Silver And Black Pride

Heidi turns 40

2008-11-17T13:26:18Z

The schedule-makers screwed this one up big-time. With a chance to play up the 40th anniversary of the “Heidi Game”, we get the Browns versus the Bills tonight instead. Nice.

For those of you who slept through Raider history class, the “Heidi Game” featured Oakland versus the New York Jets, American Football League powerhouses in 1968, and bitter rivals. Then again, the Raiders were bitter rivals to everyone in those days.

The AFL was still considered a Mickey Mouse outfit compared to the sexier NFL (it would be two seasons before the leagues merged), but thanks to teams like Oakland and New York, the gap was surely closing. The defending AFL champion Raiders, and the Jets- the league’s soon-to-be first Super Bowl winner- entered their contest on November 17, 1968 with identical 7-2 records.

What Oakland witnessed...and what nearly everyone else saw.

Game time at the Coliseum was set for 1:00 pm (4:00 pm on the east coast). NBC scheduled to air Heidi, a made-for-TV film based on a classic children’s book, at 7PM eastern time. The network had already set the tone for the day by switching from the San Diego-Buffalo game early to catch the start of this highly anticipated meeting. Which, by the way, did nothing to disappoint.

The Jets jumped in front 6-0 on a pair of field-goals by Jim Turner, but the Raiders took a 7-6 lead on Daryle Lamonica’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Warren Wells. The “Mad Bomber” struck again, this time for 48 yards to Billy Cannon to make it 14-6. New York narrowed the gap to 14-12 on a Joe Namath 1-yard touchdown run, then forged ahead in the third quarter 19-14 on a four-yard scoring dash by Bill Mathis.

Now it was Oakland’s turn as Charlie Smith hit paydirt from three yards out, and the Raiders made good on a two-point conversion to regain the lead, 22-19. As exciting as the first forty-five minutes had been, they merely set the stage for what was to transpire in the fourth quarter. A 50-yard pass from Namath to Don Maynard, and another field-goal by Turner made it 29-22 in favor of New York, but Lamonica found Fred Biletnikoff from 22 yards to tie the game at 29-all.

Meanwhile back at NBC headquarters, TV executives began to shift nervously in their seats. The regularly-scheduled Heidi was fast-approaching but the highly entertaining football game was running long, thanks in part to the usual array of penalties (19 total) and fisticuffs that arose whenever these teams met.

With a minute and five seconds left in the contest, Jim Turner booted his fourth field-goal of the afternoon to give the Jets a 32-29 lead. The ensuing kickoff was returned by the Raiders to their own 23-yard line, and NBC cut to a commercial break.

The network’s dilemma was intensified (or perhaps solved) by its contractual obligation to Timex, the movie’s sponsor. Because of this, NBC’s Operations Supervisor Dick Cline was told to cut to Heidi at 7:00 pm, regardless of whether the game in Oakland had reached its conclusion. As the fateful hour neared, the station begin receiving calls from football and movie fans alike, the former asking NBC not to cut from the game, the latter seeking reassurance that Heidi would indeed start on time. Ironically, NBC execs had decided to let the last sixty-five seconds tick away before switching over to the movie, but could not get their order through because of the influx of calls coming into the station.

And so when the commercial break ended, Heidi, the little Swiss girl portrayed by Jennifer Edwards, appeared on every TV screen east of the Rockies. Back at the Coliseum, Lamonica completed two passes to Charlie Smith. The first netted 20 yards, and- following a 15-yard facemask penalty- the second went for 43 yards, and the go-ahead touchdown. While Raider fans celebrated, New York’s Earl Christy fumbled the kickoff, and Preston Ridlehuber jumped on it and took it in for another touchdown- Oakland’s second in thirty-two exhilarating seconds.

If NBC thought it had phone coverage issues during the commercial break leading up to Heidi, it was about to experience a tsunami of calls. I doubt any of them were pleasant. Irate football fanatics didn’t stop with NBC; calls were also made to newspapers, radio stations, and even to the NYPD.

In the aftermath, a new rule was born (as is the case with many famous Raider games): NFL contracts now require games to be shown in a team's market area to the conclusion, regardless of the score.

