The 2012 NFL draft is now just hours away, and there are many rumors and reports as to which players the Oakland Raiders might pick up this year. On Wednesday, April 25, James Robert Sanos of East Bay Sports tweeted that the Raiders are showing a strong interest in the former Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen.

Sanos wrote, ” Source: #Raiders looking to sign CU QB Tyler Hanson. Scout that went to see him work out loved what he saw,” and shortly after he added, ” #Raiders looking to sign Hanson to a try out deal for training camp and to put him on the PS for the up coming season.”

At this point the Raiders do not have a solid quarterback other than Carson Palmer. If something were to happen as it did in 2011 with Jason Campbell’s season-ending injury, who would be backup?

The Raiders have third-string quarterback Terrelle Pryor who only spent a matter of minutes on the field in Oakland against Kansas City last year , the week after Campbell went down. I think he could eventually become a primary backup , but he needs more time to develop.

Oakland signed Rhett Bomar in January . As of yet, he’s an unimpressive quarterback who was released by the Minnesota Vikings just prior to the 2011 season following an arrest for third degree drunken driving. Kyle Boller is still listed on the Raiders’ web site, however, he’s a free agent and it’s likely he’ll disappear in the near future. His contribution to the team in 2011 came in week seven when he became the Raiders first quarterback in 13 years to throw three interceptions in the first half.

While I believe Oakland really needs another veteran quarterback added to the roster, we all know that general manager Reggie McKenzie is not working with a lot of extra cash.

The former CU Buffs quarterback started in 12 games last year and was a co-recipient of the John Mack Award, along with wide receiver Tony Celmons, as the team’s most outstanding offensive player. He is listed on Colorado’s all-time career list at fourth in passing yards with 5,705, third in pass completions at 505 and fourth at touchdown passes with 35.

With just hours away from this year’s draft, there is a lot of excited anticipation building as we move a little closer to the start of the 2012 season. I have faith that McKenzie is putting the pieces of the puzzle back together in a way that could result in the Raiders finally making it to the postseason after a decade of disappointment. We have to hope for the best.

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:

Who Was the Oakland Raiders’ Best Steal in the 2011 Draft? Fan Perspective

’76 Oakland Raiders Named Greatest Team of All Time Proves Strength of Raider Nation: Fan Take

Will Philip Wheeler Sign with Oakland? Plus Raiders Trade Bruce Campbell for Mike Goodson: Fan’s Take

Oakland Raiders’ Three Compensatory Picks Another Good Sign for 2012: Fan Reaction

The Oakland Raiders officially announced on Tuesday, April 24, that Hall of Famer Willie Brown will announce the 3rd round pick on Friday, April 27 from Radio City Music Hall.

While the Raiders don’t have a lot of picks this year, they do have five including their three compensatory picks that they were awarded in late March. New general manager Reggie McKenzie was quite pleased with the additions and said he’d be able to get “some good players, as many starters as possible.”

Brown remarked about the excitement involved and said, “I think it’s exciting. I’ve been doing it for a few years now and I get excited just knowing that the guy that we’re taking this year, he’s as excited as I am. So it’s great. I feel good about doing it and Raider Nation, they surely feel good about it. I look forward to it every year.”

So far the Raiders have hosted 18 college players with only eight to be taken in the draft and the rest may turn out to be undrafted free agents.

What makes the draft this year even more exciting, and perhaps a little surreal is the fact that for the first time the Raiders will pick without Al Davis around. The late iconic owner was the face of the team for decades, and McKenzie must be feeling not just excited anticipation but it has to be a tremendous amount of pressure as well.

I think he’ll come through with flying colors, and in all honesty it seems to be the start of a new winning era on the horizon.

In my opinion, and I believe the opinion of most, Oakland’s greatest need is at left guard, nose tackle and both linebacker and defensive tackle depth. One of the most talked about players that could be taken as their 3rd round pick include defensive tackle Josh Chapman.

Chapman is projected to be a third or fourth round pick, and the only reason he won’t go higher is because of the surgery he had in January to repair a torn ACL. He’s got the massive size needed at 6’1″ and 316 pounds, and could be a huge help to the Raiders defense. In 2011, he’s said to have played through his injury showing the level of dedication that Oakland needs.

