
Personnel moves: The coaching changes aren't the only moves that have been taking place this week.
Long snapping fixture Adam Treu was IR'd yesterday and rookie Chris Morris promoted from the practice squad to take his place on the active roster. Two players were added to the practice squad: second-year long snapper Jon Condo, and offensive tackle Mark Wilson. Finally, a necessary practice squad opening was created was releasing QB Kent Smith on Tuesday.
There's a nice background piece on Wilson from his Cal days which ran in the Daily Californian back in November of 2003: "From Garlic to Glory: The Mark Wilson Story." And the Jon Condo notation on this site's Personnel page is linked to an informative page about him from his Univ. of Maryland days.
Coach Art Shell normally updates the press corps on Wednesdays, and that's when the prognosis on T Robert Gallery was announced. Shell told reporters that the MRI exam on Gallery's dislocated left elbow revealed only minimal damage.
"It wasn't anything real bad, torn or anything like that," said Shell. "The ligament was stretched, and that's going to be two to three weeks."
RB LaMont Jordan, to no one's surprise, had already told the media that he was through for the year. Although his MCL tear did not require surgery, Jordan said he wanted to be in the best position possible to help the team next season, which precluded trying to come back for the final game or two this season.
Source(s): MediaNews
Here's the NFL preliminary injury report for Sunday's Raiders foray into Dolts country. There has yet to be issued any definitive prognosis on either Messrs. Jordan or Gallery.
OAKLAND: Out: T Robert Gallery (elbow); RB LaMont Jordan (knee). Doubtful: OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (foot); WR Jerry Porter (hip). Questionable: G Barry Sims (abdomen). Probable: DE Derrick Burgess (back); MLB Robert Thomas (heel).
SAN DIEGO: Questionable: DE Luis Castillo (ankle); DE Jacques Cesaire (ankle); G Kris Dielman (ankle); WR Malcom Floyd (ankle); WR Keenan McCardell (calf); FS Marlon McCree (calf); WR Eric Parker (neck); OLB Shaun Phillips (calf). Probable: CB Antonio Cromartie (shoulder); FS Bhawoh Jue (knee); OLB Carlos Polk (neck); DE Derreck Robinson (foot); DT Jamal Williams (ankle).
Source(s): NFL.com
More on yesterday's injuries: The play on which both starting tackles, Robert Gallery and Langston Walker, were injured, was a pass play which occurred in the third quarter. They got knocked into each other while in pass protection, Gallery dislocating his elbow and Walker banging up his ankle. Walker returned after four plays. Gallery, with his arm in a sling after the game, said he hopes to return before the season's end but expressed frustration with how this year has gone for him. (He has missed two games previously, one with a calf injury and one due to a groin strain.)
RB LaMont Jordan, who suffered the most serious injury, was unavailable for comment.
QB Aaron Brooks came out of the game briefly very late in the fourth quarter because his hand was cramping.
Source(s): MediaNews
Late update: The headline for a subscriber-only article on Scout.com says that LaMont Jordan's torn ligament is the MCL (medial collateral ligament).
A second headline on Scout.com for the subscriber-only game summary is particularly apropos: "Raiders fall 30 seconds short." 
Source(s): Silver & Black Illustrated Online (Scout.com)
Today's loss was particularly troubling because of the injuries to starters. RB LaMont Jordan has a torn knee ligament, the team announced, and is probably gone for the season. There will doubtless will more info available after he's had an MRI exam to ascertain the full extent of the damage.
T Robert Gallery, whose 9½ sacks allowed leads the NFL, suffered a dislocated elbow in the third quarter and did not return. He could be seen kicking his legs in a manner which initially suggested he might have had the wind knocked out of him, but then he left the field holding his shoulder and it was clearly something more serious.
Right tackle Langston Walker and QB Aaron Brooks each had to leave the game at different points in the second half, but each subsequently returned to action. It wasn't immediately clear what their injuries were, although television announcer Kevin Harlan opined that Brooks might have dislocated a thumb. That would seem unlikely judging by how quickly Brooks returned to action . . .
Source(s): Associated Press, "Inside the Oakland Raiders" blog (ANG)
Late update: Here's the final injury report for tomorrow morning's game in Kansas City. Both Oakland questionables, by the way, practiced Friday and are expected to start:
OAKLAND: Out: OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (foot); G Barry Sims (abdomen). Questionable: T Robert Gallery (groin); C Jake Grove (elbow). Probable: QB Aaron Brooks (shoulder); FS Jarrod Cooper (hamstring); FB Zack Crockett (knee); RB Justin Fargas (shoulder); SS Michael Huff (concussion); RB LaMont Jordan (back); MLB Robert Thomas (heel).
KANSAS CITY: Out: OLB Derrick Johnson (ankle); T Kevin Sampson (foot); G Brian Waters (knee). Doubtful: TE Tony Gonzalez (shoulder). Questionable: DE Tamba Hali (hip); SS Sammy Knight (ankle); FS Greg Wesley (shoulder).
Source(s): Raiders.com
Wiz and Eric Allen failed to advance in their first year of eligibility, but three former Raiders are among 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007: punter Ray Guy, cornerback Lester Hayes and quarterback Ken Stabler.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle
Source(s): Pro Football Weekly
The final league injury report for tomorrow's game is almost identical to the preliminary one summarized in yesterday's news as far as Oakland goes. The only change is an addition: T Robert Gallery (groin) is listed as probable.
For Denver there are a number of changes, so here is their full listing:
Out: FS Sam Brandon (knee). Doubtful: DE Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring); DE Ebenezer Ekuban (thigh); OLB Ian Gold (hamstring). Probable: RB Tatum Bell (toe); RB Cedric Cobbs (ankle); S Nick Ferguson (concussion); RB Kyle Johnson (ankle); S John Lynch (concussion); WR Rod Smith (shoulder); DT Gerard Warren (toe); CB Darrent Williams (shoulder); MLB Al Wilson (concussion).
Source(s): NFL.com
More on injuries: Gallery strained his groin in practice Thursday and sat out Friday's practice. "We're worried about that," said coach Art Shell on Friday. "Hopefully he'll be ready to go Sunday." If not, Chad "False Start" Slaughter would replace him. It was in the last meeting with Denver that Slaughter replaced Gallery and jumped early on five occasions.
Also, OLB Ike Ekejiuba's out even though he's still shown as questionable. Go figure. And there's one piece of good news: RB LaMont Jordan practiced Thursday and Friday without problems, so he is hopefully in good shape for Sunday. Now if offensive coordinator Tom Walsh can just find the rushing section on his play card . . .
Here's the preliminary NFL injury report for the weekend of Nov. 12-13:
OAKLAND: Questionable: S Jarrod Cooper (hamstring); RB Zack Crockett (knee); QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain); TE Randal Williams (back); OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (foot); G Barry Sims (abdomen). Probable: RB LaMont Jordan (back); RB Justin Fargas (shoulder); S Michael Huff (concussion).
DENVER: Out: FS Sam Brandon (knee). Questionable: RB Tatum Bell (toe); DE Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring); DE Ebenezer Ekuban (thigh); S Nick Ferguson (concussion); OLB Ian Gold (hamstring); RB Kyle Johnson (ankle); S John Lynch (concussion); WR Rod Smith (shoulder); CB Darrent Williams (shoulder); MLB Al Wilson (concussion). Probable: RB Cedric Cobbs (ankle); DT Gerard Warren (toe).
