The Oakland Raiders are an incredible organization and one of things I like most about the team is the long connection they have with many career Raiders. There are many players who only wore the Silver and Black during their NFL playing career.

On the other side, there are players who only spent a brief time in Oakland (or Los Angeles), during their NFL careers. Some of these are Hall of Famers, but whose contributions and achievements were mainly made with other teams. Although their time with the Raider Nation may have been brief, I think it’s important to recognize their contributions to the team’s success.

Here are five Hall of Famers who played for the Raiders, but whose contributions and achievements were mainly made with other teams:

Bob “Boomer” Brown

Boomer Brown finished his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders, playing from 1971-1973 and played in the Pro Bowl while a Raider. He started his NFL career in Philadelphia from 1964-1968, then moved on to Los Angeles to play for the Rams from 1969-1970. He was a big tackle, at 6′ 4″, 280 pounds and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Eric Dickerson

I think Dickerson will always be a Ram. He played for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992 and had a bad year, compared to his greatness with the Rams. For the Raiders, he had 729 yards rushing and only two touchdowns. He played for the Rams from 1983-1987, for the Colts from 1987-1991, the Raiders in 1992 and ended his career in Atlanta in 1993.

James Lofton

Lofton had two good seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders but really put up some numbers while he was with the Green Bay Packers from 1978-1986. He played for the Raiders from 1987-1988 and also had some strong stats in Buffalo after leaving the team. In 1987, he had 41 receptions for 880 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Ron Mix

Ron Mix is a legendary Charger, but played his final 1971 season with the Oakland Raiders. He was key part of the early Chargers success, playing for the team from 1960-1969. His nickname, “The Intellectual Assasin” was due to his USC scholarship and eventual law degree. He was an offensive tackle who liked to follow the rules, he had only two holding penalties in 10 years.

Jerry Rice

To me, Jerry Rice is always a San Francisco 49er. He played for the Oakland Raiders from 2001-2004 and then for Seattle also in 2004, but his glory days were from 1985-2000 in San Francisco. He had some good stats with the Raiders, in 2001 he had 83 catches for 1,139 yards and 9 TDs and in 2002 he had 92 receptions for 1,211 yards and 7 TDs.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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While the Oakland Raiders have to wait until Friday, April 27, before using their first draft pick, which falls at the end of the third round at 95th overall, there have been many discussions while the Raider Nation waits patiently to find out who will be the newest members of the Silver and Black.

One of the discussions came about when the Oakland Raiders official Twitter account tweeted out an interesting trivia question, ” #NFLDraft trivia – from which school have the Raiders drafted the most players in the last 18 drafts?”

Did you know the answer to that question? I was a little surprised to find out that it was Arizona State University with six Oakland Raiders hailing from the southwest school. ASU was followed by Florida State and Ohio state with five players, while there were four players each chosen from BYU, San Diego State and Washington.

Always wanting to know more, I decided to take a look at some of the players who came from those schools and if there was a distinct pattern of signing exceptional guys from those top six.

Two instantly came to mind. Running back Napoleon Kaufman was a member of the Washington Huskies who was signed in 1995, an 18th pick in the first round of the draft. In 1992, Kaufman became the fastest Husky to run the 40-yard dash at 4.22. As a member of the Raiders, he holds the number one rushing performance record. On October 19, 1997 against the Denver Broncos he rushed for 227 yards and carried the ball 28 times. Kaufman also scored a touchdown that day, becoming a key player in the team’s 28-25 victory over Denver.

Marques Tuiasosopo was a highly touted quarterback who came out of Washington, making his debut in 2001. While I held out hope for awhile for Tuiasosopo, he was overall a pretty big disappointment.

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski has been one of the most solid forces on the team for the past 12 seasons, setting a number of records in 2011. Janikowski comes from Florida State, making his debut in 2000 and he became the first kicker to be drafted in the first round since 1979. Many questioned Al Davis’ sanity that year, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions in recent years.