I always enjoy watching the draft in the spring, who will become the privileged men to be honored by wearing 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:

’76 Oakland Raiders Named Greatest Team of All Time Proves Strength of Raider Nation: Fan Take

Will Philip Wheeler Sign with Oakland? Plus Raiders Trade Bruce Campbell for Mike Goodson: Fan’s Take

Oakland Raiders’ Three Compensatory Picks Another Good Sign for 2012: Fan Reaction

Oakland Raiders’ Legendary Quarterback Jim Plunkett: Thoughts on the Past and the Team’s Future

OAKLAND (CBS/AP) – For nearly a half-century, Al Davis ran the Oakland Raiders’ draft room in his own unique way. He coveted speed and size, seemingly ahead of almost all other attributes.

His picks often baffled so-called experts and other teams, with some turning into surprising successes and others into notable flops.

Now there’s a new man in charge in Oakland. General manager Reggie McKenzie began overhauling the organization after being hired in January and now is preparing for the team’s first draft since Davis died last October. This will be the first Raiders draft that Davis has not run since 1962.

“It’s an exciting time,” McKenzie said. “Coach Davis, this has been his deal since the Raiders were the Raiders. So, I am the new guy. This is my first time drafting after a legend has been drafting for the Raiders for so long. So, it’s huge. But I am excited about it and I am looking forward to it. There are still so many people in the organization, so I get to hear everything about how he used to do it.”

McKenzie will likely have to wait a while to make his first pick, which won’t be until the final selection on Day 2 with the 95th overall pick at the end of the third round—the first of the team’s three compensatory picks.

The Raiders traded their first-round pick last October for quarterback Carson Palmer, a second-rounder during last year’s draft for backup running back Taiwan Jones and offensive lineman Joe Barksdale, and spent a third-rounder to take quarterback project Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft.

Oakland also dealt a fourth-rounder to Washington in 2010 for former starting quarterback Jason Campbell and a seventh-rounder last year for starting outside linebacker Aaron Curry.

That leaves McKenzie with compensatory picks at the end of the third, fourth and fifth rounds and Oakland’s original picks in the fifth and sixth. With McKenzie unable to trade compensatory picks and unwilling to give up future high picks, it seems unlikely the Raiders will be able to pick before 95th.

“We need some depth to compete and hopefully win jobs,” he said. “That’s what we’re targeting. When we say best player, whether it’s D-line, linebacker, O-line, tight end … it doesn’t matter. We want to get a good player. We’ve got five picks. We need to make them all count.”

Davis’ drafting acumen helped build championship teams in the 1970s and 80s. He got Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ken Stabler and Hall of Fame offensive lineman Art Shell in the second and third rounds in 1968; big-play receiver Cliff Branch in the fourth round in 1972; Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper in the second round in 1974; star cornerback Lester Hayes in the fifth round in 1977 and Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long in the second round in 1981.

But there were more misses than hits in recent years, contributing to a run of nine straight seasons without a winning record or playoff berth.

Of the 12 first-round picks since 2001, including six players in the top 10, Nnamdi Asomugha is the only one to make a Pro Bowl. More notable were busts like quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007 or taking offensive lineman Robert Gallery over Larry Fitzgerald in 2004.

There was also the constant obsession with speed, most notably when Davis drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall in 2009, ahead of far more accomplished receivers. Heyward-Bey had a breakthrough season last year but still has fewer receptions, yards and touchdowns than the five receivers taken after him in the first round that year.

The infatuation with speed got to the point that as soon as a player clocked in at under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, jokes immediately started that the Raiders will draft him no matter what he’s done on the football field.

Last year’s Raiders roster featured the fastest players at the last three combines and five other players clocked at 4.36 seconds or better in the 40 at the combine or their pro days.

“Speed is always going to be important,” McKenzie said. “But if you’re insinuating that speed only? No, we’re not looking for just guys that run fast. Of course we love size, and we’re going to emphasize size. But we’re going to make sure they’re good football players. Make sure they’re tough, they understand the game.”

It truly is a new era.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

ALAMEDA (AP) – For nearly a half-century, Al Davis ran the Oakland Raiders’ draft room in his own unique way. He coveted speed and size, seemingly ahead of almost all other attributes.

His picks often baffled so-called experts and other teams, with some turning into surprising successes and others into notable flops.

Now there’s a new man in charge in Oakland. General manager Reggie McKenzie began overhauling the organization after being hired in January and now is preparing for the team’s first draft since Davis died last October. This will be the first Raiders draft that Davis has not run since 1962.

“It’s an exciting time,” McKenzie said. “Coach Davis, this has been his deal since the Raiders were the Raiders. So, I am the new guy. This is my first time drafting after a legend has been drafting for the Raiders for so long. So, it’s huge. But I am excited about it and I am looking forward to it. There are still so many people in the organization, so I get to hear everything about how he used to do it.”

