Question: What happened to the infamous blackouts of Raider home games? So far this season I've been able to watch all their home games despite their dismal performance. Usually almost all their home games were blacked out unless a hot team was coming to Oakland, even during a year they went to the Super Bowl. I'm delighted but puzzled.
-- Mike Ibold, San Andreas
Answer: The Raiders are selling enough tickets for sellouts, meaning home gamers are televised locally. It wasn’t until the end of the Super Bowl year home games were on television regularly, but the Raiders believe the team taking over ticket sales has helped sell more tickets. While you’re delighted, there are plenty of folks who were accustomed to seeing the best AFC game available during blacked out Raider games that aren’t too happy.
-- Jason Jones
Question: Hearing Randy Moss' comments about his unhappiness in Oakland, do you think he will be a Raider next year?
-- I. Kouvdos, Sacramento
Answer: Moss probably should be traded to make all parties happy, but Moss makes a lot of money (his base salary is $9.75 million next season) and with questions about his skills diminishing, most teams won’t be excited about taking on that contract. The Raiders could cut Moss and take a big salary cap hit but wouldn’t want to part with Moss without compensation. Chances are Moss will be a Raiders next season.
-- Jason Jones
Question: Don't you think the Raiders drop back and pass offense is putting to much pressure on the offensive line to pass block, especially with today's advanced blitzing schemes and an immoblie quarterback like Walter? Seems to me the offensive scheme is making the offensive line look somewhat worse than what it actually is.
-- Steven Dooley, Bloomington, Ill.
Answer: I believe that to be true. The longer this group has to block, the greater chance something bad will happen. Walter is also a young quarterback who might hold the ball too long. Other times, receivers running bad or wrong routes don’t allow Walter to get rid of the ball quickly. But as bad as the offensive line has looked most of the season, scheme is only part of the problem. Personnel is also part of the problem, something Art Shell is likely to address in the offseason.
-- Jason Jones
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