The Collapse of the Oakland Raiders

October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 Chris McGlynn Football, Free Agency, NFL Derek Carr, Jack Del Rio, John Gruden, Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders

In 2016, the Oakland Raiders were finally back. After 14 years without a winning record, the Silver and Black went 12-4 and returned to the playoffs for the first time since losing to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl. This was a team on the rise. They had a young stud at quarterback. They had a defensive player of the year. They had a brash coach who was unafraid to gamble with the game on the line. It seemed like the Raiders were once again in the mix to compete for a championship.

DeAndre Washington, Derek Carr — Carr is already fourth in franchise history for passing yardage and touchdowns in just his fifth season. *(Wikimedia Commons)*

That 2016 season ended in bitter disappointment. Third-year quarterback Derek Carr suffered a season-ending injury in week 16. The Raiders lost their final regular season game with rookie Connor Cook under center. That loss cost Oakland the division and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Instead, the Raiders had to travel to Houston to play against the vaunted Texans defense in the Wild Card round. Cook struggled mightily in the game and the Raiders lost 27-14, ending their season.

Many felt that had Carr stayed healthy, that team could have made a deep run in the postseason. After all, Oakland had seven Pro Bowlers and three players named to the AP All-Pro team. Still, despite the abrupt end to the season, it seemed like the Raiders were poised for another great season in 2017.

That great season never came. Oakland struggled through the 2017 season, facing a much tougher schedule. The 2016 Raiders had the 15th hardest schedule in the league. The 2017 Raiders had the fourth. Injuries limited the team as offensive tackle Donald Penn finished the season on IR. So did Oakland’s first two picks in the 2017 draft. Oakland still had bright spots. Khalil Mack dominated, becoming the first player ever to be named first-team All-Pro at two different positions in the same season.

However, in addition to the tougher schedule, there are some easy things to point to as the reason for regression. The offense fell off a cliff. The Raiders gained 50 fewer yards of offense per game and scored eight fewer points per contest. Not exactly a recipe for success. Oakland also went from the top team in turnover ratio in 2016 to tied for 29th in 2017. That was a swing over 30 possessions, roughly two per game. That could help explain some of the scoring and yardage difference.

After a 6-6 start, the Raiders finished the season on a four-game losing streak. That cost Jack Del Rio his job as the head coach. Little did we know, he would be the first of many crucial pieces to leave Oakland.

jon_gruden2 — Gruden is 101-88 in his career as a head coach, including the playoffs. *(Wikimedia Commons)*

It ended up being a tumultuous offseason for the Raiders. During the 2017 season, the team announced it would be moving to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. The fan base was already unsettled as a result. Then the Raiders signed Jon Gruden to a massive deal, reportedly worth about $100 million over 10 years.

Here’s the thing, Gruden hasn’t coached a football team in 10 years. His last gig was as the Buccaneers coach from 2002 to 2008. He did win a Super Bowl during that first season, beating none other than the Oakland Raiders.

The move made a lot of sense from the story perspective. Gruden had been the head coach of the Raiders 1998 to 2001, only to be forced out by former Raiders owner Al Davis. Gruden has said he feels like there is a lot that he would like to do to finish his legacy in Oakland.

When you pay a coach that much money though, it makes it really difficult to explain to your players that you can’t pay them. The team elected to extend Derek Carr’s contract with a lucrative deal that was the richest in NFL history for a short period of time. It seemed like the logical move, until the consequences quickly followed.

Khalil Mack is one of the best defensive players in NFL history, yet the Raiders did not pay him. Mack held out all summer long in hopes of landing a new contract. It never came, at least not from Oakland. Just before the start of the season, Gruden shipped Mack to Chicago for a package of draft picks. Mack has been a beast through the first four weeks of the NFL season. He is tied for second in the league with five sacks. He also leads the league with four forced fumbles alongside J.J. Watt, and has an interception.

The loss of Mack leaves the Raiders seemingly in a rebuild mode. Oakland has started the season 1-3 and shows no signs of turning it around. It needed overtime and a bit of assistance from the officials to pull off the victory and avoid what would have been a truly terrible start to 2018. The Raiders have scored the fifth fewest points this season. Apparently, Gruden does not really know how to rebuild either.

Thinking about it, it’s not too shocking considering this is a franchise known for the mantra “Just Win Baby.” The Raiders were never good at rebuilding. They struggled to do so for the aforementioned 14 years without a winning record. Oakland failed to draft well or attract free agents to help turn the franchise around. The environment for this Raiders franchise has been toxic for years. Even when it did bring in top-tier talent, like Randy Moss or Charles Woodson for the second time, it couldn’t convert that into true success. Looking at this Raiders team now, one that is going to require a ton of roster turnover and a general talent overhaul, Gruden has not positioned himself to rebuild in the coming years.

Oakland has the oldest roster in the NFL. The Raiders on average are 27.32 years old, according to Spotrac. The next youngest team is the Atlanta Falcons at 27. Oakland is more than a full year older than the league average. It also has the most players signed over the age of 30. Gruden has built a team ready to win this season, but it will come nowhere close to even making it to the playoffs. Gruden is also burying Marquel Lee and Karl Joseph, young players with bright futures, on the depth chart.