Source(s): SportsTicker
We know Sims and Brooks are listed as questionable, but neither will be available Sunday. G Corey Hulsey has taken all the first team reps at left guard this week, and coach Art Shell is now talking about Sims' recovery being a week-to-week proposition rather than day-to-day.
We'd also be surprised if RB LaMont Jordan has more than a few touches this game. His back tightens up on him the minute he cools off, which means he's having to walk a tightrope between staying loose and tiring himself out on the sideline so that he can be ready if his number is called to go into the game.
The verdict is in from the NFL's director of football operations, Gene Washington, who metes out discipline, and it's a bit puzzling.
DE Tyler Brayton was fined $25,000 by the league but not suspended. Brayton said that sounded about right to him as far as the amount. Brayton apologized after the game to fans, to his family and to the team and also read a handwritten apology in the locker room Wednesday, saying his actions were inappropriate, no matter what Stevens did.
Stevens, who was shown on film starting the fracas by trying to kick Brayton in the groin, was fined only $15,000. Stevens also taunted and tried to head-butt Oakland free safety Stuart Schweigert in the second quarter, for which he drew a personal foul and a sideline lecture from Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, but no league fine.
Publicly Holmgren stood up for his player, of course, insisting that what the film really showed wasn't Stevens trying to kick Brayton at all, but rather, in the words of AP writer Josh Dubow, that "Stevens' foot got extended as he tried to disengage from Brayton." "It wasn't anything close to resembling what actually occurred, afterward . . .," said Holmgren, comparing what Stevens did to Brayton's reaction. "If you look at the film, I think it's pretty clear that's not what happened."
Ri-i-i-ght, Mike. Actually Stevens has a history of personal fouls and had a much-publicized "feud" of sorts going with Pittsburgh LB Joey Porter last January. And the ESPN cameras showed Holmgren right up in Stevens' face after the second-quarter penalty.
Source(s): Sacramento Bee, "Inside the Raiders" blog (InsideBayArea.com)
Nancy Gay tidbit from a column today:
"The Cowboys are the NFL's most penalized team right now, not the Raiders."
"Seriously."
Nothing like stereotypes, huh, Nancy? Even when they don't fit the writers use them . . .
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle
Late update: An Indianapolis Star column republished on the USA Today web site reminds us of a point that's often reiterated by Mike Florio in his "Rumor Mill" column—that contrary to popular belief, "probable" on the injury report doesn't mean 75% likely to play. Rather, as defined by the NFL Competition Committee, it means virtually certain to play. So why even have the category? Who knows?
Florio periodically rants about how even NFL teams' official web sites mistakenly assume that there is a symmetry to the injury categories, namely, that doubtful means 25% chance of playing, questionable 50%, and probable 75%. But, t'ain't so. Doubtful means virtually certain not to play, probable means virtually certain to play, and questionable means somewhere in between those two extremes.
Look at the Oakland-Seattle report, for instance (below). The Raiders have left Barry Sims listed as questionable although he was unable to practice this week and has been "officially" scratched. The Seahags have WR Bobby Engram designated the same although his thyroid condition is unlikely to allow him to play for some time yet, perhaps even weeks.
The one thing that does appear pretty clear about Seattle's status is that their offensive line is hurting this week, and DE Derrick Burgess will try to take advantage of whichever less-than-100% body the opponents line up at right tackle. (As of now, Tom Ashworth appears most likely.) Seattle will doubtless counter with a second player trying to chip Burgess on the edge. But as Burgess himself pointed out earlier this week, if Seattle has to devote extra resources to blocking him, it may create additional opportunities for other Oakland D-linemen. The tackles—Warren Sapp, Tommy Kelly, Terdell Sands—could get some sacks, or situational rusher Lance Johnstone.
Source(s): USA Today, ProFootballTalk.com ("Rumor Mill")
Here's the league's final injury report for the upcoming game. It was issued Saturday morning but, oddly, still shows G Barry Sims as questionable even though he has been ruled out for the game. Similarly, from all that we've seen there's little likelihood that Seattle WR Bobby Engram will play but he continues to be shown as questionable.
Art Shell has said that RBs Justin Fargas and Zack Crockett will be game time decisions. If Crockett can't play, ReShard Lee will replace him at fullback.
OAKLAND: Doubtful: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain). Questionable: FS Jarrod Cooper (hamstring); RB Zack Crockett (knee); SS Michael Huff (shoulder); RB LaMont Jordan (back); G Barry Sims (abdomen). Probable: RB Justin Fargas (shoulder, hip); CB Tyrone Poole (ankle); DT Warren Sapp (hip).
SEATTLE: Out: RB Shaun Alexander (foot); QB Matt Hasselbeck (knee). Doubtful: LB D.D. Lewis (toe); DT Marcus Tubbs (knee). Questionable: WR Bobby Engram (thyroid); T Sean Locklear (ankle); C Chris Spencer (knee). Probable: DT Rocky Bernard (toe); WR Darrell Jackson (foot).
Source(s): Associated Press
The already anemic Oakland passing attack will likely be further hampered Monday night by the elements. The following report comes from my WeatherBug ProTM desktop application:
A potent storm system with abundant Pacific moisture will slowly push across the Northwest over the next several days, bringing pockets of heavy rain to the region.
Steady rainfall is likely throughout the weekend from northern California to the Canadian border, including all of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and western Montana.
The highest rainfall accumulations will likely be measured along and just inland from the Washington and Oregon coast, where more than 2 inches are possible by early Sunday and more than 5 inches likely by Monday. By the time the system exits the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, a handful of rain gauges could hold upwards of 8 inches of water.
As we AFC West fans will remember, Seattle played for years at the Kingdome, (obviously) a domed facility. Qwest Field, the Seahags' new state-of-the-art stadium which opened in 2002, has an overhanging roof which keeps many fans dry but is still an outdoor field, so the turf can be expected to be a soggy mess at game time.
Source(s): WeatherBug ProTM, Stadiums of the NFL
Late update: Scout.com wants $79.95 a year for their material. They do generate a lot of articles, but one has to wonder about the quality after seeing something like this in one of the infrequent free columns:
And then there will be the heavyweight matchup of Walter Jones and Derrick Burgess. LT Jones -- called "the best player in the league at any position" by former NFL O-Lineman and FOX analyst Brian Baldinger -- will go against the league's 2005 sack leader, DE Burgess (16.0), who had 2.5 sacks last week against Pittsburgh.What's wrong with that? As any serious Raiders fan would tell you, Derrick Burgess plays left end—different from most ace pass rushers. Which means he won't face Jones—Seattle's left tackle—at all, but rather a revolving-door guy lined up at right tackle. (We say revolving-door because Seattle's line is beset with injuries and Mike Holmgren is probably literally unsure still who'll be able to go at game time.)
Source(s): Silver & Black Illustrated Online
Update: It's official, or at least, from Art Shell, even if not yet reflected in the injury report—G Barry Sims has been scratched for the Seattle game after he missed practice again today because of the abdominal pull. Apparently Sims' foot slipped as he tried to plant to cut-block someone in the Pittsburgh game. That's irony for you, because the Raiders rarely employ cut-blocking.
Speaking after yesterday's practice, Shell implied he hopes it's only a one-game absence. ""That thing is a tough thing, that abdominal," he said. "All I know is I remember Ted Hendricks having an abdominal muscle [pull], and that thing took a long time. So hopefully it's not as bad."
