And The Fallout Begins ……..
Well it comes as no surprise to me that the Oakland Raiders find themselves in a mess of idiotic proportions . Team owner Al Davis for some unfathomable reason felt it necessary to fire Tom Cable after the team having swept their division now find themselves without any semblance of continuity. Many of the fans of the team feel angered by this decision but at the same they know that Al Davis marches to a beat of a very different drum. Even if he can’t hear the damn drum to begin with and this is an individual who I feel is no longer cognitive of what’s happening around him !
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Slide show .
In Cable’s place Hue Jackson will assume the position as head coach. This is a team that during the season had found a sense of purpose and direction but it’d appear that the inconsistency displayed by both Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski played its part in derailing the ambitions and hope for the Raiders this past season . Statistically the Raiders have been mid rank amongst the teams within the NFL in a number of categories but the real inherent problem has been the lack of leadership on this team. It certainly hasn’t come from the playmaking of either quarterback and even with a seasoned veteran such as Richard Seymour it would appear that his teammates weren’t always prepared to follow his example.
Nnamdi Asomugha perhaps the team’s best player on either side of the ball now finds himself perhaps on the outside looking in as the team now has rescinded all of the incentives on his record breaking contract ($45 million three year contract). Having failed to meet the incentives this season the organization has sought in part to renegotiate that deal but it appears that the player and management are now at an impasse. In failing to renegotiate the player’s deal the Raiders aren’t in a position to place the franchise tag on the player and at the same time should they seek to trade him the compensation sought by them could prove to be far too high for a number of teams around the league for the four time Pro Bowl cornerback . Oakland isn’t unlike a number of teams around the league that find themselves in something of a financial morass albeit that they fare well with the millions that they derive in revenues each season. With Asomugha being an unrestricted free agent the only alternatives that the Raiders now have will be either to seek a trade resign the cornerback to a long term contract which he and his agent will no doubt be seeking . The Raiders cannot place the franchise tag on the player in order to retain his services , so therein lies the dilemma that the Oakland Raiders now face at this juncture .
Courtesy of NFL Network
By Jason La Canofora of the NFL Network
Nnamdi Asomugha isn’t under contract with the Oakland Raiders.
Asomugha didn’t reach certain incentives this season, voiding the last year of a three-year, $45.3 million contract and making the three-time Pro Bowl cornerback an unrestricted free agent, a source with knowledge of the deal said Sunday.
Raiders senior executive John Herrera later confirmed to The Associated Press that the contract had been voided. The 2011 option was worth either $16.8 million or the amount of the quarterback franchise tag, whichever is greater.
The Raiders now must decide whether to pay big money to keep Asomugha or use it to shore up other positions.
“We have to wait on the ramifications of the new CBA to be able to move on,” Herrera told The AP.
The Raiders could have many other key free agents this offseason, depending on the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour, safety Michael Huff, cornerback Stanford Routt, tight end Zach Miller, left guard Robert Gallery and running back Michael Bush are among the Raiders’ other potential free agents.
Entering this season, Asomugha had to participate in more plays or boost his interception, fumble recovery or sack totals from their 2009 levels to pick up the last year of the contract. But Asomugha played in just 14 games — two less than 2009 — because of an ankle injury, and he didn’t post an interception, a fumble recovery or a sack. He also had 19 tackles, 15 fewer than last season.
The Raiders can’t use their franchise tag on Asomugha, who will be 30 next season, because of another clause in the contract, which the cornerback signed in February of 2009. Asomugha was paid $28.5 million in the first two years of the deal.
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It remains to be seen how this situation will work itself between the player and the organization will come to a satisfactory conclusion. I’ve no doubt that Asomugha can still contribute to this team as he has done since his entry into the NFL some 7 years ago . Since then this perennial Prow Bowler has been one the main constants for this team and he has drawn the admiration of his peers and coaches alike around the NFL .
I’d repeatedly said at the time the moment that team President Mike Holmgren sought to retain Eric Mangini as the team’s coach until his firing this season I felt that the Cleveland Browns simply had no idea what the hell they were doing. For two mercilessly uninspiring seasons Mangini simply ran this team into the ground .
Now Holmgren has to constitute a wide ranging search for a candidate whom he feels can successfully resurrect the fortunes of this franchise. I’ve no doubt that the search will be widespread and will be amongst a number of candidates that Holmgren will look to interview . Jon Gruden , Bill Cowher and Mike Mularkey are names that come to mind and I’ve no doubt that with the recent hiring of Jim Harbaugh as coach of the San Francisco 49ers Mike Holmgren will look amongst the college ranks .And amongst those who may well gauged as to their interest may well be Les Miles of LSU , Chris Petersen of Boise State and Chip Kelly of Oregon . But the feeling is that many of these coaches mentioned within the college ranks might just be happy to remain with the programs that they’ve built up over the years.
Courtesy of NFL.com
Falcons OC Mularkey offers no details after Browns interview
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey doesn’t know the Cleveland Browns’ time frame for hiring a new coach following his recent interview with the team.
That was about all Mularkey would acknowledge publicly about his candidacy in Cleveland. He interviewed Saturday with Browns team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert.
“I’m going to move on from commenting about that,” Mularkey said Sunday. “I’ll move on to anything else you want to talk about.”
Mularkey, who is helping the Falcons prepare for a home playoff game Saturday, hopes to become an NFL head coach for the second time. He had a 14-18 record with the Buffalo Bills in 2004 and 2005.
Mularkey canceled an interview with the Denver Broncos last week. He isn’t sure if the Browns will request a second interview, but Mularkey was adamant that his primary focus is the Falcons’ next game.
“I just know this has been very important to me,” he said. “It’s important to our team. I’m not sure when a decision is coming down.”
NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi confirmed that St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, the first candidate to interview, is the Browns’ front-runner.
In his first three seasons with Atlanta, Mularkey has helped quarterback Matt Ryan become a burgeoning star. Ryan was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 after the Falcons drafted him No. 3 overall.
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There’s no denying that some pieces are in place for the Browns but in reality what they’ve lacked over the years has been leadership from the upper echelons within this famed franchise and the fact the coaching if anything has been mediocre at best ! Whoever assumes the reins of this team will have to go about their job with a great deal of expediency but at the same they will have realize that time is of the essence trying to achieve any modicum of success and that’s what will be asked of the successor to Eric Mangini. Chances are that the person assuming this position will now be put on a great of pressure to succeed.
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In this Oct. 31, 2010, file photo, Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (21) warms up before an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif. Asomugha’s record $45.3 million, three-year contract with the Raiders was voided when the Pro Bowl cornerback failed to reach incentives in improved number of plays, interceptions, fumble recoveries or sacks. AP Photo/Paul Sakuma …….
Indianapolis Colts running back Dominic Rhodes , center, is tackled by Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (21) , safety Tyvon Branch (33), safety Michael Huff , left, linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, second from right, and defensive tackle John Henderson (79) in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez ….
OAKLAND, CA ,. Nnamdi Asomugha (21) of the Oakland Raiders sits on the bench during the closing minutes of their loss to the Miami Dolphins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images ………
In this Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, photo, Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable waves goodbye after a news conference at the NFL football team’s headquarters in Alameda, Calif. The Raiders informed Cable on Tuesday that they will not bring him back as coach next season even though he led them to their best record in eight years this season. AP Photo/Paul Sakuma ………
Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson watches warmups for the Raiders’ NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. The San Francisco 49ers were given permission Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, to talk to Jackson about their head coach opening. Raiders senior executive John Herrera confirmed the request. However Jackson would be confirmed the Raiders’ head coach with the abrupt firing of the then incumbent Tom Cable by team owner Al Davis . AP Photo/Don Wright ……….
In happier times the view from the bridge was a welcoming one ….. not so much now as former head coach Tom Cable (left) was abruptly fired by Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis (right) even after Cable’s team swept the AFC West division during the 2010 season . The team would finish with an 8-8 record missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season . AP Photo / Carl McGovern ……….
Wearing his ring from winning Super Bowl XXXI as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren talks to the media hours after the team fired head coach Eric Mangini, at the Browns’ training facility in Cleveland on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011. AP Photo/Amy Sancetta ……..
Then head coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns watches his team against the Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 27, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. It was reported that the Cleveland Browns fired head coach Eric Mangini after a 5-11 record in his second losing season with the Browns January 3, 2011. Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images ……
Atlanta Falcons receiver Harry Douglas (83), offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey (center)and quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrate during NFL football training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga., Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010. It’d appear that Mularkey is one of the candidates that Browns’ President is said to be interested in interviewing for the vacant head coach’s position with the Cleveland Browns . AP Photo/Paul Abell ……..
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey , left, barks out instructions during NFL football training camp, in Flowery Branch, Ga. The Denver Broncos will interview Mularkey for their vacant head coaching position this week, the team announced via its official Twitter account on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. AP Photo/John Amis …….
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Picture gallery for your perusal.
What thoughts if any do you have with regards to the ongoing fallout that’s now taking place as to the managerial upheavals within the NFL ? Also what conclusions if any do you believe will come from the situation now involving the Oakland Raiders’ Nnamdi Asomugha ? Simply chime with a comment as to your thoughts on the topics raised and your and that of the NFL at present as you view it ?
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Weekend scores & results .
As a bye note I’d just like to put this out there to the “idiot” who made the statement that Matt Cassel is the best quarterback in the NFL that has been produced by USC . Given Cassel’s display against in the team’s 30-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens let’s just say that Cassel much like his USC peers who are now playing the position in the NFL aren’t good enough to wear jock itch much less strap on a set of cleats and call themselves quarterbacks in the NFL . Matt Cassel , Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer collectively just aren’t that good by any stretch of the imagination. The trio are merely a bunch of over-hyped so called wannabe’s and ’til they prove that they’re good enough to be amongst the elite of the NFL please stop with dumb ass prognostications ?
No one start to ride on the Mel Kiper bandwagon but that guy has had more misses than hits over the years never mind the fact that much of the time he merely cites these players . because he’s suborned to do so by his association with the players’ agents rather than him gauging these players through his own observations. Plainly and succinctly what Kiper puts out there simply isn’t worth the time of day !
Alan aka tophatal …………………………..
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Eye candy ……. Vanessa Wilson . Tasty eh ?
Any problems with this particular position ?
Well Vanessa I like what it is you’re showing off baby ! And I trust my patrons do as well ?
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