McKenzie will likely have to wait a while to make his first pick, which won’t be until the final selection on Day 2 with the 95th overall pick at the end of the third round – the first of the team’s three compensatory picks.

The Raiders traded their first-round pick last October for quarterback Carson Palmer, a second-rounder during last year’s draft for backup running back Taiwan Jones and offensive lineman Joe Barksdale, and spent a third-rounder to take quarterback project Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft.

Oakland also dealt a fourth-rounder to Washington in 2010 for former starting quarterback Jason Campbell and a seventh-rounder last year for starting outside linebacker Aaron Curry.

That leaves McKenzie with compensatory picks at the end of the third, fourth and fifth rounds and Oakland’s original picks in the fifth and sixth. With McKenzie unable to trade compensatory picks and unwilling to give up future high picks, it seems unlikely the Raiders will be able to pick before 95th.

“We need some depth to compete and hopefully win jobs,” he said. “That’s what we’re targeting. When we say best player, whether it’s D-line, linebacker, O-line, tight end … it doesn’t matter. We want to get a good player. We’ve got five picks. We need to make them all count.”

Davis’ drafting acumen helped build championship teams in the 1970s and 80s. He got Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ken Stabler and Hall of Fame offensive lineman Art Shell in the second and third rounds in 1968; big-play receiver Cliff Branch in the fourth round in 1972; Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper in the second round in 1974; star cornerback Lester Hayes in the fifth round in 1977 and Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long in the second round in 1981.

But there were more misses than hits in recent years, contributing to a run of nine straight seasons without a winning record or playoff berth.

Of the 12 first-round picks since 2001, including six players in the top 10, Nnamdi Asomugha is the only one to make a Pro Bowl. More notable were busts like quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007 or taking offensive lineman Robert Gallery over Larry Fitzgerald in 2004.

There was also the constant obsession with speed, most notably when Davis drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall in 2009, ahead of far more accomplished receivers. Heyward-Bey had a breakthrough season last year but still has fewer receptions, yards and touchdowns than the five receivers taken after him in the first round that year.

The infatuation with speed got to the point that as soon as a player clocked in at under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, jokes immediately started that the Raiders will draft him no matter what he’s done on the football field.

Last year’s Raiders roster featured the fastest players at the last three combines and five other players clocked at 4.36 seconds or better in the 40 at the combine or their pro days.

“Speed is always going to be important,” McKenzie said. “But if you’re insinuating that speed only? No, we’re not looking for just guys that run fast. Of course we love size, and we’re going to emphasize size. But we’re going to make sure they’re good football players. Make sure they’re tough, they understand the game.”

It truly is a new era.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.)

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) For nearly a half-century, Al Davis ran the Oakland Raiders’ draft room in his own unique way. He coveted speed and size, seemingly ahead of almost all other attributes.

His picks often baffled so-called experts and other teams, with some turning into surprising successes and others into notable flops.

Now there’s a new man in charge in Oakland. General manager Reggie McKenzie began overhauling the organization after being hired in January and now is preparing for the team’s first draft since Davis died last October. This will be the first Raiders draft that Davis has not run since 1962.

”It’s an exciting time,” McKenzie said. ”Coach Davis, this has been his deal since the Raiders were the Raiders. So, I am the new guy. This is my first time drafting after a legend has been drafting for the Raiders for so long. So, it’s huge. But I am excited about it and I am looking forward to it. There are still so many people in the organization, so I get to hear everything about how he used to do it.”

McKenzie will likely have to wait a while to make his first pick, which won’t be until the final selection on Day 2 with the 95th overall pick at the end of the third round – the first of the team’s three compensatory picks.

The Raiders traded their first-round pick last October for quarterback Carson Palmer, a second-rounder during last year’s draft for backup running back Taiwan Jones and offensive lineman Joe Barksdale, and spent a third-rounder to take quarterback project Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft.

Oakland also dealt a fourth-rounder to Washington in 2010 for former starting quarterback Jason Campbell and a seventh-rounder last year for starting outside linebacker Aaron Curry.

That leaves McKenzie with compensatory picks at the end of the third, fourth and fifth rounds and Oakland’s original picks in the fifth and sixth. With McKenzie unable to trade compensatory picks and unwilling to give up future high picks, it seems unlikely the Raiders will be able to pick before 95th.

