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News Archive
Jul. 4 - Sep. 27, 2004
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ILB Napoleon Harris didn't start but did see action in the Tampa Bay game. In fact, he had a team-high nine tackles. Afterward, he expressed his irritation at not starting.
"Yes, I'm pissed off that I didn't start," said Harris, a former first-round draft pick and easily the thoroughbred of the Raiders' otherwise somewhat motley crew of linebackers. Harris has been a starter since his rookie year, when the Raiders released popular MLB Greg Biekert to make room for him.
He thinks his showing will convince the defensive coaches to move him up the depth chart. "I hope they look at the film and decide that," he said.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle
Here's the late NFL injury report for Sunday's game:
Oakland: Doubtful: DE Sam Williams (shoulder). Questionable: RB Justin Fargas (toe); LB Napoleon Harris (knee); TE Roland Williams (knee).
Tampa Bay: Out: WR Joey Galloway (groin). Probable: TE Dave Moore (elbow); WR Frank Murphy (hamstring).
Source(s): Pro Football Weekly
The LaMont Jordan sweepstakes is heating up again—although, to hear Jets GM Terry Bradway tell it, Jordan's not negotiable. Jordan's name was bandied about a fair amount back in the spring during the peak free agency period, again at the time of the college draft, and yet again in late June, but clearly no one has made Bradway an offer that he felt he couldn't refuse.
Several teams are said to be very interested in Jordan again now. Jordan is currently riding the pine as a seldom-used backup to under-appreciated Jets star RB Curtis Martin. The Raiders, in particular, with a running game that's been anemic thus far, would like to find someone who combines the power and leg drive of Tyrone Wheatley with the burst and quickness of Justin Fargas. Is Jordan that man? It's hard to know for sure, since no one has seen a lot of him except in limited pre-season action the past several years.
What is known is that Jordan is in the final season of a four-year contract, so he can become an unrestricted free agent following this season. He's 5-11, 230 pounds, and played collegiately at Maryland. It seems to this observer it would behoove the Jests to get something for Jordan now while his trade value is perhaps at its highest. No?!?!? Yes?!?!? Or do they enjoy playing Russian Roulette? (The NFL trading deadline, in case you're wondering, is October 19.)
The Raiders and Jets talked turkey over Jordan during the draft (see News Archive link here) and reportedly again in June (see News Archive link here), but have never been able to reach agreement. New York is said to be demanding a second-round draft pick—they took Jordan originally in the second round of the NFL draft—with the Raiders reportedly offering a third-rounder. Geez—you'd think they could figure out a way to split the difference, say, third-rounders in both 2005 and 2006, or a Raiders second-rounder in 2005 for Jordan and a Jets 2005 3rd-rounder . . .
Finally, here's a link to the most recent article we've seen from the New York press which was principally about LaMont Jordan.
Source(s): CBS Sportsline, New York Post, NY Daily News, Bergen (NJ) Record (NorthJersey.com)
The final league injury report for Sunday's home opener:
Oakland: Doubtful: LB Sam Williams (shoulder). Questionable: RB Justin Fargas (turf toe); ILB Napoleon Harris (knee); TE Roland Williams (knee). Probable: OLB DeLawrence Grant (knee).
Buffalo: Out: QB J.P. Losman (lower leg); S Lawyer Milloy (forearm).
Source(s): Pro Football Weekly
Guess who's in jail again?!?!? None other than the one-time first-round draft pick of the Raiders, Todd Marijuanovich. This time it's not heroin, though . . . Cops stopping Marinovich for skateboarding in a board-prohibited area busted him for possession of methamphetamine (speed) and three syringes.
He drew a 90-day sentence. Very light, considering his lo-o-o-ong record.
Source(s): Associated Press
Yesterday the team released DE Bobby Setzer, who had a big spring in NFL Europe. Which just goes to emphasize the difference in the level of competition between that league and the NFL.
Source(s): Raiders.com
Where Are They Now Dept.: Andre Rison signed yesterday with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.
Source(s): Associated Press
Perusing the NFL.com player index, this observer dug up the following info on the two newest Raiders.
