New Number, New Porter?

Will the real Jerry Porter please stand up

So Jerry Porter is ready to join the party. Good for Jerry. I think. It’s no secret that he and former Raiders head coach Art Shell butted heads from day one. It’s also no secret that Porter was deactivated and / or suspended for the majority of the 2006 season. With Shell’s departure, Porter was re-born. His career as a Raider salvaged in the blink of an eye.

On Wednesday, Porter released a statement through the Raiders, re-engaging himself as part of the Raider Nation, albeit in the form of a number change from 84 to 81.

"For me the new number represents a new start, a new beginning and new attitude," he said in a statement released by the team. "I've had multiple meetings with coach Kiffin and I am very excited about the direction of our team and especially our offense. I can't wait to get started."

It’s too bad something as simple as a number change can’t wipe away all past transgressions.

For the record, I used to be a big Jerry Porter fan. Granted, I don’t know what happened behind closed doors, but I do know that Porter demanded a trade last season. I do know that Porter was in the middle of a feud that divided the Raiders last season, and for that I have issues with Jerry Porter.

To frame my issue, you have to take a step back to the 2001 season. That was the year the Raiders signed Jerry Rice. Porter was entering his second season with Oakland, and was the heir apparent to Tim Brown as the Raiders #1 receiver.

Only a second year receiver, Porter had a lot to learn about life in the NFL. He was smart enough to recognize that he had the two greatest receivers in NFL history as mentors in Rice and Brown. He was smart enough to watch, listen and learn over the course of the next three seasons.

Jerry Porter, for all intent purposes, was not a problem child. By 2003 Brown was gone. Less than a year later, Rice would be put to pasture. Porter was finally the man.

Fast forward to the winter of 2005 and the Raiders acquire Randy Moss. Still, Porter plays the loyal Raider and accepts his role as Moss’ second. He’s not Moss’ understudy, but he’s also not the Raiders number one receiver.

Certainly, not a great position to be in if you’re Porter, but he handled it as a professional.

That is, until 2006. Enter Shell, and the wheels fall off.

My issue with Jerry Porter and the great implosion of 2006 is that we all know he can be a team guy. He’s proven it. So why all the grief last season? Did he throw in the towel, knowing that the Raiders were destined to lay an egg in 2006? Did Jerry Porter force Art Shell’s hand in an attempt to bail on the situation?

Raider lifers don’t behave that way. Raider lifers don’t ask for trades. That’s what makes them Raider lifers. Nothing is bigger than the team. The sum of all parts is more important than one piece. That applies to Jerry Porter more than anyone, because he led us all to believe that he was a lifer.

Now he wants back in. What worries me more than anything is what convinced him to change his tune. What are the Raiders promising him? Asking for a trade is not something that many former Raiders have lived to tell about (at least as Raiders).

Marcus Allen, Ken Stabler, Dave Casper. They were all Raider greats. But when they forced Al Davis’ hand, the trigger was pulled. Those guys were jettisoned. So why not Porter?

I think Porter is an incredible talent. If I line up Porter today versus, say a Randy Moss, I’d take Porter over Moss for pure upside. In the right mindset, Porter is a better investment. But the question over his change of heart will always be something that tests the trust factor.

Is he in or is he out? If things go south in terms of wins & losses, is Jerry Porter going to be a guy that motivates his teammates to be better, or does he jump ship ala Moss? The Raiders already have a major headache in Moss. If Porter suddenly decides he doesn’t want to be a Raider, kiss the next two to three seasons goodbye. Add any Porter distractions to the Moss rifts and the damage will be catastrophic. Those two would do more damage than anything the Raiders have seen before.

Here’s hoping we see Porter return to his 2004-05 form and helps turn the Raiders around, rather than further divide a team in dire need of unification.

5 Holes Worth Plugging

Is O-Line support in the Raiders 2007 draft plans?

The NFL draft is a little more than two months away, but the prognosticators have been busy trying to figure out which prospects are headed to which teams since early January. Rather than focus on the “who’s available”, I thought I’d share my opinions on where the Raiders deepest holes exist in their current roster.

It’s obvious that one of the weakest offenses in the league is due for a major overhaul, but more importantly, the Raiders need to establish more reliable depth at a number of offensive positions. They had too many key positions filled with 2nd and 3rd options last season because of injury, suspension, you name it. These are not changes that are going to turn around a team in a season, because few draft picks do that, but they are areas that need to be upgraded.

