**Oakland Raiders 2010 offseason Thread**
- Thread starter Joey
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Raiders re-signed restricted free agent G/C Chris Morris to a one-year, $1.226 million contract.
Morris, a seventh-round pick in 2006 out of Michigan State, was a 10-game starter at center in 2009. His role this year is uncertain after Morris lost the job down last season's stretch, though he did start Oakland's Week 17 loss.
Raiders re-signed restricted free agent LS Jon Condo to a one-year, $1.684 million contract.
A Pro Bowler last season, Condo combines with K Sebastian Janikowski and P Shane Lechler to form easily the league's priciest corps of special teamers.
JaMarcus Russell was a no-show for the start of the Raiders' offseason conditioning program Monday.
Considering Russell's work ethic and track record, the real surprise would've been if he had reported on time. The program is voluntary, but Russell is facing a make-or-break year in Oakland and needs all the conditioning he can get. Charlie Frye and Bruce Gradkowski both showed up in the morning. One Raiders starter was quoted as calling the Russell situation "a horror show." Asked about Russell's attendance, another replied "don't hold your breath."
Raiders re-signed restricted free agent QB Bruce Gradkowski to a one-year, $1.759 million contract.
Undersized and weak armed but athletic and fiery, Gradkowski is considered the favorite to start for quarterback-starved Oakland in 2010. The Raiders will supposedly hold a competition at the position, but Gradkowski is a mortal lock to win if the coaching staff makes the decision. Owner Al Davis, of course, could always step in and install JaMarcus Russell at any time.
The Raiders are moving Johnathan Holland back to wide receiver after trying him at cornerback last season.
Holland isn't going to make an impact at either position. The rising fourth-year player appeared in 14 games last year, amassing 550 kick return yards.
Raiders re-signed QB Charlie Frye, a restricted free agent, to a one-year, $1.226 million contract.
Frye, 29 before the season, appeared in three games last year, completing 60.9% of his passes with a career-best 6.7 YPA but posting a 1:4 TD-to-INT ratio. He won't be higher than No. 3 on the depth chart if he makes the team.
Darrius Heyward-Bey confirmed Monday that the foot injury that sidelined him late last season has healed.
Heyward-Bey also sold out his Maryland Terrapins by declaring West Virginia his favorite in the NCAA tournament. With the Raiders apparently not in pursuit of free agent Terrell Owens, DHB is expected to keep his starting job in 2010 despite producing just nine catches in eight games last season.
Morris, a seventh-round pick in 2006 out of Michigan State, was a 10-game starter at center in 2009. His role this year is uncertain after Morris lost the job down last season's stretch, though he did start Oakland's Week 17 loss.
Raiders re-signed restricted free agent LS Jon Condo to a one-year, $1.684 million contract.
A Pro Bowler last season, Condo combines with K Sebastian Janikowski and P Shane Lechler to form easily the league's priciest corps of special teamers.
JaMarcus Russell was a no-show for the start of the Raiders' offseason conditioning program Monday.
Considering Russell's work ethic and track record, the real surprise would've been if he had reported on time. The program is voluntary, but Russell is facing a make-or-break year in Oakland and needs all the conditioning he can get. Charlie Frye and Bruce Gradkowski both showed up in the morning. One Raiders starter was quoted as calling the Russell situation "a horror show." Asked about Russell's attendance, another replied "don't hold your breath."
Raiders re-signed restricted free agent QB Bruce Gradkowski to a one-year, $1.759 million contract.
Undersized and weak armed but athletic and fiery, Gradkowski is considered the favorite to start for quarterback-starved Oakland in 2010. The Raiders will supposedly hold a competition at the position, but Gradkowski is a mortal lock to win if the coaching staff makes the decision. Owner Al Davis, of course, could always step in and install JaMarcus Russell at any time.
The Raiders are moving Johnathan Holland back to wide receiver after trying him at cornerback last season.
Holland isn't going to make an impact at either position. The rising fourth-year player appeared in 14 games last year, amassing 550 kick return yards.
Raiders re-signed QB Charlie Frye, a restricted free agent, to a one-year, $1.226 million contract.
Frye, 29 before the season, appeared in three games last year, completing 60.9% of his passes with a career-best 6.7 YPA but posting a 1:4 TD-to-INT ratio. He won't be higher than No. 3 on the depth chart if he makes the team.
