"You almost wanted to yank JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden out of this sad contest Monday night and let them go play for a real football team.
Oh what fun those two could have! (If they weren't stuck on the Raiders.)
You wanted to imagine what the giant young quarterback and the blistering rookie tailback could do if they had teammates who could catch, block, tackle and generally remain sane on the football field for a half or two.
You wanted to take these two enormous talents far away from this small, tiny, decaying, wretched franchise. Free JaMarcus and Darren!
You actually felt sorry for them while the humiliations piled up in this season opener (and basically, a season closer).
Because they couldn't save the Raiders against Denver, couldn't come close to preventing the nationally televised 41-14 debacle, and probably will see their talents wasted for as long as they remain with the Silver and Black.
This franchise just isn't built for good players anymore.
This franchise is about lame-duck coach Lane Kiffin, put on firing watch by halftime.
This franchise is about a defense that loaded up with big-money players in the off-season, yet couldn't come close to stopping Denver.
In fact, the Raiders defense featured high-priced cornerback DeAngelo Hall practically self-immolating with multiple personal fouls and a repeated roasting by rookie Denver receiver Eddie Royal.
This franchise is about
egregiously overpaying former Bronco Javon Walker, who couldn't make it into uniform for this one.
This franchise is about dumb penalties, missed tackles, dropped passes and no help at all for young potential superstars.
This franchise is about Al Davis, mostly. It's all about him. He will blame others, but this is his creation.
This franchise, quite frankly, does not deserve Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, and McFadden, taken fourth this April.
Put even more frankly: By all indications, this franchise is going to do its best to ruin Russell and McFadden as swiftly and as painfully as possible.
And it's starting. Folks, the ruining is already starting.
"When things don't happen to go too good for the team, you kind of wish you did more," said Russell, who completed 17 of 26 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns and did not throw an interception. "But I did pretty good."
Russell, in fact, put up a 111.1 passer rating, without much assistance from his receivers or blockers.
Kiffin singled out Russell for praise amid the debris, though "I know it's hard to imagine in a game like that," he said. The coach (for now) specifically mentioned Russell's leading the team to two touchdowns when the game was long over.
How is Russell supposed to learn NFL quarterback play when his starting receivers are Ronald (Too Slow) Curry and Ashley (Cut by the 49ers) Lelie?
For sure, Russell experienced bumps of his own Monday, including his lost fumble deep in Denver territory in the first quarter when the Raiders looked like they were driving to a 7-7 tie.
After dropping the ball as he prepared a long lateral to McFadden, Russell clanged himself on his helmet in a fit of frustration and was quickly consoled by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp on the sideline.
But Russell also fired some laser-shot mid- and long-range passes that would have done John Elway or Warren Moon proud.
It just didn't matter. Bad or good, anything by Russell didn't matter in this game. Won't matter much this season.
How is McFadden supposed to turn into Bo Jackson when his blockers commit holding penalties and his offensive unit can't keep it together long enough to get close to the end zone?
McFadden, who left the game with an apparent shoulder injury in the second half but said afterward he was fine, never quite broke off the huge explosive run against Denver.
That won't matter. Well, maybe it will matter in the difference between 2-14 and 3-13, if that floats your boat.
It's not Russell and McFadden's fault that they could not save the Raiders on Monday night.
They're young. They're just starting. They're fighting the tide of history and the deep stench of prolonged franchise decay.
It's not their fault. But I've got a bad feeling that they're the ones who are going to feel it the most over the next three, four or 10 years."
Really had high hopes for DMAC this year but it's hard to argue these points..ugh
Oh what fun those two could have! (If they weren't stuck on the Raiders.)
You wanted to imagine what the giant young quarterback and the blistering rookie tailback could do if they had teammates who could catch, block, tackle and generally remain sane on the football field for a half or two.
You wanted to take these two enormous talents far away from this small, tiny, decaying, wretched franchise. Free JaMarcus and Darren!
You actually felt sorry for them while the humiliations piled up in this season opener (and basically, a season closer).
Because they couldn't save the Raiders against Denver, couldn't come close to preventing the nationally televised 41-14 debacle, and probably will see their talents wasted for as long as they remain with the Silver and Black.
This franchise just isn't built for good players anymore.
This franchise is about lame-duck coach Lane Kiffin, put on firing watch by halftime.
This franchise is about a defense that loaded up with big-money players in the off-season, yet couldn't come close to stopping Denver.
In fact, the Raiders defense featured high-priced cornerback DeAngelo Hall practically self-immolating with multiple personal fouls and a repeated roasting by rookie Denver receiver Eddie Royal.
This franchise is about
egregiously overpaying former Bronco Javon Walker, who couldn't make it into uniform for this one.
This franchise is about dumb penalties, missed tackles, dropped passes and no help at all for young potential superstars.
This franchise is about Al Davis, mostly. It's all about him. He will blame others, but this is his creation.
This franchise, quite frankly, does not deserve Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, and McFadden, taken fourth this April.
Put even more frankly: By all indications, this franchise is going to do its best to ruin Russell and McFadden as swiftly and as painfully as possible.
And it's starting. Folks, the ruining is already starting.
"When things don't happen to go too good for the team, you kind of wish you did more," said Russell, who completed 17 of 26 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns and did not throw an interception. "But I did pretty good."
Russell, in fact, put up a 111.1 passer rating, without much assistance from his receivers or blockers.
Kiffin singled out Russell for praise amid the debris, though "I know it's hard to imagine in a game like that," he said. The coach (for now) specifically mentioned Russell's leading the team to two touchdowns when the game was long over.
How is Russell supposed to learn NFL quarterback play when his starting receivers are Ronald (Too Slow) Curry and Ashley (Cut by the 49ers) Lelie?
For sure, Russell experienced bumps of his own Monday, including his lost fumble deep in Denver territory in the first quarter when the Raiders looked like they were driving to a 7-7 tie.
After dropping the ball as he prepared a long lateral to McFadden, Russell clanged himself on his helmet in a fit of frustration and was quickly consoled by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp on the sideline.
But Russell also fired some laser-shot mid- and long-range passes that would have done John Elway or Warren Moon proud.
It just didn't matter. Bad or good, anything by Russell didn't matter in this game. Won't matter much this season.
How is McFadden supposed to turn into Bo Jackson when his blockers commit holding penalties and his offensive unit can't keep it together long enough to get close to the end zone?
McFadden, who left the game with an apparent shoulder injury in the second half but said afterward he was fine, never quite broke off the huge explosive run against Denver.
That won't matter. Well, maybe it will matter in the difference between 2-14 and 3-13, if that floats your boat.
It's not Russell and McFadden's fault that they could not save the Raiders on Monday night.
They're young. They're just starting. They're fighting the tide of history and the deep stench of prolonged franchise decay.
It's not their fault. But I've got a bad feeling that they're the ones who are going to feel it the most over the next three, four or 10 years."
Really had high hopes for DMAC this year but it's hard to argue these points..ugh
) in the Herschel Walker trade...Other than that, it's exactly the same.
) in the Herschel Walker trade...Other than that, it's exactly the same.
ouch
In all seriousness, the Raiders will be a franchise again when they pry it from Al's cold(er), dead(er) fingers. Until then they're a product of an 80-something's dementia, and that very much shows on the field.
blink-blink
) in the Herschel Walker trade...Other than that, it's exactly the same.
) in the Herschel Walker trade...Other than that, it's exactly the same.