Sims, an overachiever if ever there was one, downplayed the injury yesterday. "It was bugging me a little bit. So we just wanted to be smart, with an extra day, and not aggravate it too much."
G Corey Hulsey will make his first start as a Raider. He has been inactive for each regular season game this year after playing very well in the pre-season.
Source(s): "Instant Raiders" blog, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Why does it not surprise us that Terrell Owens falls asleep in meetings?
Source(s): Associated Press
The ANG's Jerry McDonald has become our favorite writer this season because he addresses the real issues facing the Raiders without pulling punches. When he's critical he explains why; when he's supportive—as when he hypothesized how Oakland could beat Pittsburgh—he's not condescending. Solid knowledge plus a realist's viewpoint make for informative articles, and McDonald's pretty-much-daily blog post is a high point of our reading.
Leave it to McDonald, then, to explain what's really (possibly) going on with G Barry Sims. All the reports we've seen over the past 48 hours have said merely that the Raiders "are describing" Sims' injury as an abdominal strain. McDonald tells us today, "Shell said [Sims] was 'very questionable.' Privately, the Raiders are concerned this could be a lingering 'sports hernia' injury which could mean a long-term absence." Uh-oh. 
Sims was last inactive Oct. 20, 2002 in San Diego.
Source(s): Inside the Raiders blog (InsideBayArea.com)
Late, late update: Disquieting fact:
"Did You Know? An amazing 22.2 percent of Raiders' pass plays have ended with INT or sack; Browns are distant second at 14.2 percent." [Emphasis in original.]
Source(s): BenMaller.com
The Philadelphia Daily News identified what it said were the top five NFL Head Coach candidates. (They appear at the very end of the article.)
Source(s): BenMaller.com
Late update: G Barry Sims has started 68 consecutive games for the Raiders, and he assured reporters yesterday that he will start next Monday night at Seattle despite straining his abdomen against Pittsburgh. "You know me, I don't miss games," said Sims. But Scout.com, in the teaser for a subscriber-only article, points out that Sims has missed practice the past two days and opines that his streak is in "serious jeopardy."
To be more precise, Sims did begin practice Wednesday but was unable to complete the session. He was held out entirely today. (The team was given Tuesday off by coach Art Shell.) Sims is listed as questionable for Seattle.
G Corey Hulsey, who's been inactive for every regular-season game this year, has been taking most of the first unit reps at left guard this week, with a few going to rookie Paul McQuistan.
Source(s): Silver & Black Illustrated Online, MediaNews (InsideBayArea.com), San Francisco Chronicle
Here's the league preliminary injury report for Monday night's game:
OAKLAND: Doubtful: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain). Questionable: SS Michael Huff (shoulder); RB LaMont Jordan (back); G Barry Sims (abdomen); FS Jarrod Cooper (hamstring). Probable: RB Justin Fargas (shoulder); DT Warren Sapp (hip).
SEATTLE: Out: QB Matt Hasselbeck (knee); RB Shaun Alexander (foot). Doubtful: LB D.D. Lewis (toe); DT Marcus Tubbs (knee). Questionable: WR Bobby Engram (viral thyroiditis). Probable: T Sean Locklear (ankle).
Source(s): SportsTicker
What a loser: Just listening to Dolts LB Shawne Merriman whine after getting nailed for a steroids violation is sickening to us. Talk about scapegoating! Read carefully what he said in this brief passage which follows as he contradicts himself:
"It's one of those things where I'm almost a victim of the policy and I have to accept what happened and move on. I know I made a mistake. I didn't do it knowingly and I'm willing to take full responsibility for whatever happens."
He's willing to take full responsibility so long as we all understand that the poor guy is a victim of the league's drug policy?!?!? He sounds as lame as Rancid Moss ranting that Howie Long must have done steroids, or how else could he possibly have been motivated to play like he did?
Great athletes don't need supplements, they don't need "help" in getting motivated. They play the way they do because they're driven to excel and because they work hard at it. Only losers like Merriman and Moss need excuses for their lame behavior.
We're reminded of the pathetic example of the late Darrell Russell, who never stopped whining that the league had "framed" him when he was suspended for repeated drug violations. Merriman's "tainted supplement" crap is about as believable as was Russell's claim that he was persecuted after testing positive due solely to second-hand marijuana smoke.
QB Aaron Brooks has been cleared to resume practicing with the team, but may be a long ways yet from being game ready. Head coach Art Shell said Brooks will have to demonstrate (presumably with his play in practices) that he's ready, not just say so.
Shell, speaking at his usual Monday press conference, said Brooks will have to show he is capable of making all the throws necessary before he can be considered for the starting job.
"Right now, Andrew (Walter) is the quarterback," said Shell. "Aaron has to do a lot to show me he's ready to play. It's not that you come out, 'OK, I'm ready to go.' I have to see it."
As Chronicle beat reporter David White aptly put it, "Right now, Brooks isn't begging his way back onto the field. He described his chest injury as a 'deep bruise with swelling' that takes time to heal."
In other injury news, FS Jarrod Cooper (hamstring) and G Barry Sims (abdominal strain) were to be re-evaluated today.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle, MediaNews, KFFL.com
Monday Shell gave his embattled offensive coordinator, Tom Walsh, another vote of confidence, reported Steve Corkran in yesterday's Contra Costa Times, despite the fact that the Raiders rank last in the league in total and passing yards per game. They are also ranked 31st out of 32 in points per game.
Asked if he was still pleased with Oakland's offensive performance, Shell answered yes. We don't think he can actually believe that, but Shell's loyalty to a friend and football confidante prevents him from saying anything negative about Walsh.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times, KFFL.com
Walking wounded from Sunday's game: Rookie SS Michael Huff, who injured his left shoulder against the Steelers, had an MRI which revealed no damage, so he'll presumably be good to go against Seattle.
Other hurt players: RB Justin Fargas took a pounding on the same shoulder that was dislocated two games ago (ouch!!); G Barry Sims has an abdominal strain; and special teams ace Jarrod Cooper strained a hamstring.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle blog
Late update: How's this for sports prose?
Maddeningly meticulous and impeccably precise, this was Peyton Manning at his cruel best. Skewering a Denver defense that was designed specifically to stop him, Manning led the Indianapolis Colts over, around and through the Broncos on Sunday, throwing for 345 yards and three touchdowns to Reggie Wayne for a message-sending 34-31 victory.
"When you play a guy like Peyton Manning, and the guy's going to put it on there on the money, what can you do?" Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said.
That's the opener to Eddie Pells' AP story on the Donks' loss at home to underdog Indianapolis. Put another way, and taking some liberties (since Tony Dungy's background is defense, and Ratface's offense), Dungy's staff outcoached Shanahan's.
Why do we say that? Because RoadRage Plummer posted by far his best game of 2006 (QB rating 104.1), Mike Bell rushed for 136 yards, the "Sleeping Beauty" Denver offense finally awoke to score 31 points, and still it wasn't enough. Oh, and one other thing . . . on whom did Manning and Wayne pick repeatedly? Mr. Frohawk himself, Darrent Williams, whom Ratface had the gall to call an "elite cornerback" just a couple of weeks back. Gotta love it!!
