Compiled by RaiderBeat.com Staff
EYE ON SAN DIEGO
The San Diego Chargers have shown their cards in regard to where they want to play their home games in the future.
Mark Fabiani, special counsel to the Chargers, has made it clear that the Stadium in the City of Industry, just east of Los Angeles, is a lot closer to building a stadium than anywhere in the greater San Diego Area.
The Chargers have been advertising more in Orange and Los Angeles counties, according to Fabiani, “to broaden their fan base due to the economic crisis,” but the writing is on the wall. The Chargers covet a move to Los Angeles.
The Chargers can get out of their current lease with a hefty buyout in 2011. The Raiders lease is up after the 2010 season. As farfetched as it may seem, don’t discount the idea of the Raiders moving to San Diego.
The existing stadium there is an improvement over the Oakland Coliseum, by all accounts. The Raiders wouldn’t have to share their house with a baseball team, as they do now with the Oakland A’s.
Also, thousands and thousands of Los Angeles fans who took to the Raiders during their time there in the 1980s and through the 1994 season. Plus, there wouldn’t be any real effect on the travel for teams within the AFC West.
At the very least, the threat of San Diego can be used to hold Oakland hostage to build the state-of-the-art facility that the Raiders and their fans deserve.
WE GOT YOUR LIST RIGHT HERE
Hey, how about that? Someone compiled a worst-of list, and it doesn’t involve someone employed by the Raiders, someone who used to be employed by the Raiders or someone who is on the verge of being employed by the Raiders.
The list in question is one delivered by Mike Florio, our good friend at ProFootballTalk.com, in a list of the 10 players who should retire, for one reason or other.
The list includes a handful of likely names such as Brett Favre, Deuce McAllister, Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress and Marvin Harrison.
For a minute, we were half expecting to see wide receiver Javon Walker’s name on the list. Fortunately for the Raiders and Walker, he has done a decent job of staying out of the national news for the wrong reasons this year.
Well, there was that one little incident where he informed the Raiders of this procedure he had done on his knee, something commonly referred to as an operation, without the team’s advance knowledge.
But, hey, if Walker’s assessment of his chronic knee is accurate, and he is pain-free for the first time since the start of the 2005 season and leads to improved play this season, then the Raiders can overlook Walker’s oversight, as can the Raider Nation.
LECHLER TOPS … DUH!
A panel of former NFL scouts ranked the top 10 punters in the NFL for the upcoming season. To no one’s surprise, except maybe San Diego’s Mike Scifres, Oakland’s Shane Lechler topped the list.
Interestingly, Scifres (4th) and Kansas City’s Dustin Colquitt (7th) also cracked the top 10.
QUARTERBACK CALLED OUT
A young quarterback was taken to task by a teammate for failing to recognize the importance of his role on the team and the need to work even harder than his teammates if he hopes to succeed.
Again, it wasn’t a Raider in question this time. Whew! For a second, we were expecting someone else to take a shot at Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
No, this time it is Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson feeling the heat from within the confines of his home base.
Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams said on Sirius NFL Radio that Jackson won’t reach his potential until he puts in the requisite time.
“This ain’t college no more,” Williams said. “This is the NFL. You have to put in more time than you are used to putting in. If you are putting in four hours, you have to put in eight. You have to put in more time than what he’s doing. I think if he pouts the right time in, he will be a great quarterback in the league.”
Jackson defended his work ethic but also said he would “try to turn it up a notch” this summer.
“If I play better, I won’t have to answer all these questions all the time,” Jackson said in response to criticism from within the ranks.
Vikings coach Brad Childress was quick to defend Jackson, calling him “one of the hardest-working guys” on the Vikings roster.
The Vikings have to be gentle with the feelings of all the quarterbacks on the roster, as they play footsies with is-he-or-isn’t-he (coming back) Favre.








Regarding Stadium- It’s been reported the NFL has encouraged the Raiders to explore sharing a NEW stadium with the 49ers in Santa Clara. Just like the Giants/Jets in New York, that seems to make the most sense for both teams. Also the Oakland A’s have said they are done dealing with Oakland and will leave soon, probably to San Jose. Too bad for Oakland, good for us in Santa Clara/San Jose.
Also the St. Louis RAMS might be for sale, maybe they’ll get sold and move back to LA or San Diego.
i’m watching some highlights from the raider / bronco game wk 12 last year. man the raiders look good when they work together. i’ve got some great expectations next year go raiders.
I hope the raiders stay in oakland and the a’s too.that’s where the raiders where born and that’s where they should be more then half the fans r from the bay and oakland
sd blows….go to la raiders!!!!!!!!!!!
Al Davis has allot of money invested in Javon Walker. Whether he stays out of the news or not, Oakland fans can basically see the writing on the wall. He has gone through too much and the damage is evident from his actions last year. Although this is a new year, Raidernation is only going to give him so much rope. Let’s hope Al and Cable guy do the same.
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