**Oakland Raiders 2010 offseason Thread**

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corinthian

corinthian

Just Win Baby!!!
#204
Feb 23, 2006
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3rd ID
#204
we've got some interesting options with our free agents:

How will Raiders approach RFA tenders?

By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 2:31 pm in Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders have until March 4 to tender those who are among the 212 players who found their status as unrestricted free agents reduced to restricted free agency in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement.

With the franchise and transition tags available for unrestricted free agents Richard Seymour and Sebastian Janikowski, plus the various tender levels the Raiders are in the position of being able to keep every player they deem necessary for future success. The only way any player of substance gets away is if the Raiders allow it to happen.

With that in mind, free agency will serve as a referendum on which players disappointed in 2009 to the level where they’re no longer a part of whatever plan is devised by Al Davis to stem the seven-year tidal wave of 11 or more losses per season.

Oakland’s list of restricted free agents:

(*-players who were originally scheduled to be unrestricted)

– LB Jon Alston* ended was placed on injured reserve with at least two concussions. Originally a third-round draft pick by St. Louis in 2006, the Raiders can keep him for $1.176 million or receive a third-round pick as compensation should another team sign him. Or they can fail to tender him, allow him to test the open market and bring him back for no compensation at all.

– T Khalif Barnes* was a non-factor after sustaining a broken ankle in training camp. By season’s end he was behind Langston Walker and never mounted a threat as a tackle on the left or right side.

A second-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2005, Barnes is unlikely to receive a tender for the $1.849 million salary. If the Raiders tender him, they’re keeping him, because no team is parting with a second-round pick for Barnes after a poor 2008 and an invisible 2009.

– LB Ricky Brown* was an free agent who received a surprise second-round tender last season which paid him $1.7 million last season and ended up on injured reserve for the second straight year. He’s rehabbing at API in Los Angeles and hopes to return. Chances are he won’t be tendered this season, but could return after a stint testing a difficult market.

– QB Charlie Frye* ended the season as the Raiders starter and was lauded for his work ethic and involvement in game plans. The wild card this year is offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and where he stands on the quarterbacks after JaMarcus Russell, assuming Russell is being given a chance to turn things around. Frye was a fourth-round pick whose original draft pick is $1.226 million.

If the Raiders want to make sure no team makes an offer to Frye, they could give him a second-round tender at $1.849 million. But that’s backup money, not No. 3 money.

– QB Bruce Gradkowski directed come-from-behind victories against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. What modest success the Raiders had on offense in 2009, it came with Gradkowski at quarterback. He said following the season and to the Toledo Blade on Super Bowl Sunday he wants to return to Oakland and is optimistic of competing for and winning the starting job.

A second-round draft pick tender would bring Gradkowski $1.759 million _ or the Raiders could simply lock him up for similar money over two seasons.

– LB Thomas Howard* is one of the NFL’s fastest linebackers and good in pass coverage. He switched to the strong side late in the season, but he’s been on the field an awful lot since coming in as a second-round draft pick in 2006 and the Raider have struggled against the run during that time. A second-round tender for a four-year veteran is $1.759 million.

Interesting to see if another team considers Howard worth a No. 2, and if the Raiders would match a contract offer or take the draft pick.

– C-G Chris Morris, like Gradkowski, would have been a restricted free agent anyway this season because he hasn’t accrued four years in the active roster.

Assuming the Raiders retain the zone blocking system, Morris can be retained for $1.101 million as a reserve at center and guard. If signed by another team, the Raiders could either match or receive a seventh-round draft pick as compensation.

– LB Kirk Morrison* is the most interesting of the RFAs because he’s led the team in tackles five years running, wears his Raiders shield proudly and is a home grown product. We’ll have a good idea if the Raiders think Morrison is part of the problem with regard to run defense depending on how the offseason plays out.

If the Raiders are convinced Morrison is their middle linebacker, they could give him a first and third-round tender, pay him $3.268 million and the compensation level would ensure no one else would sign him. He’d also be safe with a first-round tender at $2.621 million. The second-round tender is $1.849 million, with an outside chance a team might make an an offer which the Raiders could match or receive a No. 2.

The original draft pick tender for a player of five years experience is $1.226 million, which would bring the Raiders a third-round pick should a team make an offer and Oakalnd decline to match.

– CB Stanford Routt* was drafted in the second round in 2005, has a track athlete’s speed and the kind of height and long arms Davis loves. But Routt was bypassed by Chris Johnson last year when DeAngelo Hall flopped opposite Nnamdi Asomugha and remains no better than a third corner on the Raiders. Assuming Routt is tendered, the Raiders would be more than happy to take a another shot at a second-round pick if someone were to sign him.

– RB Gary Russell ended up as an undersized fullback who started when Oakland’s other players were lost to injury (Lorenzo Neal, Oren O’Neal) or suspension (Luke Lawton). He can be retained for $1.1 million and as an undrafted player, brings no compensation if signed and the Raiders decline to match.
Click to expand...
 
T

Tony

Sicc OG
#205
May 15, 2002
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#205
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4918465

The Oakland Raiders and Sebastian Janikowski reached agreement Tuesday morning on the richest kicking contract in NFL history, according to league sources.

