- Messages
- 79,278
- Reaction score
- 45,637
There are some teams you just know are going to pull out a victory in the end: the New England Patriots come first to mind. They are the manifestation of the age old cliche, "they find a way to win."
Then there are teams that tantalize you and come oh so close. And then at the opposite end of the spectrum are the Oakland Raiders.
You simply know they're going to lose. You can feel it during the game and you can see it in the blank stare of their head coach, Art Shell. Sunday night, Shell must have felt like an emergency room doctor who couldn't stop the bleeding of a trauma patient rushed into the hospital. Can you imagine what was going through his mind as he watched backup tackle Chad Slaughter besmirch Shell's number 78 by committing four false starts? The past few years, the Raiders led or have been amongst the league leaders in penalties and Sunday night they were assessed more in penalty yardage (13-95) than they amassed in rushing yardage (30-85).
Wasn't Shell's mantra to restore discipline to this wayward franchise?
And speaking of.....during pre game warmups before the Raiders-Broncos game, the Oakland players trickled out, quarterback Andrew Walter leading the backs and receivers. A few minutes later, out jogged Randy Moss. But he didn't join in, rather he stood on the side throwing the ball with, what seemed to be a team bal boy. Then when the entire team assembled to stretch, Moss stood in the end zone, again tossing a ball around with a kid. He's an offensive captain -- what message does that send to the rest of the team and how do the coaches permit that isolationist behavior? More than one coach of Randy Moss has been done in by the double standard generally applied to the star wide receiver.
Art Shell appears to be a classy man. When he walks into a room, it fills up with a regal presence and his calm demeanor commands respect. But he typifies the Raiders attempts to rekindle the past without being in touch with the present.
He was joking in a recent story I read about the differences in players today. He lamented how players will get on the team plane, sit a few rows apart and play video games against each other. Times have changed in every way. Whereas many a player in the league yearned to wear the Silver and Black, and Oakland (or for a time, Los Angeles) was the perfect destination for the renegade soul, here's what one former player, who still has very close ties to the team told me:
"Players don't want to be here. This is the worst team in the league. There's a lack of organization and it seems like everyone is just out there doing his own thing. I've told guys who tell me they gotta get out of here. Don't ruin your chances with other teams in the league. My advice is to still function as a professional."
So the Raiders can't lure top coaches here (how smart do Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino look for spurning the Raiders head coaching offers? Can you pay someone enough to be this masochistic?) and their players don't want to stay. Yet in almost a hapless, ironic way, players like Jerry Porter can't even act like a jerk and force their way out.
Yeah....you knew stuff about Porter was going to end up here sooner or later, right?
As we told you for the first time Sunday on Football Night in America, on Monday, Porter's agent Joel Segal filed an appeal of the Raiders' four-game suspension.
One argument the PA will make is that the Raiders used excessive discipline in dealing with Porter. According to Richard Berthelsen, General Counsel for the PA, teams are expected to use progressive discipline which means they should use a fine, then one game suspension, then two game suspension and finally, the maximum allowed for conduct detrimental to the team, a four game suspension. As Berthelsen said, the Raiders "went from zero discipline to the max." The plan is to ask for an expedited hearing before an arbitrator within seven days and a "ruling on the spot." The appeals process does not stay the suspension. Berthelsen said that based on his experience in past cases, typically the arbitrator will reduce the discipline when clubs try to suspend players, more often than not. The length of the suspension could be cut or reduced to a fine. Porter is seeking reinstatement and the back pay of his missed game checks. A four-game suspension would cost him $235,000.
The arbitrator will rule based on whether the discipline is excessive (Berthelsen believes it was) as well as the actual basis for the discipline.
As I talked about on the air, Raider players and management sources told me that in Friday's (October 13) practice, Porter was goofing around and Shell asked him to stop. He continued to mess around saying he was just having fun and Shell didn't exactly embrace that attitude. Porter continued complaining about the length of practice -- "how bleeping long are we practicing today." That was it for Shell and he kicked him off the field. Several players noted that they didn't see the precipitating exchange just suddenly saw Porter depart the field.