Eric Allen, Derek Hagan and Andrew Walter all came from ASU. Travis Goethel is a current member of the Silver and Black who is from Arizona State, making his debut in 2010.

Terrelle Pryor was a third round pick in the 2011 draft from Ohio State. It remains to be seen whether or not if he’ll become a solid backup quarterback to Carson Palmer. Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa also came out of Ohio State in the 2011 draft. Unfortunately his rookie year was marred with injuries and he was only on the field in four games.

An interesting player who came from San Diego State was Carl Weathers. While many know Weathers better as the actor who played Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” films, he had a brief career with the Raiders in the early ’70s.

Players from BYU include Marc Wilson, Eli Herring and Todd Watkins. Of those names, Wilson is the only memorable one, although certainly not one of the better quarterbacks the Raiders have ever had. Wilson was on the Oakland/L.A. Raiders from 1980 to 1987. Over his career he was credited with 86 touchdowns but he threw 102 interceptions.

What does it all mean? While the stats are interesting to contemplate, I don’t think that there is any clear pattern that emerges, but perhaps the new general manager Reggie McKenzie has a little more insight. All we know as fans, is that we’re ready for the Raiders to get back to where they should be, no matter what it takes to get there!

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

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Although I find there are many Oakland Raiders who are missing from the Pro Football Hall of Fame (like Ken Stabler) there are 18 players (plus Al Davis and John Madden) in the Hall of Fame who wore the Silver and Black. Here’s a look at three great Oakland Raiders Hall of Famers:

Gene Upshaw

Truly one of the greatest pro football players in the history of the game, Gene Upshaw was was a first-round draft pick for the Raiders in 1967, which was the first combined AFL-NFL draft. He played 15 seasons for the Silver and Black, retiring after the 1981 season. Gene Upshaw played in 307 preseason, regular season and post-season games. He helped the Raiders win the AFL championship in 1967, along with Super Bowls XI and XV. He was a leader on the field and was the Raiders’ offensive unit captain for eight seasons.

This great Raider passed away in 2008, after 25 years as the head of the NFL player’s union. Influential off the field as well, he helped introduce free agency into the NFL, and I think he helped create the modern business of professional football we know today. Another milestone for Upshaw, he was the first African-American head of a professional sports player’s union.

Dave Casper

Dave Casper, known as “The Ghost” as in “The Ghost to the Post,” one of the Raiders’ greatest plays ever. In 1977, during the AFC playoff game against the Colts, Casper had the reception that won the double-overtime game for the Raiders. The “Ghost to the Post” refers to his 42-yard reception, that set up the field goal that tied the game at the end of regulation.

Casper was part of another famously named Raider play, the “Holy Roller” against the Chargers in 1978. With the Raiders down six points, QB Ken Stabler fumbled, but the ball rolled towards the Chargers goal line, RB Pete Banaszak knocked it further, and Casper helped it along before falling on it in the end zone to tie and then win the game. Dave Casper played for the Oakland Raiders from 1974-1980, then returned to play in Los Angeles in 1984 after playing with the Oilers and Vikings. In his eight years with the Raiders, Casper had 255 receptions for 3,294 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Mike Haynes

Cornerback Mike Haynes is unique as he is one of the only Raider Hall of Famers to only play in Los Angeles. He came to the Raiders from the Patriots in a settlement that gave the Pats a number one draft pick in 1984 and a number two pick in 1985, which shows his value. He got to work quickly and played the last five games in 1983, then started and even grabbed an interception in the Raiders’ Super Bowl XVIII win. In his seven years with the Raiders, he had 18 interceptions for 295 yards and one touchdown.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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The Oakland Raiders’ preseason schedule was already known as of last week but the only date and time that was for certain was the Raiders’ preseason opening game on Monday Night Football at home against the Cowboys on August 13 at 5 pm PST. Now, the other home dates and times have been released.

