Raiders Attack Rich Gannon Instead Of The Broncos

As an Al Davis staff member, imagine getting an order to collect video, audio and text clips of all things perceived as negative said about the Raiders.  This is the exact same sort of tactics used by the former communist secret police.  It’s called a dossier.

No one is allowed to speak ill of the regime lest they face serious consequences.

A Rich Gannon dossier must exist front and center on Raiders senior executive John Herrera’s desk because he is able to rattle off all kinds of statements to try and paint Gannon as a villain.  Not just a villain mind you, Herrera wouldn’t stop there.  Herrera would have us believe Rich Gannon should be shamed in Raiders lore for a lost Super Bowl.

Thank you John Herrera for once again showing you are insecure and immature.  Or maybe you are really just a good solider thinking you are saying what the boss wants you to say.  Though, you lack the fortitude to admit that and instead, choose to end an interview abruptly rather than confront the main issue at hand.

In the mind of the Raiders front office, the most important issue is getting their side of the story out.  That is the mistake Al Davis has believed to be the way to go about solving every problem prior to a lawsuit.

Anything that does not fall in lock step with that side of the story is labeled as hateful or damaging to the organization.

What John Herrera and Al Davis have failed to learn in their many years of experience is their methods have always failed to win fan sentiment.  Most of us think both of those guys are insensitive and out of line.  If you don’t see that then look at this latest episode and try and come up with a rationale for it that really makes sense.

Unless you just don’t like Gannon in which case, it all makes perfect, legitimate sense.

Let’s put this latest episode of Raiders vs Gannon on the back burner since it most likely will go away and rightfully so.  It’s a disgrace for the Raiders front office to openly discredit the deeds of Rich Gannon and treat him as some wayward journeyman.

The Raiders did not make Gannon great.  Gannon made Gannon great and he got beat in the Super Bowl by the man who helped him become great, Jon Gruden.  This is ancient history now and for Herrera and/or Al Davis to not acknowledge that is pathetic.

But onto team matters, today ‘s game against the Bronco’s was awful.  It was awful because of the stifling heat. It was awful from the very start when it was plain as day there was no energy on defense.  There is no excuse for how soft the defense played.  The goal line stand in the first quarter was nice but it never should have come to that.

So in essence, the team took one step forward in Game One against the Chargers but two steps back by Game Three against Denver.

Also setting the tone was Jamarcus Russell throwing an interception in the first quarter.

Let’s just admit this Raider fans,  Jawalrus isn’t getting it.  He’s had enough time to develop his skills set.  Aside from a few pretty good moments in this career thus far, his consistency is just not there.  This year, he should be showing a lot better polish under the tutelage of Paul Hackett.

I won’t say JR’s a bust but his play is barely marginal.  My opinion has always been JR is not about the game.  He is about the coin.  His heart is not into being a pro football player.

This is where Al Davis has made the majority of his mistakes.  He still believes players want to be Raiders and this will bring out greatness in them.  He genuinely lives by that sentiment.

One would think a guy as smart as Al would come to his senses by now and see the light through the trees.  Players these days want the coin, not the greatness.  It doesn’t matter what they say.  The bottom line speaks for itself.

Al has invested too heavily into marginal players and now the franchise is paying the price.  JR’s arm is great but he doesn’t have the intangibles or the will to take the team on his back as every QB leader must do.

Are we going to see anything from DHB or is he just running in circles out there?

As for Darren McFadden, when your best offensive weapon fumbles three times it’s pretty much over.

Not that it would have mattered but the Raiders had chances to score more points today but they beat themselves.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Oakland Raiders’ Offense Is Suffering: Why Isn’t Javon Walker Playing?

It’s no secret the Raiders have a struggling quarterback.  More than anything, what is needed are guys who can make plays downfield to help ease the burden.  With Chaz Schilens injured, most of the playing time has been going to rookies Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy.

