So, for argument's sake and for the point of this article, let's define "outsider" as someone who has no passion or hatred for the silver and black. Someone who is knowledgeable, and what I would consider objective, in an assessment of the Raiders.
Facebook is a wonderful thing. I was browsing through the other day and happened across the profile of a childhood friend. I sent a friend request and she accepted.
Carrie was the little girl who could compete and compete well with all the boys in the neighborhood. Her dad was my first football coach. If she'd have been a boy she would have played football and played well.
She sent me a message earlier. I had not talked to her in over two decades. The message was, "dude I can't believe you're wearing a Russell jersey, you need to get one of a real Raider!"
We continued to chat. She made some points many of you have expressed or expressed displeasure at. The thing that enlightened me, though, was that she is a Colts fan with no agenda for or against the Raiders.
So loosely quoted here are the thoughts of a very knowledgeable football fan with no axe to grind:
"Your team may never have any success again until your owner...Well you know!"
"You know you guys played so well against Pittsburgh. You have a good team, Gradkowski looked good. If you just gave that effort every week..."
So there it is folks. Someone who isn't influenced by the media or hatred (Bolts, Donkeys, and Chefs fans), can look at our team and think they could play well.
She didn't say we were lucky or that some other team was overlooking us. She recognized the ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
