I think of the time it took to build, the patience it took, and the brains it took. Each one of those massive pyramids that still stand today all started with a vision, and all started with one brick.

In 2006, the Raiders went 2-14 and earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. The cupboard was empty on offense, the O-line was weak, and the skill position players were not very skilled at all.

No QB threw over 300 yards in 2006, and only once did a running back break 100 yards rushing. The Raiders had to start over and rebuild through the draft instead of free agency.

In 2007, the Raiders began building their structure when they drafted JaMarcus Russell, a tremendously physically gifted QB out of LSU. After four years of losing 11 games or more, the Raiders decided to draft the QB of their future. The vision was born, and the first brick was laid.

In 2008, the Raiders drafted Darren McFadden, an explosive running back out of Arkansas, with the fourth overall pick. The second brick had been laid.

In 2009, the Raiders drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey, the speedy wide receiver out of Maryland, with the seventh overall pick. The third brick was laid, and the structure started taking shape.

Other bricks began to emerge, and began solidifying the foundation. 

Zach Miller, Louis Murphy, Trevor Scott, Matt Shaughnessy, Tyvonn Branch, Michael Huff, Chaz Schilens, Michael Bush, Mike Mitchell, and Nnamdi Asomugha.

Now there is a saying that Rome was not built in a day, and that stands true today. A team that is empty on the offensive side of the ball will not  immediately become a contender when adding only one piece.  

A home cannot be lived in without a roof; a Sham Wow is only a Sham without the Wow. Though you may know what the picture will look like with only a couple pieces left to finish, a puzzle is not complete until all the pieces are fully placed together.

The Raiders hold the No. 8 pick in the 2010 NFL draft, and it is obvious what position is left to be drafted. The final piece of the structure that was started in 2007. Raider fans have grown mighty impatient, and to a point have given up hope on a structure that is almost complete.

It reminds me of the biblical story of Moses when he left Mount Sinai to reach the promise land that was promised to his nation.

It took 40 years to get there and getting there was not easy. His nation rebelled against him at times, but Moses knew where he was headed and he knew he was going to get there.

This is the fourth year of the rebuilding process. This is the final year of the vision Al Davis had four years ago. The bricks are forming and starting to take shape.

Veterans are being released, and young guys are stepping up. The future is now, and  the structure is almost complete. For the Raiders, 2010 will mark the return of a once proud nation.

For more Raider news and Raider talk, follow me on Twitter. http://twitter.com/RaiderWorldWide

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Al Davis will put an end to Gradkowski and Raider Nation's misery before the start of training camp, just as he did with Jeff Garcia in order to avoid unwanted controversy going into 2010.

Sorry, Raider Nation. Hue Jackson did not come all the way across country to coach the waterboy.

I know there is something in Bruce Gradkowski you all see in yourselves—an underdog playing a sport and a position that are completely over his head, and the toughest position in sports at that.

Jackson was brought in to improve the Raiders' vertical passing game, a strategy which Gradkowski is no part of. Bruce Gradkowski is a West Coast scrambling QB. Al Davis ditched the West Coast offense along with Rich Gannon.

It's time for Raider Nation to move on and realize that the West Coast offense is outdated, and that 70 percent of today's NFL teams are running a passing, spread offense with running as an afterthought.

Just look at teams like New Orleans and Indianapolis. They both made it to the Super Bowl running a vertical-style offense, which JaMarcus Russell is suited for.

Now that Jackson is calling plays, Raider Nation need not worry about seven-step drops on first down from their own goal line—just more bombs and less Gradkowski.

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How strong must you be to endure such hostile and unfounded hatred? And to make it worse, you have a castoff from Willie Wonka threatening your starting job, Yikes!

Time to get to work, Mr. Russell. The franchise invested a lot into your abilities. About $30 million to exact, as reported by the media 50 times a week.

Who knows what JaMarcus is doing right now? Is he studying Hue Jackson's new playbook? Or is he shedding those extra pounds which are supposedly affecting his accuracy and pocket presence?

Either one would be great. Or maybe even that isn't enough for Raider Nation. Maybe he SHOULD go to another team and get a fresh start and show what he can really do in a comprehensive scheme.

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Numerous teams have already made significant upgrades at positions of need.

Unfortunately, the San Francisco 49ers are not one of them.

Despite having multiple starting positions in need of an upgrade, the 49ers have made only one minor signing so far this season. By signing quarterback David Carr to backup Alex Smith, San Francisco’s lone free agent pickup thus far has come at a position that's quite low on the needs list.

In fact, quarterback wasn’t really a need at all considering the direction the 49ers are heading in, with continuity being of the utmost importance.

Now fans and analysts may argue the order of the top four biggest needs for the 49ers, but there really is no arguing against what they are .

In any given order, the 49ers need to upgrade in the following areas:

1. Pass rush

2. Offensive line

3. Secondary

4. Return game

Granted, the 49ers have two first-round draft choices in the upcoming NFL draft, but by addressing some of their needs in free agency, the team would then be able to narrow the list of positional needs in the draft.

For example, there are various NFL “mock drafts” that have the 49ers taking two offensive lineman in the first round, as well as some that have them addressing the return game and pass rush with those picks.

With varying opinions from both fans and experts alike on how the 49ers should utilize their two first-round picks, it is clear that the 49ers need a handful of positional upgrades.

In order for the 49ers to become stronger come draft day, they should look to address some of the areas of need in free agency.

The pass rush, offensive line, and secondary should all be upgraded in one way or another through free agency.

First of all, the pass rush can be significantly upgraded on the cheap. Just recently, the incredibly flamboyant but immensely talented pass rushing outside linebacker, Joey Porter was released by the Miami Dolphins.

Soon to be 33, Porter’s age and brash style will probably prohibit the four-time Pro Bowler from getting a long-term deal.

By adding Porter to the mix, San Francisco would bolster a pass rush that has been incredibly mediocre over the last few seasons, and signing him isn’t likely to break the bank.

Upgrading the secondary can be done by going after veteran free agent safety, Darren Sharper, to fill in at free safety while then moving the up-and-coming Dashon Goldson over to strong safety.

