David White Interviews the Natives

This is the kind of piece that writes itself apparently.

If nothing else, it shows the that Raider Nation is World Wide like BDP.

So stop the violence, Raiders fans.

ESPN's Hate on Display

Via Williamson. What's interesting here is that Todd McShay seems more embarrassed than anything, even saying, "I don't want to pile on," while Hannah Storm is downright gleeful in her setups.

It's too bad, because in the early-to-mid 90s, when she was NBC's NBA studio host, I had the hugest crush on her.

Early Heyward-Bey Reactions

David White: Let the second-guessing run rampant.

Jason Jones: No, this isn't a joke.

Phil Barber: Oh no they di-n't. Oh yes, they did.

For some reason, the MediaNews blogs are experiencing technical difficulties, so we'll get those later.

Arrival

I just got to Dan's house, and we've got NFL Network on, and Bill Belichick is flirting with Mike Mayock. Good times.

Have I mentioned that I dislike both of those men?

I think there's a CLOAK consensus that we prefer Eisen and his crew to Berman and the ESPN crew. Has anyone ever looked more awkward, in any situation, than Mel Kiper, Jr. operating the Minority Report style holographic draft tracker thing?

Also, Kristi has made a DEEE-licious dip, with beans and meat and cheese.

Prepping the Draft

Jerry takes a look at all the people out there who are saying the Raiders are taking Darrius Heyward-Bey with the number 7 pick tomorrow. But buried in Peter King's post is this nugget, and it doesn't make me feel good:

5. I think if you read nothing else from me until after the draft (and I'll be back here Saturday morning with a few short thoughts), please, please, please remember not to get too fired up and think you've won anything in April. I remind you of the following top-15 picks in the last six years: Charles Rogers, Dewayne Robertson, Johnathan Sullivan, Jimmy Kennedy, Michael Haynes, Jerome McDougle, Robert Gallery, Reggie Williams, Alex Smith, Cedric Benson, Troy Williamson, Mike Williams, Michael Huff, Jamaal Anderson. In other words, simmer down. (Italics mine)

Wow. Two names on his list were drafted by us. Gallery's career has been saved by Tom Cable; I expect him to be a Pro Bowl guard eventually. I know, it still doesn't make him a good pick at #3, as a tackle. But with Huff, King's definitely got a point. What a waste.

For what it's worth, Jerry's not buying it; he chalks it up to the Al-Davis-Loves-Speed stereotyping going on. And he makes a good case that Michael Crabtree's "diss" of the Raiders, in reply to a question during an NFL.com chat, in which he replied to a question from a Raiders fan, "as for playing for the Raiders, no comment," that:

It’s not as if a “no comment” will carry weight with Al Davis regarding the seventh pick in the draft. He’ll take who he thinks is the best player. Hell, a no comment could get him a few extra bucks, with silence being a prized commodity at 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway.

If Crabtree is drafted by the Raiders, he’d talk on the phone for a few minutes with Davis, then emerge on conference calls and national interviews telling everyone it has always been a dream of his to wear silver and black and play with a team that has all the tradition of the Raiders.

Your goddamn right he will. If it's true that Crabtree is a poor man's Larry Fitzgerald--hell, even if he's the Homeless Man's Larry Fitzgerald--I like him in Silver & Black.

Baiting Dan

This little nugget at the end of David White's article in the Chronicle about the safety position:

BRIEFLY: The Raiders have drafted a safety in eight of the past nine years. Huff and Branch are the only ones still here.

I did not know that. I mean, I knew that Huff and Branch are the only safeties on the team that were originally drafted by the Raiders, but I had no idea the incompetence in the draft went that deep.

Also, because Dan didn't want to look it up, I felt it was my solemn duty, I present to you Andre Smith running the forty at his Pro Day:



Yes, he has titties like a woman.

Guessing the Pick - Take One

First, a caveat: I really have no idea.

Most mock drafts have maintained that the Raiders will go with a WR when they make the 7th selection in next week's 2009 draft. Some think Michael Crabtree will fall in their laps, others say Jeremy Maclin has the Cliff Branch profile that Al Davis loves, and a few have decided that Darrius Heyward-Bey has such off-the-charts measurables (e.g., 4.25 40) that Al will bite on him at 7 even though he should go in the second half of the first round.

Local consensus, and even ESPN's Todd McShay, has begun to drift towards offensive tackle as a distinct possibility after Tom Cable gushed over the four "outstanding" tackles he sees in this year's draft during last week's press conference.

At this moment I tend to agree that, despite a horrifying shirtless pro day for which I refuse to search YouTube, the Raiders will pick Andre Smith out of Alabama. Cable had this to say about him: "He’s a dynamite player. Dynamite."

This is Cable's first draft, so not only are we unsure whether he'll play the Kiffin smokescreen game ("We really don't need a running back." "We wanted him all along.") but we also can't know how the dynamic will play out between him and Al. Obviously Cable loves offensive linemen and my bet is he would love to get his hands on some raw talent. And I suspect that Al could be convinced - he allegedly let Art Shell pick Michael Huff, and many tens of millions of dollars are tied up in the hope that JaMarcus will have time to throw deep.

Oh...but to whom?

I'm sure later in the week I'll decide that Crabtree is the pick. At the moment I'm not sure he'll be around at #7, though.

Number Four

No, my Favre tribute still isn't ready. But the Raiders are almost on the clock for their now annual very high draft pick. So who will it be?

Glenn Dorsey - apparently his leg has healed, because it's now accepted that he'll be gone by the time the Raiders draft. With so many guards in Morrison's face last year and a terrible run defense, Dorsey would seem to be an ideal pick. Then again, he's labeled the Raider defensive buzzword of the year: "Three Technique." And Tommy Kelly has been paid to do that job.

Chris Long - if jersey sales are the top priority, Little Howie should be the pick. If stopping the run is the top priority, you could make quite an argument for this pick as well. And DE is somewhat thin this year, potentially getting thinner next year when Burgess finally gets paid.

Vernon Gholston - considered a weight room guy, he's a pass rusher who could combine with Burgess to cause major heartburn. He could also take Burgess' place next year. Apparently has a lot of upside, but could be a bit of a project.

Darren McFadden - the consensus mock draft choice, Kiffin has said we don't need him. Perhaps he is baiting Al into defying him so he can have an electric talent to couple with JaMarcus? I'm not sure why most draft analysts justify this pick with the explanation that Al Davis always picks the flashiest athlete given the Gallery, Huff, and JaMarcus picks - each to fill the team's top need. Maybe if DMC were a CB, but Al's already satisfied his fetish this year with the Hall acquisition.

Sedrick Ellis - for whatever reason he seems to be out of the conversation. But he does fit a big need to stuff the run, and Raider coaches got a good look at him at the Senior Bowl.

Matt Ryan - just kidding.

And then there's the option to trade down...