At this point just two years ago. The Raiders were 3-1 and seemed like a team destined to compete for the next several years. Today, this team is years away from competing. Gruden has one hell of a task ahead of him and this organization has some explaining to do as to how quickly it let the team fall into turmoil.

Could Earl Thomas be the Solution to the Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell Problem?

September 27, 2018 Chris McGlynn Football, Free Agency, NFL 2018 NFL season, Earl Thomas, Football, LeVeon Bell, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Trade

The first and third-most talked about contract disputes (Khalil Mack is safely at number two) in the NFL this year have dragged on into the regular season. If you are a football fan, you no doubt know that Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell will not sign his franchise tag tender. You likely also know the Seahawks are locked in a heated dispute with safety Earl Thomas. Both are elite level players responsible for a lot of the success these two teams have had in recent years, but both seem equally intent on playing elsewhere in order to get a bigger paycheck. Speculation about where each could land continues to roll on, but it is possible Seattle and Pittsburgh could solve the other’s problem.

So far this year, Pittsburgh has been burned in the secondary. The Steelers have allowed the fifth most passing yards and are tied with the Saints for the most passing touchdowns given up. For Seattle, this team has stated it would like to get back to running the ball more. Unfortunately, the Seahawks rank 25th in rushing yards and have the third worst yards per carry average in the league. Even with a bevy of options in the backfield, no one has managed to really take control.

587px-leveon_bell_26_practicing_2013 — Bell has missed 15 games over the past three seasons with the Steelers. (*Wikimedia Commons)*

The truth is, the Steelers no longer need Bell. He would still be an upgrade over James Connor, but the second year back from the University of Pittsburgh ranks eight in yards from scrimmage so far this year. The need to patch up the secondary is a big one. Earl Thomas would be a huge upgrade over Sean Davis. Pro Football Focus ranks Davis as the 41st safety in the league. Thomas tops the list.

For Seattle, they have a number of young backs, but the chance to add Le’Veon Bell and potentially reduce the number of hits Russell Wilson takes would be massive. Bell had the second most yards from scrimmage in the league last year. His ability as a pass blocker and pass catcher would take a ton of pressure off Wilson. Even though Seattle has a couple of young running backs, none of them will ever come close to playing at the same level as Bell as he enters his prime.

Financially, there is some interesting movement here. Bell is going to want a massive extension. Todd Gurley set the market in a lot of ways for running backs when he negotiated his extension with the Rams. CBS Sports reported back in July Bell wanted roughly $17 million per year in the deal, turning down a massive five-year $70-million offer from Pittsburgh. Seattle might be willing to go a little higher to land him. Using Spotrac, I put together a contract that pays Le’Veon an average of $15.1 million per year in the form of a 5-year $75.5-million deal. That is still short of his asking price, but it tops the Steelers’ last offer.

556px-earl_thomas_2014 — Thomas has 28 career interceptions, including three this season. *(Wikimedia Commons)*

Thomas wants to be paid as well. Eric Berry is the highest paid safety in the league out in Kansas City. The Steelers already have a Bell-sized opening in their cap number, so absorbing Thomas’ cap hit this season would be no big deal. Signing Thomas to something like a 4-year $48 million contract should appease him. It would put him in the same category as Berry and Tyrann Mathieu in terms of average salary.

These are just some rough numbers I ran, but both seem like realistic contracts for each of them to sign. Bell and Thomas both desperately need a change of scenery. It checks a lot of boxes for both teams, filling a need, sending the player to the opposite conference to avoid playing them again and moving on from a player that clearly no longer wants to be part of the organization.

NFL Power Rankings 2018: Week 3

September 25, 2018September 25, 2018 Chris McGlynn Football, NFL, Power Rankings 2018 NFL season, Los Angeles Rams, NFL, NFL Power Rankings

1. Los Angeles Rams: 3-0 (Last Week: 1)
The first battle for Los Angeles since 1994 ends in favor of the Rams. Jared Goff played a great game, save a redzone interception. The special teams bailed him out by blocking the ensuing punt and recovering for a touchdowns. There were some key injuries though. With a short week ahead and going on the road, week 4 will be very telling for Los Angeles.

2. Kansas City Chiefs: 3-0 (Last Week: 4)
Records continue to fall as Patrick Mahomes continues to ball in Kansas City. The Chiefs have dominated teams through the first three weeks of the season. All three of their wins have been solid. The Chargers, Steelers and 49ers were all considered to be among the better teams in the league this year. The secondary might be terrible, but no one has even come close to slowing down Andy Reid’s high-powered offense.