Here is the official Raiders’ preseason schedule with dates and times:

Week 1, August 13, 5 pm PST: vs. Dallas Cowboys (ESPN)

Week 2, August 16-20, time TBA: at Arizona Cardinals

Week 3, August 25, 7 pm PST: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 4, August 30, 7 pm PST: at Seattle Seahawks

All Raider preseason games except for the opener against Cowboys will air on KTVU FOX Channel 2/KICU Action 36.

As soon as we know the exact details of the away game at the Cardinals, we will let you know as well. But now you have the details of the home games and the game against the Cowboys so you may plan your fandom accordingly.

For more on the Raiders, go to Silver and Black Pride.

As an Oakland Raiders fan, I have mixed feelings about the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I respect the institution, but have a lot of issues about how many great Oakland Raiders have yet to be “enshrined.” Raider legends like Jim Plunkett, Ken Stabler and Cliff Branch continue to be overlooked, while lesser players get in. Here’s a look at five Oakland Raiders greats who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Fred Biletnikoff

Fred Biletnikoff played for the Silver and Black from draft through retirement, clocking in 14 years. Biletnikoff caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and scored 76 touchdowns. At the time of his retirement, he led the league with the record of catching 40 or more passes in 10 consecutive seasons. He also had 70 receptions, 1,167 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in 10 post-season games for another NFL career-record. He was an All-AFL pick in 1969 and was an NFL All-Pro in 1972 and All-AFC in 1970, 1972 and 1973. He also played in two AFL All-Star games and four AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games, along with three AFL and five AFC championship games. As the MVP of Super Bowl XI, Biletnikoff helped the Raiders beat the Vikings 32-14. He also helped the team to an amazing 16-1 season in 1976, truly one of the Raiders’ greatest seasons ever.

George Blanda

Blanda played for the Raiders at the end of his career, after seven seasons with the Houston Oilers, who thought he was done. He proved everyone wrong and played nine great seasons with the Silver and Black as a back-up QB and kicker. His NFL career started way back in 1949 but Blanda really had a great season in 1970. Over a five-game stretch, Blanda helped the Raiders win four games and tied one more with either passing or kicking or both. He was the AFC Player of the Year in 1970, at age 43. Raiders’ owner Al Davis said of Blanda’s 1970 season: “George Blanda inspired a whole nation in 1970. I really believe he is the greatest clutch player in the history of this game.”

Jim Otto

Center Jim Otto really anchored the offensive line of the Raiders for the entire 15 years he played with the team. He played in 308 games, including six AFL title games, Super Bowl II and 12 All-Star games. He played for the Oakland Raiders from 1960-1974 and is a great member of the Raider Nation. He’s one of the original Oakland Raider players who started in 1960, the very first year the team was in existence.

John Madden

I really do think Madden is the greatest football coach ever, and is still the heart and soul of the Oakland Raiders. Madden actually started as a player, he was drafted in the 21st round of the 1958 NFL Draft by the Eagles but injured himself in his rookie season and never played again. He coached for several college teams before joining the Raiders in 1967 as the linebackers coach. Madden finished with an overall record of 103 wins, 32 loses and 7 ties. Under his leadership, the team won seven Western Division titles, including the incredible five-in-a-row run from 1972-1976 and the win in Super Bowl XI in early 1977. In the 1976 and 1977 seasons, the Raiders won 17 games in a row, one short of the record at the time and they went 13-1 in 1976, one of the team’s greatest seasons ever.

Willie Brown

Inducted as part of the Class of 1984, cornerback Willie Brown came to the Raiders from the Denver Broncos in 1967 and played until 1978 with Oakland. He played in nine AFL/AFC title games and two Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XI he had an amazing 75-yard interception and touchdown to help clinch the game.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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With the Oakland Raiders starting their off-season workouts and the 2012 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, I think we have a big year coming up. New GM Reggie McKenzie has been building the team, from the head coach, on down and Oakland Raiders fans like me just have to trust his judgement.

