Oakland Raiders - The Vertical Game

News Archive
June 14 - Sept. 9, 2000

Saturday, September 9, 2000

Indianapolis: Doubtful: DE Mark Thomas (knee). Questionable: WR Marvin Harrison (shoulder). Probable: LB Marcus Washington (hamstring), RB Edgerrin James (hamstring), DT Ellis Johnson (thigh/knee), DE Chukie Nwokorie (hand/ankle).

Friday, September 8, 2000

Oakland: Questionable: S Johnnie Harris (ribs). Doubtful: LB Eric Barton (hamstring).

Indianapolis: Probable: WR Marvin Harrison (shoulder). Questionable: WR Terrence Wilkins (concussion).

Sunday, September 3, 2000

Raiders: Doubtful: LB Eric Barton (hamstring), T Nate Parks (ankle), doubtful. Probable: S Anthony Dorsett (chest), WR James Jett (hamstring).

Chargers: Questionable: CB DeRon Jenkins (foot), WR Reggie Jones (knee), WR Mikhael Ricks (ankle). Probable:: S Rogers Beckett (hip), CB Fakhir Brown (shoulder), RB Jermaine Fazande (ankle), G DeMingo Graham (ankle), C Kendyl Jacox (knee), WR Nate Jacquet (Achilles), QB Ryan Leaf (ankle), DE Darren Mickell (shoulder), CB Scott Turner (calf), probable.

Thursday, August 24, 2000

Tonight's final exhibition offers coach Jon Gruden and his staff a final look at 'bubble' players in a game situation. The Raiders must pare 16 additional players off the roster by 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

Quarterback: Scott Dreisbach or Rodney Peete as No. 3? Dreisbach had a poor camp this year by all accounts and threw a pick in the Dallas game. But he also brought the team from behind to pull out a win and moved the offense more consistently than any of the other QBs. Peete didn't make any glaring mistakes against Detroit but also didn't produce any points. This observer goes with Dreisbach, the prospect, because Peete isn't going to improve at this point in his career. Or will the team continue to carry four quarterbacks on the roster?

Wide receiver: Lots of noise about Andre Rison, but he will be wideout no. 3 or even 4 to start the season.

The question mark here is Marcus Knight, the rookie who had a superb camp but fumbled in each of two exhibitions. Knight, not Jerry Porter, was the WR who really showed his stuff in Napa. But many sportswriters felt he'd blown his opportunity with those miscues.

Knight is still on the roster and in my opinion may still have a chance, depending on his play tonight. The surprise here might be Kenny Shedd. He is a valuable special teams player, but so was safety Dan Land a few seasons back. There comes a time when one-dimensional skills are no longer enough to earn a roster spot. Shedd has never been able to earn substantial playing time during a regular season despite being given the chance the past two years.

Porter will make the team simply because of the size of his contract. He is a long-term project. David Dunn should make the cut too because of his return abilities on special teams. I think Rodney Williams is gone.

Safety: Anthony Dorsett was basically handed the free safety job to lose and is probably better than any of the other bodies. Marquez Pope has started over Je'rod Cherry three straight games at strong safety, and Gruden raves about the play of second-year man Johnnie Harris. Cherry might be cut since Harris would be considerably cheaper.

Eric Johnson has attracted some publicity with his "Crazy" nickname, and Brandon Jennings has played aggressively in the preseason. Both lack discipline, though, and Calvin Branch should get the nod over them.

Friday, August 18, 2000

RB Tyrone Wheatley (shin), FB Jon Ritchie (groin), G Mo Collins (ankle), LB William Thomas (ankle), CB Darrien Gordon (ankle), FB Jermaine Williams (right ankle), TE Jeremy Brigham (hamstring), OL Nate Parks (right ankle), DT Chuck Osborne (groin), DT Darrell Russell (ankle), DT Grady Jackson (ankle), DT Junior Ioane (right knee), and DE Lance Johnstone.

Sunday, July 23, 2000

The big question of yesterday's first practices turned out to be a yawner. The team's top draft choice, placekicker Sebastian Janikowski, had gotten into the Bay Area at approximately 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning—after the cutoff date for Saturday's newspaper articles. Thus the various reports yesterday that he was a no-show. Janikowski did participate in the Saturday morning practice, making 5 of 7 field goal attempts.

