Raiders Fan Ray

The end has come

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:39:55 GMT

An amazing season this has been. Nothing has been concrete, nothing too predictable. Except the further demise of the Raiders in Oakland. The ending of one of (the only actually) the largest blogosphere I've ever had the opportunity to be a part of. I'm not sad about this, nor pissed. Somber with reflection caps it. The last couple of seasons have been frustrating, yet, joyful. See, I've moved on with life as so many others have.

The greatest thing that's happened is I have a new baby boy. This kid has taken so much of my time it's unreal. But that's ok. I'm grateful. He's sleeping now which is why I'm able to write today. His name is Carsten Evan, give him a shout out will ya? Now to the Raiders!

THEY SUCK, PERIOD! Even when they did good, they found a way to kill themselves and the spirit of everyone around them. Well, lets see how Al screws up this upcoming draft to keep the Silver & Black in the cellar. Yeah, just another tax write off to Al. Is it possible to go 0-16 next season? The Raiders will find a way, I have faith.

Art Shell came back this season. What was he thinking? He's now gone. Now, looking for a new head coach. Any takers? How about...Bill Cowher? Nahhh, he wants 8 Million and Al isn't going for that. A ship without rudders we be cause the Captians gone loco! What's the chance we just drop everyone on the team and just (I repeat this after 6 losing seasons) R-E-B-U-I-L-D??! Shell's fate was sealed the day he thought about coming back. Not his fault though, the cards were stacked against him. Maybe we can steal someone from Indianapolis, New York or Tennessee. Hell, even from Houston. Anythings gotta be an improvement.

We had a chance with a good possibility, Sean Payton, but he must have heard of the way Al deals with the Raider organization: His way or No way! So what does Sean do? He goes somewhere else that's equally dangerous and controversial...NEW ORLEANS. The rest is history. And by the way, my lady is from New Orleans and lets me know about the Saints every Sunday. Dammit Man! Isn't he in the running for Coach of the Year or something?

A team we've normally dominated since it's infancy, the Chargers are in the playoffs. I knew this would happen. I was convinced on September 11, 2006. The 1st Monday night game of the season. Hurt feelings and extreme embarrassment not to mention seeing the familiar 'Who Cares' looks from Shell on the sidelines and the 'What's going On' looks from a deaf, dumb, and blind Davis in the booth. I can actually congratulate SanDEE for their achievments this season. I wish them the best. See ya next season.

I will sit on my couch this post-season, watching other teams continue on for greatness, cause we all know the Raiders don't even deserve it. I will root for who I might think will win the BCS Crown and hope March Madness arrives quickly (Go Lady Vols). The New York Yankees will win the 2007 World Series and Tiger Woods first child will be born. In fact, they'll have twins!

As I look back on the last few seasons, including the 06-07 fiasco that Oakland took part of, I ceromoniously burn my Fathead helmets alonside my hanging voodoo doll of Al. I'll see you all on the flip side of 2008, in the Super Bowl. Just not with the Raiders.

Is It Possible??????????

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 05:31:08 GMT

Can someone PUH-LEEEEEZE tell me if it is possible for the Raiders to suck (life, hope, respect...etc.) any louder than they do now? Losing to the (Yuck, can barely say it) BROWNS??? I quit, I just gotta quit. I have no more hair to pull, no more heart to break...NOTHING! See ya next year!!!

No Chance for a Wildcard...

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 04:34:00 GMT

Tonight, the Raiders invaded Qualcom Stadium and got turned back. Usually, when any chance to play anywhere into the post season vanishes, we play spoiler. Couldn't even do that. The first quarter gave hope to many that this would be a good, hard fought game. That is, if you've never seen the Raiders play in your life. Believe it or not, penalties were not the factor for the Raider demise in this game. We were just outplayed by a better prepared, healthier team. Period.

Offensively, Kerry was just left alone to fend for himself. Defensively, we couldn't stop 'em, we could only hope to contain them! Well, 2nd Q came and try as we could, just couldn't get it done. Result? Chargers all night long. Not the runover blowout everyone in Lightning Land expected, but they did win 34-10. My prediction was off by 4 points. To add insult to injury, Kerry does it again, throws to the opposing team. Kerry say's "Hey, Clint Hart, Merry Christmas and a TD to you!" And not only that, we'll just run toward you to make everyone THINK we're going to try and stop you from scoring. YEAH, RIGHT.

