Sep 8, 2012; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies linebacker Sio Moore (3) reacts after sacking North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon (8) during the first half at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday reports surfaced that the Raiders locked down their third round pick (66th overall) Sio Moore to a rookie contract. Well today the details were confirmed and the Connecticut linebacker will be holding it down in the Bay Area for at least the next four years.

Moore’s Four Year, $3.054 million dollar contract was hammered out on the final day of minicamp as Moore concluded a month and a half spent at the Raiders facility after rookie minicamp, OTAs and this weeks three day minicamp. The All-Big East and All-American Sleeper Team selected Moore has been tapped to be the future of the Raiders at outside linebacker and was one of the best steals of the third round at the 2013 NFL Draft.

The 6-1, 240 pound linebacker  was the 66th overall selection in April’s. In 31 starts at Connecticut, Moore garnered first-team All-Big East Conference honors twice as a junior and a senior this past season as well as being named to the All American Sleeper Team this year. In 2012, Moore ranked fourth on the team with 72 tackles (45 solo) and was named to the watch list for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker and was one of the better sleeper picks in the third round of this year’s draft.

He has been lining up as the team’s starting weakside linebacker thus far at Raiders minicamp and is expected to start there right away as a rookie as McKenzie has him tapped as one of the Raiders defensive players of the future. Locking him up for four years only further confirms that as the Raiders are high on a player that might have been drafted much higher if he didn’t play in the weak Big East during his college career.

The Raiders now are left with three picks yet to be signed-First round pick D.J. Hayden at cornerback, second round pick OT Menelik Watson, and fourth round pick QB Tyler Wilson.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In what should be his final headline as an Oakland Raider Rolando McClain was once again arrested in his native Alabama. Last time it was on assault charges. This time its something much milder as McClain was stopped for having an illegal tint on his car. However he gave officers a false name and was thus arrested.

Another smart move by a certified genius (that there is called sarcasm).

Whatever the specifics his latest arrest this is the final entry in this chapter for McClain’s time with Raiders. Reggie McKenzie more or less washed his hands of the problem leaving it up to Dennis Allen. All Allen did was to suspend McClain for two games then park his underachieving middle linebacker for the rest of the season.

At one point McClain was reduced to playing scout team fullback for the Raiders this season.

While McClain was able to avoid any punishment for his previous arrest there can be no doubt the problem is his judgment.

McClain’s act is tired both on and off the field. The only real crime here is that the Raiders didn’t part ways with their latest draft bust even sooner.

Perhaps there are cap implications that prevented McKenzie from cutting ties during the regular season. If there were any hopes of working out a trade to get McClain out of town those plans are pretty much dashed at this point.

Time to cut the ties and move on.

Far Fetched?

If you think about it Raider Nation, it’s not that crazy. What can it hurt?  Taiwan is buried under 3 different running backs being 4th on the depth chart.  If you watch how he runs with the ball,   he’s not scaring anybody on defense.  Fact is,  he runs like you should be running with a pair of ballerina slippers on. Worst comes to worst Taiwan will just end up being one of our best special teams players on the team. (Kinda like Rock Cartwright in our 2011 season.) We’ve seen players in the past switch from office to defense like Branch in New England. Taiwan Jones has a nose for the ball and great closing speed. (The 2 things that a cornerback should have.) I know it’s a reach Raider Nation, but really what does Taiwan have to lose.

Gregory Simon

JBB Staff Writer

@simonizr

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