While I think it’s important to look forward to the new season, I also like to take a look back at some of the Raiders players who helped create and build the historic team we now have. This season is all about Carson Palmer and whether he can live up to the superstar burden that’s been placed upon him. I think GM McKenzie has been building a team around him, so after an off-season to really learn the Raiders systems, he better step up to the task. Palmer follows in the footsteps of a lot of great Raiders quarterbacks, here’s a look at the best.

By yards gained, here are the Oakland Raiders’ top five career passing leaders:

1 – Ken Stabler

I think the fact that Ken “The Snake” Stabler is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame shows the bias and discrimination felt against the Raiders. Snake played for the Silver and Black from 1970-1979 and racked up 19,078 yards and 150 touchdowns. He was 1,486 for 2,481, which is 59.9 percent completions.

2 – Rich Gannon

I always think of Gannon as “the Quiet Raider” as he just went out and did his job. He played for the Raiders from 1999-2004 and put up some impressive stats. He has 17,585 yards, with 114 touchdowns. He also has a low 50 interceptions. With the Raiders, he was 1,533 for 2,448, a 62.6 percent completion rate.

3 – Daryle Lamonica

We’re getting old-school with “The Mad Bomber” himself, Daryle Lamonica. Lamonica played for the Raiders from 1967-1973 and has 16,655 total yards, with 148 touchdowns. He was 1,138 for 2,248, which is a 50.6 percent completion rate.

4 – Jim Plunkett

Plunkett is a another Oakland Raiders icon and I can remember watching him play in his final season in 1986. He led the team to Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XV against the Eagles, then again the next season, after the move to Los Angeles. He has 12,665 yards passing with the Raiders, with 80 touchdowns. He completed 960 passes out of 1,697 attempts, for a 56.6 completion percentage.

5 – Marc Wilson

Wilson is another less high profile player, who still was a great member of the Raider Nation and had some impressive stats as QB. He passed for 11,760 yards with 77 touchdowns. He also had 86 interceptions. He threw 871 completions in 1,666 attempts, a 52.3 percent completion rate.

Interesting fact

Number 6 on the list of the Raiders’ career passing leaders is Raider legend Tom Flores, who was a great Raider quarterback before he was a great Raider coach. Flores was also the first Hispanic quarterback in the NFL.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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The Oakland Raiders‘ starting quarterback Carson Palmer can’t wait to get his first full season with the Silver and Black started. On Monday, April 2, he’ll finally get his playbook. He’s been down in Los Angeles working out with some of the weapons he’ll have out on the field in 2012, but under the new collective bargaining agreement players haven’t been able to even get a glimpse of the playbook from new coach Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.

The former Cincinnati Bengals‘ quarterback told San Francisco Chronicle writer Vittorio Tafur, “I am fired up to get my playbook. We have a lot of work to do. We have a new offense and a new defense. New terminology. But we’re very excited. Personnel-wise, we have as good an opportunity as anybody to win the whole thing.”

Palmer also said he’s been watching a lot of film of the Houston Texans’ offense, the team that Knapp was a part of for two years as the quarterbacks’ coach, and he remarked, ” I am excited to see how our personnel fits into this offense I have been watching. Monday can’t get here soon enough.”

Every time I hear Palmer talk about the upcoming season I get a little more excited for it to begin, and I know I’m not alone when I say the majority of the Raider Nation is counting down the days until the Silver and Black get back out on the field. Some of what Palmer has to say reminds me of the team’s most recent great quarterback, Rich Gannon. As many might recall, Gannon and former head coach Jon Gruden used to get to the team’s Alameda offices in the very early hours of the morning to study film, and I see the same dedication in Palmer.

It’s hard to believe it hasn’t even been six months since the deal in which the Raiders gave up a 2012 first-round draft pick and a 2013 second-round pick for the veteran quarterback. Many questioned the decision on the part of the Raiders, especially when the team ended the year in a rather disappointing fashion, but during the off season Palmer has already shown he has the dedication and passion to take the team to the post season in 2012.

