I’ll gladly admit that it’s a little unfair to call an NFL player a bust after only one season. Although he had an awful year after being chosen with the 7th overall selection in the 2009 NFL draft, it remains to be seen if Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey will emerge as a top pass-catching threat.
We’ve already told you how we feel about Heyward-Bey’s potential (or lack thereof) at the professional level. So far, we’re right. Al Davis, on the other hand, seems to think we’ll be wrong in the long run and he even went so far as to have a press release drawn up informing the public of how well Heyward-Bey has been performing at practice this off-season.
After rattling off a list of receivers that have played for the Raiders that includes Randy Moss, Jerry Rice, and Tim Brown among others, here’s what the Raiders press release said about their young receiver:
Now Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Raiders’ top pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, is prepping to join that select group. Heyward-Bey has enjoyed a workmanlike offseason where he has put in time and energy to prepare for his second NFL campaign, when many of those whose names mentioned blossomed in professional football competition.
The list of wide receivers should make any pundit or so-called expert think twice before putting negativity on Heyward-Bey. No one has come close to the excellence at wide receivers that have worn the Silver and Black. These performers have been the greatest players who have ever played the game.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not surprised by anything that Al Davis does or oversees anymore. But what’s the point of saying all this? Yes, Heyward-Bey is very young and has plenty of time to prove himself. It also should help that he no longer has JaMarcus Russell throwing to him. The only thing I can think of is that the second-year receiver has a pretty significant confidence issue. If not, there’s no reason the Raiders shouldn’t just remain quiet and let his play do the talking. All they’ve done now is set themselves up to look ridiculous for putting this much effort into letting the public know they should be on the look-out for No. 12 this season. Then again, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time.
Sources:
Raiders don rose-colored glasses for Heyward-Bey [Pro Football Talk]
Raiders say `I told you so’ on DHB [Inside The Oakland Raiders]