DE Peppi Zellner, 29, is 6-5 and listed at 262 pounds. He played collegiately at Fort Valley State (Eddie Anderson's alma mater), and was a Cowboy from 1999 through 2002, then spent 2003 with the Redskins. He's been assigned No. 77.
LB Maugaula (Ula) Tuitele, who'll wear No. 40, spent 2000-2002 with New England, then was out of the NFL in 2003. At 6-1 and 250 he's short for a backer . . . He's 26 and attended college at Colorado State.
Here's the injury report for today's 6:00 contest:
Oakland: Probable: G Ron Stone (hamstring); Questionable: T Joe Wong (foot); Out: T Robert Gallery (elbow), LB Napoleon Harris (knee), OLB Sam Williams (knee), CB Charles Woodson (holdout).
Dallas: Questionable: DT Leonardo Carson (knee), G Stephen Peterman (finger), DT Daleroy Stewart (ankle); Doubtful: S Darren Woodson (back); Out: RB Erik Bickerstaff (Achilles), TE Dan Campbell (groin), C Gennaro DiNapoli (ankle).
Source(s): USA Today
According to DallasNews.com, QB Vinny Testaverde will play the first half for Dallas, and Drew Henson the second.
OLB Sam Williams seems jinxed. Coming back after missing virtually all last season with a knee injury, the promising young player tore the labrum in his left shoulder against San Francisco last Saturday and underwent surgery Wednesday.
A normal recovery period following such surgery might be three to four months. (This is the same surgery QB Rich Gannon had at season's end last year.) Williams, who's either a great optimist or in complete denial, said he expects to return in six weeks. Such a timetable would mean Williams would miss only three regular season games.
NT Ted Washington, CB Clarence Love, and T Robert Gallery all missed practice on Wednesday. Washington and Love should be available against Dallas tomorrow; Gallery remains questionable. RB Amos Zereoue missed practice Monday through Thursday with a severe calf bruise and is doubtful for Dallas.
The team said G Ron Stone will start the exhibition with the first unit.
Source(s): Fanball, Contra Costa Times, KFFL.com
TE Teyo Johnson started a fight with OLB Akbar Gbaja-Biamila in practice yesterday and was excused from the remaining 45 minutes of practice by tight ends coach John Morton.
Johnson is angry at what he says is retaliation by the coaching staff for a trip to China he took in the spring after the coaches told him they'd prefer he didn't go. He claims he's on the fourth string now.
Coach Norv Turner said it only appeared that Johnson had been demoted to the fourth team for last Saturday's game because "we had some things we wanted to look at" which necessitated the team inserting first starter Doug Jolley, then Roland Williams and rookie Courtney Anderson, before getting Teyo Johnson into the game in the second half.
Source(s): San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, Contra Costa Times
The Associated Press reports that QB Vinny Testaverde will start Saturday for Dallas against the Raiders.
The agent for P/K Steve Baker, who was cut by Oakland on July 26, confirmed today to reporters that his client has been re-signed by the Raiders after the team cut K Mark Jensen on Monday. Clearly the Raiders want to have two kickers in camp to make special teams drills easier to run.
The Raiders signed two players, LB Maugaula Tuitele and DL Peppi Zellner. Tuitele was released by New England in August 2003 and has apparently been out of football since. Zellner, last with the Redskins, worked out for Denver in June.
Source(s): Associated Press, KFFL.com
WR Carlos Francis, who's been a focus of press attention since his eye-opening performance last Saturday, expects to return to practice Thursday. Francis tweaked a hamstring in practice Monday afternoon but said at the time that it was nothing to worry about, that as a long-time track performer he knows when to ease up to avoid pulling a hamstring.
T Robert Gallery, who hyper-extended his elbow Monday, sat out practice Tuesday and again today and remains day-to-day. He's questionable for Saturday's home opener against Dallas.
Finally, G Ron Stone, whom Norv Turner anointed a starter back at the start of camp, practiced for the first time Tuesday since pulling his hamstring in the camp's first practice session. While the Raiders have enviable depth and versatility in their offensive line group, they seemed to be in a similar position of strength last year before injuries decimated their line. Stone also needs to get into playing shape, and his return has got to be good news to Turner and his staff.
