Silver and Black Report

The Oakland Raiders place a premium on their special teams. And it shows with past contracts to many of their specialists and kickers.

Here’s a look back at some of Oakland’s deals with past special team contributors:

Sebastian Janikowski

Selected in the 1^st round in 2000 and then given a four-year, $16 million contract with $9 million in guarantees in 2010. He was also the league’s highest paid kicker in 2005 when Oakland extended his contract five years, worth $10.5 million.

Shane Lechler

“This contract is the greatest ever given to a punter in the history of the National Football League,” said senior executive John Herrera after the Raiders inked Lechler for four years, $16 million, with $9 million guaranteed.

Isaiah Ekejiuba

In 2009, Oakland made Ekejiuba the highest paid coverage specialist with a 3-year deal worth $5.4 million and a $1.25 million signing bonus.

Jon Condo

Reportedly given a 2^nd round tender. In March of 2010, Condo signed a restricted free agent tender worth $1.684 million.

Desmond Howard

Oakland snagged their second straight Super Bowl MVP in 1997, with a four-year, $6 million contract, that included a $2 million signing bonus. Howard salvaged a fading career by becoming a terrifying kickoff returner with the Green Bay Packers prior to landing with the Raiders.

Darrien Gordon

In 1999, after releasing Howard, the Silver & Black signed Gordon, who at the time had an NFL best 13.2-yard punt return average. The contract was worth $9.2 million over three-seasons.

Adam Treu

The Raiders released the long snapper in 2007 after he earned more than $1.2 million in salary during the 2006 season.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders tinkered with their special teams on Thursday, hiring Craig Dickenson to John Fassel’s unit. He will replace Aaron Pelch, as an assistant to Fassel, a move that has not been officially announced by the Silver & Black.

Dickenson stated in an interview with the Great Falls (Montana) Tribune that he was hired in April.

“I had met John two years ago at the Senior Bowl in Alabama, and we stayed in touch a little bit,” Dickenson said in the interview with the Great Falls Tribune. “We’re kind of similar in our interests. He’s an outdoorsy guy who likes to bike and run triathlons. I like that stuff, too. He called me in late March and said they were going to hire a second special-teams coach. I interviewed with him and got the job in April.”

Dickenson, 38, has coached in the Canadian Football League the last eight seasons, but has experience in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.

Oakland also waived linebacker/special teams ace Isaiah Ekejiuba.

The Nigerian born 28-year old announced the move via his Twitter page, stating:

“Well Raider Nation, it was fun while it lasted. Sure you’ll be hearing soon enough I just got waived by the team. Thanx for all the support!”

He continued after fan support: “I really appreciate all the support on this. Keep yall posted on how everything plays out!”

The Raiders last off-season inked Ekejiuba to a 3-year deal for $5.4 million with a $1.25 million signing bonus.

In an interview with SBREPORT.NET, Ekejiuba talked about the expectations after signing such a deal:

SBREPORT: The deal is among the highest in the league for a special teamer. Do you now feel that there is more of a burden on you to play at a high level to justify the contract?

EKEJIUBA: “Yeah, I think so. You getting a lot of money to do a job and if you are getting paid for it, you have to do an excellent job, or they wouldn’t give you that kind of money. There is pressure to play better.

I don’t think the Raiders are putting more pressure on me than what I put on myself. I know how good of a player I can be. I know where I am and I know where I want to get. I put more pressure on myself with or without the contract to go out there and prove that I am the best, because that what it’s about. At the end of the day, are they going to say, ‘wow, he was a great player’, or, ‘yeah, he was alright.’

You don’t want them to talk about you and say, ‘he played well when he didn’t have money, now he has a little money and his level of play has fell off.’ I want to go to the Pro-Bowl every year, I want to go out there and make plays. And don’t let that drop-off. There is a lot of pressure, but there is more from myself than from the organization.”

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

One unit that will be distinctively different in 2010 for the Oakland Raiders will be the linebackers.

The shuffle started before the Silver & Black drafted Rolando McClain, but the alteration hit its peak during that weekend when captain and starting middle linebacker Kirk Morrison was dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

McClain has already gained the respect of veterans and inherited the spot once held by Morrison with a strong first impression in minicamp and tangible skills that translate to him being a solid pro at that position.

“Man, he’s bigger than I thought he was,’’ veteran linebacker Thomas Howard stated of the rookie. “He works hard, he’s a smart player and he jumped right in and he was able to control the defense. Like a middle linebacker is supposed to, he has great feet to be such a big guy, humble, hard worker.”

The first team linebacker corps that began work in early May consisted of McClain in the middle, flanked by Trevor Scott and Kamerion Wimbley.

And at this point, all impressions are that that alignment is the one we’ll see barring any injuries come the start of the season.

Scott, who tallied five sacks in the final six contests last season, will be given every shot to continue his development on the weak side of the formation.

He supplanted the speedy Thomas Howard, who is still on the roster and could be used in multi-faceted ways on a defense that will try to diversify its packages.

Howard signed his one-year $1.759 million tender for next season. And with a new role in a contract year, the former 2^nd round selection may be able to use his range in coverage and speed to find a niche in the revamped defense.

Wimbley is the unknown commodity that is intriguing in the grouping. The 26-year old was the Browns 13^th overall selection in the 2006 draft when then general manager Phil Savage stated, “The very first time I saw Kamerion in person I said, ‘This is the prototype’ — the arm length, the knee bend, the athletic ability, the flexibility.”