Sharper may be turning 35 next season, but he still tied a career high with nine interceptions last year, helping the Saints to their first ever Super Bowl victory.

Clearly, a Sharper-Goldson combo would be a much better duo than a Goldson, and concussion prone, Michael Lewis tandem. Sharper would be a great veteran presence on an otherwise young 49er defense, and at his age, he won’t require a lengthy contract.

As for the offensive line, names such as Langston Walker, Levi Jones, Mike Gandy, and Damion McIntosh are all free agent tackles that could fill in the gap the 49ers currently have at right tackle.

Of course, the 49ers would need to proceed with caution before signing Jones if they also plan on signing Joey Porter at outside linebacker. These two have some severe issues with one another going back to the days when Porter played for the Steelers, and Jones was on the Bengals.

Either way, whether the 49ers want to go after Jones or another free agent tackle, there are a number of talented stop-gaps available to play opposite Joe Staley that shouldn’t require more than one-year deals.

If the 49ers were able to pickup a safety, pass rusher, and offensive tackle in free agency, that would give them much more flexibility with their first-round draft choices.

Taking Clemson running back C. J. Spiller at No. 13 overall would be a much wiser move if the 49ers were to have added an offensive tackle in free agency.

Spiller would be a great fit in the return game—an area where the 49ers desperately need to improve—and he could also suffice as an ideal change of pace back for Frank Gore.

Four picks later, the 49ers would then have the luxury of being able to go in many different directions.

Essentially, at pick No.17, the 49ers could take the best player available. They could still take the best tackle on the board to add depth to the offensive line, or they could also look to draft an offensive guard (perhaps Mike Iupati, if available). Even inside linebacker Rolando McClain (if he falls) could be an option at this point in the draft.

However, if the 49ers don’t add quality players at their positions of need via free agency, they will limit what they can do with their first-round draft choices.

San Francisco will almost assuredly have to take an offensive tackle with one of their first-round selections, and improving either the secondary or pass rush will end up being more critical than drafting a return specialist. Therefore, the 49ers would probably have to pass up on drafting the explosive C. J. Spiller.

But drafting Spiller would be a huge addition to this squad, and in order to make his selection at No. 13 an ideal move, the 49ers will need to have added some new talent through free agency.

Unfortunately, 49er management has been steadfast in not making a “splash” in free agency.

However, the good news is that with the amount of free agents available, “splashes” don’t necessarily have to be expensive long-term deals.

The 49ers can improve in free agency by signing a couple of proven veteran players to cheap, short-term deals.

If the management realizes this and picks up some of these veteran free agents, then the 49ers will be able to snatch up a play maker like Spiller come draft day.

This article was originally published at nfltouchdown.com and can be seen here .

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This modest measure of success has a fan base, hungry for a return to prior glories, cautiously optimistic that this could be the year the team finally breaks through.

After all, Mike Singletary has achieved rock star status in the Bay Area as head coach, and 2009 was the first year in over a decade to see the 49ers actually improve on a 7-9 record from the year before, after several “false starts” toward the resurgence of the franchise.

The team’s success could have been much greater in 2009 if not for a few untimely miscues, questionable calls, and the heroics of Brett Favre and Vince Young.

These tantalizing thoughts of what could have been are setting the expectations that much higher for 2010, making the upcoming season one of the most important barometers for the state of the franchise in a long while.

Given that, what do the 49ers need to do to ensure they continue to march in the right direction?

That’s not entirely clear.

Nobody will know the true extent of the 49ers’ draft needs (though some areas are essentially locks) until the free agent signing period plays out a little further.

The 49ers made some headlines with the signing of David Carr, but have some decisions to make on players to retain and whether to bring anyone else in.

Last year, the players on the roster seemed to buy in to the system Coach Sing put in place. That should bode well for the team’s chances to hold onto key cogs like Barry Sims and Dre’ Bly.

Assuming that happens, where does that place the 49ers come April 22nd?

At this point, I could drone on ad nauseam, breaking down every potential prospect the 49ers could select in each of the seven rounds and why each would or would not be a good choice.

I could debate whether C.J. Spiller is going to fall to the 49ers at No. 13 or 17 and spend so much time replying to specific fan comments on the article’s message board that I would probably lose my real job.

Fear not, I have decided to spare us that exercise.

To be honest, I really do not see any particular player or pick as a make-or-break issue in this draft for the 49ers. Rather, the biggest potential blunders lie in making relatively broad decisions on draft posture, preparation, and approach.

Blunder No. 1: Failing to take advantage of two mid-first-round picks

This could include a variety of potential scenarios.

The most obvious manifestation would be packaging the two picks to move up. Chances are that bundling a 13 and 17 in the first round will not get you all that far.

There is virtually no way such a move could land the 49ers in the top five, and baring a moment of “genius” by Al Davis, it would be unlikely to even get into the top ten.

Even if it could, there is little out there in this year’s draft field worth the 49ers investing top ten money in.

Ndamukong Suh would unquestionably be a major boon to a pass rush that has been less-than-stellar to put it lightly since even before the retirement of the legendary Bryant Young.

But the chances of Suh slipping past No. 3, or conversely the 49ers getting that high without packaging Vernon Davis or Frank Gore with both their round one picks, are slim to none.

Given that, a move up would be a wasted effort.

Packaging the picks to move down could be just as foolish. The 49ers have needs, but they are far from being riddled with holes like some of the early Bill Walsh-era teams, which one year led the coaching legend to trade completely out of the first round.

Barring the perfect deal for a proven veteran who could undoubtedly fill a critical need, the 49ers should keep the No. 13 and 17 picks.

Having two mid-first-round selections allows the 49ers the unique flexibility to address key needs early with quality players. But even if they keep both picks, they could still make a costly error.

Blunder No. 2 - Overinvestment

I have never been a fan of drafting non-skill position players in the first round, and the demographics of this year’s draft make that even more true than usual.

I know the 49ers need to address offensive line depth, regardless of retention or loss of Barry Sims. But the first round is not the place to do that, even with two picks.

There are plenty of talented linemen projected in the second and third rounds, especially at tackle.

