A long-standing joke in the NFL is that the Oakland Raiders are immediately interested in any physically-gifted player, regardless of off-field risk.

Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group writes that ever since the team jettisoned wide receiver Randy Moss in 2007--after Moss openly quit on the team in 2006--those days appear over, and points to the team's lack of interest in Santonio Holmes as evidence of that.

"You still read about the Raiders being the natural destination for any player who has issues with law enforcement or behavioral problems. But as their disinterest in Santonio Holmes illustrates, the Raiders aren’t looking for renegades anymore.

Holmes is the kind of player the old-style Raiders would have pursued in a heartbeat. A young, speedy receiver at his peak who was a standout in the Super Bowl. A difference-maker who gets in trouble from time to time and is considered of questionable character.

The word is Holmes was shopped all over the league, and all the Jets had to give up was a fifth-round draft pick.

The Raiders, or anyone else, could have had Holmes with a better offer."

Now, if they could start avoiding workout warriors in the draft, they might start to resemble an NFL franchise again.