These are the areas the Raiders MUST improve in order to have any shot at being competitive in the next 2-3 years. You take the best player available, when you’re in a position to do so. The Raiders have so many holes, it’s going to be hard for them not to address two or three just by showing up to the draft. Jamarcus Russell appears to be he consensus #1 pick, but it’s not the Raiders #1 need.

So here they are. My top 5 Raider needs entering the April 28-29 NFL Draft (in priority order):

Need #1: Right Tackle
Langston Walker has voided the final year of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Bishop O’Dowd and Cal alum could be resigned by the Raiders, but it’s unlikely. Brad Badger’s is no longer a viable option at the position, so it will be priority 1 to fill this position. If Robert Gallery kicks things into gear, Chad Slaughter is an option at left tackle, but Gallery’s injury plagued 2006 is a constant liability for the Raiders.

Need #2: Left Guard
Barry Sims is about to enter his 9th season in the league, but it’s unlikely to be as a Raider. From 2001 through mid 2006, Sims started 85 of 87 games for Oakland (including 68 straight), but a sports hernia sidelined him for five games last year. A $4.533 million roster bonus that’s due in March and a $1 million base salary in 2007 will most likely force the Raiders to cut Sims. Corey Hulsey didn’t provide much relief in Sims absence and the Raiders don’t have much else in terms of depth at the position. The Raiders are expected to move 2nd year guard Paul McQuistan over to the left side (his natural position is at left tackle).

Need #3: Running Back
LaMont Jordan is not a feature back, no matter what his contract says. His 1000-yard season in 2006 showed promise, but that may have been the high point of Jordan’s mediocre 6-year career. Marquee feature backs consistently turn out 1000-yard+ seasons, and Jordan has one under his belt. Jordan would complement a marquee back and provide the Raiders with some punch from the backfield, but the Raiders can’t rely on him as the main man if they’re serious about moving the ball down the field. Justin Fargas was a nice experiment, but he’s destiny is a 3rd-string option. If the Raiders could somehow find a decent running back, Fargas becomes expendable.

Need #4: Quarterback
Aaron Brooks is not the answer. His 61.7 QB rating was abysmal, and it’s declined every year for the past three seasons. His 88.8 rating in 2003 was the best rating he’s had in 8 NFL seasons. It’s time for Oakland to cut its losses with Brooks. The jury is still out on Andrew Walter, but his statuesque (as in he's as mobile as a statue) performance during his 8-game stint as the starter last season exposed a huge liability. Yes, he had defensive linemen in his grill on just about every passing play, but his 13 interceptions in 276 attempts proved that he made a lot of bad decisions as well. His visible frustration with kissing the turf as often as he did may have turned off many of his teammates as well. His 53.3 completion percentage wasn’t horrible, but it also wasn’t great.

Need #5: Free Safety
Stuart Schweigert had a career high 86 tackles in 2006, but he’s marginal at best in pass coverage, is weak in run support and is an average tackler. Jarrod Cooper is a career backup and the Derrick Gibson has never been able to lay claim to his spot in the secondary. The oft-injured Gibson enters his 7th season behind Michael Huff at strong safety, but could spell Schweigert at the free position if the Raiders are unable to solve this problem thru the draft or free-agency.

The Question Mark: Wide Receiver
Who knows how this soap opera is going to play out. Will Randy Moss grow up overnight and honor his contractual commitment to the Raider? Unlikely. Will the real Jerry Porter show up? Will he be on the active roster for us to find out? Who knows? Is Johnnie Morant the answer? The 8-Ball says no. Can Ronald Curry stay healthy? Wouldn’t count on it.

Around the Nation

• John Clayton thinks it's time to let coaches stay coaches :: ESPN.com
• I totally disagree with Anthony Carroll's suggestion that Jeff Fish needs to be fired :: RealFootball365
• Some capatology news :: NFL.com
• There is someone who thinks th Raiders will draft Quinn :: AOL Fanhouse

Just coach baby!

Coaching turmoil leads to team turmoil! No, that’s not the latest news out of Alameda (for once). That’s news from San Diego, where head coach Marty Schottenheimer was dismissed on Monday after another clash with Chargers GM A.J. Smith.

