Oakland Raiders Get Some Love From the Media: Why Am I Concerned?

I'm a regular listener of the NFL Channel on Sirius radio. It's one of the few places where you can hear some good things about the Raiders from time to time.

I was listening yesterday when Jim Miller and Zig Fracassi were talking about off-season moves of various teams.

When the talk turned to the Raiders I expected to hear some praise. What I heard was a lot more than that.

Zig Fracassi said the Raiders had the best off-season in all of football. He went on to say that if the Raiders could average 21 points per game they would win at least 9 games in 2010.

He praised the signing of Jason Campbell. He praised the draft. He praised the moves made for Groves and Wembley. It was a veritable love fest for all things Raider!

It was nice to hear. I liked it.

I'm also scared.

I've always been accused of being overly optimistic, especially when it comes to the Raiders. Having others share in my optimism for a change worries me.

I'm used to having to defend my team. Even when they make moves that are indefensible. I'm not used to hearing others share my optimism.

What am I to do?

I'm so used to listening to the mainstream media bash my team that I'm clueless how to respond to good news. It's a complete shock to my system.

I mean, after all, I'm the same guy who constantly defended JaMarcus Russell. If you don't believe me go to my archive!

I'm the same guy who pulls out the fact that in 1971 the Raiders drafted Jack Tatum in the first round, Phil Villapiano in the second, and Clarence Davis in the fourth to show that Al Davis knows how to run a draft. Not to mention 1968 when the Raiders got Ken Stabler in the second, Art Shell in the third and Marv Hubbard in the eleventh!

I drank the Kool-Aid a long, long time ago when it comes to the Raiders.

So why does having others share my optimism scare me? ...