Watching the 9ers makes me believe in Pryor

[NCOUGHMAN]

[Silver&Black88]

He didn't really tip his hand either way, so right now we're up to interpretation. He did say TP threw he ball well and did make a conscious effort to re-iterate how he thought that skill was more important than being a dual threat. I took his POV as similar to mine: Doesn't expect much out of Pryor, but isn't going to write him off either. Hopefully TP gets the chances he deserves, which to me is the #2 spot and maybe some specific package kind of work.

[NCOUGHMAN]

[Silver&Black88]

[holyghost]

Noone even mentioned the part where he said straight out Pryor is the #2, and that Leinart is essentially gone. When talking about Leinart, it sounded like there was no indication whatsoever he would be resigned. So you can look as deep as you want into the Pryor stuff, but remember what he says about Pryor is at worst lukewarm, while what he says about Leinart is pretty much ice cold. And it is pretty clear he still sees Palmer as the starter straight away.

[JTagg7754]

[JTagg7754]

[oakdb36]

[Nodisrespect]

[Chali21]

[Darkness]

[Silver&Black88]

[Nodisrespect]

[holyghost]

Are you guys really this naive? I don't think so, come on...

Of course he says competition is open. Why would anyone not say that for a 4-12 team. He doesn't want anyone getting comfortable, and if better competition is available for any slot why would a GM ever overlook that?

But if you look just a hair deeper, beyond the surface platitiudes any GM would put forth, he says things.

He responds to questions about Palmer and his health straight away, as if responding about a player who is a key part of the team. He states straight out Pryor is currently #2, even though after that he adds the usual "open competition line", which is always true for every GM. He talks about Leinart as if he is a non factor entirely..

I am not saying anything is a guarantee, and that is exactly what RM is saying. But just a little bit of reading between the lines and it shows some of what is planned. As of now, Pryor #2, Palmer #1, that much is quite clear. And whether or not a better option comes along, if one does McKenzie would take it. So would any GM. But where we find and try to predict what he "will do", comes along with what he "can do". Little options out there for this team right now as far as adding other, better, quarterbacks. Not no options, but few. Really. I mean FA is not flush with premier options, we know the guy doesn't want to shed more picks for an addition, and our draft cupboard is still pretty limited. Overall it's a high likelihood this is your #1 and #2 of 2013 unless an upgrade option emerges from out of the blue. I know it's not what alot of you want to hear, and we all have our own ideas, but there's a reality guys like RM have to deal with in order to manage a team for long term. A fan cannot often see that reality from their arm chair, and everyone likes to have their own opinions of what "should" happen.


You also have to take into account the kind of posturing a GM must engage in to protect team interests. Such as the part with McFadden. Sure, he's identifying what he does and saying he's staying. That doesn't mean a trade couldn't happen. It just means he can't as a GM tip his hand about anything. It's RM's job to do anything he can do to maintain a guy's value to the Raiders. Most of what he says to the press has to be a balance between the truth needed to satisfy fans, and white lies needed to do his own job in managing both his own players and their value to other teams.

Everything McKenzie says has to be a calculated statement in order to protect all the interests that go along with his job.

[Silver&Black88]