When Cleveland selected him, Savage proclaimed, “There’s no reason to think he won’t have an outstanding, Pro Bowl-caliber career.”

As the 2009 season was winding down, Browns head coach Eric Mangini commented, “Kamerion Wimbley has made a ton of progress from the beginning of the season to where he is now in terms of his approach to the game plan. It’s dramatic.”

Mangini praised his work ethic, study habits and discipline on the football field.

“The amount of mental errors he has made is dramatically different,” said Mangini. “It’s a great thing to see.”

Wimbley had five sacks in the first seven games of the season. He missed a game against the Steelers with the flu and when he got back into the line-up, opponents keyed the linebacker, which freed up other teammates.

The Browns moved him around on defense, another reason why he Mangini was happy to see his development.

“It gives opposing teams a different look and made it a little more difficult for them to prepare,” Wimbley said. “It gives us things that we can play around with in the game, bringing other people from different spots and then not knowing where they’re coming from. It just mixes it up a little bit.”

At the end of the 2009 season, Wimbley stated, “I think I’ve gotten better every year and I plan on continuing to do that.”

If Wimbley can regain the form that made him a highly touted prospect coming out of college, Oakland will have the makings of a very reliable and diverse collection of linebackers.

The rest of the crew: Ricky Brown, Isaiah Ekejiuba, Quentin Groves, David Nixon, Slade Norris, Sam Williams and rookie Travis Goethel will be battling for reserve roles and/or vital assignments on special teams.

Ekejiuba is a mainstay on punt and kickoff coverage units. Jacksonville couldn’t wait on Groves’ development, so he was shipped to Oakland and the veteran Brown has not shown the ability to stay healthy or handle increased reps in the regular season on defense.

Overall, John Marshall does have more options and looks to his defense with this crop of linebackers.

Something the Raiders needed the last few years.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

On Thanksgiving Day, the Oakland Raiders (3-7) will face the Dallas Cowboys (7-3). It’s the first time the Silver & Black play on this national holiday since 1970. Oakland is 3-2 on Thanksgiving, have a 6-3 lead in the regular season series versus the Cowboys and have a three game winning streak against Dallas.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

For less than a week, Bruce Gradkowski has a team and fan-base convinced that he is deserving of the starting quarterback job in Oakland. This second start will determine how well he plays when the spotlight is on and when the football world has their eyes focused on this traditional afternoon of pigskin.

Oakland rarely has prospered after wins since 2003, especially on offense where they become latent and produce very little in blowout losses. This season, opponents have outscored the Silver & Black 61-3 a week after they come off victories.

But Gradkowski is making those around him more comfortable, giving them confidence with his vigor and a win while under center on Sunday. It helps that Robert Gallery is now healthy, Chaz Schilens is back on the field and Darren McFadden’s presence has to be accounted by opponents.

What to Expect:

Dallas is one of the better run-stuffing units in the league, allowing 100.6 yards per game (7^th in the NFL). The Raiders didn’t really move the chains on the strength of their ground game versus Cincinnati, so Tom Cable may feel more confident in opening up the playbook and letting Gradkowski shoulder some of the burden that JaMarcus Russell could not with a more complex pass game. McFadden should get some looks in the ‘Wildhog’ formation to loosen up the Dallas defense.

On Defense:

Greg Ellis will face his old teammates after spending 11 seasons in Dallas. “You can’t play on one team forever,” commented Ellis, who leads the Raiders with 5-sacks. “You enjoy the years you were there. I told Jerry I wish we had won the big one while I was there. We didn’t, and he felt like it was time to make a decision.”

Oakland’s defense stifled the Bengals last week, and during their wins this season, it’s been the pressure applied by the front four, which has made life difficult for opposing offensive linemen, and the quarterback they are trying to protect.

The Raiders need to stay away from allowing big yardage on the ground, allowing big plays when defending the pass and tackling better around the line of scrimmage.

What to Expect:

The Cowboys are the 8^th ranked rushing team in the league. Oakland is the 30^th ranked rush defense in the NFL, but at times they made big plays behind the line of scrimmage against the Bengals and when the defense is at its best, they limit the long chain moving drives that has haunted them in their losses. Defensive coordinator John Marshall stated on the difficulties trying to get the run defense back to a respectable level, “Well it appears that way so far with the results. I’m really shocked, as a matter of fact. I’m surprised. We just keep working at it. There’s reasons why, which I won’t go into right now, but we just got to keep working at it.”

DALLAS COWBOYS

On Offense:

The status of Pro-Bowl tight end Jason Witten may not be known until game-time. “I won’t say it’s severe, but it’s something that worries us about him being able to play this week,” commented Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips on Tuesday.

Dallas’ offense has struggled in their last two games, scoring 14 points combined, averaging 69.5 yards on the ground while coughing up the football five times. Witten’s sprained left foot will not help, especially after they loss right tackle Marc Colombo a few weeks back with injuries to his leg and ankle.

What to Expect:

Dallas has allowed six-sacks in their last two games. Oakland can bring the heat off the edges and along the interior of the trenches. So the Cowboys have to get their running game going against a team that many times allows big chunks of yards in the ground. Tony Romo’s elusiveness and ability to throw on the run could help, especially if he is able to buy time to find his targets on broken plays down the field. And against CB Chris Johnson, Dallas may be able to re-route their receivers or big plays.

