Assessing the NFL Off-season Thus Far
Don Banks has a good take here on si.com, with nice words for the Browns (he calls them the team to beat in 2008 in the AFC North), Eagles, Saints, and Falcons.
Getting a thumbs down from Banks? Jets (he's not impressed with the moves they have made in free agency), 49ers, Dolphis, Chiefs, Titans, and Raiders. His write-up on the Raiders is noteworthy:
"• Oakland Raiders -- Where to begin? The Raiders gave defensive end-turned-tackle Tommy Kelly more than $18 million guaranteed despite the fact that the onetime undrafted collegiate free agent played just seven games last season and is coming off ACL surgery. They paid a steep price for receiver Javon Walker, who has had three knee surgeries and is said to be playing with a bone-on-bone situation in one of his knees. And they added ex-49ers offensive tackle Kwame Harris, a former first-round pick who couldn't even stay in the lineup for San Francisco's less-than-dominating offensive line last season.
Ex-Giants safety Gabril Wilson is a solid -- if unspectacular player -- but at $39 million, the Raiders had to over-pay to entice him to town. While it certainly made sense to re-sign running back Justin Fargas and franchise cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, the Raiders saw receiver Jerry Porter and quarterback Josh McCown walk away in free agency without getting anything in return. At this point, quarterback is again a concern, because no one knows if JaMarcus Russell is ready to take over the starting job. There are rumors that he's close to 300 pounds and not exactly prepared for his close-up.
Bolded part says what?
Holy Jared Lorenzen, Batman, that's, that's, that's a huge problem for the Raiders is remotely true. Quarterbacks that size can be lovable lugs enjoying life as a back-up. In, say, New York, for the Super Bowl champs. Quarterbacks that size who are #1 overall draft choices? Potentially franchise crippling. And not so much a lovable lug.