5/16/13: It may be hard for both Raiders' lovers and haters to understand, but the team is actually making good moves. However, there has been a bit of a management shake up in the front office. Amy Trask, the NFL's only female chief executive officer resigned last week. Trask is a trailblazer for women sports executives and was very close to the late Al Davis. Unfortunately, Trask and Davis' son (the new owner) were not on the same page, and after 25 years, she decided to call it a day. Hopefully, she will resurface in a similar management position soon.

5/9/13: In probably the most publicized story about a third string quarterback getting cut of all time, the New York Jets parted ways with Tim Tebow - just as everyone expected. Tebow is now a free agent, though his options may be nonexistent if he insists on playing QB. Is there a chance that he could end up in Oakland? If Al Davis was alive then he probably would have already been there. Oakland historically does not mind the distraction and media circus, though this is a new regime. Also, how would the angelic Tebow fit into the Black Hole?

5/2/13: This is certainly not Al Davis' team anymore, its Reggie McKenzie's. The Raiders made a smart trade and picked logically this year. The Raiders held the third pick overall and reportedly wanted University of Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden. Instead of reaching for him at No. 3, they wisely traded down to the Dolphins who took Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan. The Raiders got Hayden at 12, and picked up extra picks in the meantime. Other notable picks included offensive tackle Menelik Watson (Florida State, round 2, No. 10) and quarterback Tyler Wilson (Arkansas, round 4, No. 15).

4/25/13: The Raiders have provided some of the more memorable draft moments, particularly in the past decade or so. Who could forget taking JaMarcus Russell first overall in 2007 and paying him $40 million? He only became the biggest bust in NFL history. But times may be changing in Oakland. General Manager Reggie McKenzie seems to be competent, and not likely to waste the number three pick overall. With Matt Flynn in at QB (most likely), he needs some protection, so assuming that the Chiefs take Luke Joekle number one, then it makes sense for the Raiders to draft offensive tackle Eric Fisher from Central Michigan.

4/18/13: Raiders owner Mark Davis says that the Super Bowl is the only goal Congratulations on such a bold statement. On Davis and 31 other owners would have the guts to make such an announcement. To be fair, the Raiders seem to be on a better track than they have been in the last decade (since they made a Super Bowl appearance in 2002). General manager Reggie McKenzie seems to have brought a semblance of fiscal responsibility, countered by paying players on talent and not just 40 times. Oakland still has a ways to go in the AFC West, but they are improving.

4/11/13: Oakland is in the middle of a three year purge on their roster. Rebuilding this once proud franchise takes patience, and general manager Reggie McKenzie knows it. McKenzie may have the good fortune of working for Mike Davis, the son of Al Davis. Had Al still been in charge, then McKenzie may already have been looking for new work. But the braintrust in Oakland seems to understand that they need to get rid of dead weight and develop through the draft - not free agency. It also helps to draft players on a basis other than a 40 yard dash time.

4/4/13: Oakland has been a busy team this week, trying to make their roster better and shed some dead weight (salary). The Raiders first traded draft picks for Seattle Seahawks backup QB Matt Flynn. Flynn had one sensational game in week 17 of 2011, so of course the Seahawks signed him to a massive contract. Then they found Russell Wilson, so everyone knew that Flynn's days in Seattle were numbered. The team finally traded away QB Carson Palmer who refused a pay cut. Arizona got Palmer, and the Raiders got some salary cap space and a bag full of nothing.

3/28/13: The Raiders made their first offensive move this free agency period by signing offensive tack Alex Barron. Barron was selected in the first round by the St. Louis Rams in 2005, and the team was overjoyed to get the top tackle in the draft that year. Barron was a standout at Florida State University, but never made the adjustment to the NFL. He was constantly flagged for false starts and not knowing the snap count while in St. Louis. Barron has not played in two years. He was out in 2011 with a knee injury and did not make a roster last season.

3/21/13: GM Reggie McKenzie gave the press a predictable sound bite about how the team was excited to add veterans Kaluka Maiava (linebacker), Pat Sims (defensive line) and Tim Hunter (defensive line) to bolster the defense. The rest of the league said "Who"? The Raiders are under some salary cap constraints and do not have much in the way of draft picks after surrendering a king's ransom for Carson Palmer a year and a half ago. Oakland, in all objectiveness, has a ways to go to clear out the roster and salary obligations before they can rebuild and contend in the AFC West.

Unfortunately your team did not have make the Super Bowl and we are truly sorry. Next year! But that doesn't mean you can't have a great time at the Super Bowl this year. Check out more info on Super Bowl 2013 tickets over on the SeatGeek Blog.