As expected, Jerry Porter and Shane Lechler came to terms quickly once everyone knew what remained of the rookie signing money after Janikowski got his share.

Janikowski's contract is reportedly for a total of $6.05 million over 5 years, including a $2 million signing bonus. This observer shudders to think what kinds of trouble this immature kid can get into with that size bonus. Let's hope he doesn't blow the cash on rounds for the house at his favorite bar . . .

Saturday, July 22, 2000

Despite his agent's claims that he had signed a 6-year, $5 million contract, top draft pick Sebastian Janikowski did not report to the Raiders' Napa training camp by yesterday's 4:00 p.m. deadline. His agent continues to claim that only minor points remain to be clarified. Both the team, however, and coach Jon Gruden said they were unaware of any contract having been signed.

The unsigned draft picks lower than Janikowski must wait to see how much of the Raiders' rookie cap remains once Janikowski is signed before their agents can finish negotiating their deals. Thus No. 2 WR Jerry Porter and No. 4 punter Shane Lechler were also no-shows.

Janikowski's contract reportedly contains both positive and negative incentives. For instance, he'll be required to pay the Raiders $25,000 per game he misses due to suspension.

Pass rushing specialist DE Lance Johnstone received a 7-year, $35 million contract extension Friday.

This observer applauds the team's effort to go with younger players and nail down the long-term status of the stalwarts (Barret Robbins and Greg Biekert also come to mind).

Personnel changes since my last update: gone are CB Marquis Walker and, quite recently, T Jeff Cronshagen, WR Shamari Buchanan, and offensive lineman Barry Stokes. The Raiders also signaled their confidence that Janikowski will be signed soon by releasing K Michael Husted, a colossal bust as a Raider. With K Joe Nedney also on the roster, Husted sealed his fate when he skipped both mini-camps.

Added to the roster were 34-year-old QB Rodney Peete, T Octavious Bishop (who played in NFL Europe this past spring) and another somewhat long-in-the-tooth performer, LB William Thomas, who previously played for the Eagles. Thomas, 31, is a two-time Pro Bowler and steady but perhaps a little undersized. Peete will presumably compete for the No. 3 QB spot.

DT Jerry Ball announced his retirement two days before Minnesota's camp was due to start.

One of this observer's great memories is watching (Butter)Ball chug 66 yards down the sideline to take a deflected pass in for a TD. It happened at the House of Thrills in 1996, against Jacksonville.

Ball also is perhaps the only player in NFL history to define his own season. Sought by Minnesota before the 1997 season, Ball announced he wouldn't be able to play for the first few weeks of the season because he needed to tend to his restaurant chain. The Vikes signed him anyway, and Ball's first playing time didn't come until nearly a month into the season. Jerry was indeed a colorful character . . .

Wednesday, June 21, 2000

Geez!! I hardly get through apologizing for slamming Sebastian Janikowski (see 6/19/00) and the guy's back in jail!

Yes, our first-round draft choice was arrested Tuesday night in Florida for possession of a designer drug, GHB, which is typically used to drug people into a stupor or worse. (It's referred to as the "date rape drug".)

The substance involved doesn't say a whole lot for Janikowski's character. But the more important side to the charge is its implications on Janikowski's immigration status, and thus his continuing availability to play football in this country. If convicted of the pending charge, Janikowski has probably dug his own grave.

Monday, June 19, 2000

First, a correction. Long-time reader David Pickering points out that it wasn't Sebastian Janikowski, but rather his agent, Paul Healy of Jacksonville, who made a cell phone call in court immediately after the not guilty verdict, angering the judge. (See news of 6/14/00.)

I only skimmed the news article and knocked Janikowski when he didn't deserve it. Thanks to Dave for the heads up.

Also, and in a complete non sequitur, you may have read recently that the naming rights for Denver's football stadium are currently up for bid. Given that and the recent ruling of the judge hearing the City-County-Raiders litigation (6/14/00 again), the money the Raiders have poured into their legal efforts to show a conspiracy against them might be better spent making a sub rosa bid for those naming rights. Then if successful, the Raiders could name it something appropriate, like Piled High Stadium or Donkey Dung Heap. Now that would be money well spent.

