Peyton Manning is a throwback to old-time quarterbacks with his ability to read defenses and change plays — and he’s doing it against defenses that are much more complex than when quarterbacks called plays. He ranks with the best I have seen since I started covering pro football in 1967. Here is how I rate those who came before him. Great Read More

Hue Jackson has been hired by Al Davis to make an NFL quarterback out of JaMarcus Russell. Davis must be a fan of “Mission Impossible.” Russell reminds me of Chris Washburn, whom the Warriors picked with the No. 3 overall selection in the 1986 draft. Though he’d played only one full season at North Carolina State, Washburn was regarded as a huge talent: big (6-foot-11), great jumper, good shooter, very athletic. Read More

Despite reports to the contrary, the process of deciding the fate of Raiders coach Tom Cable has “not reached a conclusion.” Or so we’re told. The season ended on Jan. 3, and today is Jan. 25, which means we’re supposed to believe that Al Davis has spent 22 days, in addition to time spent in the season’s final weeks, evaluating his coach, but that he still can’t decide if Cable is Ca(pa)ble. Right? Not bloody likely. Read More

As Al Davis keeps Tom Cable twisting in the wind, the hiring of Lane Kiffin at USC is a reminder that the Raiders once could attract top young coaches, if only to audition for a better job. That’s why Jon Gruden came to Oakland. He knew the problems of working with Davis but he was strong enough to battle with Davis to get rid of the under-producers and bring in his own players. Read More