http://www.sportsnipe.com Oakland Raiders, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933351/raiders-michael-bush-takes-part-in-morning-walkthrough-kffl-blog.html NFL News (blog)Raiders | Michael Bush takes part in morning walkthroughKFFL (blog)Oakland Raiders RB Michael Bush (thumb) went through the team's morning walkthrough Wednesday, Sept. 8, with just a small bandage and splint on his left ...Despite fractured thumb, Raiders' Michael Bush practices againFantasy Football ToolboxRaiders | Not ruling Michael Bush out for Week 1KFFL (blog)Bush might play in season openerSan Francisco ChronicleRotoworld.comall 12 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933350/inman-jared-veldheer-oakland-raiders-tall-tale-san-jose-mercury-news.html Inman: Jared Veldheer is Oakland Raiders' tall taleSan Jose Mercury NewsJared Veldheer is the Raiders starting center for Sunday's opener at Tennessee? The same 6-foot-8 rookie out of Hillsdale College, the Division II school in ...and more » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933349/oakland-raiders-at-tennessee-titans-storylines-going-into-game-sb-nation-bay-area-blog.html SB Nation Bay Area (blog)Oakland Raiders At Tennessee Titans: Storylines Going Into The GameSB Nation Bay Area (blog)(AP Photo/Ben Margot) By James Brady - Contributor The Oakland Raiders travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans for their first game of the 2010 NFL season ...Oakland Raiders Vs. Tennessee Titans: 10 Questions For The GameBleacher ReportRaiders-Titans PreviewCBSSports.comNFL Week 1 Preview, Prediction: Oakland Raiders Vs. Tennessee TitansSB NationVegasSports-Odds -Point-Spreads.com -San Jose Mercury Newsall 397 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932393/nfl-predictions-week-1-four-teams-ready-to-pull-upset-bleacher-report.html New York Times (blog)NFL Predictions Week 1: Four Teams Ready To Pull The UpsetBleacher ReportThe Titans are currently pegged as an eight-point home favorite over the Oakland Raiders. But this isn't your older brother's Oakland Raiders. ...Fantasy football overviewToronto SunDirty or not, Saints' defense will remain aggressiveCBSSports.comPredictions for NFL seasonThe Dixie SunMaddux Sports (blog) -The Canadian Press -University of Virginia The Cavalier Dailyall 1,167 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932392/britt-says-message-received-from-fisher-to-focus-sicom.html Britt says message received from Fisher to focusSI.com... the game with the coach asking him where his head was and the need for him to clear things up before Sunday's season opener with the Oakland Raiders. ...Britt says he's put distractions behind himThe Tennesseanall 20 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932391/raiders-ruling-michael-bush-out-for-week-1-kffl-blog.html NFL News (blog)Raiders | Not ruling Michael Bush out for Week 1KFFL (blog)Oakland Raiders RB Michael Bush (thumb) was limited during the team's practice Wednesday, Sept. 8, reports Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers. ...Despite fractured thumb, Raiders' Michael Bush practices againFantasy Football ToolboxRaiders | Michael Bush takes part in morning walkthroughKFFL (blog)Trevor Scott: Raiders promote Trevor Scott at RERotoworld.comall 12 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932390/raiders-sign-jay-alford-cut-erik-pears-national-football-post.html Football News NowRaiders sign Jay Alford, cut Erik PearsNational Football PostThe Oakland Raiders have signed former New York Giants third-round defensive tackle Jay Alford and cut offensive tackle Erik Pears. ...Raiders sign former Giants DL Jay Alford, release OL Erik PearsThe Canadian PressNew York Giants Notes: Jay Alford An Oakland RaiderBig Blue View (blog)Raiders Sign Super Bowl XLII Hero, Cut PearsFootball News NowSan Francisco Chronicle (blog) -The Star-Ledger - NJ.com -LALATE (blog)all 44 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932389/oakland-raiders-still-improve-their-roster-before-2010-season-starts-bleacher-report.html Bleacher ReportOakland Raiders Can Still Improve Their Roster Before the 2010 Season StartsBleacher ReportWith all of the upgrades made to the Oakland Raiders roster over the 2010 off-season, there are high expectations for the Oakland Raiders this season. ...Quarterback Jason Campbell prepares for regular season debut with RaidersThe Canadian PressCotto: 10 Oakland Raiders Prediction for 2010Silver and Black reportRaiders Hopeful For Better SeasonTitans RadioESPN -NFL News -San Francisco Examinerall 58 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932388/campbell-excited-about-his-raiders-debut-canadian-press.html ALAMEDA, Calif. - Jason Campbell has talked about how his trade to the Oakland Raiders offered a new start to his career following a disappointing five-year run in Washington. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932387/raiders-sign-jay-alford-cut-erik-pears-national-football-post.html The Oakland Raiders have signed former New York Giants third-round defensive tackle Jay Alford and cut... Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932386/report-raiders-wr-yamon-figurs-will-return-kicks-punts.html Report: Raiders WR Yamon Figurs will return kicks and punts According to Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Yamon Figurs will be the team's kick and punt returner to at least start the season. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932385/i-have-nominated-punisher-to-be-our-madden-player.html I set up the tourney/challenge and didn't hear anything back, so I am nominating the poster that I am most familiar with. If there was a challenge and someone did come out victorious and Punisher is willing to vacate his throne, then sobeit, but for now and as far as I am concerned for the 2010 Season Punisher will represent Silver and Black Pride on the first ever SB Nation Madden Tourney. Punisher, hit me up on my email, and I'll forward you the details once I receive them. Also, I need your e-mail. Cheers, - Saint Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932384/ill-be-talking-live-titan-fans-tonight.html I'll Be Talking Live With Titan Fans Tonight: I've been invited by Music City Miracles to participate in their weekly Podcast discussing the upcoming game. I will be on around 9:30 CT and the link to their podcast is: LINK Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931169/raiders-first-foe-vows-to-make-history-nbc-bay-area.html Off the Record (blog)Raiders' First Foe Vows to Make HistoryNBC Bay AreaWhen the Oakland Raiders take the field Sunday, they'll face a guy who swears he's taking that record -- at the Raiders' expense. ...Chris Johnson targets 2500 yardsNational Football Postall 14 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931168/oakland-raiders-connections-calculations-conquest-bleacher-report.html Bleacher ReportOakland Raiders; Connections, Calculations, and ConquestBleacher ReportAfter a visit to the Oakland Raiders website, I noticed a posting of "connections." I read the post carefully. I thought that it is curious to post these ... Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931167/raiders-wr-murphy-name-that-keeps-popping-up-nfl-news-blog.html Off the Record (blog)Raiders WR Murphy is a name that keeps popping upNFL News (blog)It's nearly impossible to avoid looking at the Oakland Raiders when looking for potential sleepers. Even though we know better. NFL.com Fantasy Live host ...Louis Murphy is the one to grab in OaklandOff the Record (blog)Louis Murphy: Louis Murphy to lead Raiders in yards, TDs?Rotoworld.comall 3 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931166/raiders-sign-former-giants-dl-jay-alford-release-ol-erik-pears-canadian-press.html The Star-Ledger - NJ.comRaiders sign former Giants DL Jay Alford, release OL Erik PearsThe Canadian PressThe Oakland Raiders have signed former New York Giants defensive lineman Jay Alford. The team says it released offensive lineman Erik Pears on Wednesday to ...New York Giants Notes: Jay Alford An Oakland RaiderBig Blue View (blog)Raiders sign AlfordSan Francisco Chronicle (blog)Former Giants defensive tackle Jay Alford signs with RaidersThe Star-Ledger - NJ.comLALATE (blog)all 41 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931165/raiderstitans-preview-cbssportscom.html Donbest.comRaiders-Titans PreviewCBSSports.com... champion Chris Johnson look to get the Titans off to a much better start this season, beginning with a home game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. ...NFL Week One: Can The Oakland Raiders Walk The Walk?Bleacher ReportNFL Week 1 Preview, Prediction: Oakland Raiders Vs. Tennessee TitansSB NationMonte Poole: Ten wins possible for Oakland Raiders but hardly guaranteedSan Jose Mercury NewsPoint-Spreads.com -Sports Chat Place -Sports News Authority (blog)all 374 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931158/raiders-sign-dl-jay-alford-canadian-press.html ALAMEDA, Calif. - The Oakland Raiders have signed former New York Giants defensive lineman Jay Alford. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931157/labor-peace-goodells-biggest-challenge-yahoo-sports.html Roger Goodell has been innovative and stern, but the outcome of the CBA will cement his legacy. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2930182/jason-campbell-oakland-raiders-has-troubling-wrist-injury-too-espn.html msnbc.comJason Campbell of Oakland Raiders has troubling wrist injury, tooESPNIn the series before he went down with a stinger Saturday, Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell suffered a wrist injury that has become a bigger worry for the ...Oakland Raiders QB Jason Campbell has injured wrist, tooSan Jose Mercury NewsOakland Raiders Vs The San Francisco 49ers: 10 SurprisesBleacher ReportOakland Raiders' Coach: Jason Campbell's Injury Not SeriousFanHouseThe Associated Press -SportingNews.com -Seattle Post Intelligencerall 1,036 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2930179/nfl-predictions-2010-raiders-vs-titans-week-1-picks-amp-betting-odds-onlinesportshandicapperscom.html BetUs.comNFL Predictions 2010: Raiders vs Titans NFL Week 1 Picks & Betting OddsOnlineSportsHandicappers.comLet's take a look at what the NFL odds makers have in store for the Oakland raiders as they get set to do battle in Tennessee to open the 2010 NFL ...Oakland Raiders 2010 NFL Picks, Predictions & 2011 Super Bowl OddsPoint-Spreads.comNFL Week 1 Betting Breakdown ? Get The Inside ATS Scoop On Every Week 1 AFC ...BetUs.comall 35 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2930178/oakland-raiders-vs-tennessee-titans-nfl-week-1-predictions-pointspreadscom.html Modesto BeeOakland Raiders vs Tennessee Titans NFL Week 1 PredictionsPoint-Spreads.comBe sure to get your Oakland Raiders vs Tennessee Titans NFL Week 1 Predictions in now at BODOG.com The Raiders needed a new quarterback and they found one, ...Monte Poole: Ten wins possible for Oakland Raiders but hardly guaranteedSan Jose Mercury NewsFive Keys To Success : What The Oakland Raiders Must Do This Season To ImproveBleacher ReportTennessee Titans Installed As A Touchdown Favorite Over Oakland Raiders In ...USA Online Gambling NewsVegas-Spreads -The Inquisitr -Locksmith Sports Picksall 358 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2927230/raiders-beat-seahawks-2724-in-exhibition-finale-associated-press.html Sports Newscaster (blog)Raiders beat Seahawks 27-24 in exhibition finaleThe Associated PressOAKLAND, Calif. ? Bruce Gradkowski threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and the Oakland Raiders mostly used backups to end the preseason with a ...Pre-Season Highlights: Oakland Raiders Defeat Seattle SeahawksBleacher ReportPreseason week IV: Final Seattle Seahawks 24 Oakland Raiders 27Examiner.comSeahawks drop final exhibition game, 27-24, to RaidersSeattle TimesSeattle Post Intelligencer -Point-Spreads.comall 364 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2927229/report-raiders-sign-dt-jay-alford.html Report: Raiders sign DT Jay Alford According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Oakland Raiders have signed defensive tackle Jay Alford formerly of the New York Giants. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2927228/we-have-real-game-to-prepare-for.html The last time I felt really good about this team was after a victory against Tennessee Previously on 24: Turns out Jeff Fisher was a spy and now he has the weapons. Al Davis told Tom Cable to not do something, but Tom Cable is doing it anyway and Jason Campbell is getting ready to go into battle despite 5 broken ribs, electrical burns on his testicles from a failed interrogation, a gun shot wound in the head and a hangnail. Analysis occurs in real time: As you can see, even if you missed it, the stage is set. The Titans are excited and the Raiders are hungry. We have discussed the off the field factors, I think it's time to look into the on the field ones. As I said the match-ups of this game worry me. I like to end on a good note--so, let's start with: The Sources of Concern: Chris Johnson vs. The Raiders D The emphasis of the Raiders off-season was to go from being run defenseless to having a run defense. This means an entirely new LB corp. And the starting LB corp for Sunday's game is going to be the newest in new as Quentin Groves will start and get his first PT with Death Ro and Wimbley.  These guys are not going to be eased into anything. This is a scary rushing attack. After the Titans made the switch from Collins to Young last year, the Titans averaged 176.1 yards a game rushing. Chris Johnson averaged an obscene 5.6 yards per carry last season and he has a penchant for breaking off big runs. Combine this with the fact that the Raiders nasty tendency to give up big runs and...uh-oh. The problem is not only that Johnson is phenomenal running the ball, he is their main weapon catching the ball. Johnson led the Titans last year in receptions with 50 and he was third in receiving yards with 501. The general consensus with the Raiders new LB's is that while they look better equiped to stop the run, they may suffer in pass defense. We have seen part of this play out already as Trevor Scott got moved in favor of Groves whose pass D is improving. I hope it is improving while he sleeps, eats and breathes. It has been suggested, by the brain trust on this fine site, that Tyvon Branch should be a CJ spy. Then leave the Raiders LB's to try and guard the Titans TE Bo Scaife. Or as SOB so eloquently stated Ho or Gro on Bo. While were at it, why not Ho, Ro, or Gro on Bo. Scaife is a solid TE and one of Young's favorite weapons. Scaife was third on the team in catches last year with 45. That would leave us with a CJ spy and someone to know Bo, but the problem is Vince Young is worthy of demanding a spy himself. Last season and this pre-season Young averaged roughly 5.5 yards a carry. The Titans D-line vs. The Raiders O-line The Titans D-line doesn't have the big names many are used to and they may be better off for it. The fans are jacked on the play of this young and deep line. They have dominated in the pre-season. They are allowing only 3.2 yards per carry and have not given up a rushing TD. I know this is pre-season, but these numbers look legit.  