[Bette]

Going through the internet, I picked up some of the additions and signings the Raiders have made so far.
Gibril Wilson, Nhamdi Asomugha ( a killer to spell but watch for this guy this season), De Angelo Hall, Javon Walker, Justin Fargas, Kwame Harris, Tommy Kelly, Michael Huff.
To be honest, I am not totally familiar with all these names.
But Raider Nation believes they are headed for the roller coaster.
They are 1 of 3 teams to finish in the top 10 in passing defense in 06 and 07.
Of course, the big question is the quarterback, I would think, JaMarcus Russell.

Do fans have something here? Could they finally be a team to watch??

[Dusty]

The Raider Nation has been dead for a while now. Their last gasp was that AFC Championship they won back several years ago when Rich Gannon was the MVP. Now they just overpay has washed up players while they don't pay their high draft picks and ignore the holes the team seems to have year after year. The owner is obviously suffering from some kind of debilitating mental disease and wants a new stadium every 6 six years for his crappy franchise and threatens whatever city is embarrassed enough to have the Raiders with relocation. The Raider organization is happy if one of their players' jerseys is on the top 3 highest selling list. They're not serious about winning and I have no doubt that when Matt Millen finally gets fired/resigns/gets chased out of Detroit Al Davis will sign him to oversee his team. It's the Raider way. Any NFL franchise that constantly bemoans their bad luck and considers themselves a losing franchise can always look at the Oakland Raiders and smile that at least they are not that low.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Dusty

The Raider Nation has been dead for a while now. Their last gasp was that AFC Championship they won back several years ago when Rich Gannon was the MVP. Now they just overpay has washed up players while they don't pay their high draft picks and ignore the holes the team seems to have year after year. The owner is obviously suffering from some kind of debilitating mental disease and wants a new stadium every 6 six years for his crappy franchise and threatens whatever city is embarrassed enough to have the Raiders with relocation. The Raider organization is happy if one of their players' jerseys is on the top 3 highest selling list. They're not serious about winning and I have no doubt that when Matt Millen finally gets fired/resigns/gets chased out of Detroit Al Davis will sign him to oversee his team. It's the Raider way. Any NFL franchise that constantly bemoans their bad luck and considers themselves a losing franchise can always look at the Oakland Raiders and smile that at least they are not that low.

Some of the "experts" are picking them as the sleeper team to watch out for.
I didnt say I did, I am just reporting what I have read.

[Dusty]

Just because a team goes out and signs a bunch of free agents doesn't mean that they are going to win games, the experts were picking the Denver Broncos as a sleeper team of last year and the Broncos played like they were asleep during 2007. The Oakland Raiders' #1 pick of a year ago who should be the quarterback this season is doing his best Dom DeLuise impression and will not be able to run an offense. Or even run for that matter save for the all you can eat special at the local diner.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Just because a team goes out and signs a bunch of free agents doesn't mean that they are going to win games, the experts were picking the Denver Broncos as a sleeper team of last year and the Broncos played like they were asleep during 2007. The Oakland Raiders' #1 pick of a year ago who should be the quarterback this season is doing his best Dom DeLuise impression and will not be able to run an offense. Or even run for that matter save for the all you can eat special at the local diner.

Ooh, ouch!

I tend to agree with you. They had a pretty good defense, they needed help on offense. Now they did pick up Javon Walker, and if he stays healthy, he could be of some help to their young qb.
Then there were the rumors about Davis trying to get Kiffin to resign.
Like you said, any team feeling bad about themselves just has to look at the Raiders and then they wont feel so bad anymore.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Bette

Ooh, ouch!

I tend to agree with you. They had a pretty good defense, they needed help on offense. Now they did pick up Javon Walker, and if he stays healthy, he could be of some help to their young qb.
Then there were the rumors about Davis trying to get Kiffin to resign.

I don't blame the Raiders for signing Javon Walker because they need wideouts bad but he is going to need knee surgery. I know nobody really wants to play for Oakland because their stats will suffer and hence their career will go down the tubes but Walker's health is a huge factor and it doesn't look good. What looks worse is Al Davis trying to get Kiffin to resign? See I did not know this Bette. I mean i'm firmly convinced that there isn't a coach out there that Al Davis will keep for more than a cup of coffee. It's ridiculous and just like I said no player would want to play for the Raiders what coach would take the job of their head coach if this is the way they are treated? How many head coaches have they had in the past 7 years?

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Dusty

I don't blame the Raiders for signing Javon Walker because they need wideouts bad but he is going to need knee surgery. I know nobody really wants to play for Oakland because their stats will suffer and hence their career will go down the tubes but Walker's health is a huge factor and it doesn't look good. What looks worse is Al Davis trying to get Kiffin to resign? See I did not know this Bette. I mean i'm firmly convinced that there isn't a coach out there that Al Davis will keep for more than a cup of coffee. It's ridiculous and just like I said no player would want to play for the Raiders what coach would take the job of their head coach if this is the way they are treated? How many head coaches have they had in the past 7 years?

Oh yeah, there was quite the to do. It was in January when it was reported that Al Davis had drafted a letter of resignation for Kiffin to sign. Kiffin refused and dared Davis to fire him.
A month later, the Raiders denied that any such thing was done. Kiffin refused to comment.
Davis supposedly had Dennis Green in mind as a replacement for Kiffin.

[Dusty]

Dennis Green and Al Davis? That would remind me of the days of Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner!

[theduck]

raider nation will not be enjoying any ride next year. it seems to me as though al davis is blindly throwing around money to bring in players. i mean javon walker after surgery? thats risky. gibril wolson, deangelo hall, and michael huff will have to find a way to make it work as db's even though they've never played together. but, if they do win then they deserve it for taking the risk.