Could The Raiders and 49ers Be Destined To Share a New Stadium?

For as long as Al Davis has been in a position to do so, he has sought a premier stadium for the Raiders to call a home.

The long and winding road has had many ifs, maybes and buts, lots of lawsuits, hard feelings and broken promises. One thing has remained consistent through it all—the Oakland Coliseum is as good as it has gotten for Al an his beloved franchise.

Al doesn’t like the Oakland Coliseum. He doesn’t like the Oakland city government or their cronies and strange offshoots who controlled tickets for years, who have lied, ripped him off with absurd tax laws, covered their butts by creating new civic codes and whatever else.

Make no mistake, there is bad blood between the Raiders and the Oakland city government, the county of Alameda and everyone associated with that hunk of concrete knows as the Oakland Coliseum.

All things considered, it’s not a bad stadium, just a little old (built in 1966) and of course has to be shared with a professional baseball team which makes the field look like a dirt infield for half of the season.

The San Francisco 49ers have a similar quandary. Their home stadium is a wind tunnel, a mammoth structure so steep people have dropped dead climbing the stairs.

The seating arrangement is awkward, making for mostly bad angles. Who designed this place? This is the most obvious question if you manage to actually make it up the stairs. Well, it was designed for baseball not football so that explains the bad angles.

Candlestick Park or whatever it is called these days, is not the long term answer for the 49ers. They know this all too well.

The problem of course is new stadiums are incredibly expensive to build, land does not come cheap, especially in the Bay Area, and money is tight these days.

The 49ers have a shot though to get a new stadium, potentially in the south bay area, near San Jose in an adjoining town called Santa Clara.

The problem is, there are no sure things and this would have to somehow be paid for. The ins and out of it all are too complex to go into but safe to say, it is a real longshot this would happen at all.

The best shot this has to pass the local vote is if the Raiders joined forces with the 49ers and shared the stadium. This would assure voters of a fatter revenue stream for their city and presumably some perks.

Would Al be interested in joining forces with the local rival?  He just might if this ever goes to a public vote. A new stadium would be a crown jewel for Al and in my opinion, he just might be able to live with sharing this jewel with the 49ers.

Would the fans be upset the Raiders would move 30 miles south from Oakland? Some fans will be upset and others would be overjoyed. Raider fans come from all over, most of which are not from the Oakland area.

People travel vast distances to get to Raider games and I don’t think the extra 30 miles will make a difference to their plans. They will go where the Raiders play.

This could all be wild speculation since the proposed stadium is years away and has not cleared many political hurdles. However, the stadium issue has always been a hot item on Al’s desk so you can be sure he is following developments closely. That means so will we.

Looking Closer at Derrick Burgess Trade Rumors

If Mike Lombardi’s information is legitimate, the trade rumor of the Raiders offering to ship sack specialist Derrick Burgess to New England for Offensive Tackle Sebastian Vollmer and quarterback Kevin O’Connell sends a fairly strong message.

 

For starters, why would the Raiders be seeking depth at QB if they brought in Bruce Gradkowski as the No. 3 guy?  Presuming they intend to see JaMarcus much improved and have a healthy Jeff Garcia as backup, trading a premier pass rusher for a third string QB prospect seems unnecessary.

 

Trading for a solid offensive tackle prospect makes more sense but as any good GM would intend to do, moves Al Davis has already made in the offseason (with Tom Cable’s input) should have shored up the line.  You can never have enough depth at OT though so we’ll give Al the benefit there is logic to the proposal.

 

In this case, however, it would seem a stretch the Pats would give up Vollmer, who is seen as a viable line prospect.  Nor would they want to diminish their depth at QB.

 

For the Raiders to even make this offer that’s like saying, “We don’t know how to draft or develop our own quarterbacks or offensive linemen.”

 

In Raiders OTA reports thus far. we are told Gradkowsi struggles with snaps and pretty much is not much help.  He’s even worse than Marques Tuiasosopo for third stringer which is a recipe for disaster should we ever need the third stringer in the game.

 

I know, it’s still early, give Gradkowski a chance to at least throw a few interceptions in preseason before getting on his case.

 

O’ Connell was good but unheralded coming out of college, much like Tom Brady and Matt Casel were but turned out to be pretty good.  It would seem Al is relying on the Pats good judgment to have drafted those guys and think O’Connell might be of the same stock.  The question is, if the Pats can be successful in identifying serviceable QB talent to take a chance on fitting their system, why can’t the Raiders? 

