Archive for February, 2011

If the Oakland Raiders are supposed to be a struggling NFL franchise locked away in a smaller market then nobody told Al Davis. In the last two weeks Davis has done his usual middle finger routine to his fellow NFL owners. In a tense labor climate where billionaires are crying broke, Davis is spending like there’s no tomorrow. Then again, there might not be a tomorrow. That doomsday clock on the CBA looms large. As we’ve come to expect, there are those around the league that are claiming Davis is destroying the very fabric of the game. Not that Davis [...]

Yesterday was a busy day for Al’s checkbook. It has become an annual ritual for the Raiders to make some DB very happy as this time it was Stanford Routt’s turn to cash in. As if Routt’s $31-million deal wasn’t staggering enough, along came news of Kamerion Wimbley receiving the franchise tag. A tag valued at $10-million for next season. But yesterday wasn’t all about the big bucks and splashy contracts. Davis is doing his best to keep the core of the team in place and that included brining back a couple of key contributors as well. “Big” John Henderson, [...]

When Al Davis said Nnamdi Asomugha’s $16-million salary in 2011 could pay for two players he was referring to Stanford Routt and Kamerion Wimbley. This much has been made clear as the dust settles on a hectic day of money matters. Earlier in the day word spread of the Raiders coming to terms on a new deal for Routt. We now know what the terms of that contract are. Routt just got paid. One year as a full-time starter was good enough for Stanford to ink a three-year deal worth up to $31-million, $20-million of which is guaranteed for the [...]

More news on the Oakland defensive front as Jason La Canfora reports the Raiders have placed their franchise tag on Kamerion Wimbley. Just a couple days ago Oakland expressed their intent to exercise a buy-back option on Wimbley’s rookie deal. But that was before the league stepped in and declared the buy-back in violation of the 30% rule. Instead of allowing their leading sacker to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent, the Raiders placed a franchise tag worth $10-million on Wimbley. That roughly equates to just under $1-million per sack for the versatile defender. While the hopes of [...]

According to Jason La Canfora the Raiders have come to terms on a contract extension with Stanford Routt. The NFL Network Insider cites a “source with knowledge of the situation” but reveals no specifics of the new deal. Good news for the Raiders who were in danger of losing their top two corners. With Nnamdi Asomugha free to hit the open market, keeping Routt was a top priority. After spending his first five years primarily playing in nickel packages, Routt emerged as one of the top cover corners in the AFC last season. Both he and Asomugha formed one of [...]

For Al Davis this time of year is like Christmas. Except instead of boxes wrapped in colorful paper, the foot of his tree is littered with cornerbacks, wide receivers and all sorts of other skilled positions with sub 4.3-second potential. Yes, there are no secrets. Whenever a player gets into his stance to run 40 yards he’s only 4 seconds and some change away from having his name called on draft day when the Oakland Raiders are on the clock. While Al’s obsession with speed is well documented, the ability of both he and his staff to unearth gems has [...]

Rumored for over a week, today the Raiders officially informed Kamerion Wimbley’s agent that they will exercise the $3.5-million buy back on his contract. All Wimbley did was record a team high 9 sacks last season. Overall you’d have to say he was well worth the third round pick the Raiders gave the Browns for his services. Wimbley’s versatility proved invaluable in John Marshall’s scheme. A scheme that actually took advantage of all that Raider speed by doing the unthinkable – blitzing. It remains to be seen how Chuck Bresnahan…er…Al Davis…er…whoever is coordinating the defense will mix things up next [...]

Maybe if Tom Cable didn’t have such a man crush on Bruce Gradkowski we might be having a different conversation right now. Chances are that even if Jason Campbell had been given every snap in 2010 we’d still have arrived at the same fork in the road. When compared to JaMarcus Russell, Campbell looks like Jim Plunkett. But no matter what Al Davis might think, when Campbell is compared to Plunkett he looks more like Jay Schroeder. Not that there is any disrespect intended in putting Campbell in the Schroeder department. In fact, it is unfair at this point to [...]

Anytime Al Davis opens his checkbook the repercussions usually spread throughout the NFL. Those $30-million Davis has committed to Richard Seymour over the next two years are only the most recent wave making stones tossed into the pool of pro football. This time the splash Davis has made could leave him all wet. Amid the speculation of who will now be franchised in the wake of the Seymour agreement is the belief that Nnamdi Asomugha could be all but gone from the East Bay. Due to the stipulations of his now voided contract, the Raiders cannot use the franchise tag [...]

Yesterday news spread of the Oakland Raiders and Richard Seymour coming to terms on a two-year deal. Today, the Raiders made the news official with an announcement on their website. Though none of the terms were disclosed, SI.com has the contract valued at $30-million, $22-million of which is guaranteed. Hey, it’s good to be an All-Pro defensive lineman employed by Al Davis. Seymour has stated he’d like to retire as a Raider and expressed his enthusiasm for the future of the franchise. “I’m thrilled to be with the Silver and Black, a team that has a bright future.” Since the [...]