OAKLAND RAIDERS OFFSEASON THREAD
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yeah we'll see i guess. he took the SB loss the best out of all of em i thought. like i said in another post he was praising the shit the giants did correct instead of sayin we lost because of what we did and i found that very mature. i mean 10 yrs in maybe he doesnt want to be knwon for that shit anymore. but then again we'll wait and see. hopefuklly my team always wins so i wont have to worry lol
yeah, saying playoffs this season is just stupid, its possible, but getting way ahead of ourselves.
what a difference a year makes? it was just last year that he was the big crybaby throwing tantrums and giving up on plays, and that foo was supposed to be the captain.....I think that foo is a good player but if the team isn't doing hella well he ain't gonna put no effort in, and he'll act a ass
what a difference a year makes? it was just last year that he was the big crybaby throwing tantrums and giving up on plays, and that foo was supposed to be the captain.....I think that foo is a good player but if the team isn't doing hella well he ain't gonna put no effort in, and he'll act a ass
Moss was considered a big risk draft day and the vikings took him becuz his older cousin was an offensive lineman and kept an eye on him... rmember when minnesota(the team that gave him his break.) went 15-1?? No probs...they start losing and he bitches out..just like with the raiders and once he gets unhappy in new england(fewer passes his way, less time on the field,losses) you'll see..dude has been an adult his whole time in the NFL. But will act like a fuckin high school girl when he doesn't get his way..I hoped it wouldnt be that way in oakland but he showed us different...with hall never heard too much about him with giving up or off field incidents..we made the right move and Defy is right once we start winning we won't have to dish out 50 mil contarcts to get players.....
Silence from Raiders is deafening
GOOD WITH words, possessing a touch of flamboyance, DeAngelo Hall is the kind of marquee player whose visibility would give the Raiders something they desperately need and say they want.
Namely, good publicity.
By all accounts, the Raiders newest acquisition is eager to introduce himself through the local media. Do some TV, be heard on radio, get his comments and his picture in the papers. Maybe give the fan a reason to feel better about this uncomfortable and profoundly expensive offseason.
Through his first four days as a Raider, the 24-year-old cornerback has seen the halls of the Alameda facility and parts of the Bay Area but spent not a minute conveying his joy to the general public.
Which might have something to do with the live grenade that is Lane Kiffin's status.
While the NFL is abuzz with discussion over Kiffin's predicament, with endless conjecture about his future, the coach has been rather silent. No official response to the Gentle Shove, wherein owner Al Davis essentially invited Lane to leave. No official comment on the Rob Ryan fiasco, wherein Rob was prepared to move on, with Lane's blessing, only to be retained by Al. Zipped lips regarding the hiring of James Lofton, wherein Lane discovered Lofton was an assistant coach for the Raiders. Kiffin has been mute about the Great Gear flap, wherein he opted not to wear his customary Raiders attire while coaching at the Super Bowl.
While 49ers coach Mike Nolan roams the studios
of the NFL Network, getting valuable camera time, saving face after an organizational "shakeup," Kiff's profile is lower than that of the assistant basketball coach at the local community college.
The focus, instead, is on Al. How he's betting the house. How — by committing to roughly a quarter-billion dollars in new contracts — he's spending like with utter disregard to anything beyond 2008.
Which leaves the Raiders to figure out what to do about a head coach whose authority has been usurped, perhaps irreparably, but shows no desire to leave simply because the door is open.
If Al wants Kiffin gone, find $3 million or $4 million to pay off his contract. The parade of wealthy new Raiders is proof the boss will spend for the right cause. If Al trusts himself enough to pay Kwame Harris $14 million over three years to protect JaMarcus Russell's blind side — yes, Harris is pencilled in at left tackle — Al ought to trust himself enough to find a coach he can respect.
But if Al wants to keep Kiff and give this union the slightest chance to be successful, he would have to undo much of what has been done.
For it's virtually impossible for a coach to succeed when he has been kneecapped from above. When Warren Sapp, who in retirement has nothing to risk, can say the Raiders are back to wondering who's in charge.
To the contrary, QB Killa, everybody knows who's in charge.
The same guy who signed Jeff George, then personally introduced him in 1997. The guy who signed Sapp. The guy who signed Derrick Burgess and LaMont Jordan and Ray Buchanan and Kerry Collins and Trace Armstrong and Rod Woodson and Eric Allen and the late Eric Turner and Jeff George and Desmond Howard and Larry Brown — to name some of the big-splash free agents since the team returned to Oakland in 1995.
