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News Archive
Aug. 3-31, 2001
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Injured:
Oakland: WR Jerry Porter (shoulder), OT Lincoln Kennedy (shoulder), OT Barry Sims (ribs), OL Nate Parks (knee), OL Josh Tucker (knee), OL Tony Hutson (triceps), DE Josh Taves (knee).
Green Bay:
Sources: Contra Costa Times, Packers.com
The casualty list is out—the players released in today's mandatory roster cutdown.
The only surprise—and a mild one at that—was seventh-round draft pick Ken-Yon Rambo. This observer's take: coach Jon Gruden demands consistency above all else in his players, and scouts said even before the draft that Rambo isn't consistent. He'll make a circus catch and then drop a gimme. Gruden had impliedly confirmed Rambo's lack of concentration in his well-publicized "rainbow" comment.
His fellow Ohio State teammate, RB Derek Combs, is still around. I say the team will try to get him through waivers and onto the practice squad, where they'll work to convert him to a wide receiver. He runs much too upright for the NFL, but his receiving skills and speed make him an intriguing prospect.
Reggie Barlow, a good punt returner, was placed on IR along with Oakland product TE Eric Bjornson, who missed virtually all the practices with a hamstring problem.
Source: Raiders.com
Evening update: No sooner did I explain the numbers involved in the upcoming roster cuts (see below) than I saw on Raiders.com that DE Emil Ekiyor has been released. So we're talking an 86-, not 87-man present roster.
Source: Raiders.com
The Raiders' flight back from Mexico City won't reach the Bay Area until 3:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. The Turk will make his rounds that afternoon at the Alameda practice facility . . .
"The Turk," in case you don't know, is the nickname given to the person—normally an assistant coach—assigned to tell those players who've been cut the bad news. The Turk's other responsibility is to retrieve their copies of the team playbook.
The Raiders roster is currently at 87 players. It must be reduced to 72—the 'official' 65 plus seven exemptions for players on the roster who were previously allocated to NFL Europe—by 1:00 p.m. Pacific. The final cutdown, to 53, occurs next Sunday, Sept. 2.
(The Raiders originally allocated eight players to NFL Europe: S Cliffton Black; DE Jon Harris, DB Broderick McGrew, RB Marques Brigham, OL Josh Tucker, RB Jabari Jackson, RB Corey Walker, and OL Jason Watts. WR Andy McCullough was also allocated slightly later. Black and Watts have since been cut by the Raiders, leaving 7 exempt players remaining on the roster at this time. These exemptions are only in effect until the final cutdown on Sept. 2).
Backup QB Rodney Peete will see action tomorrow night.
WR Jerry Porter has begun rehab on his separated shoulder at Alameda.
Source: The Sporting News
Yesterday the AP reported the death of Neal Colzie, a cornerback and punt returner with the Raiders during 1976-79, but provided almost no details. Colzie is still listed as the second-best all-time punt returner for the team.
The Contra Costa Times made the effort to do some research and today published considerably more background on this story. Among other things, they took the trouble to verify Colzie's date of birth. The AP had reported Colzie was 48, but in fact he was only 47. "That's way too young for someone to pass away," said Raiders senior administrator Morris Bradshaw, 48, a former teammate of Colzie's at Ohio State.
A heart attack was said to be the cause of death. The paper also talked with ex-Raider great George Atkinson, a personal friend of Colzie.
Colzie was a gifted punt returner and a very good backup defensive back. The article is definitely worth reading.
Source: Contra Costa Times
Coach Jon Gruden said yesterday that he doesn't expect to make the upcoming required roster cuts until he has to, meaning after the Mexico City exhibition game against Dallas next Monday night. The Raiders have to reduce their present 87-man roster to 65 by 1:00 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
This means the younger players will get at least one more opportunity to show their stuff. In addition to the obvious overcrowding at the wide receiver and running back positions, there is a closely competitive struggle going on at linebacker.
Sources: Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times
Injury report:
Oakland: WR Jerry Rice (hip pointer), WR Reggie Barlow (stress fracture), TE Jeremy Brigham (hamstring), TE Eric Bjornson (hamstring), RB Chris Howard (knee), OL John Bock (knee), OL Nate Parks (right knee), OL Josh Tucker (knee), G Tony Hutson (triceps).
San Francisco: DT Bryant Young (shoulder), WR Tai Streets (leg), DT Junior Bryant (neck), TE Greg Clark (hamstring), K Jamie Rheem (hamstring), S Lance Schulters (knee), RB Kevan Barlow (quadriceps), RB Paul Smith (ankle), WR J.J. Stokes (hamstring), CB Jason Webster (hamstring).
Sources: Associated Press, Oakland Tribune, The Sporting News, Contra Costa Times
An MRI has revealed that WR/punt returner Reggie Barlow, who's been hobbled by an abdominal strain suffered in the Arizona exhibition last week, also has a stress fracture in his leg and is likely out for at least a month. He could be headed for IR . . . This is a big break for seventh-round draft pick Ken-Yon Rambo, who also has return skills.
Sources: Oakland Tribune, Sacramento Bee
This observer is sick of the endless hoopla surrounding Jerry Rice's return to 3Com . . . How about you? I'll be happy once the game's on and the media shuts up.