On Defense:

This unit is being asked to win games at this point due to a struggling offense who is getting beat up. “I think that is the heart and soul of the team right now, that defense,” receiver Patrick Crayton was quoted on Sunday. “The way they are keeping us around in games, it’s amazing. It has been a true blessing for our offense.”

DeMarcus Ware is one player Oakland’s protection packages have to key on as he has tallied 7-sacks in 2009 and 60.5 so far in his 5-year career.

Terrence Newman is playing very good football and this week, he shrugged off the scuttlebutt about his sideline happening with secondary coach Dave Campo.

“I’m kicking Don out,” Newman stated, joking that the scuffle will be hyped and promoted by his owner. “We’re going to have Jerry promoting it. We might have to move this whole thing to Cowboys Stadium. That’s it! Pacquiao-Mayweather at Cowboys Stadium. Yeah. It’ll be Pacquiao-Mayweather and it’ll be Campo-Newman. We’re going to make it happen. I’m telling you.”

What to Expect:

Dallas has to apply pressure on Gradkowski and force him into mistakes. Oakland’s targets aren’t consistent threats, so Dallas’ front seven can take chances with blitzes and varying attacks. If Oakland becomes too one-dimensional on offense and can’t mix in a few runs, the young talent around Gradkowski may not be able to make enough plays to keep them in the game.

GAME NOTES

• Richard Seymour is expected to play on Thursday after sustaining a lower back injury against the Bengals. Linebacker Jon Alston on the other hand looks to be dinged after his second concussion this season. Special teams ace Isaiah Ekejiuba will not play either, so the Oakland linebacker unit is very thin right now.
• Darrius Heyward-Bey broke the 100-yard barrier this past Sunday with his seventh catch of the season. The rookie first rounder now stands at 103-yards receiving.
• If Witten can’t play, fans will miss seeing two of the better tight ends in the league. Zach Miller has 34-receptions for 495 yards and 2 scores. Witten has compiled 54-grabs for 481 yards and 1 touchdown.
• Phillips is just 1-6 in his career against the Silver & Black, including 0-5 while with the Broncos (1993-94) and 1-1 while with the Bills (1998-2000).
• Shane Lechler commented on the low-hanging scoreboard in Dallas, “If that guy in Tennessee can hit it, I can hit it.” He continued, “I’m not going to go for it. If it’s there, it’s there.”

KEY MATCH-UPS

Gradkowski’s targets vs. the Dallas pass coverage & pass rush

Gradkowski needs time to pass and his targets to finally make plays for their passer. I don’t expect Oakland’s ground game to run for 120+ yards, so they’ll need another big effort from Schilens, Miller and another player in their aerial attack.

Tom Cable vs. Wade Phillips

It’s time for Cable to open up the playbook and let it loose. He has all his weapons on offense healthy and on the road on national television, Oakland should make a statement with creative and exciting play calling.

PREDICTION

Cowboys 17 – Raiders 16

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Jim Nantz providing play-by-play and former NFL player Phil Simms handling color analysis. The game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black’s Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 12th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information cited from the official Oakland Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Thursday, November 26, 2009, 4:15 p.m. ET | Cowboys Stadium, TX

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (3-7) Home: 2-4 Road: 1-3

Home Team: Dallas Cowboys (7-3) Home: 4-1 Road: 3-2

Line: Raiders are a 13.5 point underdog

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Special Teams captain Isaiah Ekejiuba speaks with members of the press after today’s practice. Usually, “Ike” is much more relaxed and always sporting a smile following practice. This time, he’s donned a more serious demeanor; as if he took PERSONAL responsbility for the special teams gaffes last Monday Night. Being the captain, he should feel that way. However in knowing Ike for some time, this was more than just a loss. For him, it seemed personal. I will look for him to see to it personally to whip his guys into a fervor and exact some hurtin/ on Kansas City.

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Best Defensive Player:

Nnamdi Asomugha, DB

Oakland made him the highest paid defensive back in the history of the NFL this past off-season. And he is worth every penny. Not only a stellar performer on the field, he is class personified off it with his charitable work and community service. On the field, he has the perfect blend of size and speed, equally adept at covering any receiver or supporting around the line of scrimmage versus the run. He made his first all-pro team in 2008, and more will likely follow with continued health.

Mr. Reliable; Flying under the radar is…

Thomas Howard, LB

The speedy linebacker is only 26-years old, but he is one of the lone fiery, vocal on the field leaders in Silver & Black. Early in his career, Howard was at his best dropping back into coverage and having the knack of getting his hands on errant passes. He is now evolving as a better pursuer of the football with his closing speed and improved instincts. On another team, Howard would have more notoriety. And if he were on team with a stouter front-four, the former second rounder could be one of the premier weak side linebackers in the AFC.

Player ready to breakout is…

Trevor Scott, DE

If used correctly on long yardage 3^rd down situations and in rotation at either defensive end spot, Scott could become a solid pass rushing threat. If he starts and is in there for too many snaps, teams will expose his weakness defending the run on the edges, and he’ll get plowed and neutralized with rushes right at him. Scott has the potential to become what Trace Armstrong was to the Miami Dolphins late in his career. With his good motor and relentlessness, Scott could be a 8-10 sack performer.

