Odds are that the coaching staff for both the offense and defense took it upon themselves to deliver playbooks to the players under contract for 2011. That’s about 28 out of the 53 2011 players according to quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell has listed some names of guys who are going to show up at an undisclosed location for a week and play football with their 2010 Raiders’ teammates, free of rookies and free agents. The list includes Richard Seymour, Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Tommy Kelly, Quentin Groves, Jacoby Ford, and Darren McFadden. He has also stated that he was sure he was leaving some guys off the list. The thing about it for me is after they get together for a week, are they going to want to do it more often?
I saw a list today of the top 100 quarterbacks in the NFL. Seriously, what’s next — a list of the best 1,000 quarterbacks in college? But honestly, after I reviewed the list for a minute, it was surprisingly accurate in its detail. It listed Charlie Frye at number 70, Bruce Gradkowski at number 45, and Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell as the 22nd best NFL quarterback. The writer did note that Campbell is bursting with potential, however.
What does Jason Campbell have to say about all of this?
“I’m the starting quarterback. I feel like, ‘You’ve earned it, you deserve it, wasn’t given to you.’ And my goal is to get this team to the playoffs.”
A lofty goal considering that the Raiders have been the most meager team in the NFL over the last decade or so. But Mike Florio of www.Profootballtalk.com says that Campbell is a “very efficient and competent quarterback [who is] going to have his big opportunity this year to step up.”
Jason Campbell has not taken his position of leadership with the team lightly. He is a respectable veteran who works very hard at his craft and has as positive an attitude as is humanly possible about it – “at the same time.”
I’d rank Campbell in the low teens. But that’s just me; Campbell under Hue Jackson and Al Saunders part two – I’d pay to see that.
Campbell has come out and publicly stated that the Raiders will get together at an undisclosed location for a week straight of team oriented activities. And by the sounds of it, it won’t be in Vegas because it’s not about partying. It’s about “the team and about the guys doing it together,” says Campbell. “Being able to talk and work together.”
Campbell suspects 25 potential free agents or possible restricted free agents can’t show up because of their situation — they don’t know if they are going to attend the false mini-camp of Raider brotherhood.
“If you get hurt during this time of year,” Jason told Florio, “it’s not considered a football injury. It can affect your contract and it can affect your future.”
But the ultimate goal of RaiderCamp 2011™ is just to build chemistry with the team. Campbell also has mentioned that he has been working with his wide receivers, and as they get closer to the start of the season they will start working together more, regardless of the situation with the CBA, the NFL, or the NFL-nonunion™.
Campbell said his ultimate goal this coming year is to get his team to the NFL playoffs, on a consistent and long-term basis. Teammate and Co-Captain Richard Seymour told the Raiders that they were more talented than the teams he played on with the Patriots. That was two years ago. There are other factors working in their favor as well like their age, speed, and coaching staff. And the fact that they swept the AFC West last year.
I wonder if people are laughing now. Look what Hue Jackson might be able to do with the NFL’s “track team.”
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