http://www.yardbarker.com/users/iknwftbl Recent Yardbarker Articles: iknwftbl en-us This is an excellent article that talks about how the balance of power has been changed in the AFC and perhaps the NFL due to several injuries suffered by prominent players on the elite AFC powers. Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:52:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/331401 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/331401 This is an interesting take on some of the issues NFL players have found themselves in this and almost every off-season. It isn't mentioning any names but it doesn't have to. It is a very good read. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:35:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298071 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298071 This is an excellent preview of some of the Raiders training camp positional battles. The NFL's offseason is almost over. Several free agents have changed teams, and the draft choices have settled in with the respective teams, learning their role on the team. This is the time of the year that NFL teams put in a tremendous amount of work, focusing on installing their system, coaching philosophies, developing chemistry, and coming together as a team. The Oakland Raiders will yield several improvements due to this being the second year in the system for the majority of the team. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:58:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287924 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287924 This is a series based on the question posed above: players that are worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame but for some reason have not been. He had a stellar AFL & NFL career and put up Hall of Fame numbers. He wore jersey numbers 12 & 3. He had two nicknames "The Fireman" and "The Mad Bomber". Daryle Lamonica QB – 1963 – 1974 Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Southern California Sun Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:51:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280722 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280722 The historic loss is still fresh in their minds and unfortunately will be for a while. The good thing is that it is over, now the Lakers are in the healing process. The Lakers have to mentally recover from the beat down laid on them at the hands of the Celtics and learn from it and mature. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:16:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280537 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280537 Unfortunately we won't know exactly what happened for a while but this article was found on the Drudge Report. I can't confirm or deny what happened but I will post information as I receive it. Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker told a Web site Tuesday that he was knocked unconscious at gunpoint in his Bellagio hotel room and abducted. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:50:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279657 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279657 Here is an interesting story of a forgotten hero. This is a series based on the question posed above: players that are worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame but for some reason have not been. He had a stellar NFL career, he put up Hall of Fame caliber numbers. This forgotten guy is the answer to several trivia questions. Three questions NFL trivia fans: Who is the greatest backup QB in NFL history? What two-time league MVP as a QB isn't in the Hall of Fame? What QB, who was a part of two of the biggest events in NFL history and possesses three Super Bowl rings, isn't in the Hall of Fame? Earl Morrall—QB, six different teams, 1956–1976 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:49:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279067 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279067 This is a good recap of a must win game for the Lakers. The Lakers show their physical side and that they can win an ugly game. Kobe Bryant dominated and Sasha Vujacic had a bit of a coming out party as the Lakers bench out played the Celtics bench. Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:30:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276833 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276833 This is a good argument for the greatest punter in NFL to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is a series based on the question posed above, players that are worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame but for some reason have not been. Ray Guy – Punter #8 Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders 1973 – 1986 Some my say he is a punter and shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame because punters are insignificant and don't have a real impact on a game. I wouldn't agree with that statement and state that his career statistics prove that statement incorrect. Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:23:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275898 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275898 After all of the talk of the rivalry, the legends and the entire history of the match up, game one was played. The Celtics out-played the Lakers and took game one. I'm not going to say that Paul Pierce faked the injury as some have. I totally disagree with that statement. He is a relentless competitor, an excellent player and true professional. He was terrified, as any athlete that hears a 'pop' in their knee would be. He was experiencing intense pain, as anyone who ever had a knee injury can attest to. I thought the reaction of everyone not named Paul Pierce was strange. You could see the concern in everyone's face because no one wants to see an injury. I can understand him being carried off the court to eliminate the possibility of further injury and assess the damage. It left me with a few questions. Was the wheel-chair really necessary? Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:49:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275764 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275764 This is a good NBA Finals preview! The Lakers swept the Nuggets, beat the Utah Jazz in six games and dethroned the former defending NBA champions in five games to win the tough Western Conference. The Celtics were taken to seven games, in the process of beating the Hawks & Cavaliers, then beating the Pistons on the road in six games to win the rugged Eastern Conference. This is the NBA Finals match-up that several people wanted to see. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:30:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273147 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273147 Kobe Bryant scored 28 points (without a taken free throw) and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Lakers past the Spurs 93-91 last night. The road win ended the Spurs 13-game home winning streak. The Lakers came out and got into a good offensive rhythm early, making five of their first seven shots. The Lakers went on an 18-4 run, led 22-8, and never looked back. Wed, 28 May 2008 16:27:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271851 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271851 Game three was a must-win game for the Spurs and the defending champs stood up to the challenge. The Spurs had to regroup after that 30 point beat down the Lakers put on them because if the Lakers had won game three, this series would've been over. The Spurs needed to score more points and were looking gassed. In game three, the Spurs not only knocked down shots, they knocked down ten three-point shots. Wed, 28 May 2008 16:26:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271849 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271849 Here is one man's opinion on some moves that could work toward improving the Oakland Raiders defense. Raider Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan, son of infamously feisty defensive guru Buddy Ryan is a proponent of the 3-4 defenses, although he isn't married to the scheme. He was much maligned in 2007 when the Raider defense regressed from making a great amount of progress in 2006 and it was rumored that he would be fired until Al Davis intervened. It can't be overstated that Rob Ryan's knowledge of defense is vast. He spent three years in New England as the Outside Linebackers coach learning the system under Bill Belichick & Romeo Crennel. He probably knew more X's and O's as a teen that some assistant coaches absorb. Thu, 22 May 2008 10:27:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269665 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269665 These teams know each other well. The Lakers battle the Spurs for the right to play for a championship. Check out the breakdown. #1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #4 San Antonio Spurs Here we go again. Lakers vs. Spurs -- the last time the two teams saw each other the Lakers were in the middle of a hot weekend where the Lakers beat the Western Conference leading (at that time) New Orleans Hornets and the defending World Champion San Antonio Spurs on their way to winning the top seed in the Western Conference. The Spurs were without the services of Manu Ginobli. That was then, this is now. The teams split the season series each winning at home. Wed, 21 May 2008 15:22:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269446 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269446