**Oakland Raiders 2010 offseason Thread**
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Pendergast jumps to Cal
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 11:10 am in Oakland Raiders.
Clancy Pendergast, who was fired as defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs in the past two years, will leave the Raiders after less than a month and to be defensive coordinator under Jeff Tedford at Cal, beat writer Steve Corkran confirms.
Pendergast was hired by the Raiders Feb. 8 as a defensive assistant. Although the club never specified Pendergast’s responsibility, he was coaching defensive backs along with Lionel Washington.
The situation is the reverse of one which occurred last year when Jim Michalczik, hired by Steve Sarkisian coach the offensive line at the University of Washington, instead left the Huskies to take over as line coach with the Raiders under Tom Cable.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 11:10 am in Oakland Raiders.
Clancy Pendergast, who was fired as defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs in the past two years, will leave the Raiders after less than a month and to be defensive coordinator under Jeff Tedford at Cal, beat writer Steve Corkran confirms.
Pendergast was hired by the Raiders Feb. 8 as a defensive assistant. Although the club never specified Pendergast’s responsibility, he was coaching defensive backs along with Lionel Washington.
The situation is the reverse of one which occurred last year when Jim Michalczik, hired by Steve Sarkisian coach the offensive line at the University of Washington, instead left the Huskies to take over as line coach with the Raiders under Tom Cable.
Position group analysis: Quarterbacks
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 12:11 pm in Oakland Raiders.
First in a series taking a look at Raiders position groups as the NFL teams convene in Indianapolis this week for the scouting combine:
Starter: Bruce Gradkowski/JaMarcus Russell. Backups: Charlie Frye, J.P. Losman.
Review: Any progress Russell made at the end of the 2009 seemed to evaporate from the time of the season finale against Tampa Bay to the first public workouts of the offseason. He was sluggish and inaccurate from the outset of minicamps and OTAs, failing to complete even the most basic passes. The decision to sign Jeff Garcia as a backup and/or mentor had little effect as it was made clear to both men Russell was the unquestioned starter.
When training camp arrived, Russell continued to struggle and Garcia, who looked as if he regretted his decision to sign with the Raiders, missed significant practice time with a calf strain and eventually requested to be released at the final cutdown.
Gradkowski was suddenly the backup instead of hoping to remain as No. 3. Russell, saddled with a young receiving corps, spotty protection and a running game the Raiders thought would be better, never got on track in terms of preparation, performance and leadership. When Tom Cable went to Gradkowski with the blessing of Al Davis, players fell all over themselves with glowing tributes to the hard work and leadership skills of the new starter. Rookie wide receiver Louis Murphy went so far as to call him “punctual.”
Only someone incapable of reading between the lines would miss the message _ Gradkowski was everything Russell was not in terms of many of the non-physical attributes needed by an NFL quarterback.
Gradkowski led the Raiders to a pair of come from behind victories (Cincinnati and Pittsburgh) and gave the Raiders some of their best quarterback play since Kerry Collins in 2005 (admittedly, that’s not setting the bar at the level of a consistent winner). A pair of torn MCLs brought in Frye, another worker bee who even contributed to game plans.
Losman was brought in when Gradkowski was injured after leading Las Vegas to a UFL title.
Contract status: Russell remains under contract and stands to make $9.45 million this season. Gradkowski is a restricted free agent. Frye will be a restricted free agent unless a collective bargaining agreement is reached before March 5, making him unrestricted. Losman is an unrestricted free agent.
What’s next: If the Raiders are seriously looking at quarterback prospects in Indianapolis, chances are it would be for a developmental player in a mid- to late round.
Considering the way Russell performed when handed the job with no competition, expect the Raiders to bring back Gradkowski and have a split-rep setup through the offseason and into training camp. This is a huge offseason for Russell, who took considerable heat from the TNT announcing crew for showing up at a Phoenix Suns game disguised as a jewelry store, including a diamond-encrusted figurine hanging from a chain in his own likeness.
There has been talk that Russell was actually in Phoenix to work out and get in shape. However, neither the Raiders nor Russell’s agents want any part of confirming what would be good news and positive publicity for his client. Why? Maybe it’s just because that’s how the Raiders operate, or maybe it’s because they’d like to see some real change before being too effusive in their comments.
Rest assured new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and Davis talked about Russell at length. It will be Jackson’s job not only to be firm with Russell, but also rebuild his confidence.
Judging from the way 2009 went down, the Raiders have hopefully told Russell he’ll have to earn all the playing time he gets and give Gradkowski a legitimate chance to win the job. Russell has to win back a lot of teammates who are rightly concerned about his maturity and dedication.
The veteran crop of free agents is uninspiring.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 12:11 pm in Oakland Raiders.
First in a series taking a look at Raiders position groups as the NFL teams convene in Indianapolis this week for the scouting combine:
Starter: Bruce Gradkowski/JaMarcus Russell. Backups: Charlie Frye, J.P. Losman.
Review: Any progress Russell made at the end of the 2009 seemed to evaporate from the time of the season finale against Tampa Bay to the first public workouts of the offseason. He was sluggish and inaccurate from the outset of minicamps and OTAs, failing to complete even the most basic passes. The decision to sign Jeff Garcia as a backup and/or mentor had little effect as it was made clear to both men Russell was the unquestioned starter.
When training camp arrived, Russell continued to struggle and Garcia, who looked as if he regretted his decision to sign with the Raiders, missed significant practice time with a calf strain and eventually requested to be released at the final cutdown.
Gradkowski was suddenly the backup instead of hoping to remain as No. 3. Russell, saddled with a young receiving corps, spotty protection and a running game the Raiders thought would be better, never got on track in terms of preparation, performance and leadership. When Tom Cable went to Gradkowski with the blessing of Al Davis, players fell all over themselves with glowing tributes to the hard work and leadership skills of the new starter. Rookie wide receiver Louis Murphy went so far as to call him “punctual.”
