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News Archive
April 2 - June 27, 2003
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ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports recent free agent signee Cincinnati Bengals FS Rogers Beckett may be released later this summer due to a problem with his contract. There seems to be a significant difference between the worker's compensation regulations in California and Ohio, which apparently might make Beckett request his release from the Bungles. If that is the case, says Pasquarelli, look for several teams to put in a waiver claim on him.
Beckett came from San Diego, so one might surmise that the Raiders, being short of seasoned safeties, could have an interest.
Source(s): KFFL.com
Where Are They Now Dept.: PhiladelphiaEagles.com writer Bob Kent writes that with the Philadelphia Eagles signing of FB Jon Ritchie, look for the Iggles to expand the fullback's role in the offense. Although FB Cecil Martin, now with the Raiders, paved the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons for RB Duce Staley, the Eagles think he lacked the zip needed in a West Coast offense. They think Ritchie perfected the needed blocking and receiving skills of the West Coast offense with the Raiders over the past five seasons.
Source(s): KFFL.com
The NFLPA's salary figures for 2002 have been published by USA Today and are available here on this site.
Each year the union collects and releases figures for the past year to aid teams and players in determining what the going rate is for a franchise or transition player tag. Typically USA Today publishes them, along with an analysis, several months later.
This observer's award for Most Overpaid Raider of 2002 is shared by two players, both departed. CB Tory James, who would most likely have lost his starting job part way through the year had not rookie Phillip Buchanon broken a wrist, got $2.25 million in salary and had a whopping cap number of $2,552,610. DE Regan "Can I Buy a Personal Foul" Upshaw pulled down a salary of $1.45 million and had a cap figure of $1.917 million.
Source(s): USA Today
Tyrone Wheatley, Langston Walker, and Barry Sims will appear at the new Raider Image store in Southland Mall in Hayward on June 21st from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Source(s): Raiders.com
Bits and pieces: Minor injuries during the mini-camp—"slight" hamstring strains for WRs Alvis Whitted and Doug Gabriel.
Said to have looked impressive: TE O.J. Santiago and newly signed CB Paul Miranda.
C Barret Robbins, who had an arthroscopy on his knee a few weeks back, participated in only the morning practices, and was held out of most of Saturday's finale.
Source(s): Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times
Kudos to Pro Football Weekly, which reported the signing of WR Terrance Metcalf of South Carolina State almost two weeks back.
At the time I speculated that it was probably an error, but Raiders.com has belatedly added a May 27 transaction listing for Metcalf today.
This could well mean the reported signing of WR Eric Metcalf was incorrect.
A Google search shows Terrance Metcalf of the SC State Bulldogs as 6-4, 190, from Seattle, WA.
Correction: I erroneously wrote here at the start of the week that unsigned draft picks would not be eligible to participate in the team mini-camp which runs today through Saturday at the Raiders facilities in Alameda.
I did actually see that written somewhere, and I assumed it must be part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) changes which have reduced the number of workout days teams can ask of their players this year. Nevertheless, that information is wrong.
The entire team is eligible to participate in the mini-camp. All players except those who are recuperating (e.g., Roland Williams, Tony Bryant) and those who will play in the NFL Europe World Bowl this weekend should be there.
It's still true that only signed players can participate in training camp, which for the Raiders will start July 25.
An ESPN interview with C Barret Robbins aired last night. Not surprisingly, Robbins has little or no memory of much of what transpired late in Super Bowl week.
He described his thinking as being sufficiently disordered that by the Wednesday before the game he thought the Raiders had already played and won the Super Bowl.
This observer feels considerable empathy for Robbins. I suffer from depression—chemically and physically you could call it a first cousin to bipolar disorder—and in the peer support work I do with depressives and bipolars I have heard tales startlingly similar to that of Robbins more times than I can count. That said, it's also common knowledge among people with mood disorders that alcohol doesn't mix well with either depression or manic depression.
It's possible I'll have an opinion piece on the Barret Robbins story a little later in the summer. For now this observer will simply offer the opinion that Robbins is handling a very difficult and embarrassing situation about as well as could be expected under the circumstances.
The week's big story was the re-signing to a multi-year deal of free agent G Damon "Mo" Collins.
Big Mo, a dominating blocker, had fired his agent, Brantley Evans, after failing to attract much interest in the free agent market. Two days ago he re-hired Evans, who quickly finalized a potential six-year, $17.5 million contract with the Raiders.
The terms are such that it amounts to a sure two-year, $4.1 million deal, with four more years possible. Collins would receive a $2.5 signing bonus in 2005 for making a prescribed minimum weight.
