For everything that is great about the NFL, the joke of a preseason does absolutely nothing but make me want the regular season to start sooner. Thank goodness they will be extending to maybe as many as 18 real games in the very near future. 

Oakland almost changed my opinion this year, although it had nothing to do with the games. First there was the Darrius Heyward-Bey drama if you will about whether or not he was the right choice in the draft. Quick, how many catches did that Crabtree guy get in Week 1? Hey-Bey will be starting tonight against San Diego and will get every shot to prove many wrong.

Don't forget the coaching soap opera in the Bay Area either, as Tom Cable is apparently beating up assistants now...really? Once the 'investigation' is over, my hope is that the Raiders can focus on the battles ON the field for once.

Jeff Garcia may have helped keep Mr. Vick from joining the Silver and Black, but his play couldn't keep him on the final roster. This was a strange call for many reasons, but obviously Oakland had no trade partners at the time. Now Garcia is with Philly, and JaMarcus Russell owns the present and future QB tag for the Raiders.

I'm still unsure of what to make out of the whole Richard Seymour saga, but his play for the defense could matter a lot for a young team. And make no mistake about it, Oakland is raw and untested, but the 2009-2010 Raiders will be fun to watch.

I'm sure some team will throw the former quarterback a lifeline, but Oakland needs to pass. I had been meaning to talk about the recent draft class for this post -- especially first pick Darrius Heyward-Bey. That will have to wait as the only thing fans want to see from the Raiders is a one sentence press release.

Short and simple will work as Oakland wishes Vick well upon his return to the NFL. It just won't be with the Silver and Black. 

As the off-season has proven, getting younger just isn't as important as leadership. Three veterans with over a decade of experience each are expected to usher in a new breed of old Silver and Black football. The trio will play key roles in this and should provide hope to fans desperate for a change in fortune.

Jeff Garcia surprised many by agreeing to join Tom Cable's attempt at bringing back a proud franchise from the abyss. Al Davis still rules the organization, but at least he is open to spending some money. Garcia starts the year as the back-up but if quarterback JaMarcus Russell struggles, the Raiders will have an easy choice. 

This situation is similar to the one in Arizona, and it may be the reason Garcia signed with Oakland. Joining the seasoned pro in the back field, Lorenzo Neal looks to continue his career as the starting fullback. He offers insurance to the rest of the talented crew of backs and will serve as the perfect teacher to the younger players.

Any more signs that the Raiders were satisfied with their depth changed earlier this month when Greg Ellis found a new home. Dallas cut the defensive end turned linebacker, and Oakland again turned heads with the signing. Ellis was expected to go with a proven winner, but maybe he knows something the rest of us are yet to find out.

Three players in three months made the trip to the Bay and found something to their liking. It very well could be the money, and no one would blame them for it in today's game. But maybe there is a chance that the real reason is to continue what the end of last season started. Of the five victories in 2008, three came in the final six games.

2009 belongs to the old guard, and there is still one interesting player out there who would look awfully good in an Oakland jersey... could lightning strike for the fourth time in four months? Garcia's former teammate in Tampa Bay, Derrick Brooks, has said he wants to play this season. I'm all for making the trio into a quartet given the recent acquisitions and the message it would pass on to the current roster. 

Just Win, Baby may not be dead after all.

San Francisco and Oakland share a lot in common, including many recent struggles. Both teams are also counting on a strong finish in 2009 in hopes of getting back on top within the next decade. This isn't as far-fetched as many NFL fans would think, especially given that both the AFC and NFC West are coming off some difficult times.

I am strictly in the corner of the Raiders, so I will let my partner in crime jump in with the 49ers' expectations. We look forward to an interesting summer and many exciting weeks of the upcoming campaign. Shoot us a note over at baybrawl@gmail.com as we are still working on our design. Many thanks to Brian for giving us this opportunity, and we are excited to help the BBF family grow by two!