Darrius Heyward-Bey confirmed Monday that the foot injury that sidelined him late last season has healed.
Heyward-Bey also sold out his Maryland Terrapins by declaring West Virginia his favorite in the NCAA tournament. With the Raiders apparently not in pursuit of free agent Terrell Owens, DHB is expected to keep his starting job in 2010 despite producing just nine catches in eight games last season.
Raiders' Gradkowski signs tender as Russell due to join team
NFL.com Wire Reports
Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo signed their restricted free agent tenders and reported to the Oakland Raiders for the start of voluntary offseason workouts Monday.
Backup quarterback Charlie Frye also signed his tender as the Raiders started getting their restricted free agents under contract for next season.
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Gradkowski's deal for 2010 is worth $1.759 million. Coach Tom Cable says Gradkowski and Russell will compete for the job next season with former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
Gradkowski replaced Russell as Oakland's starting quarterback midway through last season. He provided an immediate spark, leading Oakland to comeback victories in two of his first three starts.
He got hurt midway through his fourth start, suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and a partially torn MCL in his right knee and did not play the rest of the season.
Gradkowski completed 54.7 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.
Russell was expected to join the team for the voluntary offseason workouts later Monday, a person familiar with his plans told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The person asked not to be identified because neither the Raiders nor Russell planned to make the information public.
A Raiders source told NFL.com that Russell has been working out at the training facility Athletes' Performance in Tempe, Ari. He completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in the NFL in 11 years before losing his job to Gradkowski.
Condo, who made his first Pro Bowl last season as the long snapper, will make $1.684 million next season.
Frye started the final three games last season, completing 60.9 percent of his passes with one touchdown and four interceptions. He will be paid $1.226 million next season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
found this article.......i guess JR's faggot ass been working out in AZ
NFL.com Wire Reports
Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo signed their restricted free agent tenders and reported to the Oakland Raiders for the start of voluntary offseason workouts Monday.
Backup quarterback Charlie Frye also signed his tender as the Raiders started getting their restricted free agents under contract for next season.
NFL ShopMore Oakland Raiders Gear >
Gradkowski's deal for 2010 is worth $1.759 million. Coach Tom Cable says Gradkowski and Russell will compete for the job next season with former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
Gradkowski replaced Russell as Oakland's starting quarterback midway through last season. He provided an immediate spark, leading Oakland to comeback victories in two of his first three starts.
He got hurt midway through his fourth start, suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and a partially torn MCL in his right knee and did not play the rest of the season.
Gradkowski completed 54.7 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.
Russell was expected to join the team for the voluntary offseason workouts later Monday, a person familiar with his plans told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The person asked not to be identified because neither the Raiders nor Russell planned to make the information public.
A Raiders source told NFL.com that Russell has been working out at the training facility Athletes' Performance in Tempe, Ari. He completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in the NFL in 11 years before losing his job to Gradkowski.
Condo, who made his first Pro Bowl last season as the long snapper, will make $1.684 million next season.
Frye started the final three games last season, completing 60.9 percent of his passes with one touchdown and four interceptions. He will be paid $1.226 million next season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
found this article.......i guess JR's faggot ass been working out in AZ
On Chronicle live today Willie Brown was glowing about Russell.
Said he has been in AZ working out and said the exact facility. Supposedly he is in noticably better shape, and will be in to the facility tomorrow.
Seen this on a blog. I am not throwing in the towel on Russell yet. If the kid has any heart he will prove it this year. If not, he may be done in the NFL.
Said he has been in AZ working out and said the exact facility. Supposedly he is in noticably better shape, and will be in to the facility tomorrow.
Seen this on a blog. I am not throwing in the towel on Russell yet. If the kid has any heart he will prove it this year. If not, he may be done in the NFL.
Where's JaWaldo?
According to one Raiders player interviewed Monday, no one on the team knows JaMarcus Russell's current whereabouts.
"Nobody has heard anything about where he's at," said the player. The Oakland Tribune reported Monday that there was "talk" Russell might show for day two of the conditioning program, but we won't know until later Tuesday. Naturally, this will spark speculation that Russell is overweight, as usual.