Knowing that, why allocate a first round pick and the associated money on a lineman, when you could likely get better value by waiting?

The 49ers proved in 2003 that drafting an offensive lineman in the first round could backfire. Remember a guy named Kwame Harris?

Another avenue for overinvestment could arise if the 49ers allow the local media to affect their grading of area college stars.

The potential of bringing in a new halfback to complement the current stable of Frank Gore and Glen Coffee is intriguing, with the argument being that despite their upsides, injuries could prove problematic.

I have yet to be sold one way or another on this issue, but one thing is certain. The 49ers could do themselves serious long-term harm by letting the local popularity of a Toby Gerhart or Jahvid Best talk them into reaching for such a back.

I’m not saying the 49ers would be wrong to draft either player under any circumstance. If the right situation presents itself, take fullest advantage. Just don’t let local pressures overinflate the true value these players bring to the table.

Blunder No. 3 – Failing to address needs appropriately

The best drafts are a combination of immediate role players and longer-term development projects. The 49ers need to ensure they understand their current situation and draft appropriately.

The key for the 49ers is the need to improve on the progress made in 2009. Therefore, the bulk of their investments need to be in players who can step in and fill roles right away.

Obviously, one can hardly expect any rookie (except apparently Patrick Willis) to step in and perform at Pro Bowl levels, but the focus in the early rounds needs to be on addressing skill players with the biggest immediate upside.

Longer-term development projects can be considered in later rounds, where dollar amounts are down, and risk is lower.

Blunder No. 4 – Not another Crabtree

First of all, calm down. I will not say anything bad about Crabtree, nor will I make the fruitless argument that the 49ers should have considered repeating Al Davis’s “brilliance” of passing on him in the first round last year.

There is no reason to believe that he will be anything less than well above average to potentially great as he continues to mature in the league.

My argument here is that the 49ers need to make sure they know what they are getting themselves into with any potential pick, but particularly high profile ones.

Maybe better homework could have helped allay Days of Our Crabtrees last summer and fall, maybe not. That does not really matter.

The point is if the situation were to repeat itself, there would suddenly be major questions surrounding the 49ers ability to negotiate with and sign high-caliber draft picks.

The 49ers need to be more proactive and tactful in their salary negotiations with any big ticket name from now on, because another prolonged holdout by a college star could drum up more than a little bad publicity and hamper the team’s chances of successful future dealings.

If the 49ers develop a reputation for having trouble locking down their draft picks, it opens the door for media ridicule and could eventually scare off potential free agents.

They need to be smart about this.

Having said all this, I was pretty impressed with Coach Sing’s first draft last year (Crabtree saga notwithstanding).

The “immediate” contributions of Crabtree (once he finally signed), combined with the upsides of Nate Davis and Glen Coffee, seem to suggest keen scouting and evaluation capabilities.

If the 49ers can build on that draft strategy this year, we could be in for big things in 2010. Keep the Faith. 

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Looking at the initial moves in San Diego’s offseason can be broken down into two obvious sections: players retained and players let go.  For this first part, we will look at those retained, or more specifically, the restricted free agents San Diego chose to tender.

Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, and Marcus McNeil given highest tenders.

These are lumped into one because they constitute a no-brainer.  Philip Rivers helmed one of the league’s best passing attacks in 2009.  He suffered very few sacks considering his poor mobility and frequent downfield throws.

In summing up the team’s passing attack in that manner, it becomes a no-brainer to ensure that you retain your two starting wide receivers and left tackle, all of whom are under 29.

It may occur to some to give Floyd a first-round tender, saving some money if no team is willing to give that up.  The problem with this is that none of the top receiving talents are as well suited to, or familiar with the offense San Diego runs. 

The highest rated big wideout (6’3’’ or better) is upper third round, and very raw talented, Carlton Mitchell.  The only receiver that looks ready to start, who would likely still be available when San Diego picks would be 5’11’’, 195-pound Golden Tate.

San Diego may be able to find an acceptable alternative to Floyd, but will almost assuredly be unable to find a real upgrade at the position.

Merriman given highest tender.

I understand the logic of this move.  For a discount price, you get one more year to see if Merriman can return to his old form before going about real contract negotiations.

That said, the move could come back to haunt them in the long-term.  If he posts a solid 2010 campaign, the team will be forced to negotiate a contract with him while he holds much more bargaining power.

Merriman already expressed some dissatisfaction with being tendered and could consider the roughly three-million dollar contract a slight, signing elsewhere because of it.  Even if he doesn't, he would command a much higher contract with a return to form and unrestricted status, something the team may not want to compete with.

If he has a poor 2010, he will undoubtedly be allowed to walk when his contract expired, netting the team nothing.

What they could have done: Give Merriman either a first-only, or even a second-round tender.  Do this with the hope that you can find some team to bite and sign him away for that price, netting a draft pick out of the move. 

Even if he's retained and has a good 2010, but is upset over his salary, he can be franchised and traded away.  If taking a "must-trade" discount, they should still net respectable dividends if his 2010 season is solid enough to set up this scenario.

Giving Merriman the top tender in the offseason could be a solid move for the upcoming year, but might ultimately be a long-term mistake if his either value drops to nonexistent by having another poor year, or leaves the team to net a big payday next offseason.

Darren Sproles given highest tender.

The move is puzzling.  Yes, San Diego grew worried when they couldn’t come to a quick accord with Sproles, who was drawing considerable league interest.  It doesn’t mean they should have taken such reactionary steps.

Giving him a first-only or second-round tender was a non-option.  Both would have given Sproles the same seven-million dollar salary that the highest tender put in play (thanks to his franchise tag last offseason). 

However, the team could have given him the lowest tender, which would not have triggered that excessive salary level.  The fear is that it would only cost a fourth-round draft pick to pry Sproles away, but that only tells half the story.

San Diego would still hold the right to match any offer sheet given to Sproles.  The odds of any offer sheet San Diego would have to compete with reaching the seven-million mark is virtually nil. 

The power is now all in Darren Sproles hands.  It would make little sense to come to a long-term deal with San Diego at present.