 

Why do they need to ask the Patriots for their draft picks?

 

Clearly, the Raiders have not had an adequate system to develop QBs since Jon Gruden’s tenure (Bill Callahan and Marc Trestman merely maintained the vestiges of Gruden’s work).

 

It is obvious the Pats are one of very few teams willing to do business with Al Davis.  I would speculate that’s because the Pats have a smart front office and they are confident they will get the better end of the deal.  How could they not, considering the Randy Moss trade?

 

The Raiders have had equal chances to upgrade their QBs and their OL through the draft and free agency. 

 

Until this season, they have languished in rebuilding their OL, still thinking they had an actual building block in Robert Gallery and trying to convince us Barry Sims was an answer at left tackle.  For his part, Gallery has never proven himself to be anything except average on his best day either at guard or tackle.  He’s a major disappointment. 

 

Since Gallery’s move to guard and having given up on Sims, they have brought in nobodies to play tackle.  Those nobodies have provided less than adequate protection for their overpaid prima donna, misfire of a top draft pick JaMarcus Russell as well as the guys who preceded him. 

 

Josh McCown needed to use his wheels to constantly escape pressure and Daunte Culpepper’s bum knees were put to the test as well.

 

We already know what happened to Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter—nothing good.  Any QB needs time to throw so that pretty much is the name of that tune.

 

So if Lombardi’s rumor is true, it spells out a few deficiencies with the Raiders scouting and personnel decision-making.

 

1. Lack of ability to draft and groom a QB (Gannon was a stroke of luck.  If you recall, he was a journeyman before he arrived in Oakland.  By sheer force of will and a behind a decent OL he made himself into an all-pro).

 

2. Lack of ability or willingness to build a stable OL

 

If Paul Hackett is our QB coach and noted expert in his field, let’s see it.  Show us a JaMarcus Russell who can make his throws, put some touch on the ball, read the defenses, etc.

 

I’m tired of hearing about JR’s success against Tampa Bay in the season finale.  Ok, great, he had a nice final game.  I want to see more consistency during the regular season.

 

If Tom Cable is our OL coach and noted expert in his field, let’s see the unit provide protection and open up running lanes.  Some strides were made last season but the personnel is still not up to par. 

 

We’ll need a more talented unit to compete with the ferocious defenses of the NFL.  In that respect, I can see seeking Vollmer in a trade as legitimate reasoning.

 

The Pats are not dumb though so let’s see if the guys Al and Tom Cable brought in can actually get the job done or if they need to go back to the well and hit up the only ear willing to listen—the Pats who no doubt will look for another sweetheart deal with additional draft picks  (or should that be pickpocket) to go along with Burgess, should he be shipped out.

A Vintage AFL Look in 2009: Oakland Raiders Seek “Throwback” Results

Football “fashion” is in the eye of the beholder but in the case of the Oakland Raiders, just the fact that a minor uniform change will be made for a few games in 2009 could be a good omen.

Sometimes it takes a coaching change.  Other times, the team look changing can spark a turnaround in performance on the field.  It’s been known to happen.

Even if this jolt is just for a few games, we’ll take it.

If they hold true to form, the 1963 style uniforms will be worn, including for the opening game against the San Diego Chargers, who will also be donning their vintage AFL uniforms for the occasion.

This would be a significant change for the Raiders, having not made any noticeable tweaks to the uniform design or helmet logo since the 1964 season.

In 1963, the Raiders logo had a lot more white to it.  In 1964 more black was used and silver was added.

Things could have been much worse if they had stuck with the original black helmets without a logo at all and block lettering with gold trim.  They didn’t look so bad at the time but if they wore them now the unfiorms would look like a cross between the Bears and Steelers.  At least this way, using the 1963 design, it’s still very much a Raiders look.

So what does this uniform change really mean?  It’s an NFL marketing gimmick to generate more merchandise sales of course.  They can claim it’s to pay tribute to the the AFL or whatever but that’s hooey.

Expect a step up in vintage Raiders merch at the Raider Image and online.  It’s what the NFL is all about, reaching into your wallets for the stuff you just have to have for your collection or of course “great gift ideas.”

Actually, I like the vintage look so I ponied up and already own a Raiders retro logo cap and t-shirt.  I’m ready for the upcoming season.