Many of these players were introduced in surroundings befitting a major announcement. Lots of cameras, dozens of reporters, satellite trucks parked outside. Al and/or his head coach sharing the stage with the new man.
How, exactly, would that work now?
Would the Raiders put Hall on display next to Kiffin? Lane wasn't even quoted in the original release announcing Hall's signing.
Would they keep Lane behind the curtain and pair the brash cornerback with Al? Davis, after all, is said to have made Hall such a high priority that he was personally involved in the negotiations.
Do they pair Hall with Ryan? Since Rob runs the defense and Hall is on that unit, this would be another chance to put the head coach in his place.
Or do they place Hall on stage between Al and Lane? You know, a show of organizational harmony, complete with frozen smiles, votes of confidence and maybe a few flying chest bumps.
This illustrates the hole in the theory that projects a revival in the wake of Al's Big Giveaway. As Washington owner Daniel Snyder might tell you, winning is less about spending sprees than having practical, creative, sure-handed, daily leadership.
The Raiders instead have a severely compromised head coach trying to develop an inexperienced quarterback, while supervising a defensive coordinator he likely would have replaced, while trying to avoid contact with the boss and hope to be heard by his players.
Which leaves the Raiders to decide how to present Hall, who is willing to promote the brand. The desire for this was made clear by the Raiders in a recent meeting with executives of this newspaper.
What they discovered is organizational turmoil
GOOD WITH words, possessing a touch of flamboyance, DeAngelo Hall is the kind of marquee player whose visibility would give the Raiders something they desperately need and say they want.
Namely, good publicity.
By all accounts, the Raiders newest acquisition is eager to introduce himself through the local media. Do some TV, be heard on radio, get his comments and his picture in the papers. Maybe give the fan a reason to feel better about this uncomfortable and profoundly expensive offseason.
Through his first four days as a Raider, the 24-year-old cornerback has seen the halls of the Alameda facility and parts of the Bay Area but spent not a minute conveying his joy to the general public.
Which might have something to do with the live grenade that is Lane Kiffin's status.
While the NFL is abuzz with discussion over Kiffin's predicament, with endless conjecture about his future, the coach has been rather silent. No official response to the Gentle Shove, wherein owner Al Davis essentially invited Lane to leave. No official comment on the Rob Ryan fiasco, wherein Rob was prepared to move on, with Lane's blessing, only to be retained by Al. Zipped lips regarding the hiring of James Lofton, wherein Lane discovered Lofton was an assistant coach for the Raiders. Kiffin has been mute about the Great Gear flap, wherein he opted not to wear his customary Raiders attire while coaching at the Super Bowl.
While 49ers coach Mike Nolan roams the studios
of the NFL Network, getting valuable camera time, saving face after an organizational "shakeup," Kiff's profile is lower than that of the assistant basketball coach at the local community college.
The focus, instead, is on Al. How he's betting the house. How — by committing to roughly a quarter-billion dollars in new contracts — he's spending like with utter disregard to anything beyond 2008.
Which leaves the Raiders to figure out what to do about a head coach whose authority has been usurped, perhaps irreparably, but shows no desire to leave simply because the door is open.
If Al wants Kiffin gone, find $3 million or $4 million to pay off his contract. The parade of wealthy new Raiders is proof the boss will spend for the right cause. If Al trusts himself enough to pay Kwame Harris $14 million over three years to protect JaMarcus Russell's blind side — yes, Harris is pencilled in at left tackle — Al ought to trust himself enough to find a coach he can respect.
But if Al wants to keep Kiff and give this union the slightest chance to be successful, he would have to undo much of what has been done.
For it's virtually impossible for a coach to succeed when he has been kneecapped from above. When Warren Sapp, who in retirement has nothing to risk, can say the Raiders are back to wondering who's in charge.
To the contrary, QB Killa, everybody knows who's in charge.
The same guy who signed Jeff George, then personally introduced him in 1997. The guy who signed Sapp. The guy who signed Derrick Burgess and LaMont Jordan and Ray Buchanan and Kerry Collins and Trace Armstrong and Rod Woodson and Eric Allen and the late Eric Turner and Jeff George and Desmond Howard and Larry Brown — to name some of the big-splash free agents since the team returned to Oakland in 1995.
Many of these players were introduced in surroundings befitting a major announcement. Lots of cameras, dozens of reporters, satellite trucks parked outside. Al and/or his head coach sharing the stage with the new man.
How, exactly, would that work now?
