Tag: Oakland Raiders

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Rape allegation against AB has him countersuing; Big Papi looks great, throws out the first ball at Fenway; plus more

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On Headline Sports with London:

#1 Former Oakland Raider Antonio Brown is countersuing his former Florida trainer Britney Taylor for civil extortion for accusing him of rape. Brown, who is now with the New England Patriots, categorically denies the allegations. The Patriots released a statement acknowledging the allegations and said the NFL is doing an investigation. Brown’s trainer said the rape occurred in 2017.

#2 David Ortiz threw out the first ball on Monday night at Fenway Park. It was Ortiz’ first appearance since being shot in the back in Santo Domingo. He told the crowd at Fenway, “Thanks for your prayers.”

#3 Talk about how big the 49ers defense played a role in San Francisco’s win over the Tampa Bay Bucs on Sunday forcing four turnovers with two pick-sixes.

#4 The San Jose Earthquakes (13-5-10) will play two in less than four days on Wednesday night against Real Salt Lake (13-4-11) then on Saturday against first place NYCFC in New York City (15-8-5). Some big opponents, some big games for the Quakes.

#5 The Quakes’ Chris Wondolowski has been the soccer gift that keep on giving. In the Quakes’ last game in San Jose last Saturday, Wondolowski scored his 20th goal and his 157th career to lead the league. How huge has been for the club in leading them this season?

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders host Chiefs at Black Hole on Sunday in Week 2 action

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By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

Fresh off an emotional win on opening night against the Denver Broncos, the Raiders look to continue their winning ways within the AFC West as they host reigning NFL MVP in quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the visiting Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday.

Kickoff from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for this Week 2 matchup is at 1:05 p.m. PDT.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was in midseason form, throwing a touchdown on the game’s first drive of the season, while rookie running back Josh Jacobs scored two touchdowns to help the Raiders defeat the Denver Broncos, 24-16 to cap off ESPN’s Monday Night Football doubleheader.

The Raiders (1-0) simply outplayed the Broncos (0-1) for most of the night, as Carr surgically dissected Denver by completing 22-of-26 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown while posting a 121.0 passer rating for the game. For the entire night, the Broncos’ pass rush (most notably linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb), didn’t lay a hand on Carr as he was just pressured just four times on 27 dropbacks according to ESPN Next Gen Stats.

Carr led Oakland on a 10-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyrell Williams to give Oakland an early 7-0 lead on the game’s first drive.

Williams, who signed four-year, $44.3 million ($22 million guaranteed) deal with the Raiders in the offseason after spending three seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, caught six passes (on seven targets) for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Tight end Darren Waller established himself as a dependable pass catcher for Carr, hauling in a game-high seven passes for 70 yards on (eight targets.) Last season, Waller caught just six passes the entire year.

Jacobs, who got the start at running back had himself a debut to remember. Not only was the former Alabama Crimson Tide in the starting lineup, he recorded 23 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns, but also caught one pass for 28 yards totaling 113 yards from scrimmage.

The rookie was the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2001 to record 100+ yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in their first game of their career. In Tomlinson’s first game as a San Diego Charger, he had 125 yards from scrimmage (113 rushing and 12 receiving) on 36 carries and one catch, respectively.

Oakland’s offense racked up 357 yards and converted 10-of-14 third down opportunities. The Raiders did commit nine penalties for 62 yards in the game.

But the play of Oakland’s defense was greatly a surprise, making life difficult for Broncos’ starting quarterback Joe Flacco and Denver offense for much of the night as he was sacked three times. Oakland mustered an NFL-low 13 sacks last season.

Flacco completed 21-of-31 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown, but wasn’t able to get the Broncos into the end zone until 2:15 left in the fourth quarter when he threw a 1-yard touchdown to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to make the score 26-14, which would be the game’s final score.

It was Sanders’ first game back since rupturing his Achilles tendon last season.