According to one Raiders player interviewed Monday, no one on the team knows JaMarcus Russell's current whereabouts.
"Nobody has heard anything about where he's at," said the player. The Oakland Tribune reported Monday that there was "talk" Russell might show for day two of the conditioning program, but we won't know until later Tuesday. Naturally, this will spark speculation that Russell is overweight, as usual.
^^^i didnt type that. thats coming from someone on the team. heres the full page article.
RAIDERS
Russell missing as workouts start
David White, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
(03-15) 21:40 PDT -- The Raiders' quarterback competition unofficially began Monday with the start of voluntary workouts. So far it's a two-horse race, with neither one named JaMarcus Russell.
The 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick was not seen by teammates at team headquarters Monday, and no one interviewed has any idea where he has been this offseason.
The Raiders do know the whereabouts of the two quarterbacks who leapfrogged Russell into the starting lineup last season. Bruce Gradkowski has been at the team facility all month, and Charlie Frye arrived Monday after signing his restricted-free-agent contract.
"Signed it Sunday," Frye said of his one-year, $1.226 million pact. "Ready to go."
So is Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo, another restricted free agent who signed his second-round contract tender of $1.68 million, according to a league source.
Russell is under contract for $9.5 million next season, but he was nowhere to be found.
Raiders coach Tom Cable said at the NFL combine there would be an open competition. That's in contrast with last year, when Russell was crowned the starter in the offseason.
"Nobody has heard anything about where he's at," said one starting player, on the condition of anonymity.
Briefly: Free safety Hiram Eugene has yet to sign his second-round tender, but he signed a release so he can work out with the team. ... Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey said his injured right foot is healed. He missed the final month of the season.
E-mail David White at [email protected].
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/16/SP8V1CG7FR.DTL
This article appeared on page B - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle
also:
Raiders re-signed exclusive rights free agent LB David Nixon to a one-year contract.
Nixon, a former All-Mountain West Conference second-teamer at BYU, went undrafted in 2009. He'll compete for a spot on special teams in training camp.
RAIDERS
Russell missing as workouts start
David White, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
(03-15) 21:40 PDT -- The Raiders' quarterback competition unofficially began Monday with the start of voluntary workouts. So far it's a two-horse race, with neither one named JaMarcus Russell.
The 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick was not seen by teammates at team headquarters Monday, and no one interviewed has any idea where he has been this offseason.
The Raiders do know the whereabouts of the two quarterbacks who leapfrogged Russell into the starting lineup last season. Bruce Gradkowski has been at the team facility all month, and Charlie Frye arrived Monday after signing his restricted-free-agent contract.
"Signed it Sunday," Frye said of his one-year, $1.226 million pact. "Ready to go."
So is Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo, another restricted free agent who signed his second-round contract tender of $1.68 million, according to a league source.
Russell is under contract for $9.5 million next season, but he was nowhere to be found.
Raiders coach Tom Cable said at the NFL combine there would be an open competition. That's in contrast with last year, when Russell was crowned the starter in the offseason.
"Nobody has heard anything about where he's at," said one starting player, on the condition of anonymity.
Briefly: Free safety Hiram Eugene has yet to sign his second-round tender, but he signed a release so he can work out with the team. ... Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey said his injured right foot is healed. He missed the final month of the season.
E-mail David White at [email protected].
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/16/SP8V1CG7FR.DTL
This article appeared on page B - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle
also:
Raiders re-signed exclusive rights free agent LB David Nixon to a one-year contract.
Nixon, a former All-Mountain West Conference second-teamer at BYU, went undrafted in 2009. He'll compete for a spot on special teams in training camp.
On NFL.com
http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/03/16/russell-arrives-for-raiders-voluntary-workouts/
Russell showed up Tuesday, the team confirmed, although his “new” body couldn’t be seen because the Raiders aren’t making him available to the media.
Raiders director of squad development Willie Brown told Comcast SportsNet Bay Area during an interview Monday that Russell was closing on a new home in Alabama and promised that when he did show up on Tuesday, a different quarterback would appear.
“You’ll be surprised when you see him,” Brown told Raiders play-by-play announcer Greg Papa on Chronicle Live. “It’s quite a bit of weight that he’s lost. … I don’t want to pin it down and say how much he lost, but it will be a significant difference when you see him compared to last year. The most important thing is he’s getting in shape. Not only losing weight but getting in shape.”