Player that must take it to the next level…

Tommy Kelly, DT

He got paid like an all-pro, but has not shown he can play like one. If Richard Seymour ever decides to report to Oakland, Kelly’s presence along the defensive line could be magnified. Kelly is an enigma, looking like a force on certain Sundays, or looking like a mediocre lineman on others.

Don’t bet on…

Michael Huff, S

When will he ever show the instincts, play making ability or steady play that many thought he could demonstrate when coming out of Texas in the 2006 draft? He was benched in favor of Hiram Eugene last season; reaching a whole new low in his career in the midst of a 6-year deal worth $43 million and $16 in guarantees. He’s on 26, so if your Oakland, you may still have hopes that he can finally stabilize his career and become a reliable starter. But how long do you wait on potential?

Player that must continue to perform at an exciting level is…

Johnnie Lee Higgins, PR

He is fun to watch when returning punts, and afterwards, he may give you a light moment with his end zone celebrations. Higgins was one of the better return men in the league in 2008, tallying 3 scores on punts and averaging 23.4 yards per return on kickoffs.

The silent standout on Special Teams is…

Isaiah Ekejiuba, LB

Ekejiuba may be able to push for a pro-bowl roster spot this season as a special teams performer. The Raiders acknowledge his importance to the squad by signing him to a three year contract for $5.4 million with a $1.25 million signing bonus this off-season.

Look out for:

Desmond Bryant, DT

The undrafted free-agent worked hard this summer and landed a roster spot. The long-shot beat out the lackadaisical Terdell Sands with his smarts in the trenches and hard work.

Mike Mitchell, S

Actually, anyone carrying the football when Mitchell is on the field better watch out, because he brings a load when tackling. His coverage skills are suspect, but Oakland will try to bring him along slowly after missing the summer with an injury.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Fan (fn) n.

An ardent devotee; an enthusiast.

Frank Jenkins is the definition of a fan. A lifelong devotee to the Oakland Raiders, Frank represents the loyalty, pride & poise the Silver & Black fans have for their beloved organization.

A member of the Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club (JSRBC), Frank’s game day began early during football season and his commitment to rooting for his favorite team was a priority in his life all year long.

But now, Frank is in a hospital in Toms River, fighting for his life, as he has been since December of 2008 when he was told he only had 3-6 months to live with a diagnosis of terminal lung Cancer.

Now in a hospital, a quadriplegic attached to machines that aide his vitality, Frank’s everlasting love for the Raiders still remains. It’s stronger now more than ever, and as a 5 year member of the JSRBC, many of his dear friends have given SBReport and inside look at his fandom, passion, and how gridiron favorites that once donned the Silver & Black have come to his aide and made his difficult days memorable.

“I remember last year, he was having a lot of neck and shoulder pain.  He asked me if I would rub his neck.  I tried, but it wasn’t helping.  I have small hands and they aren’t very strong!!!  So I went to Henry (Lawrence) and asked him if he would help Frank out.  Henry has those great massaging hands!!!  I will never forget the look on Frank’s face when Henry was massaging his neck and shoulders!  He was SO happy and Henry made him feel so much better (thanks Henry, love you)!!  It really is the little gestures in life that make a difference!! – Terri Russell

Frank, like all of the Raider Nation, is joyous after a Raider victory. And is disappointed whenever Oakland can’t prevail on Sundays. And his exuberance and passion will be missed at Bar A, when Frank lit up the environment with his vibrant fanatical behavior that just touched everyone. JSRBC member Wayne Arrighi recalls how Frank poured his heart out during game days and displayed his lively nature:

“Diane had told me at Bar A he was sick towards the end of last season and was not advised of his condition when I last spoke to her in December.”

He continued in an email, “Since I drive a ways to get to Bar A to watch the games, I usually get there early. Except for maybe one time I can remember, he was already there BEFORE me! We’d usually go to our spot in Bar A before the Raider game started and get ‘ready’ for the game. He was always approachable and knew the latest news of the Raiders. As a result, I got to talk to Frank and get to know him better than the previous years I had known him. I know some of you helped Frank with his personal ‘gadgets’ so he could enjoy the game better (cell phone, pencil/pen in his ‘holder’, wipe his glasses clean, adjust his big straw so he could drink from his big cup, and take pictures for him when guest were there). My heart would go out to the guy since he demonstrated what so many people like himself really want in life…. To be a part of the scene and to be treated like anyone else! I know that it will not sound funny when I can now admit that my favorite interaction with Frank is when he would order his ‘usual’ halftime food (hot dogs and beans) and allow me to cut the hot dogs up and assist with the meal. He is the kind of guy that made you think less of yourself and more about each other.”

Raider fans came to his time in need, providing these adaptive gadgets and devices to make his daily living more functional.

Frank garnered a reputation like no other, and his rituals were like no other.

As a JSRBC member Charlie Gavinelli stated, “Frank’s sporting interest life is the Raiders – in season or out of season. Frank’s game day activities began before 9AM Eastern, showing up 7 hours before kickoff. He dressed in Silver and Black from head to toe every game day, something we take for granted in our day-to-day lives.”

The Raiders were not to far behind with their generosity and showing their appreciation of Frank’s fandom; demonstrating compassion, deep concern and empathy for a member of the Raider Nation.