AFC West blog
ESPN.com's Bill Williamson writes about all things AFC West in his division blog.

• Blog network: NFL Nation



Janikowski will sign a four-year, $16 million contract that includes $9 million in guaranteed money, sources said. It also removes arguably the top kicker from the free-agent market. Other notable free agent kickers are expected to include Cincinnati's Shayne Graham and the New York Jets' Jay Feely.

In 10 seasons, all with the Raiders, Janikowski has scored 1,000 points, converting 78.4 percent of his field goal attempts (229 of 292) and 313 of 316 extra-point attempts. He scored 95 points in 2009.

Adam Schefter is ESPN's NFL Insider.
 
TheVille31

TheVille31

Sicc OG
#208
Oct 24, 2002
9,569
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www.beekc.com
#208
aint comin in here to hate but i wantd to find the story about him and comment on it because i always thought he could be a beast..

but....he aint the best kicker by far his leg is just beastly...

i would be worried if i was a raider fan cause he obviously knew it was a contract year.

89 percent when the last 4 years he could barley crack 80%
 
Defy

Defy

Cannabis Connoisseur
#209
Jan 23, 2006
24,139
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Rich City
#209
They also put him out on the line to boot long ass field goals that most kickers couldn't go for. I'm very happy with our kicking duo
 
PoetiCCC

PoetiCCC

Sicc OG
#210
Nov 12, 2002
2,158
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www.MSMOfficial.com
#210
at least tha Raiders havent had any serious problems in tha Kiccing game.....now if we could just get that QB situation figured out.....

Losing Howard and Morrison would be two steps baccward for a defense that isnt very good to begin with....Al needs to make sure they dont leave....regardless of whut he does with tha rest of tha RFA's
 
Meta4iCAL

Meta4iCAL

Raider Nation
#212
Feb 21, 2005
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#212
Rating importance of Raiders FAs
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 1:45 pm in Oakland Raiders.

A priority list of Raiders unrestricted and restricted free agents in terms of bringing them back for the 2010 season when the trade and free agency period begins March 5.


Gotta have ‘em

DE Richard Seymour (UFA): Can’t be allowed to get away after sending a 2011 first-round draft pick to Patriots. If Seymour is looking for guaranteed money of $30 to $40 million, the best course of action is the franchise tag and a single season at $12.3 million to see if he can play at or near his prime or is in the declining stages of his career.

QB Bruce Gradkowski (RFA): Why? Because his teammates believe in him and it’s important to have the guy who took the job away from JaMarcus Russell around to push Russell this season. If Gradkowski is allowed to walk, and Russell gets a free pass, the Raiders learned nothing last year.

Could be useful

LB Thomas Howard (RFA). One of the NFL’s fastest linebackers, he can be retained for less than $2 million depending on the tender and he is useful on passing downs, although not a stout run defender.

QB Charlie Frye, (RFA). Gradkowski is the priority, but Frye is an ideal No. 3 quarterback _ an extremely hard worker and student of the game who aspires to coach some day and knows his role.

G-T Langston Walker (UFA). Showed something last season when he switched to guard in a pinch and performed better than expected.

C-G Chris Morris (RFA). Strictly as a backup in the middle three positions. Has faltered as a starter.

Take ‘em or leave ‘em

LB Kirk Morrison (RFA). Seems ridiculous on its face to put the team’s leading tackler five years running on this list, but if some is going to take the fall for the Raider perpetually poor run defense, it ought to be the middle linebacker.

LB Ricky Brown (RFA). The Raiders thought well enough of Brown last year to put a second-round tender on him, but he hasn’t been able to remain healthy either season.

CB Stanford Routt (RFA). Considering his skill set, really should have been a starter by now. Prone to mistakes and head-scratching penalties.

QB J.P. Losman (UFA). Came aboard too late to make any real impact. Assuming Gradkowski returns to compete with Russell, hard to see Losman getting a shot in Oakland unless Hue Jackson is a big fan.

Thanks, but no thanks

LB Jon Alston (RFA). One of the better guys you’ll meet, Alston’s concussion issues last season looked pretty serious to the untrained eye.

RB-FB Gary Russell (RFA). Russell is not really a halfback, and the Raiders already have a glut there with Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas. And he’s not big enough to be a lead-blocking fullback, which is something they need to find in the draft or free agency.

OT Cornell Green (UFA). If Green lines up as the starting tackle for the third straight year, it’s bad news. Tom Cable swears by him. Most fans simply swear at the penalties and sacks surrendered.

OT Khalif Barnes (RFA). When Barnes signed, it was supposedly as a competitor to start at left tackle. Instead, Mario Henderson was told early on he was the guy, and it didn’t matter as Barnes sustained a broken ankle. He never made enough of an impression to get any serious time, bypassed by Langston Walker.

Note: Doesn’t include Sebastian Janikowski, signed to a four-year, $16 million deal with $9 million in guarantees.
 
Meta4iCAL

Meta4iCAL

Raider Nation
#217
Feb 21, 2005
19,635
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#217
move Morrison outside... but if he asks for too much money... see ya Kirk

I've heard him an interview before say he wants to retire as a Raider and spend his whole career here... because he grew up in the Bay and was a always a Raiders fan... so he may settle for less
 
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