Donkeys Smack-Down of the Week, Part II.

Wow. Everyone is piling on the Broncos this week. Josh McDaniels seems to have been singled out especially. Check out Rick Reilly, Denver resident:

Years from now, the Cutler Catastrophe will go down as the dumbest thing in Boy Blunder's very short coaching career. By then, perhaps he will be your waiter at Olive Garden.

That smarts, doesn't it? We kind of went through this here with Lance, only he wasn't a Belichik/Pioli protege. He was just an egomaniacal Boy Blunder.

Garcia Signing Reactions

There seems to be a consensus among the local writers who have chimed in that Goldmember will, at the very minimum, set a good example for JaMarcus in terms of preparation, training, and attitude. There is also the sense that Garcia will push JaMarcus, both in practice, and I haven't read this anywhere yet, but I get the feeling that if JaMarcus struggles, the fans will start chanting for Jeff. A little pressure and competetion never hurt anybody. Or if it did, you didn't want them on your team.

Jerry Mac breaks down the history between Garcia and the Raiders, and then writes,

I floated the idea of signing Michael Vick under certain conditions the other day, something the Raiders probably never considered. They’ve been playing it safe and smart, having been burned by being too bold last year.

Garcia is the safe, smart choice.

You really only need to think about it for split second.

Should Russell be injured, do you want Jeff Garcia, Andrew Walter or Bruce Gradkowski?

Thought so.

By the way, I hated that Michael Vick column. Anyway.

Lowell Cohn says Good for the Raiders.

Kawakami writes,

I like the Garcia signing as a sign that Al Davis isn’t babying Russell, while at the same time still expecting the most out of him. Alex Smith could’ve used something like that a few years ago, and he never got it.

David White is on vacation or something, but the Sporting Green staff is asking readers to answer a stupid question by writing the answer in the comments section.

Nationally, Denver Broncos spokesperson Bill Williamson writes that at the very least it means Garcia won't be a Bronco this year, whatever the hell that is supposed to mean. It's not like his being a Bucaneer helped Tampa last season when we played them. Then he gets Scouts, Inc.'s Matt Williamson to say that he's never liked Garcia, and that, contrary to what Kawakami and McDonald say, it's a bad fit because the playbook will have to be re-written if JaMarcus gets hurt, and they'd have been better off signing Leftwich. Personally, I'm with the locals in that a change of pace is a good thing to have in a back-up.

Donkeys Smack-Down of the Week

Mike Florio lays some wood on Josh McDaniels this morning, quoting Peter King, who says "McDaniels thinks he can win with Orton." To which Florio retorts:

In what league? AFL 2.5?

He finishes with a shot at McDaniels draft board, saying he'll only a draft a late-round QB prospect in the mold of Tom Brady or Matt Cassell only "if he took photos of the Belichick/Pioli 2009 draft board."

I love it. Florio is like the Anti-Bill Williamson.

Looking at the picture of Orton next to King's column, I think from now on I will refer to Orton as Dave Grohl. So now might we have a Goldmember and a Foo Fighter in the same division.

Insulting Billboard Replaced

Finally. Never did hear from the Raiders.

Raiders Love Gold?

NBC Bay Area just mentioned that the Raiders are close to signing Jeff Garcia. They quote a source "close to the situation" who says it is "real close. It will probably get done." They go on to say it could happen tomorrow, and that Garcia will have "an opportunity to compete with Russell for the starting job, but will likely play the role of backup."

I've always liked Garcia. If he starts for Oakland this year we have big big problems, but he makes for a solid backup who can step in and start if anything goes wrong with JaMarcus.

Happy Birthday, Lyle!

RIP

Donkeys vs. Cutler: BWAAAHAHAHA!!!!

You can get all the details on the Denver/Jay Cutler debacle on Bill Williamson's ESPN Denver Broncos Blog, er, AFC West Blog.

Anyway, what it has me thinking about is how different this Raider Season is from previous years. Other than the tragic Marquis Cooper story, an accident that nobody on Harbor Bay Parkway could have had anything to do with, the Raiders' off-season has been drama free.

Sure, there's Cable's "critical" comments about Jammy, but look at the contortions people have to go through to even make that news.

Here, it's been nothing but Nmamdi, Lechler, and Al Davis hagiography at the Owner's Meetings (feel free to ask Nmamdi what "hagiography" means. Anyone who uses "apocryphal" in a sentence correctly and nonchallantly can tell you what it means).

Maybe Sllaacs can comment on Ray Ratto's Psalm to Jay Cutler.