Palmer said he “has a sour taste in his mouth” about how they finished last season, but also remarked that he never got to play with one of the NFL’s greatest running backs, Darren McFadden. The prospect of having McFadden on the field is so enticing that he said it keeps him up at night. He called the changes that general manager Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen are making “exciting.”

In late February Palmer told Adam Schein and Rich Gannon, hosts of SiriusXM Blitz, that he “loves the pressure” to live up to the controversial trade.

If the Raiders’ key players are able to stay healthy for the majority of the upcoming season, the Raider Nation has a lot of look forward to.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

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The 1976 Oakland Raiders were just voted the the greatest team in NFL history and it’s only with the accomplishments of individual members of the Raider nation that we have achieved that status. Since games are won by scoring, I wanted to take a look at the Oakland Raiders‘ Career Scoring Leaders. According to the Raiders’ official website, Raiders.com, here are the Silver and Black’s top scoring leaders:

1 – Sebastian Janikowski

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski is far and away the Raiders’ greatest scorer with 1,271 total points. He has 392 extra points and 293 field goals and is still out there kicking and racking up the points, after 12 seasons with the Raider Nation. I think he may go down as the greatest point scorer in Oakland Raiders history with a record that will be hard to beat.

2 – George Blanda

Hall of Famer George Blanda is one of the players I remember watching as a little kid. He has 863 points, made up of 395 extra points and 156 field goals, after nine seasons with the Raiders.

3 – Chris Bahr

Bahr has 817 points with 331 extra points and 162 field goals. Bahr played for the Raiders for nine seasons.

4 – Jeff Jaeger

It’s another Raiders kicker, as Jaeger has 667 total points, with 211 extra points and 152 field goals, after seven seasons with the Silver and Black.

5 – Tim Brown

With 16 seasons with the Raiders, receiver Tim Brown has 626 points and is the highest ranking non-kicker on the list. He had 104 total touchdowns.

Since the top three were kickers, here are the next Raider non-kickers on the list:

6 – Marcus Allen with 588 points from 98 touchdowns with 79 on the ground.

7 – Fred Biletnikoff with 462 points from 76 receptions and 77 touchdowns.

8 – Cliff Branch with 402 points by 67 touchdowns with 67 receptions.

9 – Clem Daniels with 324 points from 54 touchdowns, 30 by rushing and 24 receptions.

10 – Pete Banaszak with 312 points from 52 touchdowns, 47 by rushing and 5 receptions.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

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While Monday brought the shocking news of Peyton Manning‘s entry into the AFC West division with the Denver Broncos, it also found the Oakland Raiders‘ making some much needed additions to their defense. If Manning returns to the game as his old Super Bowl champion self, the Raiders will need to make huge improvements on the defense if they want to come out on top in the battle against their dreaded rival.

Obviously, this is something that needed to be done regardless of Manning heading to Denver, and general manager Reggie McKenzie is putting a few of the building blocks in place in order to do just that.

While the Raiders lost running back Rock Cartwright to the team across the bay, they’ve signed cornerback Shawtae Spencer, an eight-year veteran with the San Francisco 49ers. Spencer was riddled with injuries in 2011, playing just nine games for San Francisco, but in his first seven years with the team he started in 72, playing in every game in 2009 and 2010.

Spencer worked with the Raiders new defensive coordinator, Jason Tarver, who was a defensive assistant for most of Spencer’s tenure with the team. Over the past eight years Spencer played in 98 games with 72 starts, totaling 11 interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 53 passes defensed.

We’ll have to hope that Spencer is another play who comes into his own wearing the silver and black, if he stays healthy I believe he’ll be a solid addition to Oakland.