Given his assumed market value, he can collect two-and-a-half years worth of salary in one season, and then test the open market afterwards.

Charlie Whitehurst given lowest tender.

For Whitehurst, this would be a third-round tender (based on when he was originally drafted).  This is a great move for San Diego for a variety of reasons.

If they retain him, he would come quite cheap, which is necessary for a third-string quarterback.  Better than that is the fact that they may entice a team like Seattle or Arizona to bite, landing them a solid pick for a player not figuring to see the field as a Charger.

Travis Johnson given lowest tender.

An underrated move.  As a former first-round draft pick, the move assures no competition and gives San Diego a fairly inexpensive defensive lineman that may not be big enough to play the nose full-time, but can perform spot duty at any position along the line.

He did well in limited time when he wasn't injured, and could be a valuable depth guy, given extra time to learn the Chargers system.

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Believe it.

San Francisco 49ers' beat writer Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat said on KNBR Tuesday that the signing of free agent passer David Carr could leave Smith "looking over his shoulder" at just the time he was easing into the role as the 49ers No. 1 guy.

Maiocco's blog, should be a go-to spot for every 49ers fan:

http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/

"The 49ers don't have to openly announce that there'll be a quarterback competition," Maiocco said. "But, if Alex doesn't perform as well as they expect ... the club would have to make a change."

Even having the possibility of Carr winning job gives Smith a reason for concern. Smith and Shaun Hill are the best of friends. Hill did everything he could to ease the transition from his being the No. 1 quarterback to Smith taking back the job he won earlier in his career.

Now, not only is Carr coming in with a two-year, $6.5 million contract -- Hill is on the way out.

The Chicago Tribune has reported that new Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz is interested in the club acquiring Hill. Hill, of course, played well when Martz spent the 2008 season at the 49ers offensive coordinator.

It's worth noting that Martz has a history of bringing in a quarterback who knows his system -- and then giving that passer a chance to win a starting job. If the Bears can land Hill, who shined under Martz, highly-paid starter Jay Cutler's many publicized shortcomings could result in the Bears turning to Hill just like the 49ers gave the starting quarterback's job to journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan. Martz had tutored O'Sullivan while they were both with the Detroit Lions.

Carr's two-year deal, with $4 million guaranteed, makes him the only quarterback on the 49ers roster who is signed for the 2011 season. Smith and Hill are both signed only through 2010.

"It means something that Carr is the only quarterback who will definitely be with the club in 2011," Maiocco said in a radio interview.

Maiocco put to rest any notion that Singletary isn't committed, for now, to Smith.

"The thing for me is I'm always going to use words like 'probably' and all those other things because I like competition," Singletary said in a story on Maiocco's blog. "I like guys knowing that they're always going to compete. But I feel very comfortable in saying Alex Smith is our starting quarterback going forward."

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Five out of eight divisions were won by two games or fewer.  Among the three with greater divides, two of the second-place divisional teams still posted winning records.

Yet no division is so unclear at this point in the offseason as the NFC West.  Recent divisional stud Arizona was inconsistent even during its prime and just witnessed its Hall of Fame quarterback pick the sunset he wanted to ride into.

The past two years the Cardinals have been aided by playing in arguably the worst division in football.  The three other teams in their division have the same combined win total as Indianapolis managed on its own.

Taking away divisional games (in which an NFC West team was guaranteed a win) the division sported an unhealthy .300 record as a unit.

With mediocrity can come great parity however. 

San Francisco already won two games against the Kurt Warner-led Cardinals last season, and are a young team that might just be finding itself.  With a great running back in Frank Gore and defensive player of the year candidate in Patrick Willis, they have several pieces in place.

Seattle boasts a rejuvenated front office, helmed by new head coach Pete Carroll.  They boast two first round draft picks (both within the first half of the round) and near carte blanche approval of owner Paul Allen to do what is necessary.

St. Louis seems the least likely to make a run at the division lead.  They are coming off a 1-15 record in which the shambles of a team managed less than 11 points per game.

The Rams do appear to have a solid coach in Steve Spagnuolo and one of the league’s best all around backs in Steven Jackson.  With the first overall pick they have a great chance at landing a cornerstone player to build the team around.

What all these teams have in common should be the deciding factor in who emerges atop the NFC West—questions at quarterback.

Arizona currently has one quarterback on its roster in former 10th-overall draft pick Matt Leinart.  Leinart has looked very ordinary in his limited time as a starter, posting a career rating of 71 despite throwing to one of the league’s best receiving corps.

The Cardinals will be adding to the roster before the season begins, but how they go about that remains to be seen.  The vote of confidence in Leinart makes an impact move like trading for Donovan McNabb or drafting a quarterback in the first round unlikely.

The team will probably bring in a younger name (be it a third-fourth round draft pick or a younger veteran) under the guise of backing up Leinart, with the idea that the competition for the starting role will be more subtle.

Trying to give support to Leinart could leave the team in a lurch however if the 26-year-old signal caller disappoints. 

San Francisco would like nothing more than for that to happen.  They have issues of their own at quarterback, having spent the last two years unable to establish a true number one guy from the Alex Smith/Shaun Hill tandem.

Barring any major surprises, Smith will be the opening day starter in 2010.  With more than double the starts of Leinart he can no longer use inexperience as an excuse to his underwhelming play.

Smith was drafted first overall in 2005, and carries a career rating even lower than Leinart’s at 69.  Taking over for Hill in Week 7, Smith actually posted encouraging numbers in 2009.

He ended the year with an 81.5 quarterback rating and had his first season with a positive toudown-turnover ratio. 

Smith should also have the luxury of an established number-one receiver for the first time in his career.  Michael Crabtree had 48 receptions for 625 yards despite missing all of training camp and five games to a contract holdout.  Translated to 16 games the numbers equate to almost 70 catches for 909 yards.

Given the time to learn the team’s playbook and develop a rapport, Crabtree should flirt with 1,000 yards in his sophomore year, something that could very much help Smith to finally emerge from first-overall disappointment.

Seattle shows up as a wildcard within the division.  Head coach Pete Carroll will bring an entirely new philosophy to a team that was 5-7 before it packed it in for the final four games.

