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News Archive
Oct. 25 - Nov. 11, 2005
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There's a pretty amazing story appearing in yesterday's "Rumor Mill" content. It's fairly lengthy, so rather than paraphrase it here, I'll provide a link to the original report, and you can read it on the ProFootballTalk.com site. It could definitely lead to a situation in which the legal beagles for ex-Raider Gene Upshaw and the Players Union ended up squaring off against counsel for the Raiders and the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Here 'tis: BUCS, RAIDERS PLAYING LEGAL HARDBALL - (click on white text area in center column, then use your browser's search key to find the capitalized string)
Here's this week's preliminary injury report:
Oakland: Out: CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Doubtful: C Jake Grove (knee). Questionable: RB John Paul Foschi (foot). Probable: G Brad Badger (knee); CB Chris Carr (quadricep); LB Danny Clark (shoulder); S Jarrod Cooper (calf); RB Omar Easy (knee); DT Edward Jasper (back); DE Tommy Kelly (ribs); WR Randy Moss (groin/ribs); DT Ted Washington (thigh).
Cleveland: Doubtful: CB Antonio Perkins (hand). Questionable: G Joe Andruzzi (calf); TE Steve Heiden (ankle); CB Michael Lehan (hamstring); CB Ray Mickens (groin); DE Orpheus Roye (knee); TE Aaron Shea (calf). Probable: CB Leigh Bodden (concussion); G Cosey Coleman (knee); RB Reuben Droughns (knee); QB Charlie Frye (knee).
Source(s): Pro Football Weekly
Bill King made it! Well, the final ballot, anyway . . . Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I received two days ago:
The 10-name ballot for the 2006 Ford C. Frick Award, including the three selections designated by the fan vote during the month of November, can now be accessed at www.baseballhalloffame.org. Fans placed broadcasters Bill King, Dave Niehaus and Jacques Doucet on the ballot, with the seven remaining selections determined by a Hall of Fame committee.
The 20-member Frick Award voting committee will announce the 2006 winner on Feb. 21, exclusively at www.baseballhalloffame.org.
If you voted at the Baseball Hall of Fame site, thank you!!
And as a treat, or for you youngsters as an educational feature, here's a link to a vintage King call of a great Raiders play. King ends the call with his signature "Holy Toledo!" You'll need software capable of playing an *.avi clip (an old Windows video format). (The Windows Media Player, QuickTime, and Media Player Classic all work well. Note that to see the video as well as just hear the audio you may have to save the file to your hard disk and play it from there.)
According to the Rumor Mill web site, early word is that the official cap number for 2006 will land somewhere between $92 million and $95 million per team, up from $85 million this year and higher than the previously anticipated range of $89 million to $90 million.
Even at $95 million, several teams need to trim more than $20 million in 2006 payroll. The Jets and Raiders each exceed $120 million, and the Broncos have more than $118 million committed to next season.
And remember that comment several weeks back from the same source that Kerry Collins would probably be in demand in the off-season, statue or not? FOXSports linked two such columns today, one from a New York paper and another from a Philly rag. To paint the full picture, they're suggesting bringing in Collins as a backup, not to start, but the fact remains that his arm strength appeals to many.
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com ("Rumor Mill")
Here's the week's preliminary injury report for Sunday's game:
Oakland: Out: CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Doubtful: FB John Paul Foschi (foot). Questionable: S Jarrod Cooper (calf); C Jake Grove (shoulder); DT Edward Jasper (back); DT Ted Washington (thigh). Probable: G Brad Badger (knee); T Robert Gallery (shoulder); DE Tommy Kelly (ribs); WR Randy Moss (groin/ribs); S Stuart Schweigert (ankle).
New York Jets: Out: QB Jay Fiedler (right shoulder). Doubtful: RB Derrick Blaylock (ankle). Questionable: DT Dewayne Robertson (quadricep). Probable: RB Curtis Martin (knee).
Source(s): Yahoo! Sports
Yesterday the Raiders signed FB Zach Tuiasosopo, brother of quarterback Marques, to the practice squad. He sounds as though he has some good skills; check the link in the Personnel Changes section.