I'm not mad anymore. How can ya be when you know in your heart that this season, for all intents and purposes, is over. The fat lady started singing back on Sept. 8 when we lost to New England. We just couldn't hear it from all the chitter chatter in Raider Land. Can I get an AMEN?

Our next 4 games, the Jets, the Browns, Broncos and Giants, just puts us in a position to be field dummies resulting in more un-needed insults and injuries..........ok, done pukin. At any rate, Al Davis needs to consult his palm reader, soothsayer, or any damn body with any sense (hell, even a 10 year old) as to what he'll do with this team next season. I've been saying it for the last 2 years, this being the 3rd. Now others are saying it like it's something new. Sorry folks, I called it, but I'll let you agree with me.

Let's try it again, and say it loud enough so old senile Al can hear it: RE-BUILD THE TEAM!!!! Get rid of that washed out dummy you call a QB, lose the loser coach and get some younger players in there that will play for the love of the game, believe's in the 'Team' concept and not just play for the money.Don't do this, and you will have confirmed that this team is just a tax write off. You just don't care Al Davis. You obnoxious old fart!

Raiders Lose: So what else is new?

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 01:49:41 GMT

The Raiders hosted the Colorado Ponies today...Oh, the Broncos. At any rate it didn't matter cause my Men In Black still lost, 31- 17 was the score, like you didn't already know. Kerry Collins really worked his arm today, maybe too much, connecting 26/50 for 310 yards. Not bad except he still likes guys on other teams. "Hey, in this play lets pass to Champ Bailey!". Kerry, C.B IS NOT A RAIDER. Let's keep it interesting though, "Let's pass to Nick Ferguson, but let him return for substantial yardage this time." Again, NOT A RAIDER! So that's two (2) INT's, one for 18 yards, the last returned for at least 20. But Kerry did see it in his heart to get the ball to someone on OUR SIDE to score a TD. Twice even. How gracious. The heartbreaker and momentum killer being the INT for an 80 yard TD. Again, Kerry, DARRENT WILLIAMS IS NOT A RAIDER!!!

I can't say the penalties were a deciding factor in this game, of course with the Raiders, we've come to expect at least four of 'em. We didn't dissappoint. 9 for 58 yards...GO TEAM!!! As for our defense, we were owned, just straight up owned. Plummer should have been plowed many times, yet he bloomed. I just can't see how we can even think about a winning streak starting with this kind of play. Sure, the Ponies were rested, no excuse. Maybe we were still reeling from that heartbreaker with K.C. Not sure, but we sure sucked today.

Next week, we face the Redskins in Washington. Maybe we can squeek out a win there. I still have hope cause there's still plenty of football left to this season. I just hope the Raiders pull it together from here on and realize that they can catch a spot in the playoffs. I know I know, who am I kiddin, right?

Raiders Scalped by Chiefs: 27 -23

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 22:11:38 GMT

Ohhh the pain of it all. Ok, enough whining. We lost, to a good team no doubt. This all went pretty even throuhout, but K.C. came up the victors. The Raiders had this game. All they had to do was hold the Chiefs down for two minutes. TWO FREAKIN MINUTES. Then game over and the Silver & Black go to .500, but for some reason due to the powers that be, that was not to happen. K.C. walked down the field and had 'TIE' in mind. Possibly overtime. I could deal with that. Maybe. Either way, Trent Green and Larry Johnson thought it a good idea to keep throwing the ball.

They found a weak spot in the Raider 'D' so Green and Johnson exploited that to the fullest. Down the middle, wide open, 36 yard gain to the Raider 1 yard line. I was so sick. They then (K.C.) turn around and score a TD and I was sicker. Is that possible? Yes. How could this happen? We got soft, thought we had this in pocket and let it happen. Raider God, where were you?

The Chiefs had more passing yards, more rushing yards and it all counted at their most critical times. They even intercepted Collins for a 13 yard return. They sure seemed happy about that one! Our 11 penalties for 92 yards just couldn't have been a factor now could it? Either way, we were just outplayed. Simple.

Next week the Raiders host the 6 - 2 Denver Broncos who have taken week 9 off after a convincing shalacking of the Eagles. Hopefully the Raiders will have gotten their heads out of their 4th point of contact by then. We'll see though.

Raiders vs. Chiefs

Sat, 05 Nov 2005 01:06:00 GMT

Once again, the Raiders take their show on the road against the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium in K.C. Looking back on last weeks game, it started all good, but the 2nd 'Q' came and the Raiders seemed to struggle some, trying to keep a determined Titans offense at bay the rest of the game.