Assuming he is still the opening day starter, Matt Hasselbeck is on the downward swing of his career, but still a proven veteran with a superior resume to the rest of the division.

If he can fend off the nagging injuries that slowed him the past few years, he is only two years removed from a 3,966 yard 28 touchdown 2007 season.  He isn’t the team’s long term answer anymore, but in the short term he holds the resume to get results.

Pete Carroll is actively seeking additional help at quarterback, be it to take over the starting role or just replace departed (via trade) backup Seneca Wallace.

While coaching at USC Carroll had a great track with turning out quarterbacks.  Four former Trojans are slated to start behind center in 2010 (Carson Palmer, Matt Cassel, Matt Leinart, and Mark Sanchez) two of which saw playoff action last season.

With a pair of first round picks to bolster a squad not long removed from seeing the postseason, Carroll and the Seahawks could find themselves leapfrogging Arizona and San Francisco if they can secure steady play from the quarterback position.

The final team in the division is also the farthest from entering the mix.  The St. Louis Rams were the NFL’s worst team in 2009, with only a single win.

They have holes at virtually every position, and it is uncertain what order they will work to address them in.

Marc Bulger proved last season that he no longer has the capacity to be even a temporary answer at quarterback.  Although only 32, a host of injuries have aged him prematurely, and he cannot be counted on to either play a full season or deliver results when playing.

Given the gaping hole behind center, the logical assumption would be that St. Louis would attempt to draft its quarterback of the future with the first overall pick.

It might not be the case however, as can’t-miss defensive tackle Ndamakong Suh makes for a tantalizing prospect for former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Should St. Louis elect to forego Suh, the assumption is that they will draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

With nothing else to really work with in the passing game, it would be a great surprise if in his rookie year Bradford were able to produce the kind of results necessary to flirt with .500, let alone fight for a divisional crown.

Still, with any team in the NFC West capable of major surprise or letdown in 2010, stranger things could happen.

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With the emergence of Ahmad Brooks, a pass rusher has slid down the list of positions of need.  However, right tackle and the offensive line as a whole remains an area of concern.  Below is a ranking of the 49ers positions of need:

1.  Right Tackle

The 49ers didn't re-sign Tony Pashos and haven't picked up a tackle thus far in free agency.  Adam Snyder pictured above is a versatile player who can play tackle or guard, but has proven to be backup with versatility.  With two picks in the draft the 49ers should use one of their picks to pickup a starting right tackle. 

Two players that might be available at pick 13 are Trent Williams and Anthony Davis.  Trent Williams might already be gone by 13, but given Davis has recently mishandled himself at Rutgers pro day he might slip to this pick.  If Okung, Bulaga, Davis, or Williams aren't available at this pick the 49ers should pick up at tackle at pick 17 or in the second round.  Projected Starter = ?

2.  Secondary (Covers safeties and cornerbacks)

This is one area of the field where the 49ers could afford to become younger and faster.  One great example of the lack of speed in the secondary was shown during the 2009 Atlanta Falcons game when the 49ers were burnt on long passing plays.  Dashon Goldson and Shawntae Spencer appear to be entrenched as starters.  Michael Lewis is coming off a year with multiple concussions, which is a concern. 

Nate Clements is a solid corner, but hasn't shown the playmaking ability that the 49ers were looking for when they signed him.  Reggie Smith and Curtis Taylor are promising safeties who are developing.  Taylor Mays, Joe Haden, and Earl Thomas could be around when the 49ers pick with their first two picks.  If the 49ers signed Mays, he would eventually start at strong safety to replace Michael Lewis.  It will be interesting to see if Haden runs a faster 40 at his pro day. 

If not that might create some red flags and the 49ers might view him similar to Nate Clements in terms of abilities.  Earl Thomas, in my opinion, is underrated.  He showed up at the combine heavier than his playing weight but still ran a fast 40.  Thomas has excellent playmaking ability, but the only thing hurting him is his height.  If the 49ers draft him he would play free safety and push Goldson over to strong safety. 

This draft is deep with cornerbacks.  A few names who the 49ers should look at in the middle rounds are Donovan Warren, Myron Lewis, Chris Cook, and Walter Thurmond.  Projected Starters = CB1, Shawntae Spencer; CB2, Nate Clements or Rookie; FS, Dashon Goldson; SS, Michael Lewis or Rookie.

3.  Kick/ Punt Returner

This is a major area for the 49ers to address.  I would put this at Number 2, but the secondary needs to become younger and add depth.  The 49ers have not targeted anyone thus far in free agency to return kicks. 

It appears that they will look to the draft for a kick/punt returner.  Plus there are prospects available throughout the draft that could play corner and return kicks.  A few cornerback prospects to look at in the draft are Javier Arenas, Walter Thurmond, and Perrish Cox.  The 49ers could also add a running back or wide receiver that has return abilities. 

They are deeper at the wide receiver position so it wouldn't surprise me if they picked a running back or cornerback with return abilities.  Projected Starter = ?

4.  Guards

This is a position where some competition would be welcomed.  David Bass started to look better toward the end of the season as did Chilo Rachal.  Bass played hurt for the first half of the season so he has an excuse for not playing up to par; however, this is an area where the 49ers should add at least a solid backup. 

There are a few guard and tackle prospects available in the second to fourth round that are intriguing.  Rodger Saffold is a prospect who could possibly play left tackle and may be around in the second round.  John Jerry is a guard who would be around in the third or fourth round.  Projected Starters = David Bass and Chilo Rachal.

5.  Outside (Rush) Linebackers

A team can never have enough pass rushers.  With Ahmad Brooks emergence at the end of last year it appears that the 49ers have at least three players who can put pressure on the quarterback.  It would be nice to see the 49ers add a player in free agency or in the draft to develop.  Projected Starters = Parys Haralson/ Manny Lawson/ Ahmad Brooks.

6.  Halfback and Fullback

The 49ers have three backs in Gore, Coffee, and Robinson that have similar running styles.  Moran Norris does his job at fullback.  To add more versatility to their offense the 49ers should add a change of pace back either a thumper or burner.  If they go the burner route, someone with return abilities would be key. 