Unable to coax even mediocre pass protection out of the Raiders' overpaid and underachieving offensive line, coach Norv Turner is considering the heretofore unthinkable: starting backup QB Marques Tuiasosopo Sunday at the Meadowlands against Herm Edwards's crew. In fact, while he says he'll decide before practice on Wednesday, Turner sounded early today as if the decision to make the change might be pretty much a done deal.
Turner said he's already spoken to Collins about it. "I wouldn't have brought it up if it wasn't something we're considering strongly," Turner said in the aftermath of the Raiders' second straight defeat, their fourth loss in five games, and surely one of the most deflating games of this season.
"We're going to look at the quarterback situation and say, 'Hey, is it time to look at Tui?' With his mobility, would that help us?"
Tuiasosopo had a miserable preseason but hasn't played a down in a regular season game since a single start in 2003 (a game in which he was knocked out by a hit to the knee delivered by Detroit LB Boss Bailey). Fans have been chanting, "Too-ey! Too-ey!" at recent home games. Then again, it's fair to wonder how much even a more adept scrambler like Tuiasosopo will be able to accomplish behind a line that is currently little more than a sieve. Tui will be running for his life most of the time, one imagines.
(How bad is the pass blocking? In the Miami game, RT Robert Gallery was run over by Fins DE Jason Taylor's bull rush. Not a speed move, mind you, simply a power move. Taylor, according to NFL.com, weighs 255 to Gallery's 325. (Taylor tried Gallery's side occasionally for comic relief. Most of the afternoon he was busy beating LT Barry Sims with both speed and power moves. Taylor had three sacks and a safety officially, but he pressured Kerry Collins throughout the game.)
This observer will say one thing in Norv Turner's favor here. While I have ceased to support him because of the atrocious play-calling, clock management, lack of a sense of urgency, and other problems which plague the team, I have a strong sense that managing general partner Al Davis has very little regard for Tui. Then again, in my humble opinion, Davis is not a particularly gifted judge of quarterback talent. This is the man who traded away Ken Stabler for the bum Dan Pastorini—Jim Plunkett only got on the field after Pastorini broke his leg. And Davis let a young Stabler languish on the bench for nearly five years until, due to injuries to both Daryle Lamonica and George Blanda, the Raiders had to play Stabler.
Turner is, I think, bucking Davis by even considering starting Tuiasosopo, and he deserves credit for that.
Source(s): CBS Sportsline, NFL.com
Here are today's inactives for the Raiders-Chumpsters game:
Note: CD = Coach's Decision
Oakland: DT Edward Jasper (back); FB John Paul Foschi (foot); T Brad Lekkerkerker (CD); WR Carlos Francis (CD); WR Johnnie Morant (CD); LB Ryan Riddle (CD); CB Charles Woodson (fibula); and QB Andrew Walter (3rd QB).
San Diego: S Scott McGarrahan (CD); TE Landon Trusty (CD); G Wes Sims (CD); T Cory Lekkerkerker (CD); DE Derrick Robinson (CD); T Roman Oben (foot); WR Vincent Jackson (CD); and QB A.J. Feeley (3rd QB).
Source(s): The Sports Network
Oakland has added T William Obeng to its practice squad. Obeng, who transferred to San Jose State and started there at left tackle his senior year, is 6-6 and weighs 315 pounds. He was signed by Minnesota after going unselected in the draft, then cut by the Tykes on Aug. 22, 2005.
Frankly, he has the size for a tackle but sounds to this observer as though he'd be better suited to guard in the NFL. Click on the link above for a draft-time capsule of Obeng.
Source(s): KFFL.com, Raiders.com, SI.com
Last update: An AP report dated Dec. 2 and cited on NFL.com states flatly that Dolts starting LT Roman Oben is out for tomorrow's game. He had been characterized as questionable—meaning a 50% chance of playing—on the league injury report, but didn't practice Friday and is still bothered by his foot injury.
If Oben doesn't play, six-year veteran tackle Leander Jordan will make his fourth NFL start in Oben's stead.