Although Mr. Collins has a cannon for an arm, for the 3rd freakin year in a row I still say put Marques Tuiasosopo in there and let this man QB. He's already shown that he can do the job, even before Gannon got hurt. We're wasting our valuable talent in the Silver & Black camp. The Raiders come to this sunday's game with a 3-4 record, last in the AFC West. You know, I know and many others know that this could have and should have been better. K.C. is 4-3. It sure would be nice if both teams left the game with a 4-4 record each.

The last couple of games, Randy Moss has NOT been the star (yeah, right) and Kerry has had to divvy up the playing honors to other players (Jordan, Porter, Alvis Whitted, Randal Williams...etc). Team play? What a concept! I'm sure every team has their tandems, Raiders included. It seems that the other teams have a, uhhhh, balance! Yeah, that's it, balanced play.

In order for the Raiders to snatch another 'W', they're going to have to perform the way they did last sunday. But not stop in the 1st quarter, keep it going the whole game. Jump on K.C. quick and hard and keep the pressure on. I am confident that our defense is up to this task. They continually prove it. We need the offense to back it up. I look for Sapp and Cooper having another good day in the trenches. Press the QB, press the QB.

I look for Ted Washington and Bobby Hamilton to keep P. Holmes as far back behind the line of scrimmage as much as possible. I look for the Raiders as a whole to totally dominate this game, mentally as well as physically. You might not know this but there's much at stake for both teams. And this might all boil down to the coaches. Norvy Boy has never beaten Vermeil in a head to head contest. He can change this with a Raiders win. Both teams are injury prone coming into this game but the real test will be who will want this win. Statistically, the Silver & Black are a better team, we'd better show it!

I feel the Raiders (the team) are on to something. They'd really be on to something if they'd start Tui though. Either way, keep it together Raider Nation, we will PREVAIL.

GO RAIDERS

Raiders Spank the Titans

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 01:14:05 GMT

The food, the beer, the fans, halloween, histeria and the presence of Raider Nation in all it's glory. Yes, it's football time and everyone's pumped and primed. Oakland came to Tennessee today with a mission on their minds: WINNING! And that is exactly the message they got across to the Titanics and their hopeful following during the 1st Quarter. The Raiders scored 17 points quickly. Tenn. tried their best to keep it close. But the 6 sacks on 'Dead-air' McNair and the penalties the Titans commited kept them behind throughout. Someone committed more penalties than the Raiders? WOW!!!

No one could deny the fact that the Raiders were there to dominate. And they did. Warren Sapp, Bobby Hamilton and Ted Washington put much needed pressure on the Titan offensive line till they finally got to McNair. It seemed all they had to do is just stand up when the ball was snapped and wait for someone to try to run the ball their way. Sapp wrapped Steve 'McNut' up a couple of times for losses and made his presence felt up and down the line.

The Raider offense looks better this go around, but Collins just had to run the ball. Some folks just don't listen. He heard me when he went back through the tunnel at half time though. So it was back to handing off and passing. Moss STILL likes to throw his hand up when he 'thinks' he's open. Well, he got the ball thrown to him and what did he do with it? Ok, he caught it, but after that, THAT'S what i'm getting at. Jerry Porter scored 2 of the Raiders TDs, and L.Jordan caught one for 6.

This was a good game all around and hearing RAIDERS being chanted most of the game was very welcome to me. I feel that we needed to win this game so we'll have some sort of momentum when we play the Chiefs next week. Winning in Tenn today was the 1st road game in a long time for the Raiders to win. K.C. next week won't be as easy though. But until then, I get to go to work tomorrow (as expected) and rub RAIDER NATION all over the faces of the Titanic fans. Oh so good. Oh yeah, Archie, the Raiders won big boi!!!

RAIDERS ALL DAY LONG BABY

Raiders vs Titans: Looking forward to this one!

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 21:51:58 GMT

This is one of the games that I look forward to each year. Why? Cause I get to rub the Tennessee fans nose in dirt (or something else) after the game...PERSONALLY!!! Tension is up and excitement is in the air. Although the two teams are trying to endure a less than lustrous season, it's going to be a good game. I feel they're both equally matched but the Raiders need to come to this game with hunger for blood and the want to win. Oh, let's not forget the TEAM spirit. If memory serves me correct the Titans are favored to win this game. Why, cause it's in Tennessee? Give me a break!