The top quote from the Heidi madness came from the losing quarterback, who said of the movie,

“I didn’t get a chance to see it but I heard it was great.”

Such a shame that the Raiders and New York Jets aren’t playing tonight, rather than October 19, when they actually did meet. This is an event worth reliving with greater detail, and in grander style. Oh well. Enjoy the Browns and Bills, folks. Hell, maybe the networks can interrupt the game with this Heidi.

2nd Half Thread:

2008-11-16T19:32:35Z

Will this be more like the Jets in Oakland or the Ravens on the road. Remember, no West Coast team has won this year when the travel east for an early game...Stay Tuned Raider Nation!!!!

Halftime Thread:

2008-11-16T19:24:28Z

How long until Fassell takes the reigns of this carriage?

Kwame was hand picked by Cable and now it looks like Tom is just being stuborn if Henderson doesn't start the second half.

Game Thread 11-16-08: Oakland Raiders @ Miami Dolphins

2008-11-16T17:44:01Z

20 minutes until some FOOTBALL!!!

RRRAAAIIDDEERRSS!!!!!

As I write this, it has been reported, as I have wondered about many times, by Chris Mortensen, that Jim Fassell has written a letter to Al Davis expressing his interest in coaching the Raiders.

I wonder if he sent it by courier and had it displayed on an overhead projector?

I am hoping that D-mac gets 20 touches today and that Curry gets out of the dog house long enough to remind us all what he can do!!!

Go RAIDERS!!!

I'm picking JaMarcus Russell to be the player of the game. He needs to be the man and lead this team to victory.

Update: JaMarcus and D-Mac are ACTIVE!!!

2008-11-16T16:55:49Z

Pregame Thread: Miami Dolphins Host YOUR Oakland Raiders

2008-11-16T16:37:37Z

I was in sales training in October with two other sales reps that are fans of the Titans and Dolphins respectively. I am bringing this up because before the season started we each thought that our teams would be better than the other, or at least the Dolphin fan, Brian, thought that the Dolphins would be as "Good" as the Raiders this season and while we acknowledged that the Titans were the best of the three teams, I was the dummy who said, "But it's not like they are near the Top of the League and they may not even make the Playoffs".

That was then, and the 'Now" is definitely bright for two of the three of us.

The Dolphins are looking like the team that I'd envisioned the Raiders being. A stout defense that pressures the QB and forces turnovers and an offense that is built around a rushing attack that has former QBs in the backfield running a Wild Hawg offense that would have Bush and McFadden throwing TD's and running the option.

The Titans aren't ONLY the best team in football, they are UNDEFEATED.

The Raiders on the other hand are already on their second head coach of the year and may not even equal last season's dismal 4-12 record.

On display in Miami today will be the team with the worst record from 2008 against the team with the 4th worst record from '08.

From the way the Dolphins have turned this thing around, bringing in a team of front office personnel who brought in their people and rusted them to turn it around, you'd think that the raiders may see this as a model going forward, heck it has worked in Atlanta as well, yet, we all know that until AL gives up control and becomes more of a mentor than a "Skelator" (That was a reference for you Smash), we are in for more of the same.

So, I'll root for the team in Silver and Black today, as I always do, but, I'll also be watching the Dolphins closely to see the difference that one year can make when things are done properly.

Mine Has Been A Frustrating Tenure:

2008-11-16T03:32:37Z

This Blog began when Art Shell was roaming the sideline, for a second time, and Tom Cable was an Offensive Line Coach for Michael Vick's O-Line...You KNOW that the Falcons were Vick's team.

The Offensive Coordinator, and this is no joke, had come out of retirement to run the "Vertical" Offense. The joke isn't so much as the fact that the "Vertical" Offense is obsolete, it is that he left running a Bed and Breakfast to start calling Al Davis's offense in 2006.

I know that I have not been writing very much lately, and it isn't because of time, it is because two years of writing about the Raiders, as a FAN, has drained me.

A friend of mine, Darren Cutlip, once wrote an album called "Shiftulate", and I think that "Shiftulation" has become the "Expectation" and not Progress.

I mean, how many games have the Raiders won since this Blog began?