Only someone incapable of reading between the lines would miss the message _ Gradkowski was everything Russell was not in terms of many of the non-physical attributes needed by an NFL quarterback.
Gradkowski led the Raiders to a pair of come from behind victories (Cincinnati and Pittsburgh) and gave the Raiders some of their best quarterback play since Kerry Collins in 2005 (admittedly, that’s not setting the bar at the level of a consistent winner). A pair of torn MCLs brought in Frye, another worker bee who even contributed to game plans.
Losman was brought in when Gradkowski was injured after leading Las Vegas to a UFL title.
Contract status: Russell remains under contract and stands to make $9.45 million this season. Gradkowski is a restricted free agent. Frye will be a restricted free agent unless a collective bargaining agreement is reached before March 5, making him unrestricted. Losman is an unrestricted free agent.
What’s next: If the Raiders are seriously looking at quarterback prospects in Indianapolis, chances are it would be for a developmental player in a mid- to late round.
Considering the way Russell performed when handed the job with no competition, expect the Raiders to bring back Gradkowski and have a split-rep setup through the offseason and into training camp. This is a huge offseason for Russell, who took considerable heat from the TNT announcing crew for showing up at a Phoenix Suns game disguised as a jewelry store, including a diamond-encrusted figurine hanging from a chain in his own likeness.
There has been talk that Russell was actually in Phoenix to work out and get in shape. However, neither the Raiders nor Russell’s agents want any part of confirming what would be good news and positive publicity for his client. Why? Maybe it’s just because that’s how the Raiders operate, or maybe it’s because they’d like to see some real change before being too effusive in their comments.
Rest assured new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and Davis talked about Russell at length. It will be Jackson’s job not only to be firm with Russell, but also rebuild his confidence.
Judging from the way 2009 went down, the Raiders have hopefully told Russell he’ll have to earn all the playing time he gets and give Gradkowski a legitimate chance to win the job. Russell has to win back a lot of teammates who are rightly concerned about his maturity and dedication.
The veteran crop of free agents is uninspiring.
im all for vick coming in too,...but regardless of all that,i think grad will out shine rus in training camp,just like he did last year,and win the starting job!,..unless jawalrus looses the jew-els,the walkman,all the pretty toys and all that bullshit,and trades it all up for a playbook and studies it,sleeps with it,wakes up with it ,takes a shit with it,and learns his role and play calling then hes gonna be something until then,...fuck him!
Raiders could make some big moves
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 | Print Entry
With the NFL's new league year kicking off on Friday, March 5, trade talks are intensifying -- and nowhere more so than in Oakland.
The Oakland Raiders have had multiple discussions -- with multiple teams -- in an effort to see if they can unload any of their players, league sources said. It is similar to what the Raiders did last year, when they sought out trades with other teams, only to find few takers.
The Raiders are open to dealing multiple players on their roster, including Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. The problem is that Asomugha's contract makes him virtually untradable.
Asomugha is scheduled to make a 100 percent guaranteed $16.59 million for the coming 2010 season.
As if that contract weren't problematic enough in a difficult economy, Asomugha has an $8 million roster bonus that is due on the first day of the league year -- next Friday -- meaning that a trade would have to be agreed to in the next 10 days and consummated before the Raiders paid that bonus. On top of that, Asomugha also has a $7.83 million option bonus due on March 19.
And what makes a potential trade for Oakland's Pro Bowl cornerback even more difficult is that, after his contract expires following the 2011 season, Asomugha's team is forbidden from franchising him -- or it must pay him the average of the top five quarterback salaries, which this year would be $16.4 million.
But in the coming months, new blockbuster deals are expected for New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady; this means the price to keep Asomugha beyond 2011 will be astronomical.
Thus the Raiders have tested the waters to see if any team would be interested in taking him now. Teams love the player but are unwilling to absorb the contract, thus making a deal for him virtually impossible.
Still, the Raiders are looking to make deals -- and will continue looking as the NFL's offseason prepares to kick off next week.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 | Print Entry
With the NFL's new league year kicking off on Friday, March 5, trade talks are intensifying -- and nowhere more so than in Oakland.
The Oakland Raiders have had multiple discussions -- with multiple teams -- in an effort to see if they can unload any of their players, league sources said. It is similar to what the Raiders did last year, when they sought out trades with other teams, only to find few takers.
The Raiders are open to dealing multiple players on their roster, including Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. The problem is that Asomugha's contract makes him virtually untradable.
Asomugha is scheduled to make a 100 percent guaranteed $16.59 million for the coming 2010 season.
As if that contract weren't problematic enough in a difficult economy, Asomugha has an $8 million roster bonus that is due on the first day of the league year -- next Friday -- meaning that a trade would have to be agreed to in the next 10 days and consummated before the Raiders paid that bonus. On top of that, Asomugha also has a $7.83 million option bonus due on March 19.
And what makes a potential trade for Oakland's Pro Bowl cornerback even more difficult is that, after his contract expires following the 2011 season, Asomugha's team is forbidden from franchising him -- or it must pay him the average of the top five quarterback salaries, which this year would be $16.4 million.
But in the coming months, new blockbuster deals are expected for New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady; this means the price to keep Asomugha beyond 2011 will be astronomical.
Thus the Raiders have tested the waters to see if any team would be interested in taking him now. Teams love the player but are unwilling to absorb the contract, thus making a deal for him virtually impossible.
Still, the Raiders are looking to make deals -- and will continue looking as the NFL's offseason prepares to kick off next week.
