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.

You see, I’m a true Raider fan. I give credit where credit is due. Respect to the Denver Broncos today because they wanted it more. That second half proved it all as Denver took a 17-7 deficit and turned it into a 38-24 victory…on the road.

Like I said, I bleed Silver and Black so I just have to call it the way I see it.

Sure, there were plenty of questionable calls by the officiating crew this afternoon. But that had nothing to do with all those pre-snap flags that were thrown. Those mistakes made by the officials had nothing on stupid fouls committed at the absolute wrong time.

Carson Palmer made some throws that let you know he’s still an All-Pro talent. That sick TD toss to Marcel Reece and the lob to Jacoby Ford showed the difference between Palmer and Jason Campbell. But Palmer picking on Champ Bailey also showed the big difference between him and Campbell.

To a fault Campbell usually played is safe. Six picks in two games proves Palmer gambles too often for his own good.

But this embarrassing loss to Denver wasn’t all about those 130 yards in penalties and three Palmer picks.

A team that dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball suddenly couldn’t run the rock or stop the run in the second half. That had nothing to do with the officials. That was all on Oakland as Michael Bush went from dominant to dormant and Willis McGahee went from irrelevant to unstoppable.

For whatever reason Hue Jackson chose to limit the number of plays in which the team’s best receiver, Darrius Heyward-Bey, was involved. Yeah, Jacoby Ford did his thing. But unless DHB violated some team rule on game day then I can’t understand why his role was limited.

For whatever reason the Raiders let Tim Tebow and the Broncos run the most obvious plays to great success.

For whatever reason Michael Huff was allowed to shadow Denver’s only option in the passing game, Eric Decker, with little to no success most of the afternoon.

With the Chiefs getting pwned at home by the winless Miami Dolphins and the Chargers getting punk’d in their own crib by the Packers you would have thought the Raiders could handle business in the East Bay against the hapless Broncos.

Wrong!
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Just two years ago Nnamdi Asomugha’s record contract created a wave of controversy as Davis redefined the value of a shutdown corner.

When it comes to Seymour and Asomugha it’s hard to say they are “overpaid”. But considering we’re talking about two of the best in the biz at what they do then no price can really be too high.

Routt has improved each year he’s been in the league and if Aso walks then he’ll be in a position to be a number one corner. Wimbley got a one-year tag after having his best year in the league.

All of the above I can make an argument for. However, if true, I cannot begin to comprehend why the Raiders would sign Hiram Eugene to a four-year deal that will pay him $2-million on average.

As contractual details emerge in the wake of last Thursday’s deadline we slowly learn more and more of what the Raiders are banking on going forward. Jerry McDonald reported the figures of Eugene’s yet-to-be announced deal. The contract will call for Eugene, a safety best known for getting the stiff arm of death from Willis McGahee, to be paid $2-million this year, $2.25-mil in 2012, $2.75-mil in 2013 and a hideous $3.25-mil in the final year.
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