Andrew Walter Is the Odd Man Out in Oakland

It’s pretty clear by now that Andrew Walter is not part of the long-term plans of the Oakland Raiders. 

 

Being that Walter is a no-show at “voluntary” OTAs, this pretty much solidifies the theory.

 

The drafting of JaMarcus Russell, and now the signing of both a veteran in Jeff Garcia and a third stringer in Bruce Gradkowski, leads me to believe Walter will either be waived or traded. Most likely this will happen sometime during the preseason when the Raiders’ hand is forced by mandatory cuts.

 

The reason this has not happened sooner is because Al Davis cannot be bothered with working a trade for Walter and instead has let him languish on the bench—or, in this case, languish in his comfortable living room.

 

A few years ago there was talk of a trade with Jacksonville that did not materialize.

 

Instead of doing what’s right and letting the guy move on with his career, Al’s tendency is to keep a guy around but not give him playing time or give him an explanation why.  It’s his way of showing displeasure to players who he feels have not lived up to their abilities or their contract. 

 

That’s just Al. 

 

He doesn’t want a player to go to a team where he can come back and haunt the Raiders.

 

It’s an unrealistic and vindictive approach, but that is the mind of Al Davis.

 

Let’s look at how we got to this point.

 

Walter was ballyhooed as a 2005 draft pick and did very well as a rookie in preseason, even though he fought through injuries during that time.

 

He was overlooked as starter material the following season; instead, Al recruited Aaron Brooks. We all know how that turned out.

 

So the plan all along was for Walter to be used as QB depth. However, in 2006 injury to Aaron Brooks pressed Walter into full-time duty behind a shaky offensive line—not to mention, of course, the woefully inferior offensive game planning by what’s his name, the bed and breakfast guy hired by Art Shell.

 

As we all know, the results were mostly not a very good refection of Walter’s abilities or the Raiders. Not to say he was terrible as a starter, but he never really had a chance to succeed. 

 

The man was, in fact, set up to fail.

 

Let’s be honest, Andrew Walter has never had a serious opportunity to be a long-term starter in Oakland.

 

I don’t think drafting JaMarcus Russell was a good decision by the Raiders in the first place. His contract holdout only soured me, and his partially decent play last season did not impress me enough.

 

All things considered, I am not a huge Andrew Walter fan either. I think he comes across as arrogant in the interviews I have read. BUT, I do believe he would have won more games than JaMarcus did as a starter.

 

I think Walter is a smarter QB than JaMarcus Russell. He is a more accurate thrower and a much better passer in general. Andrew Walter understands game planning and reading defenses. Walter is by far a more complete QB than JaMarcus Russell.

 

The negatives with Walter are he appears to be injury prone. He also obviously has an attitude. Not showing up for voluntary workouts is not a good way to make yourself good trade bait or impress other teams.

 

Andrew Walter has tons of talent. We know this. He amassed exceptional stats with Arizona State, and despite some difficult circumstances in Oakland, he has shown he is very capable of making clutch plays.

 

I have no doubt if Walter was playing last season the Raiders would have won a lot more games. 

 

That’s just my opinion, and as usual, Al Davis has damaged his team by throwing his money at an undisciplined, lesser talent in JaMarcus Russell rather than giving the best QB they have had on the roster for a few years now another shot.

 

Who has Walter sat behind on the depth chart as a Raider?

 

The only worthy guy I can spot is Kerry Collins. He had more experience, has a bigger arm, and in the right system can be very effective. He did not do as poorly as people criticized him for when he was in Oakland, but the team lost too many games, so Collins was gone.

 

That should have been reason to promote Walter…but it never happened. 

 

He played behind:

 

Aaron Brooks? That was just an awful decision to bring him in.

 

Daunte Culpepper? Bah.

 

Josh McCown? C’mon, who’s kidding who?

 

If we forget 2006, Andrew Walter has always given the Raiders the best chance to win games. That’s the reality of the situation, but now we’ll never know.

Jon Gruden Is Just Passing Time On MNF

Jon Gruden can be a well-spoken guy when he wants to, though his real strength is in coaching, cutting up film, and analyzing game plans.

Many would debate his diplomacy skills, but there is no doubt he knows how to deal with the big egos of overpaid professional athletes.  His very nature demands that he be in the thick of the action—in command of a football team and telling his players exactly what he thinks.