2+4+2

8 WINS in 37 Games!!!!

There is no denying that these constant changes (3 HEAD COACHES in 3 years, looking like it's going to be 4 IN 4) are a detriment to this team, YET, here I go every week...WE CAN DO IT!!!

The truth is that this board has drafted better than the Raiders themselves, YET, I expect a team that gets out drafted by a message board to be able to win enough in this League to avoid the bottom!?!

Javon Walker done for year

2008-11-14T01:55:28Z

I don't think anyone else has posted this, but it looks like Javon Walker is done for the year. According to Fox Sports, Walker hurt his ankle against the Panthers. Even though he finished the game, Walker was injured enough to declare himself out for the year. On a more ominous note, Coach Cable seems not to have been informed of this:

Cable, who is trying to find a way to end Oakland's three-game losing streak, had not spoken with Walker and was unaware of the receiver's status, a team spokesman said.

Makes you wonder if Cable is already being viewed/treated as a lame duck coach.

On the other hand, JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden look like they'll play this weekend. I guess this that's good. But I'd just as soon shut Russell down for the year so he doesn't take too bad a beating to his body and his confidence, then wait to see who next year's coach will be and what system they'll be running.

Knapp no longer calling plays for Raiders

2008-11-11T05:28:39Z

Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was stripped of his play-calling responsibility last week and told that he won't be used in that capacity for the rest of the season, a person in the front office said Monday. Coach Tom Cable presumably is in charge of the play-calling. However, he made no mention of the switch last week, after Sunday's game against Carolina or in his weekly news conference Monday.

Sunday, the Raiders managed only two field goals in a 17-6 loss to the Panthers. Afterward, Cable said he didn't find any fault with the play-calling.

"It wasn't really about play-calling," Cable said. "It was our inability to stay out of those third-and-longs. "... It's just too much to overcome. We're not there yet."

Cable rattled off a host of reasons for the ineffectiveness of his offense on Sunday.:

Poor pass protection. Penalties. Rookie running back Darren McFadden's absence because of injury. Lack of production by the wide receivers. And so on. No mention of play-calling.

Got a question about the Dolphins?

2008-11-10T21:31:48Z

Hi Raiders' Fans I am a regular at Thephinsider and I usually do a bit where I go to the opposing teams site and I put up a question answer thread....

And that is why I am here, to help you guys know a little bit about the dolphins

So If you have any questions, personnel, scheme, gameplan, anything...dont hesitate to ask..

I will try to respond to you guys as soon as I can

Thanks and good luck on Sunday

Second Half Game Thread:

2008-11-09T22:30:06Z

It is odd to write about these things before they happen!?!?!

Cheers and GO RAIDERS!!!!!,

Saint

(I am wearing my A's gear to the game today)

((With a D-Mac Jersey underneath it))

Halftime Thread:

2008-11-09T22:15:06Z

The keys for me before this game would be:

How many carries by D-Mac? Any sign of the Wild Hawg?(Curry and Bush could BOTH be great wrinkles in the Hawg)

How many catches by Javon?

Is CJ doing as well as he did against the Chargers?

How may tackles/sacks does Tyler Brayton have?

I am hoping that we have a low scoring game at the half. 7-3 Raiders?

I am guessing it is more like 13-10 Panthers.

Game Thread: Carolina @ Oakland

2008-11-09T20:15:06Z

Go RRRAAAIIDDEERRSS!!!!!!!

Today may be a day of atonement, admonission and heart on display.

Every player has a reason to answer the bell...The Oakland Raiders have been called out by the Owner, Coach, Fans and League.

Unless they bring it today, the punishment and ridicule will continue.

Pre-Game Thread 11-09-08: Carolina Panthers @ Oakland Raiders

2008-11-09T17:36:48Z

I have been preparing what I'd write about today, for nearly three days. I went from, "This incredible pile of CRAP stinks to High Heaven", to, "This group is outmatched", to, "Hmmmm...If Andrew Walter or Tui go out there and do well, is there a QB controversy?", to, "Let us not forget the feeling of hosting two AFC Championship games in the not to distant future", to, "This thing CAN work".

I know that it is Sunday, so of course, I am going to feel optimistic, because I always do, but, I am looking forward to seeing how this team responds to a serious but whooping.