This pick would likely be somewhere in the third to fifth rounds if the 49ers don not add someone in free agency.  Prospects that fit this type of mold are Toby Gerhart, LeGarrette Blount, and Dexter McCluster.  Projected Starters = RB, Frank Gore and FB, Moran Norris.

7.  Quarterback

It seems the roster is set at quarterback unless the 49ers have a high regard for one of the college quarterbacks in the draft.  Alex Smith continues to show glimpses of why he was selected No. 1 overall; however, he needs to show them on a daily basis.  Hopefully with the signing of Carr to push him and the carry over of the same offensive coordinator for the first time in his career, fans will finally see a playoff birth.  Nate Davis is a project quarterback with promise.  Projected Starter = Alex Smith.

8.   Wide Receivers

Morgan and Crabtree are young players who give the 49er's receiving corp hope in the future.  Jason Hill is a capable slot receiver with speed.  Brandon Jones showed some glimpses of why he was signed during free agency last year. 

The 49ers might look to add either a big red zone target with blocking skills or a small slot receiver through the draft.  The slot receiver would obviously need to have excellent return skills.  A few names come to mind: Jacoby Ford, Trindon Holliday, Mardy Gilyard, Carlton Mitchell, and Demaryius Thomas.  Projected Starters = WR1, Michael Crabtree; WR2, Josh Morgan.

9.  Left Tackle

Joe Staley has proven to be a solid left tackle; however, their is a chance that the 49ers might be in the position to draft a player with one of their first round picks who could compete for his spot.  Projected Starter = Joe Staley.

10.  Defensive Line

Justin Smith is relentless.  Aubrayo Franklin had a pro bowl type year.  The 49ers could possibly add additional depth through the draft or free agency; however, they have quality depth on the defensive line.  Kentwan Balmer continues to be a project and is still rehabbing from shoulder surgery. 

I wouldn't call him a bust, but he has a lot to prove by the end of this year.  A possible sleeper pick that would not be too surprising is the selection of Dan Williams in the first round to eventually replace Franklin at nose tackle.  Projected Starters = DE, Justin Smith; NT, Aubrayo Franklin; DE, Issac Sopoaga.

11.  Tight End

Delanie Walker and Vernon Davis are both playmakers and are almost guaranteed a spot on the roster.  The 49ers already have acquired some blocking tight ends to compete for a third roster spot.  This is a position that might see a draft pick towards the end of the draft.  Projected Starter = Vernon Davis.

12.  Inside Linebackers

Spikes and Willis have been an excellent combination.  The 49ers also have great depth with Scott McKillop and Matt Wilhelm.  This is a position where the 49ers should not have to worry.  McKillop appears to be in the mold of Jeff Ulbrich.  He is a solid backup who can start if required. 

If McClain or Brandon Spikes drop in the draft I wouldn't be surprised if the 49ers pick up either player to place alongside Patrick Willis.  Projected Starters = Takeo Spikes and Patrick Willis.

13.  Center

Eric Heitmann is the starter.  This position has no controversy to it.  Projected Starter = Eric Heitmann.

14.  Kicker

Another position has a solid starter.  The 49ers will probably sign a camp kicker.  Projected Starter = Joe Nedney.

15.  Punter

A position with a Pro Bowler.  Projected Starter = Andy Lee.

16.  Long Snapper

One of the best in football.  Projected Starter = Brian Jennings.

Read more San Francisco 49ers news on BleacherReport.com

This is a question that has been bubbling (or effervescing) in my mind for quite some time, especially after a derogatory blog from an "unbiased" reporter at ESPN named Jay Mariotti.

I have made quite a stink about ESPN ever since then, but not solely for that reason.  I had been hard-charging that ESPN has been selling the sizzle of racial bias (i.e. Pacman Jones) without selling the steak—to use a maxim from the sales industry.

Nada Nada Limonada

Simply put, that maxim means to sell what the product does, not what it is.  You can sell a car made from "40 bucks of steel" for $10,000, so long as the buyer wants the car badly enough.

Just as you can sell the "greatness" of a player (lemons) with arbitrary and manipulatable things such as statistics, which can be manipulated with PEDs and even the rulebook.

Before you get confused, I like sports stats as much as the next sabermatrician, because I think stats are a good way to evaluate a player.  Nevertheless, the stats don't always match the spatial (what you will see), or even the story (how the player got there, which affects his or her desire to be there and care about winning).

Before I started blogging, I worked primarily in sales (namely in selling credit cards). 

In many ways, I use The Bleacher Report to educate (or at least try to) people on how they are being manipulated to want something that is not worth what they are told it is worth, or what they think it is worth.  The first rule of mental conditioning is this: Make the person think that it was their decision the whole time.

Problem is that people often think that manipulation of others will make you a genius.  At that point, people convince themselves that it won't happen to them. 

Frankly, I think manipulation just makes you an ass, destructive, and a time-waster.  More precisely, it makes you a sociopath—see the fork-tongued blog, "Cable Should be Suspended, Al Davis Should Vanish" by Mariotti as an example.

I thought I'd explain "nada nada limonada."  It's a joke told in Mexico that roughly means, "nothing nothing, lemonade," and is meant to say that there is not much substance.

Make It Global

For those of you wondering why I have referenced Mariotti, it is central to this article, because Mariotti is a prime example of how sociopaths in the media will use fans and viewers as "whipping boys" (such as Raider fans) to compensate for their many flaws and insecurities, so rather than take ownership of their demons - they berate fans for, "terrorizing the enemy."

Frankly, I think people like that are just afraid of themselves, but it's easy to project that fear on the "crazies and rowdies" in the Black Hole (or otherwise).

I should add that there is more reason to call Mariotti a sociopath than just that blog.  Google his name to research the fact that he was a destructive influence in the workplace at the Chicago Sun-Times, and his less than amicable departure from the Sun-Times.

As it is said in many workplaces, "make it global."  The problem is not solely with the one culprit, it is a problem with every person that has done the same thing.  I guarantee like Joe Namath that Mariotti is not alone in his narcissism and incompetence.

