MM: Rapidly approaching the dead zone

After spending the last four months recapping the season, prepping for free agency and the draft, covering the draft and minicamp the dead zone that is the depths of the offseason is rapidly approaching. It has been a hell of a ride so far this offseason. At several points it seemed like the wheels were getting ready to fall off, but instead the Raiders surprised everyone and made the right moves.

Once upon a time, there would be excitement building for the June first cuts, but with the absence of the salary camp June first is completely meaningless for NFL salary cap purposes. In the capped years, June first was the magical date where teams could spread the cap hit from cutting a player over two seasons by dividing it between the current season and the coming season. The significance of the date was lessened when the collective bargaining agreement was last extended in 2006, when they allowed a limited number of players to be designated as June First cuts for accounting purposes, but they could be given their actual release early.

Speaking of collective bargaining agreements, the NFL and the NFLPA have less than a year to come to an agreement to avoid a work stoppage. From the sounds of the posturing, it is not likely they are going to come to an agreement soon. However, don’t expect either side to be stupid enough to kill the golden goose.

*****

Congratulations to the Oakland Raiders roommates at the Coliseum. Dallas Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in Major League Baseball. Not bad for a guy A-Rod recently described as a “guy with a handful of wins.” In fact, Braden has now achieved the rarest feat in baseball, and unlike A-Roid, he did not need steroids.

Braden is a Northern California local having grown up in Stockton. He also played some minor league ball in Stockton as a member of the Ports. He was raised by his grandmother after the death of his mother. His grandmother was in the stands to watch him pitch on Mother’s Day.

Prior to this perfect game, he was best known for calling out A-Rod’s lack of class for breaking one of baseball’s unwritten rules for trotting over the mound.

*****

Sorry about the absence of the Monday Mumblings last week, but after minicamp Levi and I were blowing off some steam.

Thank you to all who have clicked on TFDS for coverage of the draft and minicamp. We’ll be working hard to keep things going through the dead zone and right into training camp.

*****

Comment of the week:

On the article JaCut: Raiders release Russell

Good riddance but…

written by RaiderDoc, May 06, 2010
A little sad it came to this. What a waste. So much potential, but no heart. I’ve said it before and will say it again, I will never understand how a man can fail to take pride in what he does. How he could not strive to be the very best, to show the world what he could be… is beyond me.

I’d like to think it is a rare human that would not be inspired to try harder by the public humiliation of not playing well on a stage before the world. The Raider Nation welcomed him, and would have loved him as a hero, but he chose to not care. To not even try. Worse than that, he almost made it an art. He almost seemed to be working hard at not trying. Was he pulling a Kiffin and trying to get out… doubt he is that smart, but almost have to wonder.

Pathetic.

*******

Classic movie of the week: The Hunt for Red October

Starring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, & Scott Glenn

This is the first movie adopted from Tom Clancy’s series of Jack Ryan novels. This movie is set in 1984 in the height of the Cold War. The Soviet Union’s top submarine captain (Connery) has decided to defect to the US and give the Americans the latest Soviet Sub. However, the Russians tell the Americans that he has gone renegade and is going to launch a nuclear strike. CIA analysit Jack Ryan (Baldwin) has figured things out and must convince the government he is right, and they have to get to the Red October before the Soviets do. Classic edge of your seat thriller.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=
iGfk_IU3Wlo[/youtube]