Chief Executive Amy Trask provided “a bit of the Raiders…” in a care package that included team gear and a football autographed by JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, Nnamdi Asomugha and rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey.

On June 21^st, Raider legend Henry Lawrence, along with members of the JSRBC presented Frank with the generous gifts.

Bob Carr, owner of the largest online community for Raider fans remembered meeting a member of his web site (known as RaiderQuad), stating, “I remember meeting Frank back in 2004 at Bar-A  (the home of the Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club). When I arrived at the bar, I noticed he was the first Raider fan there. We chatted a good hour or so, I handed him a flier and talked to him about Raiderfans.net. Later on that night, he signed up and became a member…. Frank was always a fixture on Sundays at Bar-A, regardless if the team won or lost the previous week, he showed up every Sunday.”

In another moment that demonstrates the care of these gridiron greats that have been effected by his story, current Raider linebacker and special teams ace Isaiah Ekejiuba and his sister, JSRBC member Felicia, found a way to enlighten Frank’s tough days with a visit that again demonstrated the care and love extended out to Frank.

Ekejiuba visited Frank while bedside in his hospital room, signed a cap for the die-hard and touched him in a way that only a Raider could.

President of the JSRBC, Gary M. Brown, recalled, “He could not cheer as loud as the rest of us, so he had his brother install a strobe light and a horn that Frank would use when ever the Raiders scored. He has been a fixture with our booster club for 5 plus years and always found a way to help the JSRBC out.”

Gavinelli recollects another great moment that made Frank a fixture on Sundays. In an email, he stated: “Gary mentions the horn on his wheelchair. One week, we were hitting on all cylinders and racked up a bunch of points. A touchdown was always the loud, long horn blast [on Frank’s wheelchair]. But, paying attention to detail, he’d pop the horn after [Sebastian Janikowski] nails the point after touchdown. Well, one week, a fan of the opposing team makes a crack about the horn.

‘Does he always have to play that horn?’

‘If you guys play some defense, he’ll stop.”

One thing that won’t stop is Frank’s devotion to the Raiders. And even through his difficult days, his passion for his team is undying. The Raider Nation hopes that Frank is able to watch some more touchdowns and view the Raiders win on the field as he has won throughout his whole life.

As Gavinelli stated in an e-mail, “to fight, claw and scratch every inch of the way. It takes a story like Frank’s to remind us that some people need to fight, claw and scratch just to do the routine things many take for granted.”

Phil Villapiano, a member of the JSRBC and a idol of Frank’s, was another Raider legend aware of how much Frank struggled in his life, but was boisterous and dedicated when it came to representing the Silver & Black.

Villapiano stated, “Frank is a tough person, a die-hard in every sense of the word and an inspiration on how he lived his life, was dedicated to the Jersey Booster Club, the Raiders and made us look at life in a different perspective.”

The Raider Nation thanks the JSRBC for all their contributions in making Frank’s life as enjoyable as possible. We all thank the Oakland Raiders for their sincere concern in illuminating Frank’s toughest days. To Frank and all his family, we will pray and hope that he continues to display pride & poise during these tough times.

Memoirs from those that care

Since we first met Frank Jenkins, he has really held a special place in our hearts. He is the most optimistic person we have ever met. If you ever have spent time talking with Frank, you will definitely walk away looking at life in a different way then you ever have before.

Frank is a man bound to a wheel chair since he was fifteen due to a football injury. The injury has never tainted his love for football or his love for life. He never used his disability to take advantage of anything; he even held a full time job at Fort Momouth, New Jersey, for twenty years.

When we first met Frank at Bar A, we realized his dedication to the Oakland Raiders goes beyond anything you could imagine. Even when his brother was not able to drop him off at the bar, Frank would take public transportation. He once told us that he had to take a train and a bus to get him from Eatontown, to Belmar; but that day he missed his bus transfer at Asbury Park and rode his electric wheel chair all the way from Asbury to Belmar (which is miles apart) and still made the game on time that day.  Now that’s dedication!

Frank also loved his photos with the ladies. I became his personal photographer. He would always make me take pictures of him and the Miller Lite girls that came to Bar A and all the other girls at the bar. He had a special way with the ladies; he definitely would get a lot of attention during the games.

Frank always wanted to attend the NFL draft and a home Raider game. One day we were talking about the NFL draft, and Frank wanted so badly to attend. I tried to get tickets for him, but had no luck. Luckily Frank made is own arrangements and was able to come up with two tickets to Radio City Music Hall. Frank took one of the soldiers he knew, he was being deployed soon to the Middle East.

When we spoke to him about it, he was elated. Like I mentioned before he had never used his disability for anything before, but for that one day, he told us he was treated like royalty. I believe he was given some Raider paraphernalia and met Al Davis’ brother.

Frank always had such a love for the Raiders, always dressed in Silver and Black and even his wheel chair was decorated.

Frank also is a very patriotic man. Always thinking of our Soldiers and the wounded warriors.  He truly is a special man!

Frank — we love you and our prayers and thoughts are with you always

Love,

Diane and John Dicks

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Video:

Part 1 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpOldgeCYIY

Part 2 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLYJkvrifDM

Part 3 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVoN_UJeUcY

Part 4 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgRGeNFVJNk

Part 5 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMDOCZWYpkY

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You can contact the Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club:

JSRBC

102 Cardinal Road

Neptune, New Jersey 07753

Or through their web-site here:

Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

In this final installment of SBReport’s interview with Isaiah Ekejiuba, the special teams standout detailed the importance having Tom Cable as head coach, gives you insight on how he handled being a free-agent this off-season and reminisces about Marquis Cooper.

