Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

One man’s trash is another’s treasure. That’s the old saying and it applies to the NFL unlike any other league in professional sports. Every year capable players are castoff for reasons that at times have nothing to do with their talent. Perhaps no team has made more moves to recycle forgotten talent than the Raiders. That’s the team’s tradition and even under Reggie McKenzie that philosophy is very much alive as evident by the recent signing of Roscoe Parrish.

That’s why it wouldn’t at all come as a surprise to see the Raiders pursue tight end Chris Cooley who was just released by the Redskins.

Currently Oakland’s tight end situation is looking uglier than Norv Turner’s neck. Brandon Myers isn’t terrible but there’s nothing he excels at either. David Ausberry is still very much a work in progress and Richard Gordon is a punishing blocker but not much else.

So giving Cooley a look only makes sense. Greg Knapp’s offense utilizes the tight end position in the passing game and Cooley’s strength is receiving. Seems like a logical fit. Until last season Cooley was Washington’s primary receiver racking up more than 700 yards in 5 of his 9 seasons in the NFL.

Injuries and the emergence of Fred Davis made Cooley expendable in DC. But as mentioned at the top, one man’s trash could be Oakland’s treasure…once again.