Throughout Jason Campbell’s second chance as Raiders starting quarterback, coach Tom Cable has steadfastly said the job would be Bruce Gradkowski’s when the Polish Popgun was healthy again.
A three-game winning streak has a way of changing things.
“I really haven’t wavered, but ... when you’re dealing it and you’ve got the hot hand, and things are going in the right direction for your football team, you know, why would you make a change?” Cable said via the San Francisco Chronicle. “That’s what I think right now.”
So, um . . . that’s wavering.
“But in the back of my mind, I also say, ‘It’s not really making a change. He was a starter before I made the change with Bruce, and he’s kind of come back and done a lot of good things for our team,’” Cable said.
Cable doesn’t need to justify the move. Jacoby Ford may have helped Campbell out in a B- effort in the Chiefs game, but Campbell played well in wins the two weeks before. He’s getting the job done without his best receivers. The part that Gradkowski supporters seem to miss: He’s coming back from a serious shoulder injury and had a weak arm before.
It’s uncertain if Gradkowski will even be ready for Oakland’s Week Eleven trip to Pittsburgh when the Raiders come off a bye. Cable won’t make his official decision until the team reconvenes in six days, but it’s clear which way he’s leaning.
We don’t blame him.