The Raiders are also said to be meeting with f ree agent cornerback Tracy Porter. Porter has spent the past three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, working with the Raiders’ new head coach, Dennis Allen during two of them. Porter would be a good man to have in Oakland, and is possibly the best cornerback in the NFL that the Raiders can afford. During Super Bowl XLIV, it was Porter who intercepted Manning’s pass and returned the pick 74 yards for a touchdown, sealing the Saints’ win.

Just last week the Raiders released guard Cooper Carlisle and defensive tackle John Henderson, clearing $7 million in salary off the Raiders’ 2012 books. On Monday, McKenzie decided to bring Carlisle back at a cheaper price, which could mean the recently signed Mike Brisiel goes to left guard while Stefen Wisniewski moves to center.

McKenzie is making some good moves, and I continue to have faith that the Silver and Black will be able to take on and defeat Denver, and come out on top of the AFC West in 2012, even with Manning in the picture.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

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As speculated, the Oakland Raiders released Kamerion Wimbley on Friday, one year into his $48 million, five-year deal. Wimbley’s agent commented in an email, “We tried to make it work all afternoon, but just too many constraints with (the) Raiders cap situation. Reggie McKenzie is a real pro and we appreciate how he handled it.”

Showing true class, Wimbley tweeted, ” I would like to thank the late Al Davis and the Raider organization for giving me the opportunity to play for the Silver and Black. I will miss Oakland and the great fans of the Raider Nation.”

Wimbley is the seventh player to be cut, with Stanford Routt, Chris Johnson, Kevin Boss, Cooper Carlisle, John Henderson and Hiram Eugene, all released, and the team seems to be shrinking before our eyes.

After all the recent cuts, the Raiders finally signed two free agents on Friday, offensive lineman Mike Brisiel and cornerback Ron Bartell.

Brisiel reportedly received a five-year contract worth almost $20 million and Bartell sealed a one-year deal worth up to $3 million with incentives. With both cornerbacks Routt and Johnson released, Bartell helps fill a rather large gap and could be one of the better moves we’ll see heading into the 2012 season .

Brisiel, on the other hand, will have a lot to live up to with such a lucrative deal. He hasn’t been one of the top guards in the NFL, but there have been many players in the past who’ve reached their potential once they became a part of the Silver and Black.

Bartell played for the Rams for seven seasons, but only got out on the field for one game in 2011 after suffering a neck fracture. The 30-year-old player is said to be one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the NFL and is reportedly back at 100 percent. The former Saint Louis player has eight career interceptions, one interception touchdown, two sacks and 311 tackles.

Bartell commented , “This is the perfect match for me. I know some of these guys and I feel comfortable with what they are doing. I really look forward to the opportunity to playing in Oakland.”

Bartell will be an exciting addition to the Silver and Black as McKenzie and Coach Allen continue to put the pieces of the puzzle for 2012 back together.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

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Just days after the Oakland Raiders’ running back and special teams stand-out Rock Cartwright was honored at the Commitment to Excellence, it was reported that he’s headed across the bay to play for the San Francisco 49ers.

It wasn’t Cartwright that wanted to leave, apparently the Raiders didn’t care if he stayed. The veteran player has been in Oakland for only two seasons, but Jerry McDonald of the San Jose Mercury News tweeted this afternoon, “Talked to Cartwright at the banquet in his honor. Made it very clear he wanted to stay. Raiders obviously took a pass.”

Many other comments echoed thoughts that Cartwright was a standout guy, including: # Raiders just lost a true leader and glue guy in Rock Cartwright. The special teams will suffer greatly just for starters.”

It certainly sounds like he will be missed, and the loss is a little disappointing. The 49ers are excited to bring him on, reporting that he’ll bring the versatility that the special team’s player he’s replacing had lacked. Over the past two seasons he was credited with 27 special-teams tackles.

Unfortunately, that’s life in the NFL, but going forward the team will need more leaders on the team that share a similar attitude that Cartwright had.

Free agent Chaz Schilens has also paid a visit to the San Francisco 49ers and is said to be heading out to meet with the New York Jets where his former position coach, Sanjay Lal, now works.

