Archive for July, 2011

Jason Campbell spent most of his first year in Oakland watching his back. Campbell was brought in to be the starter but found himself fighting off Bruce Gradkowski who took Campbell’s job just one half into the 2010 season. Campbell can rest easy in 2011 knowing the job is his to loose. Until yesterday Kyle Boller was the only QB backing Campbell. Boller certainly posed no threat to JC’s job nor does the newly signed Trent Edwards. As Vittorio Tarfur points out, the only QB rivalry in Oakland is going to be the revisiting of the Big Game as Cal [...]

Well, Oakland managed to retain one of the members of their starting secondary. Unfortunately it wasn’t Nnamdi Asomugha. He’s comfortable in the ever-sunny city of Philadelphia $60-million richer. So Michael Huff will have to do for a free agency door prize. Early in the offseason it seemed unlikely the Raiders would retain the services of Huff. There was plenty of speculation that Huff would have an NFL homecoming by reuniting with Rob Ryan in Dallas. Clearly there either wasn’t enough money to be found in the Huff market or just not enough suitors. ESPN reports the Raiders re-signing of Huff [...]

The more things change the more they seem to remain the same. When all of the free agency madness began earlier this week the Raiders appeared poised to pursue available offensive linemen. Jared Gaither’s name began to swirl around Raider Nation and looked likely to be seen in the opening day program. There were rumors of Gaither agreeing to terms. There was a sighting of Gaither in Napa. There appeared to be every indication that the Raiders had a new tackle in the mix. By the end of his first supposed day as a Raider we learned Gaither wasn’t actually [...]

Even though it had been expected for months, yesterday’s farewell to Nnamdi Asomugha still came as a bit of a surprise. As team after team pulled out of the Asomugha sweepstakes the prospects of a Raider reunion became a possibility. Then those faint hopes were given last rites as the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in with a $60-million offer. Now all eyes shift towards Zach Miller who thus far has been invisible in the free agent market. Whereas as most of the prized free agents on the market have been surrounded by rumor, Miller has been sitting in silence. Not so [...]

During this accelerated free agency period it is only natural that there will be false starts and stops. Yesterday’s news of the Raiders coming to terms with Jared Gaither is a perfect example. First there were wide spread reports of the Raiders coming to terms with Gaither. Then Gaither’s ultra smarmy successful agent, Drew Rosenhaus, Tweeted something quite to the contrary. It wouldn’t be until Steve Corkran got to the bottom of the whole situation later in the evening that some light was shed on the subject. According to Corkran’s blog post, the Raiders are in an evaluating process with [...]

Can’t say we didn’t see this coming, Nation. Al Davis made it pretty clear that he wasn’t about to pay Nnamdi Asomugha a salary fit for two players. So the news of Aso inking a $60-million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles is only a surprise given the manner in which the entire process unfolded. Those that followed the news today know all too well how the rollercoaster ride went. At one point Nnamdi had three potential suitors, then seemingly none and then there was one “mystery team”. Low and behold Andy Reid drops a bomb on the free agency market. [...]

Al Davis had Jared Gaither on the hook since NFL free agency began. Today he reeled in his man. Vittorio Tarfur Tweeted the news and reports state Gaither is already in Napa for camp. Gaither gives the Raiders some much needed help at tackle. The right side of the line has been one of the bigger weaknesses in recent years with the likes of Cornell Green and Langston Walker taking turns not to mention the occasional Khalif Barnes and Mario Henderson sightings on the right side of the O-line. The biggest concern is Gaither’s health after he missed all of [...]

Four years ago the Raiders boasted of one of the most promising young linebacker duos in the NFL. As of yesterday that unit has officially been dismantled. Thomas Howard has taken his talents to Cincinnati. Once viewed as a freakish athlete with All-Pro potential, Howard was relegated to special teams service last season. The only real mystery is why it took over a year for Howard and the Raiders to part ways. Ever the professional, Howard watched as his starting job was handed over to Quentin Groves and then Travis Goethel. Not once did Howard complain, only expressing his gratitude [...]

Bill Belichick fancies himself as a vintage Al Davis. The man widely regarded as the best coach in pro football is taking a page from the man who pretty much wrote the book on pro football. By trading for both Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocino in the same 24 hour period Belichick has announced himself as the NFL’s biggest gambler. Much like Davis has done in the past, Belichick is investing in some highly volatile stocks with the potential for a large return. There is also the inherit risk of seeing his locker room go up in a blaze of [...]

With such little time to spare the Raiders are moving faster than Warren Sapp in a buffet line to sign all their draft picks. With a somewhat officially unofficial announcement the team has indicated that top pick Stefen Wisniewski is now a member the Silver and Black. Getting Wisniewski into camp on time is a huge priority for Oakland. The rookie from Penn State is expected to step in and compete for a starting role from day one. In addition to Wisniewski the Raiders have rounded out their rookie signings by inking fellow draftees Chimdi Chekwa and Richard Gordon. With [...]