SBREPORT: The organization believed enough in Tom Cable to take the interim label off and will look to let him lead this team after a solid end to the 2008 campaign. How do you feel about the front office giving Cable the opportunity to continue his work on the sidelines?

EKEJIUBA: “I think between the players and the fans, there is a lot of new energy right now with coach Cable. This guy from time he took over, he had a strong belief on this team and he kept saying, ‘this is a good team.’ And he would say that almost everyday. ‘This is a good team – win or lose.’”

At the end of the year, when we had nothing to play for, we were out of the playoffs, he kept saying, ‘this is a good team.’ And we went out there and showed we can play some really good football the last two games of the season. So that brought a lot of energy and a lot of doubters came back on board.

A lot of fans stuck with us and we appreciate that. But when we won the last two games, a couple of people that slipped off the bandwagon were coming back on. They started seeing what the players had already seen in coach Cable in the locker room. He loves the Raiders. He loves winning. And he loves this team. When you have somebody like that that is willing to do anything to win, its fun to play for a guy like that.”

Raider fans have had unwavering support of their team through the recent dark days. Ekejiuba’s family, particularly his sister Felicia and her friends, have had a safe haven to watch, experience and take part of the happenings within the Raider Nation family through the welcoming arms of The Jersey Shore Oakland Raider Booster Club. The JSRBC has helped bind the ties of unity within the Ekejiuba family, who have that New Jersey connection and Raider fans located in the east coast.

Club President and Founder Gary M. Brown, who was a driving force in facilitating this exclusive interview also helped contribute to the content found in this three-part dialogue, received the Ekejiuba’s into the club and Isaiah commented about the loyalty and warm-heartedness the members have shown in making life away for his sister a lot easier when she watches games with the fleet of Raider fans in Jersey. “That’s an awesome group and they show dedication and commitment. Like I’ve said, it’s wonderful knowing there is that type of love and support that the fans give the team. My sister has talked about [JSRBC], I’ve heard nothing but classy things and when there is support in Oakland to  New Jersey like that, it binds all together.”

 He continued, “I’ll try to get back there [to the east coast] in June.

 “My sister and her boyfriend are always, after I go home, they are always on ‘em [Raiderfans.net and SBReport.net]. Matter of fact, that’s where I get a lot information, that I don’t know, that everybody else knows before me. Those guys from Jersey are as good as it gets and knowing that is really encouraging.” 

Ekejiuba has high hopes for the special teams as well. Partly because of the continuity they will have after re-signing most of the players he feels are cornerstones on that unit. When asked about his expectations regarding John Fassel’s group, he stated, “We talked a lot; we want to be the best unit in the league. You don’t want to be second to anybody. People do, people from different teams, we talk about other players, watch other teams. They are going to give you an example, well, here are the top four special teams from last year. So our group, being in tact, its one year to be comfortable. We re-sign a pro-bowl punter, the best in the league, and there is no question to me that with him, he’s our captain and the way Shane [Lechler] controls things, and coach Fassel being with us last year, I think we are just going to keep getting better. I see a lot of good things for us.”

The Raiders inked Ekejiuba to a 3-year deal for $5.4 million with a $1.25 million signing bonus. In the first year of the contract, the Pro Bowl alternate last season will earn $2.45 million. SBReport inquired about the negotiations and whether or not he had interest from other clubs when free agency began.

“With the whole negotiation, I really didn’t deal a lot with that. My agent did a great job talking to the Raiders and in trying to take a lot of stress off of me. It’s a very stressful period; you don’t know what the future holds, so he did a lot, helping me trying to relax and getting my mind off that.

I expressed to him I wanted to come back. They told me we want you back. It would be nice to have you back. So that’s how we started to talk. There were a couple of other teams that were interested in me. I was going to go on some visits, but I talked to coach Cable and Al Davis and we ironed a lot of things out and got the deal done without me having to go visit any of the other teams. So that took a lot of pressure off and it showed that the Raiders appreciated me and its good to be back.”

SBREPORT: The deal is among the highest in the league for a special teamer. Do you now feel that there is more of a burden on you to play at a high level to justify the contract?

EKEJIUBA: “Yeah, I think so. You getting a lot of money to do a job and if you are getting paid for it, you have to do an excellent job, or they wouldn’t give you that kind of money. There is pressure to play better.

I don’t think the Raiders are putting more pressure on me than what I put on myself. I know how good of a player I can be. I know where I am and I know where I want to get. I put more pressure on myself with or without the contract to go out there and prove that I am the best, because that what it’s about. At the end of the day, are they going to say, ‘wow, he was a great player’, or, ‘yeah, he was alright.’

You don’t want them to talk about you and say, ‘he played well when he didn’t have money, now he has a little money and his level of play has fell off.’ I want to go to the Pro-Bowl every year, I want to go out there and make plays. And don’t let that drop-off. There is a lot of pressure, but there is more from myself than from the organization.”

