MVN: Most Valuable Network

#1

Posted by RaiderBlues, March 4, 2008 8:11 PM

While it seems we overspent - I get it! I'm just glad we didn't blow it on Berrian. This is a good pick up for us. I doesn't mean we look past drafting another with our second pick. I want Cal's receiver with our second pick in addition to this transaction. Should help stretch the field and our running game's potency.

Good Job Al!

Just Win Baby!

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#2

Posted by curiousgIII, March 4, 2008 8:25 PM

Sure it is a rich contract but it is also worth noting that the scap is as high as it has ever been. With so many teams under the cap you're going to see players get money they don't deserve.

The alternative is to stand by and not do anything...like da bears....

The first two picks should be used on the lines. WR traditionally do not contribute the first year look at calvin johnson.

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#3

Posted by J. Rasmussen, March 4, 2008 8:34 PM

I think Russell's old friend E. Doucett is more likely to be available early in the 2nd round. It looks like we'll go D-line in the 1st now.

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#4

Posted by arrogantbastard, March 4, 2008 9:21 PM

I'm not sure about this Walker he has a bad knee & maybe a little selffish at times! I like Doucett also he use his body well & has great hands something a young QB needs & as Raiders we drop to many balls! he is not the fastest so I dont think Al will take him!

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#5

Posted by Anthony, March 4, 2008 11:27 PM

The Kelly, Wilson and Walker deals are all for too much money, and are going to come at a cost: Asomugha will be gone after this season. The more money I see being thrown around right now, the less confident I am in Asomugha being given a lockdown deal I become, bit by bit.

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#6

Posted by OakFoSho, March 5, 2008 3:40 AM

Good pick up, though the injuries are a huge question mark, just like Kelly. I just don't know what to think of this deal, but if he stays healthy, I think its a good pick up.

All this talk about overpaying is a bit tedious/rediculous. There are reasons why the Raiders overpaid. One, the perception is that the Raiders is a terrible place to play, two, this FA class is not a very deep one in several positions due to the mass of players re-upping with their current teams, and three, the cap keeps going up creating more and more competition for those few FAs. The cap will go up again next year, and there may not be one after that, (Strike? Walkout?) so owners are shelling out the $$, including Al.

Frankly, I am proud to have an owner willing to shell out the cash to 'just win baby'. All these rumor mongers and haters at ESPN and other media have been proven wrong for the um-teenth time this off-season. Kiff is still the Coach, Ryan is still the D coordinator, and FAs do come to Oakland. I'm sure there are more, but I just can't remember um all right now.

Awesome off season so far, and I can't wait until the draft.

OakFoSho

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#7

Posted by Anthony, March 5, 2008 4:15 AM

Oak -- Points well taken, and I understand the "Oakland Premium" and the simple mechanics of supply/demand.

However, what happens three years from now? If there's no salary cap, then the Raiders are up over a barrel, because they're cash- and capital-poor right now; they simply do not have the financial wherewithal to compete with Dallas, or Washington, or New England. Without a cap, the Raiders have a serious problem in fielding an elite team.

With a cap, these moves may prove harmful down the road to begin with.

The problem isn't overpaying now, and if the Raiders were a team poised for greatness, and truly only a couple of players away from being in the Super Bowl, then by all means, drop all the coin that is necessary. It doesn't make much sense -- in terms of the team or the bottom line -- to load for bear if you're going to be hunting pigeons, if you take my meaning.

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#8

Posted by curiousgIII, March 5, 2008 7:33 AM

Anthony (or shold I say personaly CPA for the Oakland Raiders).- I understand your reservations.

The Raiders have been overpaying for years ie ...Sapp, Jordan, Moss, Des. Howard, Larry Brown.

Right or wrong that's the way they do things. Three years from now if Walker doesn't perform then he'll be released they take a Cap hit and move on.

There hasn't been a work stoppage in 2 decades. A deal will get done cause everyone is making too much money and even if one doesn't get done the Raiders will survive.

The truth is that Oakland possibly stands to lose more long term without adding possible contributer now than they do if they play it safe.

As long as we're dealing in ifs and buts....

If no deep threat, J russ is going to see more 8 and 9 man fronts than he would if we didn't. That affects the 6th rank rushing offense. The offense suffers without being able to move the chains, control the ball and keep the defense of the field.

