Silver and Black Report

By Victor Cotto, S&B Report Staff Columnist

Is there such a thing as rebuilding in the NFL?

In this age of pro football, the way the league structures the salary cap, the impact free-agency can have on clubs and the importance of the draft and importing talent through that avenue, has made rebuilding obsolete and reloading the trend.

The Oakland Raiders and Al Davis have always lived by that motto, but in recent years, they have not been able to balance the equation for retooling and the results on the field have been a calamity.

There is no waiting for the Raiders. There is no ‘lets live with the struggles now so we can prosper in a few years’ for the Silver & Black.

It’s time to win now.

The Raiders have major components on this team that will dictate their success – a very young and still developing, pricey quarterback who was the no. 1 overall choice of his draft class, a dynamic runner who has yet to carry the football as a pro and a fleet of defensive talents that are entering their prime – which will either make ‘em or break ‘em.

But they also made a point this off-season by bringing in players that could compliment what they currently have on the roster. And that shopping spree has lit the fire of the Raider Nation in hope that there is a silver lining.

Oakland’s recent futility can turn into fruitful beginnings in 2008.

Their fan-base surely hopes that is the case, as a sixth consecutive losing season will only prolong the worst era in team history.

Every year in the NFL, there are always a few teams that surprise and exceed expectations.

The Silver & Black should and need to be one of those teams.

During the 19-61 stretch, the Raiders have not necessarily developed or been committed to reloading in a functional manner. They’ve been in NFL limbo attempting to bring in stars that couldn’t help reach the team’s goal to ‘Just Win…’, hiring retread coaches that were puppets or made personnel decisions that paid no dividend or impacted the team negatively on and off the field.

They’ve tried to find band-aids and masquerade bigger issues; only to find that the wound was too severe.

JaMarcus Russell’s prowess and development so far invokes hope. Darren McFadden’s potential has injected excitement into the organization. DeAngelo Hall’s acquisition, along with signings of Gibril Wilson, Javon Walker and Drew Carter has renewed higher expectations.

But more importantly, allowing Lane Kiffin the opportunity to facilitate the team’s growth in his second season and building on the good vibes that resonated through the roster as the team began to turn the page on a ugly chapter in its history was imperative. The four wins last season were not tolerated; and changes were made. A four win season was not successful, but the look of the team and the foundation built for this season was a positive sign during a year in which the Raiders actually looked like they belonged in the NFL.

The Raiders now have a vision. They have committed to a young passer. They have committed to run the ball with a trio of dynamic ball carriers. They have committed to surround Russell with complimentary talent. And they have committed to build a better defense.

There is no time to rebuild when you make wholesale changes. And when Oakland turns over their roster as they did and posses the young prospect they do, more than just growth is expected.

There is no rebuilding in the NFL…

This NFL is unlike Major League Baseball, where you hope to develop pitchers and other players together in hopes of fielding a competitive team in a few years. Or the NBA, where organizations pin their hopes on their youth and allow them to go through the ups and downs before making a run at a title. The NFL is not a rebuilding friendly league due to the constraints and conversely, the potential for great turnarounds in such short time frame.

The time is always now.

And in Oakland, it finally appears that they are Committed to Excellence.