Seattle's Gain is Oakland's...

Just about everyone who can spell football (that's f-o-o-t-b-a-l-l for our University of MeatChicken readers) knows that the Raiders traded wide receiver Jerry Rice to Seattle for what amounts to two old buttons and a shoelace. Now why would a team that allegedly wants to win games trade away a receiver who has more catches than the rest of the known universe combined?

OK, so at 42 Rice doesn't have the same level of talent that he possessed when he was 22 or even 32. But even 50% of the peak Rice is better than 150% (if there is such a thing) of most other receivers. Perhaps most importantly, Rice still has the burning desire to play. I'll take that over a young complacent pup anytime.

Once Jerry is fully integrated into the Seattle offensive scheme, I'm expecting to see two things, impressive numbers for Rice and Koren Robinson's butt on the bench (even after his suspension.) Why? Because in addition to Rice's superior talents (sorry Koren), the Seahawks provide him with the infrastructure and support sadly missing from within the Raiders' organization.

What did Rice have to deal with Oakland? How about an owner without the brains to keep him, a coach without the courage to use him, and a quarterback without the heart to throw to him. Given the pathetic mode of operation currently resident in the Raiders' organization, Oakland might just as well plan on drafting Dorothy and Toto next year to round out the team.

I lived in the SF Bay Area for about 3 years and have a 22-year-old daughter who is a die-hard Raiders fan. She proved it last weekend by sitting through every play of the Oaklands' embarrassing 31-3 loss to Denver. She deserves better, so do the members of "The Black Hole", and the entire Raider Nation. But even the worst of teams can be looked up to if they demonstrate a "touch of class" both on and off the field. Unfortunately, with Mr. Rice, the Raiders did neither. There is no excuse not to find a way of completing at least one pass to a man who has amassed a streak of 274 consecutive games with a reception (my daughter was 7 when he started that streak).

Perhaps if the Raiders had paid a little more attention to Rice they would have found not only is he still a great player but also that "touch of class" they so woefully seem to be lacking. When speaking of the fact that he would be able to continue to wear his trademark #80 in Seattle, despite that number having been retired in honor of Seahawks' WR Steve Largent, Rice stated: "It's an honor to wear number 80 in honor of him". See guys, it's easy to behave in a first-class manner. Even a scarecrow has enough brains to know that.