FanHouse DeAngleo Hall

Last season, the Raiders paid DeAngleo Hall $8 million for eight weeks of service before cutting bait. Not the best use of the salary cap, but it makes sense when put in perspective: Oakland has had four coaches, four quarterbacks and 16 wins in four years. Blowing $8 million on Hall is nothing.

Hall wasn't out of work long; he signed with the Redskins and played well enough to get a long-term deal (apparently, leaving Oakland is good for your career).

Road Chalk and Alaskan Pipelines is Will Brinson's NFL gambling column at FanHouse. Because everyone loves a loser.

And what a loser I narrowly avoided being. Or, alternately, "7-9 doesn't make me that big of a loser". Even if Brandon Lang went 2-1. The real problem though, is that I didn't just stick with my "Take All the Favorites" philosophy, which would have netted me an 10-6 week (and would have been 11 if not for that whole Tom Brady thing.)

So, yeah: Season Record (6-10)

I also figure I'm going to pick three STONE COLD TUNGSTEN PIPERS (caps for effect!) each week. Those will be highlighted by an asterisk. And I suppose it would be unfair to go back and pick them for Week 1. I know, I know. It seems silly. But if I get ice cold/white hot, you should make some money. And that's all that matters.

Remember, each week is a season unto itself ... or some crappy motivational phrase like. Anything to make me forget a sub-.500 Week 1.