It just doesn’t seem possible so many terrible things could happen so frequently but, if anything is obvious, the O*kland Raiders’ season has made the impossible seem possible. At 1-8 and with a constantly-fluctuating roster, 2018 is as much a lost season as the Raiders have experienced. With all the chaos, many have suggested the Raiders shut down quarterback Derek Carr for safety’s sake. In a word or two, I’ll give you an emphatic “hell no.”
In fact, the thought of shutting a starting quarterback down just because the team is awful is as cowardly a suggestion as you could make. Carr is a competitor. Head coach Jon Gruden is a competitor. The two of them don’t have “quit” in them so, asking for something this ludicrous is in poor taste, at best, cowardly, at worst.
Gruden needs to time to learn all the nuances of Carr’s game, and there’s no substitute for game action to find these. Sure Carr is at risk of injury but so is any one of the players out there bleeding for the Silver & Black, despite this lost season. Ignore all the veteran cowards in the locker room whining about the culture when, in fact, they are directly responsible for it.
One Raiders veteran to another, on his way out of the locker room past three reporters, including myself: “I gotta get the f*** outta here.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 12, 2018
Old ass vets, clinging to career relevance on the oldest team in the league, running to the press — secretly, of course — in an attempt to discredit Gruden when, in reality, their fading skills are to blame. Whether it was do-nothing defensive end Bruce Irvin, or no-show linebacker Derrick Johnson, the veterans have proven why the youth movement, the fire sale, and the rebuild was necessary.
Carr needs to play, Gruden needs to observe him up close and personal, and the Raiders need to make an educated decision when the season ends.
Should the Raiders go After Le’Veon Bell?
In a scenario that could’ve easily played out the same way for Khalil Mack, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is going to be available in the offseason. With Marshawn Lynch injured and his potential retirement looming, the move would make a ton of sense. Still, it doesn’t mean Gruden should pull the trigger on the talented back, who is reportedly demanding $17 million on the open market.
Bell is an athletic three-down back who alters the game with his presence. Running backs are usually a tricky investment. They take a ton of punishment and are one turf toe from a season-ending injury. His career stats are excellent (7,996 yards and 42 TDs in five seasons) and he is just 26, so he has a half-decade left in the tank.
The downside is what has played out in Pittsburgh all season. Bell has sat out the entire season over his contract dispute. He gave up one full year of his career so he can get paid. Might not be the kind of ego you want wandering around the halls. Gruden’s ego is enough to fill a warehouse so adding Bell’s might make for a disastrous pairing.
The odds seem to show a good chance he ends up in Oakland.
RT OddsShark: Updated odds on what team Le'Veon Bell will be on next season (BovadaOfficial):
Jets +285
Raiders +450
Eagles +650
Buccaneers +650
Ravens +900
Colts +900
49ers +900
Texans +1200
Steelers +1600
Dolphins +1600— Gold Rush (@levisstadium49) November 14, 2018
With plenty of cap space, it’s not a bad idea to kick the tires on a Bell move, but — if its about building something special — it’s hard to do it with someone who has already proven he will put self over team no matter the cost (in Bell’s case, $14.5 million). I think the Raiders can draft a running back in the middle rounds and find something worthwhile. The offensive line is better suited for pricy spending.
It should be interesting to see how this offseason plays out, especially if the Raiders earn the first overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.