Source(s): NFL.com
Late update: Here's an interesting article published on ESPN.com three days back, which I just happened to find today. I highlight it here because otherwise you'd most likely miss it, since it's a number of screens down in the Articles links. It's definitely worth reading! 
If you happen to be a devotee of the Sweet Science—aka boxing—there is a tremendous bout taking place tonight on pay-per-view TV: the rematch of Jermain Taylor-Bernard Hopkins for the undisputed middleweight title. Their first fight, last July, was a war, with the young Taylor taking a controversial split decision over the savvy veteran Hopkins. Boxing is off topic here, I know, so 'nuff said . . .
WR-punt returner Peerless Price was cut by Dallas today after another season of underachieving. Price really only had one big season, but it was a beauty: 2002, with Buffalo, when he posted 94 catches for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns. Query: wouldn't that be an improvement over Alvis Whitted? This observer is assuming the obvious, that any contract would be for minimal cash (the veteran minimum) and incentive-laden, based on production . . .
The Rumor Mill column at ProFootballTalk.com also discusses the Price situation. Here's a link to a link in the Articles section.Source(s): ESPN.com, ProFootballTalk.com ("Rumor Mill")
There are no changes from Wednesday's preliminary report in the league's final injury report, issued today.
Source(s): NFL.com
KFFL.com cites an AP report for the proposition that the Raiders have (finally) figured out to put G Langston Walker on injured reserve. Brilliant!!! Inasmuch as Walker's prognosis was a minimum of six to eight weeks' recovery time as of a date which left seven to nine weeks remaining in the season, does anyone else out there agree with me that the Raiders front office was a dollar short and a day late on this one?!?!? Even if Walker could have returned, what kind of shape would he have been in after such a long layoff?
The same report says that DT Anttaj Hawthorne has been promoted from the practice squad to fill the opening. One suspects the Raiders could have used Hawthorne these past four or five weeks . . .
Also from KFFL, and referencing the league injury report . . . all five Raiders "probables"—plus "questionable" Ed Jasper—practiced today and are expected to play Sunday.
Jake Grove took most of the practice reps at left guard and is expected to start there Sunday. Presumably the tendinitis of Adam Treu has calmed down enough that he's expected to start at center.
On defense, DE Derrick Burgess is expected to see more playing time at defensive end, with DE Tommy Kelly splitting time between defensive end and tackle.
Source(s): KFFL.com, Associated Press
Late update: Mike Florio, editor of the always entertaining and also insightful Rumor Mill site, writes that QB Kerry Collins's services should be in plenty of demand for 2006 notwithstanding his thoroughly mediocre performance in 2005. Collins's salary will jump from $765,000 to $6 million next year, which, opines Florio, guarantees the departure of Collins after this season.
Says Florio:
Teams love his arm strength, and they explain his struggles this season by pointing to the poor play of the Raiders' offensive line. And given the performance of the aforementioned [Minnesota QB Brad] Johnson, who suddenly looks a lot better with a change of scenery, one of the other teams out there that needs a quarterback will come calling when Collins hits the market.
And while we're on the subject of the Rumor Mill, Florio has also published a list of all the players who, unless their contracts are modified, will be free agents in 2006. The list includes both those whose contracts expire at season's end and those who will have completed three NFL seasons and will become restricted free agents (designated "RFA"). Here's the Oakland list:
T-G Chad Slaughter; G Corey Hulsey; TE Zeron Flemister; FB Omar Easy; WR-TE Randal Williams; OLB-DL Grant Irons; S Jarrod Cooper; DT Terdell Sands; DT Edward Jasper; OLB DeLawrence Grant; ILB Tim Johnson; CB-S Renaldo Hill; SS Reggie Tongue; CB-S Charles Woodson; and DT Kenny Smith.
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com (the "Rumor Mill")
The early (Wednesday) injury report for Sunday's game is as follows:
Oakland: Out: G Langston Walker (abdomen); CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Doubtful: FB John Paul Foschi (foot). Questionable: DT Ed Jasper (back). Probable: G Brad Badger (knee); T Robert Gallery (shoulder); DE Tommy Kelly (ribs); WR Randy Moss (groin); FS Stuart Schweigert (ankle).
San Diego: Questionable: OLB Steve Foley (neck); WR Vincent Jackson (hamstring); SS Terrence Kiel (ankle); T Roman Oben (foot); TE Justin Peelle (shoulder); DE DeQuincy Scott (fibula).
Source(s): NFL.com
Oakland apparently brought in offensive lineman Ben Sobieski on Wednesday with the intention of signing him to the practice squad but then decided against it. Sobieski, a center, appeared in the locker room, then left, saying he was stepping out to sign his contract, but he never returned. The Raiders said later they had decided not to sign the former Iowa and Buffalo Bills player.
Source(s): Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Miami signed G C.J. (Clinton) Brooks off Oakland's practice squad to its active roster on Tuesday. The Raiders had signed Brooks as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Maryland.
Such a signing by another club is allowed only if the practice squad player goes directly to the new club's active roster.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times, MiamiDolphins.com
As expected, Oakland placed SS Reggie Tongue on injured reserve today. To fill the roster opening the Raiders claimed CB Lenny Walls, a San Francisco native, off waivers from the Denver Donks.
Walls, 6-4 and 195 pounds, became expendable in Denver when Ratface became enamored with the play of rookie corners Darrent Williams and Dominique Foxworth. Denver waived Walls Monday with an injury settlement. In his fourth year out of Boston College, Walls was originally projected as a Denver starter for this season but was slowed by a groin injury suffered in mid-October. Described as "struggling" even before the injury, Walls was benched in favor of Williams.
And then . . . Walls failed his physical with the Raiders. So today Oakland re-signed S Calvin Branch to the active roster.
"It's not 100 percent yet," said Walls. "I guess they figured they didn't want to pay me to rehab."
It would have cost the Raiders $420,588 of Walls' $1.43 million salary to employ him for the rest of the season.
"He just isn't quite ready to do much," coach Norv Turner said.Source(s): ESPN.com, Rocky Mountain News, Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle
SS Reggie Tongue tore the ACL in his left knee during the Miami game and will miss the rest of the 2005 season. He will undergo surgery on Wednesday, Nov. 30, and should be placed on injured reserve this week. The safeties will be CB-S Renaldo Hill and FS Stuart Schweigert—former starting SS Jarrod Cooper has now become a starting outside linebacker—with CB Stanford Routt possibly getting additional time in sets with extra defensive backs.
DT Warren Sapp will have surgery on the same day, Nov. 30, to repair his torn rotator cuff.
Source(s): KFFL.com, Associated Press
Where Are They Now Dept.: Ex-Raider TE Teyo Johnson was waived by Arizona.
Former first-round draft pick Phillip Buchanon was placed om injured reserve by the Houston Texans due to a high ankle sprain. Coach Doom Capers said the sprain would require five weeks to heal and the team needed a replacement now. Houston signed someone off its practice squad to fill the open roster spot.
Source(s): Associated Press (Yahoo! Sports)
Finally, some of the great Raiders from the '70s and '80s teams are getting some serious attention in Pro Football Hall of Fame voting. Twenty-five semi-finalists were announced today, and the list includes three great Raiders from the franchise's glory days: QB Kenny Stabler, P Ray Guy, and CB Lester Hayes.
Next, mail balloting will winnow this list of 25 down to 13, to which the two Seniors Committee choices will be added to comprise the final ballot of 15 candidates. Senior choices this year are Dallas T Rayfield Wright and former head coach John Madden. More info can be found in the press release at the Pro Football Hall of Fame site.
Guy has faced a difficult road because of the perception by many selectors that a punter is not a "full-time player." Kansas City placekicker Jan Stenerud has been inducted, but arguably the fact that a placekicker scores points makes him an offensive player in a way. Yet anyone who ever saw Guy in action knows that he could take over a game by controlling field position with his booming punts.
Stabler had a well-earned reputation as a party animal. He was a consummate gambler and big play quarterback, who excelled in pressure situations. Early in his career as a starter he excelled at accuracy. Later, as his knees got wobbly, he was noticeably less accurate but no less deadly. We remember the Snake for many great Raiders moments, including Ghost to the Post, the Holy Roller, and the Sea of Hands.
Lester "the Molester" Hayes, also called "The Judge" by some, played opposite CB Mike Haynes in what was one of the great tandems ever to play together in the NFL. In Super Bowl XVIII they shut down a very good Washington receiving corps led by Art Monk (on this same semifinalist list) and Gary Clark without a catch. Hayes was as colorful a character as ever wore the Silver & Black.
Source(s): Pro Football Hall of Fame
Raiders hurting: Some of that positive energy having to do with those Raiders whose negative MRIs had provided news to cheer about on Tuesday, was transformed into—dare we say it—a sense of grim resignation the following day as C Adam Treu, G Brad Badger, WR Randy Moss, DE Bobby Hamilton, FB Omar Easy (knee) and S Renaldo Hill (hip) were unable to finish Wednesday's practice because of their injuries.
Treu is battling chronic tendinitis in his left knee and one can expect that sort of chronic inflammation will worsen by this time of season one it's set in initially. With Brad Badger it's either a strain (Contra Costa Times) or a tear (San Francisco Chronicle) of the medial collateral ligament, and like Treu's condition, Badger's ability to play at this time of year depends on the degree of pain which he can accommodate. On the preliminary league injury report Treu is listed as questionable, Badger as probable.
Hamilton's ankle injury is becoming problematic. Coach Norv Turner had hoped to have him back at practice this week, but Hamilton is listed as doubtful for Sunday.
Hill banged up his hip against Denver. Easy's injury is designated simply as "knee". Ditto for MLB Danny Clark, who also had an MRI on Monday.
As far as the offensive line goes, the Chron article points out, "Battered offensive linemen often get help handling their wear-and-tear this time of year. Teams might use more tight end help or fullback protection."
"We're trying to," coach Norv Turner said. "And the number one thing you can do is not throw the ball 50 times in a game and that's the best way you can help them." After the Raiders fell behind, 23-0, to Denver, however, Collins passed 50 times in an effort to catch up.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle
Speaking of the Wednesday early injury report, here it is:
Oakland Out: G Langston Walker (abdomen); CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Doubtful: DE Bobby Hamilton (ankle). Questionable: FB Omar Easy (knee); C Adam Treu (knee). Probable: G Brad Badger (knee); MLB Danny Clark (knee); CB-S Renaldo Hill (hip); WR Randy Moss (groin).
Washington: Doubtful: WR David Patten (knee). Questionable: RB Ladell Betts (knee); DT Cornelius Griffin (hip). Probable: DE Phillip Daniels (elbow); DT Joe Salave'a (foot); FS Omar Stoutmire (hamstring); FS Sean Taylor (ankle).
Where Are They Now Dept.: SS Marques Anderson, who lost his starting job with Oakland to Derrick Gibson in training camp and was gone from the Oakland squad just a few days later, was waived by Denver yesterday to make room for rookie TE Wesley Duke, who was promoted from the practice squad. Duke had been stashed on the developmental team to start the season because the Donks didn't think he would clear waivers without getting grabbed by another team. Injuries to Denver players have forced the team to expose him since, and he cleared waivers in mid-October.
Source(s): Associated Press
OAKLAND: Out: G Langston Walker (abdomen); CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Questionable: DE Bobby Hamilton (ankle); CB Renaldo Hill (hip); WR Randy Moss (groin). Probable: G Brad Badger (knee); SS Jarrod Cooper (hamstring); FB Zack Crockett (ankle); OLB DeLawrence Grant (ankle); DE Tommy Kelly (ankle); G Ron Stone (ribs).
DENVER: Questionable: WR Todd Devoe (personal matters); WR Darius Watts (ankle). Probable: CB Champ Bailey (hamstring); S Sam Brandon (shoulder); TE Mike Leach (finger); DT Gerard Warren (thigh).
