Cable on Gradkowski "he looked really good" - never heard him say anything like that about Russell. Actually, it's bitter sweet to tell the truth. As much as I rip on Russell, I want him to succeed. I hope he learns from this somehow and finds a work ethic. He probably should have been pulled weeks ago. Here's hoping we are 1) better under Gradkowski and 2) Russell learns something.

Go Raiders

Welcome to Alex Smith country, JaMarcus. Funny thing about this league- you have to kinda work at it, no matter how much talent you have.

IM NOT HERE TO PRAISE BRUCE BECAUSE HE HASNT EARNED IT YET BUT IM REALLY HOPING TO HEAR ABOUT HIM AND SCHILENS ON ALOT OF CONNECTIONS... IF HE COULD HAVE ALIL MORE VISION AND GET THE BALL TO MILLER OR MY BOY SCHILENS THINGS WILL BE ALOT BETTER FOR US...

If Grad fails, Frye should get a shot against the bungals. Neither seem to be the answer in the long run but its about winning. Putting in JR is not going to do any good. He needs to sit, let it soak in that he sucks, work his tail off and get better . I do believe that game reps are needed, but for some reason it seems to be WAY over his head. You can't play QB in the NFL on instincts alone. Especially as slow and dimwitted this guy seems to be.

OK so we desperately want to win but I think it's more important Bruce puts the ball in the right places and just shows that even with average QB play this team is making progress. I get a feeling that our receivers will look a whole lot better this week.

I'm not convinced that even with a personality transplant and new work ethic Russell would be transformed. Accuracy is his biggest problem especially outside of the hashmarks. When you've thrown the ball tens of thousands of times like he has and you cant put it in the right area that's a long term concern. Is losing 20lbs and working his tail off going to solve that underlying problem? Agreed it'll help but I just dont see it changing anything.

To make the perfect Raiduh cake you must have the right ingredients.
1/3 cup Stellar Vertical Threat Brand Offense
1/3 cup Run Stuffing Brand Defense
1/3 cup Pin Your Ears Back Brand Special teams
1 Split with each divisional opponent
5 non-division wins
1 Wildcard Win
1 Divisional Play-off Win
1 AFC Championship Win
1 Superbowl Win
Optional MVP as Sprinkles

Preheat oven to Just Win degrees. Place ingredients in mixing bowl and stir with committment to excellence to an even 9-7 record. Pour 9-7 record into paired set of greased wildcard and divisional playoff baking pans. Bake until proud and poised. Remove from oven and let cool on AFC Championship platter. Invite friends and family to Super Icing Party. Ice perfect Raiduh cake with Swagger and Mystique. Send condolences that there just wasn't to go around to donkey and bolt fans.

Actual 2009 cake.

2 Cups Draft (Substitute for 1/3 cup offense):
1/3 from 2007 can Jamarcus Brand (fatty and rancid)
1/3 from 2008 can McFumble's Finest (dropped on floor, injured, now slowed by stale swagger spilled from last year's cake)
1/3 from 2009 DHB brand (minute brand reconstituted, mixes fast, tastes crappy)

Same tired D (sub for new d-scheme with high draft pick tackle)
1/3 Free agent Ellis Brand baking mix (Delish!)
1/3 Trade Seymour Brand Starch (Thickens Line for consistency!)
1/3 John Marshal Surprise Brand Yeast (Raise performance)
2 Cups Al Davis Brand Aged 4-3 D (contaminated with meal bugs, removes flavor, loosens batter and negates yeast)

1/4 teaspoon special teams bullion

Put in bowl and stir until offense mixture removes all possibility of a divisional win. Continue stirring until Davis Brand defensive ingredients blow nondivisional record saving possibilities with consecutive blow outs. Watch as 1/4 teaspoon of Lechler/Seabass Special teams mix disappears into the now stinking mess. Having stirred to a 2-6 record, divide the batter and hope that what you poured off will resurrect a playoff glimmer. Drop bowl trying to get baking pans out of cabinet during the bye cause your hands have DHB mix on them and can't hold onto a damn thing. Go back to 2-6 mix and pour only to see that 2-6 turned bad in the bowl and is now 2-7.

Put in oven to forget. Realize you invited every one you know (using an overhead projector) to come to big a huge 10-6 party and celebrate your cake making skills.

Put house on market and wait for 2010 draft ingredient brochures as though it would matter. Return to oven and remove 2-14 cake fresh from the oven with additional beatings from the rest of the NFL schedule that includes a Thanksgiving day Em-Bare-Ass-Mint topping for additional grief. Figure out you are a "Raiduh Fan" for life and eat crap cake until Feb 2010. Get fat on losses and start over.

Awesome post. One day that cake will be soooo sweet.