Ekejiuba is looking forward to continue his career in Silver & Black. Something he is proud of, especially playing in front of one of the most rabid fans in the NFL. He talked about ‘the Black Hole’ and the dedication of the Raider Nation:

“Oh, the Black Hole is crazy. You can’t really explain it in words. I try to talk to a couple of my friends that are on other teams that talk about their fan base and I tell them, ‘if you come to the Black Hole, its an experience you will never forget.’ And those guys, I have a couple of friends from other teams and they come out here and play us and they say, ‘damn those fans are crazy.’ And yeah, that is what we go through every week we play here. We have great fans, rain or shine, win or lose, they are there supporting us. It’s wonderful being out there seeing the kind of love and support that the fans give the team. That makes you want to give back. They are giving up their time and effort to come here and watch us play; we want to win for us, but we want to win for the Raider family, fans, players and the whole organization.”

This off-season has been a tough one for the Raider family due to the unfortunate incident that has occurred to Marquis Cooper and the boaters he was with near Clearwater Florida. Cooper set out on a fishing trip early March 1 from the Seminole Boat Ramp in Clearwater with three friends — former Buccaneer Corey Smith and two former University of South Florida players, Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler. Since, only Schuyler has been found clinging to the overturned raft and the rest of the groups has been presumed dead.

An emotional Ekejiuba shared some moments about his time with Cooper and recollections about the missing Raider:

“Well, [if anyone has said], ‘he wasn’t a Raider that long’, man, but he was a Raider long enough. I came into work one day and I saw Cooper on the depth chart and this was after Jarrod Cooper had retired. And I was like, did they sign him back without letting anybody know? And I come in, and this guy was sitting there and he was like, ‘Hi I’m Marquis Cooper.’ Quiet guy, quiet type. And it was a short period of time but he gelled quickly. And there was nobody that talked to him, a player or coach, that didn’t like Marquis. He was that type of guy. There is a lot of times I played on the kickoff returns where we played the center, right there in the middle and we always talked right before the team kicked the ball off on how things were going. Sometimes you are just so nervous, you don’t even talk about football. Talk about little things. I mean, he was just a great guy. He was such a great family guy. That is what he was about. He loved his wife [Rebekah] and his daughter [Delaney].

We used to go over to Sam Williams’ house and he showed us pictures of his wife and daughter. And he was just real proud. There was an air about him when he spoke about his family. And you appreciate that and a lot of guys that age don’t have their life together. But he had everything together.

He was a great friend. He will definitely be missed. His family misses him. I miss him personally. We became real cool.”

SBReport thanks Isaiah for a great interview and the opportunity to get to know him better, gain insight regarding his football career and thoughts about the Raiders, their fans and recent happenings in his professional and personal life.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Isaiah Ekejiuba was signed to the Oakland Raiders practice squad on September 6, 2005. This after the Arizona Cardinals released him prior to the regular season.

I asked Ekejiuba how he felt about being released and what he thought about his football career at that point:

“I didn’t think I was going to go too much further than that. From the time I was in camp [in Arizona], it was my understanding that a lot of un-drafted guys don’t make it you don’t make it to camp and when you get released, it’s hard to get picked-up.”

Then the Silver & Black called and Ekejiuba recalled his first thoughts regarding his next landing spot.

“When I got released, I didn’t know what to do. Then I got a call from my agent and he said how I would feel about going to Oakland. And we just had played against the Raiders two weeks prior to that so I said, ‘Oh man, out in Oakland?’ You hear all the stuff about Oakland and hear I am.”

What ‘stuff’ did you hear about Oakland?

“You hear all the stuff about the penalties, how they going to cheap shot you all the tough and scrappy type guys. You hear people say, ‘get ready for a bar fight.’ That’s the impression I had, I knew about the Raiders. And as a kid growing up, you hear about the Raiders, you know about Al Davis, the greatness of the Raiders. It was crazy when I finally came out here and I saw what everyone’s been talking about.”

His cautious nature after being un-drafted and hearing all the stories about how hard it is for such players to make it in the league had Ekejiuba wondering if this was the team he could latch on to.

“I didn’t know how long I was going to be out [in Oakland]. I stayed in a hotel for most of the year because I didn’t know when I had to pack up and leave again.”

Ekejiuba hasn’t left. And during his 48 games in Oakland, the 27-year old has established himself as one of the better special teams players in the conference. I asked him what does it take to be a standout on special teams?

“I think, one, you need to have an extra gear because there are some plays that you are running 70-yards and then you have to turn around and run another 70-yards in full speed. If you have heart, you have to be willing to go just a little harder than the next guy. Because you have to see, if anyone tells you on special teams they are not tired, maybe it’s the field goal unit, but if you are playing in the core of the special teams, there is a lot of running, it is very physical so you need to have the mind-set that yeah, this is going to hurt, I’m not going to enjoy this but you have to outlast whoever you are playing against. You have to have that mentality that every play, you are going to last one second longer than this guy and you are going to win out a lot that way.”

He continued, “You are not going to win every battle you have in football. That’s just life. You try to go out there and have heart play harder and a little longer than the guy opposite you.”

Many of the players at the glory positions in the NFL envision the perfect play or have dream scenarios that they play out in their head. Ekejiuba gave us some insight about what would be his perfect play:

“Obviously, it would be a kickoff. Kickoffs are unique because you run a very long way and you want to hit something – somebody. So ideally, if I run down and I can beat my blocks, and I have a vision of splitting a double team [laughing], split the double team, and have a returner cut back into my lane. One of those hits where you blow them up on the ball and it comes loose.”

