Sports/Athletics

I've defended JaMarcus Russell at varying times on this blog. This season, though, I've come to the realization that he may not be the answer.

Nevertheless, now is not the time to bench him.

What does it accomplish?

Let's face it. The Raider season, as we know it, is over. They have nothing to play for  ... except the continued development of their young players.

Russell is one of those players. For better or for a 30 percent completion percentage, he needs snaps.

So why now?

I think the moved is tied directly to the future of head coach Tom Cable, along with his frustrations over the fact that his third-year quarterback might take him down with the ship.

I'm sure Cable is feeling the heat. It's one thing to lose 10 games in a season. It's another to lose 10 games in a season amid reports of anger issues after a physical confrontation with one coach and allegations of abuse against the opposite sex.

So I understand the move.

 Beyer High graduate Matt Bettencourt seemed certain a month ago he would stay in the top 125 on the money list and keep his PGA Tour card for 2010.  I wasn't so sure at the time, but he was right. I had relied on the 2008 money list which had the 125th-ranked player, the man on the bubble, at $852,683. Bettencourt, who missed three of his final four cuts in the Fall Series, had made about $730,000 (he finished at $740,037 and 111th) . This season, the bubble man was Jimmy Walker with $662,683. almost $200,000 less than last year's No. 125. Did one canceled event late in the year result in fewer earnings for everyone? Yes, but that's not the whole story. Here's Bettencourt's take: "The key was Tiger Woods playing in so few tournaments last year (because of his injury). This year he played in more tournaments (and won 7) and took a lot of cash off the table for the rest of us."   

All you have to know about the over the last 6 1/2 seasons could be seen in one excrutiating play.

Late in the fourth quarter in a potentially game-winning drive, Darrius Heyward-Bey, wide open at the 10-yard line, bobbles the pass and knocks it into the hands of a Kansas City defender.

And that, folks, illustrates all that ails the Raiders.

1. Bad draft picks. 2. Bad execution. 3. Bad bounces. 

It's bad enough DHB dropped a ball I could have caught, but then to actually bat it up in the air, allowing Mike Brown to make the pick ...

I'd say unbelievable, but I'm not so sure.

How often do you hear about the Raiders' talent? About losing to teams that they're better than? (I heard a reference to that on the postgame show)