3. Philadelphia Eagles: 2-1 (Last Week: 6)
Carson Wentz was back and managed to knock off some rust. It was a bit of an ugly win for the Eagles, but a win nonetheless. Philly should be getting healthier over the next few weeks as the trio of Alshon Jeffrey, Darren Sproles and Jay Ajayi all set to return soon. With their MVP-caliber quarterback back in action, we could see the Eagles return to the form that led them to the Super Bowl in the near future.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-1 (Last Week: 2)
And this is where the parity in the NFL kicks in once again. After the Jaguars beat the Patriots, they were riding high atop the AFC. Then they crashed back down to Earth with a loss to the short-handed Titans. Jacksonville faced a lot of the issues it struggled with in the past as the defense played lights out, but the offense struggled to score points. The Jets are on the schedule next, which should be a win, but the Jags lost to New York last year and with how this NFL season is going, nothing is for certain.

5. Minnesota Vikings: 1-1-1 (Last Week 3)
In other results that continue to make no sense, Minnesota laid an egg against Buffalo. The offensive line forgot how to block and Kirk Cousins was responsible for three turnovers. The Bills deserve a lot of credit for winning, but the Vikings played like it was the NFC Championship game. With a short week, Minnesota desperately needs to turn things around quickly heading to Los Angeles for a matchup with the Rams.

6. New England Patriots: 1-2 (Last Week: 5)
Take your hand off the panic button. It was not a good week for New England. There is no question this team is not as good as it was a year ago. The Patriots still have a lot to figure out, but they are still the best team in the AFC East and one of the top three teams in the AFC. A win over the currently undefeated Dolphins would do a lot to silence doubters.

7. Chicago Bears: 2-1 (Last Week: 9)
I will be honest, after the performance the Bears put on against the Cardinals, I don’t feel great about having them at seventh. However, who would you put ahead of them? This defense has been among the best in the league. It hasn’t really beaten anyone significant yet, but will get a chance to prove itself against Tampa Bay and Miami in its next two games. Also, trust in Matt Nagy. He seems like he is going to figure out what ails the offense before too long.

8. Baltimore Ravens: 2-1 (Last Week: 14)
One week after being embarrassed by Andy Dalton, the Ravens bounced back. Bend but don’t break proved to be the solution for Balitmore’s defense en route to an important win over Denver. It seems odd to call a week 3 game important, but it was a victory over another AFC team that could be the difference in what seems like it will be a tough AFC North.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers: 1-1-1 (Last Week: 12)
That second half did not do much to comfort anyone and Pittsburgh looks as undisciplined as ever, but it picked up a win, and a road win at that. Ben Roethlisberger picked up right where he left off against Kansas City. Unfortunately, the secondary reverted to its woeful ways after halftime. Still, four forced turnovers is a good place to start for the Steelers. If they can avoid committing as many penalties, wins should become easier to come by.

10. Carolina Panthers: 2-1 (Last Week: 18)
I will admit, heading into the season, I was very skeptical of this Panthers team. Most of my concerns were with the offense though and after three weeks, a lot of them have been alleviated. Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey work well together on the ground and Carolina can create just enough passing downfield to keep the defense honest. After intercepting Andy Dalton four times as well, it seems like this team is only getting better as the season rolls on.

11. Atlanta Falcons: 1-2 (Last Week: 8)
Even though the Falcons beat the Panthers in week 2, Atlanta has lost some big pieces in the meantime. Keanu Neal, Deion Jones, Andy Levitre, Devonta Freeman, Riccardo Allen and Takk McKinnley all find themselves on the injury report, and some of them aren’t coming back. The offense seems to be hitting its stride, scoring over 30 points each of the last two weeks, but if the defense cannot get healthy, it might not matter for the Falcons.

12. Green Bay Packers: 1-1-1 (Last Week: 7)
Sure it was a road game, but that was not the performance we are used to seeing from the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers and the offense mustered only 17 points. The defense was gashed by countless big plays. The Packers have not looked like a great team through three weeks. There are only so many times Rodgers can tell everyone to relax.

13. Miami Dolphins: 3-0 (Last Week: 17)
It is hard to know what to make of the Dolphins quite yet. They trailed at home against Oakland, but scored 21 points in the second half to pull off the comeback. Ryan Tannehill has played extremely well through the first three weeks of the season, but the running game disappeared against the Raiders. Despite being 3-0, Miami has yet to really secure a statement win. Beating the Patriots this week would certainly qualify.

14. Washington: 2-1 (Last Week: 19)
The parity in the NFL is reaching an interesting point. One week after falling flat against Indianapolis, Washington nearly doubled up Green Bay. The rushing attack came up huge as Adrian Peterson feasted on the Packers defense. Alex Smith put up solid numbers, but only completed 12 passes. It was a huge improvement, but there is still room to grow.

15. New Orleans Saints: 2-1 (Last Week: 22)
This seems a lot more like the Saints team we know. Drew Brees turned back the clocks with a vintage performance, setting the NFL record for career completions in the process. New Orleans might have the most dangerous offense in football outside of Kansas City when it gets going. Mark Ingram is only two weeks away from returning as well. Now, if someone could just teach them to play defense.

