Loud N' Proud by Blitzchick
Last Dance, Last Chance
On Friday evening, August 29th, the Seattle Seahawks, 2007 NFC Western Division Champions, hosted my beloved Raiders in a 23-16 victory.
The officiating was as bad as the coverage which gave us very little game, replays and basically was sub par?
That doesn't matter either.
That Shields can drag a defensive player about and catch a ball one handed and have no flag hit the turf? No big deal.
That the phantom flag, the Wizard of Oz "Ignore that flag on the field" flag that succeeded in giving their defense a chance to re-group as there was a discussion? NOT an issue.
Officiating, I have been advised and told game after game, does NOT have any direct bearing on the outcome of the game.
That the Raiders lost is not important.
That Pro Bowler Shane Lechler thew an interception after not being able to handle the snap. The comparisons to Garo Yepremium have already hit all media outlets. Thing is, this is just a preseason game, so everyone better get their digs in now. Bringing it up later? All preseason activity will be forgotten by this afternoon, forever.
This game was the last dance on a professional football field for some of these players. It was their last chance to shine and make a bid for a coveted roster spot, or hoping they get picked up from another team off waivers, or barring all else, find themselves on a practice squad, if not with the Raiders, with another team, their next best chance of making an active roster.
By the time this makes the internet, the decisions will have been made.
As of this moment, I haven't a clue who will or won't make the roster.
My guesses: - Arman Shields won't make our final roster, while we cross our fingers he makes it through waivers.
- Louis Rankin, even without Oren O'Neal, finds himself odd man out. Again we pray to what ever we believe in that he passes waivers.
- Adam Archuleta finds himself on the wrong end of the Turk's " Sorry you are not a winner, but thank you for playing" notice.
-Shane Simmons, signed so we had a human being in a jersey, might have a shot depending how seriously injured Robert Thomas is.
- Michael Waddell and Greyson Gunheim? Not enough game to keep them in any running.
All our guys have SOME game, just not enough.
Why do I think this when I saw Sam Williams miss a couple of tackles?
Down to a man, they never rolled over.
Look at DE Trevor Scott. Here's a young man that switched not only positiion, but also what side of the ball he played half way through his college career.
How about perrenial bubble man Fred Wakefield? Will his change from DL to OL secure his spot on the team? (My answer, yes!)
So check those dance cards, because some players are done, and their cards are not only empty, but will probably remain so.
I would like to thank those like Shane Simmons and Glenn Pakulak that donned the colors, took the field , and played their hearts out, knowing that this was probably the last time they'll see a professional NFL game field as a player. Yes, it was self serving - they have hopes of catching on somewhere, somehow. It was their chance to shine somehow and get noticed.
Not much else to say, because this game isn't memorable.
It doesn't matter execpt for those few players that now have secured one of those last 7-8 roster spots to face Denver.
Won't be long now til everything counts and we dance for real.
Until then? It just doesn't matter. Those dance cards, if they get signed by some NFL team, is all that counts now. Last chance for some, for others, it'll be just the beginning.
As ever,
Win, lose or tie, RAIDERS til I DIE!
BlitzChick
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