George Atkinson III Should Make the Oakland Raiders

What will the Oakland Raiders do with George Atkinson III?

With all the nepotism that goes on in sports, the Raiders are going in the opposite direction of it. Atkinson, the son of Raiders legend George Atkinson, hasn’t gotten a break with the team. It looks like he’s the new Louis Rankin of 2016.

How many of you remember him?

It seemed like every year from around 2008 to 2011, Rankin came in and killed it every preseason. He would make big plays, lead the Raiders in rushing in the preseason, and end up not making the final roster cuts. But the Raiders always brought him back on the practice squad later.

You can understand that with Rankin but we’re talking about a guy whose father is a Raiders legend. Latavius Murray is a returning 1,000-yard rusher and starter while fifth-round pick DeAngelo Washington does third downs.

Then you have Taiwan Jones, Jalen Richard and Atkinson battling it out for the third running back spot. Atkinson had seven carries for 56 yards and a TD to go with an 81-yard kickoff return for a TD. He led the Raiders in rushing and kickoff returns this preseason.

Now, we have Atkinson doing the same thing for the team over the last three years. This preseason, he led the team with 19 carries for 191 yards and three TDs. Then there was the kickoff return for a TD, his only one, that gives him the team lead there too.

Yet all offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave talk about these days is how “spectacular” Richard is in practice. We have these preseason games but to quote Allen Iverson again, “We talkin’ about practice! So we will see if Atkinson’s play Thursday night and the whole preseason gets him in.

If it doesn’t, it’s time for Atkinson Sr. to pay McKenzie a visit!