16. Cincinnati Bengals: 2-1 (Last Week: 10)
One week after tossing four touchdown passes, Andy Dalton threw four interceptions. The lack of consistency make the Bengals a tough team to trust, but they were missing Joe Mixon and A.J. Green left the game with an injury as well. Cincy still leads the suddenly very competitive AFC North, but faces a tough test with a trip to Atlanta on the horizon.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-1 (Last Week: 11)
It might seem like a bit of a steep drop, but this was exactly what every Buccaneers fan feared would happen. Tampa Bay’s offense committed four turnovers in the first half, including a pick-six by Ryan Fitzpatrick. It battled back in the second half, and the defense actually pitched a shutout, but the damage was already done. If not for some shaky kicking by Chris Boswell, this game might have even been a bit further out of reach when Tampa started to make its late push. Jameis Winston returns this week as well, potentially throwing this team into chaos about who should start at quarterback.

18. Denver Broncos: 2-1 (Last Week: 15)
A lot of the concerns about this Broncos team came to light in the loss to the Ravens. Case Keenum was rather pedestrian throwing for under 200 yards with no touchdowns and the running game could not bail Denver out. This is still a team more than capable of competing for a playoff spot, but with a trip to Arrowhead upcoming, the offense needs to get into gear.

19. Los Angeles Chargers: 1-2 (Last Week: 16)
It is easy to look at the scoreline and think the Chargers were a step below the Rams, but Anthony Lynn’s squad put up a good fight. If not for a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown, this game would’ve been a whole lot closer. Last year’s first round pick Mike Williams flashed some of his potential and the ground game looked solid. If Los Angeles can use the rushing attack early to control the tempo, the Chargers should start winning more games.

20. Tennessee Titans: 2-1 (Last Week: 23)
Thankfully for the Titans, style points are worth nothing in the NFL. The thing holding Tennessee back from being higher on this list is the battered situation of its quarterback group. Marcus Mariota can barely grip a football and Blaine Gabbert took a nasty shot to the head. The Titans will probably need to score a few more points with the defending champs coming to town.

21. Indianapolis Colts: 1-2 (Last Week: 21)
The defense came to play. The offense was almost nowhere to be found. Indy managed just 209 yards of total offense for a pathetic 3.7 yards per play. The sad truth is that Andrew Luck might never truly be the same quarterback he was back in 2015 before all these injuries piled up. The evidence was never clearer than watching Jacoby Brissett come off the bench to attempt the potential game-winning Hail Mary pass.

22. Seattle Seahawks: 1-2 (Last Week: 27)
All I’m going to say is the Seahawks better pay Earl Thomas soon. The veteran safety intercepted two passes against Dallas and made life a lot easier for the Seattle offense. Chris Carson cracked the hundred-yard mark, but it took him 32 carries. Overall, this was a massive improvement for the Seahawks, but the jump was from dreadful to below average. This team still has a lot to prove.

23. Dallas Cowboys: 1-2 (Last Week: 20)
Turnovers killed the Cowboys as the offense sputtered once again on the road. Dallas is sticking to its gameplan as Ezekiel Elliott is tied for the league lead in rushing yards through the first three weeks. However, the poor play in the secondary and the inability to generate a downfield passing threat are huge red flags. This team is missing Dez Bryant and Jason Witten.

24. New York Giants: 1-2 (Last Week: 25)
Pat Shurmer deserves a lot of praise for his handling of this game. He kept the Giants moving the ball efficiently on the ground and kept Eli Manning about as clean as possible considering the talent level on the offense line and on the Texans’ defensive front. Heading home with a win is crucial for this team, but the defense will need to turn it up a notch with the Saints coming to visit.

25. Detroit Lions: 1-2 (Last Week: 28)
Wow. This does not make up for how poorly the Lions played to open the season, but it means a lot for how Detroit fans view Matt Patricia. The Lions finally had a 100-yard rusher as rookie Kerryon Johnson crossed the century mark. Matt Stafford was solid if unspectacular. The secondary played some of the best football I’ve seen in Detroit in a long time. The win means a lot, but it will mean a lot more if the Lions can go into Dallas and build on the positives.

26. Cleveland Browns: 1-1-1 (Last Week: 29)
LeBron who? OK, that’s definitely pushing it, but it felt a bit like Cleveland found its new king on Thursday night as Baker Mayfield came off the bench to lead a second-half comeback and end the Browns’ 19-game losing streak. There is no looking back now and the extra prep the team got heading into a matchup with Oakland could have the Browns on the cusp of a winning record for the first time since November of 2014.

27. New York Jets: 1-2 (Last Week: 24)
Just in case anyone had forgotten, the Jets reminded the whole league they are still a rebuilding team after losing in Cleveland. It was part of a tough schedule to open the season travel wise as New York played it’s third game in 10 days. Still, Sam Darnold showed he is a rookie with a lot to learn and the defense still cannot generate a pass rush without blitzing. It could be a long season for the Jets.

28. Houston Texans: 0-3 (Last Week: 26)
For a team as talented as the Texans supposedly are, it is unbelievable they are one of just three teams in the league without a win. The pass rush showed up against New York, as did the passing game, but Houston still came up short. Bill O’Brien has to figure out what is holding this team back and fast. Dropping to 0-4 with a loss to the Colts would end its season.

