Get it?

That's what separates success from failure. It's the question that has haunted millions before we were born, and will ultimately decide whether the species reaches the stars or winds up as cockroach feed. It's what pigeonholed the high school jock as the prototypical Doomed Male: Impressive in his physique, but unable to adapt mentally.

Football, in that sense, has always served as a microcosm for mankind's ability to survive and come to terms with it's past - if only so it can bury it in move on.

Someone must've left Al Davis out of the meeting on Human Evolution 101.

Seven years removed from the smallest sliver of Glory, Al Davis sits in his suite at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, slumped over in his track suit and high on morphine and memories. But memories won't save this franchise. They won't protect Michael Bush when the O-Line breaks down. They won't add longevity to Darren McFadden's knees. They certainly won't help channel the tenacity of Ken Stabler or the grit of Daryle LaMonica into the team's franchise QB.  At best, they'll serve to remind the team's aging owner of what once was, and keep the denizens of the Raider Nation drunk on what could have been.

Like the high school jock, the Raiders are hell bent on recapturing their former glory through intimidation and ridiculous claims of birthright. Don't blame them - it's the only defense mechanism they have left. Here they sit -far from the biker bars and wild cocaine parties of yore- overweight, undervalued, and covered with needle marks and tattoos that say that not now, but once, we were Kings. Meanwhile, the Manning's and the Brady's and the Roethlisberger's of the League have moved on. Daily, they step over the carcass of the Raider image that sleeps on the sidewalk, blanketed by newspapers filled with headlines preaching the formers' ability to "get it."

The factoids surrounding the Oakland police blotter's all reek of bravado, but miss out on the bigger picture: Success builds image, not the other way around. Because of this, Tom Cable has become the Pariah of the Month in the Bay Area. But we love winners more than we love ethics -always have. Had Cable had been successful in producing a winner despite Davis' antiquated game plans, his past transgressions would've been forgotten and notched up as an addition to the Raider Mystique. The same mystique that swallowed this franchise up years ago.

So what, if anything, can be done to save this team? We live in interesting times, and just as Change was sold to the world a year ago in the form of a presidential candidate, so too can the Advertising Machines sell Change to Oakland. It's time for the Emperor to step aside -or at least realize that no amount of chest-thumping will make up for poor business decisions.

If there's any team that could show Davis the meaning of "Getting it," it's the team that started the Raiders' decent into oblivion: the New England Patriots.

The Patriots didn't reach the mountaintop because of the Tuck Rule Game: They did it because they built a machine that is self-automated, and hired the right people to work that machine. They didn't care if they fit the "Patriot Image," because images are bought and sold and revised and entirely subjective to the Won/Loss column. 

The problem, though, is that no matter how many times this Emperor is told he has no clothes, he's content on strolling through the world bare-assed and frostbitten. The pride he still clings to is the only protection he needs to weather the elements. The only change he's content with are the coins the Brady's and the Manning's and the Roethlisberger's toss into his cup as they pass him by. But it's not enough to win. It'll never be enough to restore any modicum of dignity to this team until Davis realizes that Pride and Poise have stunted this team's ability to move forward.

So, as a Raider fan, I ask that Al consider his options. Learn from your mistakes, Al. Realize that winning, not trailblazing, is the surest way to see another Super Bowl before you expire. Realize that there's no pride in losing -no matter how many "Moral Victories" you chalk up. Realize that Change is the only real way of ever "Getting It."

Most of all, Al: Just win, baby...please.

 

For A Day in the Life pt. 1 click here.

When we left: Tom Cable was waiting for players to arrive for their Monday meetings.

Cable, trying to rub away the pickaxe-wielding gnomes in his head, is waiting for Russell while trying to think of a new way to reach him.

“Maybe I should invite him over for dinner like Al Pacino invited Steamin’ Willie Beamon in On Any Given Sunday. Wait, that’s not going to work. What am I going to do, microwave some Hot Pockets and have a sit down in the office? Maybe I could make him watch the movie; or, better yet—I should invite him over to my house. He and my wife can work some things out while I relax here.”

Cable reaches for the intercom, “Les, where’s JaSuckus? Please tell me that he at least bothered to show up...or, better yet, quit.”

“Oh yeah, apparently he was here before the morning crew started their 5 a.m. shift.”

“Really? That’s outstanding.”

“Well, it would be, except he is passed out in the cafeteria under his new fur jacket. The cleanup guy thought he was a wild animal and whacked him with his mop, but he didn’t even move. He kept poking him until JaMarcus threw his cell phone at him.”

“Ugh...did it hurt the guy?”

“You’re kidding, right? It missed him by a mile. It did go through the wall and left a two-foot hole, though. We got a crew trying to get him up now.”

“Commitment to excellence,” Cable says.

In the background he overhears Les’ TV: “Breaking news!” accompanied by various whizzing sound effects. “Chris Mortenson is live with new developments on Tom ‘The Incredible Hulk’ Cable.”

Cable shakes his head and thinks “Oh good, I was wondering what was taking them so long.”

“Les!” Cable shouts through the door, hoping to bypass the intercom and consequently the reports, “get me What’s-a-football-Bey instead!”

Les hits the intercom button. “You got it.”

In the half-second the button was pressed, Cable catches Mortenson saying “...more than assault...”

Les presses the button again. “On his way coach; he is at the other end of the building. He should be here in five.”

Mortenson was still going, “peacefully sleeping when Cable tried to sever her fingers...”

“At least they aren’t being unbiased,” Cable thinks to himself.

Ten seconds later, Les buzzes in. “Bey is here.”

Cable hears Mortenson in the background, “innocent housekeeper was assaulted...”

“That was quick,” Cable thinks, back to focusing on his job and not the TV. “He was a half-mile away.” Cable watches his door handle turn a half of a turn and reset, then do the whole thing over again. “Les! Let these guys in the door—this is just embarrassing.”

Les opens the door while Mortenson talks away, “...a deadly weapon.” Cable shakes his head.

“Sorry, coach,” Heyward-Bey says apologetically through a pant. “I can’t keep my grip on the handle. I have a hard time holding onto round things.”

“I’ve noticed, Darrius. Thanks for getting here so quick, though.”

“No problem, coach—I love to run.”

“I know you have been getting good grades, Darrius, and this game you actually got 22 yards, but that last drop you had—well—there is no way to put this gently: It really hurt us. I am afraid I just can’t give you more than a C this week.”

“Oh coach, not a C! My mom is going to kill me. I mean all the guys said they supported me and this can happen to rookies, and I know I need to catch those, but come on! You’ve seen my mom, coach.”

“I know, Darrius, but you can’t very well use your stats to support your play.” Cable says, regretting he ever came up with this grading system in order to protect his young receiver’s fragile psyche. “Look, let’s hope this was just a bad week for you. I want you to go out there and have a strong week of practice. Work on those fundamentals and remember the ball is your friend. Remember how we talked about it not being able to hurt you—that’s all in your head.”

“You’re sure there’s no teeth hidden in the ball, right?”

“I promise, Darrius—look for yourself.” Cable tosses the ball sitting on his desk to Heyward-Bey’s hands.

Picking it up off the floor, Heyward-Bey looks it up and down as he walks out of the office while repeating his mantra, “No teeth, Darrius. Nice ball, Darrius. The ball is our friend, Darrius.”

In the background, Mortenson is still talking: “The houskeeper is recovering from the attempted murder...”

“What?” At his wits' end, Cable had heard enough of that garbage. “Les!” Cable shouts through the door. “Just shout your answers. Is JaHangover on his way yet?”

Les presses the intercom and shouts, “He is up, but apparently he is on his way to Mr. Davis’ office!”

Cable heard Mortenson in the background: “Maria Lutz, Cable’s ex...”

“Les” Cable presses the intercom. “I am going to use the intercom, but from now on you just shout to me, without the intercom. OK?”

“Sure thing, boss,” Les says through the intercom.

Long enough for Cable to hear “assaulted her with deadly weapons...”

“Sorry, that was the last time,” Les pipes in through the intercom.

Mortenson finished his thought: “13 or 22 different times.”

“Get me McSissy, keep me updated on JaNoclue, and send Higgins, Murphy, and Schillens in. No, wait, I’ll talk to Schillens later. Tell him not to move unless he has to,” Cable says, realizing he didn't want the one receiver he trusted to re-injure his foot.

In a desperate search for his aspirin, Cable looks up to see Les open the door. “Darren’s here, coach”

McFadden walks through the doorway. Les put his hand on McFadden’s back to show him in, which knocks McFadden to the ground.

“Christ, Les! You didn’t have to tackle me!” McFadden says, picking up the water bottle he dropped while falling.

Meanwhile, Cable can not help but hear the TV. “Let’s go to Chris Mortenson with some more breaking news...”

“At least,” Cable thinks with an exhale, “they have moved on to another story.”

“Darren, it was great to get you back into the flow last week. How are you feeling?”

“Not good, coach. I got hit like 10 times. The trainers said there was nothing wrong with me, but when I leave here I am going to have them check again.”

“Darren, I want you ready to go. I am thinking of putting in some more plays for you this week. Some things to get you into space...”

“Oh, I like space,” McFadden interrupts. “I don’t think I could get hit hard if everyone is weightless.”

“No, Darren—space on the football field. We need to take advantage of your quickness and your speed. Maybe some pitches, and I also want to line you up wide and run some bubble screens.”

“Oh...well, I’ll let you know what the trainers say, coach. I should be ready to go before the season’s over.”

“Darren, you can leave now.” Cable says, turning to stroke his picture of Justin Fargas for sanity.

“Good talk, coach. I am off to the whirlpool.” McFadden opens the door, thinking, “They need to turn down the water flow, though—it keeps knocking me over.”

While the door is open, Cable hears “after slapping her, she said Tom Cable asked her to wear a veil and told her to stay away from New York on 9/11.”

“What?” Cable thinks, trying to tune it out. “Les, how are we looking with player’s meetings?”

“Well,” Les says into the intercom, “JaMarcus just left Mr. Davis’ office and boss man wants you to call him. Murphy and Higgins are currently stuck shoulder to shoulder in a doorway. They entered the doorway at the same time from different halls and knocked each other over. They got up and did it again. They got up again and now they are just stuck.”

In the background: “she said Cable punched her...”

“Les, what did I say about the intercom?”

“Oh yeah. Sorry, boss,” Les says into the intercom, while Cable hears “...then grabbed his gun and sat on the grassy knoll.”

In a state of disbelief, Cable picks up the phone, and before he even finishishes dialing Davis’ extension, Davis answers. “Russell is benched. I want you to give him the Marcus Allen treatment, Flores. He is done!” Click.

“Wow, maybe my luck is turning,” Cable thinks. “I got a Flores and I get to bench JaMumbles.

Les opens the door. “JaMarcus is here.” Russell walks in.

“Aburighta maLesum mana. High five.” Russell mumbles. Les holds up his hand and Russell swings for a high five, missing, as Les walks out the door.

The door sways open long enough for Cable to hear “she said he slapped her for being Jewish and he and his friend Adolf we going to do something, because Jews were destroying...”

Cable—knocked back by the smell of booze and vomit that accompanied Russell—said, “Jesus, JaMarcus! You smell like a bar bathroom at the end of Mardis Gras.”

“Ahwellum I baslept herez and Iz dranktd a littlez too much and macouldn’t makes it homez.”

“JaMarcus, you need to enunciate. Focus. We have to talk.”

“Whatever, coach; I think it’s your ears, not my talking. Don’t you?” Russell says really slowly, thinking he sounded like an idiot yet made an excellent point. “We do need to talk, though, Cable guy.”

“Al said I was done,” Russell says, still speaking slowly and seeming a little perplexed. “I went up there demanding he get me a new cell phone, because the janitor made me break mine. Also, I need a new beanie since I puked in my good one and I don’t make enough to buy one on my own. He went off, saying, ‘You don’t come here and demand more money from me’ and ‘I am through, blah blah blah.’ He looks like the Emperor from Star Wars when he gets pissed. You want me to play, though, right? You saw it wasn’t big ol’ No. 2’s fault out there, right?”

“Actually, JaMarcus, you are not making the strides I hoped: You are not putting in the extra time, you don’t seem to care, and your accuracy and decision-making is getting worse. You are so hungover now that I think your breath is getting me drunk. Now if you change...”

“Whatever,” Russell interrupts, “it’s all about the Benjamins. I am going to da club. Did I enunciate that well enough?” Russell slowly walks out the door, thinking he's storming. He then tries to slam the door for effect but missed and then leaves, realizing he didn’t care enough to do anything else.

In the background, Cable hears “she told me that Cable slapped her while saying he was going to tell the authorities where to find Jesus.”

Cable, finally able to block it all out, sits back in his chair, and, for the first time all day, lets loose a big smile.

“Les, things are looking up, my friend! Get Gradkowski in here.”

I hope everyone in the Raider Nation knows to temper their expectations for Gradkowski this week.  He will be facing a monster D and is taking over a very hot seat.  Personally, I'd be happy to see him have 1 interception or less, NO fumbles, complete 50% of his passes (even if that's only 7 or 8), and have a total of anything over 120 passing yards.  If he can do that his first week out, agains an exceptionally strong team, then I think there will only be room for improvement.  I'd love a breakout performance, but like I've said, we have to be reasonable here.

I think the most critical element to watch for will be his decision making and limiting mistakes.  I've watched Denver do well with a QB who doesn't have a big arm or great completion percentages, but gets them into chances to win based on small progressions and few mistakes.  The biggest think keeping the Raiders from being 5-4 right now is bad throws, and a weak running game.  The running game isn't there because most defenses can play a zone or prevent for any potential pass play, and put extra players on the line because they know Russell will miss the mark 50% of the time, won't check down, and with a stacked line will have less than 3 seconds to get the ball in the air.  This gives the running backs, at best when they find a hole, a 5 yard gain per carry.

If Gradkowski can at least make the opposing D back off the line even 1/2 the time, the RB's may actually have a chance for some good yards.  Keeping the offense on the field will give the Raider D more time to review the opposition's play scheme and maybe make some adjustments.  I know I'm being really optimistic here, but I really believe that any improvement in the completion and decision making of the QB can really change the Raider's chances in ANY game.

Over at SF Gate there's an interview with Tom Cable about the QB switch.

 

Tom Cable stresses the point that he's not giving up on Russell:

 

Q: You still see JaMarcus as the future of this football team?

A: "That's my hope. This is in no way giving up on the guy. This is just trying to jumpstart this team and really break it down and make a decision based on what gives us the best chance to win.

 

About why Gradkowski:

 

Q: Why Gradkowski over Russell?

A: "Just felt like he would give us the best chance to win, and we need to get to playing better offensively and win football games."

Q: What does Bruce bring to the table?

A: "I just think his leadership, his management, understanding of what we're trying to do, accuracy. Just a lot of those intangible-type things, and give him a chance to get all the reps and go out and build some chemistry with the receivers."

And about the duration of the switch:

Q: Will you go week to week with this?

A: "No, I don't want to be like that. This is where we're headed and what we're gonna do, and he'll take this team and go with it."

And a little hint what he expects of Russell during this:

Q: You want JaMarcus up there on the sideleines talking with you and Bruce during the game?

A: "Absolutely. And he will. That's the one thing I know about the guy, is he's strong that way and he will get through this. And that's why I said, I believe he has a bright future."

 

And how hard it was to make this decision:

Q: Did you agonize over this decision?

A: "It was an easy decision because I feel the responsibility for this football team to give them the best chance to succeed."

There are other questions also. Click on the link above to read the full article.

 

Everyone knows Jay Cutler is a douche bag. Everyone knows that Mike Dunleavy is a terrible coach. Everyone knows Al Davis is off his rocker. And everyone knows that if JaMarcus Russell spent half as much time practicing football as he did eating, he might actually be a good quarterback.

Continue reading this post »

"The quarterback's position is 90% mental and 10% physical.  I try to simulate the game as much as I can in practice and visualize every play and every defense we could see.  In essence I'm playing the game over and over so that no matter what situation happens, I've already played it and can anticipate what will happen."

                           

                                                                 Jamarcus Russell?

                                                                 Actually, no.  Quote by Drew Brees.  Who stands a hair under 6 feet and       weighs 205 pounds after a large meal.
                                                                                

"The Black Hole" will remain in Oakland -- for now, at least. [via upload.wikimedia.org]

According to David White of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Raiders and the Alameda County Joint Powers Authority have agreed to extend the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum lease through the 2013 season.

That means the Raiders won't (likely) be returning to Los Angeles after next season when their current lease is set to expire.

Poll

Do you want the Raiders to stay in Oakland?

• Yes
• No

  39 votes | Results

Continue reading this post »

Here we got lesson to Jamarcus I don't know but let's go Raiders but, I can't find our game on Thursday Night vs the Cowboys anyone know where it's at? All I saw was the Broncos vs the Giants game anybody know?

 

dsuicdiufcdi iunbsdiundic  ciudbcdiucdiuc  iud cdiucbdiuc diucbduic bdic  cduic bdeicbd dyih cdihyc dhic dic  iudc dihc dihc dhc dc  duicbdhicdc   dihdc bdchi dhucd  issonxmsoicndovudf v9icnsdic bdi dih dih vdihv  75 words.

 

I've been a Raiders fan since 1977. At the young age of six, I witnessed their SuperBowl victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The magic of Stabler, Branch, Biletnikoff and Casper, and especially the rough hits of Tatum and Atkinson showed a young boy a rough game played not just by atheletes, but by MEN who played to win. I was sold- and now I can't get my soul back.

I look over the last six years I have watched with sadness and disbelief at what has become of the organization that I used to believe in and never question. Everyone knew Al Davis was a little unorthodox; moving the team; testifying at the USFL vs. NFL trial in 1986. As a Raiders fan, you knew Mr. Davis would do things his way, but you always knew that the ultimate goal was to have the best product, the best team, and the best performance.

I've now come to realize that Al Davis is someone's crazy old grandpa. Everybody has one, or knows someone who does; the old man who "Spent two years in Korea so that you kids can buy your walkmans and fancy cars". He's the grandpa at Thanksgiving that no one wants to rile out of his afternoon nap for fear of hearing his stories of how he helped to make this country what it is today and now that no one needs him anymore we just ignore him. Think about it, Mr. Davis did great things for the league and his team MANY years ago, but holds the reigns of the team like a retired Floridian holds a steering wheel driving through a parking lot. Like every other crazy grandpa out there he wants to do things "the way we've always done it" even if that was 40 years ago. He buys things that have no usefull purpose just because he likes them (like singing plastic fish, or fast, unproven players and expensive ones that no longer have value), and worse yet, he keeps things long after they have no value (like a 1972 Oldsmobile or JaMarcus Russell), or throws away things he doesn't like even though they are extremely valuable (like a computer or Gruden/Garcia). This is proof that he isn't that different from many other 70 or 80 + year old men.

The problem is that just like your crazy old grandpa, no one can get him to leave and go to the old folks home until he's damn good and ready, so lets plan on suffering through yet another Holiday season with Grandpa Al and hope that maybe something or someone will get him to that old folks home before next season.

Hello, Raider Nation! 

I'm Craig (A Pragmatic Bengals Fan), Site Editor and one of the bloggers over at CincyJungle.com, the SB Nation Bengals community.  We've been sharing FanPosts with our opponents' blogs this season and so far it's been a very enjoyable experience.  If you have any questions or comments in anticipation of Sunday's game in your backyard, post them here in the comments section!  Myself and our other members will try to come around and answer any questions you have and we may have some of our own.  We'll do our best to keep it civil (and those of us on staff will ensure nobody gets out of line), but bear in mind we're pretty excited throughout Bengaldom this year.  It's been a long time since it's felt this good to be a Bengals fan, you know?  :) 

Nice to meet you all, and I look forward to a healthy exchange as we discuss Sunday's upcoming battle and I hope our boys log their first ever win (0-9 lifetime) in Oakland! 

Sincerely,

A Pragmatic Bengals Fan