Source(s): Associated Press (San Francisco Examiner)
Raiders head coach Art Shell was named Motorola NFL Coach of the Week for games played in Week 7 of the 2006 regular season, chosen by fan voting on NFL.com. Minnesota's Brad Childress and Houston's Gary Kubiak were the other nominees for the week.
The blurb on the NFL.com site described how Shell told his team on the Saturday night before playing the Cards that they needed to find some swagger.
Source(s): Raiders.com
This year's preliminary list of 111 candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been released, and includes two former Raiders in their first year of eligibility: G Steve Wisniewski, a Raider his entire career (1989-2001), and CB Eric Allen, who played for the Raiders from 1998-2001.
More information is available in the Raiders.com article, and presumably, still more yet on the Pro Football Hall of Fame site.Source(s): Raiders.com
Late update: I knew the Raiders had to be a trend-setter one way or another. John Czarnecki (the self-styled "NFL Czar") posted, "The dreaded false start continues to be the NFL's No. 1 penalty with 270 calls thus far, followed by offensive holding with 254. Interestingly, there have been 82 pass interference penalties, but only two clippings. There have been 70 unnecessary roughness penalties and 25 for unsportsmanlike conduct." [Emphasis added.] The Raiders contribute mightily in the false start category . . .
Source(s): FOXSports.com
In reading up for this weekend's game—in the "Strategy and personnel" report put out by the Sports Xchange—we were reminded that it was Pittsburgh LOLB Clark Haggans who humiliated T Langston Walker so badly in Walker's debut as a starter following the retirement of Lincoln Kennedy that Walker was demoted following the game, his right tackle job handed to then-rookie Robert Gallery. Walker didn't start again until the following season, and then at left guard. In the 2004 Pittsburgh opener, Haggans—himself starting that day for the first time—beat Walker for two sacks and two forced fumbles.
On Sunday the quick Haggans will again try to befuddle the ponderous Walker, and it could get downright ugly. The help available from the bench, assuming Art Shell follows his usual activation pattern, is no more nimble or agile than Walker and arguably less so. We're talking Chad Slaughter and Paul McQuistan here, folks. It might make sense to activate the somewhat smaller Brad Badger in the hopes that he's also a little quicker.
The Raiders' other starting tackle, Robert Gallery, is coming off a three-sack performance against Arizona. He, too, will have his hands full with a speed rusher, OLB Joey Porter, whose status was upgraded today to probable. As Shell has explained before, the tackles define the width of the pocket for the passer. Andrew Walter may find he has a very narrow pocket in which to operate at times on Sunday. In our view the play of the two tackles will go a long way toward determining whether the Oakland offense can keep the game competitive.
Source(s): Sports Xchange (CBS Sportsline)
Here's the midweek preliminary injury report from the NFL:
OAKLAND: Doubtful: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain). Questionable: RB LaMont Jordan (back). Probable: RB Justin Fargas (shoulder); CB Fabian Washington (hamstring); TE Randal Williams (quadricep).
PITTSBURGH: Out: LB James Harrison (ankle); S Mike Logan (hamstring); WR Willie Reid (foot). Questionable: LB Clark Haggans (ankle); DT Casey Hampton (hamstring); LB Joey Porter (hamstring); QB Ben Roethlisberger (concussion); WR Cedrick Wilson (groin). Probable: S Tyrone Carter (shoulder); WR Santonio Holmes (toe); RB Dan Kreider (ankle).
Source(s): SportsTicker
Have you ever wondered why we invariably refer to sometimes Raiders spokesperson Artie Gigantino as a "blowhard"? Here's a perfect example of why . . .
Gigantino, speaking to the media, made it sound as though the Raiders graciously agreed to a request from the NFLPA (players union) to shorten the Jerry Porter suspension. Quoting the MediaNews account of Steve Corkran which appeared in the San Jose Mercury News:
"The Raiders are reinstating Jerry Porter after the players association dropped its appeal of Porter's suspension," said Artie Gigantino, a Raiders senior administrator. "The NFLPA agreed with the Raiders that a two-week suspension was appropriate. Porter will return to the football team and must adhere to team rules."
Here's what really transpired, in the pungent prose of Santa Rosa Press Democrat beat writer Phil Barber:
Coach Art Shell got a call Tuesday night informing him that Porter would be reporting back to the team. And the Raiders had nothing to do with the decision. The NFL Management Council and NFL Players Association - the yin and yang of pro football labor relations - negotiated Porter's four-game suspension down to two games, then delivered the news to Alameda. [Emphasis added.]
It seems the "new" CBA changed the rules quite a bit, such that the Raiders were left without a foot upon which to stand. Jerry McDonald explained in a late Wednesday blog post:
The Raiders discovered Wednesday they were powerless to suspend Porter for four games. Section 13 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement gives the management council and the NFL Player's Association the right to settle a grievance without intervention by either the player or the team. Their decision is binding.Porter was given 24 hours upon learning of his reinstatement to return to the team. Shell learned of the reinstatement Tuesday night, raising the possibility that Porter knew at that time, as well.
So—the Raiders have learned something, namely, how not to handle a future disciplinary situation. But the moral of the story for us remains this: don't believe a word Gigantino says unless you see it verified elsewhere.
Source(s): San Jose Mercury News, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, "Inside the Raiders" blog (InsideBayArea.com)
Where Are They Now Dept.: One-time Raider LB Akbar Gbaja-Biamila signed a two-year contract Tuesday with the San Diego Chargers, who made room on their roster by waiving linebacker Nick Speegle. Gbaja-Biamila had signed with San Diego in January, but was released on Sept. 2. He played collegiately for San Diego State.
Source(s): CBS Sportsline
You can vote for Raiders head coach Art Shell as "Motorola Coach of the Week" at nfl.com. Vote early and vote often for the much maligned symbol of Raiders pride and tradition!
After Mike White was fired as the Raiders head coach, one of the candidates whom principal owner Al Davis was said to have considered before settling on Joe Bugel was Maurice Carthon. If memory serves he was an assistant to Bill Parcells at the time.
Fast forward to 2006. Mo Carthon, under fire all this season for the Brownies' lack of offensive production, resigned today as Cleveland's offensive coordinator after his offense managed only seven points against Denver last weekend. There's actually no shame in that—our own Raiders couldn't get a touchdown against Denver's defense, and statistically the Donks are giving up the fewest points of any NFL club this year.
Source(s): Vertical Game news archive, Associated Press
Offensive coordinator Tom Walsh has been called every sort of name this year, in large part by younger fans who often don't even understand the changes Sid Gillman brought to the modern game. We've been intending to write an opinion piece sticking up for Walsh—while expressing some serious reservations about his predictability—but there simply hasn't been the time.
What was most enjoyable about yesterday's win for us—and we sat up in Mt. Davis, with a panoramic view of things—was Walsh' playcalling. And the best single call was the play that produced the second touchdown, following Terdell Sands' interception. My stepson was along. He's 22 and not much of a football fan. I said to him, "This is where they should go for it all. Go for broke, capitalize on the turnover. Right now, on this first play." Sure enough, Walter executed a great play fake and hit Moss in the end zone.
It was a great play call, and not only because we predicted it. It exuded swagger . . . The great Raiders teams always went for the jugular after a big play by the D or special teams, and nearly always on a play action fake into the line. Vintage Raiders!