And now, Carr (who is just 2-8 lifetime against Kansas City) and the Raiders will face a Chiefs team that destroyed the Jaguars, 40-26 down in Jacksonville on Sunday. Kansas City has won eight of the last nine meetings with the Raiders, including sweeping the season-series against Oakland in 2018 by a combined score of 75-36.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was blistering hot against a tough Jaguars defense, completing 25-of-33 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 143.2 despite losing explosive wide receiver Tyreek Hill with a collarbone injury early in the game.

Hill, who won’t be available in Sunday’s game, will be sidelined with the injury for “weeks” according to reports, but won’t require surgery.

Mahomes did suffer a left ankle sprain in the game, but is expected to be ready for his encounter with the Raiders. In both wins against Oakland last season, Mahomes threw for 576 yards, six touchdowns and one interception with a 116.1 passer rating.

Jacksonville’s defense had no answers for wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who destroyed the Jaguars the entire day. Watkins exploded for nine catches for a career-high 198 yards and three touchdowns.

On Kansas City’s third play from scrimmage on their opening drive, Watkins slipped through the middle of Jacksonville’s defense for a 68-yard score, and added a 49-yard touchdown catch late in the first quarter. On both touchdowns, Watkins made Jacksonville’s defenders look foolish trying to catch him.

On his third score, Watkins beat Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey for a 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make the score 37-13, further putting the game away for Kansas City.

Running back LeSean McCoy, who reunites with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, rushed for 81 yards on 10 carries in his debut for Kansas City. Reid coached McCoy in his first four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles — in which he earned the first of six Pro Bowl bids and the initial of two All-Pro selections — with Reid calling the plays.

McCoy, a 10-year veteran, signed a one-year, $3 million deal with Kansas City on Sept. 1 after being cut by the Buffalo Bills following a four-year stint in Western New York. The deal could be worth as much as $4 million with incentives. In 2018, McCoy established career-lows of 514 yards rushing and 3.2 yards per carry.

Following Sunday’s game against Kansas City, the Raiders will begin a 49-day stretch in which they will be away from the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum; with road games in Minnesota and Indianapolis in Weeks 3 and 4; to go along with a “home” game against the Chicago Bears in London in Week 5 before returning to Oakland for their bye week in Week 6.

After road games in Green Bay (Week 7) and Houston (Week 8), the Raiders will finally play in front of Raider Nation in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 3.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s going for the gusto in big series in Houston; Giants can play for pride and prospects at this point; plus more

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On the Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Oakland A’s always have their plate full when they go to Houston for a four-game series, and this series is no different, the A’s need each one of these games to keep pace in the AL wild card.

#2 The San Francisco Giants just want to win their games for prides sake. They have battled one of the NL’s best the Los Angeles Dodgers and took two out of three from them in LA. For a team that is struggling and out of the wild card race, a great effort by the Giants.

#3 The Oakland Raiders played in Denver on Monday Night Football, but the overshadowing story is how they let their big fish wide receiver Antonio Brown go and who turned around and signed with New England but as karma would have it Brown was accused of rape by his trainer in Florida and is on suspension until the NFL concludes it’s investigation. Brown has stated that he will countersue his accuser for civil extortion.

#4 The San Francisco 49ers got a key win on opening week in Tampa Bay. The Niners defense forced four turnovers and Kwon Alexander who was ejected for a personal foul going helmet to helmet on Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston got the game ball.

#5 The Cal Bears took the Washington Huskies by storm after a 2 1/2 hour delay. The Bears and Huskies played back and forth football until 1:30 in the morning and the Bears edged the Huskies out with eight seconds left in the game on a Greg Thomas field goal to win it 20-19.

Headline Sports with Barbara is heard every Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders beat Broncos 24-16, Gruden picks up 100th win

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By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — Despite the fact that the Oakland Raiders their biggest acquisition on Saturday, it did not damper their performance against the Denver Broncos.

Tyrell Williams was on the receiving end of a Derek Carr eight-yard touchdown pass on the Raiders initial drive of the season, as the Raiders defeated the Broncos 24-16 before a crowd of 52,359 at the Coliseum.

With the victory in the opener against a rival that goes to back to the old AFL days in 1960, it gave Raiders head coach Jon Gruden his 100th career victory.

Rookie Josh Jacobs scored his first NFL touchdown, as he scored the first of two touchdowns on the evening with 3:30 remaining in the second quarter.

That touchdown by Jacobs ended a 13 play 95 yards that last a whopping eight minutes and thirty-five seconds.

Jacobs ended up carrying the ball 23 times for 85 yards, and scoring twice, as he helped the Raiders to the season-opening victory.

Derek Carr was outstanding, as he went 22-for-26 for 259 yards and one touchdown.

Making his Broncos debut, Joe Flacco went 21-for-31 for 268 yards and one touchdown to Emmanuel Sanders with 2:15 remaining in the game.

The Broncos kicked deep, as Vic Fangio held on to all three timeouts; however, Carr found Williams for 10 yards and then Jacobs clinched the game, as he picked up the first down after a 13-yard run.

This was the first Raiders game since the Raiders released Antonio Brown per his request on Saturday morning. Brown never played a down for the Raiders in the pre-season, as he sat out most practices due to frostbite on his feet and helmet issues.

Williams was the leading receiver for the Raiders, as he caught x passes for xx yards and the initial touchdown that got the Raiders on the board.

There was a scary moment in the third quarter, as Gareon Conley was kneed in the neck area by teammate Johnathan Abram, when they attempted to tackle Royce Freeman after a 26-yard run. Abram was called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call.

Brandon McManus kicked three field goals for the Broncos, as he nailed two from 26 yards and one from 39 yards.

Karl Joseph was the leading tackler for the Raiders, as he picked seven tackles on the evening, while the Broncos were led by inside linebacker Josey Jewell, who led all tacklers with 14 tackles.

UP NEXT: After the huge victory over the Broncos, the Raiders will stay home and face another old AFC West rival on Sunday at 1:05 p.m., as the Kansas City Chiefs come into the Coliseum. This will be the last home game for the Raiders in Oakland until they face the Detroit Lions on November 3.

The Raiders have a home game on October 5 against the Chicago Bears; however, that game is in London, England.

Sportstalk at Ping Yang Grill and Dessert in San Francisco remote podcast: Monday, September 9, 2019

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yelp.com photo: Dining room section at Ping Yang Grill and Desert at 955 Larkin Street in downtown San Francisco which was formerly Little Henry’s Restaurant.

Cast: Mary Lisa Walsh (SJ Sharks beat writer), Marko Ukalovic (SJ Barracuda beat writer), Jeremy Harness (NFL analyst, PGA Golf reporter), Lewis Rubman (Oakland A’s beat writer), David Zizmor (SF 49ers podcast host), and Lee Leonard (producer).

On the podcast today from Ping Yang Grill and Dessert at 955 Larkin Street downtown San Francisco: Our thanks to your host Bay owner and proprietor at Ping Yang Grill and Dessert. Ping Yang serves some of San Francisco’s favorite Thai food: Pad Thai, Thai Crepe, Chicken Thigh, Tom Yum Soup, Curry Noodle Soup, Tender Pork Shoulder, Beef Short Ribs, Chocolate Crepe, Nutella Banana Crepe, and many more. Bay welcomes you to try many of Ping Yang’s dessert favorites. Located at the corner of Larkin and Sutter Streets in downtown San Francisco, Ping Yang Grill and Dessert.

On today’s podcast: Discussions on the National Hockey League 2019-20 season preparing to start. The San Jose Sharks what they added and how Erik Karlsson will be the face and impact of this year’s team. The Oakland A’s in the hunt for postseason play. The San Francisco 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo and how the progress looks from week one. The Oakland Raiders, who lost Antonio Brown to the New England Patriots, plus much more.

AB Commentary: Old Wounds That Never Heal

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By London Marq

The Antonio Brown saga is far from over. Brown’s off the field shenanigans and his progress will be marked through every week of the 2019 season. It will only be magnified by the fact that he signed with the most hated team in the National Football League, the New England Patriots. Brown adds to a wide receiver core that already includes Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman and Demaryius Thomas, who won a championship with Denver in Super Bowl 50, and is sure to be a nightmare for defenses all season long. That’s without mentioning Tom Brady, or the abundance of talent New England possesses on both sides of the ball. New England was already one of the favorites to represent the AFC in the Superbowl before acquiring the Brown. Now, they look like primed to repeat as champions.

Brown is just the most recent of a long line of disgruntled players to leave their team and sign with New England. From the moment of his release from Oakland it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Antonio Brown became a Patriot. No two fanbases have more hatred and vitriol for the New England Patriots than Oakland and Pittsburgh fans and the Brown signing has ripped open old wounds.

For the Raiders, it is story of stolen glory. It all goes back to the January of 2002 and the tuck rule that turned Tom Brady’s fumble into an incompletion, propelling New England to their first Super Bowl. It was an officiating call that will live in infamy and one that Raider fans will never forget. The raiders would make it to the Super Bowl the following year, losing to Tampa Bay and haven’t won a playoff game since. Meanwhile, the Patriots have been to eight more Super Bowls and winning five of them. In 2005, Hall of Famer Randy Moss was traded to the Raiders bringing hope to the franchise. But after posting only 553 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2006 the Raiders traded Moss to New England where his career was immediately revived. In his first season as a Patriot, Moss had over 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns, setting the all-time record to receiving touchdowns in a season. Moss’s effort in New England was a slap in the face to the Raiders who couldn’t get Moss to display any work ethic. In short, much like Antonio Brown, he didn’t want to play for Oakland.

Pittsburgh has also lost significant players to New England and those players have helped the New England win championships. Frustrated with his role, running back LeGarrette Blount walked off the field before the end of game versus the Titans in 2014. Two days later he signed with the Patriots and was instrumental in helping them when the championship three months later. Linebacker James Harrison joined New England only a few days after being waived by Pittsburgh. To make matters worse, the Steelers are arguably the Patriots biggest rival over the past two decades and they are constantly battling New England for the top spot in the AFC. It’s devastating from their perspective to see their former players join their biggest and toughest rivals.

But who could blame the Raiders or the Steelers? Antonio Brown has been a constant headache for both organizations and clearly demonstrated that he didn’t want to play for either team. His actions cost Pittsburgh a playoff berth last season and almost certainly tanked Oaklands chances this season. What choice does a team have with a player who doesn’t want to show up to work. It has been said time and time again, teams only want players who want to be there. Now the Raiders and Steelers must watch New England benefit from their decision to do what was best for their team and let Brown go.

New England’s acquisition of Antonio Brown spells terror for 31 other teams. It’s difficult to see them as anything but a Super Bowl favorites, even at this early point in the season. But for the Raiders and Steelers, two teams who have been victimized so many times by New England on and off the field, this is a recurring trauma.

Raiders report: Did Brown act deliberately so he could join Belichick and the Patriots?

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sfgate.com file photo: Former Oakland Raider Antonio Brown (84) in this August 20th photo tunes up with the team during practice. Brown was signed to the New England Patriots hours after getting released by the Oakland Raiders on Saturday.

By Jerry Feitelberg

You can only speculate and it’s anyone’s guess, but the timing was awfully quick and you might have saw  Oakland Raiders former running back Antonio Brown on video celebrating by running to the distance of close to 50 yards from his kitchen to his backyard fence when he learned that the Raiders released him.

It didn’t take long after learning that after leaving the Raiders he was sought by the New England Patriots. Could it be possible that Brown had foreknowledge that if he could somehow get out from under the Raiders and that he would be able to play for the New England Patriots?

It also was brought up by conspiracy theorists that the Pats rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers who will be facing the Pats for Week 1 this Sunday would have loved to have Brown in for Sunday’s game. Head coach Bill Belichick is always thinking and if anyone doesn’t think he just might have had knowledge of video gate, deflate gate, or any other gate would be naive. Hence, the playbook to get Brown on the Patriots by hook or crook.

Brown, who was signed by the Pats, didn’t make the roster missing the 4 p.m. deadline on Saturday in order to play in tomorrow’s game against the Steelers. Brown, if you watched the video, was just a little too happy upon learning of his release from Oakland, but be as it may, he joins the Patriots for $15 million on a one-year deal.

There is little doubt that the Patriots could use a guy like Brown and when all the fuss of the helmet, the missed practices and walk throughs, suspensions, fines, arguments with Raiders general manager Mike Mayock, photos of his fines from Mayock, recorded conversations with head coach Jon Gruden about wanting to be a Raiders or not, came out it was just a matter of time when Brown would be leaving the Raiders and the Patriots no doubt stood up and took notice.

You could be rest assured Brown will not fuss too much like he did in Oakland once he gets to New England. He won’t fuss about his helmet, going to practice, showing up for meetings, and getting along with Belichick. Let Brown experience just a few Sundays and he’ll be as happy as a clam because he feels like he’s with a real franchise now.

Oakland Raiders special report: Brown released by Raiders

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sfgate.com file photo: Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during an an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Raiders won 33-26.

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — Before he even played a game for the Oakland Raiders, Antonio Brown is gone from the Silver and Black.

Brown was released by the team after he posted on Instagram that he be released by the team, who acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers back in February.

According to ESPNs Adam Schefter and NFL sources, Brown was fined $215,073.53 for conduct detrimental to the team.

The end of Browns tenure came after he emailed another ESPN insider, Jeff Darlington and stated that there is no way that he will play for the Raiders.

Brown will be a free agent at 1:01 (Pacific) this afternoon; however, he is not eligible to play this week.

ESPN.com contributed to this report

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Brown asks for forgiveness, he gets it; Too valuable to let AB get away to start on MNF

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On the Raiders podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 Joe, Oakland Raiders running back Antonio Brown has been all the news the last 24 hours, his latest antic was threatening to punch Raiders general manager Mike Mayock until he was restrained.

#2 There wasn’t physical violence but there were threats of violence according to reporters who were there to witness the confrontation between Brown and Mayock.

#3 Brown who said he was angry with Mayock over a fine he received for not reporting to practice took a football in front of Mayock and punted it and said to Mayock “suspend me now”

#4 Head coach Jon Gruden when asked about the run in said that he’s busy on the field trying to get his players ready for Monday Night Football for opening night and he’s focusing on the guys who are working hard.

#5 How much of a distraction will the possible release of Brown be during week 1

Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Raiders podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders’ Brown threatens to punch GM Mayock over fine; Kaval meets with the media at Jack London Square to share dreams; plus more

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Photo credit sfgate.com: Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown shown in photo during his signing with the team during happier times threatened Raiders general manager Mike Mayock at practice on Thursday over his recent fines from the team.

On Headline Sports with Tony:

#1 Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown threatened Raiders general manager Mike Mayock after he was fined $53,000 for leaving camp twice. Don’t be surprised if Brown is cut. Brown also has not gotten his $30 million from his current contract and may not get it.

#2 The Oakland A’s held a presser last Tuesday afternoon at Jack London Square with team president David Kaval, who stood in front of a number of white cranes that help lift cargo shipments. Kaval said rather than remove them they would be part of the new stadium landscape kind of a conversation piece.

#3 It’s just simply a deal that has to get done. Kaval acknowledged that the environmental report which includes topic on toxic clean up, mass transportation, traffic conditions, and the railroads that circle the prized area where the A’s new ballpark is supposed to be built on.

#4 The New Orleans Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball said that his father Lavar’s brand sneakers The Big Baller ZO2 brand fell apart after each quarter “If you literally have those shoes from those games, they’re exploded,” Ball said. Not the ringing endorsement from the off spring of the founder.

#5 The Sacramento Kings owe Harrison Barnes $2.1 million. Barnes, who played for the Kings two different times, is owed the money after the Kings who originally signed him for $12 million and sent him to the New Orleans Pelicans with DeMarcus Cousins in 2016. After Barnes returned to Sacramento in 2018-19, he was paid but with $2.1 million left. Bottom line — how much will Barnes be missed in Sacramento?

#6 The Oakland Raiders kick off on Monday Night Football at the Oakland Coliseum to start Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. How do you see Raiders quarterback Derek Carr matching up against Broncos starter Joe Flacco in this one?

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com