It's Al Davis's 79th birthday and I and I'm sure all of Raider Nation send our best wishes for a great birthday with many, many more to come. And thank you Al for doing your best to give us a 2008 team that we should all be excited about. It's time now for the Raiders to return to their years of glory and Al you are making it happen!

GO RAIDERS!!!

Now that the dust is settling from the rebuilding in 07-08 and the restocking of the off-season I want to take a look at just exactly how upgraded each of our positions are and I chose to start with Wide Receiver.

Last season there was no real number one receiver. Sure there were Jerry Porter, the wannabe number one, or actually the fake/pretend/never was number one, and the converted quarterback and often injured Ronald Curry. Things got so bad that Most of us were seeing Tim Dwight, a career slot receiver, as the number one option until he got hurt.

When the season ended Lane Kiffin pulled Ronald Curry aside and told him about his plans for him going forward. Just exactly what those plans were, nobody knows because the only thing that has not leaked in this organization over the last five years is information. What we do know is that Curry is still here and the fake poseur Porter is gone.

Jerry Porter bolted as soon as he could by joining, my favorite to win the AFC this season, the Jacksonville Jaguars. One would think that this is exactly where Porter would thrive. I mean, after all, he is the next Jerry Rice, Tim Brown or Randy Moss...In His Own Mind. But, alas, Troy Williamson has already passed him up and he may find himself as the third receiver by the time the season starts. I wonder how that will sit with the self proclaimed "Numero Uno".

So, here the team sat, with only Ronald Curry and a bunch of guys with cases of the dropsies (Higgins and McFoy) under contract the Raiders went out and signed two players that INSTANTLY made the team stronger than they were in 2007-08.

They signed the second best receiver available, THAT GUY, Randy Moss was the best, Javon Walker.

On his way out of Denver , his coach, The Rat Himself, proclaimed that Walkerwould need microfracture surgery within a few years. That was seen by me as a way to cover his butt when Javon lights up Denver twice a year. He can always say that  Javon was hurt and that his staff informed him that signing him long term would be a mistake. That was such a RAT move.

Now, Javon is here and he refers to the Broncos as THAT team. I LOVE IT!!!

I don't expect the offense to be pass driven this year, on the contrary I see it being more like the Chargers offense in Phillip Rivers' rookie season. I see it as a run first and pass second offense that controls the clock while the defense focuses on forcing turnovers, so all I expect from Javon is 8 TDs and maybe 1,000 yards.

If Russell shows that he can complete 65% of his passes early on, like Kiffin wants, and throw downfield with accuracy, we may see Javon have a break-out season in the second half. But there is NO doubt in my mind that Javon is a better choice as a number one than anyone we've had since THAT guy left before last season.

Also added to the mix is the speedy slot receiver from Carolina, Drew Carter.

Drew Carter replaces Tim Dwight and he has already developed the best chemistry with Russell of anybody on the team. The 13 teams on the Raiders calender had better be on notice because If J-Russ and Carter are on the same page, then they will be going "Up-Top-Jones" at least three times a game. We all know how Mr. Davis loves football's version of the home run and Russell to Carter could be the Raider's version of the Bash Brothers.

Carter, Walker and Curry are the favorites for the three top positions but the team also brought in three more receivers that are sure to provide depth and may even challenge any one of those three for a position and don't forget about Johnnie Lee Higgins who will be returning punts this year.

I have yet to see any of the youngsters with my own eyes, so I really can't say much about them.

I have seen Johnnie Lee and I know that he is a home run threat with a serious case of the drops. His frame and speed make him a great target, especially against some of the smaller nickel and dime backs in the League, but he has to hold onto the ball better.

I do know that Kiffin is very high on the undrafted Todd Wadkins out of BYU and that Chaz Schillens and Armon Shields have some serious speed and that Shields is dedicated to getting healthy and competing for a starting spot, but, we will have to wait until training camp and the first pre-season game against the Niners on the 8th of August to see just how good these players are.

For now, I'd say that last year's recievers performed at a D grade and that this year's squad is looking like a solid B/B+ at this point and that is huge for a QB like JaMarcus Russell who will have NOW multiple options on every passing play.

Other Wide Outs Not Talked about because at this point I don't think they'll make the squad: Johnnie Holland, Morant, McFoy, Will Buchanon.

So, Raider Nation, it appears that over a half decade later there are fans on the East Coast that admit how royally screwed the Silver and Black got on that snowy night in New England.

The impact of that game led to the Patriots dynasty.

Just like I'll never forget where I was for the Loma Prietta Earthquake (Laying on my waterbed waiting for the World series to start), I will never forget where I was when the Oakland Raiders were "Tucked" by the refs. (At a Pizza Parlor on my way to Nor Cal to play a Show)

For years New Englanders have reveled in the fact that their team got over on us. I mean, maybe we get Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison IF we win that game...Maybe when we land Randy Moss he goes on to break all of Jerry Rice's records in an Oakland Uniform?

