Five Most Disappointing Raiders

In contrast to my last post, here are the five most disappointing Raiders.

1) Randy Moss:  I can't say it any better than Jerry McDonald did in his excellent blog:

"Talked to a Hall of Fame selector last year who said he would filibuster if need be to make sure Moss isn’t selected because he disgraced the sport in his two years in Oakland. Talked to him again recently to see if he changed his mind after Moss’ monster season with the Patriots.

Nope. In fact, he said Moss’ big season makes what he did in Oakland even more reprehensible. The big numbers, he thought, made his argument instead of shooting it down."

Exactly.

2) Lamont Jordan: Too many fumbles.  Too many mental mistakes.  Too little return on a big free agent contract.  I'll never forget the play in 2006 against the 49'ers when he dropped a lateral pass and watched the defender pick up the ball and return it for a touchdown.  Jordan just stood there and watched the play unfold.  Like a spectator.  Unreal.

3) Jeff George: He quit on the team in 1998, a year the Raiders could have made the playoffs.  Unfortunately, after George announced on talk radio that he was done for the year with a mysterious groin injury, the Raiders lost five-of-their-last six games to finish 8-8.  (Remember when Donald Hollas threw six interceptions against the Dolphins?).  George's time in Oakland lead to one positive, though.  After the debacle in 1998, Jon Gruden convinced Rich Gannon -- a true leader -- to play for the Raiders.

4) Robert Gallery: Even if Gallery becomes a better-than-average guard, you don't spend the second overall pick on a guard.  Period.  Gallery's penalties and mental mistakes have epitomized everything wrong with the Raiders over the last five years.  Gallery is one-of-only two outright busts among all the offensive tackles taken in the top six picks over the past fifteen years:  Tony Boselli, Jonathon Ogden, Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, Chris Samuels, Leonard Davis, Mike Williams (BUST), D'Brickashaw Ferguson (questionable), and Joe Thomas.  I hope Gallery can contribute in 2008 because I want to root for the guy.

5) Larry Brown: The Raiders acquired the Super Bowl XXX MVP before the 1996 season.  Ideally, the combination of Brown and Terry McDaniel (who was still a Pro Bowl performer in 1996) would have given the Raiders the best pair of cornerbacks in the NFL.  Unfortunately, Brown played just 12 games for the Raiders over the next two years.  I remember reading about Larry Brown dogging it so much during one practice that Tim Brown demanded the coaches get the big money cornerback off the field.  The Raiders of the mid-1990s were teams with great talent but no heart. When I think of those teams, I think of Larry Brown.