MVN: Most Valuable Network

Russell and his teammates are making strides towards a winning season.

Being a glutton for punishment, I was watching the NFL Network today and caught them giving the Niners the same treatment that the Raiders got on 'their' day to be previewed on NFL Total Access...Cowboy and Parcells coverage along with an inside look of another team. Oh, and about fifteen minutes of Niner analysis. I thought they filmed in Los Angeles, but I'm starting to get the impression that they're really in Bristol, Connecticut.

I don't bring this up for any other reason than to explain that while doing some work, the show ended and the NFL Cheerleader Challenge came on. The four teams competing were from the Texans, Vikings, Eagles, and Bills. ((PIG ALERT)) Now while I wouldn't throw the Bills cheerleaders out of bed for eating crackers, they definitely were the worst looking out of the bunch.

Every time I looked up from my work, those Bills girls were destroying the competition with exceptional teamwork. Compared to the other three teams, they really looked like they had prepared for the competition and ended up sweeping the contest.

"Alright Rob, who cares?" Ok, I'll get to my point. I couldn't help but notice the parallels with the Oakland Raiders this year and those Bills cheerleaders. They (the Raiders) are working hard in camp, everyone seems happy, and chemistry is so good in fact that there seems to be actual promise being reported from Oakland (even by the un-usual suspects). Since the Raiders are the 'ugly duckling' of the NFL, I couldn't help but think the stage is set for a big surprise in 2008.

Alright, on to more interesting things. Although the Raiders mini-camp is in the books, OTA's are scheduled for the next two weeks and Kiffin expects anywhere from 95% to 98% attendance. My guess is unless you're Derrick Burgess, Nnamdi Asomugha, or Lamont Jordan, you may want to make plans to be there if you're under contract or want to be in 2008. Both weeks, the OTA's are scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday.

Overall, the Raiders five practices seemed to have gone well. Lane Kiffin sees a change from the team that he took over. When commenting about the differences between the two, he was quoted as saying,

"We've had a chance to slip back, but I don't see it. And it matters. When something bad happens in the fourth quarter, am I going to blame you or am I going to make a play and find a way to win a game?"

I don't doubt you'll make the play Coach.

Speaking of making plays, if you're a member of Raider Nation you have to love the following quote by Zach Miller when talking about his QB:

"I try to make plays for him. Make the hard catches. Then he begins to trust you. I wanted to build a rapport. I wanted him to know I'm reliable. He is not a big rah-rah guy. But he has leadership qualities you look for. When he scrambles he's looking for me. I'm just trying to be reliable and catch it every time. Quarterbacks love that."

So does Raider Nation Zach...so does Raider Nation...

It's alright to feel good after this camp, but a cautious optimism is more warranted. With the extensive action given to players in a group setting, the coaches were bound to find things that need work. This 'need' may also translate into some roster changes in the next few weeks as well. Transactions from now until the start of the season are customary in the NFL as teams begin to usher players out that don't fit, and sign others they think might be an improvement.

Below is a little of the good and bad taken away from the three day mini-camp.

The good from mini-camp:

• Derrick Burgess was a beast and made a huge statement all three days.
• Drew Carter is working on becoming the number two receiver, and making it look possible.
• Todd Watkins and Johnie Lee Higgins were both reported as having good camps, while Higgins received praise from Coach Kiffin for being stronger and more confident this year.
• 'Cerberus' looked good throughout camp. Each back showed they could run and catch the ball. When training camp starts we'll see how good they are.
• Jay Richardson is proving he may be able to be an 'every down' starter.
• Pretty much anyone playing defensive end looked good, including Spires and Edwards.
• Russell showed seasoning and great command of the offense.
• Walter and Tuiasosopo performed nicely during the week. Walter especially was mentioned on nearly every reported completed bomb.
• DeAngelo Hall wasn't victimized by anyone and was able to steal a couple of passes in the process.
• Thomas Howard showed that he's ready to prove that last season wasn't a fluke.
• McFadden just signed.

The bad from mini-camp:

• Lamont Jordan is still a Raider.
• Nnamdi Asomugha was not in practice. (Even though it's understandable and unavoidable, it would've been nice to guage the pass offense and defense with him teaming up with Hall)
• Derrick Burgess and the rest of the defensive ends made statements and called into question the biggest question mark on the Raiders - the offensive tackles.
• Besides Hall, cornerbacks were burned often enough that the Oakland fire department almost got a call.
• Oren O'Neal injured a knee (couldn't find any info on it, except that the Raiders staff think that it's minor).
• Arman Shields missed most of camp with a hamstring ailment.
• Too many dropped passes by the receivers, but it's only June.
• Rob Ryan's plea to the defense to 'strip the ball' still hasn't produced any results.
• While Russell played well throughout camp, his long ball still needs work.

McFadden deal in place!

Details are still coming in at the time of this writing, but the deal is reportedly a 6 year $60 million contract with $26 million guaranteed which is a 40% increase on last year's number four pick, Gaines Adams. Now we no longer have to hear the rehashed stories detailing JaMarcus Russell's holdout...until JaMarcus Russell is talked about.  Check out Patrick's break down here at TFDS.

No News

Still haven't seen any other reports on Odell Thurman which is now swaying my opinion on the original story. Originally, I thought the story just another baseless NFL rumor. If the story were untrue, it would seem likely that Thurman and his agent would've leaked information about a team visit or a false report. That has yet to happen.

Nothing new on the Lamont Jordan front or the Nnamdi Asomugha contract, but with the agreement with McFadden in place, the dominoes are all lined up and ready to fall.

NFL's Greatest Rivalries

The NFL Network voted the Raiders-Steelers playoff rivalry of the 70's as the all time greatest rivalry. If you didn't see it, you really missed the disappointment and confusion of Brian Baldinger after Rich Eisen announced it. After seeing him trash McFadden yesterday, I probably got too much enjoyment out of it.

Quote (or non-quote) of camp

REPORTER: How's the rehab going?

Tommy Kelly: No, no, no, no, (pause), no, no, no, no. You have a good day. (with a smile)

We will Tommy, and you have a good rehab. The Raiders are going to need you.

Just having a good day here at TFDS