In the 3rd pre-season game against the Panthers--a game in which the Titans only had 5 days to get ready for--they held DeAngelo Williams to 13 yards on 9 carries.  To top all of this off they haven't had the full compliment of players during the pre-season, but are now on all systems go. DT Jason Jones has fans especially excited, which means welcome to the NFL Jared Veldheer. Somehow, someway the Raiders offensive line has to keep the threat to run the ball legit. Going against the 4-3, Veldheer shouldn't have to worry about the kind of blitzes he whiffed on against San Francisco as he'll be able to focus more on the man in front of him. This is a huge test for what is largely perceived as the team's biggest weakness. What Helps Me Sleep The Raiders Secondary vs. The Titans WR's While the Raiders have to contend with the dual threat nature of Vince Young and Chris Johnson, this task should not be completely unmanageable for them. They shouldn't have to worry about lending the DB's any extra help on the WR's. The Titans passing offense does not revolve around it's WR's. Nate Washington led the Titans WR's with 47 catches and Kenny Britt led the team with 701 receiving yards last year. With Nnam reportedly sticking to the teams best WR, I think it is safe to cross Washington off of the threat list. And with Kenny Britt getting a little funny in the head and having a horrific pre-season, he doesn't look to be much of a concern either. It was speculated he might not even play in the opener, but it now sounds as if he will be the starting slot guy. The other starter is the unspectacular Justin Gage who caught a total of 28 balls last year. A nice soft landing for Stanford Routt as he emerges from the dog house. This should help free up the safeties for support on Johnson and Scaife. Also it should help make the Raiders deadly in passing situations as they'll be free to blitz or have extra guys in coverage. The Raiders Passing Attack vs. The Titans Pass Defense The Titans pass Defense killed them last year. They were 30th in passing yards allowed and 30th in passing TD's allowed. Granted these numbers can be skewed as teams pass more when they are behind, but the Titans were an even 8-8 and they finished 23rd in net yards allowed per pass attempt. However you slice it their pass D struggled. And they didn't do much to upgrade it. The teams best corner Cortland Finnegan missed most of the pre-season with a groin injury, but is expected to play on Sunday. As we saw with our own Chris Johnson, the first game back for a DB can be a doozy. The #2 DB spot was up for grabs for the Titans and they still haven't named a starter, but the likely start is Jason McCourty. He has been pushed by rookie Alterraun Verner who had an impressive camp, but it is very seldom a good sign when a rookie DB, not named Woodson or Sanders is pushing for a starting spot. The safeties remained unchanged for the Titans. Chris Hope and Michael Griffin followed up '08 pro bowl seasons with '09 anti-pro bowl seasons. If the Raiders can keep Jason Campbell upright, he should be able to exploit some things in the pass game. With Finnegan likely shadowing Louis Murphy, this may be an excellent opportunity for DHB to get off to a fast start. Another big factor here could be the fact that the Titans are playing without OLB Gerald McRath. He is serving a 4 game suspension for cheating. He is replaced by the lackluster Collin Allred. The lone veteran upgrade the Titans made in the off-season was acquiring OLB Will Witherspoon. Witherspoon is solid in coverage, but not good enough that he can keep track of Zach Miller, Darren McFadden and Marcel Reece at the same time. The Titans are going to have to pick: Let the safeties help with the backs and TE's or keep them back to help the DB's. Bottom line is someone should be open. Vince Young Fumbles Vince has looked good in the pre-season. His stats are mostly in-line with last year and he has raised his completion percentage. He still has a tendency to fumble the ball though. This pre-season has fumbled 3 times. He fumbled 8 times in his 10 games last year.   Key Match-up of the Game The Titans O-line vs. the Raiders D-line: The Titans line play last year was stellar and on paper, they look to be even better this year. The only loss was the aging and still unemployed Kevin Mawae. They replaced him with their LG from last year and have inserted the up and coming Leroy Harris at LG this year. The Titans lineman are all in their prime as their ages range from 26-29. For whatever reason, they have struggled in the pre-season. Maybe it's just a case of it being the pre-season, but it's something to watch. The Titans have allowed 13 sacks this pre-season. 6 of which were on Young. They only allowed 15 sacks all of last year. Also, Chris Johnson has only averaged 2.1 yards per carry this pre-season.  Still, this looks to be strength against strength. The Raiders D-line looked good in the pre-season despite never being at full strength. This D-line now has Richard Seymour and John Henderson ready to go at full speed.  Something To Think About Chris Johnson had a record setting year last year. This means he gets a lot of press for his many quotes and also that he took on a lot of wear and tear. He led the league by carrying the ball 358 times and caught it 50. This is a hard thing for a back to recover from. Here is a great article outlining the effects on a RB after a season like that. Here is an excerpt to give you an idea: Through the 2009 season and out of the 23 running backs in the history of the league with 370 or more carries in season, in the very next season of play, (17) experienced a significant decline in fantasy production, (3) tore their ACL, and (6) effectively had their career ended. Only Eric Dickerson, Walter Payton, and LaDainian Tomlinson did not show any real effect or drop-off in fantasy point production in the season following their 370+ carry season While Johnson didn't break the 370 carry mark, I think his 50 catches are enough to push him into this category. Seriously check out the article. It is fascinating. Not only does it chart every RB that had more than 370 carries it also charts RB's whose carries rose 33 percent from the previous season and they suffered similar declines. Chris Johnson is right on the borderline of that threshold as well. In Closing After all this breakdown, I think we all know that you never know what you are going to get on Sundays. Especially when you are talking about the Raiders. This article, which talks about survivor pools, details how the Raiders can exceed expectations. Since 2000 the Raiders have won a game where they were 9 point or greater underdogs 8 times. This includes 6 in the previous two seasons.  