It's that time once again

The only sporting event on this evening is the AAA All-Star game so I'm a little bored as usual. A few days ago I mentioned that the photo galleries always seem to have the best and most humerous photos and well today is no different. They have a gallery up entitled "Greatest Sports Villians" and it has some interesting sports figures on there, such as Barry Bonds, Terrell Owens, Scott Boras and many more. Also on the list was the Oakland Raider's owner Al Davis complete with one of the scariest/ugliest/most disturbing photos i've seen.

The photo draws a great resemblence to a picture of the "ugliest dog in the world". But of course that's just my opinion, you be the the judge.

Jerry Porter has better things to spend his money on

According to Yahoo Sports, the Oakland Raider's troubled receiver, Jerry Porter, wants to have a clean slate with Oakland after feuding with last year's head coach, Art Shell. He has said that he wants a new start and a new attitude and also a new number.

Porter has informed the NFL that he wants to change his number from the current #84 to #81, but there is just one problem with that. He would have to reimburse the team and Reebok for the cost of the unsold jerseys. The total price to do this would come to $210,000 and Porter is non to happy with this.

"Man, there's a couple of nice cars I'd like to get for that money," Porter said. "I could buy a nice vacation home, or at least go half on one with someone else."

But NFL's spokesman Steve Alic said that Porter could just wait till next year to change his number if he didn't want to pay the reimbursement. But Porter reported to practice today still wearing the #81, but he said he would return to his old number when the season started even though he liked this look much better.

"It's slimming," he said. "It's faster. It was working. Oh well."

Is it just me or does $210,000 for Jerry Porter seem a little eccentric? I mean he has done anything productive for what, 2, 2 1/2 years? I don't live in Oakland, but I can't imagine to many people are still walking around in Porter jerseys, I mean the guy has bashed the team on multiple occasions, demanded trades and has been suspended. I would say make him give you $26 and call it even.

[Photo comes courtesy of the Mighty MJD]

Wait, Warren Sapp is skinny now(relatively speaking)

Early reports out of the Oakland Raiders mini-camp are that veteran defensive tackle, Warren Sapp has lost at least 35 pounds and according to the Raider's new coach, Lane Kiffin, said he has lost 50 pounds. Whichever the real amount is, it is the lightest Sapp has been during his tenure in Oakland. When asked by reporters this weekend on how much weight he's lost, Sapp said he didn't know and really has no need to know.

"Yes, it’s the lightest I’ve been. I don’t know how much I’ve lost. I haven’t seen a scale in the locker room; not looking for one. I feel better when I wake up in the morning. It’s a lot easier to get out of bed. Other than that, I just want to be in good physical condition to come in this thing and go. I looked at the schedule and we have to go to Miami at the end of September. I know what the Florida weather is like. I’m gonna spread the word. Florida weather is nothing to play with if you play football. It’s not like this (weather) here because I’ve been in it the last two months."

In other Raider news, recently acquired receiver, Mike Williams, has been sidelined with a pulled hamstring. Right when the drills started getting physical, Williams hobbled back to the locker room for treatment for his injured hamstring. This isn't quite the start that Kiffin had envisioned for his former player at USC, who has been sitting on the bench and at home for the past three years.

"However you want to phrase it, he's blown a chance," Kiffin said. "I think that he would tell you the same thing. This is a situation that favors the Raiders because this is Mike's chance. I think he's going to come out fighting, but we'll see."

It is expected that Williams will sit out of any other activities until the June mini-camp in hopes that it will give his leg ample time to recover.

Breaking News: Moss is a Patriot; Jackson is a niner

According to ESPN and NFL.com's Adam Schefter, the Oakland Raiders have agreed to send Pro-Bowl receiver, Randy Moss to the New England Patriots in exchange for their 4th round pick today. There are still details that will need to be completed, including Moss taking a physical and restructuring his contract. Moss' current contract calls for him to be owed $21 million over the next two years, and he has agreed to re-do it for the Patriots. I mentioned that the two teams resumed trade talks yesterday and I speculated that the deal was done last night when they Patriots sent their 3rd pick to the Raiders but that was proven to be just for a Raiders' draft pick next season.

"The Raiders have resumed trade talks with the New England Patriots over disgruntled receiver, Randy Moss. The Patriots offered the Raiders a second-day pick in this years draft, which Al Davis immediately shot down, but now he may be reconsidering it. The Raiders do NOT want Moss on their team no longer and it seems like the only team Moss wants to play for is the Patriots. The Raiders asked Moss to restructure his contract in order to make it easier to trade the Pro-Bowler, but he quickly declined. He did say that he will be more than happy to restructure his contract which calls for him to make $9.75 million this season, for the Pat's, he said the only thing he wants to do right now is win a Super Bowl and he believes the best place for him to succeed in that journey is in New England."

This latest move caps off an already stunning offseason for the Pats and in my opinion has vaulted them to the number one choice for the Super Bowl this season.

