Raiders in salary cap trouble in 2003
January 27, 2003
By John Pezzullo
SportsTicker Pro Football Editor
SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - First they were floored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. Now, the Oakland Raiders will get kicked around by the salary cap.
While most NFL teams purged veterans for salary cap purposes, Raiders owner Al Davis collected them. The time to pay the price has come.
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Davis went for broke when he signed defensive tackles John Parrella and Sam Adams, linebacker Bill Romanowski and safety Rod Woodson as free agents in 2002. Those moves helped the Raiders reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 19 years, but it did not get Davis the title.
And now Davis must shed about $40 million in 2003 to get under the salary cap. Just Win, Baby has suddenly turned into Just Take a Paycut, Baby.
"You have a cap problem when you have a whole bunch of guys that you don't want around," Raiders receiver Tim Brown said. "I don't think that is the situation here."
Actually, the Raiders have a problem similar to that of the Baltimore Ravens, who were forced to break up their team two years after winning a Super Bowl title for salary cap purposes.
Davis reacted to the heartbreaking divisional playoff loss to New England in 2001 with a no-holds barred determination to add the missing pieces to get to the Super Bowl. But the credit card mentality of the salary cap can put teams in a hole in later years. By fitting four key players under the 2002 cap, Davis exacerbated a problem in 2003.
The oldest team in the NFL with 15 players older than 30, including five at 36 or older, the Raiders will have to send some of that group packing.
The first part of Davis' restocking plan was the trade of coach Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay for four draft picks - a first- and second-round selection in 2002, a first in 2003 and a second in 2004. Davis also received $8 million in the deal, but lost to his former coach in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Jerry Rice is the oldest player at 40, but led the team in catches (92) and yards (1,211) in 2002 and has no intention of retiring.
"I will be back next season," Rice said emphatically after Sunday's loss. "Without a doubt, I'll be back. Bar none."
Quarterback Rich Gannon, the regular season Most Valuable Player at age 37, receiver Tim Brown, 36, and running back Charlie Garner, 30, will also be back, although Brown and Garner may have to accept paycuts.
Running back Tyrone Wheatley and fullback Zack Crockett are free agents not likely to return and the Raiders will have to make some salary cuts on the offensive line. With 6-8, 345-pound tackle Langston Walker waiting in the wings as a second-round pick in the Gruden trade, right tackle Lincoln Kennedy or left tackle Barry Sims will probably be released. The Raiders will also likely lose starting right guard Mo Collins, who is an unrestricted free agent
And the status of Pro Bowl center Barret Robbins is uncertain after he was dismissed by coach Bill Callahan on the morning of Super Bowl XXXVII for missing team functions on Saturday.
Veteran tight end Roland Williams ended the 2002 season on injured reserve with a partially torn ACL and torn MCL and will likely be waived. Doug Jolley, Oakland's second second-round pick last season, took over as the starter after Williams was injured.
Defensive end Trace Armstrong, 37, missed the postseason with a strained groin and will likely be waived along with Adams, who has a huge roster bonus due in March.
The Raiders would like to retain Romanowski, but will have to make some cuts in the secondary.
Cornerback Phillip Buchanon, the team's first-round pick from the Gruden trade, will likely move into a starting role and push Tory James off the payroll.
Safety Rod Woodson, who turns 38 in March, tied for the league lead in interceptions with eight, but has contemplated retirement. It may not matter for the Raiders, who may have to waive him anyway.
Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson will probably be asked to take a paycut and starting strong safety Anthony Dorsett may be waived if the Raiders promote Derrick Gibson.
January 27, 2003
By John Pezzullo
SportsTicker Pro Football Editor
SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - First they were floored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. Now, the Oakland Raiders will get kicked around by the salary cap.
While most NFL teams purged veterans for salary cap purposes, Raiders owner Al Davis collected them. The time to pay the price has come.
ADVERTISEMENT
Davis went for broke when he signed defensive tackles John Parrella and Sam Adams, linebacker Bill Romanowski and safety Rod Woodson as free agents in 2002. Those moves helped the Raiders reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 19 years, but it did not get Davis the title.
And now Davis must shed about $40 million in 2003 to get under the salary cap. Just Win, Baby has suddenly turned into Just Take a Paycut, Baby.
"You have a cap problem when you have a whole bunch of guys that you don't want around," Raiders receiver Tim Brown said. "I don't think that is the situation here."
Actually, the Raiders have a problem similar to that of the Baltimore Ravens, who were forced to break up their team two years after winning a Super Bowl title for salary cap purposes.
Davis reacted to the heartbreaking divisional playoff loss to New England in 2001 with a no-holds barred determination to add the missing pieces to get to the Super Bowl. But the credit card mentality of the salary cap can put teams in a hole in later years. By fitting four key players under the 2002 cap, Davis exacerbated a problem in 2003.
The oldest team in the NFL with 15 players older than 30, including five at 36 or older, the Raiders will have to send some of that group packing.
The first part of Davis' restocking plan was the trade of coach Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay for four draft picks - a first- and second-round selection in 2002, a first in 2003 and a second in 2004. Davis also received $8 million in the deal, but lost to his former coach in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Jerry Rice is the oldest player at 40, but led the team in catches (92) and yards (1,211) in 2002 and has no intention of retiring.
"I will be back next season," Rice said emphatically after Sunday's loss. "Without a doubt, I'll be back. Bar none."
Quarterback Rich Gannon, the regular season Most Valuable Player at age 37, receiver Tim Brown, 36, and running back Charlie Garner, 30, will also be back, although Brown and Garner may have to accept paycuts.
Running back Tyrone Wheatley and fullback Zack Crockett are free agents not likely to return and the Raiders will have to make some salary cuts on the offensive line. With 6-8, 345-pound tackle Langston Walker waiting in the wings as a second-round pick in the Gruden trade, right tackle Lincoln Kennedy or left tackle Barry Sims will probably be released. The Raiders will also likely lose starting right guard Mo Collins, who is an unrestricted free agent
And the status of Pro Bowl center Barret Robbins is uncertain after he was dismissed by coach Bill Callahan on the morning of Super Bowl XXXVII for missing team functions on Saturday.
Veteran tight end Roland Williams ended the 2002 season on injured reserve with a partially torn ACL and torn MCL and will likely be waived. Doug Jolley, Oakland's second second-round pick last season, took over as the starter after Williams was injured.
Defensive end Trace Armstrong, 37, missed the postseason with a strained groin and will likely be waived along with Adams, who has a huge roster bonus due in March.
The Raiders would like to retain Romanowski, but will have to make some cuts in the secondary.
Cornerback Phillip Buchanon, the team's first-round pick from the Gruden trade, will likely move into a starting role and push Tory James off the payroll.
Safety Rod Woodson, who turns 38 in March, tied for the league lead in interceptions with eight, but has contemplated retirement. It may not matter for the Raiders, who may have to waive him anyway.
Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson will probably be asked to take a paycut and starting strong safety Anthony Dorsett may be waived if the Raiders promote Derrick Gibson.
