Can It Get Any Worse?

It's pointless to say, but current Bay Area NFL sports is the not the apex of the endearing fans eyes. Nor ears, for that matter.

It would be selfish to ask for the kind of success that New Egland is currently experiencing. However, due to the lows that our beloved 49ers and Raiders are currently experiencing, Bay Area fans would probably accept Laverne and Shirley reruns at this point.

The 49ers who started out the season with playoff expectations have regressed into a black hole, and literally can't find their way out of. After two encouraging opening wins, and even an inspirational loss to a better Pittsburgh team, the 49ers have not only lost sight of the playoffs, but perhaps they have loss sight of their identity.

While losing most of their games for ther past two seasons, the 49ers could at least save grace in knowing that they were not quitters. Plus, they had confidence that Mike Nolan had a plan for them, so they could look forward to the future.

This was supposed to be the season where Nolan's plan would materialize. This would be the year that 49er fans had waited for; to see their team return to contention, and compete for the playoffs.

Instead, the 49ers current status has them looking like the most disappointing team in the NFL. There are questions about the ability of Alex Smith; questions about Mike Nolan's leadership ability, and for the first time in their relationship there appears to be dissention among the head coach and starting quarterback. Can it get any worse? You bet. Their first round draft pick, which will probably be within the first 5 picks, belongs to New England, courtesy of a trade Nolan made based on his belief that his team was worthy of the playoffs this year. The moral of this team may be at its lowest since the Joe Thomas years?

The Raiders on the other hand, did not have lofty playoff expectations. They figured that they would endure another losing season, but it would be different. With Lane Kiffon at the controls, and by drafting JaMarcus Russell, the Raiders had reason for hope.

I'm sure the Raiders and their fans still have hope for the future, but this season has still been tough to stomach. While the defense has kept them in most of their games, the offensive line and their receivers have been absymal. If not for all the offensive line holding calls, and dropped passes the Raiders could easily be a 4 -4, or even 5 -4 team competing for the playoffs. Last week, the defense cost the team by giving up a late touchdown to Rex Grossman, of all people, but the blame thus far sits with the ineptness of the offense.

Lane Kiffon, although the youngest NFL headcoach, does not get a free pass either. Daunte Culpepper has been more productive at the quarterback position than Josh McCown, when given the chance. Again, referring back to the offensive line and receivers, both those groups have not only cos the tean wins, but they have cost Culpepper playing time. Kiffon should not have benched Culpepper in favor of McCown, recently. Culpepper had played well enough to merit keeping the starting QB position, and all Kiffon has done by rotating the QBs is create a laughable siutation.

Culpepper is signed with Raiders only through this season. With the Raiders so heavily invested into Russell, the proven Culpepper most likely will sign somewhere else next season.

Although the 49ers and Raiders both have time to use the remainder of the season to build for their futures, their current states could become worse. The 49ers situation is close to becoming dangerous, especially for both Mike Nolan and Alex Smith, regarding their future fates with the team. How both of them, and the team performs in the next seven games can affect the team's future for the next 3 - 5 years. The Raiders situations is not so tenuous. Their siutation can become worse, but they know their future rests with Russell; plus they most likely will have a top ten first round pick next year, unlike the slowly disintegrading 49ers.