Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Before there was Jacoby Ford there was Johnnie Lee Higgins. Hard to believe we’re talking about Higgins as if he were some fan favorite from a decade ago. Higgins was a return ace and budding talent at slot receiver for the silver and black just a few years ago.

Like Ford, Higgins ran a blazing 40-yard dash at the scouting combine which naturally got him on the Al Davis radar. Of course since neither Higgins nor Ford had the size of a Darrius Heyward-Bey both became Raiders much later in the draft with Higgins being the last pick of the third round in ’07 and Ford going in the 4^th round of 2010.

But draft stock means nothing once you put pads on and Higgins wasted no time introducing himself to Raider Nation with a house call on a punt return in the preseason. That would set the stage for what was to come in the following years.

In Higgins’ second season he became a dangerous weapon returning 3 punts for TDs while also scoring 4 more receiving. In ’08 Higgins became the best option in the passing game outside of Zach Millerleading all Raider wide receivers in both receptions and yards.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Higgins seemed well on his way to becoming an asset in Oakland’s attack for years to come. But just as soon as he arrived JLH was on his way out of not only the East Bay but football all together.

After his career year in ’08 Higgins never found the end zone again. He was hesitant on punt returns, indifferent in his route running and suddenly slacking on going across the middle – the latter being an absolute sin for a slot receiver.

By 2010 Higgins was completely out of the receiver rotation and returned just 17 punts in 13 games. The Raiders opted not to give him a new contract and after failing to make the cut coming out of camp in Philadelphia Higgins was gone from the game.

Now here we sit with Jacoby Ford seemingly already at the crossroads after just two years in the NFL. Like Higgins, Ford burst onto the scene thanks to his dynamic kick returns yet became a true weapon as a playmaker at receiver.

However also like Higgins, Ford has been unable to reproduce his career year. Foot injuries have claimed plenty of what Ford is able to do with his latest looking likely to rob him of more regular season games. But beyond the injury issue what little we did see of Ford in the preseason was uninspired. He dropped catches you’d expect him to easily make and just didn’t seem at all interested in giving maximum effort.

Also like Higgins, Ford’s role as a slot receiver could be gone if he gets lost in the shuffle. Already rookies Rod Streater and Juron Criner have made a push for an expended role. Louis Murphy became a causality of the emerging talent the Raiders have at wide receiver so it’s not too crazy to think the same fate awaits Ford.

Only time will tell if Jacoby Ford is walking the path blazed by Johnnie Lee Higgins both in and out of Oakland. While Higgins saw his pro career take an odd turn as the result of his effort Ford at least has the injury issues as his reason for declined production. Either way though, if you’re not on the field contributing than someone else is in your place. No matter the circumstances, without Ford in the rotation the Raiders are going to have to move on. Whether or not that means eventually moving away from Ford remains to be seen.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

If you want a snapshot of the short-lived Louis Murphy era in Oakland look no further than his first game as a Raider. He scored twice yet only one of those TD grabs counted. It might have felt like shades of the Tuck Rule when his first NFL score was erased from the history books no thanks to a completely idiotic rule but in reality it was Louis Murphy’s Law. What can go wrong does and odds are Murphy could have somehow prevented it.

Louis Murphy has the talent. He showed that in his first NFL game.

Murphy has the drive. He proved that with a stunning and gritty performance in Pittsburgh.

Murphy’s even got the right mentality and desire. He more than displayed by bulldozing a clear path to end zone for Zach Miller once.

Problem was Murphy could never put it all together. He’d follow up a spectacular catch with an inexplicable drop. He’d take a reverse to the house then the next time on the field he’d take a trip to the showers after getting hit with a personal foul penalty. One minute he’s running around the defense like they’re playing in concrete cleats. The next he’s running into his own teammate effectively committing pass interference against the offense.

Such is the nature of Louis Murphy’s Law. That he went from being the team’s leading receiver to a pre-camp castoff can’t come as much of a surprise. Not if you’ve been paying attention to your recent Raiders history concerning wide receivers.

In recent years it hasn’t ended well for the leading pass catcher at wide receiver in Oakland. Randy Moss, Ronald Curry and Johnnie Lee Higgins all were either gone or saw their roles significantly reduced one year after being the team’s top receiver. Same now for Murphy. Darrius Heyward-Bey, you’ve been warned.

Of course Murphy’s Oakland exit wasn’t all about his decline in production. Injuries played as large a role as his inconsistencies. The emergence of Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore didn’t help either. Neither did the arrivals of Juron Criner and Rod Streater.

All of that added up to Murphy going from being a fourth round steal to having seventh round trade value.

Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

For the past few years Raider fanatics such as myself have helped turn the legend of Chaz Schilens into an urban myth. Anytime someone would ask me about the Raiders I’d always find some way to mix in a mention of Schilens. While little was seen of the Cali native on the field what few glimpses I got had me convinced like I saw Big Foot.

It was like being hip to some up and coming musical act you caught at a local bar on an off night. You and the few others in attendance knew you’d stumbled onto something before the rest of the world was aware.

Schilens’ story had all the makings of a Raider folk hero. He grew up in Lancaster, went to school in San Diego and was brought to the Bay when the Raiders unearthed Schilens in the 7^th round. His size, speed and the way Schilens attacked the ball must have given Al Davis delusions of grandeur when thinking of what could have been with JaMarcus Russell.

At the end of Schilens’ rookie season he came on strong and actually helped Russell to look like an NFL quarterback. Between Russell, Schilens and a once-productive Johnnie Lee Higgins the future was looking bright.

However the game of football is cruel in its nature. Schilens sustained a broken bone in his foot during a non-contact drill in training camp at the start of his second season. That would be an ominous sign of things to come.

An injury that was supposed to be healed in a few weeks turned into a few months. When he finally was cleared to practice again Schilens developed a knee problem caused by over compensation for his foot. His second season became a complete wash.

The injury issues combined with the emergence of a new group of young receivers left Schilens as the odd man out. Finally good enough to compete, last season saw Schilens the healthiest he’s been since his rookie season. It was also a season in which Darrius Heyward-Bey would breakout and Denarius Moore burst onto the scene.

Schilens was once again an afterthought. Once praised by Al Davis for his potential, the Raiders and Schilens are at the crossroads.

Slated to become a free agent, Raider Nation might have seen the last of Chaz Schilens. He never emerged as the dynamic playmaker we thought he’d be but Schilens has had some big moments.

On occasion flashes of Schilens’ clutch nature showed. He had a game-winning grab in Denver a couple years ago on a drive led by Russell. Schilens also had a big game against the Steelers during a surprising win in Pittsburgh. Last season Chaz caught a clutch TD in Oakland’s emotional win against Houston on the heels of the passing of Davis.

There is no doubt the talent is real. The question is, are the Raiders finally ready to move on? The franchise – better yet Al Davis – stood behind Schilens despite his injury woes. As it stands he’s lost in the shuffle, battling with Louis Murphy for the job as 4^th receiver.

Both the Raiders and Schilens have a decision to make.

Oakland likely won’t offer much in terms of years or money. Schilens has got the game but no production to warrant a lucrative deal. Some other team might be willing to roll the dice but for Schilens he’s got to want to be in a situation where he’ll get more snaps.

If Schilens reaches his potential with another team it might be a little tough to digest. Truth be told it would also be nice to see him flourish. Right about now it doesn’t look like the Raiders will provide that opportunity. So, the next chapter in the urban legend of Chaz Schilens won’t likely be written in the East Bay.