This is based on things being equal and all teams being healthy with injuries factored in this because that is to big of a variable to predict.

Monday, September 10 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 7:15 p.m. ESPN Win 1-0

Revenge and fired up with the new regime we dominate SD in the opener. Palmer will come out smoking! He gave us a chance to go to the playoffs last year. This year the the defense responds.

Week 17 (SDG) 102.6 rating 28 comp 43 att 65.1 pct 417yards 2 tds 1 int

Sunday, September 16 at Miami Dolphins 1:15 p.m. CBS Win Finally 2-0

The jinx is over and we blow out Miami the team is still fired up and are not distracted in Miami!

Sunday, September 23 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:15 p.m. CBS Loss 2-1

This will be a great game that is winnable game for logic sakes lets just list it as a loss.

Sunday, September 30 at Denver Broncos 1:05 p.m. CBS Loss 2-2

For arguments sake we are gonna split the AFC West games except for SD ending up 4-2 in the division.For arguments sake we are gonna be 3-5 on the road. Last year and the Raiders went 5-3. 3 wins on the road seems reasonable.Last year the Raiders went 6-6 against the AFC while giving one away in Buffalo and laying an egg in Miami.This year the raiders are going to be 8-4 against the AFC. Home we were 3-5 that trend in going to changes this year. The Raiders go 6-2 The energy form Raider nation will finally pay off.

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Released

03/15/2012 Shawntae Spencer from SF

Key

• UFA: Unrestricted free agent; a player who has completed four or more accrued seasons and whose contract has expired.
• RFA: Restricted free agent; a player who has completed three accrued seasons and whose contract has expired.
• Released: A player released by his team with years remaining on his contract.
• Franchised: A restricted or unrestricted free agent who was designated a franchise player. The designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives two first-round draft choices as compensation.
• Grade: After watching film and evaluating players, our scouts have assigned each a numeric grade from 40-100.

Grading Scale

• 90-100: Elite Player
  Player demonstrates rare abilities and can create mismatches that have an obvious impact on the game. ... Premier NFL player who has all the skills to consistently play at a championship level. ... Rates as one of the top players at his position in the league.
• 80-89: Outstanding Player
  Player has abilities to create mismatches versus most opponents in the NFL. ... A feature player who has an impact on the outcome of the game. ... Cannot be shut down by a single player and plays on a consistent level week in and week out.
• 70-79: Good Starter
  Solid starter who is close to being an outstanding player. ... Has few weaknesses and usually will win his individual matchup but does not dominate in every game, especially when matched up against the top players in the league.
• 60-69: Average Starter
  A valuable roster player but not a dominant player against the better players he faces on a weekly basis. ... Gives great effort and teams are glad to have him, but he may or may not go to the next level.
• 50-59: Good Backup
  This is a player who is really on the bubble and only starts because of a deficiency at the position. ... He lacks complete overall skills, and although he will battle, he will hinder his team's ability to play at a championship level if he is forced to be in the starting lineup consistently over a 16-game season. Teams don't mind having him on the roster but are always looking to upgrade.
• 40-49: Below Average Backup/Core Special Teamers
  Strictly a backup player who is not capable of starting. If forced to, he is only a short-term fix. ... He might make the roster because of special-teams contributions or experience. ... He is the type of player teams consistently look to replace with an upgrade. ... He always will be a borderline roster player.
• 30: Rookie (Post-draft)
  No professional tape to evaluate. These players will have an evaluation based on their college tape, but we will not put a new grade on them until after their rookie seasons. They will carry the 30 grade throughout their first NFL season.
• 20: Developmental Player
  Players with this grade have very little film to evaluate. Such players might flash potential in the preseason but don't have any regular-season performances to judge. they usually have very little experience but have to be tracked due to developmental potential.
• 10: Evaluation in Process
  Need more information

Since there is more hate for DHB in the in Raider Nation than love, I read a post on ESPN.com and it made me think about the DHB trade possibilities.

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How will Carson best attack the defense? From a historical standpoint from the middle to the left. Same basic zones that Jason Campbell has been successful. Jason does have a higher completion rate over the middle but Carson has out produced him via a 30-9 vs 9-5 TD/Int. This is an area of the field we have lacked production and should help out the offense.

The biggest positive I remember hearing about what Palmer brings to the Raiders is the ability to get his team out of a bad play at the line of scrimmage. That is an area I feel Jason struggled too often which led to some lack of production. With Campbell we were actually pretty good in the Red-Zone so I'm not dogging Campbell we seemed to lack some big play punch. Which led defenses to play between the goal line and us. When we attempted to stretch it was usually an incomplete pass. We bang a few of those and our offense will take us to the playoffs.

