Brown’s odyssey might not be done just yet. Vittorio Tafur believes that Brown’s performance on special teams will merit his ultimate return to the practice squad if no other team claims the college linebacker turned NFL safety.

Holland had been on injured reserve and was among the many disappointing kick returners the Raiders fielded in 2009. Lawton was ineligible for the first two games this season due to a 4-game suspension issued at the end of last season.

Higgins went from dynamo in '08 to dud in '09. (Photo: YardBarker.com)

Back in 2008, special teams coordinators around the NFL found it difficult to sleep during their week of preparation when they looked at the schedule and saw the Oakland Raiders waiting for them on Sunday afternoon. In 2009, those same coaches found themselves sleeping soundly all week knowing the Raiders were no more a threat in the return game than JaMarcus Russell was in the passing game.

What happened between ’08 and ’09 that turned the Raiders return specialists from feared to forgotten?

Some of the blame can be attributed to first year coordinator John Fassel. When Fassell took over for Brian Schneider, the coach’s son inherited a unit featuring two of the most deadly return men in the game – Johnnie Lee Higgins and Justin Miller.

During Fassel’s first year overseeing the unit, Higgins and Miller were MIA.

Perhaps the shoulder injury Higgins suffered on the Monday opener against the Chargers played a large role into his disappearing act. After averaging 13 yards per punt return and taking 3 to the house in ‘08, JLH posted a laughable average of 5 yards per return with a season long of just 19 yards.

You can’t overlook the inexplicable fact that Higgins went from the team’s leading receiver in 2008 to being buried on the depth chart behind two rookies (Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey). No doubt Higgins had little motivation after getting the Ronald Curry treatment.

Miller, on the other hand, was a kick return dynamo who averaged nearly 25 yards a return with two scores in ’08. After some unimpressive showings as a cornerback during the preseason, Miller didn’t make the final 53-man roster but was later brought back to Oakland only be shown the door again. Miller suited up just once as a return man in ’08, averaging just 17 yards per return.

Louis Rankin used a stellar performance in the final preseason game to make the roster but failed miserably as the season opening return man. The speedy Nick Miller went from undrafted rookie to fan favorite with an impressive preseason but a mysterious shin injury kept him out of action – but not off the active roster – for all of ’09. Mid-season acquisition Gary Russell tried his hand at returning kicks with little to no success. The best of the bunch was Jonathan Holland, a wide receiver turned DB, who didn’t even crack the 20 yard plateau on average.

All in all, it was a year to forget as an offense already handicapped by JaMarcus Russell under center was doubly doomed thanks to terrible starting field position.

In order for the Raiders to rise from the ashes of the AFC West in 2010, the return game has to become a threat once again.

Enter return specialists Yamon Figures along with rookies Jacoby Ford and Walter McFadden.

Tom Cable values competition and the battle to gain a roster spot on special teams should be fierce in camp.

As a rookie, Figures made a name for himself as a return threat with the Baltimore Raves averaging just under 25 yards per touch including a 94-yard house call. Ford popped up on the Al Davis radar by running the fastest 40 time at the draft combine. The former Clemson Tiger is a Johnnie Lee Higgins clone with designs on taking the Johnnie Lee Higgins throne on punt returns. McFadden could be the best bet of the bunch to get the opening day nod for return duties. The recently signed 5^th round pick out of Auburn might have a small frame but has some big play ability reminiscent of Phillip Buchanon (minus the mouth).   

Even Fassell has been given a new helping hand with Craig Dickenson coming on board as the assistant special teams coordinator.

With Hue Jackson as the dedicated offensive coordinator and a more stable quarterback situation, the Oakland offense could actually go from non-existent to respectable. If the return game is back up to par, the offense could even climb right past respectable becoming downright deadly.

If you listen closely you can her the sound of the door being slammed shut on the Randy Moss trade.

The final connection to the Randy Moss era in the East Bay is gone. Yesterday the Oakland Raiders placed cornerback John Bowie on waivers. Today he cleared waivers allowing the Raiders to place Bowie on IR for the remainder of the season.

Bowie will forever be known as the man the Raiders drafted with the 4^th round pick acquired from the Patriots back in 2007 in exchange for Randy Moss. Bowie has been plagued with injuries and when he has played his performance has been less than impressive.

Already the Moss for Bowie deal is being placed in the discussion for worst trade in NFL history.

There really is no way to get equal value when trading a Hall of Fame talent like Moss. No matter what, getting draft picks in exchange for proven talent is a gamble.

Was Moss worth more than a 4^th round pick? Yes, but his attitude and overall performance in Silver and Black weren’t worthy of a player on the practice squad in Detroit. According to reports, the Pats were the only team willing to go as high as a fourth round pick. Therefore, they were the highest bidders.

Bowie is forever linked to Moss.

That ever lit fire of Raider Hatred was just given a heavy dose of lighter fluid with the Bowie roster move. Never mind that Zack Miller, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Mario Henderson, Michael Bush, Oren O’Neal and Jonathan Holland – all starters or contributors now – were part of that ’07 draft class. John Bowie, he of Cincinnati with his 4.36 40-yard dash, is the name that will be the most infamous member of the ’07 draft class unless one JaMarcus Russell continues down his path to oblivion.

Any how, Pats fans enjoy Moss now before he goes sour on you. Judging by how things are going these days, I’m guessing it is only a matter of time until he’s jogging routes and whiffing on blocks.

No doubt it will be hard to discuss the worst trades in NFL history without mentioning this one but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out a few others that make this deal seem like a steal.

Flash back just over a decade ago and you’ll find the Minnesota Vikings gifted the Dallas Cowboys their 90’s dynasty by trading a boat load of draft picks in exchange for Herschel Walker. Not so long ago, the New Orleans Saints made that infamous move of trading away their entire draft just to select Ricky Williams. Most recently, the Dallas Cowboys paid it forward by trading a couple high picks for Roy Williams.

Of course, you could go do a little research and see what the Vikings got in return for Moss when they traded with the Raiders to begin this whole carousel. I don’t think Troy Williamson, Napoleon Harris and Adrian Ward did too much in Minnesota. Since Moss didn’t guide the Raiders to a perfect regular season, you won’t hear any mention of the original Moss trade being a bad deal for the Vikings.

The Moss trade is in the discussion, but it is only an appetizer for the seven course meal of some truly horrendous moves.

Al Davis has already gone on the record saying that Randy Moss was “great for the Raiders”. Therefore he must consider the John Bowie era a landmark moment in modern Raider history. Davis has seen his team win just 25 games since that last Super Bowl appearance six years ago. Hence, it is easy to understand why he’d consider Moss a “great” acquisition.

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