29. Buffalo Bills: 1-2 (Last Week: 31)
I’m not going to claim for even a second that I saw this coming, but I did think the Bills looked a lot better in week 2. They looked even better thrashing Minnesota at home with a 27-6 victory. Josh Allen showed why he was a top-10 pick in the draft and Buffalo found a way to move the ball on the ground even without LeSean McCoy. This team is still far from contending, but it might be a bit more competitive than most initially thought.

30. San Francisco 49ers: 1-2 (Last Week: 13)
And with that, the 49ers hopes for a successful season end. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a torn ACL, meaning he is done for the year. San Francisco is already at 1-2 and started 1-10 last year before Garoppolo took over as quarterback. On the bright side, a high draft pick for a team that already has a franchise quarterback can be a very valuable asset.

31. Oakland Raiders: 0-3 (Last Week: 30)
John Gruden said in an interview that he wouldn’t take the Raiders money if he wasn’t successful. It is time to start handing it back over. Oakland is arguably the worst team in the league. The major difference separating it from Arizona is the fact it is not starting a rookie quarterback. Oakland is being outscored by about 10 points per game and owns the worst turnover ratio in the league. The Raiders do have an easy schedule remaining, but need to drastically improve for this not to seem like a season that set the franchise back several years.

32. Arizona Cardinals: 0-3 (Last Week: 32)
Well, all of the rookie quarterbacks taken in the top-10 are now in control of the starting role. Josh Rosen will likely join Baker Mayfield in making his first NFL start in week 4. It was a rough start for Rosen as he threw two interceptions to close the game. One was called back for an offsides penalty, but Rosen still took a sack to eventually end the contest. Even though it was a close game, Arizona still looks like the worst team in the NFL.

Colin Kaepernick Succeeded

September 24, 2018September 27, 2018 Chris McGlynn Football, NFL, Social Issues 2018 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick, National Anthem, Nike, San Francisco 49ers

Like it or not, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick succeeded when he started taking a knee during the national anthem. He also shed some light on the NFL’s clear lack of a moral compass.

It has been almost two years since the start of the controversial protest. In that time, the meaning, message and significance of Kaepernick’s actions have become part of national news and debate. That alone means he has accomplished a lot.

Kaepernick has explicitly stated his protest is about police brutality and racial inequality, two major issues that face our country today. Regardless of which side of the conversation you stand on, you cannot deny that the conversation is happening.

Without trying to get too political here, I want to focus more on the overall impact of Kaepernick’s protest. It has raised awareness across the country about important issues. It is because of him that these conversations are being had. Washington Post writer Kent Babb quoted an NFL owner in September of 2017 as saying, “The thing that he’s done probably more effectively than any team community relations staff or owner or coach could do for other players is [point out] that they do have the ability to affect the national dialogue.”

National dialogue has certainly been impacted. A small group of players across the NFL joined in with the protest. Fans boycotted the league because it could not curb the behavior. The president tweeted about it regularly, attacking commissioner Roger Goodell for not stopping the behavior.

Several other NFL players formed the Players Coalition, working for social change. They credited Kaepernick for starting a movement. Back in May, that group partnered with the NFL to dedicate about $90 million to battling social inequality.

For Kaepernick, it is more than just a protest. In 2017, he donated $1 million to various charities across the country. Greg Bishop and Ben Baskin do an excellent job profiling the choices he made in making these contributions and break down where the money went.

Then of course there is the Nike ad. The fact that Nike was willing to take this risk says a lot about the state of the NFL right now. The league had no idea this campaign was coming and it is meant to inspire. It has sparked protest from those who view any association with Kaepernick as disrespectful to the military, but the message from the ad is actually quite inspiring, encouraging kids to chase their dreams.

There are still drawbacks. The message is often times misconstrued and the debate can quickly turn into personal attacks of someone’s character. Many feel that Kaepernick is ignorant in his action, especially with the Nike ad slogan, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Perhaps that mantra is a little too on the nose when one of the main critiques of his protest is that it disrespects the military, people who genuinely sacrifice their lives for our freedom. In my opinion, Nike probably went a bit too far. Kaepernick sacrificed his NFL career for his protest, but the idea of “sacrificing everything” is better-suited to describe members of the armed forces.

At the same time, Kaepernick has sacrificed a lot of his own personal gains in order to continue this protest. Without the controversy that surrounds him, he would certainly be on an NFL roster, making several millions of dollars. And yes, he would be on an NFL roster if he had never knelled during the national anthem. Robert Griffin III is currently a member of the Baltimore Ravens. The last time the two of them played in the regular season, Kaepernick put up far better numbers, throwing 16 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions in 12 games. Griffin managed a meager two touchdowns and three interceptions in five appearances. Kaepernick also had more passing yards and rushing yards per game and the two had identical completion percentages. Simply stated, Kaep was the better player. Yet, it is RG3 who finds himself on an NFL roster.

Robert Griffin III — Griffin is currently the third quarterback on the Ravens’ roster.

