The great Raiders teams of the integrated NFL of the 1970s had plenty of white stars at every position on offense and defense except for cornerback. It's a much different story in Oakland in today's segregated NFL.
The Raiders actually are in the middle of the pack when it comes to racial breakdown -- a strong white presence at tight end and the offensive line gives the team 16 white players overall. But why did the white well of talent suddenly dry up, seemingly permanently? Why are there no more Fred Biletnikoffs, Mike Sianis, Mark van Eeghens, Marv Hubbards, Pete Banaszaks, Ted Hendricks, Phil Villapianos, and Howie Longs? Of course they're out there, but the I-A programs don't recruit and develop them, which keeps them out of the NFL.
A very good example of a player who has continually been overlooked and consigned to a backup role even at a position whites are still "allowed" to play is quarterback Josh McCown. McCown is 6'4" with a very strong arm and excellent mobility and all-around athleticism, to the point that the Detroit Lions toyed with the idea of playing him some at wide receiver. In limited opportunities to start with Arizona McCown had some huge games. But he was solely a backup with Detroit last year and if he does open the '07 season as the Raiders' starter, it would appear to be only a short-lived formality until rumblin' fumblin' Daunte Culpepper is judged ready to take over.
Andrew Walter, who never had a chance starting last year with perhaps the worst-coached offense in history under Art Shell's disastrous return, is firmly ensconsed as the third-string quarterback and is reportedly being shopped around as trade bait.
The demographic highlight of the Raiders is the offensive line, which has four white starters: RG Cooper Carlisle, C Jake Grove, LG Robert Gallery, and LT Barry Sims. Paul McQuistan, Chris Morris and Jeremy Newberry are backups, though Newberry continues to battle Grove for the starting job at center.
Rookie Zach Miller out of Arizona State has been named the starter at tight end. He is an excellent receiver with good running ability after the catch. His backup is John Madsen, who is a tremendous ball catcher in his own right. The 6'5" Madsen was a wide receiver at Utah and still at around 220 pounds there's no good reason he shouldn't be playing wide receiver for the Raiders, especially considering the fourth rate talent the team is carrying at wideout. Madsen is easily the third best receiver on Oakland after Ronald Curry and "Pouting" Jerry Porter, and may well be better than both of them if given an opportunity.
The pickings are slim on defense. The bright spot is starting FS Stuart Schweigert out of Purdue, the former high school state sprint champion who was a third round draft pick in 2004. Schweigert is a fine player who continues to improve every year, though a sizeable portion of the drunk white fans in the Bay Area continue to call for anyone black to replace him.
Former first round draft pick Tyler Brayton has been moved from the line to linebacker and back and is no longer starting.
The only other white defensive player on the roster is LB Jon Condo, who is used strictly as a long snapper.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 6
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 16
GRADE: D-
The Raiders actually are in the middle of the pack when it comes to racial breakdown -- a strong white presence at tight end and the offensive line gives the team 16 white players overall. But why did the white well of talent suddenly dry up, seemingly permanently? Why are there no more Fred Biletnikoffs, Mike Sianis, Mark van Eeghens, Marv Hubbards, Pete Banaszaks, Ted Hendricks, Phil Villapianos, and Howie Longs? Of course they're out there, but the I-A programs don't recruit and develop them, which keeps them out of the NFL.
A very good example of a player who has continually been overlooked and consigned to a backup role even at a position whites are still "allowed" to play is quarterback Josh McCown. McCown is 6'4" with a very strong arm and excellent mobility and all-around athleticism, to the point that the Detroit Lions toyed with the idea of playing him some at wide receiver. In limited opportunities to start with Arizona McCown had some huge games. But he was solely a backup with Detroit last year and if he does open the '07 season as the Raiders' starter, it would appear to be only a short-lived formality until rumblin' fumblin' Daunte Culpepper is judged ready to take over.
Andrew Walter, who never had a chance starting last year with perhaps the worst-coached offense in history under Art Shell's disastrous return, is firmly ensconsed as the third-string quarterback and is reportedly being shopped around as trade bait.
The demographic highlight of the Raiders is the offensive line, which has four white starters: RG Cooper Carlisle, C Jake Grove, LG Robert Gallery, and LT Barry Sims. Paul McQuistan, Chris Morris and Jeremy Newberry are backups, though Newberry continues to battle Grove for the starting job at center.
Rookie Zach Miller out of Arizona State has been named the starter at tight end. He is an excellent receiver with good running ability after the catch. His backup is John Madsen, who is a tremendous ball catcher in his own right. The 6'5" Madsen was a wide receiver at Utah and still at around 220 pounds there's no good reason he shouldn't be playing wide receiver for the Raiders, especially considering the fourth rate talent the team is carrying at wideout. Madsen is easily the third best receiver on Oakland after Ronald Curry and "Pouting" Jerry Porter, and may well be better than both of them if given an opportunity.
The pickings are slim on defense. The bright spot is starting FS Stuart Schweigert out of Purdue, the former high school state sprint champion who was a third round draft pick in 2004. Schweigert is a fine player who continues to improve every year, though a sizeable portion of the drunk white fans in the Bay Area continue to call for anyone black to replace him.
Former first round draft pick Tyler Brayton has been moved from the line to linebacker and back and is no longer starting.
The only other white defensive player on the roster is LB Jon Condo, who is used strictly as a long snapper.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 6
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 16
GRADE: D-