 

DHB is a ways away from being a consistent playmaker.  Louis Murphy has made the most of his opportunities or at least has been positioning himself as best as possible.

 

Zach Miller has been unable to spring free much of the time from the tight end position.

 

We only see brief glimpses of Todd Watkins.

 

Johnnie Lee Higgins is also used sparingly as a receiver.

 

There is, however, a guy on the roster who has the experience to make big plays happen and he is not being given any playing time.

 

Last year, Javon Walker was considered a joke after his Vegas mugging experience and then wanting to quit the team.  He did not produce on the field very much either.

 

Then he had leg surgery without informing the team this past offseason

 

Though Walker appears to be in playing shape right now, Head Coach Cable says Walker is still recovering from injury or sometimes he hints that Walker has not earned playing time.

 

For his part, Walker has looked sharp in workouts.  He may be a little rusty with his routes but a guy with his experience just needs the reps and he’ll get back into the routine.

 

So at this point, does it not make sense he is a solid option to be a reliable target for  JaMarcus Russell?  Is there a legitimate reason why Walker is not getting any time on the field?

 

Let’s be realistic, Walker is not playing because Al Davis insists on DHB and Murphy getting the majority of playing time.

 

This is not a Sanjay Lal call (WR coach) or a decision by Tom Cable.  This is direct influence by Al Davis to deny Javon Walker.

 

We have to ask why this is so since the evidence is staring us in the face.

 

Every season, Al selects his doghouse victims, while oblivious to how much he is paying those guys he just doesn’t want to see them play.  That is the sum total of Al’s reasoning.

 

One would think he would just waive the guy, despite a guaranteed contract.  Al does not seem to care he is paying them anyway to sit.  One would think the sight of his doghouse victims in a Raiders uniform would disturb Al but it does not.

 

Al just does not want some guys to play for whatever reason. 

 

I think Al just likes making guys bewildered and frustrated.  It’s a personal thing, not a football thing or a medical thing or business decision.

 

There is no reason Javon Walker is not playing other than he is being punished for (in all likelihood) getting surgery without team consent.

 

So Al continues to make bad decisions based on his own ego.  Rather than help the team when they desperately need a veteran receiver on the field, he chooses the egotistical way.

 

He will of course tell us that he expects DHB to become great.

 

The sad part is Javon is oblivious to Al’s vendetta.  Javon says he’s ready to play.  No one has communicated to him any explanation why he is not on the field even a little bit.  That would be par the course as a member of the Raiders.  The front office can’t be bothered with those types of details.

 

So, the offense suffers.  Who’s to blame?  Not the coaching staff.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Oakland Raiders Could Be Sunk by Injuries

Mike Mitchell has a pulled hammy for the second time, Jon Alston gets plantar fasciitis, Kirk Morrison dislocates an elbow, and now, Nnamdi has a fractured wrist.

 

Who is going to replace him at CB if it comes to that?  Stanford Routt is a liability with his penalties and ineffectual play.  Remember, this is a guy who played very little defensive back at the University of Houston. He was drafted relatively high by Al Davis because of his track speed.  He’s been a project from day one, and he has never improved.

 

In fact, let’s just say it: He sucks as a player, and his attitude sucks too. We know this because of the incident when he refused to enter the game on a special teams assignment.

 

It is hard to believe that a professional football player would refuse to obey an instruction from the head coach. You have to believe Routt felt secure in doing so.  Whatever his reasons, it does not reflect well on him.

 

So who is left that can play CB?

 

John Bowie is not a good option. The only reason he is still on the roster is because Al Davis refuses to acknowledge he got a raw deal in the Randy Moss trade. Bowie ended up being a draft pick obtained in that trade.  It’s like squeezing blood from a turnip, as the saying goes.

 

Justin Miller (also injured currently) plays CB, but his role is more for kick returns.

 

Darrick Brown has been a laughing stock in previous camps but seems to have improved a bit. We might see him if Nnamdi can’t go.