In addition, Shell said he wanted to get Porter some extra reps last week because Johnnie Morant tweaked his ankle but that Porter refused to join the regular offense (he had been practicing primarily on scout team on both offense and defense).
As one team executive told me, "this has been a volatile situation and just waiting to happen." Indeed, Shell said the problems extend beyond their issues in the off season when coach and player clearly got off on the wrong foot from day one, with comments like, Porter complaining that the Raiders should've hired Mike Martz. As for the man Shell did hire as his offensive coordinator, Tom Walsh told me the last meaningful conversation he had with Porter was in February, a few days after he was hired, when Porter came by his office to introduce himself and talk about some basic concepts of the offense. One Raider official told me that in addition, back in March, Porter let it be known to the coaches: "if you put me on the field, you don't know what you'll get from me." I'm told it was said in a tone more as a taunt than an excited-to-show-you-what-I-can-do attitude....
Even though he wasn't there last year, Shell said he heard the same negative things about Porter.
He said, authority has to be respected. The coach sets the guidelines and the players follow them. After spending the previous five years as a senior executive in the league office, Shell knows that you have to document everything and a Raiders official told me "all indiscretions have been noted."
So what happens when Porter returns? Shell said he wasn't looking four weeks down the road right now. But I will. During our game in Canton, which Shell left Porter at home for,, ostensibly for his calf injury, I said: "When Porter's healthy, don't be surprised to see him inactive for the rest of the year." I'll go out on a limb here -- the winless Raiders will win a division title before Jerry Porter suits up again for the Silver and Black.
So how will this situation ultimately play out? The general manager of one team that was interested in trading for Porter told me the consensus from those trying to deal with the Raiders is that Al Davis can't pull the trigger on a move and since he's such a wild card it's hard to take the Raiders seriously in terms of trying to pull off a trade....
A final thought, mercifully, on the Porter fiasco.
Remember, the Patriots who always find a way to win. Well, when they reached an impasse with Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch, they didn't make it personal because as one team president told me, when a situation becomes a 'stare down,' no one wins. You have to make a business decision, not an 'I'll show this guy 'personal one."
So the Patriots cut their losses and parted with Branch for a hefty number one pick next year -- masterful negotiating, although the price Tom Brady "pays" is a whole other story.
Similarly, the Broncos didn't make it personal with disgruntled receiver Ashley Lelie, (why is it always the receivers?!) rather they shipped him off to Atlanta in a three team deal.
That's why the Patriots and Broncos, and not the Raiders, are winners on the field and in the front office.
TIDBITS HEADING INTO OUR BYE (aka...left on the cutting room floor on the sidelines...)
*The Broncos have allowed only one touchdown in five games, the first team to do so since the 1934 Detroit Lions. And their stifling defense inside the 20 is a huge reason. LB DJ Williams told me the #1 emphasis coming into this year was improving their red zone defense. Starting in the offseason program, every third play they practiced was red zone or third down defense.
Champ Bailey said -- when they hit the red zone it's like someone lit a fire. You can see the determination and intensity in guy's eyes -- allow NO points.
*To a man, players and people in the Broncos organization told me, this is the best chemistry they've ever seen on a team.
As Champ Bailey put it, I look around at us and there's not two people on this team that can hate each other. It's the best atmosphere I've ever seen. One of the reasons -- the stability amongst the players and the staff.
One example -- watching practice on Friday there was no question they were working hard but it was so obvious that they were having fun and pushing each other to work harder...The entire team reacted positively when Champ Bailey made two great interceptions during the practice...
*None of the Broncos defensive linemen gets any recognition; there's not that one dominant guy you have to block. I spoke to DL coach Andre Patterson and he told me, that's okay -- they play so well together as a group and play off each other. They do the dirty work, no one's selfish or worries about stats.
*It's no secret that Champ Bailey doesn't get a lot of action on his side of the field. And when you test him, ANDREW WALTER, he makes you pay...But Bailey said he doesn't get bored because every series he makes tackles on the running back, that's how he tries to stay focused. He said he still studies every receiver so he tries to give the other DBs insight during the game.