I appreciate the fact that a portion of the East Coast is finally admitting that they owe part of their success to a "Snow Job" against the Raiders.

Here is the Link:

The entire list is pretty spot on and it's an entertaining read.

Thank you Ted Bauer for letting everyone out there know what we within the Raider Nation have been saying for years.

No, that headline is not a typo, Adarius Bowman, whom I was hoping would be a Raider before he got popped for marijuana possession in a state that has very tough weed laws has been signed by the Roughriders in the CFL and he performed very well in his first game.

He caught 6 passes for 112 yards and hauled in a 73 yard game clinching score.

His size and receiving skills are something that can definitely add depth to our receiving corps. This is of course, IF he can avoid jail time.

Being that his infraction came before he was in the NFL, the commissioner would not penalize him so he would be available.

I'm hoping that somehow, he puts the a in Rider some day soon.

Good luck Adarius, I KNOW that you aren't the only football player who enjoys a little Mary-Jane and I will be rooting for you.

I have proposed a list of generic questions to the SBN Writers for the Chiefs and Broncos in hopes that by their answers we will get up to speed with the other teams in our division.

I want to toss out this idea to our board and see what specific questions you may have about each of these teams.

We did this last season with some of the teams that the Raiders were playing the following week and I'd like to do this every week this season. Thoughts?

I've taken this month to focus on the new addition to the Raider family, Amelia-Marie, and to clear my head for the upcoming season.

The last two seasons and all of the draft coverage really blew me out.

Thanks, Kai-Sir and Raider 76 for keeping the site updated on the happenings in Raider land while I chimed in occasionally.

Like most of you, I am stoked that there will be football in exactly 40 days from today!!!

It will only be pre-season football, but it will bring the Whiners to Oakland and will give us our first glimpse at D-Mac in Silver and Black. It will also allow us to FINALLY see Michael Bush run the rock on the Coliseum Field.

Then you HAVE to go to the Raider Nation Celebration on August 10th. If you've never been to one of their events you have definitely missed out.

Last year the team had the Raiderettes meet us at the gates with free posters and the team ran plays on the field as the players signed autographs.

They have not released an agenda yet, but it is always great. I mean, where else can you get an Amy Trask autograph and watch her run the ship? She is truly a work of art.

Until the Pre-Season starts we will be breaking down the Training Camp and of course watching the Javon Walker saga closer...

One last thing before I go. Do you think that there is a Denver Bronco favoritism in the NFL Office? I mean, how much trouble does Brandon Marshall have to get into before he is put on ice?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/2008-06-27-marshall-fight_N.htm

DUI, Domestic Violence x3...Geesh!!!

Only the naive believe that all NFL Players go to Church on Sunday and lead Bible studies at their houses every Wednesday. In fact those players are the exception to the rule, not the norm.

You are more likely to find a player in a strip club, "Making it Rain", with dollar bills or champagne than you are to find one at home with the wife and kids on a Friday Night.

As hard as Roger "Good"ell tries to "Clean Up" the NFL's image, even he knows that he cannot stop these modern day Gladiators from living the lives of Modern Day Romans. He can only bust them when they break the law.

This is why the elite do their partying in private and don't drive home anymore. ( Note to JaVon, YOU ARE NOW ELITE, your contract says so)

Those of us who have the pleasure of knowing NFL players past and present have all heard the stories of the parties that were thrown for players at private homes where the menu was "Blond, Brunette, Red Head, Cocaine, Booze, 420 and sometimes even Boy or Girl".

From the day that these players are drafted they are targets for not only "Loyal Fans" that want to get to know them intimately or party with them, but also for hooligans who want their money or possessions and also the media who want to sell papers or get internet hits by showing them in compromising positions.

It seems as though, Oakland Raider's Receiver, Javon Walker's safety clock ran out on him yesterday morning.

It would be unrealistic to expect him to be home in Denver getting ready for this weeks OTAs. He is a modern day Roman and he was doing as most of them do, he was partying in Modern Day Rome and sharing his wealth with strippers and others who were dabbling in all that Vegas has to offer.

He was spraying people with Dom. He was reveling in the fact that he is a multimillionaire professional athlete. He was enjoying female company.

That is all fine and good...The problem is that he was doing it in public and that made his bullseye even bigger and made him a reachable target.

Usually IF someone is going to go large, IN PUBLIC, they take a posse along, I mean hasn't he seen Entourage?

Does Javon need a Posse? Or, does he need a manager to order him "Room Service"?

Either way, it looks like "The Life" has caught up with Javon for a second time. After his best friend, Darent Williams, died in arms after a public altercation you'd think that he'd learn how to handle his business better.