The Raiders are looking to fill a need at cornerback and are said to be meeting with the former St. Louis Rams cornerback Ron Bartell . The 30-year-old played for the Rams for seven seasons, but only got out on the field for one game in 2011 after suffering a neck fracture. Bartell is said to be one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the NFL and is reportedly back at 100 percent.

The question, “Where is Wimbley?” (referring to linebacker Kamerion Wimbley) has still not been answered, although it was expected that we would hear by Friday. I can’t imagine at this point that he’ll return as a Raider in 2012.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been anOakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

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While fans were disappointed with the Oakland Raiders loss to the Denver Broncos on November 6, 2011, the lucky members of Raider Nation who were in the stands that afternoon at O.co Coliseum were treated to an extremely touching event on the field, at least partially making up for our disappointment.

Oakland Raiders
K.C. Dermody

At halftime, the score was Raiders 17, Broncos 7, with fans excitedly anticipating a second victory over their AFC West rivals. There was a positive energy throughout the Coliseum at the end of the second quarter, and what happened next made it even more so.

The award-winning LIfetime series, “Coming Home,” features surprise reunions of active duty service men and women and their families, and the surprise that day happened right on the field at O.co Coliseum, in front of a sold-out crowd full of passionate fans wearing silver and black.

The reunion on November 6th featured a serviceman who is also a fan of the Raiders, and the organization assisted in surprising the children of the lifelong fan who had not seen his family in almost a year. It was overwhelmingly emotional, and many had at least a tear in their eye that afternoon. I won’t give away all the details in case you weren’t there to see it in person, and the show will kick off Lifetime’s season on Sunday afternoon, March 11.

Matt Rogers, the show’s host, has an enviable job bringing such memorable moments together. If you’ve been a fan of American Idol, you might remember Rogers from season three. While I can’t recall many of his performances, what stood out for me was his charming personality. He’s obviously been able to use that to his advantage and snag this awesome opportunity that seems to be a perfect fit.

Rogers remarked, “I’m extremely proud of this television show and I’m extremely proud of this episode. What the Oakland Raiders did for our show and what they’re doing for our show, you can’t put a price on that. I could not have picked a better NFL team to team up with for this show. The organization was unbelievable. They opened their doors to us. They literally made the TV show better and made it epic. I believe this is, hands down, our best episode.”

As if fans needed another reason to love the Raiders, it’s always nice to hear the team recognized for who they really are. The entire Raider Nation is one big family that is truly passionate, and compassionate, not only about the game, but their community and beyond. We have many reasons to be proud!

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

More from this contributor:

Oakland Raiders’ Fan’s Look: Quarterback Carson Palmer Makes Sacrifices for the Silver and Black

Oakland Raiders’ an Update: City Approves Plan to Keep Its Sports’ Teams

Oakland Raiders’ Carson Palmer Loves the Pressure and is Excited for 2012: Fan’s Take

Oakland Raiders’ Dennis Allen Has the Right Mindset to Lead the Team to Greatness: Fan Reaction

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The Oakland Raiders’ late owner, Al Davis, was well-known for his love of speedy players, and it’s not surprising that many of the fastest players in the history of the NFL Combine went on to wear the Silver and Black. Here is a look at some of the Raiders’ greatest running backs and their performances at the Combine. Who was the best ever?

Darren McFadden
Wikimedia Commons

Bo Jackson

Bo knows a lot of things, and one of those is how to run like lightening. Bo Jackson holds the record for the fastest 40-yard dash at the Combine, ever. The player who many call one of the best athletes of all-time reportedly ran a 4.12. Although some questioned the validity of that time, a 4.18 ran the same week made believers out of the biggest skeptics.

If a hip injury hadn’t taken Jackson out of the game after just four seasons, he would have undoubtedly gone on to break numerous NFL records that might not have been touched for years, if ever. Unfortunately, we can only say, “What if?”