Would the Raiders put Hall on display next to Kiffin? Lane wasn't even quoted in the original release announcing Hall's signing.
Would they keep Lane behind the curtain and pair the brash cornerback with Al? Davis, after all, is said to have made Hall such a high priority that he was personally involved in the negotiations.
Do they pair Hall with Ryan? Since Rob runs the defense and Hall is on that unit, this would be another chance to put the head coach in his place.
Or do they place Hall on stage between Al and Lane? You know, a show of organizational harmony, complete with frozen smiles, votes of confidence and maybe a few flying chest bumps.
This illustrates the hole in the theory that projects a revival in the wake of Al's Big Giveaway. As Washington owner Daniel Snyder might tell you, winning is less about spending sprees than having practical, creative, sure-handed, daily leadership.
The Raiders instead have a severely compromised head coach trying to develop an inexperienced quarterback, while supervising a defensive coordinator he likely would have replaced, while trying to avoid contact with the boss and hope to be heard by his players.
Which leaves the Raiders to decide how to present Hall, who is willing to promote the brand. The desire for this was made clear by the Raiders in a recent meeting with executives of this newspaper.
What they discovered is organizational turmoil
The Raiders instead have a severely compromised head coach trying to develop an inexperienced quarterback, while supervising a defensive coordinator he likely would have replaced, while trying to avoid contact with the boss and hope to be heard by his players.
Unfortunately, that describes our franchise to a tee......
Unfortunately, that describes our franchise to a tee......
West’s best offseason
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 5:36 pm in Oakland Raiders.
You want good news?
The Raiders have had the best offseason of any team in the AFC West.
There. That wasn’t so hard.
Of course, the Raiders are the only team that has done anything of note in the division, so bringing in DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker, Gibril Wilson and even Kwame Harris and Drew Carter makes it a veritable landslide no matter what you think of how much they paid.
The losses _ wide receiver Jerry Porter, defensive end Chris Clemons, defensive lineman Tyler Brayton and quarteback Josh McCown _ were more than offset by the gains. They also managed to bring back Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes and Tommy Kelly, and the first two came at extremely reasonable prices.
Division play happened to be one of Oakland’s best areas of progress last season. Until faced with the murderer’s row final four of Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and San Diego, Oakland’s back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Broncos were one of the most positive developments of the past few seasons.
The Broncos have signed LB Boss Bailey, WR Keary Colbert, LB Niko Koutovides, S Marquand Manuel, S Marlon McCree, RB Cecil Sapp and C Casey Wiegmann.
Wiegmann has been a solid center for a long time _ possibly too long. Bailey never seemed to realize his ability in Detroit. Colbert is a No. 2 receiver at best.
The Broncos wanted no part of Walker, deciding the $5.4 bonus was too much for an unhappy player with a history of knee trouble. That risk was assumed by the Raiders at a much higher price. Denver might have second thoughts if Walker regains his form, because Brandon Marshall, the talented receiver who replaced him, has a serious right arm injury sustained in a mysterious accident.
Losing kicker Jason Elam will cost them a game. Based on recent history, it could come against Oakland.
San Diego remains the top team in the division, but they’re only significant addition is linebacker Derrick Smith, a solid if slow linebacker the 49ers didn’t want who could fit nicely as an inside linebacker. Gone is Michael Turner, a valuable No. 2 running back behind LaDainian Tomlinson.
More important to Tomlinson, fullback Lorenzo Neal was released. Count on Tomlinson to lobby hard to bring back his body guard.
As for the Chiefs, who look to be the worst team in the division by a considerable margin, they re-signed punter Dustin Colquitt, and have done little else.
Searching for QBs
Not surprising Quinn Gray signed with someone other than the Raiders. He has aspirations of being a No. 1 quarterback and JaMarcus Russell’s future begins in earnest this season. He’s got a better chance of beating out Sage Rosenfels and Matt Schaub.
But it leaves the Raiders in search of another quarterback to go with Russell and Andrew Walter. According to the Fresno Bee, Trent Dilfer has been contacted.
If that’s the case, he may be better suited as No. 3 and a mentor, because frankly, I’d take my chances with Walter if Russell went down.
Bad day across the bay
I was pretty dismissive of tampering charges in general a few weeks back after getting an up close look at it going right out in the open at the NFL scouting combine.
It’s bad enough that the 49ers got caught tampering. It’s even worse that they got caught tampering with a player they didn’t even get. Lance Briggs is still with the Chicago Bears.