Jackson to the Niners

This is also news, the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to send receiver Darrell Jackson to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 4th round pick.

Jackson, 28, caught 63 passes in 2006 for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns -- all team-leading totals. At the time of his toe injury, Jackson was leading the league in touchdown catches. He's exceeded 1,000 receiving yards three times in seven seasons.

However, Jackson and Seahawks management reportedly have been at odds following negotiation of the six-year, $25 million contract extension Jackson signed in March 2004, his decision to skip voluntary workouts in 2005, and the manner in which the team handled his knee injury last season.

Oakland Raiders (2-14)

2006 record: 2-14
Head Coach: Art Shell (fired)
Offensive Coordinator: John Shoop
Defensive Coordinator: Bob Ryan
Pro-Bowl: Derrick Burgess (DE)

Offense

The Raiders offense was one of the worst I have ever seen play. If it wasn't for their defense causing some turnovers against Arizona and the Steelers, they would've lost all 16 games. Their Offense ranked dead last in almost every category. With horrible play by two different quarterbacks and a lack luster running game, the Raiders were only able to score 12 total touchdowns on offense. They don't have many "playmakers" but the ones they did have weren't able to do anything. Randy Moss and a bad season, Jerry Porter didn't even play and Lamont Jordan was injured majority of the season. That left them throwing it to Ronald Curry, and running it with former USC stand out, Justin Fargas.

Defense

Their defense was surprisingly good. With stars like Kirk Morrison and Nnamdi Asomugha and great safety play from guys like Stuart Schweigert and Texas rookie, Michael Huff, the Raider defense was good enough to rank 3rd. Although they did rank 3rd in total yards allowed, they did allow 20.8 ppg. They have alot of veterans such as Warren Sapp, Derrick Burgess and Tyler Brayton on the defensive line, you can expect them to draft some replacements.

Special Teams

This department wasn't too bad either. Chris Carr did a very good job retuning kicks, getting over 1700 yards and long time kicker Sebastian Janikowski hit 72% of his field goals. Also Shane Lechler had a very good average per punt of 47.5. I don't think much has to change here, they have many other needs than special teams.

Draft notes

The Raiders have the 1st overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. I believe there is only three possibilities. JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn or Calvin Johnson. The best choice for them appears to be Russell. He is very big, strong, good decision making and has a cannon for an arm. If you want an NFL comparison there is no doubt that it is Daunte Culpepper. Brady Quinn is the better quarterback in terms of being NFL ready. But Russell is a better athlete and has more potential. Now on almost all of the mock drafts no one has Calvin Johnson as the #1 pick. But think about this, the Raiders don't have good receivers, sure they have Randy Moss, but he didn't play very well this season and Jerry Porter didn't even play this year.(His own choice). I have a feeling that they will release Porter some time this offseason and possibly trade Moss for at best a 3rd or 4th round pick. That would leave them with only Ronald Curry, who led them in receptions and receiving yards and Alvis Whitted as the only half way decent receivers on their roster. No doubt they will pick up a receiver in this draft, but if Al Davis is comfortable with sticking with Andrew Walter or Aaron Brooks(I wouldn't) then why not pick the best player overall in the draft.

Other positions that need to be addressed at the draft are:

1.Quarterback
2.Wide Receiver
3.Offensive Linemen
4.Defensive Tackle
5.Running Back

QB:

Look, they need help. Andrew Walter was horrible and so was Brooks. Although Brooks was better than Walter, he still couldn't move this abysmal offense. I said earlier that I think the best choice for them is JaMarcus Russell(LSU) and that is who I think they will choose. Quinn is no slouch but I think for the system in Oakland better suits Russell.

WR:

With Moss and Porter both seemingly on their ways out it leaves a big hole that needs to be filled. There are alot of talented receivers in this draft and they could probably wait till the 3rd round and still find someone that could compete as a slot receiver. Some guys to look at are Craig Davis(LSU), Jason Hill(WSU) and Dallas Baker(FLA).

OL:

Saying their offensive line was bad this year is an understatement. They couldn't block anyone and that left Andrew Walter getting sacked time after time. Some guys that would definitely help this line are Doug Free(NIU), Tony Ugoh(ARK), Ryan Harris(ND), Marshal Yanda(IOWA) and Ryan Kalil(USC).

DT:

It's not really that their defensive tackles were bad its just that they are getting old, especially Warren Sapp. They don't really have to go after one early, i'm thinking probably around the 4th or 5th rounds. Potential players they could draft are Brandon Mebane(CAL), Marcus Thomas(FLA) and Jay Alford(PSU).

RB:

Not really a big need but Lamont Jordan was injured most of the year and I don't really like their backups. Possible early second day picks are Lorenzo Booker(FSU), Tyrone Moss(MIA) and DeShawn Wynn(FLA).

Although I highley doubt anything they do this offseason will help them get back to the ways of the early 2000's it is a significant step in the right direction.