Post by TheShadow on Dec 10, 2003 18:53:20 GMT -5
www.bayarea.com
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
The Raiders remained in playoff contention until a loss against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 30 removed any and all possibilities.
Yet, it makes just as much sense to postulate that Oakland's hopes of defending its AFC title ended in a season-opening loss to the Tennessee Titans. Injuries sustained in that game by wide receiver Jerry Porter and quarterback Rich Gannon had a lingering effect that day and for the rest of the season.
First, Porter left the game in the first half because of hernia, and he missed the next five games.
The Titans then set in motion a confluence of events that led to the unraveling of Gannon and, by extension, the Raiders. They did so with two hard my heros of Gannon in the fourth quarter. One of those my heros forced Gannon to miss one play.
For the rest of the season, Gannon rarely resembled the league MVP that he was last season, even if he refused to cite injuries for a decline in accuracy and effectiveness. He soldiered on until an injury to his right shoulder sidelined him for good by the middle of the seventh game.
By that time, it was hard to keep straight the names and numbers of a Raiders roster that changed seemingly every day.
"I don't think I've ever seen 10 guys on (injured reserve), nine guys, whatever it is," Raiders receiver Tim Brown said. "So many new players. It's like mini-camp around here. You walk around, 'Your name is ... ?' It's pretty weird for this time of year to have this situation going on, but we're trying to maintain, man."
Now comes word that defensive tackle John Parrella and right offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy are candidates to join 11 other teammates on the injured-reserve list.
That perhaps makes it even more remarkable how the Raiders staved off major injuries, for the most part, in 2002 and persevered with a roster laden with older players.
"By and large, the majority of our team, we were fortunate to remain healthy a year ago and take that run," coach Bill Callahan said. "This year we haven't been as fortunate."
Oh, really?
Twelve players who started at least half of Oakland's regular-season games last season have missed, or will have missed by season's end, a combined 70 games this year. Those 12 players missed a combined eight games in 2002, with right guard Mo Collins accounting for six of that total.
The sheer number of injuries is mind-boggling, Callahan said, even in a sport where injuries are accepted as inevitable.
"Injuries are going to happen," Callahan said, "but not at this number. I have never seen the injury total be this high."
Things are so bad right now that the Raiders are on their third starting quarterback and eyeing a fourth if Rick Mirer's sprained left ankle prevents his playing against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday
The candidates? Callahan's options are Rob Johnson and Tee Martin. Johnson was unemployed earlier this season after getting released by the Washington Redskins. Martin has not attempted a pass in regular-season game since joining the NFL in 2000.
Certainly, the Raiders now appreciate just how fortunate they were to navigate their way through 19 regular-season and postseason games without significant injuries beyond broken legs to cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tory James and a groin injury to defensive end Trace Armstrong.
Woodson and James returned less than three weeks after their surgeries. Armstrong finished on injured reserve after participating in one playoff game.
Armstrong doesn't stand out so much this season.
"It started in Tennessee and it hasn't let up all season," left guard Frank Middleton said. "We just got lucky last year, I guess, with not getting guys banged up. This year has been just the opposite."
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
The Raiders remained in playoff contention until a loss against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 30 removed any and all possibilities.
Yet, it makes just as much sense to postulate that Oakland's hopes of defending its AFC title ended in a season-opening loss to the Tennessee Titans. Injuries sustained in that game by wide receiver Jerry Porter and quarterback Rich Gannon had a lingering effect that day and for the rest of the season.
First, Porter left the game in the first half because of hernia, and he missed the next five games.
The Titans then set in motion a confluence of events that led to the unraveling of Gannon and, by extension, the Raiders. They did so with two hard my heros of Gannon in the fourth quarter. One of those my heros forced Gannon to miss one play.
For the rest of the season, Gannon rarely resembled the league MVP that he was last season, even if he refused to cite injuries for a decline in accuracy and effectiveness. He soldiered on until an injury to his right shoulder sidelined him for good by the middle of the seventh game.
By that time, it was hard to keep straight the names and numbers of a Raiders roster that changed seemingly every day.
"I don't think I've ever seen 10 guys on (injured reserve), nine guys, whatever it is," Raiders receiver Tim Brown said. "So many new players. It's like mini-camp around here. You walk around, 'Your name is ... ?' It's pretty weird for this time of year to have this situation going on, but we're trying to maintain, man."
Now comes word that defensive tackle John Parrella and right offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy are candidates to join 11 other teammates on the injured-reserve list.
That perhaps makes it even more remarkable how the Raiders staved off major injuries, for the most part, in 2002 and persevered with a roster laden with older players.
"By and large, the majority of our team, we were fortunate to remain healthy a year ago and take that run," coach Bill Callahan said. "This year we haven't been as fortunate."
Oh, really?
Twelve players who started at least half of Oakland's regular-season games last season have missed, or will have missed by season's end, a combined 70 games this year. Those 12 players missed a combined eight games in 2002, with right guard Mo Collins accounting for six of that total.
The sheer number of injuries is mind-boggling, Callahan said, even in a sport where injuries are accepted as inevitable.
"Injuries are going to happen," Callahan said, "but not at this number. I have never seen the injury total be this high."
Things are so bad right now that the Raiders are on their third starting quarterback and eyeing a fourth if Rick Mirer's sprained left ankle prevents his playing against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday
The candidates? Callahan's options are Rob Johnson and Tee Martin. Johnson was unemployed earlier this season after getting released by the Washington Redskins. Martin has not attempted a pass in regular-season game since joining the NFL in 2000.
Certainly, the Raiders now appreciate just how fortunate they were to navigate their way through 19 regular-season and postseason games without significant injuries beyond broken legs to cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tory James and a groin injury to defensive end Trace Armstrong.
Woodson and James returned less than three weeks after their surgeries. Armstrong finished on injured reserve after participating in one playoff game.
Armstrong doesn't stand out so much this season.
"It started in Tennessee and it hasn't let up all season," left guard Frank Middleton said. "We just got lucky last year, I guess, with not getting guys banged up. This year has been just the opposite."