For now, Collins got $400,000 up front as a signing bonus and will get a 2003 salary of approximately $1 million.
This development means Stinky can go back where he belongs, to a backup role. Stinchcomb's versatility at a variety of positions does make him a useful reserve. This observer is reminded of backup lineman Steve Sylvester from Notre Dame on the great Raiders teams of the late 70s and early 80s.
Source(s): ESPN.com, Associated Press
Personnel changes: Raiders.com lists a new Raider: S Tauras Ferguson from Missouri. He's 5-10, 205, and runs a 4.55 40. His SI.com draft bio describes him as a hybrid linebacker-safety who doesn't play to his timed speed.
TE and long snapper Ben Steele, waived by the Raiders at the start of the week, was claimed by Seattle. The Raiders got Steele last season from the Whiner organization, and he spent part of 2002 on the Oakland practice squad.
Source(s): Raidernews.com
According to The Sporting News, with unrestricted free agent G Mo Collins still unsigned, the Raiders plan to put Stinky (aka first-round bust Matt Stinchcomb) into the lineup at LG and move Frank Middleton over to the right side.
This observer believes the Raiders need Collins. Stinchcomb has been handed repeated opportunities to start on the OL and has disappointed each time. Undrafted and unheralded Barry Sims has beaten out the high-salaried Stinky twice at left tackle.
Source(s): Sporting News
ESPN writer John Clayton reported several days back that the Raiders are $3.6 million under this year's $75.007 million salary cap.
The Raiders have been allotted up to $4,409,382 to sign their rookies. (See news for 5/3/03.) If Clayton's number is accurate, and assuming the Raiders intend to use their full allotment, they'll need to free up approximately $800,000 in cap money.
The Raiders' next camp—aka OTA, or "organized team activity"—will take place May 19-22.
Source(s): Oakland Tribune
Two more undrafted free agents have been signed, both Cal products: DB Bert Watts and DT Daniel Nwangwu.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle
The NFL has calculated and announced the numbers for this year's rookie draft pool. ESPN has the data on its web site.
If you're not familiar with the rookie salary pool, this site has an explanation of how it works. ESPN aptly characterized it thus: "The formula for deriving each team's rookie pool allocation is regarded as Byzantine, not understood by most franchise officials, and is a function of how many picks are exercised by a team and where those picks are made."
Here are this year's numbers:
Team Picks Pool Detroit 11 $5,551,658 Chicago 12 $5,534,184 Houston 10 $5,429,639 Cincinnati 9 $5,238,956 Baltimore 11 $5,106,802 St. Louis 11 $4,529,954 Jacksonville 9 $4,523,643 Oakland 10 $4,409,382 New England 10 $4,402,216 Dallas 7 $4,205,176 N.Y. Jets 7 $4,126,787 Carolina 8 $4,125,852 New Orleans 7 $4,078,143 Seattle 9 $4,059,952 Arizona 7 $3,955,832 N.Y. Giants 11 $3,895,689 Denver 10 $3,825,469 Minnesota 7 $3,703,686 San Diego 8 $3,445,654 Buffalo 8 $3,356,039 Kansas City 8 $3,200,348 Indianapolis 8 $3,181,480 Cleveland 7 $3,066,558 Green Bay 9 $3,052,958 San Francisco 7 $2,868,751 Philadelphia 6 $2,832,711 Miami 9 $2,782,469 Tennessee 6 $2,592,890 Pittsburgh 5 $2,464,281 Tampa Bay 6 $1,923,161 Atlanta 6 $1,818,854 Washington 3 $1,214,480
Source(s): ESPN.com
The Raiders yesterday announced the signing of three more undrafted free agents. They are WRs Charles Pauley from San Jose State and Willie Quinnie of Alabama-Birmingham, and FB Chad Pierson of USC. Links to draft bios of all three can be found on the Personnel page.
Source(s): Raiders.com
Free agent WR Marcus Robinson, a previous object of at least some interest by the Raiders, has agreed to a contract with Baltimore.
Source(s): NFL.com
The Raiders signed two undrafted rookies yesterday. The Raiders.com transactions page also shows that DE Emil Ekiyor was re-signed on April 15th. Ekiyor, 6-4 and 250, was originally drafted by the Whiners out of Central Florida. He was in Oakland's camp the past two years.
The new players are a pair of linemen. Offensive lineman Tom Wike played guard, center and tight end at Maryland. He's 6-3, 305 pounds. DE Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, out of San Diego State, is 6-5 and 275 pounds.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times, Raiders.com
Now that the hoopla is done, NFL teams scramble to sign undrafted free agents. And there are gems to be had.