Steve 'dead air' McNair is slotted to play so he can try to get that record of 150 passing TD's in a career. He'll get his record, just not this sunday. He does love to throw though, his 6 INT's this season proves that. He's also got a bad back and that'll have an impact if he even gets touched one time. As for the Raiders, we need to come healthy and strong. We need a game similar but better than last week. Our defense needs to give Steve 'dead air' a beat down he won't forget. We need to limit Brown and Henry on the run and play the receiving core close.

On the Raider offense: Kerry, DO NOT RUN THE BALL!!! Otherwise I'll fire you. That's why you've got Jordan and Crockett. Hard to figure out? Sorry bout the thumb dude. We've got some of the best receivers in the league. When they get the ball. Yeah, Moss might be ok too. Still up in the air bout that though. Either way, spread it out. If anything, the Titans 'Pacman' Jones will help us out with the wonerful way he commits penalties.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to this game cause I know the Raiders will win and I'll go to work Mondy morning wondering where all those Titanic fans are so they can get a well deserved razzin! It's gonna be close, it's gonna be good and it's gonna be a battle with the Raiders coming away with a convincing win. The Raider God say's "BOW DOWN, I'M COMING THROUGH".

RAIDERS WILL RULE SUNDAY

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT...

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:20:17 GMT

RAIDERS - 38, BILLS - 17 , I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!

When you're forced to do what you normally don't do, you win.

Basically, that's what happened today against the Bills. The Raiders tried their best to keep Moss's apperance a secret, but the Bills were ready anyway....somewhat, he was held to 43 yards but did score a touchdown. What normally doesn't happen? Collins had to use other players today. I think they're part of the Raiders organization too. Wouldn't know from the last few games though. Crockett and Jordan got some good play time with some touchdowns to go with it.

Janikowski couldn't miss his PAT's if he was blind folded. But we've gotta give the Raider 'D' a lot of credit in this game too. Sackin the Buff. QB three times, and in ONE GAME no doubt. So much pressure on Holcomb, that he tried to throw to what seemed everyone in the backfield for anyone to catch. The Raider 'D' made sure the running game would not be a factor and virtually shut down Buffalo's passing game.

This is the Raiders TEAM that I'm used to seeing. This is the Raiders TEAM that, when everyone is needed no matter what your name is, no matter what your stats are nor the reputation you bring everyone is part of the action. Hopefully this same TEAM will show up in Tennessee for next weeks game, not just Kerry, Randy and Norvy Boy. Oh, let's not forget Footballs Fabulous Females!!! For this win I must say.....................

GO RAIDERS

Buffalo vs. Oakland

Sat, 22 Oct 2005 14:13:58 GMT

Buffalo comes-a-calling with a 3-3 record, hoping to lift themselves to the top of their division by trouncing the 'Blind-leading-the-blind' Raiders. Unfortunately, it's a big possibility. I've never seen the Raiders this terrible in over 20 years. Yet, with a 1-4 record, they can actually come out of this with a winning season. Norv is calling this game a "Must win". Uhhh, Norvy, EVERY GAME IS A MUST WIN.

With the exception of the Chargers game, the Raiders have played their opponents pretty close, only to lose at their own doing. It's like they get to a point to really make a difference then a severe brain fart hits the whole team and they instantly reak of mental retardation, resulting in stupid penalties, Kerry throwing to......the other guys, fumbles...etc. You get the picture, right? If they excrete their gas before hitting the field, get into the game and stay there the whole game we can win this one.

Randy Moss is out for this game, maybe the rest of the season. Which is ok with me anyway. Kerry Collins is still starting QB and Norv is still head coach. I've always heard that if nothing changes, nothing changes. If we keep losing, we need to look at the 'whys'. Let's do some math real quick here: Offensive offense + Ineffective Defense = Losing Team. Real simple, right?

Why are the Colts undefeated at this point? They've made some drastic adjustments. Why are the Bills movin up? They've replaced QB's. (For the time being anyway) For the Raiders to start winning, they need a good wakeup call. Start replacing EVERYBODY! Get the younger, faster and stronger players and after just one season, you'll have a championship team. Get a coach that believes in the concept of 'Commitment To Excellence' and it can happen faster and last longer.

Does Al Davis have some sort of sentimental value in keeping the people he has or is this team just turning into some sort of tax write off for him? Only he knows that answer, if he has one. The Raiders can win this game IF they do their jobs, play like they want to win and keep the brain farts away. I hope they win but I can't call this one cause I feel it can go either way. Buffalo is coming to play and win. Will the Raiders be ready? Will they answer the call? One can onlyhope.