The Republic of Sport

OaklandWarrior

OaklandWarrior's Comments

Posted Sunday September 23, 2007, About: Packers still committed to Rodgers

Rogers was a gamer for us at Cal. The Niners would have been better off drafting him #1 than Alex Smith in my opinion.

Posted Sunday September 23, 2007, About: Raiders want to secure cornerback

Nnamdi's only been beat 3-4 times this season by my count, he's one of the top 10, maybe top 5 corners in the league. If he's willing to accept a reasonable contract, sign him long term, otherwise it might make sense to franchise him. On a side note, Kirk Morrison should make the probowl this year, he's been pretty incredible so far. The pick today was one of the best Ive ever seen by a lb.

Posted Thursday September 13, 2007, About: When will JaMarcus play?

End of blowouts and maybe a game or two at the end of the year if he makes good progress and were already mathematically eleminated (which seems likely.)

And thanks for the info phillyfan, norcalsurfer & exacto aka the chilee bowl psychics...no one knows if he's going to be a bust or not at this point Im getting tired of all the Raider haters spouting off at the mouth...he might be a bust, he might be the next Elway, wait & see.

While the Raiders ain't making the playoffs this year they're not nearly as bad as alot of you yahoo's think...5-11 this year and only getting better, watch and learn.

Posted Saturday September 08, 2007, About: Raiders, Russell 'close' to signing

I hate to say this, but most of my fellow Raiders fans on this board are idiots. We're not trading JaMarcus. Wake the F* up. He will be signed soon, probably this week, quite possibly today, and he will be on the team for at least 3-4 years, (Im guessing quite a bit longer) and will obviously be given the oppertunity to prove himself worth the bank breaking contract. He's a significantly better option for the future at QB AKA "the most important player on the field" than DC, JM or AW. Significantly. He may be a bust but only time will tell; quite a few people thought Leaf would be better than Manning and we saw how that worked out, and remember Manning was the #1 over all, not Leaf. (Sorry Brownies.)
While the contract is a monstrosity, (and the NFL should and I think will soon implement an NBA style rookie pay scale) the contract is for 6 years and in later years will not look as outlandish as it does now, especially if JaMarcus lives up to expectations. To my nation, for all of you hating the guy over the holdout, chill out & grow up. Russell is the future, and it's a brighter future for him.

Posted Friday August 31, 2007, About: What's holding up JaMarcus?

From what Ive heard this article is oversimplified and incorrect...the skill and injury clause was agreed to over a month ago. The real issue is whether the bonus is paid as an "option bonus", which wouldnt be recoverable even if JaMarcus goes to jail, gets kicked out of he NFL or just decides to quit midway through his rookie season.

(Or decides to hold out- again....it shouldnt be an issue on a rookie contract this huge though he'll still be well paid even if hes a probowler in '08.) Give me a fu ck ing break Metz. The only way this is in play is if JaMarcus does something incredibly stupid or gets insanely greedy in year 3 or 4. Go Al & Amy...

Posted Sunday August 26, 2007, About: Too late for Russell to help Raiders?

JaMarcus is going to make most of you haters eat your words in 2-3 years. He wasnt going to play this year anyhow, at least not until the end of the season if/when the Raiders are eliminated. As I stated in another post, alot of people read way too much into a player based on a hld out; hes a young man thats probably listening to his hired financial expert- his agent. I dont know too many people who at age 21 or however old he is that would take over negotiations from their agent with $60+ million dollars on the table.

And for all the inane Raiders bashing saying Al is too cheap, the Raiders can't afford Russell, etc. get your story straight. The dollar amounts (reported at $66 mil, $31 mil guaranted for 6 years) and the skill & injury clauses have been agreed to. The issue is whether the guaranteed money is going to be paid as a roster bonus or option bonus. Metz wants it as an unprecedented option bonus, which could not be recouped by the Raiders in the event that Russell breaches the contract (ie Vick, Rickie Williams.) No owner has ever given anywhere near a $30 option bonus, this unrecoverable option bonus situation comes from Ashley Lelie's case against the Broncos when they tried to get back his bonus. Look it up for more information.

For all the haters, Al has made plenty of questionable personell discitions over the last several years. But his business acumen and desire to do what makes sense for both the team and league is unquestionable. Look it up. Al's not going to jeopardize the future of the team to make Metz the next superstar agent. Considering Russell really wasnt going to play this year anyhow, Al is in no rush & soon Metz will cave.

Posted Sunday August 26, 2007, About: Why Miller turned down Celtics

I hear George Gervin is available...lol @ you Pacers fans Reggies done, he may feel some loyalty to the team but if he wanted to play and still felt he would be competitive he would play, for the Celtics or whoever.

And CWBFAN, nice irellevant post...but your Mavs better hope they dont run into my Warriors in the playoffs again or they'll end up "upset" again.

Posted Sunday August 26, 2007, About: Tigers have no interest in Bonds

SF would just take him off waivers if some team claimed him. You people are fools if you think no team wants him; they just know hes not really available. I think the whole purpose of the waiver "dangling" that teams do is to guage interest in a trade; its definitely not that they want to give star players away for free.

