SHANAHAN'S WONKY EYE #5

It is time to wave some people off this week.And to welcome some others.

Firstly to Adam Treu.A RAIDER for 10 years has been released, a guy who has been the long snapper, special teams performer , and lineman over the years.He was indeed a treu RAIDER, with a massive head, who did what was required of him, such as stepping into the (slightly mental) shoes of Barrett Robbins for SBXXXVII, and was an important part of the kicking game, which messrs Seabass and Lechler will surely miss.We say good luck Adam and cheers.

One of my favourite old school RAIDERS was Lyle Alzado, and he was smacked up to the tits on roids, although they were'nt banned back then.So its hard to be really critical of Jarrod Cooper in one sense, who was released this week after picking up a four game ban due to steroid abuse, but he knew the rules and knew the possible consequences.It's a great pity beacause Coop was well liked amongst the Nation, mainly due to him giving it 100% on the field and being one of the more accesssible RAIDERS out in the community.Unfortunately in the new RAIDER system a special-teams specialist who is missing for 4 games is expendable, especially as we have Frampton and Kacyvenski around now.I can't help wishing him well though.

Darnell Bing was waived also this week, which was maybe a surprise before camp, as the third LB spot is not fully nailed down by Sam Williams as yet.Bing had a RAIDER-like reputation coming out of USC and he looked like a guy that could compete.Maybe the injury he picked up in his first camp was too much to fully come back from, or the coaching staff see him as a bit of a tweener, neither S nor LB.There is the possibility of a history with Kiffin from the Trojans days too.

And as we wave these guys off at the station, we greet the latest RAIDER, and we all like a bit of Bush.Well maybe not the fake Texan Neo-Con puppet type, but definitely the Louisville Micheal version.In fact when I think of the possibility of Micheal Bush being anything like the player he was pre-injury, there are visions of putting Lamont Jordan on next years outbound train from Raiderville, complete with wet paper bag for him to try to fight his way out of.After the news of Rhodes' suspension a Bush that can get onto the field this year would be a bonus, although caution may see him cameo this year.

Also some murmerings ahead of camp that Jamarcus Russell is close to agreeing his contract, probably in time to sign at the start of camp.That would really piss off the usual Raider nay-sayers in the media who were getting slightly moist at the thought of a hold-out.

Oh and Nancy Gay has deciced its time for completely un-founded shite time.Information from "Raiders sources" says our Nance, are foretelling doom for anyone who dares be older than, or around the age of our HC.You would think that Lane Kiffin would be better organised, I mean its not hard to look up Donovin Darius' age is it.Nancy, pre-season report card : Must Do Better.