Barely hanging on: TEs Jeremy Brigham and Eric Bjornson and WR Yatil Green have missed nearly all the practices this summer due to hamstring pulls. Realistically, they don't have much chance of making the final roster. Ditto for WR Andy McCullough, felled by a virus. (Ironically, McCullough is currently profiled on Raiders.com. But then, so was undersized rookie C Paul Hogan, who has a 0 chance of being a Raider come September.)
WR Jerry Rice incurred a hip pointer in yesterday's game. WR/returner Ken-Yon Rambo and S Calvin Branch sustained groin injuries. None of the injuries is believed to be serious, team officials said.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Late-reporting Steve Wisniewski still isn't ready to start . . . so Frank Middleton, normally Mo Collins' backup on the right side, will fill Wiz's spot at left guard tonight with the 1st unit. Matt Stinchcomb will start at LT again, but Barry Sims, recovering from offseason foot surgery, figures to play extensively.
Bobby Hoying and Marques Tuiasosopo are expected to get nearly all the playing time at quarterback after Rich Gannon and Rodney Peete get a series each.
Look for a virtual parade of receivers and defensive backs as young players struggle to grab the coaches' attention. Also, the Southwest has been gripped in a heat wave and fatigue will almost certainly be a major factor in Tempe even with the later starting time.
Sources: Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune
Forget Dale Carter as a possible Raider. His petition for reinstatement to the NFL was denied.
Some media had speculated that Oakland was interested in Carter as a possible free safety in place of the speedy but clueless Anthony Dorsett.
Source: Associated Press
Injury report for tonight's exhibition game:
WR Jerry Porter (hip), WR Reggie Barlow (abdominal strain), WR Yatil Green (hamstring), WR Andy McCullough (undisclosed), TE Eric Bjornson (hamstring), TE Jeremy Brigham (hamstring), OL John Bock (knee), OL Nate Parks (right knee), OL Josh Tucker (knee), G Tony Hutson (triceps).
Source: Contra Costa Times
The big news is the suspension of DT Darrell Russell for the season's first four regular games for violation of the NFL substance abuse policy.
Russell did not test positive, but he did fail—a year or more ago, apparently—to undergo a required test by the NFL following the mandatory 24-hour notice from the league. He was already under heightened NFL scrutiny (thus allowing the tests on 24-hour notice) because of a previous positive test for marijuana. Russell claims the positive result was due solely to second-hand smoke. His appeal of the upcoming suspension to the league has been denied.
(New England WR Terry Glenn's case provides some insight into the mechanics of the NFL policy. Glenn failed to take a required test under similar circumstances.)
Said Russell, "It's embarrassing for myself, my family, my family, friends, and my team." Coach Jon Gruden's comment: "Obviously it's a big loss to our football team. But we will not use this an excuse. We're going to have to rev it up."
DE Trace Armstrong, President of the Players Association, said, "The policy was developed between the Players Association and the league. . . . A policy is a policy. The guys know the rules."
Scientists say it's unlikely, although not impossible, that one could test positive for marijuana solely from having inhaled second-hand smoke.
Sources: San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, Contra Costa Times
As expected, the Raiders moved to strengthen their depleted offensive line by signing another lineman. He is Aaron Graham from Nebraska, a fourth-round draft choice by St. Louis in 1996. The San Francisco Chronicle describes him as a tackle, Raiders.com as a center. You choose . . .
Cut to make roster room was WR Dialleo Burks from Eastern Kentucky.
Sources: San Francisco Chronicle, Raiders.com
Followup on Saturday's injuries: G Tony Hutson suffered a torn triceps. He won't need surgery but is expected to miss three weeks. Hutson started for Steve Wisniewski, who's not in game shape yet.
Hutson's replacement, John Bock, strained a knee but is apparently day-to-day. G Nate Parks continues to rehabilitate hamstring and knee injuries.
Finally, WR and punt returner Reggie Barlow, who suffered a lower abdominal strain, remains questionable for Saturday's exhibition against Arizona.
Back at practice in pads this week after having missed considerable time are DT Grady Jackson (shoulder), T Barry Sims (foot), and TE Jeremy Brigham (hamstring).
Sources: Press Democrat, Oakland Tribune
Injury report: G Tony Hutson—who started for Steve Wisniewski last night—probably won't play next week because of a triceps injury. Offensive lineman John Bock suffered a sprained knee. WR/returner Reggie Barlow suffered a lower abdominal strain.
Source: San Jose Mercury News
Injured Raiders for Saturday's 6:00 p.m. game:
WRs Andy McCullough, David Dunn (hamstring), Marcus Knight (knee) and Yatil Green; offensive linemen Josh Tucker (knee), Nate Parks (knee), Shar Pourdanesh (knee), and Barry Sims (foot); defensive linemen Grady Jackson (shoulder), Josh Taves (groin) and Darren Mickell (knee); and TEs Jeremy Brigham (hamstring) and Eric Bjornson (hamstring).
G Steve Wisniewski, who reported last weekend, won't play. WR-returner Eric Metcalf has missed substantial parts of camp due to personal reasons.
Sources: Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune, Raiders.com
