Raiders Blog and Q&A

First off, thanks to Jerred in Portland and Chris in Rocklin for helping me cover the other teams Chad Johnson has lobbied to play for.

I missed Carolina, Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle.

If Chad is going to force his way out of Cincy, he needs to land in Oakland.

He wouldn't be too far from Berkeley, where he wouldn't even be considered eccentric.

And those cities wouldn't appreciate Chad the way I know Raider fans would.

That leads to my first question.

Question: Why would you want Chad? He has turned into another Randy Moss. He is an ego-maniac, forget the team, it's all about him. The Raiders had one of those.....it didn't work out. Thanks.
Jimmy, Phoenix

Answer: Jimmy, my desire to start some form of the Bring Chad to Oakland Committee (BCOC) is purely selfish. I simply think it would be fun to cover Chad.

The Raiders could use some personality in the locker room and I know Chad wouldn’t let me down.

I’d love to see what kind of antics Chad would come up with after scoring a touchdown.

I’d have fun asking if he’d sent Pepto Bismol to Champ Bailey.

I know Chad gets penalties for celebrations. But if he can put up points for the Raiders, who have lacked an explosive offense for a long time, I’d have no problem watching SeaBass kickoff 15-yards deeper because Chad jumped in the Black Hole and danced.

But it’s unfair to compare him to Moss. No one ever accused Chad of quitting.

From what I gather, he feels like he was blamed for the Bengals problems (as if he played defense).

Adding Johnson would also give JaMarcus Russell an elite receiver. So when the BCOC crew gets started, please holler at me.

He’d have to convince John Madsen to give up No. 85. But Chad in any number, as long as the jersey is silver and black, is fine with me, even if he hasn't been on his best behavior lately.

Question: Don't you think Al Davis should take a page out of Robert Kraft's playbook? Aren't you only as good as the people you hire to run your business?
Mike, Westborough, Mass.

Answer: Before Raider fans mock Mike, it should be noted this question was sent before the Super Bowl.

Nevertheless, Davis would be wise to do as Kraft has done by hiring a good coach and putting good personnel people in place to run the Patriots.

The New England Patriots and New York Giants both reached the Super Bowl leaning largely on players drafted by the franchise.

Until the Raiders consistently find contributors in the latter rounds of the draft and not depend on free agents to save the team, they will be mired in mediocrity.

Question: Just a brief statement. Ray Guy was not a punter, he was a football player. He was pissed for a long time that the Raiders wouldn't let him play safety like he did in college, but his value as a field position weapon was too great. He could tackle as good as anybody on the team and never avoided contact, in fact, he went looking for it. I remember him more than once being penalized for late hits. The fact that he is not in the HOF reduces those that are simply because the best football players are not enshrined.
Patrick, Hollister

Answer: Well said. You don’t have to convince me, Patrick. I don’t have a Hall of Fame vote.

Question: Things have been maddingly quiet lately and I'm sick of this. Why can't the Raiders just come out and say that Kiffin is the coach and that is it? I mean the hiring of Lofton and the clarification about the interest in Saunders (per PFT) eases my mind a bit - not nearly as much as a statement from the Raiders would. Why the hell don't they speak up? Thanks
Jerred, Portland

Answer: That’s just not how the Raiders do business. It’s not as if reporters haven’t asked to speak to Kiffin on this (I have).

From the Raiders’ perspective, saying anything is to admit any of the reports were true.

Question: WHEN IS NNAMDI GETTING SIGNED???????? He is the best defensive player we have right now. He is probably the best or second best corner in the NFL. Especially playing man coverage. Which is the true test of a corners talents. Please find out for me, PLEASE!!!!!!
Chris, Sacramento

Answer: I’ve been following this since last training camp. There have been talks between Nnamdi’s agent and the Raiders about a long-term contract. If no deal is reached, the Raiders would likely place the franchise tag on Asomugha, guaranteeing him a one-year salary of more than $9 million ($9.465 million according to reports).

Expect Asomugha to be tagged by the end of the month to keep him off the free agent market if no deal is reached. Considering Nate Clements received a deal with about $22 million in guarantees, Asomugha figures to get somewhere in the range of $22-25 million guaranteed.

And yes, I will ask a fellow Cal Golden Bear to break me off a few C-notes for all the good publicity I’ve given him.

(Just kidding bosses. I did take ethics in grad school).

--Jason Jones