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Seahawks Draft Reach Takes Bruce Irvin Off Oakland’s Board

Chris Shellcroft — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:26:01 +0000

In a move straight out of the Al Davis playbook the Seattle Seahawks went Reed Richards and reached with the 15^th pick in the 2012 draft to grab West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin. That would be the same Irvin that was thought to be a third rounder, possibly even within reach of the Raiders at #95 overall. Obviously Reggie McKenzie can cross him off the Oakland big board.

This one is already being called a stretch of “mind boggling” proportions (Mel Kiper’s words). Not even Al’s selection of Darrius Heyward-Bey was this much of a reach…now Mike Mitchell on the other hand…that’s another story…

Irvin is also the type of prospect Davis would have valued. He’s got blazing speed and for good measure has a questionable background. To add to the irony this pick comes courtesy of Pete Carroll who was famously the former coach of Al’s second football love – the University of Southern California.

Of course this is the NFL Draft. In all honesty every single pick is a reach of some kind. Everyone loves to act as if they know what will become of any and every player drafted but we know nothing until the ball is kicked on Sundays in the fall.

All this really means is one player many of us saw as a potential Raider won’t be…at least not yet. This is the NFL and you never know which path a player’s career will take. If this Irvin pick does goes bust chances are Oakland might come calling. It happened before…right Aaron Curry?

Lofa Tatupu Visits Oakland

Chris Shellcroft — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:10:18 +0000

The Raiders are doing a lot of free agency flirting these days. Due to Oakland’s salary cap conundrum there just isn’t a lot of cash available to Al Davis. As much as Al would like to make it rain he’s just going to have to get creative with his dollars. Thus the necessity to explore gambles like Jared Gaither. While Gaither’s health concerns ultimately proved Drew Rosenhaus correct in the whole “Raiders sign Gaither” debacle that hasn’t stopped Oakland from looking into other potential rolls of the dice.

Reports are swirling today claiming that former Seahawk Lofa Tatupu is making a stop in Oakland.

Tatupu was once regarded as one of the NFL’s up and coming young defenders until injuries slowed his rapid progress. The former USC Trojan was asked to take a pay cut and refused instead asking to be released. Pete Carroll obliged and thus we find Lofa lurking on Oakland’s radar.
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Robert Gallery Reunited with Tom Cable in Seattle

Chris Shellcroft — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:44:10 +0000

Robert Gallery is a Cable Guy. This much we know for a fact.

The former Raider is being reunited with his former coach in Seattle as news broke that Gallery inked a three-year deal with the Seahawks.

Upon being fired by Al Davis, Tom Cable took his talents to the Pacific Northwest where he’s currently Pete Carroll’s assistant head coach in addition to coaching the offensive line.

No doubt Cable was licking his chops the moment he learned the Raiders weren’t going to re-sign Gallery.

Despite Gallery’s epic failure as a franchise left tackle he became a very good left guard doing most of his best work in the running game.

Given Seattle’s woeful offensive line Gallery will become an instant upgrade at the guard position.

While Gallery was never able to become the perennial All-Pro Mr. Davis envisioned when drafting him second overall, he was a valued member of the community in the East Bay and did whatever the coaching staff asked of him. His departure was imminent once John Herrera chose to air his dirty laundry with regards to the none-too-private contract demands made by Gallery.