What Value Does Derek Hagan Add to the Raiders?

In seven seasons with Buffalo, Miami, and New York Giants, Derek Hagan has accumulated 109 receptions, 1221 yards, and six touchdowns.

Today's signing of veteran wideout Derek Hagan may not ease the tense nerves of Raider fans worried about having a shortage of capable receivers when the season kicks off against San Diego.

Yet I see this recent acquisition as one dealing into a more spiritual X's and O's than a physical one if you will.  What is meant by this is, just as performance is a major and important part of having a successful season, so is maturity and understanding.

It is also important to have a strong, smart, healthy, and kind, even loving, again if you will, locker room. It is in the locker room that even the most talented and most capable teams begin to fall apart.  Where dimensions begin to take form and inroads begin to be paved.  Where one players bad attitude, especially from a veteran, against the philosophy of the head or any which one of his coordinators can spoil the attitudes of others.

Because the Oakland coaching staff has tremenedous experience in this truth, I believe it is for that very reason a veteran player like Hagan was signed.

From comments made by Hagan himself and other various columnists, he is a player that does not let his production determine his view of the game or importance for preparation. In regards to all the time regular fans but especially players are spending playing the recent release of the latest Madden NFL, Hagan was quoted as saying, "I don't play X-Box too much. I do, but there's no reason. We're in training camp, and you shouldn't even be playing video games. You got to get your study time in. This is my job, this is my profession and it's something I love to do. I try to stick what I do best and that's playing football."

Every team needs a mature veteran player such as Hagan to help conform the minds and inherantly egotistical mindset of many young players, who enter into the league and continue to cultivate, that only players like Hagan and slices of humble pie can help curve.

In the end, much like the Julio signing, the value of this acquisition will be found in the subtle truths of football that are shadowed from the average fans view by large numbers.  For Derek Hagan though, even if he is lacking in numbers, yet he may have realized at a better age than most that no one can take their numbers with them into retirement, as much as some may try, yet you can take wisdom.

Posted in: Derek,Derek Hagan,Hagan,Oakland,Oakland Raiders,Raiders