**Oakland Raiders 2010 offseason Thread**
- Thread starter Joey
- Start date
Raiders signed RB/KR Rock Cartwright to a one-year contract.
Cartwright, 30, averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 16 games last season, starting two late in the year before losing his spot on the depth chart to the similarly pedestrian Quinton Ganther. Cartwright also lacks homerun speed in the kick return department. Ideally, he won't see the field much in Oakland.
Cartwright, 30, averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 16 games last season, starting two late in the year before losing his spot on the depth chart to the similarly pedestrian Quinton Ganther. Cartwright also lacks homerun speed in the kick return department. Ideally, he won't see the field much in Oakland.
quinton ganther is a decent backup rb, not all rbs have "home-run" speed lol...if the titans backfield wasnt so crowded last year i would of hella wanted the titans to keep him, he isnt the first round pick mcfadden is or the highlite reel back that bush is, but
good special teams guy, high energy, good character.....players like that oakland needs
good special teams guy, high energy, good character.....players like that oakland needs
Not really understanding the Cartwright signing....he's basically 3rd string RB at best and we have about 6 dudes that can return KO's and Punts....
Faneca won't even consider oakland i bet.....he's older and probably wants to get a ring before he retires and as happy as I am about the recent moves it's not like we're a year or two away.....
Faneca won't even consider oakland i bet.....he's older and probably wants to get a ring before he retires and as happy as I am about the recent moves it's not like we're a year or two away.....
Monte Poole: Raiders owner Al Davis finally sees light, hitches wagon with Tom Cable, not JaMarcus Russell
By Monte Poole
Oakland Tribune columnist
In the abstract power struggle between embattled Raiders coach Tom Cable and beleaguered franchise quarterback JaMarcus Russell, we have a winner.
It's Cable. Not because he was so impressive but because he was more committed.
He survived multiple allegations of bullying and owns the worst overall record of any coach ever retained by Al Davis for a new season. Yet Cable never stopped working. He's still around because he has done more to impress the boss — fairly easy given that his "competition," Russell, continues to struggle with personal demons.
But there's another factor. Though Davis is as willful and stubborn as ever, he continues to learn. And his latest lesson came from Russell.
In 2007, with the Raiders coming off their worst season in 44 years under Davis, the boss vowed to rebuild. Glimpsing Russell's skills and physical attributes, Al perceived the LSU star as his ticket to multiple Super Bowls. It was a matter of matching him with the right coach, a young coach who knew quarterbacks.
Davis hired Lane Kiffin, who along with several others in the building were unimpressed with Russell's intangibles. Al didn't budge. When Kiffin tried to sell his boss on wideout Calvin Johnson, Al took JaMarcus. Davis believed what he believed. He was evaluating players before Kiffin was born. Al went with his gut, trusted only himself.
Then 77, Davis was convinced he finally had found the coach and QB who could deliver
a few thrills to the aging owner who spends every waking hour yearning for two more Super Bowl championships.
And Russell turns out to be everything Kiffin had warned about. JaMarcus is soft and spongy and lazy and ambivalent about being a leader. More than a year after Davis fired Kiffin and gave Russell a vote of confidence, JaMarcus was being outplayed by backups Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye.
How could such profound disappointment not puncture the spirit of even the hardiest octogenarian?
Being burned by JaMarcus sent a strong message to Al from Al, that he was wrong and might gain by listening to those on his payroll.
The popular belief, that Al never changes, never was accurate. After making a habit of promoting assistants to head coach, Davis in 1988 lured Mike Shanahan from Denver. Davis hired Jon Gruden a decade later, even though Al didn't share Jon's affinity for the West Coast offense. When Gruden sought permission in 1999 to hire Rich Gannon, a journeyman with an average arm but solid intangibles, Al signed off on the move.
There was, of course, the usual caveat: Just win.
So it's not that Davis never changes. It's that he has to be gently nudged toward other viewpoints and he has to very clearly see the need to listen.
After seven years on the skids, after the Kiffin fiasco followed the Art Shell disaster, after it was apparent his trust in Russell had been misplaced, Davis very clearly saw the need for a new approach. He tried to impress himself and everybody around him, investing much of his money and reputation in JaMarcus, and it blew up in his face.
His team was losing, and nobody on the field could be blamed more than Russell.
For months we've seen indicators of an organization with fresh sets of eyes. There was the visionary hiring of Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator, a title Al usually avoids. There was Jackson's influence in the acquisition of journeyman QB Kyle Boller; the two worked together in Baltimore. There was the draft in which the Raiders operated as if Davis was, well, a consultant.
When Shanahan and former Raiders executive Bruce Allen called from Washington offering Jason Campbell, Davis suppressed his vanity and authorized the deal. If it means releasing Russell, so be it.
Who can blame Al for not wanting to be remembered as the legend who cast his lot with JaMarcus Russell?
Yet the old, recalcitrant Al likely would have chosen Russell over Cable. He would have fired Cable after the season, even if no replacement had been identified. The accusations of domestic violence and the claims of assault by assistant coach Randy Hanson would have teed up the coach, and his 9-19 record would have finished him off.
But Davis stayed with the man who has given more to the franchise. He stayed with Cable, though Jackson provides insurance.
That Al kept his ego out of the equation has to be most welcome news for the long-suffering Raiders and their demoralized fans.
