Oakland Raiders - The Vertical Game

News Archive
March 13-29, 2003

Saturday, March 29, 2003

The team has held a four-day orientation camp for its quarterbacks in Alameda this week.

The Contra Costa Times reported this week that the Raiders and the agent for UFA G Mo Collins talked Tuesday.

Asked at the league meeting if the Raiders would put suspended DT Darrell Russell back on the active roster if and when he is reinstated, coach Bill Callahan responded with a quick and concise "No."

Senior assistant Bruce Allen was named NFL Executive of the Year by The Sporting News, presumably for doing his usual top-notch job of solving seemingly impossible salary cap obstacles involving the team's payroll.

Tuesday, March 25, 2003

According to a report today in the Rocky Mountain News, the Raiders have signed free agent WR Scottie Montgomery, Denver's No. 4 receiver last season, to a one-year, $450,000 contract which includes performance-based incentives. Montgomery, a 3-year vet out of Duke, had 16 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown in 27 games with the Broncos. He's 6-1 and 195.

The league announced the 2003 compensatory draft picks for teams deemed to have lost an undue number of free agents last year. These picks come no higher than the end of the fourth round. The Raiders did not receive any. Baltimore, Green Bay, Miami, the New York Giants and St. Louis led the parade with four each, and Chicago got three.

The Raiders will open the 2003 regular season on the road at Tennessee in a prime time telecast on ESPN on Sunday, Sept. 7. Owner Al Davis grumbled at the league meeting that it was an "insult" for the Silver and Black, as defending AFC champs, to have to open on the road.

As expected, free agent RB Tyrone Wheatley re-signed with Oakland yesterday. His agent, Joel Segal, said Wheatley had received other offers, but never seriously considered leaving the Raiders.

Rotund DT Sam Adams signed with Buffalo, which is said to be $8 million under the cap. Former Raiders special teamer LB Bobby Brooks signed with Jacksonville.

Monday, March 24, 2003

The Sports Xchange, carried by CBS Sportline, reported today that two Raiders have been given substantial raises on existing contracts.

CB Charles Woodson, entering the final year of his contract, will get an extra $600,000—a raise from $1,812,500 to $2,412,500. WLB Eric Barton, the team's most valuable defensive player in 2002 in the view of this humble observer, will make $875,000 instead of $530,000.

Saturday, March 22, 2003

A look at the NFL Europe final training camp rosters reveals several former Raiders in addition to those players previously announced as having been formally allocated: WR Matthew Hatchette (Amsterdam), the one-time 3rd wideout at Minnesota signed by the Raiders during the 2002 offseason; WR Royd Williams (Rhein), in camp with Oakland in 2002; and WR Elijah Thurmon (Berlin), on the practice squad during parts of 2001 and in camp last fall.

Ex-Raider 2nd-round draft pick DE Lance Johnstone re-signed with Minnesota this past week. The Raiders play the Vikes this year during the regular season.

Thursday, March 20, 2003

The Raiders announced three signings and the hiring of a new coach. First, unrestricted free agent QB Rick Mirer, 33, was re-signed on Tuesday to a one-year contract for the league minimum ($755,000 for a player with 10 years experience). Mirer's signing is welcome news; he provides stability should starter Rich Gannon get hurt. Mirer didn't take a regular season snap last year but did play effectively during pre-season.

Oakland also signed a pair of free agent fullbacks. Four-year veteran Cecil Martin, 27, who was replaced by Jon Ritchie in Philadelphia, is a capable blocker and receiver if a little undersized at 6-0 and 235 pounds. Special teams units should benefit from the acquisition of 7-year vet Chris Hetherington, 30, a 6-3, 250-pounder who, interestingly, was an option quarterback at Yale during his college days.

Finally, the Raiders announced the hiring of Tim Adams as Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. He replaces Garrett Giemont, who left to join Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay.

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Oakland signed an impact special teams performer, kick returner Ronney Jenkins, a free agent last with San Diego.

Jenkins, a Pro Bowl alternate in 2001, pretty much single-handedly kept the Dolts in the game against the Raiders last year at Oakland with a 93-yard return for a TD and a 67-yarder as well. He returned six in all that afternoon for 250 yards.

In his three years with San Diego, Jenkins set the franchise record for kickoff return yardage and averaged over 1000 yards per season despite missing three games last season with an injury. Paired with Phillip Buchanon returning punts, Jenkins gives the Raiders big-time weapons on their return units. Jenkins is not big—5-11, 188—but he has great quickness.

Now if special teams coach Bob Casullo could only do something about those woeful coverage units . . . :-(

Source(s): San Jose Mercury News, Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times, Raiders.com

Thursday, March 13, 2003

Oakland made its first serious foray into the 2003 free agent market yesterday by signing DT Dana Stubblefield, a 10-year vet who spent the last two seasons with the Whiners. Stubblefield, listed at 6-2 and 290, will play for the league minimum for 10 years experience, $755,000.

Stubblefield had a monster year with San Francisco in 1998, in the final year of a contract. He signed with Washington for huge bucks, but like so many other big-money free agents his performance fell off drastically. After two seasons with the Redskins he returned to SF for 2001-02.

He's regarded in much the same way as John Parrella—a guy who's stout against the run and can also get some pressure on the QB coming up the middle.

February 2003

The Raiders allocated five players to the NFL Europe spring league. DB Tony Lukins of New Mexico State, who spent time on Oakland's practice squad this past season, went to the Rhein Fire. LB Jamal White (Kentucky), who spent time with both Tampa Bay and Cleveland, will play for the Berlin Thunder.

The F.C. Barcelona Dragons received TE Ryan Prince (Weber State), who was in Jacksonville's training camp in 2002. OT Justin Bland, who played collegiately at Missouri - Columbia and was in 2002 camp with Cincinnati, will play for the Scottish Claymores. Finally, K Joe O'Donnell, who has NFL Europe and Arena League experience and was in 2002 training camp with Pittsburgh, was allocated to an undetermined club.