*Deion Sanders was labeled a cover corner -- covering wide receivers but not wanting to make tackles...Bailey said early in his career he was like that -- he didn't want to make tackles and got burned by bad technique. Now he disdains that label and wants to be the complete player -- he wants to make tackles.
When I asked him where he evaluates himself he said, if I have to compare myself to others -- I'm at the top, the most complete corner in the league.
*Tatum Bell came here in 2004 -- he's been the backup to 5 different guys -- Quentin Griffin, Reuben Droughns, Mike Anderson, Ron Dayne and Mike Bell...so he asked Mike Shanahan what he needed to do to be the starter.
Shanahan told him he wasn't RUNNING STRONG. He went down too easily. Shanahan defines running stronger as YARDS AFTER CONTACT. He told Bell he wants him to run with power and break tackles.
Physically, he added about 7 pounds.
And Bell started to lower his pads and his mindset became: run until someone knocks me into the ground, especially in the open field. No play better illustrates that than the win against Baltimore when on third and 10 he got 12 yards and dragged Ray Lewis the last 5...
Raiders offensive tackle, Robert Gallery, the second pick in the 2004 draft, has now played RG, RT and now, Art Shell has shifted him back to his natural position of LT. Over these three seasons he has had four different position coaches. He said it's been tough re-learning everything the opposite way and has struggled with new techniques. Sometimes he gets "overwhelmed. He's talked to his former college coach, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz a couple of times over the last month, who told him to fall back on his technique. I caught up with Ferentz who told me he encouraged Gallery to remembered he experienced some difficulties his first two years at Iowa but to focus on fundamentals and the work ethic and sense of pride that got him where he is.
Broncos defensive line coach Andre Patterson had an interesting assessment of Gallery's struggles:
He observed that Gallery still sets like a RIGHT tackle. On the right side, your left, inside hand becomes the dominant one, that's the one you hand punch your opponent with. Now that he's switched sides, when he sets, Patterson said you can still see on the film when he sets that he initially reaches for his man with his left hand and gives up the inside to the defensive lineman. Patterson concluded that Gallery's hands and upper body have been killing him.
Posted by Kremer at 08:49 AM | Permalink
http://www.nbcsports.com/kremerscorner/blog/
Then there are teams that tantalize you and come oh so close. And then at the opposite end of the spectrum are the Oakland Raiders.
You simply know they're going to lose. You can feel it during the game and you can see it in the blank stare of their head coach, Art Shell. Sunday night, Shell must have felt like an emergency room doctor who couldn't stop the bleeding of a trauma patient rushed into the hospital. Can you imagine what was going through his mind as he watched backup tackle Chad Slaughter besmirch Shell's number 78 by committing four false starts? The past few years, the Raiders led or have been amongst the league leaders in penalties and Sunday night they were assessed more in penalty yardage (13-95) than they amassed in rushing yardage (30-85).
Wasn't Shell's mantra to restore discipline to this wayward franchise?
And speaking of.....during pre game warmups before the Raiders-Broncos game, the Oakland players trickled out, quarterback Andrew Walter leading the backs and receivers. A few minutes later, out jogged Randy Moss. But he didn't join in, rather he stood on the side throwing the ball with, what seemed to be a team bal boy. Then when the entire team assembled to stretch, Moss stood in the end zone, again tossing a ball around with a kid. He's an offensive captain -- what message does that send to the rest of the team and how do the coaches permit that isolationist behavior? More than one coach of Randy Moss has been done in by the double standard generally applied to the star wide receiver.
Art Shell appears to be a classy man. When he walks into a room, it fills up with a regal presence and his calm demeanor commands respect. But he typifies the Raiders attempts to rekindle the past without being in touch with the present.
He was joking in a recent story I read about the differences in players today. He lamented how players will get on the team plane, sit a few rows apart and play video games against each other. Times have changed in every way. Whereas many a player in the league yearned to wear the Silver and Black, and Oakland (or for a time, Los Angeles) was the perfect destination for the renegade soul, here's what one former player, who still has very close ties to the team told me:
"Players don't want to be here. This is the worst team in the league. There's a lack of organization and it seems like everyone is just out there doing his own thing. I've told guys who tell me they gotta get out of here. Don't ruin your chances with other teams in the league. My advice is to still function as a professional."