Nobody can feel comfortable, even JaMarcus Russell. His contract can be cut, just as easily as D Hall's.

Then, how about Kwame Harris? He will be splitting time with Mario Henderson and you know that we don't want to carry a back-up that is making Kw-aym's salary.

G-Wil, even started talking this week. He said that this team has more talent than the team that won the Super Bowl last season.

Then, there is Tommy Kelly. Everyone in the League thought that the Raiders signed Tommie Harris when Kelly got that HUGE contract. Even Kelly was surprised.

These players are being PAID to be leaders and this week may be their last week to show that they deserve it.

I'm not going to bother to do a statistical break down, because we all know how Un-Well these two teams match up. So, I am going to head out to the game today and look for FIRE, PASSION and for Andrew Walter to finally get a shot before the season is a complete waste.

Go Raiders!!!!

SBN's Mid Season Studs and Duds: I Wonder Where the Raiders Rank?

2008-11-06T17:53:03Z

Clinton Portis is playing like an MVP right now.

The Studs

NFL Mid-Season MVP: Clinton Portis, Redskins

Comment from David the Falconer at The Falcoholic:

The homer in me wants to say Michael Turner, but he's done the majority of his damage against the league's weakest defenses. Portis has put the Redskins on his back and carried them 100 yards or more down the field most games, and for that he deserves my vote.

Best Player on Offense: Clinton Portis, Redskins

Comment from Skins Patrol at Hogs Haven:

He also has 150 yards receiving and has had his role increase with the injury to Ladell Betts Not everyone knows this, but Portis is the best pass protecting RB blocker in the league and is a big reason why Jason Campbell is playing well this season.

Best Players on Defense: Joey Porter, Dolphins

Comment from BigBlueShoe at Stampede Blue:

I thought this guy was DEAD. How the hell does he have 11.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles? I mean Jeezus, it is only Week Nine and he has 11.5 friggin' sacks! The hell are they feeding them down there in Miami?

Best Rookie: Chris Johnson, Titans

Comment from cgolden at Revenge of the Birds:

No explanation needed. Just watch this kid play and it's obvious why he's truly special. Were we really questioning his status as a first round pick six months ago?

Best Coach: Jim Zorn, Redskins

Comment from WCG at Windy City Gridiron:

I hate doing this, but in that division the Redskins should have easily been the worst team.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has seen better days.

The Duds

Mid-Season Worst Player: JaMarcus Russell, Raiders

Comment from Dave the Falconer at The Falcoholic:

Consider that this guy was the first overall pick in the draft. Then consider that he can't throw a pass without collapsing into a heap.

Mid-Season Worst Rookie: Vernon Gholston, Jets

Comment from cgolden at Revenge of the Birds:

He's learning a new position so this probably isn't fair but seven tackles in eight games for a top six pick is simply unacceptable. You'd think he could at least be a situational pass rusher.

Mid-Season Worst Coach: Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

Comment from Chris at Big Cat Country:

Can I vote for Del Rio and the Jaguars for every possible spot?

2008 a lost cause, but maybe not all ...

2008-11-06T04:06:19Z

Well the off season spending spree appears to be a bust !! Al is fed up and looking to release players with high salaries and low performance (seems smart on the surface). First on Al's list DeAngelo Hall and his 7yr / 70 contract was cut today. According to the media as many as 15 more players are on the chopping block, some I think we all wouldn't mind turning in their jerseys and never hearing from again. Some however I personally don't want to see released only to come back and haunt the Raiders for years.

Before I get into the players I would like to "officially" say I was opposed to firing Kiffin and Ryan. I believed the team needed a direction and by keeping the coaching staff intact was the biggest thing to help the young talent develop. Now that Kiffin is gone and the team is even more tailspin than the weekly is Kiffin going to be fired saga I am for cleaning house. Rob Ryan Defense looks horrible so I hope he is part of the purge. I hope but seriously doubt it will happen that Tom Cable is retained as offensive line coach moving forward. Pay the man for taking on this mess, plus I think he is a top notch assistant coach.

Now to the players possibly on the list I would like to see retained.