By Monte Poole
Oakland Tribune columnist
In the abstract power struggle between embattled Raiders coach Tom Cable and beleaguered franchise quarterback JaMarcus Russell, we have a winner.
It's Cable. Not because he was so impressive but because he was more committed.
He survived multiple allegations of bullying and owns the worst overall record of any coach ever retained by Al Davis for a new season. Yet Cable never stopped working. He's still around because he has done more to impress the boss — fairly easy given that his "competition," Russell, continues to struggle with personal demons.
But there's another factor. Though Davis is as willful and stubborn as ever, he continues to learn. And his latest lesson came from Russell.
In 2007, with the Raiders coming off their worst season in 44 years under Davis, the boss vowed to rebuild. Glimpsing Russell's skills and physical attributes, Al perceived the LSU star as his ticket to multiple Super Bowls. It was a matter of matching him with the right coach, a young coach who knew quarterbacks.
Davis hired Lane Kiffin, who along with several others in the building were unimpressed with Russell's intangibles. Al didn't budge. When Kiffin tried to sell his boss on wideout Calvin Johnson, Al took JaMarcus. Davis believed what he believed. He was evaluating players before Kiffin was born. Al went with his gut, trusted only himself.
Then 77, Davis was convinced he finally had found the coach and QB who could deliver
a few thrills to the aging owner who spends every waking hour yearning for two more Super Bowl championships.
And Russell turns out to be everything Kiffin had warned about. JaMarcus is soft and spongy and lazy and ambivalent about being a leader. More than a year after Davis fired Kiffin and gave Russell a vote of confidence, JaMarcus was being outplayed by backups Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye.
How could such profound disappointment not puncture the spirit of even the hardiest octogenarian?
Being burned by JaMarcus sent a strong message to Al from Al, that he was wrong and might gain by listening to those on his payroll.
The popular belief, that Al never changes, never was accurate. After making a habit of promoting assistants to head coach, Davis in 1988 lured Mike Shanahan from Denver. Davis hired Jon Gruden a decade later, even though Al didn't share Jon's affinity for the West Coast offense. When Gruden sought permission in 1999 to hire Rich Gannon, a journeyman with an average arm but solid intangibles, Al signed off on the move.
There was, of course, the usual caveat: Just win.
So it's not that Davis never changes. It's that he has to be gently nudged toward other viewpoints and he has to very clearly see the need to listen.
After seven years on the skids, after the Kiffin fiasco followed the Art Shell disaster, after it was apparent his trust in Russell had been misplaced, Davis very clearly saw the need for a new approach. He tried to impress himself and everybody around him, investing much of his money and reputation in JaMarcus, and it blew up in his face.
His team was losing, and nobody on the field could be blamed more than Russell.
For months we've seen indicators of an organization with fresh sets of eyes. There was the visionary hiring of Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator, a title Al usually avoids. There was Jackson's influence in the acquisition of journeyman QB Kyle Boller; the two worked together in Baltimore. There was the draft in which the Raiders operated as if Davis was, well, a consultant.
When Shanahan and former Raiders executive Bruce Allen called from Washington offering Jason Campbell, Davis suppressed his vanity and authorized the deal. If it means releasing Russell, so be it.
Who can blame Al for not wanting to be remembered as the legend who cast his lot with JaMarcus Russell?
Yet the old, recalcitrant Al likely would have chosen Russell over Cable. He would have fired Cable after the season, even if no replacement had been identified. The accusations of domestic violence and the claims of assault by assistant coach Randy Hanson would have teed up the coach, and his 9-19 record would have finished him off.
But Davis stayed with the man who has given more to the franchise. He stayed with Cable, though Jackson provides insurance.
That Al kept his ego out of the equation has to be most welcome news for the long-suffering Raiders and their demoralized fans.
everyone (including myself) always said the Raiders will never be able to win with Al Davis running the team... I think this past draft proved that theory wrong
obviously a good draft doesn't automatically = wins... but the draft showed Al CAN change, the team is taking steps in the right direction
I give Cable all the credit in the world... some how, some way... he got through to old Al... I'm happy more than ever that we kept him on as head coach
obviously a good draft doesn't automatically = wins... but the draft showed Al CAN change, the team is taking steps in the right direction
I give Cable all the credit in the world... some how, some way... he got through to old Al... I'm happy more than ever that we kept him on as head coach
coppin season tickets tomorow, went to every game last year but I dont wanna pay through the roof for playoff tickets. I came up at the Casino tonight so its a rap. Ima get tickets to the game in SF tom too cuz I know there gonna go through the roof later on. Ima get shitty ass seats and just move down every game like I did last year cuz no one goes and the ushers dont give a fuck.
I think Al Davis passed out during the draft, and everyone else took care of business lol Just Kidding! Yall had a good draft day. I hope we will still beat yall this season, though.
And it's a damn shame y'all lost a loyal ass fan, in Tony. He is one of the best fans that I know of. Sorry y'all lost him. Losing him would be like losing JaMarcus Russell...oh wait...n/m :cheeky:
And it's a damn shame y'all lost a loyal ass fan, in Tony. He is one of the best fans that I know of. Sorry y'all lost him. Losing him would be like losing JaMarcus Russell...oh wait...n/m :cheeky:
