THE OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2009 OFFSEASON THREAD
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Great offseason in Oakland continues
By Os Davis | Tuesday, April 07, 2009 | ( 6 )
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About the worst thing you can say for the Oakland Raiders’ moves in 2009 is: Why didn’t they do this stuff last year? Seriously, would even the biggest Raider fan have imagined in December that come spring, we’d be reading report cards that look like the following?
Offense: added Khalif Barnes, Jeff Garcia; presumably address needs at WR and O-line in draft. Grade: A.
Defense: Re-signed Nnamdi Asomugha (who this writer swore would not be back), Chris Johnson. Grade: A.
Special teams: Re-signed Shane Lechler. Grade: A.
Releases: Gone are Kwame Harris, Kalimba Edwards, Ronald Curry, Justin Griffith. Grade: A.
Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia is the latest acquisition by the Raiders, of course, giving the team a viable backup option for the first time since ... well, it’s been a long time.The fact that this reads like a trivia question indicates just how serious the paucity at QB has been in Oakland in the post-Rich Gannon era.
By the calendar, Garcia may be 39, but his NFL age is quite a bit younger than that, having begun his career in the league in 1999 after kicking around in CFL ball for years; plus, he hasn’t entered a season as a no-questions-asked starter since 2004 with the Cleveland Browns.
Tell you what Garcia can do, though: come in during a pinch to win ballgames. Since hooking on with the Eagles in 2006 and taking over in that season’s second half when Donovan McNabb went down, reliever Garcia has gone 19-11 as a starter in the regular season. In fact, before the mysterious nosedive in Tampa Bay last December, the former 49er had run up a record of 19-7 over three seasons.
Garcia’s slightly below-average arm strength aside and no offense to Andrew Walter fans (come on, there’s got to be a two or three), wouldn’t the Raider Nation have rather seen a four-time Pro Bowler like Garcia take the field for JaMarcus Russell in Week 10 than Mr. Walter? Assuming Oakland Raiders Football Inc. doesn’t quite fill all the gaps along the O-line, won’t you be more at ease with Russell’s development behind a ragged blocking quintet if the mobile, football-smart Garcia’s on the sidelines?
Finally, there’s the bigger question: What’s going on in the Raider front office?
Seriously, while the ESPNs of the world are providing fake rumors about Javon Walker’s departure, habitual slagging-off of the organization’s shoddiness, and lots of time for Warren Sapp to rant, why isn’t anyone finding out what’s behind this amazing run of sanity in Oakland?
Aside from the Gibril Wilson release (*still* can’t get the ol’ head around that one) and the stupefying reticence to cut Walker loose, 2009 has seen a nearly perfect Raiders offseason going into the draft: We’ve seen no outrageous contracts awarded, no real question marks added to the roster. We’ve seen needs addressed, and guys who should be lifetime Raiders (Lechler, Asomugha) duly rewarded. Even an adequate draft would give Oakland marks of a flying-color variety.
Garcia, without question, is the latest positive in Oakland.
By Os Davis | Tuesday, April 07, 2009 | ( 6 )
Got something to say?
Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
About the worst thing you can say for the Oakland Raiders’ moves in 2009 is: Why didn’t they do this stuff last year? Seriously, would even the biggest Raider fan have imagined in December that come spring, we’d be reading report cards that look like the following?
Offense: added Khalif Barnes, Jeff Garcia; presumably address needs at WR and O-line in draft. Grade: A.
Defense: Re-signed Nnamdi Asomugha (who this writer swore would not be back), Chris Johnson. Grade: A.
Special teams: Re-signed Shane Lechler. Grade: A.
Releases: Gone are Kwame Harris, Kalimba Edwards, Ronald Curry, Justin Griffith. Grade: A.
Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia is the latest acquisition by the Raiders, of course, giving the team a viable backup option for the first time since ... well, it’s been a long time.The fact that this reads like a trivia question indicates just how serious the paucity at QB has been in Oakland in the post-Rich Gannon era.
By the calendar, Garcia may be 39, but his NFL age is quite a bit younger than that, having begun his career in the league in 1999 after kicking around in CFL ball for years; plus, he hasn’t entered a season as a no-questions-asked starter since 2004 with the Cleveland Browns.
Tell you what Garcia can do, though: come in during a pinch to win ballgames. Since hooking on with the Eagles in 2006 and taking over in that season’s second half when Donovan McNabb went down, reliever Garcia has gone 19-11 as a starter in the regular season. In fact, before the mysterious nosedive in Tampa Bay last December, the former 49er had run up a record of 19-7 over three seasons.
Garcia’s slightly below-average arm strength aside and no offense to Andrew Walter fans (come on, there’s got to be a two or three), wouldn’t the Raider Nation have rather seen a four-time Pro Bowler like Garcia take the field for JaMarcus Russell in Week 10 than Mr. Walter? Assuming Oakland Raiders Football Inc. doesn’t quite fill all the gaps along the O-line, won’t you be more at ease with Russell’s development behind a ragged blocking quintet if the mobile, football-smart Garcia’s on the sidelines?
Finally, there’s the bigger question: What’s going on in the Raider front office?
Seriously, while the ESPNs of the world are providing fake rumors about Javon Walker’s departure, habitual slagging-off of the organization’s shoddiness, and lots of time for Warren Sapp to rant, why isn’t anyone finding out what’s behind this amazing run of sanity in Oakland?
Aside from the Gibril Wilson release (*still* can’t get the ol’ head around that one) and the stupefying reticence to cut Walker loose, 2009 has seen a nearly perfect Raiders offseason going into the draft: We’ve seen no outrageous contracts awarded, no real question marks added to the roster. We’ve seen needs addressed, and guys who should be lifetime Raiders (Lechler, Asomugha) duly rewarded. Even an adequate draft would give Oakland marks of a flying-color variety.
Garcia, without question, is the latest positive in Oakland.
So says the guy that would call em faggot! LMAOO Yes we are all mad the raiders got our left over HAHAHAHA ur a joke! Garcia was at his best wit da niners, now he only has a few good games left in him dats it, he can't win in da playoffs. dont wish for JR to get hurt now to see it for your own eyes!
Not once have I ever said I hated Garcia
I've never even really talked shit about him
I love this move for the Raiders... and if you think it's a bad move you're stupid
as much as you would like to hate and bring up stupid shit Al has done in the past... FOR THE MOST PART... all the moves made so far this offseason have been good
I'm not saying this means we're automatically gonna become a playoff team... but it's been a solid offseason... we're moving in the right direction
I've never even really talked shit about him
I love this move for the Raiders... and if you think it's a bad move you're stupid
as much as you would like to hate and bring up stupid shit Al has done in the past... FOR THE MOST PART... all the moves made so far this offseason have been good
I'm not saying this means we're automatically gonna become a playoff team... but it's been a solid offseason... we're moving in the right direction
I dunno... he's always been a solid qb to me
I might have clowned on him back in the day cause he's kinda goofy lookin... but I never said I wouldn't want him to play for my team
actually I mostly used to clown my boy cause that motherfuckers looks dead on like Garcia... lol
but shiit... even if he's goofy lookin he's got a BAD ASS wife... so I can't hate
I might have clowned on him back in the day cause he's kinda goofy lookin... but I never said I wouldn't want him to play for my team
actually I mostly used to clown my boy cause that motherfuckers looks dead on like Garcia... lol
but shiit... even if he's goofy lookin he's got a BAD ASS wife... so I can't hate
