"If Darren McFadden stays healthy? Is it even possible? The Raiders, again relevant? Yep. Could happen. We might start talking about an Al Davis team competing for the postseason again. The fans might start selling out the Coliseum again. And the conversation about the NFL's best running backs might be expanded to include a four-year veteran whose career to date has been relatively unremarkable.

If not a Bay Area bust in the category of JaMarcus Russell and Alex Smith – and the latter is a functioning NFL player, at the very least – McFadden is the potential Raiders superstar that time – and the fans – seemed to forget. This is the runner-up to Heisman winner Tim Tebow in 2007, the NFL's fourth overall draft choice in 2008, the dual-purpose back who repeatedly has offered hints of brilliance, only to stub his toe. Or fracture an orbital bone. Or bruise a shoulder. Or strain his groin."