ESPN's Len Pasquarelli printed a follow-up item on the four then-Raiders who tested positive for the designer steroid THG during the 2003 season. (Actually, on three of them. He omitted the fourth, LB Bob Romanowski, who may yet face the stiffest obstacle of all—a criminal prosecution.)
Pasquarelli noted the bad news—no doubt accurately—that "they will be forever linked, even if somewhat flimsily, to a BALCO case that will only get more tawdry as the investigation moves forward." And then he went on to "the good news (relatively speaking) . . . that none of the players faces suspension and they reached a settlement that isn't even as financially punitive as once believed."
Initial reports were that Oakland DL Chris Cooper, C Barret Robbins and (new Patriot) DT Dana Stubblefield, who signed with the Patsies after Pasquarelli's article hit the Web, would be fined three game checks based on their '04 salaries. "Not true," writes Pasquarelli. "The fines are based on their 2003 salaries and, in the case of both Robbins and Cooper, that saves them a few bucks. It means Cooper will pay just $22,882, instead of the $58,823 he would have faced if the fines were calculated using '04 base numbers. Robbins' fine is $58,823, instead of $70,588. Stubblefield loses $44,411, based on his 2003 salary of $755,000."
Source(s): ESPN.com
Updating previous reports, the Contra Costa Times cites coach Norv Turner as reporting that arthroscopic surgery on ILB Napoleon Harris's (knee) went as planned. The prognosis remains his missing three to six weeks. Harris attended practice on crutches early in the week and insisted he'll be back for the regular season opener. If, however, it were to take the entire six weeks' recuperation, he'd miss the Raiders' first two regular season games.
Bear in mind, too, that these rosy estimates rarely take into account the reality that, even once "back," Harris won't be back to full speed for a number of weeks after that.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times, KFFL.com
More comments from Turner: T Robert Gallery won't start tomorrow, nor will C Jake Grove, but each will see action playing with the first unit offensive line.
QB Rich Gannon can expect to play the first quarter, give or take. And, given his 'druthers, Turner said he'd like to see Gannon, Kerry Collins, Marques Tuiasosopo, and perhaps even Tee Martin in the game.
At the wide receiver positions, as has been widely reported this week, Ronald Curry is the new No. 3 wideout. The two Jerry's, Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter, are the starters. At running back, as expected, Turner selected Tyrone Wheatley early on to be the every-down back. Camp gossip has focused on Justin Fargas as Wheatley's backup and Amos Zereoue as the potential third-down back. Troy Hambrick, signed by Oakland after he deliberately engineered his release from Dallas, seems not to have made much of a dent and could be out of a job by September.
With G Ron Stone nursing a hamstring through all of training camp, and now Mo Collins with a knee injury, Raiders fans can expect to see a lot of substitutions among the offensive linemen in San Francisco. It will be interesting to see whether the coaches move Barry Sims inside to guard after he opens the game at left tackle. And Brad Badger could conceivably see action at as many as three positions—center, guard and tackle; of those, tackle is the least likely.
Finally, this note: CB Ike Charlton returned to practice Thursday after missing an unstated amount of time due to a thumb injury.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times, KFFL.com
The Raiders waived CB Jacoby Shepherd after reaching an injury settlement. Shepherd sustained a shoulder injury earlier this week.
The Raiders also signed third-year guard-center Bernard Robertson (6-3, 315), out of Tulane. He spent time in camp with the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears the past two seasons, and appeared in five games for Da Bearsss in 2002. Head coach Norv Turner said lingering injuries to guards Ron Stone (hamstring) and Mo Collins (knee) necessitated adding Robertson.
Rookie C Jake Grove continues to work with the first team. Adam Treu still is working mainly as the long snapper, although coach Norv Turner has said that Treu will start the exhibition opener against the Whiners.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times
Where Are They Now Dept.: DE Lorenzo Bromell, who signed with the Giants this off-season as a free agent, was placed on the physically unable to perform list (knee).
