May 10, 2013; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Armonty Bryant (95) is seen through a video camera viewfinder during a press conference at rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

While gathering information for JaMarcus Russell and his tryout with the Chicago Bears, I glossed over a little story about Russell and a blank DVD. I stopped and finally read that story and it if HILARIOUS!

Here is how the story goes:

JaMarcus Russell had the rep from the coaches in Oakland as being a fat lazy pig that wasn’t studying game tape and really didn’t care about crap except for collecting that paycheck (or something like that). The coaches wondered if he even checked out the game tapes when he went home. To test their suspicion, they sent him home with a blank DVD and wanted to see what his reaction.

He came back the next day and said that the game plan looked good!

AMAZEWORLD!

That game plan looks good to me too. What’s the game plan?

It’s like that moment in Kung Fu Panda when the big fat Panda finds out what the secret ingredient to his dad’s secret ingredient soup is. IT IS NOTHING! There is no secret ingredient AND there is no game plan. People are just supposed to think he is special because we say so!

BLANK DVDs. I got that game plan down!

Simply joyous.

The former 4th overall pick in the 1998 draft returns to Oakland where he spent the first 8 years of his career before moving over to Green Bay.  Woodson spent 7 years with Green Bay, winning a Super Bowl title in 2010.  He had possibly his best year as a pro in 2009 when he won Defensive Player of The Year.

Woodson will be looked upon to help mold 2013 1st round pick D.J. Hayden.  Woodson is likely to slide right into the vacant spot left by Michael Huff at safety. This move is sure to conjure up feelings of past success for Raider fans as Woodson was a key player in the Raiders run to Super Bowl XXXVII.

1.  His last name is Wilson – You know Matt Flynn is waking up in a pile of cold sweat screaming “Wilson!!!” every night.  The minute the Raiders drafted Wilson, Flynn was doomed to see the past repeat itself.

2.  Wilson has the tools – Before this trepid 2012 season at Arkansas in which the poor kid lost his head coach and QB guru, Bobby Petrino, he was headed for a 1st round selection and possible 1st overall selection.  The “Hair” himself, Mel Kiper Jr., had him pegged as a 1st round guy before the season.  Take a  look at his junior year statistics via ArkansasRazorbacks.com and you will be reminded why he was talked about so highly, “ 277-of-438 passing for 3,638 yards and 24 touchdowns with six interceptions, becoming just the second Razorback in school history to pass for 3,000 yards in a season.”  All against the heralded SEC defenses.  Consider this, from his NFL.com draft profile: ” Wilson was unable to improve upon his junior season for a myriad of reasons, including the loss of his head coach, the departure of his three favorite receivers, and a sub-par offensive line.”  Hard to find a QB anywhere that wouldn’t struggle after losing all that he did.

3.  Oakland has nothing to lose – The Raiders have been pegged as the worst team in the league for this coming season.  They lack talent across the board.  Why not develop a young guy with potential?  As a fan I would much rather watch a young guy develop than a career backup lead us to a 4-12 record and leave the team about where we started.  Another AFC team, the Broncos, went through this with the Orton and Tebow dilemma 2 years ago.  Broncos fans were dying to see Tebow play and find out if they had anything in him.  They knew what Orton’s ceiling was, they wanted to see what Tebow could do given the opportunity.

4.  Young Coaches – With the young coaching staff of Dennis Allen, Greg Olson (O-Coordinator) and John Defilippo (QB’s) you know they want to attach themselves to a high ceiling guy they can put their fingerprints on as oppose to a guy who has been developed by other coaching staffs.  This staff would have the opportunity to start fresh with Wilson.

5.  Recent Rookie QB Success – The learning curve for rookie quarterbacks has sharply declined due to the offenses in the NFL going to the spread and the difficulty of the college offenses going up.  Offensive coordinators and coaches have helped by morphing the offense to match the QB’s skills (see RGIII and Russell Wilson).  Having played in the SEC and under Bobby Petrino he should have a firm grasp of NFL terminology and a strong understanding of NFL style defenses.

All of these reasons might not be needed as Tyler Wilson might just be the most talented QB on the Raiders roster.  But as I stated at the start of this article it is fluff season and the Raiders need any bit of news to get excited for the up-coming season.  So, speak to me Raider fans, who do you want to see lead the Silver and Black in 2013?

Note:  Purposely didn’t mention Terrell Pryor as I think he will end up being 3rd string…

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Charles Woodson (21) celebrates a play during the fourth quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Woodson has struggled to find a home since parting ways with the Green Bay Packers earlier this offseason. But he now has at least one offer on the table ensuring he will play in the NFL this season.

Ian Rappoport tweeted:

“Charles Woodson update, via agent Carl Poston. He plans on visiting #Raiders on Tuesday. He received an offer from #Broncos, is still open”

It makes you wonder though why he hasn’t immediately signed that offer with the Broncos. They are a winning NFL team that could position him to make another run at the Super Bowl. He does have emotional ties with the Oakland Raiders having played the majority of his career in the bay area.

But for a player who’s career is winding down you’d think that another Super Bowl ring and a Ray Lewis like ending to his career would be the goal.

Of course having already won a Super Bowl ring an ending with the team that he started with is desirable as well.

Either way it looks like he could be headed to the AFC west for sure.

Nov 11, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet awaits use prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M

With the #12 pick in the NFL Draft the Oakland Raiders have selected D.J. Hayden out of Houston.

They need help in their secondary and this is exactly what they will get with D.J. Hayden. A speedy corner, who played wide receiver in high school, is a good coverage corner.

Good pick up by the Oakland Raiders, should have a great rookie season with this team.

The New York Jets are once again on the clock.

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Despite all this friendly rhetoric and the arrow pointing up on a bounce-back season for the former Arkansas star, Darren McFadden told the San Jose Mercury News that he and the Raiders are not talking about a contract extension. The Raiders would of course be wise to wait until McFadden bounces back before giving the 25-year-old RB a long-term deal. The injuries are of special concern there, because toughness doesn’t fully correlate with the severity of the injury.

Here is what McFadden told the Mercury News, ”We haven’t talked about anything. I’m a Raider right now and I’m playing football and preparing for the season. That’s all I can do.”

McFadden seems to have the right mind-set going into the 2013 season, because he stated that he wants to forget about the disaster that was the 2012 season. With a better offensive coordinator in the fold in Greg Olson (more importantly, one who is less stubborn and willing to mold a scheme around his players) and reportedly better health, the ingredients are in the stew for a bounce-back season that would see Run DMC once again clear five yards per carry and possibly 1,000 yards- that depends on how healthy he is. The Raiders aren’t going to throw money and a long-term deal at a player who missed 13 games over the past two seasons. And even though what happened to him in 2012 was mostly not his fault, McFadden did average 3.3 yards per carry at the end of the day- that doesn’t warrant talk of an extension.

Right now, McFadden is making a hefty $5.8 million in the final year of his rookie deal, so this is definitely a make-or-break year for McFadden. There are rumblings that he could be traded, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. In fact, I highly doubt it, because it sounds like the Raiders want to keep him around for his contract year and see if he can bounce back and hit 1,100+ yards again.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Nov 11, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet awaits use prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M

But according to a tweet from Daniel Jeremiah, there is a “lot of buzz” that the Raiders will take an offensive tackle (specifically, a left tackle) with their first-round pick. The Raiders hold the third pick in the draft, and that would mean Eric Fisher would be the pick for the Raiders there. This draft will likely have the top three tackles all off the board by pick number seven, and it is impossible to envision Lane Johnson falling out of the top ten.

The Raiders could use an upgrade at right tackle, so they could just draft Fisher and play him at right tackle. What intrigues me, though, is that Jeremiah’s tweet specifically stated “LT” as the position on the line. Are the Raiders somehow disappointed in the way Veldheer is coming along? Now that’s also impossible to envision. He smashed the incentive triggers laid out for him in 2012, and Veldheer is on his way to potentially becoming one of the top ten tackles in the league.

It is far more likely to see the Raiders take defensive tackle Star Lotuelelei or Sharrif Floyd- depending on whom they view as the better prospect. Jeremiah notes that the Raiders taking an OT would mean that Floyd would end up falling, and that could benefit a team like the Carolina Panthers if Floyd falls far enough.

This isn’t the first time we have heard rumblings of the Raiders potentially taking an offensive tackle with the third pick in the draft, but I think it’s more likely that they trade down than take a tackle. A defensive tackle makes sense for the Raiders, but an offensive tackle (if they strictly want to play him at left tackle) would make little sense. If they do take Fisher with the intent being to play him at RT, would he be open to that? To be honest, I think he would. They say you don’t take a tackle high in the draft to play him on the right side, but I say “screw it” if the guy is good enough.

Whew, lots of semantics to keep up with. What are your thoughts on draft strategy as it relates to the offensive tackle position, Raiders fans? Let your voice be heard in the comments.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Dec 18, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Detailed view of an Oakland Raiders helmet on the field before the game against the Detroit Lions at O.co Coliseum. Detroit defeated Oakland 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders are coming off a 4-12 season finishing 3rd in the AFC West. They have brought in a few new faces and have gotten rid of some familiar ones.

Recently they have traded for former Green Bay Packer and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn, who signed a 3 year deal with the Seahawks in hopes of finally being a starter in the National Football League.

Depending on the way their quarterback situation looks like, in my opinion, I see Matt Flynn starting, they might struggle again to finish .500. They do have a tough schedule, I believe one of the toughest schedules in the league, so don’t expect too much out of the Oakland Raiders this season, look more towards the future.

They have the #3 overall pick in the draft so look for them to pick up a defensive player who could either at tackle or linebacker, where they waived Rolando McClain who signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

• Sep. 8 at Indianapolis Colts 10:00a
• Sep. 15 Jacksonville Jaguars 1:25p
• Sep. 23 at Denver Broncos (Mon) 5:40p
• Sep. 29 Washington Redskins 1:25p
• Oct. 6 San Diego Chargers 1:25p
• Oct. 13 at Kansas City Chiefs 10:00a
• Oct. 20 BYE 
• Oct. 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 1:05p
• Nov. 3 Philadelphia Eagles 1:05p
• Nov. 10 at New York Giants 10:00a
• Nov. 17 at Houston Texans 10:00a
• Nov. 24 Tennessee Titans 1:05p
• Nov. 28 at Dallas Cowboys (Thurs) 1:30p
• Dec. 8 at New York Jets 10:00a
• Dec. 15 Kansas City Chiefs 1:05p
• Dec. 22 at San Diego Chargers 1:25p
• Dec. 29 Denver Broncos 1:25p

Dec 30, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn (15) warms up before a game against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

When Carson Palmer was on his way out of Oakland, it looked like Terrelle Pryor was going to inherit the role. Then the Oakland Raiders traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn and instantly creating a quarterback competition in the Bay area.

But Flynn, who lost the job last year to rookie Russell Wilson, isn’t afraid of a little competition.

“I want everything that I get to be earned. I don’t wanna be given anything. I love competition; I love doing that whole deal. I really do,” Flynn said, via Sports Radio Interviews. “I feel like I thrive on it and play better with it.”

While losing the starting job to a undersized rookie last season could have shaken his confidence, Flynn says it serves as motivation for the future.

“I want that more now. It’s lit a hotter fire under my tail, so it’s something that I’m gonna give it 100 percent.”

He was asked if it is tough to overcome having one year of college experience as a starter, and only a few NFL games under his belt.

“I don’t look at it that way. I have found a way to develop myself as a player by watching and making the most of every rep that I’ve gotten, whether it’s in practice or whether it’s in the game,” Flynn said.

“Definitely there’s an experience level that comes with it that you can’t gain by being in practice and stuff, but I don’t look at it as saying, ‘Wow, this is gonna be a tough job.’ … I look at it as an exciting opportunity that I have to come in here and compete. I get to come in here and compete to be the starter, and what an opportunity that is.”

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M – The A&M product is a sure fire hit at Kansas City’s biggest position of need.  They can interchange him with Eric Fisher as many draft analysts say, but Joeckel has the experience over Fisher blocking some of the best defensive linemen in this draft from his play in the SEC.  Fisher’s draft was eye popping, but then again so was Dontari Poe’s.  Do you think Kansas City would pick Poe over Michael Brockers, Bruce Irvin or Chandler Jones if they had a time machine?

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon – This is a toughie, Jaguars need a pass rusher and have the pick of the litter.  They’re a team that takes a player solely based on draft stock (see Blaine Gabbart and Justin Blackmon).  I think Dion Jordan will have the highest stock of the edge pass rushers for the Jags and will be the first one in a few years to actually earn their GM a pat on the back.

3. Oakland Raiders –  Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida – Like the Chiefs, Oakland has a choice here at the best 2 interior linemen in Floyd and Lotulelei.  They choose the safer pick in Floyd here, who like Joeckel, has the SEC experience to go with his monstrous gameplay (how many Pac12 O linemen are 1^st or 2^nd round prospects this year?).  Oakland needs to make a safe pick here, they’ve done some crazy things in the past (drafting Jamarcus Russell over Darrelle Revis, Patrick Willis, Calvin Johnson, Marshawn Lynch – also trading the house for Carson Palmer).  It’s time they get conservative and build back their franchise as safely as possible.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama – The Eagles have a choice of getting 3 potential superstars in 3 positions of need here: Dee Milliner, Eric Fisher and Ezekiel Ansah.  Cornerback is by far the most glaring need for them and Milliner is the crown jewel of this class who can become a Joe Haden or Patrick Peterson like cornerstone to the Philadelphia defense.

5. Detroit Lions – Eric Fisher, T, Central Michigan - The Lions need help badly on their offensive line.  Although they did just draft Riley Reiff in the first round last year, rumor has it that they’re thinking about moving him to guard.  The Lions can’t pass up the opportunity to put an end to their O-Line woes.  They take Eric Fisher here to help protect Matthew Stafford so that he can get the ball to Calvin Johnson next season.

6. New Orleans Saints (Trade with Browns) – Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah – The Saints trade up to fill that missing piece at NT in their new 3-4 defense with Utah’s defensive standout, Star Lotulelei.  The Saints currently do not have a true nose tackle and need someone who can come in and immediately make an impact.  Lotulelei may do this and more, he can be the guy to anchor New Orleans’ brand new defensive scheme next season.

7. Arizona Cardinals – Lane Johnson – T, Oklahoma - The Cardinals decide to sit out a year on drafting a QB by pulling the trigger on Carson Palmer.  They now have a QB worthy of getting Fitzgerald the ball.  They still need major help blocking for him.  When every single player in the Cardinals back field got injured at some point last season, it’s a sign you go offensive tackle in the 1st.  Lane Johnson is one of the most athletic in this class and give Carson Palmer that much needed protection this season.

8. Buffalo Bills – Cordarralle Patterson – WR, Tennessee – The Bills decide to give Kolb a shot rather than go for Geno.  They bank on the best looking WR in the draft in Cordarrelle Patterson.  This way, when they do sign their next franchise QB, he’ll already have his weapons to throw to.

9. New York Jets – Ezekiel Ansah, OLB/DE, BYU – The Jets have so many choices at #9, but with Ziggy Ansah and Dion Jordan gone and Eric Fisher falling, the smartest move is to pull the trigger on a lineman many considered to be worthy of a #1 overall pick.  A quintessential step in the rebuilding of the Jets.  Eric Fisher will immediately bring their below average offensive line to one of the best in the NFL with Mangold and Ferguson at center and left tackle.  Fisher could play right and eventually replace Ferguson at left, while Ducasse, Howard, Colon and possibly a later round pick can rotate at guard.  Now whoever wins the battle at QB, will have time to relax and throw the ball and Mike Goodson whose always been great at finding the right holes can have his best NFL season yet.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, G, Alabama – The Titans whose greatest need may be at Guard have the opportunity to sign the best guard in the draft and a surefire starter.  He’ll give Chris Johnson the help he’s been complaining about not having in the run game and can help Jake Locker stay off the injury reserve list immediately.

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