1. The Oakland Raiders face the Seattle Seahawks at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday. What are your three keys to the game?
2. Football teams have different approaches when it comes to preparing for a game overseas. The Raiders departed Thursday night and ran around on Friday morning with a walk-through and media availability. Do you feel like the Raiders’ travel plans will affect the outcome of their upcoming game?
3. The Raiders’ injury list obviously wasn’t as long as the 49ers’ injury list, but Marshawn Lynch was limited during Thursday’s practice. Various sources said the Seahawks miss Lynch and mentioned that Bobby Wagner couldn’t wait to tackle Lynch. If Lynch ends up not playing, would that have an effect on the Raiders’ offense?
4. #RaiderNation has gone global over the years in London, Mexico City, Barcelona and Tokyo. A saying was coined a few years ago: “The world’s team.” Do you feel like the Raiders are the world’s team and do you think they should play games in any other countries?
Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Oakland Raiders podcasts each Friday for SportsRadioService.com
1. The 49ers are coming off a rough 28-18 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and the best is yet to come as the 49ers travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. What are your three keys to the game?
2. DeForest Buckner told the media that he was excited to go up against Aaron Rodgers for the first time at Lambeau Field. Should Buckner also be nervous about Rodgers and the Packers?
3. The 49ers’ injuries have reached a point that Kyle Shanahan has never seen before. Marquise Goodwin will return to the field, which will give C.J. Beathard a key target downfield, but what else has to happen so the 49ers’ offense will tread water against the Packers?
4. The 49ers invited the National Champions of Mexico to Levi’s Stadium to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. What are your thoughts on this special invitation?
#1 The 49ers are the walking wounded after last Sunday’s 29-27 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson. The 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey (left knee), right guard Mike Person (sprained foot), center Weston Richburg (knee), Joe Staley scheduled for an MRI it was first thought Staley had a torn ACL, but was examined on Monday.
The 49ers released this list of injured players to the media on Monday:
T Joe Staley — Knee. Will be questionable this week.
S Jaquiski Tartt — Shoulder. Expected to return this week.
DL Solomon Thomas — Shoulder sprain. Should be good to go.
#2 The 49ers tight end George Kittle had 125 yards, six catches and an 82-yard reception. It was noted that it was the longest reception in 49ers history, left linebacker Fred Warner had 10 tackles a career-high in a game for Warner.
#3 How big is this game at Levi’s for quarterback C.J. Beathard after throwing for 298 yards going 23-37, two touchdowns and two interceptions can he do it again?
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans inducted former Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones to the San Jose Spartan Athletics Hall of Fame during halftime of their 2018 Homecoming Game versus the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors inside CEFCU Stadium.
Photo credit: @AnaKieu
Of course, Jones was honored to be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, but there’s more to the 34-year-old than you’d think and I’m not only saying because I’m a longtime Packers fan. Jones was born and raised in San Jose, Calif. to a poverty-stricken family. Jones lived in many homeless shelters with his mother before he lived with his paternal grandmother during his high school years at Gunderson High School, where he played three sports: basketball, track and field, and football. Jones later earned the quarterback MVP honors in his senior year at GHS.
Unlike some other football prospects, Jones chose to stay close to home and fine-tuned his existing skills at San Jose State University with the much-needed help of wide-out coach Keith “K-Dub” Williams. Jones played college football at SJSU for three years before entering the 2007 NFL Draft, where he was drafted 78th overall by the Packers in the third round. Jones had two stints with the Green and Gold–one from 2007-2013 and the other in 2015. Jones seized a Super Bowl XLV championship ring following the Packers’ 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 6, 2011.
Jones announced his retirement on September 6, 2017. After that, Jones became a NFL Network analyst.
Jones posted pretty good statistics in both stints with the Green and Gold. In the regular season, Jones had 45 touchdowns, 5195 yards and 360 receiving yards in 120 games and 62 games started. In the postseason, Jones had four touchdowns, 491 yards and 35 receiving yards in 13 games and six games started.
PORTLAND, OREGON-The San Jose SaberCats (3-3) look to get back to winning ways tonight and end their three game losing streak as they face the equally struggling Portland Thunder (0-5). This is the second match up between the two this year, with the Cats taking the first win easily 64-34. Portland has yet to find its first win, on the season and of team history. San Jose squeaked out a win, 38-32, handing the Thunder their fifth consecutive loss. The Thunder made it interesting though, battling until the end and looking nothing like a team who hasn’t won a game this season.