Yet, the sheep in the audience have been trained to kowtow to narcissism and incompetence, because "everybody" wants to a cushy job of narcissism and incompetence.  No wonder the economy has gone to crap—no one cares about the integrity of their job, because they'd rather be some dope on the corporate dole.

That is because Narcissism and incompetence tend to be a common theme in the mainstream media.  But don't get me wrong.  I think there are exceptions whom I won't name, because I think they know who they are.  I will say however that about 90 percent of what comes from the mainstream media is total crap needed to finance the other 10 percent.

Don't Be a Cash Cow

I though, find it unbearable when people revere the 90%, because "everybody else does."  Before you think I'm just castigating the mainstream media, I'm not.  I think of my criticism as 360 degrees, in that, everybody should evaluate themselves, but at some point, someone has to speak up. 

Simply put, the sports media caters to oblivious fans to the detriment of other fans, while those fans need to get a clue.  Perhaps then, the sports media would change, in order to cater to a different—dare I say more enlightened—audience.  Enlightenment must come from the audience, because the media just caters to whatever you happen to be thinking even if it's wrong, because it is easy and lucrative.

In other words, you are the media's slut.  You're easy.

As I like to say: Pyschology is about understanding what and why a person wants something.  Politics is about giving to someone what that person wants.  And psychiatry is about getting someone to want something else, because perhaps, what you want is destructive...yet there are people that will enable that desire because it is profitable.

So don't be a cash cow.

(Blank) Sells and You're Buying

There is a cross-section between sports and generic marketing.  Many principles of marketing have become univesal, such as "sex sells." 

When you start to dig more deeply however, you start to realize that marketing and sales is about catering to the most divisive aspects of the human condition such as sex, bias, fear/drama.  I like to use "drama" because it creates a funny acronym of, "SBD," (for those of you that like an occasional fart joke).

For many years, Raider fans have claimed that the mainstream media is biased against the Raiders.  Fans of other teams have also claimed that the sports media is biased against their team.  Mariotti's blog amongst other things though, was the final nail in the coffin.

I have asserted in past articles that the mainstream media, namely the East Coast media, is biased because, well, East Coast teams tend to be more marketable and thus profitable. 

The simple reason why is that New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and DC are more populous cities, and thus, have a larger market that garners higher ratings.  More importantly, the fans in those cities tend to be more rabid and will watch anything and everything related to their team.

There is however a flaw to that. 

The Oakland metropolitan area is in fact more populous than the state of Massachusetts, where of course, the city of Boston is located. 

Yet, Oakland has been called a, "small market," and Boston a, "large market."  Moreover, according to Census data, the state of Massachusetts has been much slower in population growth than states such as California.

Thus, I must wonder if East coast teams garner higher ratings, merely because the mainstream media tends to cater to what those fans want to hear and see.  Those fans are embraced and affirmed, while everyone else gets a kick in the teeth. 

So why would they watch?

Why Do You Love or Hate the Oakland Raiders?

Finally and at long last, the question at hand.  I think that if any Raider fan is being honest, they would say that the period from 2003-2009 has been a tribulation to say the least.

We have given much slack to Al Davis, because he has won in the past by taking the blows and doing it his way.  Yet, the abysmal record ("abysmal" is relative to what Raider fans have come to expect), has made many Raider fans question their loyalty to the team and an NFL legend that has been transformed into a caricature.

Lately, Mr. Davis has started to remind me of Shylock the Jew from Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice (see "Tuck Rule Game").

Impatient fans have since clamored for Mr. Davis to conform to the ways of others and the NFL era, when he had succeeded for many years at taking the road less travelled.

Many have succumb to the idea that Mr. Davis no longer "gets it" when it comes to the Draft, after he had many successes in the Draft (see, JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, and Darrius Heyward-Bey). As vaunted as the 1983 NFL Draft is in NFL lore, one of the untold stories about that Draft is how well the Raiders did from top to bottom.

What keeps you coming back for more?

If you look at a team like the New England Patriots, you will see many similarities between the Patriots of today and the Raiders of the 1970s: gutsy play-calling, a cavalier attitude to the rules (some of which has been justifiable), an emphasis on special teams, defense, timely offense, and an emphasis on just winning (as a team) rather than individual stats.

If anything, Mr. Davis was the first "team first" owner in the NFL, because he didn't care about race, behavior, and other things, so long as the team won, because if the team wins, then that would imply that the players have done their job.

For those who don't know, the NFL had been a deeply biased league for many decades until the American Football League came along and turned those biases on their head, because it turned out that many fans would watch AFL games (aka, "The Freedom League"), regardless of whether the players were black, white, or none of the above.

Remember what I said about enlightenment needing to come from the audience?

Until then, the NFL just treated players as "numbers not names" to paraphrase many country musicians (i.e. Hank Williams, Roger Miller), and would not print names on jerseys.  So for those of you wearing the jersey of your favorite football player, you have people like Al Davis to thank for that.

Tuck This

The analogy between the Raiders and Patriots is a deliberate one. 

I do believe that the best opinion is a combination of objectivity and subjectivity, because if you don't have a personal stake in the opinion, then why have it?  At the same time, you must be careful to not carelessly disregard valid points made by others.

I say that, because for some time now, I have seen an inextricable link between the fortunes of the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.

For you Pat fans out there, I don't blame the Patriots for the woes of the Raiders.  I don't think you can deny however that the "Tuck Rule Game" symbolizes a point in NFL history where the fortunes of two clubs went in paradoxical directions.

Before then, the Patriots had been a mediocre team that had been seen as a push over, while the Raiders had long been feared and hated (sometimes irrationally) by the rest of the league.  Now, it's vice versa.

Ask not have you forgotten, ask what can be remembered

Everyone has a personal story related to their sports passion and here is mine.

In September of 2001, I travelled to New England to visit relatives.  In retrospect, I think it is funny that I asked my great uncle what he thought of the Patriots, and well, he didn't have choice words to say.

Ironically (at least in my mind), the Patriots would win the Super Bowl that year, in a season that of course included the, "Tuck Rule Game."