 

Strong Safety prospect Mike Mitchell’s hamstring injury seems serious, despite his claims that he will be ready for opening day. He’s not ready to play, anyway.  He has been bad in coverage in practice.  The bottom line is that he’s not ready to make an impact.

 

Fans focusing on his big hitting ability are missing the point of what a strong safety needs to do; you have to be a complete player in reading your pass coverage and run assignments. He’d get burned if he played.

 

So right now, Tyvon Branch is all they have at strong safety, unless Michael Huff is pressed into duty. We already know that is not the best place for him.

 

We might see Huff anyway at free safety because starter Hiram Eugene’s injury seems a bit serious as well.

 

Linebacker is another liability. The only safe bet is the weak side where Thomas Howard plays very well and seems healthy.  Middle linebacker is soft with Ricky Brown playing there in the absence of Kirk Morrison.  Brown is good in pass coverage, and he is okay against the run but gets mowed down by bigger backs and blockers.

 

Jon Alston’s emergence as a decent strong side linebacker was set back by a serious foot injury.  Other than Brown, there isn’t anyone on the roster who can play a decent strong side LB.

 

Newcomer Slade Norris is struggling, and he also is injured. Other newcomer David Nixon is doing about as well as Norris and can’t be relied on to hold down that spot. Journeyman Morlon Greenwood was brought in more for special teams.

 

Tom Cable has his hands full already with too many issues and can’t plug these roster gaps so easily. It’s a game of attrition now.

Oakland Raider Fans, No need to panic…yet

 

Just because the Saints preseason game brought the Raiders to the same low as parts of the last few seasons, that doesn’t mean it will happen every game.

 

Look at this way: Sean Payton and the Saints have the Raiders’ number. They clobbered the Raiders last season and they know how to execute against a generic Raiders defense.

 

If you think Defensive Coordinator John Marshall was going to pull out the stops, put any wrinkles in the game plan to show on film, that would have been a mistaken expectation.  They went with a base defense or vanilla, take your pick.

 

Contrary to hick analysis on BR, the Raiders offense is not high flying. In fact, they did not even convert any third downs until Jeff Garcia went into the game.

 

The Raiders offense is inconsistent, more inexperienced than not, a little less capable in key areas such as the passing game right now. To counter that, if they ran all day that would expose the weaknesses of the offensive line. There is no way the lard duffs on the offensive line have the game conditioning to run all day. Not in the heat, not any time really.

 

Here are some bottom lines to be taken into consideration:

 

1.  If your offense does not make first downs or turns the ball over, your defense is forced to be on the field longer.  In the heat, with little depth, bad tackling. It’s a recipe to make the defense look worse than they already are.

 

2. Despite the hammering on the scoreboard, it would have been prudent for Tom Cable to be conservative in this game anyway. The reason is Sean Payton is no stranger to how to beat an Al Davis defense. He has a blueprint for it. You don’t want other teams to watch the game film and get good ideas what to expect in the regular season.

 

3.  Al Davis must take full responsibility for bad personnel planning in staffing the defensive line. They got very lucky with a rookie free agent signing in Desmond Bryant who just might be the best they have right now. Tommy Kelly is pretty much a joke, worse than Terdell Sands who seems to be on his way out the door.

 

Hey Al, would it have hurt your ego that bad to suck this one up and face the fact Kelly is not the answer to be a sack leader or quality run stopper?  You said it yourself, you gave “the money” to Tommy Kelly and not Derrick Burgess. That was your power play to show Burgess up and this is what drove Burgess to hold out of camp. 

 

Yea, they play different positions but the defense needs a leader, a sack master. You invest in your best player. Ok, Burgess gets hurt a lot but you took a chance giving “the money” to Kelly who hasn’t even proven himself yet and was coming off injury.

 

You have given money away before so chalk Kelly up as yet another of your bad personnel decisions. You needed more than one DT or free agent in the draft who can play like winners. You need to stop the run, pressure the QB and you are not going to do it with a lame defensive front and no depth at linebacker.

 

Al Davis and the Media Re-Visited

Oakland Raider fans like to point to the media as a villain, always looking for opportunities to slam their team.  However subtle, the clues are there according to observers.  Therefore, it must be true.

 

Who is responsible for this?

 

It couldn’t be Al Davis could it? 

 

Does any other franchise in any sport retain a double standard when it comes to dealing with the media?

 

Though they don’t verbalize it to you (the fan), the Raiders front office takes the position that the media is only interested in slamming them, not promoting their community outreach initiatives.

 

If that was reality however, then we would never know about their public relations efforts such as painting Asian airplanes in Raider colors, spreading the broadcasting rights to Hispanic radio, replacing turf at predominantly African American high school fields, their numerous charity events of many varieties.

 

But then the double standard is they can’t be bothered with freely offering team news very often, unless suits their purposes.

 

They can’t even be bothered with telling players themselves when they have been dropped from the roster in some instances.

 

But let’s take a look back in time in search of why this might be the reality of the Raiders franchise. This is a time when Al was a younger man in a younger role of leading a fledgling franchise in a fledgling pro football league.

 

That was his first real foray in dealing with “newspaper men” (a term Al still uses).  He was suspicious of them in those early days yet managed to co-exist with them on formal terms.

 

On a positive note, Al thought treatment was fair to him in a biography written by retired sportswriter Glenn Dickey of the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

Dickey’s “Just Win, Baby: Al Davis and His Raiders” is a contrast to Mark Ribowsky’s unauthorized Al Davis biography “Slick: The Silver and Black Life of Al Davis” which is a massive book.  If you have a long plane flight, that is the book you want to bring with you.

 

Bottom line is Al has limited trust in newspaper men.  This is the reason why the Raiders are overly cautious and aloof with public relations.  Al does not feel obligated to share because he has been criticized too much by the people he keeps at arm’s length.

 

But Al’s glaring flaw is he still doesn’t know how to deal with the problem of the media covering his team.  We can see he tries to do things on his own terms with his overhead projector and his emotion taking over leading to freewheeling comments.  He believes he is doing right by telling the story he wants told but his words only fuel more parody and criticism.

 

Al is a cagey dude.  He only spills his guts when things reach a boiling point in his mind and he feels a need to try and set the record straight.  He is aware of criticism, doesn’t like it, and makes an effort to turn it around through the very source he attributes to the problem.  In his world, this is the best method to deal with the problem.  Can you say backfire?

 

From the masses of silver and black lifers, few true Al backers still exist.  Only dolts who believe he can do no wrong or think they are somehow in good graces with the man himself still look to Al’s public relations methods as savvy.

 

It’s not even true to say he is stuck in his ways.  He does try new ways of approaching the media but nothing seems to work right.  You have to wonder who’s fault that is.

 

 

 

 

Evaluating The AFC West Rivalry In ’09

Interestingly, the Chiefs and Broncos share something in common other than being AFC West rivals. So far, all we have seen from both of their revamped front office and coaching staffs is a bunch of attitude and questionable decisions.

 

We’ll give the Chiefs a little latitude since Matt Cassel seems to have the tools of a winner. Though his price tag is beyond what he deserves: the decision to bring him in is looking a lot better than Josh McDoofus’ misguided faith in Kyle Orton. How’s that for a laughter?

 

Kyle Orton. Glad he’s on your team and not mine.

 

Let’s put it as politely as possible. Orton is very inconsistent. He’s not going to win a lot of games for you and he’s not suddenly going to turn into a winner because McDoofus is credited with mentoring Tom Brady and Cassel on his resume. The real problem for Denver is their defense so the reality is they are going to need a high quality QB (which Denver had in Jay Cutler even though the guy is a whiner) to win them tight games.

 

Not going to happen with Orton. That’s just how it is. Chew hard on that and then swallow (which is something Denver fans are conveniently good at).

 

KC is in a lot better shape with Cassell though their defense is still horrid.

 

If we look at the tail end of last season, optimists say Oakland is on the upswing. Can they continue that climb under head coach Tom Cable? Well, chances are they will have some good games but more likely they will sputter.

 

The problem is Oakland’s defense has not changed much in terms of personnel or game planning. If anyone expects a difference with John Marshall as defensive coordinator then you have consumed more Jägermeister than your brain can handle.

 

With a swiss chesse run defense, Oakland’s offense is going to have to avoid three and outs more often than not. How likely is that? Don’t look for Oakland to lead this division.

 

The Chargers have the benefit of having the best head coach in the division in Norv Turner. That says a lot right there if Norv is the best of the lot. He’s a guy who has learned the hard way how difficult it is to make the transition from assistant coach to head coach.

 

Yes, he has taken some lumps but Norv is far more experienced than what’s his name with the Chiefs, McDoofus or Tom Cable who is learning as he goes and will never be close in comparison to the football mind of Norv.

 

After last season’s surprise playoff run and retaining the core of their staunch defense along with star personnel on offense, San Diego is the clear front runner to win the AFC West in ‘09. As all teams need to do, the Chargers have to remain injury free as best as possible and play to their potential. Otherwise, one of the other three mediocre teams in the division will have a chance to slip past them in what should end up as a tight race.

 

Wins will not come easy for any of these teams. If San Diego chokes in the clutch (as they usually do) then it is their own fault (as it usually is). None of the other division teams will have enough oomph to do anything worthwhile even if they somehow manage to win a playoff spot.

 

The AFC West is San Diego’s to lose (which they probably will).

Darius Heyward-Bey’s Hammy Is Not a Good Omen

I can’t help but wonder why the Oakland Raiders front office was so careless in pushing Darius Heyward-Bey into action early in OTAs. This resulted in him suffering a hamstring injury which may effect him for some time, putting him at a disadvantage during training camp in a few weeks.

 

He could even be potential IR material. If you doubt that, do a little research on hamstring injuries and how long they take to heal.

 

Every NFL team has similar goals with rookies and veterans. You want all your players to perform at peak levels and play through pain—to give everything they have 100 percent of the time.

 

It is no secret that professional athletes, especially in the NFL, are compelled to earn their money by sacrificing their bodies.

 

However, in the case of the Raiders organization, what I see is irresponsible handling of their premium talent.

 

The same thing occurred last season when Darren McFadden was used as a battering ram, running between the tackles throughout preseason, getting his head knocked in until finally, he managed to get a significant (yet understated) shoulder injury as well as turf toe on both feet just a few games into the season. 

 

The net result? A great game against the lowly Chiefs, but McFadden was never the same for the rest of the season.

 

An unsigned rookie should not be put under a microscope so early after the draft. The NFL is a big step up. There is a maturation process that needs to take place. You don’t just step onto the field and try to out-do everyone around you.  No doubt, Heyward-Bey felt the pressure to show the Raiders staff what he could do from the minute he put on the uniform.

 

The Raiders need their first round pick to learn and grow into the role as a big play receiver. No need to have the guy think he has to shine so early. Without a veteran mentor to show him the way, the Raiders organization has failed to provide their first round pick a model to follow.

 

You know who would be the perfect mentor for DHB is James Loften. You have to wonder why he was replaced as receivers coach in favor of a much lesser coaching talent in Sanjay Lal.

 

At every turn, the Raiders fall on their own sword.

 

I don’t claim to be an expert in NFL contracts and insurance and all of that, but logic dictates that a cautious approach should be taken with unsigned rookies. He should not have his feet put to the fire immediately.

 

This whole scenario tells me the Raiders front office has done a face plant and is relying on bad judgment or lack of any judgment, perhaps even incompetent training and coaching to allow DHB’s injury to happen the way it did in the first place.

Jamarcus Russell’s Training Camp Opens

Latest word on Jamarcus Russell’s self-scheduled training camp with his receivers is that only three receivers showed up: Louis Murphy, who is an unsigned rookie draft pick, Will Franklin, a former fourth-round draft pick who has since been released by the Chiefs and Lions, and journeyman Todd Watkins.

 

The problem is the Raiders don’t have a leading receiver and lack veteran leadership. It would have been nice to see Zach Miller (or at least one tight end) make the trip to Alabama, where Russell has foot the bill to bring in the invitees.

 

At this point, it would not make sense for Raiders No. 1 pick Darius Heyward-Bey to participate. He is unsigned and is attempting to recover from injury—which raises additional doubts about his usability and durability for the upcoming season.

 

Javon Walker is a somewhat of an enigmatic joke. He has plenty of abilities as an athlete when healthy, but who can take this guy seriously? After all, his legacy is being sprawled on the Las Vegas pavement by muggers and then failing to deliver on the field last year with mega contract in hand.

 

Unless Arman Shields surprises us, he is just another wasted draft pick and bust.

 

Johnnie Lee Higgins is busy watching Shakira videos and practicing new hip shaking moves for when he feels like gloating and taunting the opposition regardless of the score.

 

Chaz Schilens appears to be the only guy willing to step up and be a professional. He must be too busy in July, or just unwilling to risk injury in Russell’s camp to want to participate.

 

As for the attendees, Murphy is a good prospect. We’ll wait and see what he can do.

 

Franklin is undersized at 6’0″. He is a speed guy (surprise). If he sticks through opening day cuts, it is because the Raiders’ wide receiver corps is depleted due to injury.

 

Watkins is a really gutsy receiver with good hands, but his problem has been getting the necessary game reps to work himself into the lineup. He is also a bit undersized, but look at what Wes Welker can do or the legacies of other smaller, faster receivers. 

 

Word is that Watkins has run afoul of Lord Al for some reason, so he has remained buried on the depth chart or inactive. Why Al chooses to retain players he does not like is an enduring mystery. 

 

It’s just another familiar refrain in Oaktown.

 

So, the Jamarcus Russell-sponsored training camp doesn’t appear to be a worthwhile exercise thus far.

Once Upon a Time, The Raiders Beat The Chargers When It Mattered

Cleveland Brown fans hate re-visiting fateful moments in their team’s close but no cigar history.  For Oakland Raider fans though the 1980 playoff season couldn’t have been any sweeter.

 

It was January 4th, 1981 in Cleveland, Game-time temperature was one degree, with the wind-chill factor estimated at negative 37.

 

Brian Sipe threw a pass intended for Ozzie Newsome in the end zone with 41 seconds remaining in the AFC playoff game. The Browns, who had marched from their 14 to the Oakland 13, were a field goal away from the AFC Championship Game. Instead, they chose to go for the TD.

 

The famous call Red Right 88 ended up with Raiders cornerback Mike Davis making the interception. 

 

The Raiders prevailed 14-12, then proceeded to beat San Diego and Philadelphia en route to their second Super Bowl title.

 

Let’s give the Browns some credit.  The unfortunately named Browns Kicker Don Cockroft had an extra-point attempt blocked by Ted Hendricks earlier in the game.  With uncertain footing, even a 30-yard kick was no gimme.

 

Still, the pain has never gone away for Browns fans.  As a Raiders fan, I wish their second Super Bowl title did not have to go through Cleveland. 

 

Cleveland fans deserved better.  There have been too many heartbreaks for Browns fans.

 

Still, this was a key moment in Raiders history.  It had to happen or the franchise would not have become as storied as it is.

 

The Raiders next had to go through a tough San Diego team in the AFC Championship.  We don’t feel sorry about that one.  How many Super Bowl wins do the Chargers have?  Sorry, how many was that?

 

I still can’t hear you.

 

Anyway, we don’t feel bad for Eagles fans either,  Philly is a great sports town.  Your fans are loudmouths and pretty much a bunch of jerks but you are great fans nonetheless.

 

In ’81, your Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil was a goody too shoes.  Our Raiders were not goody too shoes.

 

Vermeil represented everything Raiders and Raider fans wanted to defeat.  A nice guy with a disciplined team (can you say curfew?  I don’t think the Raider players had a curfew imposed by the powerless Tom Flores).

 

As The Tooz once commented, there was not even room for a blade of grass in Vermeil’s wazoo he was so uptight.

 

I think that says it all and the Raiders won it all.  It was one of the franchise’s finest playoff runs in its history.

 

 

 

Frye Brings Gutsy Insurance To QB Position

When a free agent visits the Oakland Raiders, he can expect a straightforward approach.  You arrive at team HQ, are greeted and given a short orientation, then guided to the training room for a medical evaluation.

You are handed workout clothes befitting the franchise.  From there you are walked to a locker room.  Afterwards, perhaps given some prep or some other classroom type instruction as what the workout will be like and then out onto the practice field where you work out under the instruction of the coaches.

Reverse the process when you leave.

Not everyone gets to meet Al Davis.  You know if Al wants to meet you then you are a step ahead of the other free agents who have come for visits.  If Lord Al requests your presence that means he wants to personally evaluate you.  Specifically, he wants to know about your knowledge and commitment to being a Raider.

Such was the case with Charlie Frye.  Jeff Garcia was not invited to meet Al.

While we can’t read too much into Garcia’s case, we can speculate it is because Garcia is a known commodity.  His career started locally in Gilroy, Calfornia.  He got his shot at San Jose State.  He didn’t get an NFL opportunity until he played in the CFL and excelled, catching the attention of the San Francisco 49ers.

Let’s not be understated about this.  How many guys go from the CFL to the NFL?

Not many and even fewer end up at the cross-town rival of the Raiders.  This catches Al’s eye and likely, a guffaw “how did I miss that one?” especially since Garcia is a local product.

Garcia was a skinny prospect out of high school and college.  Al likes big, strong armed QBs.

Frye on the other hand, hasn’t had the same fortune as Garcia in the NFL.  After an excellent start with the Cleveland Browns and some gritty wins (including a tight game against the Raiders), Frye’s career has languished.

Yet Frye is very similar to Garcia in style and approach.  Frye is a vocal and energetic leader, a former skinny guy who made himself into a strong guy with a powerful throw, wheels and a nice touch in traffic.  Like other young players, he is going to make mistakes but as Al and all evaluators know, with the right tutelage and opportunities, you can restore a player’s confidence.  Think Jim Plunkett.  Frye was not as highly touted out of college as Plunkett was but Al is no stranger to rehabilitating QBs who have not been successful elsewhere.

This is what makes Frye intriguing.

The thinking being, if Jamarcus Russell can’t fulfill his obligations as a guy who can win games then he is money out the window.  Losing big money has never made a dent in Al’s willingness to take risks but if the fallback is to Garcia, the team is left needing a strong #2.  Garcia is an older guy and though he keeps himself in great shape, injury has to be considered a possibility.

If this scenario plays out it could be Frye is the perfect poker chip to bring into the fold.

Frye is considered more dependable insurance than Gradkowski who does not inspire anyone’s confidence.

All things considered, this was the great move to bring in Frye.  Al obviously likes his arm and intangibles. 

Frye has to be happy he’s on a roster.  More importantly, he and Garcia bring urgency to the table as team leaders, something Jamarcus Russell just does not have.

I think Frye will get some snaps and make the most of them in camp this summer.  If that carries over into pre-season I expect Frye to outplay Gradkowski for the third QB spot.

Let’s not even bother with Danny Southwick in the equation.  He is there purely as a training camp arm, not to compete for a job.  Andrew Walter is history as soon as the right opportunity presents itself.

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