I’m not saying Kaepernick should be starting anywhere, but he is good enough to be a backup quarterback. He has plenty of experience and was on a team that reached the Super Bowl in 2013. I mean Nathan Peterman has a job! That guy has thrown two touchdown and seven interceptions, and owns a career completion percentage of 43! The point is, Kaepernick would most certainly be on an NFL roster if not for the anthem protest.

You can dispute how much of a sacrifice this really is, but when you look at the number of NFL players that hold out or complain about not being paid enough money, Kaepernick is holding himself to a higher standard.

The fact he isn’t on a roster, but Mychal Kendricks has a roster spot is possibly the most disappointing part of this whole issue. Kendricks was indicted and charged with insider trading at the beginning of this month. He now faces 25 years in prison for his crimes. After the news broke regarding the charges, the Cleveland Browns released him. Just a few weeks later, he is now starting for the Seattle Seahawks.

Kendricks’ presence juxtaposed to Kaepernick’s absence illustrates the hypocrisy of the NFL. The fact that a convicted criminal is on a roster ahead of a man standing up for social change is disgusting. You might not like what Kaepernick kneels for or the message he is promoting, but he is not a criminal. He is acting upon a constitutional right to peacefully protest. The willingness of NFL owners to sign players who are criminals just reminds everyone the league is a business and willing to look the other way as long as the negative publicity does not effect the bottom line. It also underlines the reality that off-the-field issues can be over looked, though it continues to prevent Kaepernick from being in an NFL jersey.

Editor’s note: Since I first published this, there were signs that this controversy is no longer going to bar players from being in the league. Former 49ers safety Eric Reid signed with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. Reid was the first player to join Kaepernick in taking a knee during the national anthem back in 2016. This does not solve everything, but it is progress. Reid, much like Kaepernick, deserves to be on an NFL roster.

People on both sides of the issue have been offended or hurt by the words spoken and actions taken. Unfortunately, that is often how change comes about. It requires patience and perseverance.

And Kaepernick has proven that he will be patient in his pursuit of change. Two years later, he still does not have an NFL contract. He rarely makes public appearances. He continues to embark on philanthropic missions.

Love him or hate him, Kaepernick has started a movement, he has sparked a conversation and he has forever changed how athletes will view their platform. On those grounds, his protest has definitely been a success.

NFL Power Rankings 2018: Week 2

September 19, 2018September 19, 2018 Chris McGlynn Football, NFL, Power Rankings Football, Los Angeles Rams, NFL, NFL Power Rankings

1. Los Angeles Rams: 2-0 (Last Week: 4)
The Cardinals are terrible. They have the fewest points scored through the first two weeks. However, the Rams look like the best team in football right now. The offense is deep and loaded. The same can be said for the defense. Los Angeles is taking this Super Bowl or bust mentality seriously.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-0 (Last Week: 5)
Revenge achieved. Well kind of. It doesn’t mean quite as much as a trip to the Super Bowl, but Doug Marrone and his staff put together the perfect game plan to beat New England. Jacksonville looks like it is better on offense this season, and that was without Leonard Fournette. If Blake Bortles can come even remotely close to playing at that same level, the Jaguars could win a lot of game this season and make a deep postseason run once again.

3. Minnesota Vikings: 1-0-1 (Last Week 3)
On one hand, the fact that Minnesota managed a tie is spectacular. On the other, the fact that Daniel Carlson missed three field goals, including the potential game-winner in overtime is infuriating. The Vikings are still settling in after making some major offseason moves. They will have a bye week… I mean play the Bills next week at home.

4. Kansas City Chiefs: 2-0 (Last Week: 6)
Patrick Mahomes just broke a record previously shared by Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, but I don’t know if this team is Super Bowl bound quite yet. There is a lot of season left and the Chiefs have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Kansas City might have the best offense in the league with so much speed all over the field. The return of Eric Berry from injury will likely sure up the secondary.

5. New England Patriots: 1-1 (Last Week: 2)
That was rough. Blake Bortles made the Patriots defense look like Swiss cheese. The Patriots trailed 24-3 in the third quarter and while they made it close in the fourth, it was not enough to alleviate some doubts about the level of play. The addition of Josh Gordon has the potential to jump start this offense as it waits for Julian Edelman to return.

6. Philadelphia Eagles: 1-1 (Last Week: 1)
Umm…what? Ryan Fitzpatrick torched the vaunted Eagles defense. Philly was susceptible to the big play as it gave up a pair of 75-yard passing scores. The good news though? Carson Wentz will start against the Colts next week. Philadelphia is still missing Alshon Jeffrey and might have lost Mike Wallace for the season. Wentz’s return couldn’t come at a better time.

7. Green Bay Packers: 1-0-1 (Last Week: 7)
It wouldn’t shock me if the average blood pressure of Wisconsin is unnaturally high following the first two weeks of the NFL season. Between Aaron Rodgers’ injury, a furious second half comeback against Chicago and a nail-biting tie with Minnesota, Green Bay has had an eventful start to the year. The Packers probably would have won this game if not for a questionable penalty on Clay Matthews took away a game-clinching interception. The focus now shifts to earning a road win against Washington.

