It would of course be a complete understatement to say that this season isn't going very well for the Raiders. I mean, it's going atrociously. But that said, I never realized it was quite THIS bad. Apparently players are quite literally on the verge of jumping ship because they're so fed up with how the season is going and how poorly the organization is being run.
Courtesy of NFL.com's Adam Schefter:
Players in Oakland are so unhappy with the environment, the losing, the instability, that many would prefer to leave. This is not entirely uncommon around a losing team, but it is more extreme in Oakland than anywhere else.
It is thought to be one reason that Nnamdi Asomugha has been so apprehensive about signing a long-term extension with Oakland, why free-agent acquisition Gibril Wilson would welcome the opportunity to get to choose a new team again, why Javon Walker considered leaving last summer (Walker offered to return his bonus money to leave the team).
Fact: It has gotten so bleak that, just this past week, at least one prominent player actually considered quitting, taking a leave of absence, just because he feels like he cannot take it anymore. He wound up not doing it, but chances are he is hardly the only Raider thinking it.
It is thought to be one reason that Nnamdi Asomugha has been so apprehensive about signing a long-term extension with Oakland, why free-agent acquisition Gibril Wilson would welcome the opportunity to get to choose a new team again, why Javon Walker considered leaving last summer (Walker offered to return his bonus money to leave the team).
Fact: It has gotten so bleak that, just this past week, at least one prominent player actually considered quitting, taking a leave of absence, just because he feels like he cannot take it anymore. He wound up not doing it, but chances are he is hardly the only Raider thinking it.
That's pretty amazing when you stop and think about. That means you're willing to give up millions of dollars so that you don't have to put up with the BS of playing for a dysfunctional team. I'm not sure about you, but I can put up with quite a lot for a few million, so I'd have to guess things are pretty bad in Oakland. Frankly, I'm amazed this team has won two games this year.
The question of course is what will it take to get this team back to at least semi-respectability? Uh, I hate to broach this subject, but most people think the only thing that'll get the Raiders back to that level will be if Al Davis retires - which won't happen - or kicks the bucket.
Because right now, it really has reached the point where not even money will lure people to Oakland. Which means that Oakland will more or less become a spot for fringe NFL players, like undrafted free agents and washed up veterans looking for an extra paycheck.
And as for getting any kind of decent coach to come to Oakland, that's completely out of the question.
Plus, it's truly remarkable that there's a team in the NFL that actually makes the Detroit Lions look like a well run franchise in comparison.
Raiders players ponder jumping ship [NFL.com] via [Fanhouse]
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