”We need some depth to compete and hopefully win jobs,” he said. ”That’s what we’re targeting. When we say best player, whether it’s D-line, linebacker, O-line, tight end … it doesn’t matter. We want to get a good player. We’ve got five picks. We need to make them all count.”

Davis’ drafting acumen helped build championship teams in the 1970s and 80s. He got Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ken Stabler and Hall of Fame offensive lineman Art Shell in the second and third rounds in 1968; big-play receiver Cliff Branch in the fourth round in 1972; Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper in the second round in 1974; star cornerback Lester Hayes in the fifth round in 1977 and Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long in the second round in 1981.

But there were more misses than hits in recent years, contributing to a run of nine straight seasons without a winning record or playoff berth.

Of the 12 first-round picks since 2001, including six players in the top 10, Nnamdi Asomugha is the only one to make a Pro Bowl. More notable were busts like quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007 or taking offensive lineman Robert Gallery over Larry Fitzgerald in 2004.

There was also the constant obsession with speed, most notably when Davis drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall in 2009, ahead of far more accomplished receivers. Heyward-Bey had a breakthrough season last year but still has fewer receptions, yards and touchdowns than the five receivers taken after him in the first round that year.

The infatuation with speed got to the point that as soon as a player clocked in at under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, jokes immediately started that the Raiders will draft him no matter what he’s done on the football field.

Last year’s Raiders roster featured the fastest players at the last three combines and five other players clocked at 4.36 seconds or better in the 40 at the combine or their pro days.

”Speed is always going to be important,” McKenzie said. ”But if you’re insinuating that speed only? No, we’re not looking for just guys that run fast. Of course we love size, and we’re going to emphasize size. But we’re going to make sure they’re good football players. Make sure they’re tough, they understand the game.”

It truly is a new era.

ALAMEDA, Calif. – For nearly a half-century, Al Davis ran the Oakland Raiders’ draft room in his own unique way. He coveted speed and size, seemingly ahead of almost all other attributes.

His picks often baffled so-called experts and other teams, with some turning into surprising successes and others into notable flops.

Now there’s a new man in charge in Oakland. General manager Reggie McKenzie began overhauling the organization after being hired in January and now is preparing for the team’s first draft since Davis died last October. This will be the first Raiders draft that Davis has not run since 1962.

“It’s an exciting time,” McKenzie said. “Coach Davis, this has been his deal since the Raiders were the Raiders. So, I am the new guy. This is my first time drafting after a legend has been drafting for the Raiders for so long. So, it’s huge. But I am excited about it and I am looking forward to it. There are still so many people in the organization, so I get to hear everything about how he used to do it.”

McKenzie will likely have to wait a while to make his first pick, which won’t be until the final selection on Day 2 with the 95th overall pick at the end of the third round — the first of the team’s three compensatory picks.

The Raiders traded their first-round pick last October for quarterback Carson Palmer, a second-rounder during last year’s draft for backup running back Taiwan Jones and offensive lineman Joe Barksdale, and spent a third-rounder to take quarterback project Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft.

Oakland also dealt a fourth-rounder to Washington in 2010 for former starting quarterback Jason Campbell and a seventh-rounder last year for starting outside linebacker Aaron Curry.

That leaves McKenzie with compensatory picks at the end of the third, fourth and fifth rounds and Oakland’s original picks in the fifth and sixth. With McKenzie unable to trade compensatory picks and unwilling to give up future high picks, it seems unlikely the Raiders will be able to pick before 95th.

“We need some depth to compete and hopefully win jobs,” he said. “That’s what we’re targeting. When we say best player, whether it’s D-line, linebacker, O-line, tight end … it doesn’t matter. We want to get a good player. We’ve got five picks. We need to make them all count.”

Davis’ drafting acumen helped build championship teams in the 1970s and 80s. He got Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ken Stabler and Hall of Fame offensive lineman Art Shell in the second and third rounds in 1968; big-play receiver Cliff Branch in the fourth round in 1972; Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper in the second round in 1974; star cornerback Lester Hayes in the fifth round in 1977 and Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long in the second round in 1981.

But there were more misses than hits in recent years, contributing to a run of nine straight seasons without a winning record or playoff berth.

Of the 12 first-round picks since 2001, including six players in the top 10, Nnamdi Asomugha is the only one to make a Pro Bowl. More notable were busts like quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007 or taking offensive lineman Robert Gallery over Larry Fitzgerald in 2004.

There was also the constant obsession with speed, most notably when Davis drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall in 2009, ahead of far more accomplished receivers. Heyward-Bey had a breakthrough season last year but still has fewer receptions, yards and touchdowns than the five receivers taken after him in the first round that year.

