This is exactly what the NFL feared. Stick a franchise in Las Vegas? Are you kidding me? Of course, not.
As we have learned, there is no rationalization the league won’t make, no chance it won’t take, if there’s a chance to cram more money in The Shield. After years of treating Vegas like the Sin City it is, after droning on about the perils of having a franchise in that environment, the NFL agreed to let the Raiders move to L.A.
Just roll the dice, baby, Al Davis would say these days.
Thus far, the Raiders have crapped out – kind of.
They did make the playoffs last season but at what cost?
- The head coach at the start of the season, Jon Gruden, was found to be a homophobe and misogynist.
- Former first-round draft choice, WR Henry Ruggs III, stands accused of killing a woman in a car crash.
- Another former first-round draft choice, CB, Damon Arnette, was released and is out of the league, having also been cut by the Dolphins and Chiefs. He is trouble in shoulder pads.
- Still another first-round pick, tackle Alex Leatherwood, was recently cut.
But like we said, the Raiders made the playoffs, so all manner of sin is forgiven?
The Raiders need all the stability they can get. They play in what might the toughest division in football – the AFC West – along with the Broncos, Chargers, and Chiefs.
- They have a new coach in Josh McDaniels, former offensive coordinator of the Patriots and failed head coach of the Broncos.
- They have a veteran quarterback in Derek Carr, who is coming off a fourth straight season of passing for more than 4,000 yards.
- They traded for Green Bay’s Davante Adams, one of the league’s best receivers, to pair with Carr.
- And they should have a very good defense, especially with ends Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones getting after quarterbacks.
Are the Raiders a playoff team? It’s a risky bet (sorry, couldn’t resist.) The players need to adjust to a new staff. Carr and Adams need to adjust to each other. And, as mentioned, the division is a beast, especially with the Broncos adding QB Russell Wilson.
Perhaps more important for the long-term benefit for this franchise is stability rather than another season of ultimate dysfunction followed by a one-and-done postseason (the Raiders lost 26-19 at Cincy). That wouldn’t be the worst sin.
BET BETTER WITH BETBASICS: Maxx Crosby, whose motor only knows overdrive and “Floor It,” had eight sacks last season. Now he has a legitimate Robin to his Batman. Jones had 10.5 sacks last season with the Cardinals, his seventh season with double digit sacks. He’s an upgrade over Yannick Ngakoue, who had 10 or more sacks for only the second time in his career
And the Raiders improved the back end by trading Ngakoue to the Colts for CB Rock Ya-Sin. This defense should be competitive in a division with QBs Wilson, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes.
We like Crosby to post double digits in sacks. What we don’t like is Carr’s decision-making. He’s thrown 10 or more picks in five of eight seasons. Yet he’s only thrown 30 or more touchdowns once.
We’re taking Crosby with more than 10.5 sacks, Carr to throw more than +14.5 picks and the Raiders to not make the postseason.
ACE IN THE HOLE: One of the most overlooked rookies in the league last season was linebacker Nick Bolton, a 5-foot-11, 237-pound hit machine who had 112 tackles. If not for a certain linebacker by the name of Micah Parsons, Bolton would have been the rave, especially considering he was a second-round pick.
Bolton is only going to build on that rookie season. We’re setting the over/under for Bolton at 130 tackles and taking the over. Way over.
MUST-WATCH TV: We have no empathy, at all, for franchises that move around like Peaky Blinder gypsies. The Rams chewed and screwed the great fans in St, Louis.
When the Raiders, also guilty of mover’s no remorse, come to town on Dec. 8th, there will be just as much, if not more, black and silver in SoFi Stadium than blue and gold. There also will be Cosby and Aaron Donald going after QBs that are not very mobile. Must watch.