Gruden’s a guy that has spent his entire life focused on being competitive.  That’s why the cushy job of being a broadcast announcer makes no sense.

He’s done a fair job as an analyst so far because he’s so knowledgeable about the game and has some political savvy in knowing what to say and how to say it publicly.

As a locker room voice, he is much different of course.

How long can he expect to keep his burning desire to coach again disguised by a suit and tie with a television embroidered logo?

Anyone can do that job, as proven by the nobodies they serve up on ESPN and the stuttering fools on the NFL Network.  John Madden is proof that anyone who’s ever held a beer can in his hand can get the job done.  Al Michaels?  Please, the only reason anyone would think he is tolerable is because our minds are deadened to his drone after so long hearing him on the air.

How anyone can stand Bob Costas, Chris Collingsworth, or Dan Patrick (who looks like he is David Letterman’s evil twin) is ridiculous.  Those guys make me want to stick a fork in someone’s eye.  Let’s not even bring up that sack of wind that is Chris Berman.

It’s obvious to me that Jon Gruden’s intention is just to stay around the NFL.   Television executives, or whoever makes the decisions as to who to hire Monday Night Football analysts, must have made this a one year deal only.  If not they are dumb in thinking Gruden will stick around past a single season.

Jon will land another NFL coaching job next season or he will at least be considered for any openings.  Due to the timing of how things went down at Tampa Bay, it would have been a stretch for him to have landed another NFL head coaching job (though if he chose to, he could have caught on as an offensive coordinator or QB coach).

Jon could have landed a college position as well.  If his motivation was there, he could also have taken a high school coaching job just to stay active until something else opened up (as it did for guys like Rick Neuheisel for example).

Nope, Jon is a politician and a shark, circling the pond waiting for his next chance to pounce.  He apparently really wants to talk shop at pro football’s highest level but to me, this is just a way for him to pass time.

He’ll be back.  Maybe the Broncos will make short work of Josh McDaniels and Jon will return to the AFC West to menace the Raiders.  I’m sure Denver fans would be thrilled to have a guy like Gruden to get things going again for them.

NFL teams turn over coaches all the time.  Jon Gruden will be back in the mix soon enough (not with the Raiders so forget it).

Tim Brown Speaks of Al Davis And…Racism?

Say it isn’t so Tim.

 

Reports have been circulating about alleged comments Al Davis made in reference to African-American athletes from Notre Dame.

 

“Meeting Al [Davis] was pretty unique. I found out five or 10 minutes after my first practice there that he hated African-American athletes from Notre Dame. And they literally told me that.

 

“They literally told me that, because we’re known for using our education more than our athletic ability, that he thought that I would be one of these guys that would basically take the money and run. I don’t know if that was a ploy to get me amped up, but it certainly worked.”

 

This was quote from SportsRadioInterviews.com.

 

I will take the precarious position of covering Tom Brown’s booty here.  First of all, his first practice as a Raider was ages ago so his memory of what was literal is incomplete.  It could not possibly be a direct quote from Al based on memory.

 

When you are speaking publicly it is very easy to let it fly and not really think through everything you are saying.  Tim Brown has said some very interesting things as both a television commentator and radio analyst (in addition to columns he has written). 

 

He’s gone out on a limb many times so it is not really that surprising he would shoot from the hip here.  Though, it is overboard.

 

Let’s give Tim the benefit of the doubt and say Al did say something on the subject at the time.  I think what Al may have implied here is Notre Dame is known for its academics, so if a person (of any color or nationality) has a degree from that school they are going to take a look at the working world and maybe not place pro football as a priority.

 

That doesn’t mean he said what Tim quoted.  It just means the two may have had a conversation about black athletes who graduated from Notre Dame.  No need to embellish one way or the other.

 

Al Davis is no stranger to the race card.  He grew up in the Jim Crow era, which very much effected his perspective as a young man.  This is especially so in athletics where, believe it or not, blacks were often not welcome on the basketball team. 

 

Al, of course, was a basketball player and in his day Jewish basketball players in particular were prized by the white community.  Not that Al was a good basketball player (by his own admission) but he was around the game and the neighborhood basketball courts where blacks played.  He knew black athletes had an edge athletically from an early age.

 

This perspective carried over when Al began to focus more on football as he worked his way from bleacher observer to waterboy with the Syracuse football program.  Al took stock of the abilities of black athletes and no doubt became disenchanted with the treatment many of them received within the world of college athletics. 

 

Not all black athletes were treated poorly but in those days racism was a lot more out in the open than it is today. You had all kinds of buffoons and locker room nonsense to contend with.

 

I have no doubt Al’s role as one who advanced the cause of black athletes throughout his career in pro sports was heavily influenced by his personal life experiences and observations.

 

So maybe he did have an opinion on black athletes from Notre Dame, maybe he didn’t.  Tim should have thought through his comments a little more clearly before speaking on the subject.  I’m sure he will apologize for them soon enough or at least he should.

Competition Will Be Tough at DE in Oakland

It doesn’t look good for Derrick Burgess to be on the sidelines in 2009 mini-camp, whether he has stomach flu or not…

 

Burgess has been trying to ride the coattails of his masterful 2005 All Pro season in which he racked up 16 sacks and led the NFL, also breaking the Raiders single season record. 

 

In 2006, he made the pro bowl again, tallying 11 sacks. 

 

In 2007, he still had eight sacks, but has been a spotty player on the field over that span of time, nursing and fighting off injuries.

 

In 2008 his sacks total dropped to under four.

 

So the question is, how reliable is Derrick Burgess at this stage of his career? 

 

He is 31 (almost an old man in NFL years), and is in a contract season in 2009.

 

To me, it is obvious Burgess will not be re-signed. 

 

The most convincing evidence of this theory is he has been at odds with Al Davis over his offseason workout routine.  It’s no secret Undead Al prefers players in house utilizing the state of the art workout facilities at Raiders HQ.

 

When roll call is taken, Burgess is usually not in the house.

 

If only it was that simple. 

 

Prima donna players like to be with their families in the offseason.  Jerry Porter liked to train on his own in Florida.  Jamarcus Russell also makes his home in the deep south. 

 

The list goes on.

 

Let’s face it.  It’s just not easy to satisfy Undead Al’s demands.  If players don’t like living in the Bay Area during the offseason, they are going to show some resistance.

 

In the case of Derrick Burgess, he thought he had some leeway due to his All Pro status and value as a sackmaster.

 

How times change very quickly in the NFL.

 

Undead Al knows young guys are hungry to make an impact, will do what it takes to make the roster, and stick to the program by training at HQ.

 

Al has been steadily loading for bear at Defensive End the last few seasons with some good prospects.

 

Let’s look at the current players who are seeking a roster spot and playing time.

 

Jay Richardson has shown some inspired play at times.  He was supposed to be a lock to hold down the position.  However, savvy local beat writer Jerry McDonald has this to say about Richardson’s play:

 

“Right DE Jay Richardson has had 22 starts in two seasons and his strength at 6’6″, 280 pounds is supposed to be at the point of attack as a base end. But Richardson too often fails to hold his edge or is pushed aside because he plays too high, resulting in rushing gains in his direction.”

 

It so happens right end is where Trevor Scott has been living up as well at times and in minicamp. 

 

Scott is a guy nearly everyone inside and outside the Raiders organization is extremely high on.  Even before he took the field, he was touted as a great pick.

 

Can’t argue with a sixth rounder getting into the mix so soon and making an impact. 

 

My one critique of Trevor Scott is I have seen him get burned in run coverage.  He is a pin the ears back and rush the passer type of player, or at least that was what was being asked of him in his rookie season. 

 

Speed backs will blow past guys like that who have tunnel vision on the QB.  That tends to happen when opposing offensive coordinators and aware QBs switch up the play to avoid the rush. 

 

If you don’t believe that and think Trevor Scott is unbeatable, then watch the games a bit more closely.  Scott is quick though, and if the coaches do their job, he can get better at developing his overall game so he does not get burned on running plays.

 

As for his pass rushing skills, Scott looks like he could really break out and be a leader for the Raiders in sack totals.

 

All the young guys, though talented, will have their work cut out for them to make the team and earn playing time.  It will be interesting to see if Jay Richardson will still be a starter and how they handle the playing time of Burgess. 

 

I would think (and hope) they utilize Burgess as a situational pass rusher and not an every down guy. 

 

There is too much young talent to hold back.

 

Greyson Gunheim may have a legitimate shot to make the final roster this season.  He played very well in camp in 2008 and in the preseason.  Though he got caught in a numbers game and was relegated to the practice squad in 2008. 