So the Raiders can't lure top coaches here (how smart do Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino look for spurning the Raiders head coaching offers? Can you pay someone enough to be this masochistic?) and their players don't want to stay. Yet in almost a hapless, ironic way, players like Jerry Porter can't even act like a jerk and force their way out.
Yeah....you knew stuff about Porter was going to end up here sooner or later, right?
As we told you for the first time Sunday on Football Night in America, on Monday, Porter's agent Joel Segal filed an appeal of the Raiders' four-game suspension.
One argument the PA will make is that the Raiders used excessive discipline in dealing with Porter. According to Richard Berthelsen, General Counsel for the PA, teams are expected to use progressive discipline which means they should use a fine, then one game suspension, then two game suspension and finally, the maximum allowed for conduct detrimental to the team, a four game suspension. As Berthelsen said, the Raiders "went from zero discipline to the max." The plan is to ask for an expedited hearing before an arbitrator within seven days and a "ruling on the spot." The appeals process does not stay the suspension. Berthelsen said that based on his experience in past cases, typically the arbitrator will reduce the discipline when clubs try to suspend players, more often than not. The length of the suspension could be cut or reduced to a fine. Porter is seeking reinstatement and the back pay of his missed game checks. A four-game suspension would cost him $235,000.
The arbitrator will rule based on whether the discipline is excessive (Berthelsen believes it was) as well as the actual basis for the discipline.
As I talked about on the air, Raider players and management sources told me that in Friday's (October 13) practice, Porter was goofing around and Shell asked him to stop. He continued to mess around saying he was just having fun and Shell didn't exactly embrace that attitude. Porter continued complaining about the length of practice -- "how bleeping long are we practicing today." That was it for Shell and he kicked him off the field. Several players noted that they didn't see the precipitating exchange just suddenly saw Porter depart the field.
In addition, Shell said he wanted to get Porter some extra reps last week because Johnnie Morant tweaked his ankle but that Porter refused to join the regular offense (he had been practicing primarily on scout team on both offense and defense).
As one team executive told me, "this has been a volatile situation and just waiting to happen." Indeed, Shell said the problems extend beyond their issues in the off season when coach and player clearly got off on the wrong foot from day one, with comments like, Porter complaining that the Raiders should've hired Mike Martz. As for the man Shell did hire as his offensive coordinator, Tom Walsh told me the last meaningful conversation he had with Porter was in February, a few days after he was hired, when Porter came by his office to introduce himself and talk about some basic concepts of the offense. One Raider official told me that in addition, back in March, Porter let it be known to the coaches: "if you put me on the field, you don't know what you'll get from me." I'm told it was said in a tone more as a taunt than an excited-to-show-you-what-I-can-do attitude....
Even though he wasn't there last year, Shell said he heard the same negative things about Porter.
He said, authority has to be respected. The coach sets the guidelines and the players follow them. After spending the previous five years as a senior executive in the league office, Shell knows that you have to document everything and a Raiders official told me "all indiscretions have been noted."
So what happens when Porter returns? Shell said he wasn't looking four weeks down the road right now. But I will. During our game in Canton, which Shell left Porter at home for,, ostensibly for his calf injury, I said: "When Porter's healthy, don't be surprised to see him inactive for the rest of the year." I'll go out on a limb here -- the winless Raiders will win a division title before Jerry Porter suits up again for the Silver and Black.
So how will this situation ultimately play out? The general manager of one team that was interested in trading for Porter told me the consensus from those trying to deal with the Raiders is that Al Davis can't pull the trigger on a move and since he's such a wild card it's hard to take the Raiders seriously in terms of trying to pull off a trade....
A final thought, mercifully, on the Porter fiasco.
Remember, the Patriots who always find a way to win. Well, when they reached an impasse with Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch, they didn't make it personal because as one team president told me, when a situation becomes a 'stare down,' no one wins. You have to make a business decision, not an 'I'll show this guy 'personal one."
So the Patriots cut their losses and parted with Branch for a hefty number one pick next year -- masterful negotiating, although the price Tom Brady "pays" is a whole other story.