Nowadays other teams employ this same strategy; it is, after all, a copycat league. In fact we were shocked that Arizona got caught napping on the fake. But back in the late '60s when Oakland routinely did that sort of stuff it was new to the NFL, and was yet another good reason to become a Raiders fan.
It's too soon to know, but there is at least a possibility that quarterback Big Ben Roethlisberger won't be available next week when the Steelers came to town. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher eschews the normal Monday press conference for a briefing on Tuesdays, so it would be tomorrow, presumably, when the team might announce results of tests performed on Roethlisberger, who was knocked out cold yesterday and stayed down, by all accounts, for a good five minutes before wobbling off the field. If concussed, it would be his second in the space of four months' time (read: riding motorcycle helmet-less). There's an AP article about it linked (for now) in the Articles section. (After Tuesday check the Previews page.)
If Big Ben can't go there's a big dropoff to No. 2 QB Charlie Batch. Stay tuned.
Source(s): Associated Press
Miracle of miracles, Raiders.com has finally spelled RB Adimchinobe Echemandu's last name correctly in its Team section. (It's a Nigerian name, if you're wondering; he was born in Lagos, the capital.) Interestingly, he's also grown two inches taller—at age 25, mind you—since being promoted to the active roster on Saturday. He was always 5-10 before, but now he's listed at 6-0. Raiders.com stats are so-o-o accurate . . . <muffled snickers>
Source(s): Raiders.com Transaction page
Late, late update: CB Charles Woodson, earning mega-bucks in Green Bay this season, is hurt again, this time with a thigh strain and is a "game-day decision" for tomorrow, according to Pack coach Mike McCarthy. Woodson practiced yesterday, his first on-field activity of any consequence since getting injured two weeks ago against St. Louis.
Source(s): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Late update: Here's this week's final injury report for tomorrow's game:
OAKLAND: Out: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain); OLB Grant Irons (back). Questionable: CB Fabian Washington (hamstring); T Langston Walker (concussion); RB Justin Fargas (shoulder); TE Randal Williams (quadricep). Probable: RB LaMont Jordan (back); RB ReShard Lee (neck); DE Lance Johnstone (knee); OLB Sam Williams (ankle); TE John Madsen (quadricep).
ARIZONA: Doubtful: G Milford Brown (ankle); DT Kendrick Clancy (ankle); WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring). Questionable: LB James Darling (calf). Probable: RB Marcel Shipp (hamstring).
Source(s): Pro Football Weekly
In a move that's not surprising, the Raiders activated RB Adimchinobe Echemandu from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. They were entitled to a roster exemption from the league due to the Jerry Porter suspension.
Since both LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas are expected to play, Echemandu will likely be in street clothes for Sunday's game.
Source(s): Associated Press
We have a tendency to overthink sometimes, and for a while there the Raiders running back corps was looking iffy . . . roster mystery solved. Room was made for QB Kent Smith to join the practice squad by releasing that squad's most recent addition, TE Tony Jackson.
Source(s): Raiders.com
This is the 20-year-old turkey who thought it was cute to post the "dirty bomb" threats—apparently he admitted to posting some 40 of them over the last six weeks or so. The feds weren't amused; they arrested Jake J. Brahm, a grocery store clerk, and charged him with making a terrorist threat over the Internet, which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and $250,000 fine. When the potential sentence was read in court Friday afternoon, his mother, Victoria Brahm, with whom he lives, closed her eyes and put her hand over her mouth.
This is a classic case of a kid needing to get a life, wouldn't you say?
Source(s): Associated Press
String bean QB Kent Smith—he stands 6-5 and weighs 215—is back with the Raiders again. He was signed to the practice squad this morning. He's the fellow who was in Oakland's training camp after setting all sorts of passing and rushing records at Central Michigan.
The team has made no announcement that we can find anywhere on its Raiders.com web site. And the practice squad already had a full complement of eight players, so far as we know. So, it would follow that someone had to be either released from the developmental squad or promoted to the active roster to create the room to sign Smith.
Our guess: as short as the team is at the running back spot at the moment, figure RB Adimchinobe Echemandu, a Cal product, was promoted to the active roster and Smith replaced him on the practice squad. Which begs the question, who was released from the active roster to make room for Echemandu? Possibly OLB Ricky Brown, now that Isaiah Ekejiuba is playing special teams again. But mind you, this is all guesswork.
And all of this infuriates us all the more because a perfectly good roster spot is going to waste with Jerry Porter, whom Shell wouldn't use before the recent incidents. The team might as well write to Roger Goodell and say, "Dear Commissioner, We, The Team of the Decades, are so rough, tough, and full of mystique, that we hereby volunteer to play this season with one player fewer on our roster than every other club in your illustrious league."
Source(s): "Silver and Black" blog (San Francisco Chronicle)
Late update: Just an editorial comment here. If the Raiders (read: Art Shell) allow Justin Fargas to play Sunday they should be charged with attempted mayhem, a felony, and prosecuted. The man's shoulder came out of its frickin' socket!! And never mind what Fargas says—we already know he's a gamer, more frustrated than anyone by his past injuries. The coaches can't listen to him any more than they should have listened to Jeff Hostetler back in 1995 when he said his shoulder was fine.
(Historical footnote: Mike White, head coach at the time, did listen to Hostetler and let him continue starting. Hostetler played abysmally because the shoulder wasn't fine at all, then had season-ending surgery on it. See our opinion on the matter, written in November, 1995.)
It might sound as though a shoulder dislocation is simply a temporary skeletal misalignment, but it's much more than that. An injury like that necessarily also involves soft tissue—all major joints in the body are lined with soft tissue—and has to heal.
We don't know who in their right minds would have designated Fargas as questionable (instead of doubtful or simply out) to begin with, but a mental status exam might be in order.
Here's the preliminary league injury report for Sunday's game at the Coliseum (called the House of Thrills or "HOT" in better days):
OAKLAND: Out: OLB Grant Irons (back); QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain). Questionable: CB Fabian Washington (hamstring); T Langston Walker (concussion); RB Justin Fargas (shoulder); TE Randal Williams (quadricep). Probable: RB ReShard Lee (neck); DE Lance Johnstone (knee); OLB Sam Williams (ankle); TE John Madsen (quadricep).
ARIZONA: Doubtful: G Milford Brown (ankle); DT Kendrick Clancy (ankle); WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring). Questionable: LB James Darling (calf). Probable: RB Marcel Shipp (hamstring).
Source(s): Source: Sports Ticker
Dirtiest player in the NFL? Sports Illustrated polled NFL players, only 361 of whom even responded. The runaway winner was Patsies SS Rodney Harrison with 23% of the vote. Finishing a very distant 4th—and the only reason this item is even mentioned here—was Oakland's own Warren Sapp.
Source(s): Boston Herald
Thursday news: RBs LaMont Jordan (back) and Justin Fargas (shoulder) didn't practice yesterday. Fargas is questionable for Sunday's game, as are T Langston Walker (concussion), TE Randal Williams (quadricep) and CB Fabian Washington (hamstring), the latter three of whom did practice and will presumably play. Coach Art Shell said Jordan's back tightened Tuesday night. Listed as probable, Jordan will be re-evaluated today.
Zack Crockett and practice squad player Adimchinobe Echemandu readied themselves at practice, just in case. "We're looking at different avenues in case we feel we need to make a move," said Shell.