3/14/13: The Oakland Raiders are getting around to their spring cleaning by releasing two former top ten picks. Oakland released wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and safety Michael Huff. DHB was the number seven pick overall in 2009. He never recorded a 1,000 yard season. Huff was the seventh overall pick in 2006 out of the University of Texas. Huff was solid but not spectacular in his Raider days, and was forced in to playing cornerback with all the Raiders' injuries last season. Cutting the two will save the team almost $12 million next season which is much needed cap space.

3/7/13: Oakland, like New England, decided not to use their franchise tag this offseason. Does that make the Raiders organization as smart as the Patriots. Not hardly. But it does prevent the team from overpaying a middle of the road veteran much more than he is worth. The Raiders are still $800,000 over the salary cap (which is remarkable considering how little talent the team has) and really does not have the financial flexibility to give out any big contracts. Actually, it looks like the opposite, with Raiders likely having to cut some big contracts before the start of the season.

2/14/13: If past seasons are any indication, then life will be the same in Oakland next season. That means that they will not be able to score and they will not be able to stop anyone from scoring. Like many other teams, the Raiders need a quarterback. Carson Palmer put up some respectable numbers when he was healthy, but he is not going to lead this team through a rebuilding. Matt Leinart is, well, Matt Leinart. And Terrelle Prior may have talent but there is not enough to go by yet. Additionally, the Raiders need for Darren McFadden to get healthy and stay healthy. He is hurt every year, but is a top running back when he can play.

2/7/13: Oakland has struggled both on the field and with selling out the Coliseum in recent years, so the team made an adjustment to the seating in the stadium to reach the league-mandated sellout rules to get on local TV. 8,000 upper tier seats, known as Mount Davis were added in the mid 1990's. Those have now been removed and ticket prices slashed. The league changed the blackout rules to allow local broadcasts at 85% non-premium seat sellout, and the Raiders hope the new rules and seating arrangement will get more games on the tube next season.

1/31/13: The Raiders have been among the most thunderstruck franchises in the NFL for the past several seasons. Theirs drafts have been memorable only from the standpoint of who they did not take rather than who they got in the first few rounds. A few years ago, they fell in love with the speed of Darius Heyward-Bey rather than Oklahoma State standout Michael Crabrtee. Heyward-Bey has not been a total bust, and Crabtree really only came on in the second half of this year, but still. Most notably, they drafted JaMarcus Russell number 1 overall all and he was a collosal bust. He is now trying a comeback, after cashing the Raiders' $40 million check. But they could have had Colin Kaepernick, twice, in 2011 and passed. Now CK is starting in the Super Bowl and the Raiders are left with Terrelle Pryor and Matt Lienart.

1/24/13: One of the more interesting Super Bowl stories this week is former Raider wide receiver Tim Brown claiming that former head coach Bill Callahan sabotaged the team against the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl several years ago. Apparently, the team had a run-heavy game plan to take advantage of the team's size advantage on the offensive line. However, the game plan was changed at the last minute, and the Raiders only ran 9 times. Tampa won 48-21, and Brown claims Callahan threw the game because he hated the Raiders and was good friends with Tampa head coach John Gruden.

1/17/13: It may be hard to believe, but one of the greatest offensive minds in professional football has been out of the league for a few years now. Mike Martz, best known as the architect behind "The Greatest Show on Turf" has served as a game day analyst on television since being fired by the Bears - ironically, Lovie Smith was the head coach and Martz gave Smith the opportunity to be a defenisive coordinator with the Rams. Martz and the Rams were an offensive juggernaut from 1999-2004, winning one Super Bowl and appearing in another. Now the Raiders have interest in Martz and have interviewed him for their OC job.

1/10/13: Oakland is a franchise known for taking chances and opting for the unconventional route. Case in point was spending heavily in the form of draft picks to acquire Carson Palmer two seasons ago. Palmer has had a mild resurgence in the Black and Silver, but the team has struggled on the whole. When he got injured in Week 16, third string quarterback Terrelle Prior got his first start. Now there are rumblings that Prior may inherit the starting QB job next year. The Raiders are yet to make that move official, but there is a strong chance that it could happen.

1/3/13: Oakland ended yet another difficult season with a thrilling 24-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers. San Diego took a 21-7 lead into the fourth quarter. Terrelle prior, making his first start due to an injury to Carson Palmer, led the Raiders to a pair of late touchdowns. The Chargers, however, were able to hold on for the win. Prior finished the day with 13 completions on 28 attempts, good for 150 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 pick. The good news for the Raiders is that their 4-12 record earned them the third overall pick in the April draft.

12/27/12: Most people did not expect miracles from the Raiders this season, but most did not expect them to struggle to this degree. The Raiders failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week, losing to the surging Carolina Panthers 17-6 in Charlotte. Even worse, quarterback Carson Palmer is out for the last game of the season with a back injury - meaning that the Raiders must decide between former first round pick turned journeyman backup Matt Leinart or college coach career killing because of a free tatoo talent Terrelle Prior for the 2012 season finale.

