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News Archive
Apr. 11-Nov. 24, 2002
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Here's the final NFL injury report for today's game:
Oakland: Out: DE Tony Bryant (neck). Questionable: RB Randy Jordan (shoulder); TE Roland Williams (toe); MLB Napoleon Harris (groin). Probable: FS Rod Woodson (knee).
Arizona: Out: T Anthony Clement (arm); C Mike Gruttadauria (knee); LB Rob Fredrickson (neck). Doubtful: T John Fina (ankle); CB Renaldo Hill (groin). Questionable: WR Jason McAddley (arm); DE Tom Burke (thigh). Probable: RB Marcel Shipp (quadriceps); DT Marcus Bell (shoulder).
Source(s): Contra Costa Times
Here's the final NFL injury report for tomorrow's game:
Oakland: Out: DE Tony Bryant (neck). Questionable: DE Trace Armstrong (ankle); TE Roland Williams (toe); CB Charles Woodson (groin).
New England: Questionable: G Joe Andruzzi (knee); SS Victor Green (leg); CB Ben Kelly (ankle). Probable: FB Patrick Pass (shoulder).
Source(s): NFL.com
There's still no definitive information on the condition of DE Tony Bryant, the leading tackler among the team's defensive linemen. Bryant sustained what has been described by Coach Bill Callahan as a bruised spinal column in the overtime period last weekend against the Whiners.
Bryant underwent a CT scan and two different MRI exams this past week. As of the latest report, which appeared Friday, he was scheduled to take yet a third MRI.
The AP has quoted an unnamed Raiders source as saying Bryant's season is over, but Callahan says he knows nothing of the sort at this point.
Source(s): Associated Press, Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times
Here's the NFL injury report for tomorrow night's game ion Denver:
Oakland: Out: DE Tony Bryant (neck). Questionable: RB Charlie Garner (foot); WR Marcus Williams (shoulder); CB Charles Woodson (hamstring); FS Rod Woodson (knee). Probable: T Barry Sims (toe).
Denver: Probable: DT Monsanto Pope (ankle).
Source(s): NFL.com
FS Ron Woodson remains listed as questionable. CB Clarence Love has been upgraded to probable.
Source(s): NFL.com
Late yesterday the Raiders added two more players to their injury list, designating both CB Clarence Love (calf) and FS Ron Woodson (knee) as questionable for Sunday.
Source(s): Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Here's the league's preliminary injury report for Sunday:
Oakland: Questionable: T Barry Sims (toe); RB Tyrone Wheatley (hamstring). Probable: DT Sam Adams (knee); RB Randy Jordan (groin); CB Charles Woodson (shoulder).
San Francisco: Out: FS Zack Bronson (foot). Doubtful: OLB Saleem Rasheed (thigh); ILB Jamie Winborn (knee). Questionable: TE Eric Johnson (back). Probable: RB Garrison Hearst (hamstring); C Jeremy Newberry (great toe); WR Terrell Owens (heel); WR J.J. Stokes (knee); ILB Jeff Ulbrich (knee); DT Bryant Young (shoulder).
Source(s): NFL.com
Where Are They Now Dept.: Ex-Raider bust CB Larry Brown was released from jail after agreeing to make good on $44,000 worth of bad checks written to Las Vegas casinos.
Source(s): Associated Press
San Diego SS Rodney Harrison, a legendary hard hitter, lost the appeal of his one-game suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on WR Jerry Rice on Oct. 20. Harrison will sit out Sunday's game against the New York Jets, costing $111,764.
Where Are They Now Dept.: Ex-Raider QB Jeff George was signed by Seattle to serve as a backup following the loss of Trent Dilfer for the season.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times
Here's the updated injury report for today's game:
Oakland: Out: CB Phillip Buchanon (wrist). Doubtful: RB Randy Jordan (groin); RB Tyrone Wheatley (hamstring). Questionable: FB Jon Ritchie (elbow); T Barry Sims (toe); CB Charles Woodson (shoulder); CB Clarence Love (leg); S Rod Woodson (quadriceps).
Kansas City: Questionable: RB Mike Cloud (foot); TE Jason Dunn (shoulder); S Greg Wesley (shoulder). Probable: QB Trent Green (ankle); CB William Bartee (back); S Shaunard Harts (shoulder); K Morten Andersen (hamstring).
Source(s): NFL.com
Here's the updated injury report for today's game:
Oakland: Doubtful: RB Randy Jordan (groin). Questionable: DT Roderick Coleman (ankle); G Mo Collins (knee); T Barry Sims (toe); OLB Travian Smith (neck); RB Tyrone Wheatley (hamstring). Probable: RB Charlie Garner (hamstring); CB Charles Woodson (shoulder); FS Rod Woodson (leg).
San Diego: Out: TE Josh Norman (calf). Questionable: TE Stephen Alexander (foot); FS Rogers Beckett (chest); RB Terrell Fletcher (ankle); SS Rodney Harrison (groin); CB Ryan McNeil (knee); OLB Junior Seau (ankle); WR Tamarick Vanover (thigh); DE Marcellus Wiley (groin).
Source(s): NFL.com
Personnel changes: Nothing earthshaking here, but there have been some moves during the last several weeks.
It began when punter Shane Lechler's quadriceps pull healed. That resulted in the release of Kevin Stemke, who had filled in admirably for Lechler on special teams. The active roster opening was filled with a sixth wideout, Alvis Whitted of North Carolina State, who previously spent four seasons at Jacksonville. Whitted, a string bean, nonetheless played special teams for Jacksonville and has some speed. His best NFL season came in 2000 when he caught 13 balls.
Next, backup TE Mondriel Fulcher went down for the year from what was described as a freak injury in practice. With no contact involved, Fulcher tore the lateral medial ligament in his knee. He required surgery and was placed on injured reserve. His roster spot was filled by signing TE Marcus Williams from the practice squad. Coach Bill Callahan also said that if the Raiders were short of tight ends for one of their multiple-tight-end sets in a game they would use T Brad Badger.
WR Ramondo North came and went from the practice squad. LB Tim Johnson was cut, then re-signed shortly thereafter. Finally, to replace Marcus Williams the Raiders signed TE Austin Wheatley, 6-3 and 250, who played collegiately at Iowa.
Source(s): Raiders.com, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News
Here's today's updated injury report from the league:
Oakland: Out: CB Charles Woodson (shoulder). Doubtful: DT Roderick Coleman (ankle-knee). Questionable: G Mo Collins (knee); RB Randy Jordan (groin); T Lincoln Kennedy (concussion/foot). Probable: LB Eric Barton (knee); WR James Jett (knee).
Buffalo: Probable: RB Travis Henry (knee); TE Jay Riemersma (ankle).
Source(s): Associated Press
G Mo Collins, recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, could not finish practice yesterday and will not start Sunday against Tennessee, as had been hoped. For the time being, Frank Middleton will stay at right guard and Matt Stinchcomb will continue in place of Collins on the left side.
Raiders defensive backs were told during a position meeting that rookie Phillip Buchanon will replace All-Pro Charles Woodson at left corner.
Source(s): Associated Press
Here is the NFL injury report as of yesterday:
Oakland: Out: CB Charles Woodson (shoulder). Doubtful: G Mo Collins (knee). Questionable: WR James Jett (knee). Probable: DT Roderick Coleman (ankle), RB Randy Jordan (groin).
Tennessee: Out: RB Robert Holcombe (hip), DE Jevon Kearse (foot). Questionable: CB Andre Dyson (hip), MLB Randall Godfrey (ankle), TE Erron Kinney (ankle), TE Shad Meier (shoulder), FS Lance Schulters (shoulder).
Source(s): NFL.com
Here is the NFL injury report as of today:
Oakland: Out: G Mo Collins (knee). Doubtful: WR James Jett (calf). Questionable: DT Sam Adams (knee); DT Roderick Coleman (ankle); RB Zack Crockett (neck); S Anthony Dorsett (foot); P Shane Lechler (calf/quadricep). Probable: RB Tyrone Wheatley (quadricep/hip).
Pittsburgh: Out: LB Kendrell Bell (ankle); CB Hank Poteat (toe). Questionable: C Jeff Hartings (knee). Probable: WR Plaxico Burress (hip); LB Joey Porter (shoulder).
Source(s): NFL.com
WR and punt returner Reggie Barlow signed with Tampa Bay.
Source(s): Associated Press
Dave Dalby, the second of only four regular starting centers in the Raiders franchise's history, died Friday afternoon in a vehicle accident in Southern California. He was 51.
Where Are They Now Dept.: TE Rickey Dudley, a former first-round bust for the Raiders, was cut by Cleveland.
Source(s): Associated Press
Another offensive lineman lost . . . and this time a starter. Veteran backup Darryl Ashmore was lost for the season only two weeks back with a torn quadriceps. Now RG Mo Collins, who had been nursing what was originally diagnosed as a bruise of his right knee, turns out to have torn the meniscus—part of the cartilage in the knee joint—and will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday.
He'll miss at least 4 weeks. The Raiders hope to have him back by the Sept. 29 game against Tennessee, the weekend after their bye week.
In the meantime LG Frank Middleton will move over to the right side and backup Matt Stinchcomb (called "Stinky" by more than a few fans) will fill in for Middleton at left guard.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Oakland Tribune
There's been lots of Raiders news over the last several weeks, and I'll try to get caught up in this space over the next few days.
In the meantime, however, here is the injury report for today's game:
Raiders: WR Matthew Hatchette (shoulder), P Shane Lechler (quadriceps), S Anthony Dorsett (foot), G Mo Collins (knee), DE Emil Ekiyor (ankle).
San Francisco: C Jeremy Newberry (finger), DE John Engelberger (appendicitis), DE Bobby Setzer (toe), G/T Matt Willig (knee), LB Shane Elam (knee), WR Vinny Sutherland (hamstring), LB Saleem Rasheed (quadriceps), FS Al Blades (ankle), DE Sean Moran (knee), WR Tai Streets (groin), SS Ronnie Heard (shoulder), G Ron Stone (elbow), QB Cade McNown (elbow), DT John Schlecht (back), TE Mark Anelli (ankle).
Source(s): Contra Costa Times
Late Sunday night the Raiders got the signature of mammoth free agent DT Sam Adams on a contract, and he was in Napa yesterday morning for practice.
The deal is for six years, but backloaded so heavily that in essence it is a one-year deal. (The team would be obligated for a roster bonus of $5 million next March 1 and salaries of $5 million every year until 2007. That will never happen.) Adams got a signing bonus of $1.25 million and will draw a base salary this year of $750,000. Several other teams had also pursued Adams during this offseason, but he said he was insulted by their contract offers.
Nearly all the Raiders beat writers for the local area newspapers alluded today in their articles to the fact that Adams appears far, far above last year's listed playing weight of 330. Put more bluntly, he is not in great shape. Coach Bill Callahan said Adams will not see action this weekend against San Francisco.
Adams, an accomplished run-stopper, is expected to replace undersized Rod Coleman as a starter on the defensive line alongside John Parrella. Together, Parrella and Adams give the Raiders much more girth in the middle on defense.
Source(s): Associated Press, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Tribune
Reporters are crowing about two fine hits made during yesterday's practice, but take the news with a pound or two of salt.
First RG Mo Collins leveled S Johnnie Harris with a downfield block on a screen pass. Of course, outweighing Harris 335 to 210, one would hope Collins could level Harris . . .
Then S Derrick Gibson flattened WR James Jett after a short reception. Since Gibson only outweighs Jett by 50 pounds, presumably this was an even more spectacular accomplishment.
The press is touting this news as proof the Raiders are "ready" for Dallas. In reality, this kind of stuff proves nothing. It's just filler for an otherwise slow news day.
The Raiders have been the worst tackling team in the NFL for at least five years now. Their tackling skills were appallingly bad under defensive coordinator Willie Shaw. They didn't improve last year under Chuck Bresnahan . . .
This observer will stop grumbling when the team learns the fundamentals of blocking and tackling, instead of relying—as they did under Gruden—on endless four-yard passes and a "bend but (hopefully) don't break" defensive philosophy. The Raiders need to go back to basics.
Romanowski, master of the cheap shot, had to be told to cool it after putting a major-league hit on a 205-pound piece of camp fodder, NFL Europe grad RB Madre Hill. Eschewing good tackling technique in favor of the maximum pop, Romanowski hit Hill both late and high. What a jerk.
Injured: RB Tyrone Wheatley (calf sprain); WR James Jett (hamstring); TE Doug Jolley (groin pull).
Source(s): San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Tribune
This is the time of year when Raiders senior executive Bruce Allen really earns his salary. It's also when he shines.
Fresh off the heels of working out a six-year, $54 million contract extension for Grumpy (aka Rich Gannon), Allen brought draft picks LB Napoleon Harris and T Langston Walker into the fold of signed Raiders late this week. Additionally, the agent for top pick CB Phillip Buchanon said he anticipates no difficulty in having his client signed in time for the opening of camp this coming Thursday.
The Raiders—known as an "agent-friendly" organization—have a history in recent years of signing all their draft picks prior to camp. It was a major surprise in 1998 when draft choice Gennaro DiNapoli actually held out for several days on the advice of his agent. Allen is himself a former player agent.
Coach Bill Callahan said in a Q&A published on Raiders.com that Eric Johnson is being moved from strong safety to outside linebacker. Johnson, nicknamed "Crazy" for his all-out attitude, is a major force on special teams and routinely draws double coverage. But he struggled mightily last season at cornerback before a serious injury relegated him to the injured reserve list, getting beaten deep repeatedly during the preseason.
Johnson played both linebacker and safety during his college career at Nebraska.
Source(s): Raiders.com
June 3 marked the second round of cuts for most NFL teams as they struggle to free up sufficient salary cap room to sign their draft picks before training camp. For players cut after June 1 the cap effect is lessened by spreading the cap hits over two contract years, 2002 and 2003, instead of just one.
New free agents, most of them high-salaried: WRs Herman Moore, Antonio Freeman, Derrick Alexander and Keenan McCardell; RB Jamal Anderson; LBs Mike Jones (former Raider) and Hardy Dickerson; QB Charlie Batch; G Ray Brown; T John Fina; and DE Marco Coleman.
Source(s): San Jose Mercury News, Associated Press
You saw it here . . . or at least you could have. Tsk, tsk.
On the page listing the Raiders' first-round draft picks over the years, I quietly tipped off the Raiders' intentions for 2002 about 48 hours before the draft actually began.
In the space for the 2002 first round pick(s) I wrote that owner Al Davis would trade the store to Detroit to move up and take CB Quentin Jammer with that No. 3 pick. As it turns out, the Raiders were indeed looking for a corner in the first round. With their top pick (No. 17), they selected the other top cornerback available, Phillip Buchanon.
ESPN columnist John Clayton wrote, "[The Raiders] wanted a coverage cornerback—Quentin Jammer or Phillip Buchanon—but they were too far down in the round to realistically think they had a chance."
Source(s): ESPN.com
Alas, no chance of the Raiders getting QB Drew Bledsoe. He signed with Buffalo today.
Silly me! This observer had foolishly hoped that the Raiders might make a move for Bledsoe, a guy who can make all the throws. (And overhand at that!) New England might have settled for considerably less in order to trade Bledsoe to a team outside its own division . . .
Imagine what Rice and Brown could do if the team just had a quarterback with an arm!
Raiders.com has a little piece of fluff about this weekend's NFL Europe openers, mentioning that (Raiders property) QB Ted White engineered one scoring drive in a loss to the Scottish Claymores.
What Raiders.com doesn't mention is that former Raider QB Scott Dreisbach was the star for Scotland, passing for 277 yards and three TDs.
The Raiders never should have let Dreisbach go . . . He's Detroit property these days. And when he becomes a very good NFL quarterback, I'll continue to harp in this space on the Raiders' stupidity in not hanging on to Dreisbach.
The Raiders—read Al Davis here—have never been particularly astute judges of quarterbacking talent. Ken Stabler, who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, got a chance to play only because both Daryle Lamonica and George Blanda got hurt at the same time. Davis is said to have thought little of Stabler's abilities.
This past week the Raiders signed offensive lineman Brad Badger, a 5-year vet out of Stanford.
Badger, 6-4 and 320, can both both tackle and guard. He was released by Minnesota last season when he refused to take a pay cut.
Source(s): Associated Press
Grady Jackson's gone for good. :-( The Raiders' best defensive lineman the past three years inked a two-year deal today with the New Orleans Saints. Terms were not disclosed.
The Raiders had made little real effort to re-sign Jackson, apparently gambling that Grady's free market travels would soon bring down his asking price. (Although now that they've lost Jackson, team sources say that concerns over Jackson's weight and his shoulder were the real reasons.) The team has signed steady DT John Parrella in the off-season, but he doesn't come close to matching Jackson's talent or ability to dominate a game.
The Raiders announced the signing of free agent LB Gerald Dixon, a 10-year veteran who can play all three linebacker spots and is considered to be strong in pass coverage. He was a starter for San Diego the past two seasons playing on the strong side.
Dixon, 6-3 and 250, will turn 33 in June. He was originally a third-round draft pick by Cleveland out of South Carolina.
Source(s): Associated Press
Where Are They Now Dept.: Well-traveled former Raider LB Rob Holmberg signed with the Green Bay Packers.
Source(s): Associated Press
