MVN: Most Valuable Network

One more great big thank you to all of you who took a minute to contribute to my conversation on potential number one draft picks for the Oakland Raiders. It is your contributions that make this post possible.

You, my readers, have chosen JaMarcus Russell quarterback out of LSU as the Raiders pick. This result does not surprise me, as he has long been rumored to be the leading candidate to receive that honor.

Grant wrote: I am on the JR bandwagon, just so you know. I am not worried about the press conference statement, I watched it and it was more a 21 year old trying to be funny and not really answer the question, my opinion. If he had hired Drew Rosen than I would be worried, but I read that the agent he hired, Eric Metz, is big on sign character players. I have read articles about the guys family indicating he has a good support structure, he has an uncle who needs an organ transplant so I think that’s what he’s think about when he thinks about his money, family first bling, second, from what I can gather. What worries me is that here is a guy that has relied on being so much physically superior than the competition, will he work as hard as it takes. I believe he has the physical ability and raw talent to be one of the best of all time, but people probably said that about Akili Smith too. At the end of the day I think the Raiders are going to be very smart about this, they have already interviewed with Tom Matinez, and they have a great staff for evaluating QBs. I think based on Martinez’s behind closed door assessment and interviews with JR himself, if JR has the football IQ Kiffin is looking for, call the lawyers and the agents because we got a contract to iron out.

Both of those posters were quite effusive in their praise for JaMarcus Russell. Nick also praised the potential of Russell, but also said that he thought Quinn would be a better pick up.

Good article pat, I think both will blossom into great QBs. I think we will go with quinn but they are both the real deal.

When it came time for Brady Quinn, I got two more responses that were positive towards him.

t writes: would the Bears had a better chance winning the SB with Quinn? i like to think so imo he can become a productive pro QB and win by making plays when asked, needed, just do his part. i believe that

Bill wrote: I think Brady is the real deal. I am a huge fan of his and, while I do think that his play regressed this past season, I think that was mainly due to poor blocking by his offensive line and the fact that he was throwing on practically every down if they needed to get somewhere.

He has some things to work on. He had some problems overthrowing his receivers this past season, his short throws need some more zip on them, and he needs to learn how to avoid sacks.

But he’s learned under Charlie Weis and played 2 years in a pro-style offense. You won’t find anybody more mentally tough than he is or anybody that works physically harder than he is. The guy literally will not stop working until he gets it done.

Can’t win the big game? Not yet, but he wasn’t the reason Michigan, USC, and LSU scored all those points on ND. I’d say he actually played well against USC (completion percentage aside…lots of drops in that game), but I think that’s a fair point to make about him thus far.

Sorry for the book, but hope that insight helps.

 Both of those guys made some valid points about Brady Quinn and his supposed inability to win the big one. (Something that was also said about Peyton Manning up until a couple of weeks ago.)

Calvin Johnson received no responses when I brought his name up, so I am assuming that most agree with me that it would not be wise to pick a wideout with all of the other glaring needs on offense.

The consensus  from the comments  in the Adrian Peterson post is that he would be the pick if the quarterback position was addressed through other means.

HollandRobbie wrote: A. Peterson must be the pick a good to potential star RB would give the Raiders balance on O. In the AFC west there are to manny teams that have star backs…i think Peterson could become the second best in his division.

Grant disagreed: I have to disagree with you HollandRobbie, base d on last year offense, what would AD be ballancing? He would be the focal point of our attack, I am not saying we shouldn’t build around a running game, seems to be working in SD, I just think we need to do a lot more than draft AD to “ballance” our offense. IMO we need the franchise QB, if Al and Lane don’t think that Russell or Quinn can be that, them to be honest I would rather see them pick up Johnson and trade to to get Lynch, this would bring much more balance to the force young padwan learner (lol).

TradeforCarrDraftAP put his suggestion in his handle before going on to suggest: Then pick up Miller from ASU in the 2nd and a FB in the 3rd. That will go a LONG way toward healing what ails us. Move Moss, Apease Porter and let’s roll in 2007!!!

Meni wrote: Fans of Adrian Peterson PRAY that the Raiders pass on him.

That last one really hurts. This is the Oakland Raiders that we are talking about, this is teh team that once upon a time EVERYBODY wanted to play for. If it was just a case of good old fashioned Raider hate, it would not be so bad, but the fact that its implied that being drafted by the Raider would somehow ruin him that hurts.

 MBinMD said: AD is the best RB, but we need Jamarcus Russell.

Nice and to the point.

t had the following suggestions:

i would get Carr who was at Fresno 2 years with coach Kiffin (B.Leftwich might be nother option), trade down and get AP or CJ (+ Moss trade), and we already better, not only in terms of Cap

and if we can ad some talent next year, with the Defense further improving along the way, and coach Kiffin givin the time Art wasn’t and voilla! (hope i got dat right) we got a contender (that one too lol)…

its about cycles and even V Testaverde retire will one day like Parcells, with folks like Manning and Brady and Belichik eventually following one day, and its gonna be all kinds of passengers jumping rides.

the SB looser Bears had the “honor” to pick in the top !5! just 2 years ago and had a lot of empty seats on their rides, despite their very good Defense. they just solidified their O-Line with vets like J Tate, F Miller, R Garza and got M Mohammed instead of R Moss and voilla! we had a contender, even with R Grossman

everybody can go all the way

and we got the Ammo (Moss, 1st pick, Woodson pick) to rob the bank for the Lombardy T in a year or two

D Carr = D Brees (i hope. and if u think u know, u hittin the same plant Nostradamus putting in his pipe)

When it came time for Marshawn Lynch from Cal ScottieB had this take:

 I think that Lynch will be great in a raider uniform, i personally want him not only cause he is a good running back but since he is from oakland then i think he will play twice as hard, Look at Kirk Morrison he is from oakland and he plays his heart out for the raiders

From reading the above it was a close call between Adrian Peterson and JaMarcus Russell, but it came down to JaMarcus Russell being the guy at number one with Adrian Peterson being the guy if the Raiders trade down. Of course, that is how it stands as of 2-16-07. The scouting combine will come along and potentially change everything.