The Oakland Raiders...a team rich in history. They went from punishing teams to the point where they were seen as dirty to losing so badly that the oft-used cliche: "The Laughing Stock Of The League" was theirs from appx 2005 - present. In fact, during the past several years there was a little talk that their performance had gotten so bad that the team wouldn't be able to support itself and would have to relocate and start over again.

I predicted last year that Oakland was finally on the rise. I saw flashes of promise in the Raiders' defense last year. They didn't dominate by any means, but they have good enough players that if they were to come together and play as a team they could be counted amongst the top 10 defenses in the NFL.

I have no clue what the Raiders were thinking when they threw a load of cash at Tommy Kelly. Defensive linemen aren't known for massive paychecks, and when I heard Tommy Kelly was resigned to a $50 million deal I had to ask myself, "Who is Tommy Kelly...?" This deal was astronomical and it was forked up to a player who, sadly, didn't deserve it. I can promise you that the Raiders will pay dearly for this in a few years when the production doesn't come close to the pay this man is claiming, because the money squandered on Kelly could have been used to fortify a position that's suffering. Instead it was wasted. Who is Tommy Kelly?...the envy of all the the Dwight Freeneys, John Hendersons, and Osi Umenyioras of the league. Aside from this gaffe, the Raiders have given fans reason to look forward to a positive season.

Nnamdi Asomugha may be getting some help this year. The Raiders are working on a deal with the Falcons that will give them Deangalo Hall. Hall ranks among the elite corners throughout the NFL. This move, along with the signing of Gibril Wilson (former safety of the Giants) plus Michael Huff, who's performed solidly for the Raiders for the last two years, is sure to make the defensive backfield of Oakland a formidable one. Warren Sapp retiring is upsetting, of course, but in the long run it may have been the best thing that could have happened to Oakland's line. Don't get me wrong, Warren Sapp is sure to go to the Hall of Fame but he was no longer the Warren Sapp we've come to know and love. I don't think Terdell Sands will convince anyone that he deserves the position. Defensive tackle will be addressed in the draft this year.

The offense is, in my opinion, the Raiders'

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