12/20/12: Oakland earned 25% of their season win total on Sunday with a 15-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at home. Carson Palmer was the big arm this week, though he only had 182 yards passing. It was a good week if you had kicker Sebastian Janikowski on your fantasy roster. Janikowski kicked five field goals, including a 50 yarder. Otherwise this was a dull game between two struggling teams that are probably more interested in April's draft. But before the season ends, the Raiders must make a cross country trip to visit the suddenly surging Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

12/13/12: Oakland often gets a prime time game or two, even in down years, simply because of the popularity of the franchise throughout the country. So last week they drew the Thursday game against their division rival Denver Broncos, but the Broncos were far too much for the Raiders to handle. Denver jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and was up 26-7 by the end of the third. Carson Palmer continued his goods stats on a bad team trend, putting up 273 yards and two touchdowns. Oakland has a good chance for their fourth victory of the season on Sunday when they travel to Kansas City.

12/6/12: Oakland Colosseum is where the Browns 12 game road losing streak began last season, and it was where it ended on Sunday. Oakland is still a rebuilding team, and showed their shortcomings on defense by allowing rookie quarterback Brandon Weeded to throw for 364 yards in a 20-17 loss. There were some high points though. The Raiders did force two interceptions, and Carson Palmer threw for 351 yards and two TDs. But the defense allowed Weeden to engineer a 97 yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to ice the game. Oakland has a short week, as they host Denver on Thursday.

9/22/12 ? With the game tied 31-31, Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 43-yard field goal with time expiring to give the Oakland Raiders a 34-31 over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Raiders were able to overcome 384 passing yards and four touchdowns by Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and the loss of their number one receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was knocked out on a hit by Pittsburgh safety Ryan Mundy. The Raiders scored the final 13 points of the game overcoming a 10-point deficit. Janikowski hit two field goals and Carson Palmer threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Denarius Moore. Palmer finished the day with 209 yards in the air with three touchdown passes. Raiders running back Darren McFadden rushed for 113 yards on 18 carries.

The Raiders have announced they will own their own first round pick for the 2013 NFL Draft. The pick could have gone to the Cincinnati Bengals as part of last season's Carson Palmer trade. The trade originally would have sent either a first or second round pick in 2013 depending on the Raiders performance in 2011 and 2012. Oakland has announced the actual terms of the deal only dealt with performance in 2011. SInce the Raiders did not make the AFC Championship game last season, the 2013 first round pick will now stay in Oakland as the Raiders' second round pick will go to Cincinnati.

Oakland Raiders Tickets - Team History

Aside from a twelve year stint in Los Angeles, the Oakland Raiders have been terrorizing the Bay Area since 1960. Playing their home games in The Coliseum, Raider Nation is known as one of the toughest, most die-hard group of fans in any professional sport. The silver and black faithful are well- versed in tormenting their beloved Raiders opponents, helping make The Coliseum one of the most difficult arenas for NFL teams to visit.

Oakland Raiders Tickets - 2011 Season Info

An 8-8 2010 was a drastic improvement for a team that hadn't won more than 5 games in a season since the Rich Gannon era in 2002, and 2011 just might be even better for the Raiders. The health of running back Darren McFadden, the team's first round pick in 2008, is crucial to a team that ranked second in the league in rushing last season. When healthy, McFadden is a bigger, stronger version of Reggie Bush, capable of breaking games open with his speed and elusiveness. Unlike Bush, however, McFadden can run between the tackles with regularity and shoulder the bulk of the team's carries. The Raiders have struggled with filling the quarterback position since Gannon's retirement. Inconsistencies, injuries, and the dubious selection of former LSU standout JaMarcus Russell first overall in 2007 have plagued the team and weighed the offense down. Currently helmed by veteran Jason Campbell, the Raiders possess dangerous weapons in Jacoby Ford and Darius Heyward-Bey, the surehanded and increasingly reliable Louis Murphy, and a more than serviceable tight end in the rapidly improving Zach Miller.

Oakland Raiders Tickets - 2011 Schedule

Though they have to travel in weeks 1 and 2, the Raiders should be favored to begin their season 2-0, with visits to Denver and Buffalo offering a good chance to start the year on a high note. Back-to-back home games against the Jets and Patriots in weeks 3 and 4 will be a stiffer test, yet it's as good a bet as any that Oakland's faithful will pack the stadium and serve as an effective 12th man for their hometown squad.

Oakland Raiders Tickets - The Players

Jason Campbell is the starting quarterback and has actually been productive compared to his days in Washington. Darren McFadden has been a monster in the backfield and has been carrying the team down the field. Darius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford are young receivers who could develop and be a good target for an underachieving quarterback. The Raiders have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL and with the loss of Nnamdi Asomghua their pass defense just got worse too. We'll see how this young team develops, but as of now the organization cannot live up to Raider Nation expectation.

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