The team's second mini-camp, which ran Thursday through Saturday, provided some fodder for speculation as to this year's starters at several positions.

The Raiders moved Mo Collins to right guard with the first team, and inserted Matt Stinchcomb at left tackle. While this move comes as no surprise—many had predicted it for months—to this observer, at least, it does raise some questions.

Why? Because until he proves otherwise, Stinchcomb is damaged goods. He suffered a dislocation, then a separation (with accompanying ligament damage) of the same shoulder in successive years. It would be hard to imagine any worse ways of wrecking a major joint short of the Jolly Green Giant turning mean and ripping Stinchcomb's arm off at the shoulder.

The Raiders say Stinchcomb's quick feet make him a natural at left tackle, while Collins' size will be an advantage at right guard. This makes sense, assuming, of course, that Stinchcomb will play the entire season. As of now, he has yet to play one down of serious NFL contact football. Obviously the Raiders feel he is, or at least will be, entirely recovered. (Collins, for that matter, is coming off knee surgery.)

Stinchcomb's selection wasn't the first time the Raiders have gambled on injured or otherwise risky players in the draft. Last year's 6th-round pick, DT Daren Yancey, had a history of serious back problems dating back to high school. Yancey retired from football the first day of training camp. A few years back the Raiders used a draft selection on tackle Eli Herring, a devout Mormon who had told anyone willing to listen that his religious views would preclude him from playing football on Sundays.

(Parenthetically, the Raiders seem to have a star-crossed history with Brigham Young alumni. Both Yancey and Herring attended that university. And don't forget Marc Wilson, Mr. Pop Fly!) Although Todd Christenson still holds a number of team records.

At any rate, the Raiders are fortunate to have jack-of-all-trades Barry Sims handy in case this experiment doesn't pan out. Time will tell . . .

In years past the Raiders have had huge numbers of wide receivers on the roster at this time of year. But this time around the logjam is in the secondary, and particularly at the safety positions.

The press seems to have concluded that newcomer Anthony Dorsett will be this year's starter at free safety. There was a spate of articles to that effect over the weekend. And last night's local news on KTVU-TV interviewed Dorsett as though he is the starter.

Be warned: if you hear on a TV program that Dorsett will be a guest, or that an interview with him is coming up, go clean the fridge. This guy is a windbag! One of his sentences last night ran on for a good 45 seconds, including a span of at least 30 seconds without a single verb. Fifteen or so instances of "you know" . . . Plus, the guy's about as humble as his father when he played. My $.02, anyway.

Wednesday, June 14, 2000

In the wake of the death of Eric Turner in late May, the few developments reported since concerning the Raiders seemed trivial by comparison.

Now, however, there is some news and also an announcement of importance to make.

First the news. First-round draft pick Sebastian Janikowski was acquitted of bribery charges by a South Florida jury yesterday in only 50 minutes, seeming to prove once again that Southerners like their good 'ol boys (even if they are Polish ;-).

Following the verdict Janikowski displayed his well known maturity by whipping out his cell phone and starting to make a call before the judge had even left the bench.

Let's hope the team has made plans for a designated bail poster. This kid may need one.

Also, two days ago Sacramento Superior Court Judge Joe S. Gray, who is hearing the litigation involving the Raiders, Oakland and Alameda County, issued a tentative ruling throwing out much if not most of the Raiders' claims. Specifically, the "Paranoia Package"—the team's charges of conspiracy and breach of good faith—is now out the door. It was those claims that could have upped the possible damages to the $1.1 billion sought by the Raiders.

Gray did leave intact the Raiders' charges of fraud and negligent misrepresentation but also noted that the team failed to file the required claim with Oakland and Alameda County before filing suit. The ruling implies Coliseum officials can file a new motion to throw out the fraud and negligent misrepresentation charges as well because of that failure.

Finally, the Raiders signed TE Troy Drayton, then waived him five days later. Depending on whose account one reads, either Drayton's knee wasn't sound, or he was completely out of shape.

The announcement concerns the annual event known as RaiderMecca, a weekend designed for Raiders fans from all over to visit Oakland and see a home game as well as socialize with each other. This year's event takes place at Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill in San Leandro the weekend of the first home game (Sept. 1-3).