June News

It has been a quiet CLOAK of late, perhaps afraid that we'll jinx this most positive of "Raider seasons" by talking about how wonderful it's been. The Raiders, however, feel no such fears. A week ago, the intrepid Raider PR staff decided to put out a press release that stopped just short of bestowing a CLOAK OF IMMORTALITY upon Darrius Heyward-Bey. It is really a remarkable piece of work that, after listing great WRs who at any time played for the Raiders, culminates as follows:

"The list of wide receivers should make any pundit or so-called expert think twice before putting negativity on Heyward-Bey. No one has come close to the excellence at wide receivers that have worn the Silver and Black. These performers have been the greatest players who have ever played the game."

Head-shaking aside, I'm putting no negativity on Heyward-Bey or any other aspect of this Raider offseason. Within days of a conversation with Dave over whether the Raider D will be able to stop the run with no new bulk at DT, John Henderson came aboard. Then this weekend, Richard Seymour signed his tender, making a distracting holdout even more unlikely.

June 2010. Feeling good as a Raider fan.

Grievance

Insightful post from Jerry today. Probably explains the minicamp situation and reminds us why that contract was such a difficult negotiation.

The good news is this reduces the likelihood that Al will re-sign JaMarcus for the league minimum after every other team turns up its nose at him. Unless a judge orders him to give the Raiders one more year of service...

Repositioning

Yep, I am well aware that the spectacular Raiders offseason has not translated to a single win on the field. But hope is worth a lot to the Raider fan, and we have it again. Johnny and I are considering hat upgrades now that the embargo against the Raider organization has been lifted. Dave found his Raiders shirt after a lengthy search and is wearing it again. I flew the Raider flag in front of my house for the first time in years.

Even Scott Ostler proclaimed "The return of Al Davis." In honor of all of this, we have modified the tone of the CLOAK to one of hope. Sweet, sweet hope.

Believe It!

An improbable offseason of intelligent moves continues with today's dismissal of JaMarcus Russell. It's a great day for the Raiders. Hope has returned. Everyone I've talked to is considering lifting his or her personal ban on the purchase of Raider gear. A return to the Coliseum this fall is entirely possible.

What's next for JaMarcus? Honestly, who cares? But for the record:

"Takin' a short break..."

I Want to Believe

Monte Poole called last weekend the Raiders' "finest weekend since their AFC championship victory over Tennessee on Jan. 19, 2003." It sure felt that way around here. No games were played. No touchdowns were scored. But the feeling of success was unmistakable.

Years ago, this blog began as an outlet for our love for the Raiders, always prepared to look on the bright side when the poor organizational moves offered scant brightness to find. Unfortunately, the CLOAK has turned intensely critical as all hope has been lost.

But I want to believe. I really do. And this draft has me thinking, "Maybe, just maybe..." But one celestial body is using his epic girth to blot out the emergence of a bright side in Alameda. Does JaMarcus wear a CLOAK OF IMMORTALITY, never to be purged from the roster?

Ironically, Al's desire to believe is the only thing that might crush mine. According to John Clayton (not really "news" but he has the reach...kinda like TMZ I guess), once Al Davis gives the final word, JaMarcus will hit the streets. On Sunday, Gwen Knapp detailed the risk for all Raider fans if Al does not make a clean break. He wants to believe.

Al, please let me be the bigger fool.

Al Arrives for Saturday Draft

After the rather sensible First Round pick of Rolando McClain, and subsequent need+value picks Lamarr Houston and Jared Veldheer, speculation centered around whether Al had been led to believe that this year's draft would start on Saturday as in years past. Many of us had images of an angry Al Davis banging on a locked door with his cane as Bruce Campbell was passed up at pick #8.

Apparently Al has arrived for Saturday. Here are the Raiders' first three picks of the day:

Round 4, #106: Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland. The first Saturday pick is the one everyone thought Al would pick first.

Round 4, #108: Jacoby Ford, WR Clemson. The Raiders trade up aggressively - moving Captain Kirk - to get the fastest player in the draft, who ran a 4.28 at the combine.

Round 5, #138: Walter McFadden, CB Auburn. We just can't go a draft without picking a corner.

These three picks are classic Al. But it's almost like we got the first three picks for free this year. And with the possibility that JaMarcus's days are done, I'm beside myself with glee over this year's draft.

Nicely done, Al.

Campbells

Not only did we pick odds-on First Round pick Bruce Campbell at #106 in the Fourth, now Jason LaCanfora is reporting that Jason Campbell tells him the deal to the Raiders is done. Done.

Hear that, JaMarcus? Done.