8. Atlanta Falcons: 1-1 (Last Week: 8)
Atlanta showed flashes of the offense of old in a 31-24 victory over Carolina. Matt Ryan played arguably his best game with Steve Sarkisian as the offensive coordinator to date, registering a 95.6 Total QBR. Tevin Coleman made his case to be the bellcow back as well, something the Falcons should legitimately consider even when Devonta Freeman returns.

9. Chicago Bears: 1-1 (Last Week: 12)
Let’s call it the Khalil Mack effect. Chicago leads the league through two weeks with 10 (!!!) sacks. Mitch Tribusky showed against Seattle he still has a long way to go, but the Bears defense is good enough to win games. Between two forced fumbles and a pick-six, Chicago’s defense has fans thinking back to the last time the Bears were in a Super Bowl. It still has a bit of ways to go in order to reach that level, but it might not be long before the Monsters of the Midway are truly back to contender status.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 2-0 (Last Week: 15)
The Bengals seemed like they were going to run away with the game on Thursday night after A.J. Green scored a hat trick in the first half. Baltimore made it competitive, but Cincinnati was the better team. Joe Flacco threw for 376 yards, but he attempted 55 passes and the Bengals picked him twice. With Pittsburgh struggling and Cleveland looking as it usually does, Cincy is in a good spot right now.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-0 (Last Week: 18)
Defeating the defending champions is one way to announce to the rest of the league you mean business. FitzMagic struck once again as the veteran quarterback shredded the Eagles secondary en route to a win. There are still some red flags. Tampa has the worst yards per carry in the whole league and the secondary has allowed the second most passing yards through the first two weeks. A matchup with the Steelers, who can’t stop anyone from going deep on them, on Monday night could turn into a shootout. So far, that has worked well for the Buccaneers.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers: 0-1-1 (Last Week: 10)
Pittsburgh is not in free fall, but it is getting somewhat close. The Steelers gave up six touchdowns to Patrick Mahomes and still almost won the game. Ben Roethlisberger played one of the best games of his career. Falling behind early never allowed the Steelers to get the ground game on track. Pittsburgh visits the top passing game in the league next as it travels to Tampa. Mike Tomlin needs to find a solution in the secondary.

13. San Francisco 49ers: 1-1 (Last Week: 14)
It wasn’t perfect, but it was the first win of the 2018 campaign for San Francisco. Jimmy Garoppolo was asked to do a lot less this week and his level of play reflected that. If the pass protection can pick up, the 49ers allowed six sacks this week, expect San Francisco to look a bit more like the team that closed last season on a five-game winning streak.

14. Baltimore Ravens: 1-1 (Last Week: 9)
The Ravens were lucky not to be blown out by the Bengals after falling behind 21-0 early in the second quarter. After dominating Buffalo to open the season, Baltimore came back down to Earth. This Ravens team just barely missed the playoffs last season and could be in danger of that again if it continues to struggle in the secondary. Some run support wouldn’t hurt either.

15. Denver Broncos: 2-0 (Last Week: 13)
Denver barely survives to make it to 2-0. Brandon McManus knocked through a 39-yarder at to earn a 19-17 win. This rushing attack continues to flash promise as the Broncos ran for 168 yards at 6 yards per carry. Case Keenum still doesn’t look like the player he was a year ago though and the defense allowed Derek Carr to complete 29 of 32 passes, so there is still plenty to work on for this young team.

16. San Diego Chargers: 1-1 (Last Week: 19)
Flying cross-country is tough for every team and the Chargers handled it well. There are certainly concerns though. After leading 28-6 at halftime, Buffalo outscored Los Angeles 14-3 in the second half. The Chargers hit the road again, this time to face the Rams. It will need to play a much more complete game to pull off the upset.

17. Miami Dolphins: 2-0 (Last Week: 22)
Through two weeks of the NFL season, the Miami Dolphins are the kings of the AFC East. Now, that may not last long, but the Dolphins defense was opportunistic and rattled the Jets’ rookie quarterback to the tune of three sacks and two interceptions. The defense also bottled up the New York ground game. If Miami can continue to pace its offense running the ball with Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore, it could find itself picking up enough wins to sneak into the playoffs.

18. Carolina Panthers: 1-1 (Last Week: 17)
It was a loss, but Carolina showed signs of improvement after an underwhelming first game against Dallas. The Falcons tore apart the Panther defense, but Carolina’s passing game looked strong. The run game was effective. The Panthers have played great defensively and struggled offensively in one game and flipped the script in the other. The next step is putting it together to win crucial games down the stretch.

19. Washington: 1-1 (Last Week: 11)
Well that was a total dud. After blowing out the Cardinals to open the season, Washington failed to score a touchdown at home. Indy stymied the ground game that carried Alex Smith and company through Phoenix the week before. It is back to the drawing board for Jay Gruden as he needs to find a solution to the poor offense play with the Packers coming to town.

20. Dallas Cowboys: 1-1 (Last Week: 23)
Don’t let the scoreline fool you, Dallas dominated on Sunday night. The Giants scored 10 points in the final minute and 27 seconds. While it wasn’t great to give up those points, the Cowboys defense sacked Eli Manning six times and held Saquon Barkley to just 28 yards rushing. The team is still looking for a solution at wide receiver (none of them had more than four catches), but this was a big win for Big D over a division rival.