That September of course was when the Trade Towers and Pentagon were attacked.  At the age of 18, I like many others had to contemplate the purpose of what we choose to do and how important it truly is.

I had wanted to move to New York and be a writer and comedian.  Instead, I have spent many years since either babbling and brainstorming, sometimes desperately and sometimes to the chagrin of the other person.

Well, I'm selling myself short.  But that's what I do, because I try to inform or enlighten without making it all about me.  I self-deprecate, because I aim to embolden the other person with some confidence to think for themselves.

When you're a teen, youth tends to empower you with the meaning of life.  Not to sound conceited, but I had that sense on the meaning of life dramatically altered on and after September 11, 2001.

I think I was forced to "get old" when I was still 18.  It was easy to get caught in a loop of being jaded by life.

By the way, I spun the JFK qote, "Ask not..." just to give my take on it and apply it to the recent times, not to take away from what it means to someone else.

The Price of Loyalty

Until then, I had been a passive football fan (at best).

I grew up in the Bay Area, so if you weren't at least a fair-weather fan of the 49ers...then you were a Cowboys fan.  I didn't know any Raider fans for many years.  Ironically, that included my dad.  He had been a fan of Joe Montana, which led to a brief period of being a Chiefs fan (I have photographic evidence of that).

I should add however that, he had been a fan of Montana from the beginning.  After the 49ers finished 6-10 in 1980 and the Niners loaded up on d-backs in the Draft, my dad convinced my uncle to buy season tickets together.

So they waited all night one night to buy season tickets.  It even showed-up in the San Jose Mercury.  Turned out, my uncle used his credit card to buy the tickets and then turned around and stiffed my dad, because my uncle started dating.

So think about that for a second.  My dad was one of the few that believed in the 49ers in 1980 (which did not include my uncle).  Instead of being able to see "The Catch" that year, he was forced to endure the bragging about how much money my uncle was making by selling season, postseason, and Super Bowl tickets.

For about 15 years.

Fear Not

The first I really learned of the fact that my dad had been a lifelong Raider fan was 1997 when I was 14—you know, the 4-12 season of Joe Bugel.

Not an easy time to be a Raider fan.

One of the things that seemed to keep him loyal was seeing the Raiders beat the Broncos, which the Raiders did that year.  That is also one of the things that keeps my going: Seeing the Raiders beat the Broncos. 

I should say however that until the year 2000, even I had been intimidated by the appearance of the Black Hole.  I had even made jokes along with the hosts of the KDON morning show about the Raiders and a Raider fan who called once called in to claim, "They might not be there, but they're gonna be there!"

Huh?

Back then, it was easy to be consumed by fear. 

I was a freshman in high school and decided to leave for home-schooling, because I had been afraid of some poser that made many threats against me for wearing blue shirts.  Moreover, the school environment was a hostile one to say the least, where the detonation of explosives was a daily occurrence.

There would also be a bomb threat near the end of that school year.

I had felt justified in my fear in March of 1998 after the Jonesboro school shooting in Arkansas, and of course, the Columbine school shooting in April of 1999.  I later learned that much of my fear was just false perception, instilled by some wannabe gang-banger.

It is easy however to feel justified by fear by what you see on the news.

The theme here however is that fear is mostly perception.  I had been intimidated by the appearance of the Black Hole, because I was just projecting fear.  I think that is at least a small lesson to learn after the events of September 11, 2001.

"The only thing you have to fear is fear itself."  I had been jaded by life, until what's this?  A group of veterans that had been written off as decrepit were defying the perceptions.

Of course, I'm referring to Rich Gannon, Tim Brown, and Jerry Rice. 

I know that Gannon's reputation amongst Raider fans is sketchy at best, but you can't deny the resilience he had to bounce around from team to team for years.  Tim Brown had wallowed in obscurity for years as the main weapon for a wayward club, yet never acted like Terrell Owens would in later years.  Jerry Rice refused to quit, even though he could have easily retired with much contentment on his career.

So what was my excuse to be in a funk?

Remember what I said about how psychiatry is a matter of getting someone to want something else that is not destructive? 

Back then, I do believe that I wanted to be afraid.  The world made more sense, because fear is "arithmetic" not "geometric,"—to steal by re-purposing an idea I boosted from The Daily Show .

The ability to react to fear, strangely instills a person with meaning.  When there is a clear and present danger, then that means an opportunity to be a hero, or to wallow in self-pity and drama.

Thus, I had to replace the fear with something else, otherwise the feeling of emptiness would take over, and I would be right back to where I started.

What could I replace fear with that would be constructive?  Took a note from George Constanza and used reverse psychology on myself.  At that point, I realized that for many years I had disliked love songs, and in some cases, mocked them.

To be as trite as I can possibly be, all I needed was love.  And the one song that stood out as "real" without being too sappy was "Better Days," by Bruce Springsteen.

Believe it or Not

To rewind a bit, I had had an online encounter in December of 2001, in which I was messaged by someone who wanted to know about the joke behind the name "HAL" in 2001: A Space Odyssey , because I had listed that movie as a favorite on an AOL profile.

I didn't know that at the time, but it kicked off an online relationship that has lasted ever since, even though we've never met in person.  Here's the kicker: she is a Patriots fan.

Oh, cruel and paradoxical fate!

I have claimed many reasons for why I became interested in blogging, and why I think there is a greater good to it.  But remember what I said about objectivity and subjectivity?

In a year vaunted as symbolic of the future and human potential (or lack thereof) and yet everything seemed uncertain, one thing became certain.

Some would probably call me a rabble-rouser and an attention whore.  I would say that that is not entirely accurate. 

Though I have made some controversial claims, I would only do so if I truly believed it.  With that said however, I would hope for the added benefit that it would come to the attention of someone with the power to elevate me to where I could gain her love.  That somehow, someone would take a little pity on my perceived plight and allow me to ascend to that which I most wanted.

To leave you then with a haunting and humorous cliff-hanger. 

She's now a news editor for a Warren Buffet company in the New York media.

Oh, cruel and paradoxical fate!

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