Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE

Just two years ago the Oakland Raiders boasted of three of the NFL’s top-10 cover corners according the somewhat meaningless ‘burn rate’ stat. After today all three are no longer with the franchise. Nnamdi Asomugha left via free agency last offseason. Stanford Routt was recently released and has since found a new home in Kansas City. And today Chris Johnson was given his walking papers. Joining Johnson on the way out is safety/special teamer Hiram Eugene.

The obvious storyline is that the Raiders are still in the process of creating more cap space. The reality is neither Johnson nor Eugene had much of a future in Oakland and perhaps not in the NFL at all for that matter.

Johnson came out of nowhere back in 2008 when he stepped up his game giving Al Davis all the more reason to quickly sever ties with DeAngelo Hall. Johnson earned the biggest contract he’ll ever see in his pro career and since has battle injury and ineffective play. 2011 was pretty much a wash for Johnson as he began the year with surgery, never to regain full health.

Eugene was another Al Davis project. The speedy safety entered the league as an undrafted free agent and managed to stick around the Bay by being a part-time contributor on defense and a fulltime asset on special teams.

Of all the questionable contracts Mr. Davis handed in recent years the deal he struck with Eugene last offseason is right up there with the Javon Walker contract. While not nearly as lucrative, that the Raiders gave Hiram a four-year contract worth over $8-million was obscene.

Eugene is a terrific athlete that has the unique ability to cover a lot of turf in a little time, a highly valuable trait as an NFL safety. His was also a valuable member of the special teams. However there is no way to justify a four-year contract for a man that only became a starter no thanks to a highly unimpressive collection of safeties (not talking about you, Tyvon Branch) and who had only  one pick in his career.

While Eugene’s lone INT was a memorable one during Oakland’s surprising win in Pittsburgh a few years back it wasn’t as memorable as the stiff arm Willis McGahee hit him with.

A hip injury in the preseason ended the year for Eugene and there is some speculation that his career could be over. Despite my feelings about his out-of-whack contract, I truly hope he can catch on somewhere else. I have nothing for respect for the UFAs of the NFL. They are truly made men in a brutal sport.

All that being said it was time to terminate both of these scholarship contracts. While the moves are both expected and necessary it leaves the Raiders even thinner in their already Angelina Jolie waistline of a secondary. Johnson was by no means going to make much of a difference going forward but the Raiders are now without any corners capable of stepping in and starting next season. These moves could get Oakland within cap compliance but even more transactions must be made before they can consider pursuing free agents starting next Tuesday.

Have we seen the last of Johnson as a Raider?

It has been a very trying year for Chris Johnson. He missed a large portion of training camp due to a groin injury that required surgery yet was able to get on the field for the season opener. That would be his most significant action of the season.

Since the Monday Night opener in Denver Johnson has battled injury and grief.

Johnson sat out last week’s flop in Green Bay as he was still grieving due to the tragic loss of his sister. This week Johnson will again be inactive against the Detroit Lions.

For Johnson this could be the way his days in Silver and Black end. The former undrafted free agent earned himself a three year deal three years ago when he made DeAngelo Hall expendable thanks to an impressive performance during the 2008 season. Now it appears as if he could be on his way out of the East Bay after inconsistent play and injury concerns.

The Raiders activated defensive end Mason Brodine from the practice squad to take Johnson’s place.

These are Hue Jackson’s Raiders. A group that doesn’t read GQ. Maybe Sanchez can fool photographers with flashy poses but he can’t trick Richard Seymour and the rest of the Raiders’ front four.

All day long the Silver and Black left Sanchez and company black and blue. Oakland is quickly becoming the destination for must-see-TV. Another thrilling game that this time thankfully ended in a Raider W.

In case you’re still sleeping on Darren McFadden you might want to stop hitting the snooze. Dude is playing like an MVP candidate and if you don’t believe me just ask Clown Coach Ryan. Run DMC walked his way all over the Jets en route to a 2-TD, 180 total yard effort. In fact, McFadden becomes the first ever runner to eclipse the 100-yard barrier in the Ryan era and  Oakland’s 224 rushing yards are the most allowed by the Jets since the fat man has patrolled the sideline in New York Jersey.

And if all you do is read box scores then you have no idea how well Jason Campbell played today. From a man that has been as critical of JC as I’ve been it comes with great pride to admit fault in how perfectly Campbell has played this year. Today, Campbell threw a perfect game as he made the right decision on every snap.

Don’t let the numbers fool you. Campbell might have only passed for 156 yards but every one counted. Not to mention the fact that the Raiders played turnover free football which put them in position to win despite a sluggish start.

Coach Jackson’s bully is building momentum.
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