And to cap the play off, “Take that [fumble] and score with it. If you could score covering a kick, then your unit is pretty good.”

Its not often a special teams player gets into the end zone. When asked about how he would react if he hit paydirt, and what celebration he would unveil, the reserved talent said, “I don’t stand in front of a mirror and try to learn new dances and stuff like that. It would have to be a spur of the moment thing. To me, that’s what it should be.”

In 2008, Johnnie Lee Higgins made a splash with his incredible returns. What was it like being a part of that and having a front row view during some of those notable plays?

“It was great watching Johnnie Lee. Watching him grow. Early in his career he had maybe a little trust issue within himself, where I don’t think he trusted himself completely. But this past year it’s been great watching him, just the returner he has become. People hear Johnnie Lee Higgins, and you know whom they are talking about.

He is someone that has the potential to score on you on any given play. And its wonderful seeing someone like that, somebody who is so young, just unsure about himself, now really making a splash.

That is what special teams are about; creating a short field for your offense and a long field for your defense. And when [Higgins] is returning touchdowns like that, the offense can just keep resting. It’s great watching people like that [Higgins’ play].

He always brings energy. You play with someone like that, I don’t know how you can’t get excited.”

Ekejiuba will now be lead by John Fassel, as he takes over for Brian Schneider as special teams coordinator. What are his impressions of the second year Raider staffer?

“It’s not really a new coach. He was there last year as an assistant and he worked very closely with us and coach [Brian] Schneider. They shared a lot of ideas, they were real close. These are two guys that loves what they do.

I don’t think, in my opinion, there isn’t going to be any drop-off from last year in terms of the effort and the time put in at preparation because coach Fassel will work as hard as coach Schneider did, they like to win and they have good ideas and how to use their guys. So we have a lot of the guys coming back this year, so you know when we put that unit together after a year of knowing each other, I think we are going to go up there and show some guys some things.”

Log on to SBReport.net in the coming days for part three of the exclusive interview with Isaiah Ekejiuba, where he talks about: Tom Cable’s hiring, Raider fans, his three-year contract and negotiations with the Silver & Black and his teammate Marquis Cooper.

 

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

There is more than meets the eye when you see Isaiah Ekejiuba. The Oakland Raiders’ special team standout is a football player that is well rounded, diverse, has an understanding of life on and off the field and that has accomplished much in his lifetime.

In my conversation with the 6’4” 240 pound Nigerian born linebacker, I gained an understanding of how important his early life was as he made his travels through varying continents because of his late mother’s job with the United Nations and eventual landing at Colgate University where she taught.

How was it growing up; having a distinct up bringing, being born in Nigeria, living in different continents and eventually settling in the United States?

“That was a big influence, living in different places, because you learn a lot of different things in terms of dealing and appreciating other people for their beliefs and their culture. And I think that translates, when you work and go out here and play football you play with people that you do not necessarily interact with prior to football. Now you are working together and lone and behold you are best friends.”

Ekejiuba continued, “That helped me a lot, that transition to learn and appreciate people for their beliefs and their thinking; looking things outside the box and it helps in football meeting a lot of new people.”

His mother Felicia was very influential in his life. Ekejiuba proclaimed this and explained how she succeeded in presenting him a dynamic environment for him to develop in.

At a young age she tried to get me interested in a lot of things. Not just video games or books, it was a balance of things. You read a little, you travel a little and you learn to do all those things – you are just not one-dimensional. And I think that was instrumental in my growing. Through her teachings it helped with one; my work ethic, which she believed before sports, that you do all your schoolwork. That work ethic helped me believe that there was nothing I couldn’t do. And she made me believe that.

That ethic had him hitting the books in college at Virginia before he started playing football. In college is where he got his first taste of the football field as a mean to take his mind off some of the studies he was focused on – a path that would take him to unexpected heights in his life.

I was doing electrical engineering and it always seemed like I was always doing schoolwork. I needed a little bit of a distraction. And at the time, I knew a guy on the football team and he was talking about the team and how much fun they had.

It was something different to do; something outside of school. I didn’t think I would come this far. It was something that I wanted to do at the time and I have just been blessed to be at this point in my career.

After college, Ekejiuba went un-drafted. He may have not seen himself being one of the better special teams players in the NFL at that point of his life, but he also didn’t put his eggs in one basket and depended on his NFL career as a lone way of making it in this world.

I honestly didn’t see myself where I am right now. When the draft was coming up, I was a little nervous and I had just worked out for a couple of scouts on our college pro-day. I knew I was not going to be a guy that was going to get drafted because I didn’t have that much film. But there were a couple of scouts that had talked to me and said, ‘well listen, you did pretty good, we may take a look at you’, but it was just people talking and I didn’t believe anything.

Log on to SBReport.net in the coming days for part two of the exclusive interview with Isaiah Ekejiuba, where he talks about his arrival in Oakland, his views about being a solid player on special teams, his dream scenario on a kickoff, his thoughts on Johnnie Lee Higgins’ breakout campaign, first-year coordinator John Fassel, Tom Cable’s hiring, Raider fans, his three-year contract and negotiations with the Silver & Black and his teammate Marquis Cooper.

 

 

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist