OAKLAND RAIDERS OFFSEASON THREAD
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RAIDERS REEL IN ANOTHER
The Oakland Raiders have continued their effort to upgrade the talent on the roster via the expenditure of enormous amounts of money by signing free-agent defensive end Kalimba Edwards.
The deal, per Adam Schefter of NFL Network, is for two years and pays $5 million.
Edwards was released on March 13 by the Detroit Lions. He visited the Titans a few days later, but otherwise generated not much interest.
A second-round draft pick in 2002, Edwards spent six seasons with the Lions, appearing in 87 games and starting 22. He has 26 career sacks.
The Oakland Raiders have continued their effort to upgrade the talent on the roster via the expenditure of enormous amounts of money by signing free-agent defensive end Kalimba Edwards.
The deal, per Adam Schefter of NFL Network, is for two years and pays $5 million.
Edwards was released on March 13 by the Detroit Lions. He visited the Titans a few days later, but otherwise generated not much interest.
A second-round draft pick in 2002, Edwards spent six seasons with the Lions, appearing in 87 games and starting 22. He has 26 career sacks.
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Can Davis save labor peace again?
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 6:52 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Al Davis has shown he has enough juice to reel in free agents and reshape his roster.
Not surprising, really, because Davis has always been identified as a player’s owner. He’d much rather spend his time dealing with players than fellow owners, none of whom has his background in football.
DeAngelo Hall told the Virginian-Pilot he spent between four and a half and five hours in his meeting with Davis and enjoyed every minute of it. Can’t imagine Pat Bowlen saying the same thing.
When the NFL owners convene Monday in Palm Beach, Fla., the labor agreement Davis helped broker along with former commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be an imposing backdrop. Judging from some of the saber rattling among some of the owners, Davis may have a hard time selling the agreement a second time.
There’s the possibility Davis may not attend at all. As he said in March of 2006 at the meeting which resulted in an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, “The whole idea was that no one was totally dissatisfied. We had to have labor peace. That’s why I came all the way here. I don’t make many of these trips anymore.”
Owners can terminate that agreement this November, creating two more years of salary cap football before going to an uncapped year in 2010. Union boss Gene Upshaw is convinced they will, and it could lead to a lockout in 2011.
Tagliabue leaned heavily on Davis’ counsel for the extension, crediting him publicly for helping soothe what appeared to be a stalemate. Not long afteward, Tagliabue appointed Davis to the eight-man selection committee to determine the new commissioner.
When Roger Goodell was elevated to the position, Davis told USA Today, “His loyalty and passion and love for the game have always come through.”
Goodell has been his own man since assuming control, taking tough stances on “Spygate” and regarding the personal conduct of players.
There is no way to know if Goodell will listen to Davis as Tagliabue did, particularly since most of the ownership seems to have developed a bit of “seller’s remorse” at having given away too much at the bargaining table in 2006.
It may be too soon for Davis to insert himself in the middle as he did two years ago, preferring to wait until the actual vote in November.
State of Kiffin address
A Raiders official said he expected Lane Kiffin to attend the media breakfast at the meetings, an event in which he came off very well last season as he discussed in depth his hiring and plans for remaking the Raiders with the cooperation and blessing of Davis.
Kiffin hasn’t been available for questions since the Senior Bowl, when he declined to answer any questions concerning about his status with the club and offered up a a lukewarm “Rob Ryan is under contract” when asked about his defensive coordinator.
Even if he chooses to keep private business private _ usually the wisest course of action where Davis is concerned _ Kiffin’s mere appearance will be a much-needed and welcomed public statement about a 2008 season which has been energized by the owner’s spending spree.
Whether the strangeness of the offseason compromised Kiffin’s ability to be an authoritative head coach will play itself out starting with the post-draft minicamp and through training camp.
What Kiffin can say is he is a little older and a lot wiser than he was a year ago, and that he has more talent on the roster _ regardless of who did the wheeling and the dealing.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 6:52 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Al Davis has shown he has enough juice to reel in free agents and reshape his roster.
Not surprising, really, because Davis has always been identified as a player’s owner. He’d much rather spend his time dealing with players than fellow owners, none of whom has his background in football.
DeAngelo Hall told the Virginian-Pilot he spent between four and a half and five hours in his meeting with Davis and enjoyed every minute of it. Can’t imagine Pat Bowlen saying the same thing.
When the NFL owners convene Monday in Palm Beach, Fla., the labor agreement Davis helped broker along with former commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be an imposing backdrop. Judging from some of the saber rattling among some of the owners, Davis may have a hard time selling the agreement a second time.
There’s the possibility Davis may not attend at all. As he said in March of 2006 at the meeting which resulted in an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, “The whole idea was that no one was totally dissatisfied. We had to have labor peace. That’s why I came all the way here. I don’t make many of these trips anymore.”
Owners can terminate that agreement this November, creating two more years of salary cap football before going to an uncapped year in 2010. Union boss Gene Upshaw is convinced they will, and it could lead to a lockout in 2011.
Tagliabue leaned heavily on Davis’ counsel for the extension, crediting him publicly for helping soothe what appeared to be a stalemate. Not long afteward, Tagliabue appointed Davis to the eight-man selection committee to determine the new commissioner.
When Roger Goodell was elevated to the position, Davis told USA Today, “His loyalty and passion and love for the game have always come through.”
Goodell has been his own man since assuming control, taking tough stances on “Spygate” and regarding the personal conduct of players.
There is no way to know if Goodell will listen to Davis as Tagliabue did, particularly since most of the ownership seems to have developed a bit of “seller’s remorse” at having given away too much at the bargaining table in 2006.
It may be too soon for Davis to insert himself in the middle as he did two years ago, preferring to wait until the actual vote in November.
State of Kiffin address
A Raiders official said he expected Lane Kiffin to attend the media breakfast at the meetings, an event in which he came off very well last season as he discussed in depth his hiring and plans for remaking the Raiders with the cooperation and blessing of Davis.
Kiffin hasn’t been available for questions since the Senior Bowl, when he declined to answer any questions concerning about his status with the club and offered up a a lukewarm “Rob Ryan is under contract” when asked about his defensive coordinator.
Even if he chooses to keep private business private _ usually the wisest course of action where Davis is concerned _ Kiffin’s mere appearance will be a much-needed and welcomed public statement about a 2008 season which has been energized by the owner’s spending spree.
Whether the strangeness of the offseason compromised Kiffin’s ability to be an authoritative head coach will play itself out starting with the post-draft minicamp and through training camp.
What Kiffin can say is he is a little older and a lot wiser than he was a year ago, and that he has more talent on the roster _ regardless of who did the wheeling and the dealing.
Raiders, Edwards agree
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 11:50 am in Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders are expected to confirm today the signing of Kalimba Edwards, who according to the NFL Network signed a two-year contract worth $5 million.
Edwards was released by the Lions along with running back Kevin Jones on March 13 by the Lions after being inactive for much of the second half of the season.
Assuming Edwards is coming aboard, it’s an interesting acquistion of an intriguing talent who was let go just a year after signing a lucrative contract extension. Not coincidentally, Edwards had his best game of the season in Week 1 against the Raiders, with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble against Josh McCown which helped the Lions put the Raiders away.
Lions coach Rod Marinelli, one of the most respected line coaches in the league during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, apparently believed Edwards underperformed.
Primarily a right end, Edwards, at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, has been described as either a “big outside linebacker or a small defensive end.” He has the skill set to play either in a three-point stance or standing up, which could put Rob Ryan in position to get Edwards in some mismatches on pass rushing downs.
A second-round draft pick by the Lions in 2002, No. 35 overall, Edwards was widely considered a disappointment by Lions fans who consider him as just another mistake in the Matt Millen era.
He had three sacks in eight games last season and three in 16 games in 2006. Edwards, with 26 sacks in his career, had a high of seven in 2005. He has been mostly a situational player, with 22 starts in 87 games.
It may not have bowled over the Lions, but compare Edwards’ production with that of Tyler Brayton, a defensive end the Raiders drafted the following season at No. 32 overall, the last pick in the first round. Brayton had just six sacks in 79 games.
In college at South Carolina, Edwards was considered a potential top 10 selection until a late-season knee injury dropped him into the second round.
The son of a bio-statisitican professor at the University of North Carolina, Edwards described in his combine interview six years ago what dinner conversations were like in his home.
“It’s only philosophical. I cannot speak slang,” Edwards said. “Only intelligent conversations. Only correct grammar, good pronunciation of your words, opening your mouth. It’s a beautiful thing because it kind of made me the man I am today _ disciplined.”
Edwards’ knee healed, but he had needed sports hernia surgery in 2003.
In other news, the Raiders have retained exclusive rights free agent Jon Alston, a linebacker and special teams player.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 11:50 am in Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders are expected to confirm today the signing of Kalimba Edwards, who according to the NFL Network signed a two-year contract worth $5 million.
Edwards was released by the Lions along with running back Kevin Jones on March 13 by the Lions after being inactive for much of the second half of the season.
Assuming Edwards is coming aboard, it’s an interesting acquistion of an intriguing talent who was let go just a year after signing a lucrative contract extension. Not coincidentally, Edwards had his best game of the season in Week 1 against the Raiders, with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble against Josh McCown which helped the Lions put the Raiders away.
Lions coach Rod Marinelli, one of the most respected line coaches in the league during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, apparently believed Edwards underperformed.
Primarily a right end, Edwards, at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, has been described as either a “big outside linebacker or a small defensive end.” He has the skill set to play either in a three-point stance or standing up, which could put Rob Ryan in position to get Edwards in some mismatches on pass rushing downs.
A second-round draft pick by the Lions in 2002, No. 35 overall, Edwards was widely considered a disappointment by Lions fans who consider him as just another mistake in the Matt Millen era.
He had three sacks in eight games last season and three in 16 games in 2006. Edwards, with 26 sacks in his career, had a high of seven in 2005. He has been mostly a situational player, with 22 starts in 87 games.
It may not have bowled over the Lions, but compare Edwards’ production with that of Tyler Brayton, a defensive end the Raiders drafted the following season at No. 32 overall, the last pick in the first round. Brayton had just six sacks in 79 games.
In college at South Carolina, Edwards was considered a potential top 10 selection until a late-season knee injury dropped him into the second round.
The son of a bio-statisitican professor at the University of North Carolina, Edwards described in his combine interview six years ago what dinner conversations were like in his home.
“It’s only philosophical. I cannot speak slang,” Edwards said. “Only intelligent conversations. Only correct grammar, good pronunciation of your words, opening your mouth. It’s a beautiful thing because it kind of made me the man I am today _ disciplined.”
Edwards’ knee healed, but he had needed sports hernia surgery in 2003.
In other news, the Raiders have retained exclusive rights free agent Jon Alston, a linebacker and special teams player.
Titans sign Carr to offer sheet
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm in Oakland Raiders.
The Tennessean is reporting that restricted free agent defensive back/return specialist Chris Carr has signed an offer sheet with the Tennessee Titans.
The Raiders have a week to decide whether to match the offer and retain Carr. Should they decline to match, Carr, who joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent, would bring no compensation.
During a free agent visit to Buffalo, Carr expressed a desire for a fresh start. Given the recent additions of DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson into the secondary, the Raiders could grant his wish and find another return specialist.
Carr is Oakland’s all-time leader in kickoff returns (201) and yards (4,841), although he never scored a touchdown on special teams. In 2006, Carr had the Raiders’ biggest defensive play of the season, a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown off Ben Roethlisberger that helped put away an upset win against the Steelers.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm in Oakland Raiders.
The Tennessean is reporting that restricted free agent defensive back/return specialist Chris Carr has signed an offer sheet with the Tennessee Titans.
The Raiders have a week to decide whether to match the offer and retain Carr. Should they decline to match, Carr, who joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent, would bring no compensation.
During a free agent visit to Buffalo, Carr expressed a desire for a fresh start. Given the recent additions of DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson into the secondary, the Raiders could grant his wish and find another return specialist.
Carr is Oakland’s all-time leader in kickoff returns (201) and yards (4,841), although he never scored a touchdown on special teams. In 2006, Carr had the Raiders’ biggest defensive play of the season, a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown off Ben Roethlisberger that helped put away an upset win against the Steelers.