Will Howard follow Morrison out of Oakland? (Photo: YardBarker.com)

Tonight marks the end of the preseason as the Raiders welcome the Seahawks to the East Bay. Tonight will also be the final time that 22 players will suit up for the Oakland Raiders. Sure, some will return later this year as injury replacements. Others, like Chris “Baby Howie” Cooper might return again one day down the road. But for many, this will be the final time they’ll ever put on the Silver and Black.

Michael Huff has warned the young players, but there are plenty of veterans that aren’t safe either.

 Here are five veteran players that be could finishing out their Raider careers tonight.

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Depending on whom you believe, the Raiders have either had discussions with the Arizona Cardinals about acquiring underachiever Matt Leinart or they’re simply not in on the Leinart fire sale at all.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter lists the Raiders among the teams interested in the services of the former USC golden boy. Meanwhile, MMA aficionado turned NFL scoop king Jay Glazer denies the Raiders have had any talks with the Cardinals.

Being that Glazer is the original source for the story since he has a working relationship with Leinart, I’m a little more inclined to lean towards Fox Sports on this one. Glazer went on Dan Patrick’s nationally syndicated radio show this morning to refute the ESPN report.

Chalk this one up to another pissing contest between Schefter and Glazer.

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Despite being young and talented, McFadden is at the crossroads. (Photo: YardBarker.com)

Darren McFadden will most likely never be a true NFL running back.

He’s not the guy you’re going to see carrying the rock 25 times a game. He’s not the type of player capable of playing every down in the backfield.

After two years of pro ball, Run-DMC has just one 100-yard game to his name and has found his name on the injured list more often than he’s found the end zone.

Not unlike JaMarcus Russell one year ago, McFadden’s third year will be his make or break moment. Just like Russell, McFadden was handed the starting job in camp and just like Russell he eventually lost his job during the regular season. Unlike JaMarcus, however, McFadden’s poor performance was also tempered with injuries. Also very un-JaMarcus like is that McFadden is a hard worker willing to do whatever the coaches ask of him.

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With the countdown to the final cut down looming, the Raiders parted ways with four players yesterday.

Veteran tight end Tony Stewart, who lost his place on the depth chart to second year TE Brandon Myers, was the biggest name amongst the cuts made. In addition to Stewart, fullback Chane Moline, guard Allen Smith and wide receiver Paul Hubbard were also given their walking papers.

With the roster now standing at 75, another 22 cuts are due this Saturday ahead of the regular season opener.

Getting through camp healthy is always the priority. With just one preseason game left until the curtain goes up on the 2010 season, the Oakland Raiders are trying desperately to keep priority number one in focus.

From the surgically repaired limbs of Michael Bush, Chaz Schilens and Jay Richardson to the neck and wrist injuries Jason Campbell sustained in the loss to the 9ers, there is reason for concern.

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The cone of silence has been lifted.

Yesterday, for the first time since becoming offensive coordinator for the Raiders, Hue Jackson addressed the media. You can read the full transcript here.

Media blackouts for Raider coordinators are nothing new under the sun. One year ago, John Marshall underwent a similar vow of silence when he inherited the defensive coordinator position.

Jackson’s fiery approach in practice has been well documented. But just what does he think about his new offense and how it’s progressing thus far?

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For the time being, the job of starting center is Jared Veldheer’s. While Samson Satele recovers from an ankle injury, the rookie from the tiny college of Hillsdale will get the nod to run with the first team.

Tom Cable needed a new center, so he went to Jared.

Perhaps just a temporary move, the decision speaks volumes to the confidence the team has in the converted left tackle. So much so that Veldheer has leapfrogged veteran center Chris Morris for the job.

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One thing Tom Cable is not short on is confidence. Sure, he might have a career winning percentage only Rod Marinelli would envy but there is little doubt that Cable’s confidence is fueling a quiet resurgence in the Raider organization.

Something else you won’t find in Cable’s personality profile is shyness. Just to drive the point home, the third year head coach has his team wearing shirts with bold proclamations plastered across the front.

Shirts reading “We Are Going to Win the AFC West” are being worn by the Raiders in camp this week. The shirts also state that the next step is to “then Go to the Super Bowl”.

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Raiders should forget about Schilens for now. (Photo: YardBarker.com)

With regards to Chaz Schilens there is one word looming large over his career. The dirty if word.

If healthy, Schilens is the best wide receiver on the roster.

The problem is that if is now becoming if-ever.

With news of Schilens undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee comes the reality of the Raiders once again staring the regular season without their top target out wide who will now be sidelined indefinitely. For Schilens this is becoming an all too familiar refrain. Injury without contact, more time spent rehabilitating. Most troubling of all is that the most recent knee debacle is being blamed for overcompensation due to the nagging foot.

The time has come for the Raiders to move on.

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Cable's confidence needs to equal wins and not moral victories in 2010. (Photo: YardBarker.com)

For Tom Cable, the honeymoon is over. In fact, it’s been over since the opening night loss to the Chargers in 2009. Cable is, by far, the most liked and appreciated coach to stroll the Oakland sideline since Chucky was scowling at Rich Gannon over 7 years ago. Players and fans alike have grown fond of Cable’s integrity and honest approach to rebuilding the Raiders.

All that is nice but only results will keep Cable employed beyond 2010.

After surviving an offseason that had Cable rumored to be fired at any moment, now is the time to give Al Davis what he covets more than anything else on the planet – wins.

Here are five things Cable must accomplish in 2010 if he desires to remain a head coach in the National Football League.

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