This appears to be the only outlier in the upset equation. Division games, home teams and Monday night games all are in line with the averages, but not our Oakland Raiders! In short, who the hell knows what is going to happen on Sunday. I'll say this much: I don't believe in Moral victories, except when I do and this is one of the times where I could. The Titans have strengths where the Raiders have weaknesses. Also, Jeff Fisher is throwing his coaching wild card here (I believe an effective coach and/or circumstance can raise team play above their ability level roughly twice a year). Given these factors, I think my reactions will be as follows: If the Raiders keep it close and lose, I'll be happy and looking forward to a solid season. If they get blown out, I'll be disappointed, but still be willing to wipe the slate clean for Week Two. This is a young team and I expect them to improve as the season goes. If they win, I'll be expecting the playoffs. Poll ______ will lead the Raiders in receiving yards. Louis Murphy Zach Miller DHB Darren McFadden JLH Marcel Reece   2 votes | Results Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2926936/oakland-raiders-roster-composition-2010-part-2-silver-black-report.html Oakland Raiders: Roster Composition 2010 part 2Silver and Black reportCOM's look at the Oakland Raiders roster for the upcoming 2010 season. In this edition, we look at the defense and special teams. ...and more » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2926935/tennessee-titans-installed-as-touchdown-favorite-over-oakland-raiders-in-usa-online-gambling-news.html Modesto BeeTennessee Titans Installed As A Touchdown Favorite Over Oakland Raiders In ...USA Online Gambling NewsThe Oakland Raiders and the Tennessee Titans face off against each other in Week One of the 2010 NFL Season, eager to rebound from disappointing seasons a ...Vegas NFL Odds: Oakland Raiders vs Tennessee Titans Week 1 NFL PredictionsVegas-SpreadsOakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans NFL OddsLocksmith Sports PicksTitans Notes: Tuesday September 7thExaminer.comOnline Sportsbook Pro (blog) -Associated Content -Bleacher Reportall 321 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922631/oakland-raiders-cornerback-stanford-routt-wins-starting-job-san-jose-mercury-news.html Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt wins starting jobSan Jose Mercury NewsRoutt has won the training-camp battle over incumbent Chris Johnson, Raiders coach Tom Cable said Sunday after the practice. ...and more » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922630/afc-west-prediction-chargers-era-over-bleacher-report.html Sports Chat PlaceAFC West Prediction: The Chargers Era Is Over!Bleacher ReportMeanwhile, the Oakland Raiders had the Al Davis-Lane Kiffin Civil War of 2007-08 which followed a two win season under Art Shell in 2006. ...AFC West Betting ? NFL PreviewSportnewsbase.comMacho Rhino's AFC West 2010 PreviewBleacher ReportSan Diego Chargers look to strike on AFC West, once againDaily Sundialall 22 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922629/2010-nfl-season-oakland-raiders-should-consider-these-acquisitions-bleacher-report.html CBC.ca2010 NFL Season: Why the Oakland Raiders Should Consider These AcquisitionsBleacher ReportThe buzz lately has swirled around the Oakland Raiders and whether the NFL club should acquire newly released veterans such as wideout TJ Houshmandzadeh and ...Houshmandzadeh on Flacco: "Hell of a quarterback"Baltimore Sun (blog)Report: TJ considering Raiders, 'Skins in search for new homeNFL NewsHoushmandzadeh Signs with Ravens, Passes on Raiders and RedskinsFootball News NowSportsrageous -NFL GridIron Gab (blog) -eWorld Post (blog)all 637 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922628/2010-nfl-season-musings-mutterings-on-last-minute-moves-by-oakland-raiders-bleacher-report.html msnbc.com2010 NFL Season: Musings and Mutterings On Last Minute Moves By Oakland RaidersBleacher ReportNo strangers to controversy, the Oakland Raiders have created some buzz amongst fans and pundits alike with a few unexpected last minute moves that have ...Six join Stevie Brown on Raiders' practice squadNational Football PostRaiders Questionable Roster CallsSilver and Black Pride (blog)all 35 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922627/oakland-raider-position-battles-to-watch-for-thursday-results-bleacher-report.html Bleacher ReportOakland Raider Position Battles to Watch For Thursday: The ResultsBleacher ReportThere were a few pretty close position battles with the Oakland Raiders going into the final preseason game against the Seahawks. In the last article, ...Raiders beat Seahawks 27-24 in exhibition finaleThe Associated PressOakland Raiders coach Tom Cable says roster spots still availableSan Jose Mercury NewsPreseason week IV: Final Seattle Seahawks 24 Oakland Raiders 27Examiner.comSeattle Times -Seattle Post Intelligencerall 364 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922626/raiders-go-rookie-center-san-jose-mercury-news.html The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.comRaiders go with rookie centerSan Jose Mercury NewsAP OAKLAND, Calif.?The Oakland Raiders already have a new quarterback this season. Now they have a new starting center, too. Rookie Jared Veldheer spent ...Forest Hills Northern's Jared Veldheer named starter at center for Oakland RaidersThe Grand Rapids Press - MLive.comJared Veldheer Named Raiders Starting CenterMidwest Sports FansThree new starters for RaidersThoughts from the Dark Side (blog)Contra Costa Timesall 77 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922625/oakland-raiders-2010-season-preview-at-long-last-hope-fanhouse.html Oakland Raiders 2010 Season Preview: At Long Last, HopeFanHouseThat alone makes this offseason a rousing success for the Raiders. They also complemented that move with a series of other decisions that solidified many of ...and more » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922624/breaking-down-2010-oakland-raiders-offense-examinercom.html Football News NowBreaking down the 2010 Oakland Raiders offenseExaminer.comThe 2010 Oakland Raiders offense will be better than the lethargic 2009 edition. It has the potential to be explosive, but ultimately the level of success ...2010 Oakland Raiders 53 Man Roster To Start The 2010 SeasonBleacher ReportMichael Bush Returns to ?Limited? Practice with RaidersFootball News NowRaiders Notes: Getting ready for the TitansSilver and Black reportInside Bay Areaall 21 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922623/oakland-raiders-at-tennessee-titans-nfl-odds-locksmith-sports-picks.html Modesto BeeOakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans NFL OddsLocksmith Sports PicksThe Oakland Raiders may be coming off a disappointing 5-11 campaign, but with JaMarcus Russell out and Jason Campbell in, things appear to be looking up. ...Vegas NFL Odds: Oakland Raiders vs Tennessee Titans Week 1 NFL PredictionsVegas-SpreadsTitans Notes: Tuesday September 7thExaminer.comNFL Week 1: Raiders @ Titans Odds and PredictionsOnline Sportsbook Pro (blog)Associated Content -Bleacher Report -The Canadian Pressall 320 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922622/monte-poole-ten-wins-possible-for-oakland-raiders-but-hardly-guaranteed-san-jose-mercury-news.html Monte Poole: Ten wins possible for Oakland Raiders but hardly guaranteedSan Jose Mercury NewsThose Raiders fans who have remained through seven dog years really want to believe their loyalty awaits reward. Oakland has a chance for a special season. ...Five Keys To Success : What The Oakland Raiders Must Do This Season To ImproveBleacher Report2010 Oakland Raiders PreviewThe Inquisitrall 29 news articles » Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922621/exraiders-lining-up-embarrassing-al-stories.html Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Al Davis dunk tank. Step right up and make a throw. Hit the target and the Raiders' 79-year-old owner will fall into a tank of silver-and-black Kool-Aid.Two weeks ago, it was Tim Brown reflecting on his first day with the Raiders, when teammates supposedly told him Davis doesn't like black players from Notre Dame. Now it's cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who had one disastrous half-season in Oakland before the Raiders cut him loose.Hall is prospering again (financially, anyway) in Washington, where the Redskins recently signed him to a 6-year, $55 million contract. Speaking to station WJFK in D.C., Hall also went into the Al Davis file and pulled out a whopper:"Probably the funniest thing, I was pretty close to Lane Kiffin. - And after they fired Lane and were about to announce who the next coach was - I don't know if you guys saw this in the media world, but I was actually sitting there live, me and a couple other players there in the back. And [Davis] went through this whole spiel of what happened - and said our next coach is Tom Cable, he's going to be our interim coach. When everybody paused for Tom to come in, like a break-off, [Davis] goes to the media guide and not even whispering says, 'Hey, anyone got any information on this Tom Cable guy? I don't know where he comes from.' That's just vintage Al Davis. Making a move, not really knowing why, no real justification for doing it. But just saying, 'Hey, I want this guy, let's get him, I'll figure everything else out later.' And that's just how Al Davis is."OK, I can guess your first reaction: Who is DeAngelo Hall to pop off about Al Davis when he took the money and played cornerback like Oprah Winfrey in 2008?It's a fair point, but Hall isn't the only one to note that Davis was scrambling for information on Cable during that infamous, post-Kiffin press conference. He truly seemed at a loss to characterize his new coach. And I know for a fact that Hall was at the press conference. I talked to him that day, and he gave me some very nice quotes in support of the coach who had just been canned. In fact, I always wondered if Hall's loyalty to Kiffin was part of the reason he was released midseason, as opposed to merely benched. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922620/wholl-stop-run.html As with many struggling franchises, the Raiders' downfall over the past six seasons has been hard to define in a sentence or two.The running game has been at times tepid, at times formidable. The pass rush has been occasionally strong, often nonexistent. The locker-room vibe has spiraled into near-chaos at certain points, but has more often been surprisingly solid.There has been one constant, though: shabby run defense.As the team followed up a Super Bowl campaign in 2002 with a 4-12 finish in 2003, the rushing defense came unglued. The Raiders ranked dead last in the NFL in yards allowed on the ground in '02, giving up 156.9 yards per game.Al Davis hired Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator in 2004. And while Ryan had his successes in Oakland, his run defense got worse every year " 125.8 yards per game in 2004 (22nd in the league), 128.1 yards in 2005 (25th), 134 yards in 2006 (25th), 145.9 yards in 2007 (31st) and 159.7 yards last year (31st again).Now the Raiders are banking on Ryan being the problem.In essence, the team did almost nothing to upgrade its anti-run personnel over the offseason. The Raiders drafted four defensive players, but three of them " Matt Shaughnessy, Slade Norris and Stryker Sulak " are primarily edge rushers. Only safety Mike Mitchell is a potential run-plugger, and he will go into training camp as the No. 2 strong safety.The man currently running ahead of Mitchell, second-year safety Tyvon Branch, also is a physical presence. But remember, so was the man Branch replaces, Gibril Wilson. Wilson was a liability against the pass, but was one of Oakland's best tacklers last season. The Raiders did sign one interior defender, Ryan Boschetti, but he would look to be the team's fourth defensive tackle at best.If the Raiders are to get any stouter against the run in 2009, massive DT Terdell Sands will have to play much better (and stay on the field more) than he did a year ago. And new defensive coordinator John Marshall will have to significantly change his players' assignments.Or their mentality.That seemed to be the message Ricky Brown " who is moving from outside linebacker to the middle (backing up Kirk Morrison) this year " delivered to reporters after practice Wednesday."For me, always stopping the run is a little bit about attitude," Brown said. "It's kind of something that's deep within a guy."Let's hope he's right. Because it will largely be the same 11 guys looking deep within themselves this year. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922619/raiders-shopping-burgess.html The rumor making its way along the NFL telephone line right now has the Raiders trying to shop two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess.Former Raiders scout Michael Lombardi " who certainly has great contacts in the league but is hard to view as an objective voice when it comes to his former employer " addressed the notion in his National Football Post column today. Lombardi said the Raiders offered Burgess to New England for recent second-round draft choice Sebastian Vollmer, a massive but raw offensive tackle from Houston, and backup quarterback Kevin O'Connell. The Patriots supposedly turned down the Raiders.I don't know if that particular scenario is based on reality (a backup QB? why??), but I have a few thoughts on the Burgess trade rumors:1) It might not be a bad idea. Since he came to Oakland in 2005, Burgess has probably been the Raiders' second-best defender, after cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. That said, his sack total has declined each season, from a franchise-record 16 (2005) to 11 (2006) to 8 (2007) to 3.5 (2008). Burgess is an asset both on the field, where he often demands double-team blocks, and at practice, where is an unbelievable worker despite his stud status. The trouble is, injuries have begun to chip away at the 30-year-old end, and he too often can't make it to the field.2) Though it does make some sense, I'd be surprised if Al Davis went through with a trade. Davis is very proud of his reputation as a guy who finds castoffs or diamonds in the rough and turns them into stars. Think Jim Plunkett, or Todd Christensen. The Raiders haven't had many players who fit the bill in the last 20 years. Burgess was probably the most recent, and I'm guessing that tag, along with his intimidating presence, make Burgess a Davis favorite.3) True or not, the mere fact that this rumor has gained legs is bound to sour relations between Burgess and the Raiders. He has been unhappy with his contract for three years and must be sick of losing, so he would probably welcome a trade. By the same token, I've seen many athletes get miffed when they hear they're being shopped " no matter how often they claim not to care about what the media are reporting.4) Too bad Lombardi is scuttling the Patriots trade he mentioned. I'm pretty sure it would make the Raiders the first team in NFL history with two Sebastians. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922618/super-bowl-buzz-kill-buffalo-bills.html Anybody can pick winners. We at The Hater Nation like to predict the losers. And last year, who could match our accuracy? The Hater Nation went 31 for 32 in picking teams that would not win the Super Bowl. If you read through the lines, too, you would have saw that we were secretly picking the Saints to take the whole thing.So here is the 2010 Super Bowl Buzz Kill. A feature so awesome, those (expletives) at Deadspin have blatantly ripped it off. Turns out the schmucks at the Bleacher Report did, too. Always imitated, never duplicated. Why your team won't win the Super Bowl: Buffalo BillsOh to be a fly on the wall in the Bills draft war room this year. You could just imagine Bills coach Chan Gailey and GM Buddy Nix really looking over their roster and having this exchange.Buddy: Hey Chan, what do you think is the best position on the team?Chan: No doubt, running back. Fred Jackson is nice. Marshawn Lynch can still play in this league, that is clearly the best position on this football team.Buddy: You are dad gum right, Chan. Let's draft C.J. Spiller.Come again, guys?Get ready for a long season, Bills fan.This is not really a pan of the Bills drafting of Spiller. He will be better than Jackson and Lynch. Spiller could be the most exciting rookie in the NFL this season. Spiller had 50 touchdowns in college, 21 of them of over 50 yards.That is the kind of game changer the Bills have needed in quite some time.But the Bills really only made their best position stronger while the rest of the team implodes around them. And that's the rub. You don't get ripped for taking a player like Spiller if you actually went out and improved your other positions. But the quarterback and the receivers on this team are just dreadful.The offensive line is so hobbled, that Gailey is forcing his team to workout in knee braces. Knee injuries took their toll on Buffalo's offensive linemen last season. Eric Wood, starting left tackle Demetrius Bell, starting right tackle Brad Butler and backup tackle Seth McKinney all finished the season on injured reserve after hurting their knees or legs.Are those guys going to be able to hold up this season? That is one of the biggest questions.Bottom line: Let's say that everything goes well for the Bills. Spiller becomes the rookie of the year. The offensive line can stay healthy. This is something to be excited about, right?Well, until you remember that Trent Edwards is going to be the quarterback.Oh well, there is always next year's draft. And probably another running back the Bills could take. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922617/super-bowl-buzz-kill-minnesota-vikings.html Anybody can pick winners. We at The Hater Nation like to predict the losers. And last year, who could match our accuracy? The Hater Nation went 31 for 32 in picking teams that would not win the Super Bowl. If you read through the lines, too, you would have saw that we were secretly picking the Saints to take the whole thing.So here is the 2010 Super Bowl Buzz Kill. A feature so awesome, those (expletives) at Deadspin have blatantly ripped it off. Turns out the schmucks at the Bleacher Report did, too. Always imitated, never duplicated. Why your team won't win the Super Bowl: Green Bay PackersBy BuckyThose of us who own cats know what it?s like. They stand by the door for hours waiting to go out; when you finally open the door, instead of bounding through, they hold their ground and peer outside, while 500 mosquitos race into the house. You finally get all frustrated and kick ?em out, and two minutes later they?re back, crying to come back in. And so the latest word is that, despite everyone (including his Vikings teammates) believing that Brett Favre would return to play a 20th season, Brett has decided to hang it up. Apparently his ankle injury, sustained in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Saints in January, hasn?t sufficiently healed for him to play this season. So the Vikings will go with Tarvaris Jackson. Or Sage Rosenfels. Good luck with that. Or so he says on August 3rd. Let?s see what happens when training camp is winding down; when the practices start getting shorter and the guys who have to do something spectacular to get a look are gone. The smart money says that Brad Childress will be playing the role of Hoke Colburn once again come late August. But what sort of team will Miss Daisy be returning to? Well, the Vikings came within one ill-advised Favre pass of the Super Bowl last season, a situation Packer fans could empathize with were they not overfilled with schadenfreude. The defense sports one of the best mullets in the NFL, with Jared Allen, and the Williams Wall, who have dodged the NFL?s performance-enhancing drug testing cops for two years now. But EJ Henderson is struggling trying to come back from a gruesome injury last season, and the Vikings? secondary was soft even before losing Cedric Griffin (who started training camp on the PUP list, and won?t be back until midseason). Minnesota has excellent skill players on the offensive side of the ball, starting with Adrian Peterson, who might be great if only he could learn to hang onto the football. Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian are not a bad stable of targets, either. We?ve all seen that Visanthe Shiancoe swings a big bat, too. So what?s not to like?Well, their offensive line began to go soft late last season. Favre got the living crap kicked out of him in late season games against the Cardinals, Panthers, and Bears, as well as the NFC title game, and Peterson?s YPC dropped to 3.3 in December. Peterson still drops the ball too much for an elite back. And Favre- assuming he changes his mind yet again- will be 41 in October. There?s a reason that Favre is the only 40-year old QB to ever start a playoff game; the bodies of even great signal callers begin to break down as they age. For the Vikings to win it all this year, they need Favre to repeat his heroics from last season. However, it?s just as likely that we?ll see Joe Namath ?76-77, or Johnny Unitas ?73. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922616/post-mortem-give-us-bad-football.html America has made it official ... we would rather watch bad football rather than watching another sad, Yankees vs. Red Sox game. The Cowboys and Bengals had the highest rated preseason game in six years, even going up against the greatest baseball rivalry in the history of civilization. Part of the reason has to be that the football game was really only a handful of meaningful series which only seemed as long as a Derek Jeter at-bat. And it is just so great to have football back. Kind of like when spring training games come on, I cannot avoid watching them. I bet when the NFL has a lockout next year, that will likely get higher ratings than the Yankees and Red Sox, too. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922615/super-bowl-buzz-kill-chicago-bears.html Anybody can pick winners. We at The Hater Nation like to predict the losers. And last year, who could match our accuracy? The Hater Nation went 31 for 32 in picking teams that would not win the Super Bowl. If you read through the lines, too, you would have saw that we were secretly picking the Saints to take the whole thing.So here is the 2010 Super Bowl Buzz Kill. A feature so awesome, those (expletives) at Deadspin have blatantly ripped it off. Turns out the schmucks at the Bleacher Report did, too. Always imitated, never duplicated. Why your team won't win the Super Bowl: Chicago BearsBy BuckyLast year at this time Bears? fans were talking about Jay Cutler being the missing piece of the puzzle that would lead them back to the Super Bowl. No more Rex Grossman, Cade McNown, or Peter Tom Willis -- the Bears finally had a franchise quarterback that could hang with the rest of the league. Right?Then it came time to actually play. Cutler opened with a 1-TD, 4-int performance at Green Bay , and didn?t look back, posting 26 picks and a 76.8% passer rating. Fans who thought they were getting the Bears? version of Brett Favre were right-only it was the 2006 version of Favre, not the 2007 version. Crappy quarterbacks are ubiquitous in Chicago as the Polish dog, but Cutler puts the mustard and kraut on it. But what else are the Bears gonna do at that position? Cutler may have been called a [cat] by teammate Brian Urlacher, but when your alternatives are Mike Teel, Dan LeFevour, Caleb Hanie and Bret Basanez, you pretty much need to stock up on the Feline Pine.While this may be the last stand for Jay Cutler, it is clearly the last stand for Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo. And they are going all in. The Bears have brought in Julius Peppers, Chester Taylor, and Mike Martz in their attempt to salvage Angelo and Lovie?s careers. Ideally, Peppers will make the Bears? pass rush fierce again, and with 25 sacks the past two seasons, he may in fact do that. But last season opposing QBs had a 92.3 passer rating against this defense, and the Bears have brought nobody in to help their secondary. They?ve got a guy named Alfalfa playing safety, for crying out loud. The Bears still have Gruppenführer Urlacher, of course, but what has he done lately, besides picking a fight with Gayle Sayers? Chester Taylor was a nice pickup, but now instead of sitting behind Butterfingers Peterson, he?s sitting behind Matt Forte, who seems to have a big day only when playing the Lions. Mike Martz? Yes, he is the genius behind The Greatest Show on Turf. But that offense featured the Kurt Warner Machine, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Marshall Faulk, Az Hakim. . . You get the picture. Those Rams? teams were loaded with offensive talent. The Bears? offense is loaded with Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox. No, not the clown from Jackass, the WR from Vanderbilt. The Show also had one of the best offensive lines around to give Warner plenty of time to find Bruce and Holt on their sluggo routes. The Bears? Oline put Cutler on his back 35 times, a number only Aaron Rodgers would envy. Bringing Isaac Bruce back to help coach the WRs is only going to highlight the differences between then and now. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922614/super-bowl-buzz-kill-detroit-lions.html Anybody can pick winners. We at The Hater Nation like to predict the losers. And last year, who could match our accuracy? The Hater Nation went 31 for 32 in picking teams that would not win the Super Bowl. If you read through the lines, too, you would have saw that we were secretly picking the Saints to take the whole thing.So here is the 2010 Super Bowl Buzz Kill. A feature so awesome, those (expletives) at Deadspin have blatantly ripped it off. Turns out the schmucks at the Bleacher Report did, too. Always imitated, never duplicated. Why your team won't win the Super Bowl: Detroit LionsBy BuckyYou can take the Detroit Lions away from Matt Millen, but you can?t take Matt Millen away from the Detroit Lions. . . .Yes, Millen may be gone, his dream of a roster compiled of 53 wide receivers unfulfilled. But his legacy lives on. One year after drafting their quarterback of the future in Matthew Stafford, the Lions once again selected perhaps the most prized jewel of the 2010 draft in Ndamukong Suh. The only problem is they can?t get him to show up for work. I think I?ve seen this movie before. . . .Look, compared to the Millen years, things are looking up in Detroit . At least on the football field. Then again, BP is having a better year than the Lions ever had under Millen. Even Tony Hayward thinks Millen did a lousy job.Okay, cheap shots at Millen are easy, but he hasn?t been there in several years, so we need to find new material. While I?m trying to think of something, maybe I?ll pick up a Wendy?s burger at the drive-up window. Ok, so Joe Cullen is old news as well.Things really are getting better in Detroit ; like I said, it?s hard for them not to. Stafford seems to be on his way to becoming a pretty good quarterback, and he?s got Calvin Johnson to throw to, which is more than the Bears can say about either position. The backs are Silent Bob from Clerks (no, not really) and rookie Jahvid Best. But it remains to be seen if anyone on the aging offensive line can still block.The defense has also been upgraded. Former Badger DeAndre Levy is going to be a star at LB, and the Lions have upgraded their Dline significantly with former Packer Corey Williams and (hopefully, eventually) Suh joining Kyle Vanden Bosch. Unfortunately, the secondary is dreadful, with Louis Delmas being the only player worth a damn backthere. Maybe if Matt Millen hadn?t spent so much time drafting WRs, the Lions might have someone whose coverage is tighter than Lindsay Lohan.Man, it?s not easy to find material on the Lions. It?s not easy kicking these guys when they?re down. But maybe that won?t be the case forever. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922613/super-bowl-buzz-kill-seattle-seahawks.html Anybody can pick winners. We at The Hater Nation like to predict the losers. And last year, who could match our accuracy? The Hater Nation went 31 for 32 in picking teams that would not win the Super Bowl. If you read through the lines, too, you would have saw that we were secretly picking the Saints to take the whole thing.So here is the 2010 Super Bowl Buzz Kill. A feature so awesome, those (expletives) at Deadspin have blatantly ripped it off. Turns out the schmucks at the Bleacher Report did, too. Always imitated, never duplicated. Why your team won't win the Super Bowl: Seattle SeahawksI have long been torn on the NFL coaching career of Pete Carroll. There is a misrepresentation that Carroll was some kind of bust with the Patriots but he never had a losing record. Carroll also never was given a chance with the Jets, either.However, Barry Switzer has a winning record in the NFL and he has a Super Bowl.Carroll, like Switzer, took over a team coming off a Super Bowl appearance but did not reach the ultimate prize.Is Carroll to rah-rah for the NFL? Too aloof? Maybe. But many of the players in the NFL right now either played for Carroll, or competed against him. So my guess is that Carroll has respect in the NFL. Something he did not have during his first two stints in the league.So let's put that to rest.The real questions for this team is can Matt Hasselbeck stay healthy for an entire season, and who is going to run the ball?Hasselbeck will not stay healthy. The Seahawks have already dubbed Charlie Whitehurst as the quarterback of the future. The only real question is how long it takes Charlie to get in there, and what kind of quarterback will he be?Whitehurst does have a chance to be really good. He is respected in the league, as evidenced by the somewhat steep sum the Seahawks handed over to a guy who was never going to supplant Philip Rivers.Running back is a different story. Julius Jones has never really done must, and has made Dallas regret passing on Steven Jackson for a long time. Justin Forsett is one of those guys that you will always find on the sleeper list of fantasy cheat sheets, but has never been able to translate that to the real world of football. Leon Washington, well, is he able to walk?Oh, and who is going to play receiver? Mike Williams -- yes, that Mike Williams -- is being talked about as a contributor this year. If this team does not get Vincent Jackson, as rumored, they are (expletive).I would talk about the defense here, but the only thing I really know about them is what I read on the police blotter. They are either taking PEDs, beating up girl friends or dealing drugs.Bottom line: I probably have more confidence in Carroll than most, but even if Carroll does come through, there are still a long ways away from filling in some key components of this team. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922612/super-bowl-buzz-kill-tennessee-titans.html Anybody can pick winners. We at The Hater Nation like to predict the losers. And last year, who could match our accuracy? The Hater Nation went 31 for 32 in picking teams that would not win the Super Bowl. If you read through the lines, too, you would have saw that we were secretly picking the Saints to take the whole thing.So here is the 2010 Super Bowl Buzz Kill. A feature so awesome, those (expletives) at Deadspin have blatantly ripped it off. Turns out the schmucks at the Bleacher Report did, too. Always imitated, never duplicated. Why your team won't win the Super Bowl: Tennessee TitansJeff Fisher seems like an affable fellow. Fisher looks like the kind of guy who looks like he would be fun as hell to party with. You can almost see Fisher sitting on a cooler trading barbs during a family cookout. Or maybe Fisher would be the guy who would be dragging you over to participate in a round of flip cup.So he seems like a cool guy for sure.But how does he still have a job?There was speculation that Fisher was going to be dumped by owner Bud Adams and the world went bat crap crazy. How could anybody dare think that Fisher was not the man to lead the Titans to the Super Bowl. Because, well, Fisher has led the Titans to a Super Bowl only once in his career.Fisher has had his team at or near the top of the AFC South seemingly every year, but where are the playoff wins? Take away the Titans run to the Super Bowl in 1999, and he holds a career playoff record of 2-5. That is rather Marty Schottenheimer ?like. Good regular season teams, but lousy playoff teams.So what can we expect from the Titans this year? For one, Chris Johnson will have a bad season. Look at the guys who reached 2,000 rushing yards in a season. Not one of them has topped even 1,500 yards the next year. And the touchdown numbers go way down.Vince Young still does not know how to throw the ball. And even if he did, the receivers are awful.The defense is alright, but the team has been bleeding superstars left and right. First Albert Haynesworth left to cash in with the Redskins. Now Kyle Vandenbosch is going to make the Lions legitimate. The Titans have become one of those teams that no longer keeps its established players.But Fisher is there, so it is likely that this team will be 9-7 or 10-6, but will flame out again. Just like they always do. Maybe Fisher should just wear that Gomer jersey. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922611/weak-ender-so-long-leinart.html I will admit this, there is no reason to for me to have this photo up here. None at all. Although I will say that Oliva Munn was forced to pull this photo off her website because I guess there was a copyright issue at GQ. So there you go, that sounds like a good reason to go with that here. I wish I had more for you. I know WCT is going to accuse me of taking another "vacation." But the truth is that I am working a lot. If you want to find more of my writing, you can find it if you look really hard. Other than that, enjoy the photo. The Super Bowl Buzz Kill is going into a fever pitch next week. I hope you stick around. Much love for you guys. I appreciate you stopping by. I wish I had more to say this week. I really do.But real quick, how bummed is Matt Leinart right now? If Derek Anderson is the answer, I am not sure I want to know what the question is. Where is Jeff Garcia? He has to be a better option at this point, right? I don't understand how the Cardinals have not looked to him. My guess, Leinart gets cut, and then the Cardinals find somebody else after other teams are forced to make a move. Otherwise, we could be starting the Matt Hall era. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2922610/super-bowl-buzz-kill-carolina-panthers.html Anybody can pick winners. We at The Hater Nation like to predict the losers. And last year, who could match our accuracy? The Hater Nation went 31 for 32 in picking teams that would not win the Super Bowl. If you read through the lines, too, you would have saw that we were secretly picking the Saints to take the whole thing.So here is the 2010 Super Bowl Buzz Kill. A feature so awesome, those (expletives) at Deadspin have blatantly ripped it off. Turns out the schmucks at the Bleacher Report did, too. Always imitated, never duplicated. Why your team won't win the Super Bowl: Carolina PanthersYou always hear about players in a contract year performing above expectations. Does the same go for coaches, too? Because the Panthers are going to try it with John Fox this year.Fox is in the final year of his contract and everybody seems to be making a big deal about it. But why should the Panthers be committed to a ton of money when there might not be a season in 2011.But doom and gloom aside, why should Fox be so indignant about his contract? Sure people tend to say that he is one of the best coaches in the NFL. But aside from one great year in 2003, his career has been about expectations and wild disappointments. Remember, the Panthers were the home team when the Panthers were smoked by the Cardinals in 2008.So what would the Panthers be walking away from? One good year followed by one bad? Yeah, again, I don't see why they are not breaking the bank for this guy.The Panthers do have some talent. QB Matt Moore finished really good last year. Steve Smith is brittle but is poised for a bounce back. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart look pretty good. But who knows about the defense.There has to be hope that the team will rally around Fox this year because of his contract situation. But even that seems like a stretch. Oakland Raiders - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates