Tag: Oakland Raiders (Page 15 of 33)

Will Davis try to get out of paying Cable?

Michael Lombardi of The National Football Post reports that Al Davis is likely to fire head coach Tom Cable, but also speculates that the owner could fire Cable for “cause” to get out of paying him.

4. Raiders coach Tom Cable also might be heading into his final meeting this week, but besides being terminated, I wonder if we might get another overhead projector press conference from the Raiders announcing they’ve fired Cable for cause? If he does get fired, which I hear is likely, expect him to file a grievance to continue getting the rest of his money.

As he often does, Davis is walking down a dangerous path here. He fired Lane Kiffin for “cause” two years ago and if turns around and does the same thing with Cable, then what coach in their right mind would want to come to Oakland? You mean, I get to deal with the mess that is Al Davis and not get paid for it? Sign me up!

Cable may have some character flaws, but Davis can’t try to get out of paying a guy because of something that happened years before his employment. That would be a classless, stupid move by Davis and I’m sure a judge would rule in Cable’s favor anyway. So why go through with the move if you’re Davis? (Uh, besides the fact that he’s nuts and he does things without thinking of the consequences.)

If Davis keeps JaMarcus Russellbust but fires Cable, then that would be a mistake. If Daivs keeps Russellbust, fires Cable and then tries to get out of paying him, then that would just be boneheaded.

But then again, what else could we expect from Al Davis?


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Broncos allow Charlie Frye, JaMarcus Russell to beat them at home

I don’t want to take way anything the Denver Broncos and first year head coach Josh McDaniels have accomplished this season. But they might not be able to look at themselves in the minor tomorrow after allowing Charlie Frye and JaMarcus Russell combine to beat them 20-19 in Week 15. Did I mention Denver was at home, too?

Actually, Michael Bush and the rest of Oakland’s was the reason the Raiders were able to pull off yet another surprising upset this season. Frye and Russell just made sure they stayed the hell out of the way. Bush rushed 18 times for 133 yards and a touchdown, while Darren McFadden chipped in 74 yards on 12 carries. On the day, Oakland rushed for 241 yards, which was huge because the team only had 102 passing yards on the day.

This is a rather jarring loss for the Broncos, who now have an identical record as the Ravens at 8-6. They’re still in good shape in the AFC playoff race, but no team should lose at home to the Raiders when Charlie Frye is starting for Oakland and J. Russell McBust makes an appearance. There’s just no excuse for Denver to allow Russell to lead a game-winning touchdown drive. None.

What an ugly loss for the Broncos.


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Raiders choose Charlie Frye over JaMarcus Russell

Question: You know your career is in shambles when…

Answer: …Charlie Frye is named the starting quarterback over you.

From the Denver Post:

That means JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007, has again been demoted. Russell was benched last month for Bruce Gradkowski, who is now out with MCL sprains in both knees.

Russell replaced Gradkowski in the second half of last week’s loss to Washington. He threw an interception and was sacked six times.
That performance was enough to make Cable turn to Frye, who has been inactive or did not play in every game this season.

This has to be the nail in the coffin for Russell in Oakland. If Cable retains his job in the offseason, I don’t see how he’ll keep Russell when he’s already chose Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye over him. Even crazy ol’ Al Davis has to see that Russell is a bust.

If he is released, some team will take a shot on Russell because of his size and arm strength. But I doubt he’ll be one of those players that resurrects his career after seeing the light of day. The guy just doesn’t have what it takes to be a professional quarterback because he won’t put in the time to succeed. He’s a mess.


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Is it now or never for Russell in Oakland?

With Bruce Gradkowski likely shelved for the rest of 2009 after spraining and partially tearing his MCL in the Raiders’ Week 14 loss to the Redskins, it could be do or die for former first overall pick JaMarcus Russell.

Russell has been a bust virtually from the moment he arrived in Oakland. He has never grasped that in order to become a great player in the NFL, he has to work for it on and off the field. Thus far, he has tried to get by on only his God-given abilities, which clearly isn’t enough for him to succeed.

Russell has major issues with his accuracy, his decision-making and his overall pocket awareness. He also has shown the inability to read a defense, to lead and to become a student of the game. The first three things can be taught, but the latter is on him.

He likely has three games to prove himself to the Raiders, because the team will no doubt evaluate him to decide whether or not to cut their losses and move on the offseason. If he isn’t going to develop, it doesn’t make sense paying him all that money to watch Gradkowski on the sidelines.


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Rookie Brian Orakpo is a beast

When the Redskins selected Brian Orakpo in the first round of April’s draft, they knew they were getting a player that could get after the quarterback. But they probably didn’t figure that they were getting a game-changer right off the bat.

Thus far, the defensive rookie of the year candidate has 11 sacks on the year. On Sunday, he ranked up six tackles, four sacks and forced a fumble in the Redskins’ 34-13 stomping of the Raiders in Week 14.

Orakpo has been outstanding in his first year, which is quite a testament to his abilities both as a player and as a student of the game because he had to learn how to learn the linebacker position this summer after playing end at Texas. It usually takes most rookies a season or two to adjust to a new position, but Orakpo has picked it up right away.

He faces stiff competition in the Bills’ Jairus Byrd and the Texans’ Brian Cushing, but Orakpo has to be the leader of the defensive rookie of the year award. Who would have thought that Orakpo would have made a bigger impact this season for the Redskins than massive free agent acquisition Albert Haynesworth.


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