Randy Moss: Super Bowl Loser

Randy Moss

It was roughly a year ago that I launched TheEyePatch, after watching the Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. I did it to express my opinions on the state of the Raiders, which at the time was pretty bad. So here I am, basking in the depression that is another year without a Raiders Super Bowl. If you’re anything like me, it’s a pretty sad day.

I’m certainly not getting any younger, and recent news on more in fighting at the Raiders Alameda headquarters just brings more disdain for the whole situation. Super Bowl Sunday has become more of a day of mourning than a day to celebrate the best the NFL has to offer, because the day is so far from including anything resembling silver & black that it’s just down right depressing.

The funny thing, today looked like it was going to go from bad to worse. Outside of the Raiders current situation, the only thing that could have made it worse was watching Randy Moss win a ring. To have him catch the game winning touchdown in the final 2 minutes of the game would have iced this day as one of the worst ever.

I made it no secret that my disdain for Moss is unparalleled. Moss quit on the Raiders. He quit on every one that supports the Raiders. To see him have a monster year in New England only a season removed from his pout-fest in Oakland was revolting. He’s a “me” guy, not a team guy. And me guys make me sick.

So before you chalk me up as some homer, I’ll tell you that I think the New England Patriots are one heck of a team and that I envy their offensive line. Logan Mankins is a stud, and he’s probably the third best lineman on that team (although today didn’t really reflect that).

Randy Moss, for all his worthlessness today, still had the class to make that swimming move after catching the TD that put the Patriots up late in the 4th. Up to that point he did nothing. In the biggest game of his life, he did nothing to help carry the load, and for that I can only bask in the pleasure of the fact that Randy Moss will get no ring this year. Hopefully ever.

His touchdown came after the defender that was covering him fell down. Yet, the guy acts as if the center of the football universe should take note that he’s some sort of football god.

No Randy, you’re the epitome of selfish, and karma got the better of you today.

More Super Bowl Musings

Besides Moss, I couldn’t be happier that Bill Belichick, Rodney Harrison and Tom Brady get to stew on this loss for a while. Belichick is a cheater. Harrison is a cheap shot artist and Brady was exposed today as the overrated quarterback that he is.

Without guys like Mankins, Brady is a mediocre signal caller. The Giants showed the world that by putting a little pressure on him, he’s just no football demi-god. I just hope the rest of the league takes notice and starts putting him on his back more often.

Good for Kurt Warner pressing the subject on the Pats spygate rumor now swirling around Super Bowl XXXVI. If the Pats did in fact tape the Rams walkthrough before the Super Bowl, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should have the stones to really ding the Patriots. Losing a 1st round draft pick and some cash was a slap on the wrist.

Hit’em where it hurts commish!

I can’t wait to hear Tiki Barber’s spin on Eli Manning. Wasn’t it Barber who ripped his former teammate after retiring last spring? Barber questioned Manning’s leadership ability and effectiveness as a passer. The guy looked pretty darn good to me on that final Giants drive.

Oh, and no, they don’t give rings out to retirees.

Keyshawn headed west?

Recently waived and former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is looking for a home. Word on the street is that Oakland could actually be a decent fit for the much maligned wide out.

Could Johnson, a former USC Trojan, serve as a mentor to Mike Williams, another USC alum? Johnson has some history with Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, and Johnson has two children that live in the Bay Area.

It’s not like the Raiders are stacked at the position, and the $20 million that they just reclaimed in dealing Randy Moss frees up some cap space (not that signing a #1 overall pick is going to cost them much!). With Jerry Porter, Williams, Alvis Whitted, Doug Gabriel and Ronald Curry set as the team receiving corps, Johnson doesn’t seem all that bad.

Don’t get me wrong. Johnson can be a malcontent, and the Raiders don’t need more malcontents, but Johnson also provides a legitimate option at receiver. With a guy like JaMarcus Russell waiting in the wings, having a healthy dose of receiver will help make that transition all the smoother.

If you can land the guy on the cheap, why not? The Raiders would have to compete against Green Bay and Baltimore, who are rumored to be in the running for Johnson’s services.

Pre-Draft Notes: Moss to be Traded?

• The latest out of Alameda has the Raiders trading the 1st overall pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the Browns 1st round pick (3rd overall) and wide receiver Braylon Edwards.

• Rumors are swirling that wide receiver Randy Moss will be traded eiather before or during this weekend's draft. The Green Bay Packers supposedly held a meeting recently to debate whether it was worth acquiring the disgruntled Moss. We'll post news as it comes along.

• Will the Raiders pull a patented “Raider Draft Day End Around” and fool everyone with their pick? Would it surprise you if they did? JaMarcus Russell is the primary target, but Calvin Johnson sure would look good in silver & black.

• The bigger mystery on Saturday will be who the Raiders take in the 2nd round. That’s assuming they have a 2nd round pick to use come Saturday morning. Do the Raiders package that pick for a late QB addition? I’ve seen a lot of talk about using it on USC receiver Dwayne Jarret, but frankly, I don’t think Jarret is going to last.

Bucs now interested in Moss

The St Petersburg Times is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now in the race to acquire Raiders receiver Randy Moss.

Story: Bucs Curious About Moss?

Moss talks back on?

Profootballtalk.com reports that discussions between the Raiders and Packers picked up where they left off on a possible transaction which would send Randy Moss to Green Bay. The deal apparently stalled while the Raiders were trying to lure QB Jeff Garcia to Oakland.

The Packers are rumored to be offering Aaron Rodgers or a second round draft pick in exchange for Moss. Seems a little light in terms of compensation for Moss, but maybe the Raiders are willing to cut their losses and get the high priced headache out of Oakland once and for all.

PFT also mentions the Jags and Patriots as potential suitors for Moss’ services. Can’t really see Bill Belichick putting up with Randy Moss’s nonsense.

Glad to hear the Raiders inked Ronald Curry to a one year deal on Sunday. Curry is one of those guys that always seems to be on the verge of taking that next step, but circumstances always seem to get in the way. Who will ever forget that one-handed grab he made in Denver in the end-zone on that snowy Monday night a couple of years ago.

Injuries have been Curry’s biggest obstacles. The guys has skills, he just needs to get past the IR every year. I’d love to see him thrive as the Raiders # 2 receiver (which assumes that I get my wish and Moss is dealt before the start of training camp).

As for the other free agents being considered by Oakland, Daniel Graham seems like a reasonable solution to help establish more blocking presence on the line AND catch a few balls. Reggie Kelly is another option.

Ahman Green is a has-been, which means the Raiders will probably ink him to a multi-year deal.

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.

Y! Take Russ

Yahoo Sport's Charles Robinson and Chris Carter provide insight into the Raiders draft situation. Robinson implies Al Davis hired Lane Kiffin so that he could bully him and make the decisions (as if Al doesn't make any of the personnel decisions).

Both say "take Demarcus Russell." At 6'6", 260 and athletic, don't miss on a guy who has yet to "top out", and Robinson implies Brady Quinn has.

Carter suggests Russell is a Daunte Culpepper clone (except for "bigger hands"). Wonder if Randy Moss could thrive playing with a QB like Culpepper?

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