Source(s): Yahoo Sports
Where Are They Now Dept.: DT Dana Stubblefield signed with New England yesterday. Presumably they know he'll miss the first few games with his THG-related suspension.
Source(s): Yahoo Sports
The Raiders brought in UFA G Jamie Nails for a physical Sunday, senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi said. Lombardi added that there isn't any intent to sign Nails at this point.
Nails, 27, started the 29 games he played for the Miami Dolphins the past two seasons. He started only 22 games his first four NFL seasons, with the Buffalo Bills. He didn't play in 2001.
The interest in Nails likely has something to do with injuries to guards Frank Middleton (calf) and Ron Stone (hamstring) early in camp. Also, the lack of suitors for Nails' services no doubt has driven down his asking price.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times
Holdout Chaz. Woodson would do well to keep his eyes glued to the boob tube for the next few weeks.
That's because his agents, the infamous Poston Brothers, are essentially on trial right now in the court of public opinion. They stand accused of flatulence of the mouth compounded by gross incompetence of the brain. Basically, taking the athlete at his word—which this observer does—they blew a $6.5 million bonus for one of their clients.
The plaintiff isn't Woodson, it's Washington LB LaVar Arrington. But it could equally well have been Woodson before now, or could be again at a later date in the not-too-distant future. Because, as RumorMill editor Mike Florio has repeatedly pointed out on his Web site, when pressed with a free agency signing deadline, the Postons couldn't be bothered with thoroughly proofreading a client's contract before advising him to sign it.
They told him, "Go ahead and sign," he did, and now the mess is headed for arbitration.
As any lawyer worth $.02 will tell you, (or actually, most anyone with a functioning brain), the time to point out discrepancies in an agreement is before you sign, not after. But agents aren't attorneys. This former practicing attorney doesn't think either of the Poston brothers, Carl or Kevin, could pass any state's bar exam. (If they could have, one presumes they would have. 
) Indeed, this observer doesn't think either could graduate successfully from an accredited law school. That's why they're agents, a shady area where accreditation hinges more on observing the NFLPA rules than on any demonstrated competence at negotiation.
(Parenthetically, many agents are also attorneys. Case in point: Leigh Steinberg is an accomplished contract attorney who specializes in the sub-specialty of entertainment law which most would call sports law. And most accredited agents are probably most ethical personages as well. It's not our intent here to trash all sports agents, only to point out that, as in any profession, there are those who are competent and ethical, and those who are not.)
There's also the point Florio raises about the types of athletes who are attracted to hiring one or both of the Postons to represent them in the first place. They tend to have very low Wonderlic scores. Both Arrington and Woodson were included in the group of NFL players about whom Florio raised this issue—five athletes, all embroiled in contract disputes with their teams, whose average Wonderlic was a measly 15.5 [that's out of a possible 50, folks]. [Follow this handy link to the News Archive for 3/23/04.])
Florio takes the high road interpreting such evidence. He doesn't argue that the low scores mean only dopes sign with the Postons. Rather he argues that their style—lots of swagger and confrontation in their negotiations—attracts jocks who perhaps think more with their emotions than their intellects. A more charitable, if equally damning, conclusion. Hey, perhaps both interpretations are correct . . .
Source(s): Associated Press, ProFootballTalk.com
We're in the doldrums now, the toughest time of the year for diehard Raiders fans when there is nothing to report. The final five or so weeks before training camp are enough to drive this observer nuts, year after year . . .
This one burning question awaits, however. Will the Raiders actually employ the shotgun formation this year? Al Davis, as any Raiders fan worth this or her salt knows, detests the concept and it has never been used by the Raiders. Yet reportedly new coach Norv Turner has had the quarterbacks taking some long snaps in practices.
This observer thinks if there were any coach to whom Davis would defer on the issue, it would be a guy like Turner, who thinks so similarly as far as offensive philosophy: pound the ball until the defense has to come up to bolster the box, then go deep to punish them.
Asked whether he would install the shotgun, Turner was noncommittal.
Source(s): Sacramento Bee