Darren McFadden

Darren McFadden has been a stand-out player, at least when he’s at 100%. We hope that 2012 will be the year the great running back is able to participate in each game, or at least a majority of them. He was sorely missed after leaving in week seven against the Kansas City Chiefs, never to return. McFadden became the first running back to reach 1000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards since the awesome Marcus Allen in 1986.

At the Combine, McFadden ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, the second best time in the last decade. Chris Johnson of the Tennesse Titans holds the record at 4.24, set in 2008.

Napoleon Kaufman

Napoloeon Kaufman was also one of the speediest players ever out on the football field. In 1992, as a college player for the Washington Huskies, he ran a 4.22 40-yard dash. At the Combine he ran a 4.31. Kaufman went on to become one of the Raiders’ greatest rushers, setting a record of 227 yards in a single game against the Denver Broncos in October 1997. The previous record of 221 yards was held by Bo Jackson. Kaufman still holds the record today.

Who will be next to surpass the records of the some of the greatest to ever wear the Silver and Black?

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

More from this contributor:

A Look Back at the Oakland Raiders’ Receivers in the 2009 to 2011 Combine and Beyond

Oakland Raiders’ Dennis Allen Calls Darren McFadden Vital to the Team: Fan’s Look

Oakland Raiders’ Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff Doing Great Work to Support At-Risk Youth

Oakland Raiders’ Dennis Allen Has the Right Mindset to Lead the Team to Greatness: Fan Reaction

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

While many may have disagreed with the Oakland Raiders’ iconic owner Al Davis over the years, most of the time ol’ Al turned out to be right. Although he passed away last October, his son, Mark Davis, will accept The Younger Award on his behalf this Friday in Indianapolis.

One Nation. Home of the Oakland Raiders, the Oakland Coliseum
Creative Commons

While the busy week begins today at the NFL Scouting Combine, also in Indianapolis, with four days of intense interviews involving hundreds of the best college football players and executives, coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams, the late Davis will be given the Paul “Tank” Younger Award.

Davis is noted as being perhaps the person who has had the greatest impact on the NFL in its entire history. He rescued the Raiders when he purchased the team, taking them from an old high school field and turning them into one of the most winning teams in the NFL. But what Davis may be most noted for, is his idea of equal opportunities for everyone when it came to hiring.

Davis himself was just 33 years old when he bought the team, and was the youngest person in professional football to hold both general manager and head coach positions. The Younger Award recognizes the commitment the iconic owner had to both racial and gender diversity.

Attending a game in Oakland with a sea of Silver and Black throughout the Coliseum represents the great ideals of Davis and what most of us hope the world can some day be like. When you’re a Raider fan you are a part of one big family, no matter what the color of your skin, your gender, age or financial status.

Davis saw talent and hired based on a person’s abilities and nothing else. He hired CEO Amy Trask, and she became the highest ranking female the NFL had ever seen. In 1968, Davis drafted the first African American quarterback, Eldridge Dickey, in the first round of the draft. He was the first to hire a Latino head coach in Tom Flores, who took the team to two Super Bowls, and he also named the first African-American head coach of the modern era when he appointed Art Shell to the team in 1989.

There is no doubt that Davis is well-deserving of this award, and I’m grateful that he was not only a part of the Raiders’ legacy, but made so many outstanding contributions to our world.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been anOakland Raiders fan for her entire life. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett. Follow her on Twitter @kcdermody or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcdermodywriter.

More from this contributor:

Oakland Raiders’ Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff Doing Great Work to Support At-Risk Youth

Oakland Raiders’ Tim Brown Passed Over by the NFL Hall of Fame Once Again: Fan Reaction

New York Giants Win the Super Bowl Rematch Over the Patriots: A Little Satisfaction for Many Raider Fans

Oakland Raiders’ Dennis Allen Has the Right Mindset to Lead the Team to Greatness: Fan Reaction

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.