Profootballtalk.com believes it’s the first enforced tampering charge since the Miami Dolphins lost a first-round pick when it hired Don Shula away from the Baltimore Colts 38 years ago.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 5:36 pm in Oakland Raiders.
You want good news?
The Raiders have had the best offseason of any team in the AFC West.
There. That wasn’t so hard.
Of course, the Raiders are the only team that has done anything of note in the division, so bringing in DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker, Gibril Wilson and even Kwame Harris and Drew Carter makes it a veritable landslide no matter what you think of how much they paid.
The losses _ wide receiver Jerry Porter, defensive end Chris Clemons, defensive lineman Tyler Brayton and quarteback Josh McCown _ were more than offset by the gains. They also managed to bring back Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes and Tommy Kelly, and the first two came at extremely reasonable prices.
Division play happened to be one of Oakland’s best areas of progress last season. Until faced with the murderer’s row final four of Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and San Diego, Oakland’s back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Broncos were one of the most positive developments of the past few seasons.
The Broncos have signed LB Boss Bailey, WR Keary Colbert, LB Niko Koutovides, S Marquand Manuel, S Marlon McCree, RB Cecil Sapp and C Casey Wiegmann.
Wiegmann has been a solid center for a long time _ possibly too long. Bailey never seemed to realize his ability in Detroit. Colbert is a No. 2 receiver at best.
The Broncos wanted no part of Walker, deciding the $5.4 bonus was too much for an unhappy player with a history of knee trouble. That risk was assumed by the Raiders at a much higher price. Denver might have second thoughts if Walker regains his form, because Brandon Marshall, the talented receiver who replaced him, has a serious right arm injury sustained in a mysterious accident.
Losing kicker Jason Elam will cost them a game. Based on recent history, it could come against Oakland.
San Diego remains the top team in the division, but they’re only significant addition is linebacker Derrick Smith, a solid if slow linebacker the 49ers didn’t want who could fit nicely as an inside linebacker. Gone is Michael Turner, a valuable No. 2 running back behind LaDainian Tomlinson.
More important to Tomlinson, fullback Lorenzo Neal was released. Count on Tomlinson to lobby hard to bring back his body guard.
As for the Chiefs, who look to be the worst team in the division by a considerable margin, they re-signed punter Dustin Colquitt, and have done little else.
Searching for QBs
Not surprising Quinn Gray signed with someone other than the Raiders. He has aspirations of being a No. 1 quarterback and JaMarcus Russell’s future begins in earnest this season. He’s got a better chance of beating out Sage Rosenfels and Matt Schaub.
But it leaves the Raiders in search of another quarterback to go with Russell and Andrew Walter. According to the Fresno Bee, Trent Dilfer has been contacted.
If that’s the case, he may be better suited as No. 3 and a mentor, because frankly, I’d take my chances with Walter if Russell went down.
Bad day across the bay
I was pretty dismissive of tampering charges in general a few weeks back after getting an up close look at it going right out in the open at the NFL scouting combine.
It’s bad enough that the 49ers got caught tampering. It’s even worse that they got caught tampering with a player they didn’t even get. Lance Briggs is still with the Chicago Bears.
Profootballtalk.com believes it’s the first enforced tampering charge since the Miami Dolphins lost a first-round pick when it hired Don Shula away from the Baltimore Colts 38 years ago.
If Al wants Kiffin gone, find $3 million or $4 million to pay off his contract. The parade of wealthy new Raiders is proof the boss will spend for the right cause. If Al trusts himself enough to pay Kwame Harris $14 million over three years to protect JaMarcus Russell's blind side — yes, Harris is pencilled in at left tackle — Al ought to trust himself enough to find a coach he can respect.
LOL
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LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jamarcus will be a bust for sure!
Thanks Raiders, For blowing another 1st rounders career, LOL @ getting Kwame "the human penalty" Harris and having him start to protect jamarcus' blindside
LOL
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LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jamarcus will be a bust for sure!
Thanks Raiders, For blowing another 1st rounders career, LOL @ getting Kwame "the human penalty" Harris and having him start to protect jamarcus' blindside
HE MIGHT TAKE SOME LUMPS.. BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE SOMEONE A BUST AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. LET ME PREEMPTIVELY STRIKE AND BRING UP SOMEONE LIKE DAVID CARR WHO TOOK A GANG OF SACKS TO THE POINT IT SHOOK HIM UP AND DAMAGED HIS CAREER. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALLREADY MADE IT CLEAR, IF HARRIS FUCKS UP HE'LL GET BENCHED THEN CUT. ALL WE NEED IS MEDIOCRE LINEMAN IN OUR ZONE BLOCKING SYSTEM ANYWAY, SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GOOD EITHER WAY.
