In my book the Oakland Raiders have a first round draft edge on the other 31 NFL teams. While most are spending a zillion hours scouting and sizing up the top college player to add to their team come draft day 2012, the Raiders equivalent to a first round draft pick is practicing with his teammates getting ready for a championship run.
Raiders Quarterback Carson Palmer came to the team last season in exchange for 2012 1st round and 2013 2nd round draft picks. When you look at the experience and accomplishments of Palmer you can't deny that he's a proven leader and passionate competitor.
Though Palmer has only two playoff appearances in his eight seasons as a starting quarterback, one in which he had only 1 completed pass for 66 yards before a serious injury almost ended his career, his overall success in college and the pros is impressive:
Career highlights and awards
- 2× Pro Bowl (2005, 2006)
- Pro Bowl MVP (2006)
- NFL Alumni Ouarterback of the Year (2005)
- FedEx Air Player of the Year (2005)
- AFC Player of the Year (2005)
- Bengals franchise records
- Heisman Trophy (2002)
- Consensus All-American (2002)
Sure there's some promising young quarterbacks in this year's draft, but I'll take a proven one over a question mark any day. Yesterday Carson Palmer spoke publicly for the first time since the season ended. The best thing to come out of his mouth was that he wants to be a Raider. The second best was this: "We're close to a championship team. There's a lot of work that needs to be put in and a lot of hurdles that we need to get over, but we need to be heading into this season thinking more than just playoffs."
Now that's a quarterback speaking Raider Nation language for a change. Last season's goal was to make the playoffs, this season we want the belt and everything that comes with it. When was the last time a first round rookie quarterback led his team to a championship?
For the first time in many, many off seasons the Oakland Raiders will be assembling not just shiny new parts, but highly functional players willing to sacrifice personal glamour for team glory. Many are already on the silver and black roster. GM Reggie McKenzie and the new coaching staff have made it very clear, while Al Davis rests in peace the Oakland Raiders are taking a new approach in returning to greatness. Though the motto will continue to be "Just Win Baby," the effort on the field will reflect a strategic plan being carried out to perfection with few mistakes.
The Oakland Raiders are being structured to win in ways they been known to lose, discipline, consistency, domination. And it all starts with the right players playing together in a system they all believe can win them a championship. Carson is on board to steer the offense to a championship, let's see if the rest of the product representing Oaktown can deliver the goods this season.
Win, Lose or Tie.........
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