Personnel Changes 1998 Season

• Sept. 1, 1998 - Signed LB Terry Wooden, cut by Kansas City on August 30th, to a 3-year contract. Cut FB Jermaine Williams to make the roster spot available.

• Aug. 26, 1998 - Released RB Joe Aska, RB Tim Hall, DT Vince Amey, LB Rob Holmberg, LB Myron Smith, and G Scott Whittaker. Placed WR Olanda Truitt on injured reserve.

• Aug. 26, 1998 - Waived fifth-round draft pick LB Travian Smith. Signed LB Richard Harvey, formerly of New Orleans.

• Aug. 25, 1998 - Released: FB Chad Levitt, CB Kevin Franklin, TE Bob Rosenstiel, K Cole Ford, QB Jason Davis, QB Mike McQueary, G Greg Engel, C-T Danny Villa, G-T Tim Kohn, LB Shay Muirbrook, DE Ta'ase Faumui, DE Shatony Sargeant, DT David Sanders, WR Na'il Benjamin, WR Edward Hervey, WR Jason Shelley, WR Obediah Cooper, CB-S Dan Land, and S Kenyan Branscomb.

• Aug. 20, 1998 - Released rookie WR Kofi Nartey.

• Aug. 18, 1998 - Waived rookie free agent K Phil Dawson, CB Butler By'not'e, and RB Erric Pegram.

• Aug. 4, 1998 - Waived RB Saladin McCullough.

• July 26, 1998 - Signed free agent C-G Greg Engel, who spent the last four seasons with San Diego. Cut DE Shannon Clavelle.

• July 25, 1998 - S Patrick Bates was cut after failing a physical. QB Tim Carey was also cut, and TE Tony Cline retired.

• July 24, 1998 - Rookie G Gennaro DiNapoli signed with the Raiders and reported to camp in the evening. DE Shannon Clavelle was signed.

• July 21, 1998 - As rookies reported to the Napa training camp this evening, of the Raiders' draft choices, only fourth-round pick G Gennaro DiNapoli remained unsigned. The Raiders also announced the signing of free agent RB Erric Pegram, who split time last year between San Diego and the Giants.

• July 20, 1998 - Announced the signing of top draft pick CB Charles Woodson to a six-year deal reportedly worth $14.5 million, including a whopping signing bonus of $8 million.

• July 18, 1998 - Announced the signing of rookie draft picks FB Jon Ritchie and TE Jeremy Brigham. Also signed undrafted free agents rookie RB Saladin McCullough of Oregon and first-year WR Jason Shelley of Central State (Ohio).

• July 15, 1998 - Signed T Mo Collins to a five-year contract said to be worth $5.2 million, including a $2.5 million signing bonus.

• July 6, 1998 - Signed QB Wade Wilson to fill the vacant No. 3 spot on the roster. Also announced the signing of 5th-round draft pick LB Travian Smith.

• Late June, 1998 - Signed free agent DT Chuck Osborne, who last played for St. Louis in 1996. Osborne sat out the 1997 season.

• June 26, 1998 - C Curtis Whitley was suspended by the NFL for a minimum of one year after unsuccessfully appealing a positive drug test.

• June 16, 1998 - Signed placekicker Greg Davis, last with San Diego.

• June 13, 1998 - Announced the signing of G Derrick Graham, last with Seattle.

• June 4, 1998 - Cut CB Terry McDaniel.

• June 2, 1998 - Signed free agent RB Randy Jordan, last with Jacksonville. Released CB Larry Brown.

• May 30, 1998 - Second-round draft pick DT Leon Bender, 22, was found dead in his agent's home. The cause of death was not immediately established, but Bender's college coach at Washington State said the athlete had a history of epilepsy.

• May 29, 1998 - Announced that DE Pat Swilling has ended his retirement and will play for the Raiders this year.

• May 22, 1998 - The Sporting News reported that the Raiders have signed 7th-round draft choice DL Vince Amey. He was projected as a tackle by draft scouts but is listed at end by the Raiders.

• May 20, 1998 - The Sports Xchange reported that the Raiders have cut DE Chris Mims, signed in late April.

• May 13, 1998 - Signed unrestricted free agent TE Derek Brown, last with Jacksonville.

• May 12, 1998 - The Raiders reached terms with 2nd-round draft choice DT Leon Bender.

• May 5, 1998 - Announced the recent signings of free agents S Patrick Bates, S Louis Riddick, and CBs Marquis Walker and Butler By'not'e.

• Apr. 25, 1998 - The Raiders announced the signings of free agents DE Aundray Bruce, DE Chris Mims, T Darryl Ashmore, WR Terry Mickens, WR Phillip Bobo, WR Na'il Benjamin, FB Jermaine Williams, K Phil Dawson, QB Tim Carey, and WR Rodney Williams.

• Apr. 20, 1998 - Signed undrafted free agents TE Tony Cline and WR Kofi Nartey of Stanford, DB Kevin Franklin and LB Derrick Robinson of Southern, and OL Kyle Murphy of Arizona State.

• Apr. 17, 1998 - The Raiders announced they would not match Kansas City's five-year offer sheet to free agent DT Chester McGlockton

• Apr. 15, 1998 - Held a news conference at which CB Eric Allen indicated he will play for the Raiders this year after he'd initially stated otherwise.

• Mar. 26, 1998 - Signed free agent S Anthony Newman, formerly of New Orleans. Terms were not disclosed.

• Mar. 25, 1998 - Traded LB Rob Fredrickson to Detroit for a 1998 4th-round pick and (depending upon Fredrickson's playing time) a conditional 1999 6th-round pick.

• Mar. 10, 1998 - Released DT Kevin Johnson; signed free agent DE James Harris.

• Mar. 5, 1998 - Traded a 1998 4th-round pick to New Orleans for CB Eric Allen.

• Feb. 24, 1998 - Announced the hiring of Gary Stevens as quarterbacks coach, completing the new coaching staff.

• Feb. 19, 1998 - Waived FS Eddie Anderson; re-signed C Curtis Whitley. Whitley is reported to have received a heavily backloaded four-year contract for $8.65 million, including a signing bonus of $500,000 and a 1998 base salary of $550,000.

• Feb. 18, 1998 - Announced the re-signing of free agents LB/DE Aaron Wallace and special teams player John Henry Mills. Mills is reported to have received $754,000 on a two-year deal, and Wallace $303,000 for a one-year contract.
  
  Also announced the hiring of three new assistant coaches: Frank Gansz, Jr. (special teams), Chuck Bresnahan (defensive backs), and Mike Waufle (defensive line). Bresnahan will apparently share secondary duties with defensive coordinator Willie Shaw, who's said he'll also work with the defensive backs.

• Feb. 15, 1998 - The Raiders disclosed that prior to 2/12/98, WR Tim Brown had exercised a clause in his previous contract voiding its final three years and making him a free agent. He was re-signed to a multi-year contract within 24 hours, reportedly raising his average annual salary from $3.2 million to $4 million.

• Feb 14, 1998 - The news broke that DE Anthony Smith has exercised a voidable clause in his contract, making him a free agent.

• Feb. 12, 1998 - Cut G Lester Holmes, QB David Klingler and DE Aundray Bruce to clear salary cap room for start of free agency period.

• Feb. 10, 1998 - Named David Shaw to handle Quality Control-Offense and Skip Peete to coach running backs.

• Feb. 4, 1998 - Willie Shaw named new defensive coordinator and secondary coach; Gruden says Dave Adolph will remain linebackers coach.

• Jan. 27, 1998 - team announces hiring of Bill Callahan as offensive coordinator.

• Jan. 22, 1998 - Jon Gruden named new Head Coach of the Raiders.

• Jan. 18, 1998 - Special teams coach Rusty Tillman accepts an offer to become defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts.

• Jan. 15, 1998 - Running backs coach Bishop Harris resigns to accept a similar job with Buffalo.

• Jan. 6, 1998 - Head coach Joe Bugel dismissed.

Sources: Associated Press, ESPNet SportsZone, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee, Raiders.com

Last updated Wednesday, September 2, 1998