Working the middle of the field should help keep the safety's honest and if the start dropping backers in zone drops this will also create some gaps for our speed merchants and our running backs.

Another thing when I look at his success he works better to the areas when he can drive the ball going across his body. This isn't a shock when you look at the fact the Drew Brees and Tom Brady have similar completion percentage going away from their body as well. So that's really not a weakness just a fact of the position.

via i157.photobucket.com

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This is a re-post since I don't know how to refresh it to come up on the list... If you have already joined its the same group I previously posted

Games start Thursday!! It's not too late to show off your prognostication skills we seem to have a lot of experts here. Bragging rights could be yours...

We have 14 so far and room for 100 total players this will go through the playoffs. No points spread win or lose only with confidence points scoring...

http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/pickem/47136

Password: cliffbranch

We have been missing a few pieces and yes we lack a lil depth but we have a pretty solid core. We should prove all the prognosticators wrong!

Courtesy of CSN Bay Area

Some say Richard Seymour Doesn't make that big of a difference... You decide

Courtesy of felipeamri

Just remember speed kills and add in TJ and Moore

Courtesy of RAIDERLYFE3000

In case you forgot about Mike Mitchell his absence has been sorely missed! Yes this guy is underrated haven't figured out why the coaches kept him on ice. You watch the ability and see if we miss him in the defense? How much better the defense is when MM is in there?

Courtesy  bhamiltonplanb

Rowe was always around the ball somehow he wasn't drafted overshadowed by the hair of the lesser Matthews brother. There's not a lot of guys out there right now looks like there's a few. Do we sign now or wait for cut down.

Courtesy of FoxSports

There isn't much sex appeal in the names although the always mentioned Morrison, Tatupu and Tully Banta-Cain are available. Beyond that it just looks like slim pickings.

Unsigned Linebackers according to WaltersFootball.com

ILB

Lofa Tatupu, ILB, Seahawks. Age: 28.
Lofa Tatupu is no longer the elite inside linebacker he once was. Tatupu is coming off two knee surgeries and was already somewhat of a liability in coverage. Perhaps he can recover and improve his play a bit, but it's doubtful that he'll ever be a Pro Bowl-caliber athlete again.

 Kirk Morrison, ILB, Jaguars. Age: 29. Signed a one year deal with the Bills
Kirk Morrison is a decent middle linebacker who thrives in run support. He's not terrible in coverage, but could be better in that department.

Jameel McClain (ERFA), ILB, Ravens. Age: 26.   Somebody said he signed
Jameel McClain is serviceable as Baltimore's two-down inside linebacker next to Ray Lewis, but can be upgraded.

Kevin Bentley, ILB, Texans. Age: 31.
Kevin Bentley did a decent job filling in for DeMeco Ryans in the second half of the season. He could be brought back as a reserve 3-4 inside linebacker.

Gerald Hayes, ILB, Cardinals. Age: 30.

Marvin Mitchell, ILB, Saints. Age: 26.

Dannell Ellerbe (ERFA), ILB, Ravens. Age: 25.

Tavares Gooden (RFA), ILB, Ravens. Age: 26.

Brandon Chillar, ILB, Packers. Age: 28.

OLB

Tully Banta-Cain, DE/OLB, Patriots. Age: 31.
Tully Banta-Cain has 15 sacks in the past two years, but at 31, he's a declining rush linebacker who'll need a very good pass rusher across from him to be effective going forward. He's still good in run support.

Pisa Tinoisamoa, OLB, Bears. Age: 30.
Pisa Tinoisamoa missed some time with a knee scope, but otherwise had a pretty solid year as Chicago's two-down strongside linebacker

Jamar Williams, OLB, Panthers. Age: 27.

Julian Peterson, OLB, Lions. Age: 33.

Landon Johnson, OLB, Lions. Age: 30.

Keith Ellison, OLB, Bills. Age: 27.

Jordon Dizon, OLB, Lions. Age: 25.

Ashlee Palmer, OLB, Lions. Age: 25.

Courtesy of AloAloysius

Just added this interesting highlight reel since he had to chase TP all game

Welcome to the Silver and Black young man!

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Bleeding Silver isn't for everyone but for some its the only one! Now say it with me..

The Autumn wind is a pirate Blustering in from sea With a rollicking song he sweeps along Swaggering boisterously.His face is weatherbeaten He wears a hooded sash With a silver hat about his head And a bristling black mustache He growls as he storms the country A villain big and bold And the trees all shake and quiver and quake As he robs them of their gold. The Autumn wind is a Raider Pillaging just for fun He’ll knock you ‘round and upside down And laugh when he’s conquered and won.