If Oakland struggles offensively and they lose 10 games than KIFF is out and we start all over again only this time we already have a QB in his third year not as far along in his progression as he needs to be for a $60 mil. QB.

This is all really a side issue because your argument is really more about philosophy of building trough the draft or paying too much for FAs. You might as well bang your head against a wall (or become a Steeler or Bear fan) b/c until AL steps aside there is no chance of the first option having. The Raiders will never not be seduced by a potential FA that could contribute.

Bottom line the no team is strapped for cash. That is BS. They all have money.

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#9

Posted by eks, March 5, 2008 11:26 AM

trade al for a draft pick

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#10

Posted by Silver_N_Black, March 5, 2008 2:35 PM

Anthony, it would behoove the Raiders to sign Aso to a long term contract as he will cost us less money in the long run.

Right now he's scheduled to make 10 mil.

As for Walker, if he stays healthy it's great deal for us.

Don't worry about the cap, Al & the Raiders are masters at restructuring contracts & making necessary moves to end up under the cap.

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#11

Posted by LDizzle, March 6, 2008 6:41 PM

Even if the salary cap is ditched, there will be a luxury tax imposed and revenue sharing to keep it reasonably fair. Even that diaster known as MLB has a luxury tax to keep things from getting too out of hand. I personally think that the whole idea that the salary cap will be lifted is a lot of posturing between the NFL owners and the Players Association. When it comes right down to it everyone knows the NFL is such a juggernaut the way it is that no one will let that get tainted. Least of all Roger Goodell. I don't think he wants the destruction of the NFL's sports dominance to be his legacy.

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#12

Posted by Anthony, March 7, 2008 12:42 AM

curious -- LOL. Man, if I were in charge of the Raiders' finances, then they'd REALLY have a problem!

Still, what of Al trying to unload 20% of the franchise? Strapped for cash was the rationale. Until the Raiders right the ship, they'll never get the stadium deal that Al desperately (and probably rightly) covets, and without the sweetheart stadium, the franchise's revenue potential is limited, and not by an insignificant amount, either.

There is a justification for trying like hell to get good pieces to fit in right now -- if it takes three years to rebuild, then they'll be in real danger of wasting what should be a great defense; they need the offense to catch up NOW, and so going after a big-ticket WR is an obvious choice. But an oft-injured malcontent? Granted, pickings were fairly slim: there was a one-dimensional home-run hitter who, apart from deep routes, is essentially not present (Berrian), an oft-injured underachiever (Stallworth), the mentioned oft-injured malcontent (Walker) and, well, Moss was an FA for a little while, there.

The problem I have with Walker is this (and let me say that I'll be DELIGHTED to be wrong about this): it's throwing good money after bad. The WRs mean fuckall until the OL can pass protect. Cable's ZB is a great run-block scheme; but it wasn't worth a damn in passing downs last season, where linebackers were busily overpowering our tackles en route to the QB (a trait that somewhat slowed when Mullett got the startin RT job). I truly could not care less who the QB and WR are -- unless that line can give them four seconds, they are irrelevant. In my mind, throwing that kind of cash at Walker -- however much the general and specific markets made that a necessity -- is missing the point, unless the OL can be made to work, now. That's why I'm really hoping that the rumored Jones-Davis deal goes down; then the Raiders could land Branden Albert at 22 (before Pittsburgh takes him at 23, which is the logical place for him to go) and then take a DL still on the board (the ACC guys should still be there, and can play) and then a WR, or vice-versa.

All of this is predicated on the realization that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Chris Long falls to four, so . . .

SNB -- It actually only saves money to sign Nnamdi long-term in comparison to franchising him annually. If they let him walk after this season, then it doesn't save them a dime. I hope they don't, but you never can tell.

And while Al and the Raiders have generally been decent about staying under the cap without carrying *too much* in dead money (though how long was Gannon on the books, again?), they've also failed to put a superior product on the field. Until the wins become regular, cap success is something of a hollow victory.

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#13

Posted by Patrick Patterson, March 7, 2008 1:10 AM

Anthony,

That sale of a portion of the franchise went through not too long ago.

http://mvn.com/nfl-raiders/2008/01/23/raiders-financial-picture-is-much-improved/

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#14

Posted by Anthony, March 7, 2008 7:19 AM

Patrick -- thanks for the link -- but shit, 20% of the Raiders went for "only" 150 million. Ouch.

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