Posted Thursday August 23, 2007, About: Warriors offer upsets Nellie

irv, Nelson got incentives for both making the playoffs and for beating the mavs, a couple mill for each If i remember correctly...I think its pretty **** rediculess he's playing hardball now...but hell if I thought I was worth more than my "boss" was paying me Id try to get a raise too...

Posted Sunday August 19, 2007, About: Raiders, Russell still not talking

Halon where the hell did you come up with that story?

I havnt seen any indication that the Raiders are so broke they cant sign Russell...I think that rumor probably started out in Denver or KC...anyhow the situation is **** up, I'd much rather be watching him in the preseaqson than McNown. But rather than blame Al or Jamarcus, I blame the system & Metz.

It seems to me Metz is trying to establish himself by getting a monsterous contract with unprecedented guarantees in the form of option bonuses. Al's willing to pay fair market rates (although 1st round rookie contracts are out of controll,) but hes not going to hand $30+ mill guaranteed in the form of an option bonus, that cant be recovered for any reason (think Vick, Williams...)

Its been reported that the skill & injury clause has been agreed to, the money may be (I read that it was but now Metz wants $34 mil guaranteed?) just that Metz wants the bonus money paid as an option bonus.

Posted Monday August 13, 2007, About: Big Ben wants five Super Bowl rings

I'd be a little concerned if my franchise Qb thought having 5 superbowl rings was "one more than most other quaterbacks." Does he think he played in Superbowl 1,312? Or that there are about 12 QB's in the league?

Posted Thursday August 09, 2007, About: Raiders, Russell not close to deal

I think alot of people are missing the importance of SOMEONE standing up to a #1 overall and try to bring some sanity back to the rookie contracts...and most of you are delusional, this isnt about dollar figures at this point, it's about an option bonus with a "skill" clause, where if we cut him because he sucks sometime down the loine he gets to keep his full bonus...Al doesnt want to give it to him, and I dont blame him; injury clauses have existed for quite a while, but teams have insurance. You might have to call Lloyd's of London to get skill insurance and Im sure it would cost an outrageous sum. Anyhow, Al's working in the best interests of both the Raiders and the NFL in general at this point, and NO ONE seems to realize it. The national media was lambasting the salaries & guaranteed portions theirof of high draft picks all week, and yet I havnt heard 1 peep of support for Al leading the charge of fiscal reponsibility for rookie signings... 1+2 does equal 3...

As far as the teams on-field performance, I also think playoffs are a pipedream, but 6-10 to 8-8 is a possibility if and only if the O-line can get their **** togther back to the level of mediocrity with which they played 2+ years ago. Last years system was an abomination. It is *almost* impossible for it to get worse. But with the D if the offense can stay on the field and score more than 14 a game, we will win our share of games. Having watched (or listened to the Raidio, damn blackouts,) to almost every game the last decade, there have been a a ton of very close games...the Raiders would have been extrememly close to a .500 team the last 4 years if they could manage to come up in the clutch once in a blue moon & the zebras didnt strike twice a season or so in the most heinous ways imagineable...I guesss what im saying is with the parity in the league today it doesnt take a whole hell of a lot to go from terrible to average.

Posted Monday June 25, 2007, About: Lakers in trade talks to get Garnett

Even if this does go down (and I highly doubt it,) the Lakers will be so gutted that they still wont be elite even with Garnett. Championships are not won by 2 all-stars and a pack of CBA guys...the Lakers will probably be the 6th or 7th seed in the West, might upset someone in the first round, but definitely will NOT take out the 2-3 best teams in the West to reach the Finals (or even conference finals.)

If they can keep Kobe & Garnett for a couple season and have some good free agent signings then maybe they can compete, but seriously w/o Odom & Bynum the Lake show is going to be a complete joke after Kobe & KG...

Posted Monday April 23, 2007, About: Raiders may pick Johnson, not Russell

I definitely think we should trade down, maybe more than once. Trade the 1st pick (or even draft Johnson so they know were not playing , then trade him) to the Bucaneers, even if all we pick up is a 3rd round pick- **** the $$$ savings alone is worth it. then draft JaMarcus 4th if he still available, if not trade that pick and Randy to get more 2-3rd round picks, and start rebuilding the offense...**** maybe take Adrian Peterson, or if we manage to draft down again and pick up a mid first take Mashawn Lynch. As far as QB Im not convinced Russel or Quinn is the answer, and until the line gets better, we could have Barry Sanders playing qb and still get him sacked 5 times a game. Maybe pick up the Ohio State QB in the 3rd or 4th round or let Walter take his lumps and draft someone next year.

Or if worst comes to worst, draft Johnson and trade Moss for any **** thing we can get for his sorry ****, knowing Johnson will be at least the second coming of Tim Brown. This isnt a 1-year project at this point, if all things go perfectly were gonna be 8-8ish, so theres no reason to mortgage the future on one of 2 questionable qb's.