2006 Oakland Raiders Gambling

by Eric Williams

I am definitely a firm believer in second chances. Heck, sometimes, even thirds. I’ve lived a life where I could have used a second chance or two, as have most people. I don’t think there’s a person alive who doesn’t contemplate every now and then, “What if?”

Having said that, I am more than willing to give quarterback Aaron Brooks an opportunity to take the reins as the starting quarterback for the 2006 season.

However, I am going on record too say that I also think the Raiders made an absolutely huge mistake by not selecting former USC quarterback, Matt Leinart with the seventh overall selection of this year’s draft when the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback unexpectedly fell into their laps.

Let’s be honest, Brooks is definitely a serviceable quarterback. Whether he is still a starting caliber quarterback, remains to be seen. I’m not necessarily sold on the fact that he’s not a first string quarterback anymore, but I certainly wouldn’t bet the farm that he is - and by letting Leinart, who could potentially become a star one day, go to another team, that is exactly what the Raiders have done.

To be honest about it, I am surprised that head coach Art Shell didn’t select Leinart to take over as the new leader of the Raiders’ offense for his second tenure. Instead, he has entrusted the stability of the franchise, at least, offensively, into the hands of Brooks, who may or may not be the answer to the Raiders’ quarterback prayers.

Brooks, who replaces the disappointing, Kerry Collins, will however have some competition from backups, Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo.

"Right now Aaron Brooks is the guy," Shell said in an interview. "He's starting at the No. 1 spot going in. We're still going to take a look at what we have. You've got to have somebody start out, so he's the guy who's starting out."

Although Shell didn’t give Brooks what amounted to a ringing endorsement as the starting quarterback, Brooks expected to compete for the position from the moment he signed with the Raiders.

"I come in thinking I'm going to have to compete anyway, nothing is given, so with that mindset I'm just going to continue to go out there and work hard, do the best I can, and let the coaches make that decision," Brooks said.

Now, I have to admit that, at only 29 years of age, I think it is entirely possible that Brooks could flourish with the Raiders and go from being a capable quarterback to being a superstar.

However, there are a lot of intangibles that would go into making that happen, although it’s not entirely impossible. In Layman’s term’s, after a few years in any profession, a player is what is he is and there is no changing him.

Brooks posted pedestrian numbers last season when he started 13 games for the lame duck New Orleans Saints, completing 240 of 431 passes for 2,882 yards and 13 touchdowns, to go along with 17 interceptions.

In his defense, I will admit that the Saints were a mess last season and suffered immensely for a natural disaster that they obviously had no control over.

Brooks, a fourth-round draft pick by the Packers out of Virginia in 1999 spent the past six seasons with the Saints after playing for Green Bay in his first NFL campaign. He had started 82 straight games before being benched for the final three games of 2005.

He is certainly mobile and has a strong arm, my problems with Brooks lies between the ears. His decision making, which was on full display for his infamous backwards pass thrown to an offensive lineman in a 2004 loss in San Diego, is what bothers me at times. He has been the target of criticism from the New Orleans fans many times over and doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest when he throws an interception, which is what angered legions of Saints fans and has kep him from breaking into the elite circle of quarterbacks.

Time will tell if Brooks has what it takes between the ears to succeed as a starting quarterback in the NFL – and the Raiders had better pray that he does.

Walter is a third-round pick out of Arizona State who didn't play last year as a rookie and although he threw for 85 touchdowns and 10,617 yards during his college career, this isn’t college anymore.

Veteran backup, Marques Tuiasosopo is entering his sixth NFL season, but he has only nine regular-season appearances and two starts to his credit. I wonder why. Probably because that’s exactly what he is – a career backup - not that that’s anything to be ashamed of. Heck, I’d take his paycheck over mine any day.

Brooks can be downright spectacular at times, but has to clear up his decision-making issues in order to help a Raiders team that scored only 51 points, with just six touchdowns, in their final five games and lost their last six consecutive games and eight out of nine despite an offense featuring Randy Moss, LaMont Jordan and Jerry Porter.

If Brooks isn’t the answer, Shell could be in for a tough time – right along with Brooks.

Eric Williams is a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun and syndicated freelance writer who can be heard every Wednesday at 3:15pm EST on www.BetUSradio.com. Contact Eric at [email protected].

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