Brown also confirmed an earlier report that Russell has been working out at the Athletes’ Performance training facility in Tempe, Ariz., while also noting that the Raiders assigned a former player who has been with him to monitor his progress.
“A lot of people don’t understand what JaMarcus has gone through in the last year,” Brown said. “JaMarcus has done all the right things. … I guarantee you this: He’s totally different from last year because of the things he went through.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/03/16/russell-arrives-for-raiders-voluntary-workouts/
Russell showed up Tuesday, the team confirmed, although his “new” body couldn’t be seen because the Raiders aren’t making him available to the media.
Raiders director of squad development Willie Brown told Comcast SportsNet Bay Area during an interview Monday that Russell was closing on a new home in Alabama and promised that when he did show up on Tuesday, a different quarterback would appear.
“You’ll be surprised when you see him,” Brown told Raiders play-by-play announcer Greg Papa on Chronicle Live. “It’s quite a bit of weight that he’s lost. … I don’t want to pin it down and say how much he lost, but it will be a significant difference when you see him compared to last year. The most important thing is he’s getting in shape. Not only losing weight but getting in shape.”
Brown also confirmed an earlier report that Russell has been working out at the Athletes’ Performance training facility in Tempe, Ariz., while also noting that the Raiders assigned a former player who has been with him to monitor his progress.
“A lot of people don’t understand what JaMarcus has gone through in the last year,” Brown said. “JaMarcus has done all the right things. … I guarantee you this: He’s totally different from last year because of the things he went through.
Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell sports new, slimmer look
By Steve Corkran
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 03/16/2010 02:48:55 PM PDT
Updated: 03/16/2010 02:48:55 PM PDT
As expected, Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell showed up for offseason workouts Tuesday. The surprise came in Russell's physical appearance.
Several players said Russell appears to be in much better shape than he was last season, when Russell's playing weight was listed at 260 pounds.
Russell spent the past month or so working out at a training facility in Arizona, according to director of squad development Willie Brown. Two players confirmed that Russell has been working out in the Phoenix area.
Brown said in an interview on Comcast Sports on Monday night that Russell was absent Monday so that he could complete the purchase of a home in Alabama.
"You'll be surprised when you see him," Brown told Raiders play-by-play announcer Greg Papa on Comcast Sports. "It's quite a bit of weight that he's lost. ... I don't want to pin it down and say how much he lost, but it will be a significant difference when you see him compared with last year. The most important thing is he's getting in shape. Not only losing weight but getting in shape."
Brown said Russell learned from things he endured last year and that he is eating prepared meals, working out and doing the things asked of him by the Raiders. A former Raiders player has been assigned to watch over Russell, as well.
A Raiders official said Russell won't be made available to the media until the team's first minicamp, which typically takes place one or two weeks after the
NFL draft in April. The draft is April 22-24.
By Steve Corkran
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 03/16/2010 02:48:55 PM PDT
Updated: 03/16/2010 02:48:55 PM PDT
As expected, Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell showed up for offseason workouts Tuesday. The surprise came in Russell's physical appearance.
Several players said Russell appears to be in much better shape than he was last season, when Russell's playing weight was listed at 260 pounds.
Russell spent the past month or so working out at a training facility in Arizona, according to director of squad development Willie Brown. Two players confirmed that Russell has been working out in the Phoenix area.
Brown said in an interview on Comcast Sports on Monday night that Russell was absent Monday so that he could complete the purchase of a home in Alabama.
"You'll be surprised when you see him," Brown told Raiders play-by-play announcer Greg Papa on Comcast Sports. "It's quite a bit of weight that he's lost. ... I don't want to pin it down and say how much he lost, but it will be a significant difference when you see him compared with last year. The most important thing is he's getting in shape. Not only losing weight but getting in shape."
Brown said Russell learned from things he endured last year and that he is eating prepared meals, working out and doing the things asked of him by the Raiders. A former Raiders player has been assigned to watch over Russell, as well.
A Raiders official said Russell won't be made available to the media until the team's first minicamp, which typically takes place one or two weeks after the
NFL draft in April. The draft is April 22-24.