Kiffin: 'I wasn't dancing'
Raiders coach denies he was out boogieing during combine, won't touch hot-button issues
By Steve Corkran, STAFF WRITER
Article Created: 02/29/2008 02:39:17 AM PST
ALAMEDA — Raiders coach Lane Kiffin broke his silence Wednesday to the Bay Area media after spending most of the past two months ducking, dodging and evading any and every attempt to tap his mind as to what's going on with his team.
The timing made perfect sense, given free agency started the next day and the Raiders figure to be an active player in the signing of other teams' castoffs.
Yet, Kiffin had something far more pressing to pass on to those who clamor for information about how he intends to go about rejuvenating a team that won only four games last season and 19 the past five.
"Just wanted to let you know I wasn't out dancing," Kiffin said in a phone call to San Jose Mercury News columnist Ann Killion in response to a mention by her in a recent article about Kiffin being spotted dancing at an Indianapolis nightclub during last week'sNFL scouting combine.
Huh? When asked if he cared to comment about the myriad reports in recent weeks about a rift between him and managing general partner Al Davis, his failed attempt at firing defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, or his tenuous future with the Raiders, Kiffin issued a one-word answer.
"Nope," he told Killion.
So much for Kiffin's promise at season's end to speak with the media upon request throughout the offseason. Also, fans are left to wonder about the team's plans, especially in terms of its approach to free agency.
At season's end, the Raiders were approximately $26 million
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under the projected 2008 salary cap of $116 million.
They reduced that margin by re-signing running back Justin Fargas and placing the exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Those moves would cost the Raiders approximately $13 million if Asomugha signs, as expected.
On Thursday, the Raiders re-signed defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to a seven-year, $50.5 million contract that guarantees him $18,125,000 and makes him the league's highest-paid player at his position.
Kelly, 27, was playing well at defensive end before sustaining a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee on Oct. 28. He's expected to move back inside with Warren Sapp's retirement.
"I've trained that monster, and he's coming (along)," Sapp said of Kelly last season. "There's nothing I can do to stop him. It's going to be his spot, and I'm going to step the hell out of the way gracefully."
Work is ongoing toward re-signing defensive end Chris Clemons, a person in the front office said. Clemons tied for the team lead with eight sacks last season. However, the size of Kelly's contract might entice Clemons to seek his fortune elsewhere, with a team that has money to burn.
Beyond that, the Raiders have explored the possibility of freeing up more cap room by cutting running backs LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes.
Jordan is due $4.7 million in base salary this season. Rhodes is on the books for $3 million in base salary, as well as a $2 million roster bonus. Cutting Jordan and Rhodes would free up $8.3 million in cap room.
The Raiders no longer have a pressing need for either back, with the emergence of Fargas last season as a lead back and the presence of second-year back Michael Bush.
The Raiders have a long history of making a big splash in the free-agency pool each season.
Potential targets this year include defensive end Jevon Kearse from the Philadelphia Eagles, wide receiver Bernard Berrian from the Chicago Bears and safety Gibril Wilson from the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Berrian would be a nice fit in an offense that lacked a big-play threat last season and could be without Jerry Porter, if he signs with another team. Nov.11 at McAfee Coliseum. he blew by corner Chris Carr for a 59-yard touchdown that turned a 6-3 deficit into a 10-6 Bears lead in the fourth quarter.
Wilson is the hard-hitting, big-play safety the Raiders have lacked since Rod Woodson retired after the 2003 season.
Kearse was cut Thursday by the Eagles and hasn't been the same since his Tennessee Titans days. However, Davis has a penchant for taking a gamble on such players.
