Silver and Black Report

Raiders probowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will likely miss the season opener against the San Diego Chargers with chipped bone in his left wrist.

On Tuesday, ESPN reported that Asomugha will miss Thursday’s preseason finale against Seattle as well as Oakland’s season opener on Sept. 14 against the Chargers. According to a Raiders team source, Asomugha will be sidelined two weeks but there’s concern that his injury will be bothersome throughout the season.

OAKLAND RAIDERS, FIRMGREEN TEAM UP TO ‘GO GREEN’ IN BAY AREA

The Raiders have established a relationship with FirmGreen, whose team of leading environmental consultants was retained to assist the organization in reducing its carbon footprint.  Over the next three years, FirmGreen will be evaluating the Raiders’ day-to-day and game day operations to identify opportunities for the Raiders to improve their environmental responsibility.

“We are pleased to work with FirmGreen and look forward to finding additional creative ways to further our eco-friendly approach to business,” said Raider Chief Executive Amy Trask.

While the Raiders understand that this is a process, the organization already has made some changes. The team is expanding their recycling efforts and increasing their use of products made with recycled materials.   With the help of FirmGreen, the Raiders have begun evaluating transportation initiatives including encouraging carpooling and the use of high efficiency, low emission vehicles such as those powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

In addition, the Raiders are identifying opportunities to lower electrical consumption through efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and green CNG. The relationship with the Oakland Raiders provides FirmGreen a highly visible arena to showcase their clean, green, cost efficient energy solutions within the environmentally conscious Bay Area community.   FirmGreen offers green solutions geared toward residential and business facilities as well as small and large scale events, in the following sectors: solar panels, natural gas fueled generators, biodegradable products and overall general energy consultation.

“We are excited to work with the Raiders because of their commitment to becoming a more eco-friendly team,” said Steve Hodge, Business Development Director for FirmGreen.

FirmGreen Company Profile

Headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, FirmGreen Energy, Inc., is a privately held, integrated energy company participating in virtually all aspects of the global green energy business.GOTGREEN? TM Events Consulting assists event organizers to engage individuals in a systematic, cost-effective process to take greater responsibility for improving their environment in public event settings. Addressing the environmental impact of your event with a visible program shows visitors that your operation is forward-thinking and serves to enhance its desirability as an event, which provides economic benefits to the entire community.

More information at: firmgreenenergy.com

The Raiders Research Project has finally completed the upgrading of its Starting Lineups project, now available here at Silver & Black Report!

Need to know who started at strongside linebacker in 1984? Look no further. This project is a year-by-year breakdown of the Raiders’ primary starter at each of the 22 field positions, plus kickers, return men and other special teams spots.

Although some positions, particularly in the early years, suffer from a lack of data, the vast majority of the franchise’s nearly 50 years of history is now at your fingertips.

Go to the pulldown menu for the RRP for all the starting lineup information you’ll need, brought to you by the RRP and S&B Report.

Oren O’Neal’s season ending knee injury has led to news that running back Michael Bush may be utilized at fullback for the Oakland Raiders.

Generally news like this, a former fourth round pick who has not seen the football field in two years and that is in the same backfield as a 1,000 yard rusher and a high profile first rounder this season, isn’t noteworthy.

But Bush, who was a Heisman hopeful the last two years in college, has looked very good running the football all summer and is known for his ability to follow his blocking, not help with the blocking, now has to adjust and possibly take a less glamorous role – an unexpected twist to an already slow starting career.

“I’ve always been a team player,” Bush stated on Monday when news about his new responsibility surfaced. “So, it’s one of those things. You just suck it up, go about your business and try to have some fun with it.”

And at this point, regardless of what he may feel about it, it’s a move that he will have to live with and make the most out of.

Backfield combinations of Bush and Justin Fargas or Darren McFadden may just be what Oakland needs to add some pop to this offense.

And when you consider their abilities and what defenses will have to watch out for with all three being good to very serviceable pass catchers and rushers out of the backfield, and the wide array of formations that can be used in this offense that has appeared lackluster, head coach Lane Kiffin may be able to generate more interest on the field with what could potentially happen to this offense, rather than news off the field that one of his players may not be too thrilled about a particular role.

Bush should just take advantage of the chance given and make the best out of the situation. After a year of inactivity that could’ve been used for development, the Raiders decided to sit him – a move he had no control of.

Now, he can go out there and perform.

It may not be at the capacity he is accustomed to. But this team is in no shape to have players not happy with their roles.

You want to question his skill set at blocking? I guess that’s a fair question about the move.

But he is a football player. And if he wants to see reps and has a chance to contribute in any way possible…

Then just play, baby.

For those who may not have realized or who don’t read the blog, the Raiders Research Project is continuing to grow here at S&B Report!

The latest additions include lists of Raiders superlative accomplishments (Project No. 8 ) and a Memorial Wall of Raiders players who have died (Project No. 9).

They join the draft history, 1998-present (Project No. 7) on the list of projects added this year.

Meanwhile, of the six original projects created in 2006, four — the roster, the coaching history, the Gruden Trade and trade history, and the NFL Europe allocations — are newly updated for 2008, and the other two (the starters, 1960-present; and the lineups, 2001-present) are in what is proving to be a long, arduous process of updating.

Be sure and hit the drop-down menu above to check out the projects.

And remember, the goal of the Raiders Research Project is to put the information you need a mouse-click away when you need it. So be sure and let me know if there’s something you’d like to see!

By Eric Strauss, S&B Report Staff Columnist

As some of you who have followed my work over at Raiderfans.net know, a few years ago, I started something called the Raiders Research Project, which has been an ongoing — albeit sporadic — effort to create a one-stop-shopping site for Raiders information.

Well, I’m pleased to announce that, with Bob Carr’s permission and encouragement, I’m moving the project here, to Silver & Black Report.

This may be a slow, painful process, but watch the “Pages” list to the right for updates.

The first Project, the “Unofficial Raiderfans.net roster,” is already here.

Now, I’m pleased to announce the arrival of the third Project, the NFL Europe allocation list. It’s the first spring without developmental football in several years, but as I think you’ll be able to see from the Project, the Raiders aren’t really going to miss it.

Enjoy! And watch for the rest of the projects, and new ones, coming soon to S&B Report!