Raiders make few strides under Turner

Tyrone Wheatley believes the need a serious attitude adjustment. The Raiders finished their second successive disappointing season at 5-11, one more victory than they got a year ago following their Super Bowl appearance. They are a putrid 9-23 over the past two seasons -- the worst two-year record since Al Davis arrived in 1963 to coach and eventually own the Raiders. Wheatley attributes much of the losing to players not putting forth enough effort. While coach Norv Turner credited his team all season for continuing to work, even he acknowledged Jan. 3 some of 4 Brett Favre White jersey
the team's younger players have not yet caught on to what it takes to succeed at this level. "I think the players are probably the hardest on each other and they recognize maybe guys aren't as committed in their eyes as they'd like to see them be," Turner said. Things seemed slightly better this season, with no public infighting like what defined the previous year. But there was just as much ineptitude on the field. "But the same time, a lot of the attitude and a lot of the unwillingness to really go out and fight and prepare is still the same," said Wheatley, who ended the season on injured reserve with a torn hamstring. Davis brought in a handful of proven veterans to turn things around in a hurry under Turner and his experienced coaching staff. But Warren Sapp was a disappointment, guard Ron Stone hardly played, Ted Washington didn't live up to the hype, and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's schemes were for the most part ineffective -- raising speculation about whether Ryan will return for a second season despite support from some players. Now the Raiders will enter into another offseason likely filled with major changes. Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson is expected to leave because he would earn around $10.5 million if the Raiders give him the franchise tag again. He wants to be the highest paid at his position; Denver's Champ Bailey currently holds that distinction. Phillip Buchanon, the other starting cornerback, last week said he was unhappy with the organization and wants to be traded.Turner plans to meet with the disgruntled former first-round pick, and the coach believes Buchanon will be back. Receiver Jerry Porter voiced his desire to stay following the season finale, but also is seeking a big-money deal. Quarterback Kerry Collins called for the Raiders to keep Porter after the two established a rhythm in the second half of the season. Turner was forced into using many of his young players because of multiple injuries at nearly every position, but the roster definitely needs an upgrade. "Change would do us good," said Collins, whose 3,495 yards passing were the sixth-highest single-season total in franchise history despite not playing in the first two games. "I'm not going to get into who or when or where, but it would be beneficial for us." It seemed as if the Raiders were changing by the week this season. At the start of training camp, there were veteran staples Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Rich Gannon. Brown, the team's longest-tenured player, was released during camp when he refused to accept a far lesser role. Rice was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in October after weeks of complaining about playing time. The 39-year-old Gannon went down with a broken vertebra in his neck after a helmet-to-helmet hit by Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks in Week 3 that could keep him from playing again. No matter who's left, Wheatley is concerned. When he arrived in 1999, Jon Gruden's second season, the Raiders were showing signs of improvement. "I was like, 'Where in the world have I come to?' " he said of the positive vibe. "Now, it's kind of coming back to, 'What in the hell have I come to?' I've seen it up and down. I think it's the attitude of the guys. I don't care who you bring in and what you take out, it's just the attitude has to change." There were moments of hope after Oakland beat the Broncos in the snow 25-24 on Nov. 28. The following week, the Raiders lost a heartbreaker at home to the Vikings Brett Favre jersey
Chiefs. And a season-ennding 13-6 loss to Jacksonville retold the same story. Two weeks after Collins threw for a season-high 371 yards and matched his career high with five touchdown passes in a 40-35 victory against Tennessee, he could do nothing right. He finished with three interceptions, one lost fumble, no touchdowns and a 17.3 passer rating. With a chance to send the game into overtime in the final seconds, he fumbled the snap on fourth-and-goal at the 2, picked it up and was tackled for a loss. So, it was a little strange to see several offensive linemen dancing on the sideline in the rain to the music in the waning moments. Maybe Wheatley makes a valid point about priorities.