Where Are They Now Dept.: Astonishingly, Tampa Bay signed former Raider No. 1 pick CB Phillip Buchanon yesterday after he was released by Houston. Ah, but he was a Gruden-Allen pick, wasn't he? . . . do they seriously think they can develop him?
Asked if the Bucs had come close to any other deals, e.g., Marques Tuiasosopo, whom they were believed to covet, general manager Bruce Allen wouldn't go into specifics but said, "In our minds, we came close. But either you have a deal or you don't. We were looking at several different players."
Source(s): MediaNews (San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times)
A lengthy, and interesting, article on QB Andrew Walter appeared yesterday in the (Arizona) East Valley & Scottsdale Tribune. Here's a direct link: Ex-ASU QB Walter taking lumps for Raiders.
Arkansas high school RB Kendric Smith scored nine touchdowns, on runs ranging from 1 to 54 yards, and it still wasn't enough for Hughes High School! Smith broke the state record for touchdowns in a game, the last coming in overtime, but Hughes lost, 73-72, Friday night to East Poinsett County. Amazing . . .
Source(s): Vallejo Times-Herald
Late update: FOXSports has a simple, one sentence poll on its football web site this evening (bottom right corner): Yes or No, the Raiders will win a game this season. Go weigh in! And be advised that as of 10:17 pm PDT, 62% say yes.
Where Are They Now Dept.: First-round draft bust Phillip Buchanon, the turkey who used to refer to himself in the third person as "Showtime," has been dumped by the Houston Texans, who said they "wish him well." Ri-i-i-i-ght!
Two versions of the AP report are linked in the Articles section. But we prefer the more colorful language of Rumor Mill editor Mike Florio, who got the usual unnamed "league source" to tell him that "the move was made because Buchanon is regarded by the team as a 'card-carrying coward.' "
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com ("Rumor Mill")
Catching up (as usual): The NFL Network's Adam Schefter floated the idea in an Oct. 12 column on the NFL.com web site that Colts coach Tony Dungy, looking to shore up his defense, would be well advised to explore trading for Raiders DT Warren Sapp.
Source(s): NFL.com
As the ANG's Jerry McDonald points out today in a blog post, "Last one standing," all three of the other NFL teams which entered the weekend winless along with the Raiders—Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee—won today. That will leave Oakland alone in the basement at 0-5 should the Raiders lose in Denver.
GO RAIDERS!!
Source(s): "Inside the Raiders" blog (InsideBayArea.com
The big news item, of course, is the four-game suspension of WR Jerry Porter by head coach Art Shell. It's difficult not to conclude that Shell overreacted and handled the situation badly.
By all accounts—in fact, to be precise, we have only one account at this point, that of San Francisco Chronicle writer Nancy Gay, as to what transpired—the practice had already run more than an hour over its scheduled 90-minute length and various players were grumbling, Warren Sapp and Randy Moss among them. Porter then, within earshot of the coaching staff, "asked somewhat loudly if the practice 'was going to last three hours or what?'," which is what caused Shell to snap. But was one rhetorical question sufficient justification for the punishment levied?
Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement (the "CBA"), a four-game suspension is the maximum allowed for conduct detrimental to the team. Stated another way, conduct has to be pretty outrageous to justify the imposition of a four-game suspension because it is the maximum punishment.
Wide receiver Terrell Owens was the last player to be suspended the maximum four games for conduct detrimental to the team. The Philadelphia Eagles cited numerous violations by Owens, including starting a fight with former player Hugh Douglas, who serves as a team "ambassador," before suspending him and an arbitrator upheld the ban after an appeal was filed by the union.
The NFL Players Association is virtually certain to file an appeal on Porter's behalf. As Gay noted, Philadelphia, prior to suspending T.O. last year, had assiduously documented Owens' transgressions and thus had a thorough, detailed record upon which they could rely when the inevitable appeal was taken by the union and an arbitrator considered the matter. In her article today Gay quotes an "NFL source" as saying, "This won't last a week."
(We [formerly "this observer," now going with the editorial "we"] will be addressing this in an opinion piece in the near future, time and balky wrists permitting.)
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle
We've already linked it in the Articles section, but it's worth noting that Don Banks' article on teams that might trade for Randy Moss—updated today, by the way—is the headliner at the Sports Illustrated web site's NFL section.
Source(s): SI.com
If you're a season ticket holder, don't sweat the previously remote possibility that the Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 home games might have to be rescheduled. Detroit completed a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics late this afternoon. This Yankees fan couldn't be happier! Hey, if Detroit was good enough to knock off the Bronx Bombers, they're good enough to go all the way!
Source(s): MSNBC.com
Here's the NFL final injury report for tomorrow's game. The only change from Wednesday is that CB Duane Starks, who missed practice with flu-like symptoms (chills), was added to the Probable category.
OAKLAND: Out: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain). Doubtful: CB Fabian Washington (hamstring); OLB Grant Irons (herniated disk). Questionable: TE James Adkisson (groin); G Kevin Boothe (nose); DE Lance Johnstone (knee); RB ReShard Lee (neck); TE John Madsen (quadricep); TE Randal Williams (quadricep). Probable: RB Zack Crockett (knee); OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder); T Robert Gallery (shoulder); DE Kevin Huntley (foot); CB Duane Starks (illness).
DENVER: Out: RB Cedric Cobbs (ankle). Probable: S John Lynch (neck); RB Cecil Sapp (toe).
Source(s): NFL.com
DE Kevin Huntley (foot) has been added back to the injury report, a day after he was taken off. D'oh! He's designated as probable.
Source(s): CBS Sportsline
The game following the Denver contest, at home against the Arizona Cardinals, figures to be rich in irony. With veteran QB Kurt Warner benched, the Raiders will undoubtedly face QB Matt Leinart behind center for Dennis Green's club. As every Raiders fan knows, Oakland passed over Leinart in last April's college draft to take S Michael Huff instead at No. 7 in the first round.
If Arizona wins, and regardless of outcome, if Leinart plays well and/or Andrew Walter plays poorly, the press is going to have a field day second guessing the Oakland organization for its decision to pass on drafting not only Leinart, but also Denver's Jay Cutler.
The Raiders filled the opening on their practice squad by signing tight end/fullback Tony Jackson. He was a sixth-round pick (No. 22, 196 overall) of Seattle in the 2005 NFL draft; he got hurt during training camp that year and spent the season on injured reserve. Signed by the New York Giants in April, 2006, he was cut late in training camp.
At 6-2 and 256 pounds, think of him as a slightly smaller Joe Hall. He was a tight end at Iowa; the Giants called him a running back or fullback. The Raiders.com site—which has unfortunately slipped back to its old sloppiness in terms of inaccuracies and outdated info in the Team section, after a period of improvement during the 2006 offseason—designates Jackson as a tight end.
There's a good pre-draft profile of him (from 2005) at NFL.com, although the banner at the page top erroneously indicates it's for the 2006 draft. (Check the URL and you'll see that the path includes '2005'.) The Raiders.com weight shown for Jackson—264 pounds—corresponds to his weight coming out of college (the NFL.com profile), not the more recent figure given by the Giants (256), which I have elected to use. Most likely Jackson has simply lost some baby fat . . .
Source(s): MediaNews (Contra Costa Times), NFL.com, Yahoo! Sports
Randy Moss trade speculation: I'm just not able to get to every source every day to peruse everything online for Raiders material. And so there are a number of sites which I try to check every couple of days since they typically don't have anything about the Raiders on any given day. One of those is ProFootballTalk.com, which I generally call the Rumor Mill after its primary feature.
Catching up this morning, I've found some highly entertaining (and informed) speculation about Moss' future on the site in posts over the period Oct. 7-9. If you want to read the entire developing story, search the Articles Archive for "Moss" and you'll find at least five posts spanning Oct. 3-9. The most thorough, written on Oct. 7, has all the cap numbers for Moss for each of the two scenarios: unloading him and keeping him.
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com ("Rumor Mill")
Late update: Here's an absolutely superb line from editor Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (the Rumor Mill): "We'd pay good money to watch Randy Moss use his face to beat the hell out of Howie Long's fists." [Emphasis added.]
So would we, Mike, so would we!
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com ("Rumor Mill")
A "Fantasy Source" update at SportingNews.com, dated today, claims that RB LaMont "Jordan's role is suddenly up in the air. Coach Art Shell says he wants to see more of Justin Fargas after the back ran for 63 yards on eight carries last week."
This observer thinks that the fantasy observation is a typical overreaction to a coach's praise. Fantasy 'owners' think only of the stats their players can run up from week to week. Of course Art Shell wants to see more of Fargas, but it doesn't change the economics. At roughly $5 million per year you can bet your bottom dollar that Jordan will remain the starter, with Fargas spelling him.
Actually I would be thrilled to see Fargas get substantially more playing time. I've dissed him in the past, but he's running with a confidence and assertiveness this year that he never displayed in seasons past.
Source(s): SportingNews.com
Here's the NFL preliminary injury report for Sunday's game at Piled High:
OAKLAND: Out: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain). Doubtful: CB Fabian Washington (hamstring); OLB Grant Irons (herniated disk). Questionable: TE Randal Williams (quadricep); DE Lance Johnstone (knee); RB ReShard Lee (neck); G Kevin Boothe (nose); TE John Madsen (quadricep); TE James Adkisson (groin). Probable: RB Zack Crockett (knee); OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder); T Robert Gallery (shoulder); DE Kevin Huntley (foot).
DENVER: Out: RB Cedric Cobbs (ankle). Probable: S John Lynch (neck); RB Cecil Sapp (toe).
Source(s): SportsTicker
[Q:] Can you explain the Oakland Raiders' problems and how they arrived to this point?
[A:] It has more to do with the long-term construction of the team than anything else. The Raiders emphasize athletes over football players that are athletic and disregard character and intelligence in their scouting process.
So, while people see them as a talented team, those of us in football see them as a fast team that doesn't play with much quickness; an undisciplined team that does not prepare well in the offseason; and one that is not accountable for its actions—always looking to point the finger of blame elsewhere.
When you have players without a professional commitment to individually improving their football skills within a team concept and a team lacking in football instincts and intelligence, you struggle to learn and develop from your mistakes.
The Raiders re-hired Art Shell in an attempt to bring back more of a disciplined approach but when your roster hasn't been built with that in mind, it will take more time to turn things around. More importantly, the Raiders need everyone on the same page and the proper commitment from the top of the organization.
Source(s): Yahoo! Sports
The list of injured Raiders is growing by the week. First, of the previously injured, QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral strain) has made some progress but still cannot throw anything deep. Listed as doubtful for the Denver game, he was reported to be throwing a medicine ball with strength and conditioning coordinator Jeff Fish at team HQ yesterday. It sounds as though Brooks is unlikely to be game-ready for several more weeks.
(To his credit, coach Art Shell has shifted position somewhat on the question whether Brooks will automatically return to the starting lineup once he's healed. In place of his previous insistence that Brooks remains the No. 1, Shell now equivocates and declines to discuss the subject—a much more pragmatic approach.
"I'm just worried about right now," he said. "I can't be worried about down the road with Andrew [Walter] and Aaron. We need to win some games, and Andrew needs to keep coming up and keep getting better. We need a whole game from him like we had in the first half.")
OLB Grant Irons, it's been learned, has a good reason for those "lower back spasms" the team has admitted to—he has a herniated lumbar disk (L5 for you anatomy students). This isn't baseball (read: Randy Johnson) and it seems likely to this observer that Irons will be out for some period of time. It wouldn't be surprising, in fact, if the Raiders were to put him on IR. This fan has had problems in the past with a bulging lumbar disk—lumbar is the lower region of the back—which is a less serious condition. With any sort of disk problem the pain radiates outward and can be excruciating. Beat writer Phil Barber of the Press Democrat dug up the Irons diagnosis; see his blog post for more.
OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba, inactive against the Whiners, is deemed questionable for Denver. Likewise CB Fabian Washington, who was quoted as saying he'll be more circumspect this time about trying to rush back into the lineup; this is Washington's second incident of straining the hamstring.
Moving on to the injuries suffered Sunday in San Francisco, G Kevin Boothe had his nose broken in two places when it was whacked by a linebacker's face mask on a pulling play. Boothe's own helmet had shifted out of position, leaving his schnoz exposed. He's questionable for Denver.
The others who were banged up include three of the team's four tight ends (all of whom were activated last weekend). TEs John Madsen and Randal Williams suffered quadricep bruises and TE James Adkisson has a groin strain; all are questionable for the upcoming game. Finally, DT Warren Sapp banged up a knee but says he will play against Denver.
Source(s): Inside the Raiders blog (ANG), Santa Rosa Press Democrat
In defense of Andrew Walter: According to the Chronicle, Andrew Walter's 38.5 quarterback rating is the worst among NFL starters. To put that in perspective, SF's Alex Smith, he of the mega-million-dollar deal, had a passer rating of about 33 for his entire first season. And it's a perfectly fair comparison because Walter is in practical terms a complete rookie; he didn't take a single snap last year during the regular season.
Walter's first half rating against the Whiners of 118.2 is phenomenal for a rookie. And he showed great poise on the two-minute drill he executed on the Raiders' last possession of the first half. As Art Shell said yesterday (once he'd cooled down), Walter needs to play a complete game. That will come if he's given the chance. Shell would do well to keep in mind that the entire team (save punter Shane Lechler) melted down in the second half Sunday; it wasn't limited to the quarterback play.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle
The NFL trading deadline is fast approaching—it's Oct. 17. If the Raiders want to move WR Jerry Porter this season, time is running out. At the cost of spoiling some of the suspense (not) concerning what one of his upcoming opinion pieces will concern, this observer will offer the "humble opinion" this week that the Raiders can't afford to waste a roster spot on someone who's never going to play regardless of team needs, practice results, etc. A good young player, John Paul Foschi, was sacrificed to create a roster opening for special teams while Porter remained inactive for the fourth straight game. Coach Art Shell is past intransigence and into childishness now with this tit-for-tat stuff.
Anyhow, getting back to the trading deadline, Raiders beat writer Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times reported today that "[a] person close to the situation said the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots have expressed interest."
We've heard the Patsies mentioned before, along with the not-too-subtle Matt Millen of the Lions, who called up principal owner Al Davis not too long ago. Now, add Miami to the list. And for good football intelligence generally, this fan swears by the Rumor Mill, aka profootballtalk.com. Lately local writers Jerry McDonald and Nancy Gay have both copped to reading it and praised its insight. Editor Mike Florio must wear a headset 24/7 because he is really plugged in to newsworthy NFL happenings on a wide variety of fronts.
Source(s): MediaNews/InsideBayArea.com
Arizona's Pro Bowl WR Larry Fitzgerald suffered a "serious" hamstring pull, "maybe even a little tear in there," according to his coach, Denny Green, and will miss an estimated 2-5 weeks. One would hope he misses the Oct. 22 game at Oakland, since our Silver and Black guys need all the help they can get.
Fitzgerald's replacement, however, may be even more dangerous. He is WR Bryant Johnson, and was highlighted in this News section on Sept. 29. Read why he is such a threat.
Source(s): Associated Press
OLB Ricky Brown, promoted to the active roster late last week when it became clear that Isaiah Ekejiuba wouldn't be available for special teams duty against the Whiners, has traded in No. 41 for a 'proper' linebacker's jersey number, 57.
Source(s): NFL.com Gamebook
The Raiders' inactives for today's game are QB Aaron Brooks, CB Fabian Washington, OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba, G Brad Badger, G Corey Hulsey, WR Jerry Porter, DE Kevin Huntley, and OLB Grant Irons.
As the astute Jerry McDonald guessed yesterday in the ANG Raiders blog, no doubt the newly activated LB Ricky Brown will replace Ekejiuba on the special teams units. Let's hope the Whiners aren't able to take advantage of the newbie, as they may very well try to pick on him. Ekejiuba said after last week's debacle against Cleveland that the Brownies' return teams double-teamed him and Jarrod Cooper to spring their three very long returns.
Source(s): Sports Network
Here's the final injury report for tomorrow's game as provided by the NFL; it's identical to the preliminary report issued on Wednesday.
OAKLAND: Out: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral); CB Fabian Washington (hamstring). Questionable: FB Zack Crockett (knee); OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder); T Robert Gallery (shoulder); DE Kevin Huntley (foot); OLB Grant Irons (back); DE Lance Johnstone (knee); RB ReShard Lee (neck).
SAN FRANCISCO: Out: TE Vernon Davis (fibula). Doubtful: G Larry Allen (knee). Questionable: WR Taylor Jacobs (hamstring).
Source(s): Associated Press
Source(s): KFFL.com
I came across a comment that stings, because it has the ring of truth to it. Bearing in mind that Randy Moss does not speak for the Raiders, still, the fact that his loser's attitude is even tolerated speaks volumes about the Raiders' organizational problems. Anyway, read the conclusion to a game preview from Tony Moss, one of the few writers who at the start of the season actually gave the Raiders a chance to finish better than last in their division:
San Francisco has less talent across the board than the Raiders, and played much worse than did Oakland last week, but the 49ers have one very important thing going for them as they head into this matchup: they care. The Niners coaching staff and players are actually interested in improving the franchise's fortunes, while the Raiders, most notably key people like Moss, have the unmistakable countenance of rats exiting a sinking ship.
Source(s): Sports Network
If you haven't already, check out the Quote to Note, new this evening. Art Shell is either a very wise man or an utterly clueless one. This observer feels the jury's still out . . .
The AP has previously reported on the possibility that two Raiders games might have to be rescheduled should the Oakland Athletics make it to the World Series. That seemed a remote possibility earlier, as the A's have folded in the first round of the postseason for years now. But they have swept Minnesota 3-0 and await the winner of the Detroit-Yankees series, so this time, one never knows . . .
Kent Somers, of the Arizona Republic, reports the Arizona Cardinals could have their Week 7 game versus the Raiders postponed from Sunday, Oct. 22, to Monday, Oct. 23, if the Oakland Athletics reach the MLB World Series.
Source(s): KFFL.com
Here's the midweek league injury report for Sunday's game:
OAKLAND: Out: QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral); CB Fabian Washington (hamstring). Questionable: FB Zack Crockett (knee); OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder); T Robert Gallery (shoulder); DE Kevin Huntley (foot); OLB Grant Irons (back); DE Lance Johnstone (knee); RB ReShard Lee (neck).
SAN FRANCISCO: Out: TE Vernon Davis (fibula). Doubtful: G Larry Allen (knee). Questionable: WR Taylor Jacobs (hamstring).
Source(s): NFL.com
Increasingly the news about the Raiders is reflecting the negative comments of WR Randy Moss, who is doing his best to become a locker room cancer while simultaneously proclaiming he doesn't want to be a cancer.
Anyone who saw last Sunday's telecast saw Moss' dismally substandard effort. He wasn't even fully extending himself to try to catch some of the passes thrown his way. But even if that performance is viewed (in hindsight) as presaging things to come, Moss' comments on FOXSports radio on Monday were still shocking.
The BenMaller.com rumor mill ran a "feature"—meaning the three-paragraph "story" got its own title—with the following Moss quotes:
[Moss] was asked how he's dealing with the team's 0-3 start: 'I'm doing good man, I'm not even that too concerned with football right now. I'm just loving life.'
Myers asked Moss if he want to play somewhere else? [sic] 'The way it seems; I'm not the only one unhappy around here. If me moving elsewhere is what my future holds then I'm ready to see it.'
Would Moss welcome a trade? 'I don't want to be the downfall, or the negative or the cancer of the team. That's definitely not my goal to do. If they feel trading me and getting me out is the best thing to do, I've been traded once, two won't hurt.'
Ladies and gents, Raiders fans all, we are paying this creep $7.5 million this year. Just when the team desperately needs to stick together and not surrender to divisiveness and locker room bickering, who can we count on to start whining? Porter's a Boy Scout next to Moss . . .
Source(s): BenMaller.com
With T Langston Walker drawing as this week's assignment San Francisco star DT Bryant Young, pundits are speculating that Shell might make a change at right tackle. Even at age 34, Young remains a force on the defensive line, and Walker has been overmatched just trying to neutralize such no-names as Cleveland's Orpheus Roye. Indeed, Walker has been even more of a revolving door thus far in 2006 than the more criticized Robert Gallery.
Shell's options, should he decide a change is needed, would seem to be re-inserting Brad Badger in the starting lineup, but at tackle this time, or moving rookie Paul McQuistan from guard to tackle. McQuistan, of course, played tackle at Weber State, and Badger is the Raiders' most versatile lineman, arguably able to play any position on the interior line. Gallery's understudy, Chad Slaughter, could theoretically move over from the left side as well.
Source(s): Santa Rosa Press Democrat
G Kevin Boothe was praised for his play by head coach Art Shell, and Boothe will start again this week against the Whiners.
Source(s): KFFL.com
In his Monday press conference Art Shell began by reading off a list of the walking wounded following Sunday's dispiriting loss. There was a line for the MRI equipment on Monday: RB ReShard Lee (neck sprain), RB Zack Crockett (right knee), OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba (right shoulder), and DE Lance Johnstone (right knee) all underwent imaging exams on Monday.
Source(s): Associated Press
Browns kick returner Joshua Cribbs was named AFC special teams Player of the Week after his performance against Oakland.
Cribbs was instrumental in Cleveland's 24-21 comeback victory over Oakland. With the Brownies down 14-0 in the second quarter, Cribbs fielded a kick on his own three-yard line and took it 65 yards—all the way back to the Raiders 32—leading to a Phil Dawson field goal to put Cleveland on the board. He came back with a 53-yard return later in the game that set up another Cleveland score.
Source(s): The Sports Network
The league's final injury report for today's game is as follows: