05-17-12 10:03 pm pac

Photo Thearon Henderson / Getty Images                                                       #55 MLB Rolando McClain

So many questions now that 3rd year Oakland MLB Rolando McClain has been found guilty on all charges relating to a fight which involved gun play attributed to McClain.

Will he stay?

Will he play?

Its too early to tell if the bell tolls for McClain's career in Oakland but his alledged victim isn't the only one with a runging in his ears.

DITCHING AND OPTION?

Of course some came out calling for McClain's head or at least a one way ticket out of town.

In case you were wondering if that was even a possibility.

It is.

 Paul Guiterrez of CSNbayarea.com:

"According to figures obtained by CSNCalifornia.com, Oakland would save $1.22 million against the cap this season but absorb a $7.26-million cap hit in 2013. Sounds like a lot, but McClain is already due to have a cap number of $6.675 million next year, so it would only be $585,000 more in dead money. Beyond that, the Raiders would be free from paying him a combined $13.445 million in base salaries through 2015 ($970,000 this season, $4.005 million in 2013, $5.805 million in 2014, $2.665 million in 2015).

In theory, in the long run, you save money, but theres no denying the massive over sight TWICE by the recently dismissed Raider scouting department.

Granted, Mr. Davis pulled the trigger and inked the deals but the glaring character whiff on Jamarcus Russell should've served as a warning but the fact McClain's mother was diagnosed  with a severe mental disorder, threatened to kill him and has been arrested several times did not take McClain off Oaklands wish list.

Nor did the fact McClain's father has an arrest record as well.

Nor did the fact Oakland probably knew about the assault case McClain was involved in while at Alabama. (A case he recently settled for reportedly $70,000.)

None of these red flags deterred Davis from using the Raiders 2010 8th overall pick on the checkered but promising 6-4, 255 lb Crimson tide thumper. 

McClain's been blasted for his under productive career so far, over running plays, shooting the wrong gap, giving up too easily on plays and yes, he hasn't been the dynamic game changing force Oakland envisioned when they gave him a $40 million dollar contract but he has been hampered by a bad knee since his rookie year and a twice twisted ankle last season he played on.

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY...AGAIN

The plan now is for McClain to go to jury trial and try to over turn his 180 day jail sentence. 

A jury trial could mean a rescheduling after the season is over which could in turn mean McClain would still be presumed innocent until proven guilty. That doesn't necessarily mean McClain is free from League or even Oakland sanction.

According to the new CBA the maximum McClain could be banned would be four games but again, would McClain be punished for charges he is contesting?

One thing is clear, McClain's mess isn't going anywhere any time soon. Even after the eventual trial outcome, civil litigation could take years.

Not exactly the new era player new GM Reggie McKenzie had in mind but if McClain stays and plays on can only hope hes healthy, focused and unarmed.

  

04-24-12 1:35 pm pac               
Photo Christian Gooden / Post Dispatch                                                                               Joey Clinksdale

Sal Paolantonio wrote earlier today:

“The New York Jets and their top college-talent evaluator will likely part ways in the coming weeks, sources stated on Tuesday, creating a cloud of uncertainty in the organization as it prepares for a critical draft later this week.

Joey Clinkscales, the Jets’ vice president of college scouting since 2008, has drawn interest from the Oakland Raiders, sources said. A final decision hasn’t been made, but some believe there will be a mutual parting, with Clinkscales leaving for what would appear to be a lateral move to work under new Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie.

Clinkscales interviewed for St. Louis Rams’ GM vacancy earlier in the offseason. In 2008, he interviewed for the same position with the Dolphins.

McKenzie and Clinkscales were College team mates at Tennessee in 1980 and have remained good friends."

There have been some serious clunkers under Clinkscales command including adonis mega bust Vernon Gholston who walked with zero production and $20 mill guaranteed.

In fact, Paolantonio also points out:

"Over the last three years, the Jets were active in the trade market and drafted only 13 players, including four current starters. No draft pick since Revis (drafted in 2007) has made a Pro Bowl."

Thats not exacly a stellar record to be coming off of but IF this does come to pass and Joey Clinkscales comes aboard, lets hope Reggie's gut is the one making the final decisions and that Clinker is merely there to gather, sort data and facilitate trades.

04-23-12: 7:24 pm pac

Photo / Getty Images North America                                                                           FB/WR Marcel Reece

Though there is no official word on who attended last week and this weeks phases one and two of the new CBAs off season program but IBA reporter Steve Corkran did his home work and discovered 50 Raiders who were caught on film attending.

Veteran Richard Seymour is a bit of a surprise non-surprise with his attendance at the voluntary work outs. He is getting $15 million for this season, but those who've read our pages know that Seymour's acquistion more than any other is rseponsible for turning around a Raider culture of losing that plagued them more than half a decade.

Seymour is a HOF, 4 Super Bowl ring having example of what every Raider wants to be. If they don't, Reggie will sniff them out soon enough.

Among those not attending were SS Tyvon Branch (still working a long term deal/yet to sign franchise tag, DT Tommy Kelly (we're pretty sure. He's kind of hard to hide...) and FB Marcel Reece.

Corkran had this to say about Reece's absence:

“Reece’s absence isn’t a surprise, given he hasn’t signed the one-year tender as a restricted free agent.”

It may not be a surprise to some but it is news.

Heres a quote from RNS 8 days ago:

“…hybrid project WR coverted to FB Marcel Reece sat out “voluntary” work outs during phase one and we discovered the former Washington Husky switched management.

No official word has been given from either side, but we told you first, Reece is a hold out.”

Not to toot our own horn *giggles* but we'd be remiss if we didn't remind people where they heard it first. Often, we break news so far head of others we sometimes have to remind them where they heard it first...

04-16-12 7:49 am pac

Photo Kirby Lee / Image of Sport-US Presswire                                                          FB/WR Marcel Reece

Good morning Raider Nation and welcome to PHASE TWO: After getting an entire week jump start on other teams because of their rookie HC, the Raiders and Dennis Allen have moved into the next phase of the Leagues new rules per last years Collective Bargaining Agreement.

All new territory for every team, phase two encompasses the next three weeks of training where helmets are still not worn, but coaches will be allowed on the field.  Individual instruction is permitted and drills may be executed.  There is still no contact in this phase or defense vs offense drills.

The Raiders and their new management under GM Reggie McKenzie will use phase two to make evaluations of Oaklands current roster and possible needs for the up coming draft and subsequent free agency.

On the spot are two of the Silver and Black's more enigmatic players, QB project Terrelle Pryor and FB/WR Marcel Reece.

Pryor was informed by the new powers that be, phase two will be of particular note for the controversial former Ohio State gun slinger.

GM Reggie McKenzie told Bay area media phase two would be used to evaluate whether Pryor was ready or capable of taking over the #2 QB slot.

Odds are, he is not. Given the project status of the the supplemental 3rd round draft pick and the new West Coastian system installed, odds are Pryor is nowhere near ready.

We hope he surprises everyone because hes an intriguing specimen but we fear the announcement is a thinnly veiled excuse to cut yet another "Davis man." 

(In our article "Pryor on a Wire" we examined the Pryor question a little more in depth)

Speaking of "Davis men", hybrid project WR coverted to FB Marcel Reece sat out "voluntary" work outs during phase one and we discovered the former Washington Husky switched management.

No official word has been given from either side, but we told you first, Reece is a hold out.

We'll all have to wait and see if he shows up today for Phase twos acclimation meetings.

He's due a paultry $540,000 this season and after some explosive plays in his brief career it will be interesting to see if Oakland and McKenzie value the most dangerous Full Back in football enough to keep him around in these cash strapped times.

Though the Raiders are pinching pennies they have several options to free up cash like the long term deal they are working for SS Tyvon Branch and adjusting current players contracts (Tommy Kelly, Darrius Heyward Bey, Shane Lechler) and they will need to do this eventually anyway to sign more players after the draft but whether they do it to keep Reece is another matter.

Reggie has stated in the press he knows Reece is a special talent and that in fact, due in part to Reece's seccess, he sees other teams moving toward the hybrid direction with their Fullbacks but the truth is, we're not sure if the Raiders new/old OC Greg Knapp values Reece in the ZBS he runs or if the returning Raider play caller would even know what to do with him.

Oakland may end up ditching the hybrid WR/ FB monster in favor of a more traditional FB.

That would be a shame.

Phase two should reveal alot about the new era Raiders and which direction the team is headed.

We hope phase three includes two of Oaklands better Offensive prospects.

04-20-12 5:00 pm                              

Before Oakland even drafted him, we ran an article on Alabama Middle Linebacker Rolando McClain outilining his success off field and his struggles off.

McClain settled one of those off field incidents today but looking at his past, its really small wonder hes struggled with adversity?

Both of McClain's parents haved been arrested for violence and his father for drugs.

McClain's mother has battled mental illness.

Not to say Rolando has anything of the sort but the fact his mother does must've been a burden for the him growing up in the rough part of town.

Earlier today McClain settled a lawsuit for assault out of court but its not the one you think...

Alabama -- Former Alabama football player Rolando McClain has settled a lawsuit accusing him of hitting a student with a vehicle and physical assault in 2008.

McClain and Stanford Matthew Mangham, the Alabama student, filed in late March a joint stipulation of dismissal of all claims. That ends one legal issue in Alabama for McClain, now an NFL linebacker for the Oakland Raiders, while other matters remain from a more recent incident.

Mangham said in his suit that McClain intentionally hit him with a vehicle twice on Nov. 13, 2008, left the scene to secure other Alabama football players to intimidate him, and then verbally and physically assaulted him again. Mangham had claimed he needed multiple dental procedures and oral surgery to treat permanent injuries and was seeking at least $75,000 in punitive damages.

McClain denied the allegations in court documents. One of his defenses was that damages complained of by Mangham "were caused and/or contributed by his own negligence and/or the negligence of others."

The case was scheduled for trial on June 5. Attorneys for both sides declined to say if McClain paid Mangham as part of the settlement. The motion for dismissal said each party was required to pay its court costs.

"The matter has been resolved to the mutual benefit of both parties," said Jay Ezelle, McClain's attorney.

McClain is also scheduled for trial on May 17 for allegedly punching a man, threatening to kill him and firing a pistol near his ear last November in Decatur. McClain pleaded not guilty and also faces a lawsuit over the incident. McClain's attorney in that case, Billy C. Burney II, has previously said the linebacker denies firing a gun and being involved in the fight.

John Solomon, Birmingham News

04-11-12 7:43 pm pac
        
Photo /AP                                                                                                                      QB(?) Terrelle Pryor


We all know QB Terrelle Pryor is a project.

Sneaking suspicion Reggie does too. His insistence on testing Pryor next week to see if hes a viable #2 back up QB makes sense in that they need to know what they're working with and if they need to find a vet FA but it also serves Reggie to say "Well, we tried and he wasn't ready" so he can ditch yet another Davis man.

Reggie claims its his desire to build the team through the draft and by developing players.

If Pryor doesn't make the final 53, you'll know that may not be entirely true about every player.

Unless he gets draft picks for Pryor or some form of reasonable compensation the scathing article Michael Silver launched claiming Davis Jr. had a serious axe to grind against his dearly departed Puh-Pah and is dismantling all things Al as quickly as possible.

Thats the conspiracy and one can point to the massive exodus of former Davis men and there have been alot of them,
OR it simply means the types of players Davis had collected to run the team HIS way are no longer viable in the system Reggie wants to run.

The truth lies somewhere between.

Snagged for a 2012 3rd round pick in the supplemental draft, Pryor came with prior baggage after an exceeedingly tame memoribillia scandal.

Pryor now, and forever will be, the last Al Davis Height/Weight/Speed project.

Emphasis on "project".

To some, it seems Reggie knows Pryor is not ready and hes forcing the former Buckeye's hand.

Reggie knows Pryor is likely nowhere near ready to run a West Coast type of offense. Its not what he was drafted for, he got his play book on Monday and the West Coast offense takes years to master. Add that to the fact we had a strike shortened off season and Pryor was suspended for 5 games last year and in reality, THIS is Pryor's rookie season and first mini camps.

Pryor was taken as a developmental project. He may have worked in an Al Davis minded offense but as such a raw player at the most difficult postion, a West Coast offense may not be in Pryor's best interest or future.

Pryor wants to play QB but if hes found lacking, he may be forced into action at another position (think Wide Out) if he wants to stay with the team.

If he wants to pursue playing QB he may request to do that with another team, clearing Reggie of any back lash by fans.
Pryor should be kept and groomed but if he doesn't fit the West Coast mold and you buy into the anti-Davis conspiracy, he could be the next Davis man to be jettisoned.

04-05-12 9:28 pm pac

Photo Justin Sullivan / Getty Images                                                                                   HC Dennis Allen

Esteemed Bay Area writer Jerry McDonald posted tonight an article entitled "Allen careful regarding CBA restrictions" refering to new Oakland HC Dennis Allen and his meticulous, even "anal" attention  to detail. Especially when it comes to the rules according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Allen is looking to avoid fines and lost practice time the Raiders suffered consistently under former HC Tom Cable.

There is little doubt Oaklands rookie HC has the club in mind when it comes to accordance with new doctrine. You could also safely bet the Raiders rookie HC is minding his Ps and Qs considering the status of his former employ.

McDonald posed a few questions to Allen earlier today regarding the New Orleans Saints scandal.

Q: Has the bounty issue been addressed already, or do you wait until there’s contact at practice?

Allen: It’s been addressed, it’s going to be something that when we have the whole team together is a better time to address that.

Q: With the ongoing bounty story, does that at all taint the championship you won there and did you have any direct knowledge of the bounty system in place?

Allen: What I’m going to say about it is, No. 1, I’m proud of the success that we were able to have there, and No.2 , I’ve moved on, and I’m really a lot more interested in what’s happening with the Oakland Raiders and trying to prepare ourselves for the upcoming season. What’s happened in the past, I’ve really moved on.

Allen may have moved on but even if Comissioner Goodell decides to let the current list of Bounty Gate condemned stand as the sacrificial Saints, civil litigation is still a very real possibility for any and all involved in the potentially illegal and possibly litigious events that occured in part, while Allen was first, a defensive line assistant and then a defensive backs coach from 2006 to 2010 with the New Orleans HC Sean Payton and the aforementioned Saints.

The hope of course is that those already named by the League are enough to serve as example and no further sanctions or fines will be levied, meaning Allen is in the clear.

Again, even if thats so he could still face the possible distraction of civil litigation.

Only time will tell but the revamping Raiders can ill afford to have their new HC suspended or even distracted by past transgressions, guilt by association or off field litigation.

If the notion is bothering Allen and or the Raiders, you'd hardly know it. Its full steam ahead as the new era, post Davis Raiders begin their ground breaking first season.

A first season without the spectre of Al Davis but a shadow in looming in the background none the less.

03-19-12 10:01 am pac

Photo Getty Images                                                                                                      QB Peyton Manning

Most fans cannot figure out why new Raider GM Reggie McKenzie took so long to dump pass rushing LB/DE Kamerion Wimbley.

Oakland kept the 6,4 255 lb former Cleveland Brown hanging till the last moment, finally releasing him on the 16th, one day before Wimbley would've been guaranteed over $17 million dollars.

Wimbley, with 16 sacks in two seasons, still stands to receive $6.5 million from Oakland for the 2012 season and now is on the open market. He could add considerably more cash as the top pass rusher available.

So, was Reggie waiting to see if Manning was becoming a Bronco before deciding WImbley's fate?

Wimbley had seven sacks in 2011, four against the San Diego Chargers, but the fact is Wimbley, as is his custom, disappeared for long stretches.

His biggest game against San Diego came against literally 3rd and 4th string O line scrubs, padding his numbers.

With his sacks, Wimbely was 15th in the NFL with 31 knockdowns and hurries.

The Raiders managed to get under the $120.6 million salary cap before cutting Wimbley, but they cleared $4.5 million more after his release.

In retrospect some feel like Reggie may have been keeping Kam on the line just in case Manning did come to the AFC West but that would mean Reggie intended to keep Wimbley. If that were the case, you'd think someone from Raider HQ would've called Wimbley's agent.

According to them, they didn't hear from Oakland for two weeks prior to their clients release.

Odds are Reggie was simply trying to keep Wimbley from being the top FA to get away.

After today, he needn't worry about that anymore.

Manning coming to the West doesn't make a ton of sense *see our article :Why Manning won't go to the Broncos", its reality now, but the fact Oakland just let one of the Leagues "best" pass rushers go just as Manning joins the Division seems like a  bad deal, but in reality, its not.

Wimbley was over paid and over rated and the truth was, according to IBA's Jerry McDonald, "Division-rival-to-be Peyton Manning didn't tear the Raiders to pieces when they played. Against Oakland teams of years gone by the former Colts was 3-2, 114-for-184, 1261 yds, 12 tds, 8 int, 85.4 passer rating."

Of course those Raider teams had CBs Stanford Routt and Nnamdi Asomugha.

Todays signing by Manning to the Broncos would seem to give vistiting Saints CB Tracy Porter more leverage when negotiating with Oakland in the coming days.

Hes the guy who sealed a Super Bowl win for New Orleans with his pick six of...Peyton Manning.

Wimbley's off to Tennessee to visit the Titans who lost out to Denver in the Manning sweepstakes.

03-14-12 8:09 am pac

              
Photo / Presswire                                                                         New GM Reggie "Raiderball" McKenzie


Okay, so we've been chucking around the term "Moneyball" pretty loosely in regard to new Raider GM Reggie McKenzie's approach to the post Al Davis era.

The term itself refers of course to former Oakland A's staffer Billie Beane (played by Brad Pitt in the movie) and the revolutionary system of data crunching and player evaluation based on a non-traditional approach to baseball talent scouting.

We won't launch into a history lesson or the quantum math we think is involved but suffice it to say the system was built to help the A's with a $41 million dollar budget, compete with the Yankees who had a $121 million dollar budget.

The "Sabermetrics" system (which stands for "Society for American Baseball Research") isn't directly applicable to football but anyone with a pulse should be able to see that when you replace "on base percentage" and "slugging percentage" with football terminology like "first downs per catch" and "turnovers forced" the system could, should, translate directly to other team sports.

Whether its done by teams with or without money is of zero consequence now. Its simply a system using unconventional thinking and asymetrical application to make a team, any team, better regardless of finacial status.

If teams like New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, and the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball are now using the system why hasn't the NFL adapted and adopted?

We're not sure of the answer to that one but suffice it to say at least one team has.

PATRIOT REIGN

As much as we in Oakland hate the Patriots (it was a FUMBLE!!!) they have to be commended for thinking outside that provebial box.

A good friend and co-founder of this site once said:

"The problem with genius is sometimes those that aren't can't see it."

Maybe thats why other teams haven't followed the Patriots lead in applying "Sabermetrics" or the football equivalent, to their squads.

Until now...

A NEW DAY

Many Raider fans have been perplexed by Oaklands lack of action so far in this years Free Agency period but thats all part and parcel of the plan.

The Moneyball plan.

To paraphrase, vaunted sports authority Jerry McDonald of Inside Bay Area was on the right track when he mentioned "We have no idea who Reggie will pursue because now that Davis is gone, theres a whole new and unknown system of valuing talent."

Jerry, unlike us, is hobbled by obligation not to reveal all that he knows. Thats why we have the advantage over the bigs and we're telling you and have been telling you since Reggie's inagural presser on January 10th what direction he and Mark are headed.

WHY MONEYBALL?

Moneyball works.

Brian Burke, founder of Advanced NFL Stats Inc. says "The Patriots are the 'Moneyball' team of the NFL, no doubt about it,"The Patriots are in the Super Bowl because they have this system and stick to it. The Giants are in the Super Bowl because they are lucky."

So if "Moneyball" is so great why aren't more teams in the NFL using it?

Have no illusions, statisticians are trying to bring mathematics and economics to decisions made on field strategy and player drafting. It's called analytics and in many, but not all, ways it runs counter to decades of football philosophy.

Just like in Big Government, doing things the wrong way because its tradition makes things difficult especially for those so entrenched in the old ways who would become essentially obsolete or at least less valued, were a new system installed.

One of the major reasons the late Mr. Davis disliked the press was their inability to understand the way he did things which in turn led to criticism (deserved or not) and many a great man has struggled to accomplish lofty goals while struggling to explain to the masses his intent.

"RAIDERBALL"

So in closing, Oakland is now running a "Moneyball" scheme and after decades of "the Davis way" (in and of itself a sort of Moneyball scheme if you think about it) the Raiders are now launching full force into a new era of football with an eye toward the future and like Al Davis before them, a radically different approach toward evaluating talent and team.

Like we said, Davis did things his own way. Reggie reaching outside the box to install something different, mis-understood and seemingly a 180 on the Davis philosophy seems to be a pretty fitting tribute to the old man after all...

03-09-12 12:50 pm pac    

Photo Doug Pensinger / Getty Images                                                   Manning to Tebow: "Don't worry..."

Lots of bally-hoo over QB Peyton Manning’s visit to Dove Valley, meeting with John Elway and the Broncos powers that be.

Many fans, especially Raider fans took notice.

Lots of questions remain about Manning’s health and compensation for signing to a team and as much as franchises would love the P.R. coup and potential betterment of their offense, we think Denver is not the final destination for one of the greatest QB of our generation.

THE STAFF

Denvers D was touted as saving their erratic O and they, as much as Tebow were responsible for propelling them to the play offs.

Their D coordinator last year is our Head Coach this season. Their new HC, John Fox will be starting his second season in orange and blue, Elway is a relative newbie at GM and while Jack Del Rio could help their D, he is also brand new to the organization.

The Broncos, whether they admit it or not, are rebuilding just like the Raiders and their D is a question mark as much as the O.

THE O

The Bronco Offense rotated through QBs and suffered losses in their run game in 2011, finishing 23rd overall.

Whether they’re better than that is an unknown but with two 3rd yr starting linemen and a rookie Right Tackle one wonders how long it would be before Peyton’s health would be tested.

Granted, an ultra savvy QB like Manning can make everyone else around him better including linemen by being decisive and getting the ball out fast.

That means having good WRs.

THE ROSTER

Denver has some intriguing prospects and could shop Free Agency or the draft to augment their WR corps. They could also give Manning a legit #1 target but as it stands Eric Decker, Eddie Royal and Demarius Thomas aren’t.

Decker and Thomas are young and Roayl may test free agency.

Odds are Peyton is interested in a paycheck but what he wants most of all is to win another Superbowl.

Denver seems much further away from that than the Broncos competition who are also vying for Manning.

The Cards and the Phins are the front runners with Miami having RB Reggie Bush and legit X WR Brandon Marshall.

Arizona has arguably the best WR in the game in Larry Fitzgerald.

Miami and Arizona, seemingly more appealing landing zones and targets to throw to.

Analysts are already annoiting which ever team Manning chooses as “Super bowl contenders” and stranger things have happened but reality dictates this contention is conceivably truer for at least two other teams not named the Denver Broncos and that, more than money is why the odds of Peytie Pie at Mile High are likely more pipe than dream.

03-03-12 6:56 am pac
       


Yesterday, the League broke news of a Bounty system run by the New Orleans Saints. Many are still unaware or are currently coming to grips with the ramifications of this scandal and what it could mean not only to the Saints, and to football but to their team as well.

DAMAGE CONTROL
The League balances its perceived morality in the interest of player health and the fact high ticket players are "assests that put *sses in seats", bring in TV viewers and sell jerseys.

Protecting big name players makes business sense. Protecting lesser names so they don't sue you after they retire, lose or blow their NFL money and are then hobbled by medical bills. Its about protecting assests, players and the finance they generate.

FLAG ON THE PLAY

Now that the Saints bounty scandal has broken, some are afraid over cautious refs will throw flags that destroy drives, alter out comes and basically ruin the game for any contact deemed even remotely excessive, especially against big name players like certain QBs.

FUTURE TENSE

Its also about image protection. In order to grow, the League must appeal more to women, families and cultivating the youth market who might be frightened off or shocked by injuries or the violence of some collisions. That same violence was once considered coin of the realm and a measuring stick toward a players toughness and ability. Now its rapidly becoming a liability.

BLOOD IN THE WATER

The Bounty program scandal is also about avoiding future lawsuits. Since the "Dignity after football" ruling flood gates have opened for circling sharks out to obtain some of the Leagues nearly $9 billion dollar annual revenue.

The ruling already had owners and the Commisioner launching a media blitz, announcing awareness programs, new rules and new ways to make the game "safer". He even announced a bizzare and Orwellian program with the U.S. Military to study the effects of brain trauma.

While the move was seen by Goodell and the League as Patriotic and a good P.R. move it came off as unsettling to many and unintentionally opened questions about the emergence of the Military Industrial Media complex.
Yikes...

SAINTS THEY AIN'T 

The scandal is also about the Saints and in all likelihood many, many other NFL teams, skirting the League salary cap. That, as you can imagine is a major no no.

In Troy Duffy's 1999 cult classic "The Boondock Saints" the McManus brothers were compelled by a higher calling to place their hits.

In New Orleans, the football Saints we're compelled by the lowest common denominator.

FALL OUT

Many things could happen, new allegations, new law suits, new charges, sanctions and penalties could all be forth coming but look for damage control to already be in place in some form or another.

The NFL's investigation has been very thorough and some feel conclusive.

Its plausible Goodell and co. will make an example of the Saints and let by gones be by gones with the Saints censure serving as a warning to other teams stupid enough to en-act but more importantly get caught, implementing a Bounty system.

Whether those sanctions will extend to the Oakland Raiders new Head Coach Dennis Allen remains to be seen.

Heres what Goodell has said so far:

“Our security department interviewed numerous players and other individuals."

“At the time, those interviewed denied that any such program existed and the player that made the allegation retracted his earlier assertions. As a result, the allegations could not be proven. We recently received significant and credible new information and the investigation was re-opened during the latter part of the 2011 season.”

Some, like ESPN's Bill Williamson feel the NFL's investigation into the bounty program was thorough and complete and it may well  be but the fact other teams lied about the existence of the program opens those who perjured themselves during an official League investigation to sanction themselves.

Allen spent five seasons with the Saints. He was their assistant defensive line coach in 2006-07 and then coached the defensive backs from 2008-10. The transgressions took place the past three seasons, according to the NFL’s findings.

It’s difficult to imagine Allen being unaware of the bounty program, given the scope of the players implicated and...the fact the owner, coach and defensive coordinator knew about the so-called pay-for-performance program.

Just the same, Allen deserves the benefit of the doubt and a chance to speak about the matter. He has not spoken publicly on the issue as of yet. IBA's Steve Corkran contacted a Raiders official who said the team won’t comment on the matter, when contacted about getting a statement from Allen.

He and the new powers in Oakland that hired him are praying it ends with the Saints and no further charges will be forthcoming but if Allen and Oakland are smart they will continue to decline comment.

No one knows if anything would come of allegations against Allen and as of this moment there are none.

Long suffering Raider fans barely coming around to the idea of a complete rebuild are praying the man tasked with that massive under taking isn't sanctioned by the NFL.