Either way, my prayers are with him as he recovers, and if he needs a "Booking Agent" when he gets healthy or a couple of body guards, I know a few members of the Black Hole who'd sign up for the duty and he can always find me here.

Get well Javon, I know that The Nation Has Your Back.

EDITORS NOTE * I had to move this to the front page, I LOVE RaiderPete's Breakdown of the Donkey's current situation AND K-Sir's series.

Well, I'm making another series, this time it's on the Raider's opponents this year. We start with one of our hated rivals, the Denver Broncos. These are in no particular order. I'll give our offense's strategy and the defense's according on the other team's player skill, strategy, and our team's strengths and strategies.

Offensive Strategy: Denver has a decent offense, luckily we can expose its fatal flaws. It appears that Denver hasn't made very many strides in the way of improving run D. (boy Zappa's gonna be all over this) Gold and Lynch are still forces to take into consideration. If we keep running on them, we should manage. When it comes to passing, we have some difficulties. Bailey and Bly are a good CB tandem on paper, but they're both steadily declining. We should be able to beat out Bly, but Bailey's still a bit iffy. Lynch is also good at coverage. If Russell can get off passes to Carter to cause mismatches (as he should be the #3 receiver) we can beat them out.

Defensive Strategy: Now we hit a big roadblock. Cutler is a fairly decent QB. He's mobile, and has a pretty strong arm. But the only receivers he's got to hit are Brandon Marshall (who should be a #2 receiver, though he does have some speed) and Eddie Royal (a receiver who was a bit of reach and should be a backup) But there is the problem of the run game. If they do the same strategy I've drawn out, it could be a tight game. Both of the games could be decided by who has the most rushing yards by the end. If we can manage some pressure on Cutler, we can seal the deal. Our run game is better than the Broncos. We have more playmakers while the Broncos have one solid back. Oops, that's right. They don't. Unless they end up with Jordan, we can win. Even if they do, we'll still beat them.

Game 1: Raiders: 38 Broncos: 25.  Game 2: Raiders: 28 Broncos: 34 (home field adv. for Broncos)

Next up: Atlanta because one of my friends likes the Falcons and he wants me to do their's quick.

*this is an unbiased report based on my honest opinion. I'm explaining how I honestly think we'll fare in these matchups.*

And with that comes the Zappa onslaught. This is going to be good. (being honest)

When I look at this team from the ground up, I see a team that can lead the League in Rushing and one that will need to force turnovers and get stops on defense in order to win.

I also see a team that is breaming with high power offensive potential that is limited in that although they have the weapons to get deep, Javon Walker, Drew "Hill" Carter and Johnnie Lee Higgins, and the arm to get the ball there, JaMarcus Russell, they have a patchwork line that will be iffy at BEST against stout pass rushing defenses.

Their weaknesses are not really in the middle of the line, where Gallery, Newberry and Carlisle performed VERY well, they are on the edges, where, journeyman, Cornell Green and, eternal project, Kwame Harris look to be the starters.

Last season, Cornell got blown up like a Hot Air Balloon on the 4th of July on nearly every passing play and it seemed that Paul McQuistan did a much better job at RT after Green went down with an injury. I am still a bit confused why McQuistan's performance last season doesn't have him listed as #1 on the RT depth chart, but, I have taken the approach that "Cable knows best after he resurrected the rushing corps last season from what Art Shell labeled as "Smash-Mouthed" in his short lived 2006 campaign.

Harris on the other hand has yet to get blown UP in Oakland, but his resume speaks to the same issues that Green had...Good run blocker...A Stick of dynamite on passing downs.

Cable believes that Harris has the skill set to be HIS left tackle, so I cannot argue that YET...I just have a feeling that neither of those two will be starting next year and I'm not so sure that Mario Henderson will be the answer.

After an off-season that has seen nearly every hole filled, it is the most important one for a rookie QB that is the biggest thorn in our side.

Let's HOPE that the dink and dunk and play action keep the ball moving and JaMarcus's backside grass stain free, because if he has to take too many 7 step drops it can be Walter and Tui by week 6.

The Oakland Raiders have announced the official signing of Darren McFadden.

The Press Conference will be held at 11AM today:

You can tune in Here to hear it.

This is a HUGE change from last season when our top pick didn't make it into camp until the season was already underway.

Gone is the speculation from the haters that D-Mac will be holding out as long as Russell.

This is YET another sign that the Raiders are a well functioning organization and it is flying in the faces of all the doubters and media vultures who have been circling this franchise for the past 5 seasons.

The D-Mac in Silver and Black Show is underway in Oakland, and you'd better get your seats now before they are all GONE!!!

Wow!!! Beastusmaximus broke the story first ...You win for best up all night report...Ahhh To be young again!!!