FODDER: Raiders show signs of life after drafting Pryor

Sports fodder for a Friday morning . . . Finally. A sign of life in Oakland. You may or may not applaud the Raiders' pick of former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the recent NFL supplemental draft but at least it shows they are still paying attention. The pick of Pryor (it cost them a third round pick in next year's draft) could be a steal. The kid is 6-foot-6, weighs 240 pounds and can run like the wind (4.36 in the 40-yard dash). Will he turn out to be a fat and lazy bust like JaMarcus Russell? Doubtful. Russell was the top pick in the draft. He was handed the starting job. Pryor still has a lot to prove. The former Buckeye memorabilia salesman could play quarterback, wide receiver or tight end in the NFL. And it's not like the Raiders are set at quarterback for the next decade.

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The last quarterback to be drafted by the Raiders and play well for the organization for more than a few games was Marc Wilson out of BYU. That was three decades ago. You could argue that the Raiders have drafted just one quarterback in the franchise's long history who actually turned out to be a great player for the Silver & Black. That was Kenny Stabler, who was drafted in 1968. Daryle Lamonica was drafted by the Buffalo Bills (AFL) and Green Bay Packers (NFL). Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon were picked by the New England Patriots. So, yes, the Raiders' track record of drafting successful NFL quarterbacks is rather spotty at best. But, hey, at least they keep on trying.

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The San Francisco 49ers didn't allow Colin Kaepernick to do much against the Raiders last week. The ex-Pack quarterback tossed eight short and simple passes and handed off 15 times in the second half in the 17-3 victory. It's rather obvious he's not getting any chance whatsoever to be the starter this year. But as soon as he learns how to avoid a pass rush and get rid of the ball (he's been sacked six times in four quarters of work so far) he should become a very solid backup quarterback who can come in and manage a game this season.

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If last Tuesday's scrimmage is any indication, it looks like the option might not be more than an afterthought in the Pack's pistol offense this year with Tyler Lantrip at quarterback. We shouldn't put much stock in a scrimmage on a Tuesday afternoon but Lantrip will have to prove this season that he is indeed fast enough to turn the corner on the option or else the pistol will turn into a bunch of off-tackle and up-the-middle running plays and Lantrip dropping back into the pocket.

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Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers will be a college basketball assistant coach at Memphis this season as long as the NBA lockout lasts. That should give the Nevada Wolf Pack some ideas. What about Nick Fazekas returning to the Pack as an assistant coach? The 26-year-old Fazekas, who played a dozen games for the Reno Bighorns last year before an injury ended his season, would be a wonderful addition to the Pack. No athlete in the history of college sports (at any university) ever got as much out of his athletic ability as Fazekas. He'd be an incredible coach. And it might be time to start grooming the next Pack head coach before David Carter gets an offer he can't refuse from a SEC school.

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Do we really need to start playing high school football games in August? The Nevada prep football season begins tonight. Classes haven't even started yet. What's the rush? The Nevada prep football season ends too soon (in late November for most classes and early December for Class 4A). The Nevada high school basketball season also ends way too soon (late February). The same is true for the spring sports seasons, which end a couple weeks before the end of the school year. There's no reason to start playing games before classes have started.

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The Chicago Cubs are looking for a new general manager. Theo Epstein would be crazy to turn down the job if the Cubs are indeed smart enough (the jury is still out on that one) to offer it to him. Epstein, who has brought two World Series titles to the Boston Red Sox, would be considered the greatest GM in the history of sports if he did the same with the Cubs. Heck, he could run for mayor in Chicago if he'd merely get the Cubs to the Series. Epstein has nothing left to accomplish in Boston. He needs to go to Chicago.