As usual, the Raiders aren't talking yet about any signings. But with a mini-camp only three days away, you can bet their personnel men are busy.
There's a good article today on NFLPlayers.com about undrafted college players.
The Raiders will hold a minicamp for their 10 draft picks and undrafted free agents—who first must sign contracts—Friday through Sunday at team headquarters in Alameda.
Source(s): Sacramento Bee
On Saturday the Raiders traded their 2004 2nd-round pick to Houston for third- and seventh-round picks this year. They used the 3rd-rounder yesterday to get OLB Sam Williams of Fresno State at No. 83. Williams will be converted to a pass-rushing DE.
Bill Romanowski, doing commentary in New York for ESPN, said that Oakland had Williams in for a workout at which he (Romo) was present. Romo said Williams made a few drops and then they had him put his hand in the dirt and rush the QB. Apparently Al Davis liked what he saw so much that he called off the rest of the workout and forbid anybody with the Raiders to ever mention his name again. As Romo said, "Al got his guy."
Source(s): Raiders Fans Mail List, ESPN.com, KNBR Radio
Yesterday, following the first round, the Raiders continued drafting players whose common trait is speed.
In the second round they took 6-5 Stanford wide receiver Teyo Johnson, who is fast for a man his size (247 pounds). He'll be converted to tight end by the Raiders.
In the third round, along with Sam Williams, the Silver and Black got blazing speed in 6-1, 219-lb RB Justin Fargas of USC. Fargas runs a 4.35 - 40. The knock on him is that he may be injury-prone and immature. At USC, which was well-stocked at running back, he shared time with two other halfbacks.
In a first round full of surprises, the Raiders stood pat with their picks No. 31 and 32, and chose two players whom some will call reaches.
Chosen at No. 31 was Cal safety Nnamdi Asomugha, 6-2½ and 213 pounds. A big hitter but described by some scouts as an uninstinctive player, he was generally projected to go in the late second or even the third round. But he has the size that Phillip Buchanon lacks, and one can argue that's necessary these days to keep up with wide receivers as big as Randy Moss and David Boston. (Not to mention the unmentionable—that All Pro CB Charles Woodson could be a free agent next January.) Asomugha could play either the corner or free safety.
Immediately following, the Raiders took 6-6, 277-lb. DE Tyler Brayton of Colorado, described as a tweener of a defensive lineman who plays with great intensity. (One writer describes Brayton ripping off his shirt following his workout at the Combine and screaming, "I am an animal!" You gotta love a guy like that! :-)
Source(s): NFL.com, Pro Football Weekly, draftworld.com
The Raiders have just announced the renewal of the agreement with KNBR Radio, 1050-AM, to air their 2003 games and serve as the flagship station of their radio network. Additionally, the games will now be simulcast on KNBR's sister station, known as "The BONE," at 107.7 FM. (The traditional call letters are KSAN.)
As a sidelight, those of us who lived in the Bay Area during the '60s will remember KSAN as the leading alternative/underground FM station back then. In a twenty minute span you might hear Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, the Doors, Donovan (yeah—remember him?) and Jimi Hendrix, and disc jockey Tom "Big Daddy" Donahue reigned supreme as the local airwaves' resident hipster. Nowadays the station's as solidly commercial as you'll find.
Source(s): KNBR Radio, Raiders.com
CBS Sportsline writer Pete Prisco insists in an online column published yesterday today that the Raiders were indeed shopping around CB Charles Woodson earlier this off-season despite the strenuous denials by coach Bill Callahan.
One thing is for sure—when Woodson's contract expires at the end of this coming season, he is certain to want a big bundle of money. That could account in large part for why the Raiders gave him a hefty salary raise for 2003 despite owner Al Davis's longstanding policty of refusing to renegotiate existing contracts.
Source(s): CBS Sportsline
Today's Sacramento Bee reports "whispers" that the Raiders are looking to trade up in the first round. The thinking is that if Oakland stands pat at Nos. 31 and 32, they could end up having to pay first round money for second round talent.
Source(s): Sacramento Bee
In a related development, Raiders shill Artie Gigantino opines today in a San Francisco Examiner article that Miami (Fl.) RB Willis McGahee will go to New England, which has picks at Nos. 14 and 19. Is that Gigantino's genuine opinion, or a smokescreen for the Alameda organization with the dark grey and black HQ building? If it is true, and if Al Davis truly does fancy McGahee, reconstructed knee and all, the Raiders might have to move up just to take the gamble.
And make no mistake, gamble it is. McGahee could be great. But he might equally well never play a down in the NFL. Or take one hit in the wrong spot and see the knee crumple under him. This observer still can't forget the horrible sight of RB Napoleon McCallum getting crippled on Monday Night Football.
The Patriots have also been reported to be actively negotiating with Chicago for its No. 4 pick.
Source(s): kffl.com, Chicago Sun-Times, San Francisco Examiner
A columnist for the Chicago Daily Herald—a somewhat dubious source—writes today that the "hot rumor" in Oakland involves a swap of draft picks between Oakland and Da Bearsss. The rumor is amusing to this observer, who lives in San Francisco and has heard absolutely nothing about this "hot rumor" heretofore. Which leads inescapably to the conclusion that what's hot in Chicago may not be what's hot in the Bay Area. ;-)
At any rate, Barry Rozner says the Raiders would package their Nos. 31 and 32 picks, "and perhaps a third and a fourth," to Chicago in return for Chicago's No. 4, which the Raiders would use to get a quarterback. Presumably Marshall's Byron Leftwich.
Rozner observes, "Since the Bears have promised the mentally fragile Kordell Stewart he won't have any competition, the Bears should be able to hold someone up for the No. 4 pick. If they don't rob someone blind, they have failed."
Actually, I'd love to see this trade transpire, because Marques Tuiasosopo is another Rich Gannon, that is to say, a scrambler with a not-too-strong arm. The two quarterbacks who would be available at No. 4, however—Leftwich and Cal's Kyle Boller, can both get the ball down the field with ease.
Source(s): Raidernews.com
C Barret Robbins underwent arthroscopic meniscus surgery last week and missed what would have been the most highly attended optional team activity. The meniscus is a strip of cartilage in the knee.
Source(s): Sports Xchange
ESPN is speculating that the Bungles may be at an impasse in contract negotiations with USC QB Carson Palmer. As a result, says the rumor mill, they have added both QB Byron Leftwich and CB Terence Newman to their talks.
Source(s): ESPN.com
The agent for WR Marcus Robinson, cut by Da Bearsss this past week, says his client will visit Alameda on Wednesday.
Robinson, a six-year veteran, was injured much of the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He had 21 receptions for 244 yards and three touchdowns last season. He would be, at best, a possible fourth wideout with the Raiders.
Robinson did have one very productive year, in 1999, when he caught 84 passes for 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times
Several Raiders players will be on hand at one of the team's stores on Saturday, Apr. 26, the first day of this year's draft.
You can catch T Langston Walker, DE Chris Cooper, Raiders legends and Raiderettes at the Raider Image location in San Leandro from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Here's the address:Raider Image at West Gate
1933 Davis Street
San Leandro, CA
By the way, a "Raiders legend" is anyone who ever played for the team. In the past the organization has called such ordinary ex-Raiders as RB Vance Mueller "legends," so take it with a grain of salt. That said, some genuine former stars such as Jack Tatum and George Atkinson live in the area and frequently do promotional work for the team.
Source(s): Raiders.com
Where Are They Now Dept.: Former Raiders draft pick C Gennaro DiNapoli, a starter last year with Tennessee, might sign with either Cincinnati or Indianapolis. He's moving down in the world . . .
Source(s): Pro Football Weekly
A Big Easy columnist writes that the Ain'ts are interested in S Anthony Doorstop. Please, God, make them sign him!
Shorty never rests: At the league meetings recently, Donks coach Mike Shanahan said he's watched the videotape of Super Bowl XXXVII at least 10 times, looking for ways to beat the Silver and Black.
Source(s): New Orleans Times-Picayune
Former Raiders lineman John Vella, whose chain of stores has carried both official and non-official (counterfeit) NFL gear for years, settled a trademark infringement suit filed by the NFL by agreeing to remove the word "Raiders" from the store's name. The four Bay Area outlets will now be called "John Vella's Locker Room."
This observer once overheard a Raiders team official refer to Vella as an "embarrassment."
Source(s): Associated Press
The Raiders signed CB Anthony Parker yesterday. Drafted out of Weber State in 1999 by San Francisco, he was out of football last year. A Denver native, he's 6-1, 200 pounds.
Source(s): Raiders.com, NFLPlayers.com
TE Hunter Goodwin, who had received offers from both the Raiders and Vikings, has agreed to re-sign with Minnesota.
Source(s): Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Where Are They Now Dept.: WR James Jett has, ironically, received an offer from Tampa Bay, whose coach, Jon Gruden, thinks that passing the ball farther than 5 yards is an unacceptable risk.
Source(s): Tampa Bay Tribune
