2010 NFL Hall of Fame/Preseason

Hi Gang,

I will start this blog by commenting on the 2010 Hall of Fame ceremony and game, even though the Raiders were not represented. I will try to be brief, so bear with me. I don't usually take it under consideration, but I must be getting old.

The Ceremony:
I know Jerry Rice entered the hall as a 49er, but I think it was cheap of him not to mention the Raiders (or Seahawks) as teams that helped to pad him receiving and all-purpose totals, making them virtually unreachable by anyone else. Also, he says he thinks he can still play...."So do I!" In a way, he showed that in the flag football game that was played this past Saturday.

I was never an Emmitt Smith fan, because he never played for the Raiders and the Cowboys are a rival, in my opinion. I always thought if he had not been on a team with the WR's, QB, Linemen and RB's the Cowboys had at that time, he would never have been as good nor gotten the press he received. But, he won me over. He showed, during his speech, that even he knows he is only in the HOF because of the his Cowboy teammates. It was when he had his FB stand and he publicly acknowledged him as being the biggest contributor in his career. Now, people are ripping on him for not mentioning his college, but so what! He spent 24 minutes recalling all he could of the top of his head. He, too, failed to mention the team he ended his career with...the Cardinals. He did add yards to his career totals while playing with them.

Finally, I am happy to see Chris Berman of ESPN make the NFL HOF. He gets ripped, repeatedly, by the people on ESPN radio in Las Vegas for his style of presenting highlights. I like him. He keeps things exciting and fun to watch. Has it been a long time? yes, but the only person who matches the longevity at ESPN Stewart Scott and he should be in the HOF, soon.

People all across the radio airwaves have been killing the NFL Hall of Fame game. Yes, the Bengals lost to the Cowboys, but who amongst you thought the Cowboys were going to lose when there best running back ever was enshrined this year. If you did think the Bengals would win, you should have known better, after the Bengals were called for 9 penalties in the first half. I like the HOF game. I use it the way the media does, which is for practicing for the regular season coverage. I practice my cheering and jeering of the game. That is how I use all preseason games. It is my way of getting in shape for the season.

That's all.

Now, it's almost gametime. It preseason. Get your Raider gear out of the dry cleaners, post those flags, get your game face on and start wearing your gear.

Many commentators are picking the Raiders of winning 9 games and not making the playoffs. GET REAL!!! With the team Big Al has put together, the QB Jason Campbell, the beefed up OL/DL, the strong(er) Defense and the other teams in the division imploding, the Raiders will win 12 games, the division, the conference and the Superbowl! The Chargers have given away all hope and are rebuilding. Ask Shawne Merriman. He is holding out as a free agent. He knows they are looking to the future. Ask LaDamien Thomlinson. They let him go to the Jets. The Broncos are putting their eggs on Tim Tebow. Bad move. The Chiefs...need I say more.

The Raiders have added QB Jason Campbell, who has proven he can win games in the NFL and only took 2 weeks to learn the Raiders system and is the leader the Raiders have missed at the helm for a while. He, alone, is good for 8 wins. The players are happy, this fan is happy and I am looking forward to a great Raiders 2010 season. The only weak spot in the team is the Head Coach, Tom Cable. The Raiders season will depend on how he runs the team. I still believe, while he was a good Line Coach, he is not Head Coach material. Not everyone is a Head Coach.

As you know, I do not count preseason games. This is a tradition I will never drop.

Until next week, the above is my opinion. You don't have to agree with it, just respect it.

Raider-Man, out!!!