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy you say? The head of the Oakland Raiders Fan Club, Schottenheimer was not. He did manage to lead his team to a 14-2 record in arguably the toughest division in pro football, so his firing is a bit surprising.

NFL insiders say the writing was on the wall, when Schottenheimer refused to sign a one-year extension to his contract and that his relationship with Smith has been tenuous at best. But the word now on the street is that Schottenheimer was let go over a disagreement with Smith and owner Dean Spanos over a decision to hire Schottenheimer’s brother Kurt, as defensive coordinator.

With the Chargers losing Cam Cameron and Wade Phillips, San Diego was left with two huge holes in its coaching corps. The rumor mill alleges that Schottenheimer demanded control of hiring decisions when it came to his coaches. Smith and Spanos disagreed, and the rest is history.

This leads me to the question of the day in Alameda. How much authority has Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin been extended in the hiring department? Has Al Davis given Kiffin the authority to bring in the people that he feels are best qualified for the job?

How much experience has Kiffin even had in the coaching evaluation department? The early signs suggest that Davis has extended a little latitude. Kiffin courted offensive coordinator Greg Knapp at the Senior Bowl in Mobile back in January.

It’s difficult to say how much influence Kiffin has had in the handful of hires that have taken place over the past month. Kiffin was supposedly responsible for notifying former coaches Tom Walsh and Jackie Slater that they were being let go, but that doesn’t mean he had the ultimate authority to decide on the release those coaches.

Certainly any head coach wants to work with the people he finds most comfortable to be around, but how much influence does a 31-year-old first year coach in the NFL have over a guy like Al Davis? Was hiring control part of the deal? Did he even demand it?

Kiffin certainly had no authority over the defensive coaching alignment. Then again, why would anyone want to tinker with the one bright spot in Alameda?

When Jon Gruden was hired by the Raiders in 1998, sweeping changes followed in the coaching ranks. Gruden was reported to have negotiated some control of personnel decisions, but it was never widely know how much control Gruden really had. After achieving relative success at the helm of the Raiders, Gruden’s eventual “trade” to Tampa Bay was expedited by Gruden’s demands for more control of football operations.

In any case, Kiffin has a mighty big job on his hands, and having a mentor like Al Davis isn't the worst thing in the world. At the very least, he's a month ahead of whomever San Diego fills their vacancy with.

A good day to be Shane Lechler

When Raiders punter Shane Lechler woke up on Saturday morning, it was understandable for him to still be miffed at his Pro Bowl snubbing. Lechler was the topped ranked punter in the AFC, trailing only Mat McBriar for the title of league’s best. Lechler was passed over for the NFL’s All-Star game in favor of Brian Moorman from Buffalo.

By the end of Saturday’s contest, Lechler was probably thinking that enjoying the game from the comfort of his home in Texas turned out to be the better scenario. It certainly wasn’t the kind of day you dream about for Moorman.

The Bills punter didn’t get a chance to meet all of the NFC squad before the game, so Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor went out of his way to make his acquaintance on a foolish fake punt attempt. Moorman swept around the right side, only to be leveled by Taylor. The safety had about a 30 yard running start before knocking Moorman back to last Thursday.

Leave it Bill Belichick to call a play like that…with SOMEONE ELSE’S PUNTER! Mr. Sunshine was probably thinking back to Moorman’s 40 yard average in the Patriot's week 1 matchup with Buffalo, telling himself, “never again!” (Mr. Sunshine apparently doesn’t say more than two words at a time these days).

Lechler went to bed on Saturday with his head still firmly attached to his neck. We’re not so sure if Moorman can say the same thing.

Not sure what to think about Rathman

I’m not sure what to think of Tom Rathman’s appointment as running backs coach by the Raiders this week. The guy was as solid as they come when he played for the 49ers back in the 80’s. In 1989 his 73 receptions led all running backs in the category.

Yes, a majority of those receptions were on quick swings out of the backfield, but when Rathman made those catches, they were typically for positive yards. We all know what the 49ers offense did in 1989 and Rathman was a big reason San Francisco was successful that year.

But as a coach, Rathman doesn’t make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. When Al Davis hired Jon Gruden, the hair stood up. There was so much talk of Gruden’s football aptitude, that it was hard not to get excited about the possibilities. I can’t say that any of Oakland’s recent coaching hires have had that ”wow” effect on me, but the Rathman one has me the most crossed up. It could be a good thing. Then again, it couldn’t.

You know you’re going to get a real professional, but are you going to get a true teacher or motivator. Being a success at the running back position is more about talent than technique. How a player fills a hole or shakes off a tackle is about physical skill. You don’t teach those things. Does Rathman have the coaching experience necessary to turn one of the weakest rushing attacks in the league around? I’m worried enough about having a head coach who is at the helm of a team for the first time in his coaching career.

What Rathman brings to the table is a wealth of knowledge about receiving out of the backfield. LaMont Jordan is no Tom Rathman when it comes to landing a reception as a second or third option for whomever is going to quarterback the Raiders offense. So perhaps there is some value in this hire.

Rathman was also a fullback. Does Jordan need to understand how to throw a lead block? The Raiders haven’t even had a true fullback since Jon Ritchie (no Zack Crockett isn’t a true fullback), so unless they’re planning on drafting a true bruising blocker, what expertise will Rathman bring to the Raiders backfield?

The one thing I hope Rathman does bring is a winning attitude. The frustration that Jordan exhibited in his last few games of the 2006 season told me that Jordan cared enough about losing, that a guy like Rathman could revitalize someone like him.

A reclamation project the Raiders should pass on

The offensive line the Raiders put out on the field in 2006 was downright offensive. The league’s worst in total offense was anchored by a quintet that only averaged 246 yards per game last season. Oakland should be looking at every option available to improve on one of the biggest disappointments of 2006. Well, almost every option.

Former 49ers center Jeremy Newberry has expressed interest in playing for the Raiders after ten seasons in San Francisco. Newberry’s motivations are that he wants to remain in the Bay Area. He grew up in Antioch and played college ball at Cal, so it makes perfect sense for him to stick close to home.

What wouldn’t make sense is the Raiders taking a chance on lineman who has essentially missed the past two seasons because of knee problems. The cartilage in Newberry’s knees are mush, and so is his ability to be a reliable option at center.

The 49ers had the common sense to cut the two-time Pro Bowler after paying him millions to watch from the sidelines the past two seasons. The Raiders need a transformation on the O-line, but this isn’t the answer.

Raiders owner Al Davis loves reclamation projects. He especially loves taking in 49er castoffs and getting quality production out of them, just to rub it in his closest rival’s nose. Davis’ history of this is long and storied. He’s actually struck gold with a couple of these project. Remember that guy named Plunkett? What about Rice? That name ring a bell?

That history is what scares me about a potential move by the Raiders to sign Newberry. Davis would still love to show the 49ers that he can sniff out talent. If that talent is someone they passed on, even better. Problem is, San Francisco made the right move in ridding themselves of a liability that is nothing more than a crap-shoot.

This is one 49er castoff the Raiders need to stay away from.

A brief recap of some of the Raider reclamation projects that came from across the bay:

Riki Ellison (90-92)	Backup linebacker that served in spot role for 3 seasons
Charlie Garner (2001-03)	1900 all-purpose yards in 2002, and was key piece to the 03 Super Bowl team
Cedrick Hardman (80-81)	Won a ring in SB XV
Ronnie Lott (91-92)	8 picks in 91, but was on downside of his career
Jim Plunkett (78-86)	Led the Silver Black to two Super Bowl titles. The mother of all reclamation projects!
Marquez Pope (2000-01)	Spent two forgettable seasons in Oakland
Tom Rathman (94)	Quality fullback put to pasture after his final year in the NFL
Jerry Rice (2001-04)	243 receptions and 3,286 receiving yards in 3+ seasons and a Super Bowl appearance in '03
Bill Romanowski (2002-03)	Solidified linebacking corps in 2003, leading to SB XXXVII
Dana Stubblefield (2003)	Only played in 8 games in his one season in Oakland
Ted Washington (2004-05)	Started his career in SF, spent two seasons in Oakland

Coaching Staff Continues to Take Shape

The Raiders added to their coaching staff on Wednesday, hiring Washington State running backs coach Kelly Skipper to the assistant offensive line coaching position. Skipper will assist recently hired O-line coach Tom Cable.

Skipper spent the last four years with the Cougars, and was with UCLA for four seasons prior to his stint in Pullman. He served as the Bruins offensive coordinator from 2001-02.

USC graduate assistant Yogi Roth declined the assistant wide receives position with the Raiders. Roth will remain with USC to assist with mentoring quarterbacks as he works toward his doctorate in communications management.

David Reaves, quarterbacks coach at South Carolina removed himself from consideration for the Raiders quarterbacks coach position. Reaves is the brother-in-law of Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin.

Re-Building the O-Line with Cable

Tom Cable

The Raiders hired Tom Cable as their new offensive line coach on Tuesday, bringing in the former Atlanta Falcons line coach to take over wear Jackie Slater left off. You might be asking yourself right about now, why the hiring of an offensive line coach is a) newsworthy, b) interesting and/or c) of any relevance to fixing the Raiders offensive woes, the answer is, because the Atlanta Falcons led the NFL in rushing last season.

Can you name one running back on the Atlanta Falcons roster? Their 183.7 yards per game was tops in the NFL by more than 20 yards per game. In comparison, the Raiders averaged 94.9 yards per game. That’s almost double the rushing production over an entire season.

Now comes the bad news. The Raiders don’t have Michael Vick serving as a third back like the Falcons did last season, and with that league leading average, the Falcons were still tied for 26th in the league in rushing touchdowns with 9.

9 TDs is almost double the 5 the Raiders put into the end zone, but still, 9 does not compete with a LaDainian Tomlinson or Larry Johnson.

Flipping back to the positive, Cable knows new Raider offensive coordinator Greg Knapp’s system, so the transition should be easier than if he were walking into a blind situation. There is a history there.

Can the guy coach is the big question. He knows offenses. He served as the offensive coordinator at UCLA for two season (2004-05) and served as the head coach at Idaho for three years (2001-03). He also spent six years at Cal, serving as the O-line coach in Berkley.

If anything, the guy at least looks like an offensive line coach. If Oakland has guys getting hurt on the like they've had to endure the past few years, they can slap a helmet on the guy and send him out there!

Raiders add Perry to coaching staff

The Raiders added former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Darren Perry to coach the secondary. Perry spent the last four years coaching defensive backs for the Steelers. Prior to that, Perrry spent a year in Cincinnati, as a safeties coach.

Before coaching, the 38-year-old played 139 games in the NFL for Pittsburgh and New Orleans. He signed with San Diego in 1999, but didn't play due to a neck injury. His first seven years in the league were spent with the Steelers, appearing in Super Bowl XXX.

"Darren's track record speaks for itself in Pittsburgh, first as an outstanding player and then equally as a proven coach," said Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin on Raiders.com. "His work in the defensive backfield has resulted in championship caliber play from all areas. More specifically, his work with Troy Polamalu, whom I'm very familiar with, has been outstanding and will translate well with the great talent we have here."

Perry’s appointment raises speculation on what long time defensive backs coach Willie Brown’s role will be with Perry in the coaching mix.

Perry was a decent defensive back in his day, starting his first 110 NFL games right out of Penn State in 1992. He had 35 career interceptions and 1 touchdown. There was no mention of Brown in Kiffin's statements.

What the Raiders can learn from SB XLI

Super Bowl XLI is now complete. The Indianapolis Colts are World Champions. That certainly doesn’t have the same vile taste that it would if it began with “Denver Broncos” or “Kansas City Chiefs”. It’s not football nirvana for Raiders fans, but it’s something I can live with.

Tony Dungy got screwed in Tampa, although I don’t think the Bucs win Super Bowl XXXVI if Dungy is at the helm. The whole Jon Gruden angle is what put the Bucs over the top in that game. Gruden’s players actually won that game for Chuckie. It certainly wasn’t Brad Johnson. It was Dungy’s defense.

So now, Tony D. has a ring to call his very own. He deserved it. The Colts were the better team. Certainly better than the Bears defense. Much-maligned Bears quarterback Rex Grossman will be eaten alive over the next few days, but if you dissect this game, Grossman was no worse than a defense that couldn’t stop Joseph Addai or Dominic Rhodes.

The two Colts backs shredded the Bears for 190 rushing yards and a TD. The 247 yards of passing wasn’t vintage Manning, but it didn’t need to be. Chicago expected to face a passing barrage from the Colts, but they failed to compensate for the early warnings. Namely, the weather.

The 40% chance of rain turned into a monsoon in South Florida, but the Bears never adjusted for a rushing attack that few thought would be a problem for the Bears defense. Least of all, the Bears defense themselves.

The weather also turned what should have been a showcase of the best two teams in the NFL into a game of “he who makes the fewest mistakes, wins” game. The Super Bowl shouldn’t be decided by the elements, but this one had 6 fumbles that were rain induced. It’s too bad, because we’ll never know what could have been had this game been played in on a dry field. If Al Davis had gotten his wish, today's game would have been played at teh Coliseum. Sunny skies and mid 60's in Oakland sure looked more inviting than the rain drenched Miami marshlands.

Manning can now forever shed the underachiever tag that has haunted his career, and the Colts defense can take solace in the fact that they stepped up in the only game that mattered.

What was the most evident today is the fact that championship franchises in today’s NFL have a few things in common:

• They don’t have problem players on their rosters
• Their coaches are sensible, level headed leaders who have the flexibility to lead
• They have quarterbacks that can carry a team
• They have players who step up when it counts
• They don't need an all-star laden roster to be great

I hope the Raiders brass takes this to heart as they take steps to build the franchise back to the prominence that made it great. Distractions have been far too commonplace in Oakland, so it's time to get to work.

Every team is tied starting tomorrow. Don't expect the Raiders to be a pre-season favorite to appear in SB XLII, but they should be working to move forward. It's time to mimic the two teams that played today in so many ways.

They’ll get to take notes while in the presence of greatness as early as next season, as they’ll square off against both Super Bowl participants in the regular season.

Super Bowl Links that Matter

• Super Halftime Show Guide at Deadly Hippos
• Peyton Manning As Jack Bauer at Sports Gone South
• The Star-Spangled Banner Lyrics at Music Lyrics Blog
• You may want to reconsider your church SB Pool at Managing Editor’s Weblog
• Lingerie Bowl 4 if you're not into Prince
• The Battle For the Universe at Rumors and Rants

Super Bowl Monday

The Raiders aren't in the big game, so is it even worth celebrating? Ah what the hell, it's the Super Bowl. If you're anything like the throngs of Americans who will be plopped in front of the tube this afternoon (if you're reading the chances are pretty good), then you'll be engaged in the NFL's version of New Year's Eve. If you're a Bears or Colts fan, it'll be like Christmas.

So for those of you celebrating the end of the NFL season tonight, it makes perfect sense that Monday be declared a national holiday. So say the folks at SuperBowlMonday.com.

The grass roots effort is building a petition that will get our nation's lawmakers to get the holiday written into law. They even provide a handy list of contact information for your state's Senate and House representatives.

Guy's HOF Punt Blocked

Ray Guy

Ray Guy had his Hall of Fame punt blocked on Saturday. It was a slap in the face to arguably the greatest punter in NFL history. The veteran of 14 seasons, all with the Raiders, was eligible for the 6th time since retiring in 1986 and once again he’s left wondering if a punter will ever get into the hall.

If not Guy, what other punter is worthy of the distinguished honor? The answer is simple. There is no punter who is more deserving than Guy. His contributions to the Raiders during the glory days of the 70’s & 80’s are no less important than any other player who donned the silver & black.

When opposing teams stopped Raider drives, they knew that there was the added burden of having the Raiders punter boom the ball 70 yards if the field would allow or having a pooch punt pinned inside the 5 anytime Guy touched the ball.

“Hang time”, the term used to measure the period a punted ball stays in the air, was coined because of Guy’s prodigious blasts. Guy’s precision with the ball left many an opponent pinned to their own end zone after a coffin corner deposit.

In 1985, Guy’s 15th year in the league, he left opponents inside their own 20 yard-line 32 times. He had punts over 70 yards in three seasons and he averaged less than 40 yards per punt in a season only once. That came in 1982, the Raiders first year in Los Angeles, when Guy only played in 9 of 16 games.

In his illustrious career, Guy totaled fore than 44,000 yards in punt length. 44,000 yards! In 1,049 regular season games, Guy was only blocked 3 times. He’s been kept out of the Hall of Fame twice as many times as he was blocked in 16 years of punting.

The fact that Guy spent 16 years with the same franchise is a feat in itself, especially when you consider the fickleness (or greed) of today’s player. For a punter to last that long is a remarkable achievement. Punting for the same franchise for 16 years is Herculean.

2007 HOF inductee Charlie Sanders had 31 receiving touchdowns over a 10 year career with Detroit, a team that had winning seasons four times over that span. Guy’s Raiders finished 7-9 in 1981 and 8-8 in 1986. Sanders’ championship affiliations? None. Guy has three rings.

6 straight Pro Bowl appearances (7 total) and a collegiate award named in his honor are simply icing on a Hall of Fame career. Plain and simple.

The voters need to see past the position and do what’s right. Let’s hope they make amends for this in 2008.

The commish needs to grow some teeth

Does NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell really mean what he says, or is the first year head of the most powerful league in North American sports just paying lip service to the rash of black eyes the league has endured in the past year? Speaking at his first Super Bowl press conference since taking the reigns from Paul Tagliabue, Goodell told reporters on Friday that the league had to take a harder look at the rash of off-field incidents that players have been involved in this year.

"I don't see it happening in droves. I think it's just a few, but that's a few too many," said Goodell. "We recognize some players don't do what we would hope they do and when that happens, we will be very aggressive in dealing with that."

If you don’t consider the nine arrests alone that have gone down in Cincinnati this year droves, then what qualifies?

Remember when the Raiders used to be the bad boys of the NFL? Heck, they’re the choir boys of the AFC West these days, when you consider the likes of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams (murdered outside a club in January) and San Diego’s Steve Foley (league’s best Butch Cassidy vs. armed police impersonation last Summer). Don’t even get me started on Sean Merriman.

Tank Willams needed special permission to leave Illinois, so he could participate in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Goodell, doesn’t just have a problem on his hands, he has a plague to deal with.

"We are raised to a higher standard in the NFL. We must make sure the players are more accountable and our clubs are more accountable,” added Goodell.

I think he may be on to something. Hold the clubs more accountable to whip their soldiers into shape. If someone on your roster gets shot by police, you should lose a 1st round draft pick. Just think how motivated these teams would be if they had to make that type of concession.

Holding the players accountable has done squadoosh to curb the recklessness and disregard for common civility. So hit the teams up for this insanity. If a team starts to pay the price for the transgressions of its players, then perhaps they’ll get serious about imposing harsher punishments on players.

Former Raider great Gene Upshaw has proven to be a champion of the players rights and privileges, but I’m almost embarrassed for him. He’s like a death row lawyer who fights to save the lives of his clients, regardless of their crime.

Upshaw can score one more victory if he were to move proactively with the league to set higher standards for the players that he represents. It’ll probably never happen, but I can only imagine what heinous act it’s going to take before the players open their eyes. For the league’s sake, I hope Goodell means business.

Raiders All-Super Bowl Team: Defense

Finishing off my selections for all-time Raider greats in Super Bowls, here are the best players at each defensive position:

DL – John Matuzak (SB XI, XV)
DL – Reggie Kinlaw (SB XV, XVIII)
DL – Howie Long (SB XVIII)
LB – Ted Hendricks (SB XI, XV)
LB – Rod Martin (SB XV, XVIII) 3 int, 44 yds
LB – Matt Millen (SB XV, XVIII)
LB – Jack Squirek (SB XVIII) 1 int, 5 yds, 1 TD
CB – Willie Brown (SB XI) 1 int, 75 yds, 1 TD
CB – Lester Hayes (SB XV, XVIII)
FS – Jack Tatum (SB XI)
SS – Mike Davis (SB XV, XVIII)

Defensive evaluations are made strictly on game impact. The NFL did not record sacks until the 1982 Super Bowl. Likewise, tackle information is not recorded in SB records.

Brown and Squirek’s interceptions may be the most memorable because they both scored touchdowns, but Rod Martin’s three picks may have been the most influential defensive performance in any of the five Raider Super Bowl appearances. His first setup the first Raiders score against Philadelphia in SB XV, and his second stopped a drive that the Eagles were mounting during a tightly contested game. His third pick iced the game for the Raiders.

Jack Tatum’s hit on Sammy White in SB XI goes down as the biggest tackle in Raider’s Super Bowl history. The shot knocked White’s helmet off, intimidating the Vikings receivers for the rest of the game.

I can’t forget Special Teams:

P – Ray Guy (SB XI, XV, XVIII) 40.5, 42.0 and 47.0 Avg
K – Chris Bahr (SB XV, XVIII) 8 PATs, 3 FGs (21, 35, 46 yds)
PR – Neal Colzie (SB XI)
KR – Carl Garrett (SB XI)
SP – Derrick Jensen (SB XVIII) 1 blocked punt, TD

Raiders All-Super Bowl Team: Offense

In my continued celebration of the Super Bowl this week, I’ve decided to name my Raiders All-Super Bowl Team. This is a culmination of the greatest Raiders based on their performance in the big game (as a Raider).

I’ll start with the offense today, and name my All-SB defense on Friday.

C – Dave Dalby (SB XI, XV, XVIII)
RG – Mickey Marvin (SB XI, XV)
RT – John Vella (SB XI)
LG – Gene Upshaw (SB II, XI, XV)
LT – Art Shell (SB XI, XV)
TE – Dave Casper (SB XI) 4 rec, 70 yds, 1 TDs
WR – Cliff Branch (SB XI, XV, XVIII) 14 rec, 181 yds, 3 TDs
WR – Bill Miller (SB II) 5 rec, 84 yds, 2 TDs
RB – Marcus Allen (SB XVIII) 20 car, 191 yds, 2 TDs
RB – Mark Van Eeghen (SB XI, XV) 36 car, 148 yds
QB – Jim Plunkett (SB XV, XVIII) 46 att, 29 comp, 433 yds, 4 TDs, 0 Int

Picking Miller over Fred Biletnikoff can be debated until the end of time, since Biletnikoff walked away with MVP honors in SB XI, but Miller’s numbers out weighed those of Biletnikoff. Miller is also the only player on the list that lost a Super Bowl. Jerry Rice’s 5 receptions for 77 yards and a TD in SB XXXVII make the future HOF’er an honorable mention.

Looking back on the numbers, Cliff Branch was an absolute Super Bowl stud.

I had to use a little latitude when it came to the O-line, because there are few stats that tell the tail of the accomplishments of these players. Dalby and Upshaw were easy choices, because of their three Super Bowl appearances (all wins!). Art Shell and Mickey Marvin were a close second for their multiple appearances in SB XI & XV. John Vella got the nod over Henry Lawrence because of the huge rushing performances of Clarence Davis and Mark Van Eeghan in SB XI.

End of an Era or New Beginning?

Call it an end of an era or a new beginning in Alameda. Former Raider great Fred Biletnikoff called it a career on Wednesday, retiring from his duties as receiver coach after 18 seasons as an assistant for the silver & black. His tenure as a coach followed an illustrious 14 year career as a wide out for Oakland from 1965-78, which included a Super Bowl Championship and MVP honors in the title game.

He as inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. His 589 career receptions ranks 2nd in Raiders team history.

"I truly valued my time as a player and coach for the Raiders - it has been an honor to wear the Silver and Black," said Biletnikoff. "I am now embarking on another chapter and hope that these coming years bring as much joy and accomplishment as the previous years. I'm excited about this new direction in my life and continuing to being a part of the Raider Family. I'm also excited about the new direction that the Raiders have taken with Lane Kiffin and wish the organization much success."

Biletnikoff’s retirement comes on the heels of newly hired head coach Lane Kiffin’s appointment, which will bring speculation that his departure was part of a greater house cleaning. The outcome of several coaches from the 2006 staff is unclear, including line coach Jackie Slater.

The receiving corps’ production, along with the rest of the offense, was abysmal last season, which may have expedited Biletnikoff’s exit. The Raiders ranked 28th in receptions in the league last season and 30th in receiving yards. Oakland’s 7 receiving touchdowns trailed the next lowest team total by 6 TDs. By comparison, the Indianapolis Colts had 7 touchdowns of 40 yards or more in 2006 (31 total).

Raiders owner Al Davis has always been ultra-loyal to a select group of former players who best exemplified the spirit of the Oakland franchise, but Biletnikoff’s tenure may have run its course. Former cornerback Willie Brown still serves as a secondary coach, but the defense wasn’t as problematic for the Raiders last season, so Brown’s job would appear to be safe for now.