New Raider Walker fails as a leaderThirty or so years ago, when they were at their best, the Raiders cultivated an image of raging outlaws, downing shots and tossing bar stools six days a week, saving the seventh for kicking opposing butts.
But the image overplayed one facet at the expense of another. Though they partied hard and broke more than their share of laws and rules, they also had a reservoir of strength in two significant areas: Talent and leadership.
The current Raiders might be desperate to recapture the glory of old, but they don't seem to be as clear on the concept.
Oh, they're gathering talent. Al Davis has spent recent months on an unprecedented binge, collecting expensive players from Pro Bowls (DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker), Super Bowls (Gibril Wilson), Cotton Bowls (Darren McFadden at Arkansas) and Seattle Bowls (Kwame Harris at Stanford).
The new members join a quarterback taken first overall in 2007, an offensive lineman taken No. 2 overall in '04, a Pro Bowl defensive end and, knock me over, the second-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL.
The development and unification of the roster, though, requires Part 2 of the equation. The complicated part.
Which is where Walker was supposed to help.
Despite coming off knee surgery and being dumped by his last team, the new wide receiver represented leadership on a unit starving for it. The massive contract he signed implied as much, and his veteran status put him among the few who could even
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