1. Michael Huff - Yes the same Michael Huff we picked #7 who has done nothing special. When the scouting report came out on him everyone was divided if he was a safety or if he could be a cornerback with his size and speed(which is faster than the "other" corner on the roster). At last glance the safety portion hasnt worked out that great. It also just so happens we now have an opening at cornerback for the next 8 games. Michael Huff welcome to an Island. You are now going to be thrown on all game as the "other" cornerback just runs around hoping to be noticed. maybe just MAYBE Huff can become a defensive force. He may not be an all-pro like the "other" corner but like Gallery maybe he can find his niche and become a solid member of the team, just not the all-pro they were drafted to be. That would be fine with me at this point. So here is to Michael Huff the cornerback immediately. Let's see what we got going into 2009.

2. Kwame Harris - Yes the same guy who's pass blocking reminds some of a matador as he just waives a flag and allows people the size of bull's to just run by him and sack a QB almost his size. Kwame is NOT a starting left tackle in the NFL, but provides depth at one of the hardest positions to find. The Raiders have a young player they drafted that ended up costing them a top pick in the 3rd round this year. Mario Henderson was the guy they moved up in the draft to get 2 years ago. Let's see if he can protect the blindside of our 60 Million dollar man. He has 8 games to prove what he is made of. I was a HUGE skeptic of him but will say in his 2 games this year he made me believe he could have been worth the pick. So back to why I keep Kwame. Well I think he provides depth and may be an upgrade at the RT so keep him around and his salary wasn't horrible.

3. Gabril Wilson - Now I hope he isnt on the list because he was THE ONLY big offseason signing that has worked out. Plays hard and really seems pissed that this team isn't doing it's job. KEEP him around hopefully his attitude will rub off. Worst case we just have a really good safety.

There is also the young "cast of characters" that I believe this team should retain to move forward like McFadden, Bush, O'Neill, Gallery, Grove, Shillens, Higgins, Miller etc from the offensive side of the ball. On the Defense Scott, Warren, Howard, Morrison, Routt, Branch, Ekejiuba, etc.

If the next 8 games can at least give us player evaluations of the young guys especially at key positions LT, DE, DT, WR we can hopefully fill a NEED in next years draft with a player who can help take us to the next level.

To the rest of overpaid/underperforming players I hope you don't have furniture on order for the new house cause you may just lose your deposit on that.

BTW: Please lets keep this on the players, Al Davis is the owner and you can like him or hate him, but reality is he isn''t going anywhere. So lets focus on what we have. Not replacing Al Davis. I am sure multiple threads will be written about that subject.

Make it Go Away, Mommy

2008-11-05T14:56:27Z

Halloween has come and gone, but there is still plenty to "be afraid" of if you pledge allegiance to the Silver & Black. And while our dear owner has been likened to this guy, it seems the culprit for this unrelenting madness is a monster of a different breed.

Hey, if Chicago Cub fans can blame a goat for a century of ineptitude, why can’t the Raider Nation pin these last five-plus seasons on the departure of a head coach whose very nickname is a source for horror?

"Chucky’s Revenge", anyone?

Yeah, I know, if it weren’t for Al, Jon Gruden may still be here. But don’t you think the Tampa Bay coach has taken this voodoo thing a little too far? I mean, a 48-21 whipping over his former club in Super Bowl XXXVII wasn’t enough to satisfy his thirst for blood? Turns out that was just the beginning, or if you prefer, a prequel of what was to transpire in Raider Land.

And let’s not forget that things were bleak enough before Davis hired Gruden to steer the ship in the right direction. In their first three seasons since returning to Oakland, the Raiders were 19-29, including 5-13 within a division they once owned. Even the magic of their own turf was gone; the team was just 10-14 at home, with six of those defeats at the hands of the hated Broncos, Chargers, and Chiefs. When you consider that the 1995 club started 8-2, Oakland went 11-27 after such a promising return. Their 4-12 mark in 1997 was their worst since 1962, and coupled with a 7-9 record the year before, the Raiders posted consecutive losing seasons for only the second time in thirty-five years.

Then came Jon. And while he was only able to break even the first two seasons (back-to-back 8-8 records) and still struggled within the AFC West (just 4-8), there was a sense of purpose, and a feeling that great things were around the corner. Indeed. In the next three years- the last one with Gruden gone to Tampa- the Raiders went 33-15 (18-6 at home, 13-5 against their bitterest rivals), culminating with a dominating performance in the AFC Championship Game against Tennessee. Now these looked like our fathers’ Raiders.

We all know what happened next, and the ugliness has only intensified since that blackest of Sundays on January 26, 2003. Remember that 4-12 season in ’97 when you had to go back more than three decades to find a worse Raider team? Well, following the Curse of Chucky, the Pride and Poise boys (ha!) have surpassed four wins just one time in their last five seasons, bottoming out at 2-14 in 2006. And they are right on pace to finish with a dozen losses again this year.

Oakland has played exactly 88 games since the day Rich Gannon played catch with the Tampa Bay defense, and its record is a god-awful 21-67. 14-30 at home. 7-37 on the road. And- cover the kids’ ears while you read this- 5-28 against the AFC West (2-15 in their own stadium!)

OK, so maybe it’s a wee bit silly to conjure up some sort of hex scheme, although we all know how much Raider fans adore their conspiracy theories. But the record speaks for itself. (Actually the record doesn’t speak at all, hence the problem). And beyond those 89 games in hell (counting that fateful Sunday in San Diego), yes beyond the wins and (mostly) losses, is how far this once-mighty franchise has fallen in nearly every facet of its operation. (Hey, but our punter is pretty good!) Dysfunctional doesn’t even scratch the surface of what has happened to the team we can’t stop loving.

And as the losses mount, and the scene becomes more surreal by the day second, you can’t help but look back to see where it all began. More importantly, you can only wonder when- and how- this horror film will end.

At this rate, Chucky is going to pass up Freddy and Jason for sequels. But in Raiderville, unlike in Hollywood, the next movie is actually scarier than the one before.

Much scarier.

Raiders to release DeAngelo Hall

2008-11-05T02:28:44Z

http://blogs.nfl.com/2008/11/04/raiders-to-release-cb-hall/

Unbelievable if it happens. The Raiders are truly in a state of dysfunctionality.

If they perge the roster that is fine but giving up a 2nd rounder plus basically giving away Washington makes zero sense. I would guess Javon is next.

Hopefully it means Chaz and big Mario get reps to see what we got to figure out our 2009 pick.

THEY BETTER SIGN NMANDI WITH THE $$$$$ SAVED

Michael Vick in Silver & Black?

2008-11-03T17:33:58Z

As mikesd1981 so duly reported, Steve Corkran painted an interesting, if somewhat far-fetched, picture of the future of the Raiders in his column yesterday.

Says Corkan:

JaMarcus Russell is in the shotgun formation, barking out the signals. To his right stands second-year running back Darren McFadden. To his left is a man who once roamed the NFL landscape, someone who accomplished things no other has done in the history of the game.

Could it be? No, it can't be. Russell shakes his head, blinks his eyes, does a double-take. Are you kidding me? In a Raiders uniform? Yes, it's possible.

In the good old days, Al Davis had the Midas touch when it came to reclamation projects, but this is clearly a different era for Raider football, and Vick is surely more than just a proud player considered washed-up by his previous employer.

While his former teammates that now call Oakland home appear to be all for having Vick on their side again, are Raider fans so desperate for a winner to give Vick a new leash, er, lease on life? Wackos like "Kick 'em in the Head Ted" and the "Tooz" are one thing, but sponsoring a dog-fighting operation is an entirely different beast.

I, for one, am a firm believer in second chances. But this is not so cut-and-dry. My concern is what is it exactly we are teaching our youth if Vick can commit such a heinous crime and be back playing football- and earning an enormous salary, to boot- in the time equivalent to a slap on the wrist?

On the other hand, the football fan in me- correction, the Raider fan in me- salivates at the prospect of a rejuvenated (and hopefully remorseful) Vick doing his thing for a team that begs for imagination and change on offense.

What are your thoughts?

We Suck...We Suck...We...Really..Really...Suck!

2008-11-03T00:24:37Z

Just a song...join along if you wish?