Similarly, the Broncos didn't make it personal with disgruntled receiver Ashley Lelie, (why is it always the receivers?!) rather they shipped him off to Atlanta in a three team deal.
That's why the Patriots and Broncos, and not the Raiders, are winners on the field and in the front office.
TIDBITS HEADING INTO OUR BYE (aka...left on the cutting room floor on the sidelines...)
*The Broncos have allowed only one touchdown in five games, the first team to do so since the 1934 Detroit Lions. And their stifling defense inside the 20 is a huge reason. LB DJ Williams told me the #1 emphasis coming into this year was improving their red zone defense. Starting in the offseason program, every third play they practiced was red zone or third down defense.
Champ Bailey said -- when they hit the red zone it's like someone lit a fire. You can see the determination and intensity in guy's eyes -- allow NO points.
*To a man, players and people in the Broncos organization told me, this is the best chemistry they've ever seen on a team.
As Champ Bailey put it, I look around at us and there's not two people on this team that can hate each other. It's the best atmosphere I've ever seen. One of the reasons -- the stability amongst the players and the staff.
One example -- watching practice on Friday there was no question they were working hard but it was so obvious that they were having fun and pushing each other to work harder...The entire team reacted positively when Champ Bailey made two great interceptions during the practice...
*None of the Broncos defensive linemen gets any recognition; there's not that one dominant guy you have to block. I spoke to DL coach Andre Patterson and he told me, that's okay -- they play so well together as a group and play off each other. They do the dirty work, no one's selfish or worries about stats.
*It's no secret that Champ Bailey doesn't get a lot of action on his side of the field. And when you test him, ANDREW WALTER, he makes you pay...But Bailey said he doesn't get bored because every series he makes tackles on the running back, that's how he tries to stay focused. He said he still studies every receiver so he tries to give the other DBs insight during the game.
*Deion Sanders was labeled a cover corner -- covering wide receivers but not wanting to make tackles...Bailey said early in his career he was like that -- he didn't want to make tackles and got burned by bad technique. Now he disdains that label and wants to be the complete player -- he wants to make tackles.
When I asked him where he evaluates himself he said, if I have to compare myself to others -- I'm at the top, the most complete corner in the league.
*Tatum Bell came here in 2004 -- he's been the backup to 5 different guys -- Quentin Griffin, Reuben Droughns, Mike Anderson, Ron Dayne and Mike Bell...so he asked Mike Shanahan what he needed to do to be the starter.
Shanahan told him he wasn't RUNNING STRONG. He went down too easily. Shanahan defines running stronger as YARDS AFTER CONTACT. He told Bell he wants him to run with power and break tackles.
Physically, he added about 7 pounds.
And Bell started to lower his pads and his mindset became: run until someone knocks me into the ground, especially in the open field. No play better illustrates that than the win against Baltimore when on third and 10 he got 12 yards and dragged Ray Lewis the last 5...
Raiders offensive tackle, Robert Gallery, the second pick in the 2004 draft, has now played RG, RT and now, Art Shell has shifted him back to his natural position of LT. Over these three seasons he has had four different position coaches. He said it's been tough re-learning everything the opposite way and has struggled with new techniques. Sometimes he gets "overwhelmed. He's talked to his former college coach, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz a couple of times over the last month, who told him to fall back on his technique. I caught up with Ferentz who told me he encouraged Gallery to remembered he experienced some difficulties his first two years at Iowa but to focus on fundamentals and the work ethic and sense of pride that got him where he is.
Broncos defensive line coach Andre Patterson had an interesting assessment of Gallery's struggles:
He observed that Gallery still sets like a RIGHT tackle. On the right side, your left, inside hand becomes the dominant one, that's the one you hand punch your opponent with. Now that he's switched sides, when he sets, Patterson said you can still see on the film when he sets that he initially reaches for his man with his left hand and gives up the inside to the defensive lineman. Patterson concluded that Gallery's hands and upper body have been killing him.
Posted by Kremer at 08:49 AM | Permalink
http://www.nbcsports.com/kremerscorner/blog/