The infatuation with speed got to the point that as soon as a player clocked in at under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, jokes immediately started that the Raiders will draft him no matter what he’s done on the football field.

Last year’s Raiders roster featured the fastest players at the last three combines and five other players clocked at 4.36 seconds or better in the 40 at the combine or their pro days.

“Speed is always going to be important,” McKenzie said. “But if you’re insinuating that speed only? No, we’re not looking for just guys that run fast. Of course we love size, and we’re going to emphasize size. But we’re going to make sure they’re good football players. Make sure they’re tough, they understand the game.”

It truly is a new era.

Read More: Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals

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.

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)

The Oakland Raiders have re-signed safety Matt Giordano to a free-agent contract.

The team announced the move Monday.

Giordano played 15 games for Oakland last season. He led the team with five interceptions and added 66 tackles and one sack.

The 29-year-old Giordano has history with the Raiders new hierarchy. He played one season in Green Bay, where new general manager Reggie McKenzie worked in the personnel department and spent 2010 in New Orleans with Oakland coach Dennis Allen serving as defensive backs coach.

Giordano played his first four seasons with Indianapolis, winning the Super Bowl after the 2006 season. He has eight interceptions in his seven-year career.

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) The Oakland Raiders have re-signed safety Matt Giordano to a free-agent contract.

The team announced the move Monday.

Giordano played 15 games for Oakland last season. He led the team with five interceptions and added 66 tackles and one sack.

The 29-year-old Giordano has history with the Raiders new hierarchy. He played one season in Green Bay, where new general manager Reggie McKenzie worked in the personnel department and spent 2010 in New Orleans with Oakland coach Dennis Allen serving as defensive backs coach.

Giordano played his first four seasons with Indianapolis, winning the Super Bowl after the 2006 season. He has eight interceptions in his seven-year career.

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

More from this contributor:

’76 Raiders Are the Greatest Team Ever – NFL Fans Have Spoken

Oakland Raiders’ Great John Madden: Fan’s Perspective

Oakland Raiders’ Legend George Blanda: Fan’s Perspective

Oakland Raiders’ Legend Fred Biletnikoff: Fan’s Perspective

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

More from this contributor:

Who Really Owns the Oakland Raiders? Fan’s Perspective

Farmers Field Proposed Re-design is Too Expensive to Build: Fan’s Opinion

Top 5 Greatest Oakland Raiders Hall of Famers

The Oakland Raiders‘ former head coach and player Art Shell will be honored once again by the Pro Football Hall of Fame where he’ll be given recognition as a Hometown Hall of Famer in North Charleston, South Carolina on Friday, April 6, at 2 pm. EDT at North Charleston High School.

The national program honors the hometown roots of the NFL‘s greatest players and Shell will be presented with the plaque by representatives of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Allstate Insurance Company and the North Charleston, S.C. community. It will remain on permanent display at North Charleston High School.

Shell spoke with Levi Damien of SilverandBlackPride.com about what the ceremony means to him, commenting, “With the Pro Football Hall of Fame and All State insurance company getting together and giving us a chance to go to our roots and where we came from and where we were nourished as football players back in the day. It’s a great opportunity to go back home and be among friends, family and football players I played with and to be honored. I’m looking forward to it and I think it’s going to be a wonderful event.”

On January 21, 1989, the Raiders’ former 15-year offensive tackle was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He made his NFL debut with the Raiders in 1968 and retired in Oakland in 1982, spending every year of his playing career with the Silver and Black. His presentation speech was given by the Raiders’ late owner, Al Davis.

Shell starred in the Raiders’ first Super Bowl Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 9, 1977, helping the team capture their first title with a defeat over Minnesota, 32-14. He was credited with a near flawless performance against the Vikings’ standout defensive end, Jim Marshall.

In college with Maryland State-Eastern Shore, Shell was a star on offense and defense and was named All-Conference three years, All-America two years by the Pittsburgh Courier and Ebony Magazine and little All-America as a senior in 1967. He was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times and made the All-Pro team three times in addition to many other great accomplishments. Many felt that Shell was the ” finest of many excellent Raiders offensive linemen of the 1970s.”

As the Raiders’ head coach, he was named the 1990 AFC Coach of the Year and amassed a record of 54 wins and 38 losses during his first stint from 1989 to 1994 in Los Angeles.

It’s no wonder players like linebacker Philip Wheeler, who was recently signed to the team, credit Oakland’s reputation as one of the most legendary teams in the NFL as the reason for wanting to become a Raider. Men like Shell helped it become that way.

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 Oakland Raiders released their 2012 preseason schedule on Wednesdsay afternoon, April 4. For those of us impatiently waiting in Raider Nation for the team to get back on the field, this is an exciting step. The regular season schedule is expected to come out just before the end of this month.

Many of the players have expressed their excitement about the changes that have been taking place behind the scenes in Alameda, with running back Darren McFadden just the latest. Yesterday he talked to Sirius XM NFL Radio and remarked, “It’s a great feeling around the organization,” and added that everyone “is very excited about the new coaching staff.”

This past weekend quarterback Carson Palmer told the San Francisco Chronicle, “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.”

In talking with numerous Raiders’ fans, we are all counting the days until football returns, and with the preseason schedule released we now know that we have four months, one week and two days until Oakland players get back on the field.

It’s also interesting to note that the Raiders and San Francisco 49ers will not face each other in the preseason Battle of the Bay. The California Bay Area franchises have met for 12 of the 13 past preseasons, but as a result of the fan violence and parking-lot shootings that took place in 2011, this year’s event will not take place. It’s sad to see that a few bad apples have ruined a game that many look forward to every summer.

On August 13 the Raiders 53rd season will begin when they host the Dallas Cowboys at 5 pm, pacific time, at O.co Coliseum. The game will be televised on ESPN. The two teams have not met in the preseason since 2009, and Oakland has the series advantage at 18-9. In their last meeting, the Raiders blew out the Cowboys, defeating them by a score of 31-10.

During week two of preseason, Oakland will head to Arizona to face the Cardinals. The Raiders also have the lead in this series at 7-5. In their last match up in 2011 preseason, Oakland lost by a score of 24-18, but kicker Sebastian Janikowski had a great day as usual, kicking four field goals in the game.

Week three will see the Detroit Lions face the Raiders back in their home territory. The teams have met just six times in the preseason with Oakland holding the advantage in the series at 4-1. Finally, in week four, the Raiders travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Seahawks for the seventh straight time in preseason. Seattle has the advantage in this series, leading Oakland 7-3.

Even this little bit of information seems to bring football season that much closer. I can hardly wait!

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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Can you hear that crunch? It’s the sound of the Oakland Raiders practicing as the team started their first day of the 2012 off-season program today, April 2. The Raiders are starting their workouts and strength conditioning, all part of the preparation necessary to get ready for the 2012 NFL season.

While Oakland Raiders fans like me are all looking to the future, I like to take a look back at some of the Raiders’ greatest players and greatest plays. With the excitement of the signing of new defensive back Pat Lee, I thought it would be cool to look back at some of the Raiders’ greatest defensive backs and their accomplishments. Here’s a look at the Oakland Raiders top five longest interception returns:

102 yards – Eddie Anderson

Eddie Anderson may have been overshadowed a lot by his fellow safety, the great Ronnie Lott, but Anderson was a truly clutch player for the Silver and Black. On December 14, 1992 in a game against Miami, Anderson picked off a pass by Dan Marino and ran it back 102 yards for a touchdown. It wasn’t enough, and the Raiders lost the game 20-7.

100 yards – Chris Carr

Cornerback Chris Carr was just released by the Ravens, but was an Oakland Raider for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 seasons. In a game on October 29, 2006, against the Steelers, Carr picked off a pass by Ben Roethlisbeger and ran it 100 yards for a touchdown, helping the Raiders win the game 20-16.

98 yards – Rod Woodson

Hall of Famer Rod Woodson played most of his time in Pittsburgh, but had a record setting interception during his two years with the Raiders, 2002 and 2003. On November 11, 2002, Woodson picked off a pass by the Broncos’ Brian Griese at the two-yard line and ran it all the way back for a touchdown.

97 yards – Mike Haynes

In a 13-year NFL career, Hall of Famer Mike Haynes spend seven seasons with the Raiders and 1984 was HIS year. He had 220 yards in interceptions, including a record setting long play of 97 yards. On December 2, 1984 against the Dolphins, Haynes had a 97-yard interception return, picking off a pass by Dan Marino.

94 yards – Eric Turner

Eric Turner has a sad story. After nine seasons in the NFL and two All-Pro seasons, Turner passed away in 2000 from cancer at the age of 31. On September 20, 1998, in a game against the Broncos, Turner had a 94-yard interception return, after picking off a John Elway pass. The Broncos went on to beat the Raiders, 34-17.

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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