The Thunder struggled early, with three straight turnovers that looked to dictate the game; however minutes later, Portland opened the scoring after capitalizing on a San Jose fumble, fueling their energy and giving them momentum. Multiple turnovers and miscues provided to an ugly period, which ended 7-0 with Portland on top. The Cats were unable to find the score sheet, but got on the board early in the second to cut the deficit to 10-3. Every loose ball seemed to find the Thunder, but the Cats remained persistent and ended the half down 19-14.
San Jose came out on fire in the second half. Nathan Stanley came in briefly to relieve Russ Michna, and completed his first possession for a touchdown to Doug Williams. Coming back into the game, Michna took matters into his own hands and ran it himself for a touchdown to give the Cats their first lead of the game. Michna’s TD took the game into the fourth with a tight score of 31-25.
Portland answered in a hurry, giving themselves an early one point lead in the fourth. After trading scores, San Jose went up 38-32 with just under five minutes to go in the game. Portland pressed hard at the end of the fourth, looking as though they would tie the game, but an incomplete attempt on fourth down lead to the final turnover of the game and a SaberCats victory. With the win, San Jose has snapped their 3-game losing streak to improve to an even record of 3-3 on the season.
Russ Michna threw 12 for 29 with 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. In his brief appearance, Nathan Stanley went 1 for 1 with 22 yards and one touchdown. Newcomer Doug Williams had 108 receiving yards for two touchdowns. When asked about his first game as a SaberCat, Williams responded “I’m just happy we got the win. I had to be patient, wait my time to get here.” On his chemistry with Michna throughout the game, the wide receiver praised his QB, “he always has a great touch on the ball. It’s easy to catch a ball from Russ”
San Jose heads to LA next weekend to take on the LA Kiss on Saturday April 26th at 7pm. The Kiss are currently second in the National Conference with a 2-2 record, sitting behind the reigning champions, Arizona Rattlers.
SAN JOSE, CA–Fresh off their convincing week one win over the newly formed Portland Thunder, the San Jose SaberCats cruised to an easy 70-33 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Soul late Sunday afternoon. In his very first start of his AFL career, Rookie Nathan Stanley impressed the Cats faithful with a spectacular game. Stanley completed 18 of 28, for 249 yards with 6 TDs and zero interceptions. Head coach Darren Arbet had nothing but praise for his QB, saying “this game is made for him right now.” Stanley admitted to having pre-game jitters in his AFL starting debut, especially since he did not anticipate getting into the game so quickly in the season. After starting QB Russ Michna suffered concussion symptoms after the first game of the season, Stanley was told to be ready, and was given the start.
After giving up an early TD, the SaberCats bounced back to finish the first quarter 14-7. The two traded scores in the second quarter, and ended after the Soul pressured hard and earned a touchdown that carried the game into the half with the home team up by a small margin of 35-27. The rookie QB continued to impress, at the end of the second quarter, Stanley had thrown for four touchdowns, 123 yards and no interceptions. San Jose’s impressive defense gave the rookie the chance he needed to put his team ahead. “It’s really comforting to be able to rely on my defense, especially as a new QB”, Stanley said.
The third and fourth were all Cats. San Jose held the Soul completely scoreless in the third and the majority of the fourth. Newcomer Reggie Gray lit up the score sheet in the second half. After just one 24-yard touchdown in the first half, Gray posted 53 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second. Gray had 46 touchdowns last year with the Chicago Rush, and so far has wasted no time bringing those stats to San Jose. When asked about his home debut with the team, Gray stated “the atmosphere here was amazing. There were a few jitters but it’s special to be a part of such a great team”.
In their season opener last week, Philadelphia’s Derrick Ross instantly made a name for himself in their thrilling overtime loss to the defending AFL champions, Arizona Rattlers. Ross posted an impressive six touchdowns, with 12 carries for 46 yards. In week two, the SaberCats held him to only 34 yards with one touchdown.
With just a minute left in the game, Philadelphia managed to break through the SaberCats’ defense and cut the ever-growing lead down to 70-33.
San Jose heads to Pennsylvania next Saturday, looking to continue their strong start to the season against the Pittsburg Power, who were 4-14 last season.
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