Raiders giving thanks

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, November 25, 2008  |  Comments( 20 )

Oakland Raiders
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Just in case you may have something other to do than Web surf on Thursday (go ahead, watch the Detroit Lions game for consolation that there are far, far worse teams in the NFL than yours), this writer wanted to wish everyone in Oakland Raiders Land a happy Thanksgiving.

Of course, the Raiders will be celebrating the holiday as well. Al Davis will lay out a massive spread to be served up on a single endlessly long solid oak table (because Lane Kiffin has sadly been banished from the Raider family, the kiddie table won’t be needed this year), sparing no expense for the silver and black and those who love them.

For Thanksgiving is a time to come together with loved ones and, despite whatever the past year has doled out, to recognize the positivity in your life: a perfect time for the 2008 Raiders, for many have much to be thankful for in this season of woe. Hear what they say, sitting with Uncle Al’s feast laid out before them, as each gives thanks:

Tom Cable is thankful for the opportunity, but certainly more so for the “interim” before his title of head coach. (Cable is also thankful that Davis has laid out quite the virtual spread; interim coach hasn’t eaten since breakfast a couple hours ago and he’s starving.)

Ronald Curry is just thankful to be around; where else in the NFL could he be a starting receiver today?

JaMarcus Russell is thankful that he held out for that extra money in 2007.

Robert Gallery, Cooper Carlisle and Kwame Harris – among others, mind you – are thankful no one is watching what they’re doing. (At least no one with influence over the roster.)

Tim Brown is thankful we’re almost one year closer to his Hall of Fame induction.

Media in Oakland and around the country are thankful for the mysterious source(s) in Raider Land always ready to dish on every nuance of every sub-decision Davis may or may not make in personnel; this Deep Throat has truly provided insight into the weirdness in 2008. Yeah, right.

Historically minded Raider fans are thankful for the Lions, St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs, as the monumentally disappointing 2008 Raiders will be forgotten in the wash of these truly brutal teams.

Especially the Chiefs, what with the prospect of a two-game Raider winning streak and all . . .

Darren McFadden gives thanks for the Chiefs as well; back-to-back two-score games would cement his spot within what is almost certainly among the greatest rookie running back classes ever (Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Felix Jones, Steve Slaton, Kevin Smith, Jonathan Stewart), even if he hasn’t quite earned it.

DeAngelo Hall is thankful to be out of Oakland while he languishes in Washington and his new team misses the playoffs – but the illusion of individual greatness still hangs about Hall and far fewer fans there are currently noticing the overpaid, no-cover cornerback in the secondary.

Javon Walker is thankful that his ankle won’t stand in the way of the $12 million he’ll “earn” for the 2008 season.

The New England Patriots are still thankful for Randy Moss.

Nnamdi Asomugha is thankful for the prospect of a fat free-agency market, come 2009.

Oakland remains thankful, after all these years, that the Raiders still play ball in their burg, rather than in Los Angeles.

Of course, Los Angeles is thankful for the same reason.

All jokes and kidding aside, RealFootball365.com is thankful for its readers from the Raider Nation: Y’all truly help keep things percolating over here.

Finally, despite everything, all the trials and tribulations, ups and downs, Davis is just thankful for the great game of football. And for the great bunch of guys who played football for him: Kenny Stabler, Dave Casper, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell. . .
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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