 

It is likely Trevor Scott got Gunheim’s roster spot last season.  Gunheim is on Al’s radar though.  He was promoted to the regular squad late in the season and played in some games in 2008. 

 

In 2009, he looks primed for another go at it.  There is no question Gunheim can help the team at defensive end, not just as a special teamer.

 

Ex-Missouri Tiger Stryker Sulak has earned praise in minicamp as a legitimate NFL DE. 

 

With his size, this makes perfect sense.  Sulak, along with fellow draftee Matt Shaughnessy from Wisconsin are forming a good nucleus of young guys to handle the end positions. 

 

The Raiders are certainly going with youth and why not.

 

Derrick Gray has been with the team a few seasons, let go, and re-signed since he was not claimed waivers.  He plays sparingly and is training camp fodder. I would look for him to not make the final roster.

 

Why Justin Fargas Is The Man In Oakland

Who doesn’t like seeing a running back hit the hole and move the pile for those tough yards when you need them?  This style of play has been a hallmark of professional football since the earliest days of the sport.

 

The battering ram concept has never been lost on Al Davis and throughout his tenure as Emperor of the Raiders, he has made sure at least one guy on the roster is capable of moving the pile.

 

Usually you can depend on your fullback for such chores but this isn’t always the case.  You want a guy who can accelerate in traffic.

 

It takes a certain kind of back to be able to do this on a regular basis.  You need a body that can hold up over the long haul and you need a thick skull to be able to absorb that kind of punishment for a living.

 

The Oakland Raiders have enjoyed their fair share of thick skulled backs.  Pete Banaszak, drafted in 1966, spent his entire career filling short yardage needs.  His successor, Mark Van Eeghen was almost a mirror image of Banaszak though more athletic.   If you think the Raiders are all about the deep ball, think again.  Mark Van Eeghen carried the ball so much he amassed over 5,000 career yards as a Raider.  He also led all backs in yardage with a whopping 75 in the super bowl victory over the Vikings.  Two and three yard pickups is the name of the game when it comes to big backs who can wear down a defense.

 

There was also fullback Marv Hubbard.  Ironically, Hubbard and Van Eeghen both were drafted out of Colgate University.

 

In the modern era, Tyrone Wheatley  was supposed to be that sort of guy but never really developed into it.  Zack Crockett filled that role for a while.  There have been others but you get the idea.

 

Nowadays we have Justin Fargas, who has redefined that role a bit by adding a lot more speed and catching out of the backfield to the mix. As the game has changed and player athleticism has evolved over the years, Fargas has not only grown into the role, he has risen to the occasion and won the position outright over highly regarded Darren McFadden.

 

Interestingly, while playing at Michigan, coaches moved Fargas to safety.  After getting hurt, he transferred to USC where he did pretty well for himself as a running back.  He was a third-round draft pick by the Raiders where he has finally worked himself into the role of “the man.”

 

Fargas is not built like a truck but he can move the pile when he has enough momentum.  He can be considered the Raiders short yardage specialist.  Though we can blame bad play calling for anyone thinking Fargas is going to give you first downs on third and long.

 

“Lil Hugg” has carried the rock more than any other Raider back over the past two seasons.  This, along with his community-minded approach to being a Raider has earned him numerous accolades by booster clubs.

 

In many ways Lil’ Hugg symbolizes what being a Raider is all about.

 

So why doesn’t he have the respect of all Raider fans?

 

People want to see more of Darren McFadden and get a long look at what Michael Bush can do.

 

With both of those guys we have seen glimpses of potential greatness but not enough to displace Fargas.  At least not yet.

 

McFadden is not really a between the tackles type of runner.  He showed he can do that but it wears you down, especially a guy like McFadden, who you ideally want to get into open space.  We can only hope he gets more than a handful of carries per game and plays designed to take advantage of his abilities.

 

Michael Bush just needs a chance to prove himself every day.  It doesn’t seem likely he will be an every game performer (at least as a Raider) thanks to being third on the depth chart.

 

We also can’t forget about Louis Rankin, who shows good burst out of the backfield and whom Undead Al surely wants to see more of (as indicated by his promotion from the practice squad in the off-season).

 

It’s a crowded backfield and Justin Fargas leads the pack.  Don’t expect that to change in ’09.

 

« Previous Page

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010