Raidersblog.com

Home Game, Monday Night, Broncos, PRIMETIME. Al Davis' offseason moves have already left a favorable impression on the NFL schedule makers. We rarely have received Monday night games the past few years, and we hardly ever get them in Oakland. A home game in primetime is truly exciting for Raider Nation and I al already pretty excited about it. Also the Raiders signed Center John Wade . He has started every game for the past three seasons. I'd expect Grove and Wade to battle it out. Grove has to prove he can stay healthy to earn a role. This may mean we don't want to roll the dice with Newberry and perhaps could spell the end of his illustrious career. Or it could mean Grove is out, either way, we are picking up deals on the offensive line to round out Tom Cable's system fits.

Before the draft and after most of the major free agents have been signed there is a significant lull in the offseason. Most teams are hard at work evaluating college prospects and setting their draft order. Little news is coming out and we have rehashed the Lane Kiffin situation so much so the very idea of bringing it up again would make it a mashed pulp worthy to be made into the very newsprint the old timer articles are written on. Likewise the draft talk has been regurgitated more times than hay in the belly of a sow. Frankly I'd rather chew cud than once again talk about who we will draft. The saving grace for sports fans right now is March Madness, the NBA and NHL Playoffs, and the start of the baseball season. I rarely will stray from Raiders news here, but given the pace of the offseason now, I feel I should comment. For those out of region Raider fans, don't feel that you have to keep reading...but do if you want. NBA: Warriors are exciting, just not sure they have the...

So its been a pretty dull couple of weeks since DeAngelo came to town. I want to bring attention to an article by Monte Pool . Some of you may have read it. Here are some highlights with my commentary. The focus, instead, is on Al. How he's betting the house. How — by committing to roughly a quarter-billion dollars in new contracts — he's spending like with utter disregard to anything beyond 2008. Failure to see past the dollar signs and the CBA Monte. The veteran player contracts will balloon when they fix the rookie contract situation. A new CBA is coming after the owners opt out and will certainly be more player favorable. Not mention the slight chance there is for no cap. If Al wants Kiffin gone, find $3 million or $4 million to pay off his contract. The parade of wealthy new Raiders is proof the boss will spend for the right cause. If Al trusts himself enough to pay Kwame Harris $14 million over three years to protect JaMarcus Russell's blind side — yes, Harris is pe...

As expected, DeAngelo Hall has been traded for a 2008 second round pick and 2009 fifth round pick. He has signed a deal worth about $25 million in guarantees. What does this signing mean to the team's likelihood of success in 2008? It would make sense with all the offseason moves and a #4 overall pick in the upcoming draft hat we could see a huge jump in wins. While some of the media may continue to "Raider hate," I think we have catapulted our team into the AFC elite in one offseason. There sure isn't a lot of teams as loaded as we are now. Chargers, Jaguars, Colts, Patriots, Steelers, and um...I can't really think of any more. With most of the Raiders hopes resting on a few weak knees and on the arm of a second year Quarterback. You can't argue with the talent level of the Raiders now. As Mark Schlareth said, "The Raiders are the most impressive team coming off the bus." Also, the Hall trade and signing is somewhat of a revelation of sorts as Lane...

Check out the latest.... [powerpress]