Al Davis has been/is ruining the Raiders :-\

I suppose. A lot of retired Raiders players are saying otherwise though. Regardless, the raiders have looked absolutely helpless the past two seasons. They should have a better record but were simply outplayed.

If you want to talk about disappointing. The frickin' Chargers are sorry this year, and apparently I'm the only one who can see it. Everyone on ESPN and Sportcenter seems to be ignoring the fact that they both of their trench lines (O-Line and D-Line) are horrible and need work. And the defense can't tackle for anything. Half the time watching the Chargers is like watching a high school football team.

I'll cut their O-line a little slack because I believe two or three of them are new and you really need cohesion on the O-line, plus the Chargers are breaking in their new Fullback. Hence LT not having that great of a season plus he has an injury. I like Sproles and they should play him until LT is good to go. See if he can handle being an every down back.

What happened with the Bengals? Bad chemistry, bad personalities, half the team arrested in one off season (ok that might be a bit of an exaggeration), some key injuries, and lack of a running game when they decided to get rid of Rudi Johnson who is now in Detroit. Carson Palmer is a good quarterback with a great work ethic, but if the rest of the team isn't gelling he can't do much.

They need to cut "Ocho Cinco" and get a real player in his place. The man wants to be T.O. too badly, and isn't performing.

I don't see T.O. as being all that great anyways. As for Ocho Cinco, since that is official last name now, he just can't wear it on his jersey for merchandising reasons, they have other wide receivers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry being the most prominent. The problem with Henry is his constant off field legal issues and is often suspended due to it. He just came back from suspension. Too many of these guys are prima donnas, are in it for the money and rarely think about the team.

That's exactly the problem Cal. A lot of the T.O. type players are prima donnas. They are exceptional and even great players, but the reason we don't like them is because of their large egos and their it's got to be my way or the high way attitude. Talk about ego.

Good point bringing up Houshmandzadeh, because I've been hearing speculation that he may be scooped up by Dallas after this season ends. He's been performing well, the contract's coming to a close, and seems like he'd be a good fit for the 'boys.

I completely agree with you both that some of these stars are there for a payday, as opposed to competing for the love of the sport.

That's the issue, too many teams go for talent but don't take into consideration the attitude of the player. The Bengals have seemed to do this at every position except quarterback. Carson Palmer is willing to think of the whole team and really wants to do the best he can. Marvin Lewis has been quoted as saying he would rather have someone with talent and not such a good attitude, since its hard to coach someone with less talent but a good attitude and that you can try to changed an attitude. I just scratched my head at that one. Give me someone with the good attitude and a little less talent, you can work with them to get them better because they are willing and have some talent to start with.

Then Marvin Lewis is a dumb@$$. It is way easier to coach someone how may not have the talent at the forefront than someone like T.O. or Chad 85. Simply because they want to learn and they will more than likely do what it takes to succeed. I've seen egotistical players tear teams apart, i.e. T.O. and the Eagles and from my own experience.

Case and point, myself. I was never the stronger, taller, or faster football player, but I loved the sport and wanted to excel at it. I did, however, have a knack for for learning and being technically sound. My coaches taught me well and I excelled a lot. At first I thought it was because I wasn't physically adept enough to play or at least that is what my coaches thought, but I only just recently found out that I never got much playing time my senior year of high school because I hurt too many people when I played. I mean I wasn't trying to but it happened. Football's a collision sport, it comes with the territory. I guess I learned too well.

That aside, I will always root for teams that are exactly as their title describes them, a team. I hate it when teams are described as, for example as T.O. and the Cowboys. Why can't it just be the Cowboys? It makes it sound like T.O. is the main reason why the Cowboys are succeeding (there may be some truth to that but for the sake of arugement). Hence, why I never root for the Yankees or the Red Soxs when it comes to baseball.

Lastly, as for Houshmandzdeh going to the Cowboy's. If he goes, lucky Cowboys. He is a very solid receiver and in my opinion way better than Chad Johnson. He'll probably kick some @$$ in Dallas. Him, Romo, T.O., Witten , and Glenn would probably be a force to be reckoned with, (as long as T.O. doesn't screw it up).