THIS SHIT JUST SOUNDS LIKE WISHFUL THINKING ON YOUR BEHALF. IF RUSSELL IS A BUST HE'S A BUST BECAUSE OF HIM. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF KWAME HARRIS.
BUT HE'S NOT GONNA BE A BUST. BELIEVE THAT.
THIS SHIT JUST SOUNDS LIKE WISHFUL THINKING ON YOUR BEHALF. IF RUSSELL IS A BUST HE'S A BUST BECAUSE OF HIM. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF KWAME HARRIS.
BUT HE'S NOT GONNA BE A BUST. BELIEVE THAT.
Marshall Faulk's insight on the raiders. Its around the middle of the video.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d807654ec
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d807654ec
Deangelo Hall ... after the trade
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 25, 2008
TWO-TIME PRO BOWL CORNERBACK DeAngelo Hall was traded to the Oakland Raiders last week from the Atlanta Falcons, where Hall had a run-in last season with former coach Bobby Petrino. The bad behavior, including a sideline shouting match, and inflammatory comments cost Hall $100,000 in fines and fanned his reputation as a problem player.
That hardly bothered the Raiders. They sealed the deal - they gave up two draft choices - by handing Hall and his local agent, Alvin Keels, a contract extension worth $70 million over seven seasons.
An extra bonus for Hall, who attended Chesapeake's Deep Creek High and Virginia Tech? His defensive backs coach in Oakland will be Darren Perry, a former NFL star also out of Deep Creek.
"He was the lead guy, showing me around, taking me to dinner," said Hall, who has made 17 interceptions in four years and scored three touchdowns. "Darren fought for me to get out there, and I'm there."
Hall talked to The Virginian-Pilot columnist Tom Robinson about his time with the Falcons and his future. Here's what Hall said.
When you say it, it does seem like a lot - seven (years) for $70 million. But I mean, the numbers are things you never really worry about. You fight for them when you're in negotiations and you see what other guys are getting and you know you're better than that guy, and you want more than him. But once it gets done and it's time to play football that's what it is, it's time to play football.
I'm just relieved, happy to be out of a bad situation in Atlanta. A situation that wasn't the right fit for me. I'm happy to go to Oakland where I'm wanted, to team up with (cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha), create a great secondary.
I think you can argue me and Nnamdi will probably be the two best corners ever to team up, side by side. We obviously haven't done it yet together, but we're both in the prime of our careers. I'm a Pro Bowl player, he's a Pro Bowl player. It's just going to be great to have another guy alongside me that I feel confident can hold his own weight. I don't have to worry about teams avoiding me, because they can't avoid both of us.
One day (Raiders owner) Al Davis and I talked contract and football for 4-1/2, 5 hours. When I came out the coaches were like, "Wow, you were in there with him all that time?" I was like, "Yeah, man, but it was fun." He's a football man, I'm a football man. I don't think at any one position a player of greatness hasn't played for him. He has a well of knowledge and I'm dying to pick his brain and learn about the business, the football side and the non-football side.
Asante Samuel, Nate Clements, those are definitely deals I looked at. But those guys are 27, 28 years old. They're not gonna see the back end of their deals. I wanted to make sure I would be able to see the back end of mine. I didn't want to load it with a bunch of fake numbers. I think my agents knew that coming up on my last year of my deal I'd be 30 years old. I've seen guys get new contracts at 32, 33. I definitely plan on playing out all the years of my contract in Oakland and getting another one in Oakland. I wanted my contract to be as realistic as possible and be able to earn every penny.
Oakland never asked me one single question about (problems in Atlanta). I think a lot of teams raised that question, especially Washington; they were a little bit leery about bringing me out there, because of all that stuff. But I repeatedly told teams, I went over the incident, how it happened, why it occurred, the lack of respect Bobby Petrino had for his players. That was evident in him picking up and just leaving in Week 13. Anybody with common sense would see the kind of person Bobby Petrino was and check my track record and background and know that I've never been in trouble or had problems with anybody and would brush it off. That's what Oakland did.
Around the league, I think there's a consensus that I'm not a bad guy. I'm a very passionate guy, I'm a very emotional player. That's what makes me great. I'm not T.O. I'm not a Randy Moss. I'm not one of those guys you're always reading about. I'm a guy who had one incident one time and that was that. Was it handled the wrong way? Of course, yes it was. I've admitted that several times. At the same time, I'm entitled to make a mistake. I'm 24 years old. So I'm relatively young in this game and have a lot to learn. With time and work and patience, I'll one day be one of those Oakland Raiders going into the Hall of Fame.
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 25, 2008
TWO-TIME PRO BOWL CORNERBACK DeAngelo Hall was traded to the Oakland Raiders last week from the Atlanta Falcons, where Hall had a run-in last season with former coach Bobby Petrino. The bad behavior, including a sideline shouting match, and inflammatory comments cost Hall $100,000 in fines and fanned his reputation as a problem player.
That hardly bothered the Raiders. They sealed the deal - they gave up two draft choices - by handing Hall and his local agent, Alvin Keels, a contract extension worth $70 million over seven seasons.
An extra bonus for Hall, who attended Chesapeake's Deep Creek High and Virginia Tech? His defensive backs coach in Oakland will be Darren Perry, a former NFL star also out of Deep Creek.
"He was the lead guy, showing me around, taking me to dinner," said Hall, who has made 17 interceptions in four years and scored three touchdowns. "Darren fought for me to get out there, and I'm there."
Hall talked to The Virginian-Pilot columnist Tom Robinson about his time with the Falcons and his future. Here's what Hall said.
When you say it, it does seem like a lot - seven (years) for $70 million. But I mean, the numbers are things you never really worry about. You fight for them when you're in negotiations and you see what other guys are getting and you know you're better than that guy, and you want more than him. But once it gets done and it's time to play football that's what it is, it's time to play football.
I'm just relieved, happy to be out of a bad situation in Atlanta. A situation that wasn't the right fit for me. I'm happy to go to Oakland where I'm wanted, to team up with (cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha), create a great secondary.
I think you can argue me and Nnamdi will probably be the two best corners ever to team up, side by side. We obviously haven't done it yet together, but we're both in the prime of our careers. I'm a Pro Bowl player, he's a Pro Bowl player. It's just going to be great to have another guy alongside me that I feel confident can hold his own weight. I don't have to worry about teams avoiding me, because they can't avoid both of us.
One day (Raiders owner) Al Davis and I talked contract and football for 4-1/2, 5 hours. When I came out the coaches were like, "Wow, you were in there with him all that time?" I was like, "Yeah, man, but it was fun." He's a football man, I'm a football man. I don't think at any one position a player of greatness hasn't played for him. He has a well of knowledge and I'm dying to pick his brain and learn about the business, the football side and the non-football side.
Asante Samuel, Nate Clements, those are definitely deals I looked at. But those guys are 27, 28 years old. They're not gonna see the back end of their deals. I wanted to make sure I would be able to see the back end of mine. I didn't want to load it with a bunch of fake numbers. I think my agents knew that coming up on my last year of my deal I'd be 30 years old. I've seen guys get new contracts at 32, 33. I definitely plan on playing out all the years of my contract in Oakland and getting another one in Oakland. I wanted my contract to be as realistic as possible and be able to earn every penny.
Oakland never asked me one single question about (problems in Atlanta). I think a lot of teams raised that question, especially Washington; they were a little bit leery about bringing me out there, because of all that stuff. But I repeatedly told teams, I went over the incident, how it happened, why it occurred, the lack of respect Bobby Petrino had for his players. That was evident in him picking up and just leaving in Week 13. Anybody with common sense would see the kind of person Bobby Petrino was and check my track record and background and know that I've never been in trouble or had problems with anybody and would brush it off. That's what Oakland did.
Around the league, I think there's a consensus that I'm not a bad guy. I'm a very passionate guy, I'm a very emotional player. That's what makes me great. I'm not T.O. I'm not a Randy Moss. I'm not one of those guys you're always reading about. I'm a guy who had one incident one time and that was that. Was it handled the wrong way? Of course, yes it was. I've admitted that several times. At the same time, I'm entitled to make a mistake. I'm 24 years old. So I'm relatively young in this game and have a lot to learn. With time and work and patience, I'll one day be one of those Oakland Raiders going into the Hall of Fame.
Chree is just praying that JaMarcus ends up a bust so Alex could have some company. Don't forget that "Is Alex Smith a bust thread" that I started about a year ago. All you Niner fans jumped on me and said it will at least take 3 years to see if someone is a bust. Remember? Or do I have to bring that thread up again to remind you stupid Niner fans? So make sure that same principle applies to JR when talking about busts aight? From the looks of it, doesn't look like he's going to be a bust.