21. Indianapolis Colts: 1-1 (Last Week: 24)
The Indianapolis defense showed up in week two. Washington running backs combined for 301 yards against Arizona. The Colts only allowed 144 to Washington backs this weeks. Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompson and Rob Kelly totaled 22 yards on 16 carries. Indy never surrendered a touchdown either, the first time the defense held an opponent without a touchdown since December 18, 2016. This doesn’t feel like the Colts of old, and that is probably a good thing.

22. New Orleans Saints: 1-1 (Last Week: 21)
Yeah, the Saints won, but does anyone else feel like they deserved to? Didn’t think so. New Orleans looked awful for the second straight week, benefiting from an inept kicker in Cleveland. The Saints trailed 12-3 midway through the third quarter before scoring 18 in the fourth quarter to steal a win. Michael Thomas continues to look like a stud and Alvin Kamara has avoided a sophomore slump, but turnovers and a struggling secondary make this a hard team to believe in.

23. Tennessee Titans: 1-1 (Last Week: 27)
Tennessee is forging the identity of a hard-nosed football team. They averaged only 2.9 yards per carry and generated 283 yards of total offense. However, the defense got after Deshaun Watson, sacking him four times and intercepting him once. It was certainly ugly, but it seems like a recipe the Titans can rely on to be competitive, especially once Marcus Mariota gets back.

24. New York Jets: 1-1 (Last Week: 20)
Well that was over fast. After dominating Detroit, the Jets hosted Miami and laid an egg. Dropped passes, tons of fumbles and two costly interceptions from a young quarterback cost New York a chance to open 2-0 for the first time since 2015. The Jets have a short week as they travel to Cleveland. This will be the third game for New York in 10 days, so don’t be surprised if it struggles again.

25. New York Giants: 0-2 (Last Week: 16)
I was optimistic after watching the Giants come close against the Jaguars. After watching the offense look lifeless for a second straight week and seeing the offensive line struggle even worse than it had the week before, that optimism is gone. The offensive line needs a full rebuild. Until New York does that, it will continue to pick in the top 10.

26. Houston Texans: 0-2 (Last Week: 25)
Another week, another bitter taste for the Texans. Houston outgained Tennessee 437 to 283 but lost by a field goal. Deshaun Watson looked a bit more like the player we saw last season and Will Fuller exploded for an eight-catch 113-yard performance capped off with a touchdown. The biggest thing missing from this team is a pass rush. Houston has just three sacks in two games, tied for 23rd in the league. That’s where the Texans finished last season without J.J. Watt. Time for the big names to step up.

27. Seattle Seahawks: 0-2 (Last Week: 26)
The defense was better than advertised, especially without both Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. The offense struggled, a lot. There was very little run game to speak of. Russell Wilson was sacked six times, fumbled twice and threw a pick-six. Seattle faces a mediocre Dallas team for its home opener. It desperately needs a win to fend off what would be calls for a new coaching staff and possibly a new front office.

28. Detroit Lions: 0-2 (Last Week: 30)
This is definitely not where the Lions wanted to be through the first two weeks of the season. However, Detroit still has time to get things on track. The truth is, this team is probably better than its ranking spot. It also plays in the best division in the NFC this year, making the playoffs look close to impossible to reach.

29. Cleveland Browns: 0-1-1 (Last Week: 28)
Only the Browns could lose the way they did. Zane Gonzalez missed two field goals and two extra points in the contest to cost Cleveland the game. However, the Browns defense is the real deal. Myles Garrett and company are making life difficult for opposing offenses. In back-to-back weeks, they’ve held Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees under 22 points.

30. Oakland Raiders: 0-2 (Last Week: 29)
That one stings. Oakland seemed poised to win its first game of the new John Gruden era only to lose on a buzzer-beater field goal to Denver. The Raiders looked better than they had a week ago, but that defense is sorely missing its top player, who is now acting as a wrecking ball in Chicago.

31. Buffalo Bills: 0-2 (Last Week: 32)
It was another loss for Buffalo, but there were bright spots. Josh Allen looked a lot better than Nathan Peterman, but that’s not too hard. The Bills scored a touchdown, actually two. The defense played a bit better against a talented Chargers squad. That kind of performance moves them out of the basement.

32. Arizona Cardinals: 0-2 (Last Week: 31)
Now the Rams are really good, but when you get shutout and your team has managed six points in two weeks, you deserve to be at the bottom. Sam Bradford looks lost. There is no respect for the pass so teams can crowd the line against Arizona. It’s looking like a lost season, meaning it’s only a matter of time before Rosen takes the field.

The Aftermath

When sporting news breaks, we cover the fallout.

Author: Chris McGlynn

The Collapse of the Oakland Raiders

Could Earl Thomas be the Solution to the Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell Problem?

NFL Power Rankings 2018: Week 3

NFL Power Rankings 2018: Week 2

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