Source(s): CBS Sportsline
Where Are They Now Dept./Some Things Never Change: Ex-Raider and current Packer nose tackle Grady "Gravy Train" Jackson has to eat well to keep up his strength—everyone knows that. And eating well isn't cheap these days. Currently listed at 345 pounds, Jackson on Thursday reiterated his stance that he wants to be paid on a par with the league's top run-stoppers or he'll go elsewhere next season. Jackson is playing out the last year of a two-year, $2.31 million deal which included an $800,000 signing bonus.
Jackson added that he has no animosity toward anyone in the Green Bay organization, and his feelings are purely financial. His agent just happens to be the soft spoken, mild mannered Drew Rosenhaus. <Muffled guffaws.>Source(s): PackerNews.com
There were no changes in the NFL injury report from the preliminary list published here yesterday.
Late update: Rumor Mill Editor Mike Florio reports that as of Nov. 5, the Raiders had $996,000 in available cap room. Philadelphia led all clubs with a whopping $9.427 million to spare.
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com ("Rumor Mill")
G Langston Walker visited teammates on Wednesday, showing off a six-inch scar from his recent surgery. He's also lost about 15 pounds, he says. Details can be found in a number of articles published yesterday.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times
Here's the league's mid-week injury report:
OAKLAND: Out: G Langston Walker (abdomen); CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Questionable: DE Bobby Hamilton (ankle); CB Renaldo Hill (hip); WR Randy Moss (groin). Probable: G Brad Badger (knee); SS Jarrod Cooper (hamstring); FB Zack Crockett (ankle); OLB DeLawrence Grant (ankle); DE Tommy Kelly (ankle); G Ron Stone (ribs).
DENVER: Probable: CB Champ Bailey (hamstring); SS Sam Brandon (shoulder); LS Mike Leach (finger).
Source(s): NFL.com
The Denver game is in fact a sellout and will be televised locally on CBS.
Source(s): KTVU-TV
It appears as though Sunday's game has sold out for purposes of defeating a league-imposed local TV blackout. As of this morning the Raiders remained "several thousand" tickets short of a sellout, with a 1:05 p.m. Pacific deadline. The Web site for the San Francisco CBS outlet (KPIX-TV), which would carry the game, is listing it in the 1-to-4 slot for Sunday, so pending the late news this evening, the signs are encouraging.
Source(s): cbs5.com
Here's the final league injury report. Note that Raiders G Ron Stone was a late addition to the list.
OAKLAND: Out: G Langston Walker (abdomen); CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Doubtful: OLB DeLawrence Grant (ankle). Questionable: FB John Paul Foschi (finger); C Jake Grove (knee); DE Bobby Hamilton (ankle); WR Randy Moss (groin). Probable: CB Nnamdi Asomugha (ribs); G Brad Badger (knee); S Jarrod Cooper (hamstring); RB Zack Crockett (ankle); RB Justin Fargas (knee); G Ron Stone (ribs).
KANSAS CITY: Out: DT Ryan Sims (foot). Doubtful: RB Priest Holmes (concussion); FS Jerome Woods (hamstring). Questionable: CB Dexter McCleon (groin); WR Samie Parker (knee); T Willie Roaf (hamstring); T Kevin Sampson (shoulder); G Will Shields (knee); CB Patrick Surtain (knee); CB Eric Warfield (hip). Probable: DT John Browning (knee).
Source(s): NFL.com
Late update/Where Are They Now Dept.: RB Amos Zereoue was cut by New England on Nov. 1.
Source(s): Yahoo Sports
The preliminary league injury report, issued on Wednesday:
OAKLAND: Out: G Langston Walker (abdomen); CB Charles Woodson (fibula). Doubtful: OLB DeLawrence Grant (ankle). Questionable: FB John Paul Foschi (finger); C Jake Grove (knee); DE Bobby Hamilton (ankle); WR Randy Moss (groin/ribs). Probable: CB Nnamdi Asomugha (ribs); G Brad Badger (knee); S Jarrod Cooper (hamstring); RB Zack Crockett (ankle); RB Justin Fargas (knee).
KANSAS CITY: Out: DT Ryan Sims (foot). Questionable: RB Priest Holmes (concussion); CB Dexter McCleon (groin); WR Samie Parker (knee); T Kevin Sampson (shoulder); G Will Shields (knee); CB Patrick Surtain (knee); CB Eric Warfield (hip); S Jerome Woods (hamstring). Probable: DT John Browning (knee); QB Trent Green (personal excused); T Willie Roaf (hamstring).
S Calvin Branch was waived, and SS Reggie Tongue, 32, was signed in his place yesterday. Also, G Roderick Green, who was with the team in training camp, was signed to the practice squad.
Tongue, a 10-year veteran originally drafted by Kansas City, apparently hasn't played since mid-2004. He'd been negotiating with the Raiders for 10 days or so since working out for them. He was last on the Jets. Presumably he'll serve as a backup to Jarrod Cooper, who is now the starter at strong safety since Derrick Gibson was IR'd.
Source(s): San Francisco Chronicle, Raiders.com
"I don't see Oakland in the playoffs, [since they don't have] enough defense, but they've won three of four now, and could give some teams headaches down the stretch. Now [that] they're giving the ball to [tailback LaMont Jordan] and [Kerry] Collins has been forced to throw to somebody other than Randy Moss, they're a much more balanced offense." [Emphasis added.]
File under "Miscellaneous:" The CC Times recently published the figure which would be required to keep Chaz. Woodson on the team in 2006 via a franchise tag: $12.644 million.
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com ("The Rumor Mill")
Injury watch: FB-TE John Paul Foschi underwent surgery on his finger yesterday. Head coach Norv Turner told reporters he didn't expect Foschi to miss any time.
Both OLB DeLawrence Grant (ankle) and G Brad Badger (knee) were reported "dinged up" prior to the Nashville game. Badger played anyway, but Grant was deactivated. Both are expected to be ready to go against KC. Badger, in particular, will be important with the injuries to G Langston Walker and C Jake Grove. Grove was active for the game but did not play.
The prognosis for Walker's return, reported over the weekend, was six weeks.
Source(s): Contra Costa Times, KFFL.com
According to The Washington Post, the National Football League will consider moving the Saints from La. to L.A. if New Orleans cannot recover from the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina. (Didja catch that cute turn of phrase?) Citing "three sources familiar with the league's deliberations on the matter," The Post says that the Saints would spend a year in San Antonio before sliding farther West for a permanent locale in the nation's No. 2 market, which the Rams and Raiders both abandoned after the 1995 season.
Source(s): ProFootballTalk.com ("The Rumor Mill")
SS Jarrod Cooper's fumble recovery for a touchdown during the Raiders' 34-25 win over the Tennessee Titans has been nominated for the VISA Play of the Week contest at nfl.com. Coupled with the callback of Pacman Jones's 82-yard punt return just a few plays earlier, that 14-point turnaround was the game, set and match for Oakland, as it turned out.
You can vote at www.nfl.com, or Raiders.com has set up a convenient, custom-made link right to the correct page.
Source(s): Raiders.com
Additionally, head coach John Madden will be added to the list of 15 finalists as a Senior Committee nominee.
Source(s): Raiders.com
Backup FB Omar Easy turns 28 today.
Source(s): My database
RB LaMont Jordan will be named AFC Offensive Player of the Week tomorrow, according to Raiders.com. Jordan rushed for 122 yards and three scores Sunday against Buffalo. The three touchdowns tied a team record.
The post-game prognosis on injured defensive backs Charles Woodson and Derrick Gibson was gloomy, however. Woodson fractured his right fibula and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. As Oakland Tribune columnist Carl Steward wrote today, Woodson may have played his last game as a Raider. 
Woodson will not require surgery; he'll wear a soft boot.
SS Derrick Gibson dislocated his left wrist and is also likely to miss six to eight weeks.
On Sunday, special teamers Chris Carr and Jarrod Cooper filled in.
Source(s): Raiders.com, San Francisco Chronicle
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