THE OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2009 OFFSEASON THREAD
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Gallery and Fargas restructure
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SFGate: Raiders Silver and Black Blog
Raiders left guard Robert Gallery and running back Justin Fargas also restructered their contracts recently, but they didn't take a financial hit like wide receiver Javon Walker.
Both had an undisclosed amount of their contract money converted to a signing bonus and had additional years tacked on to the back of the contract, two league sources told The Chronicle today. They'll still get the same amount of money at the end of the day, whereas Walker forfeited $22 million in base salary and a $5 million roster bonus with his redone deal, a source said.
The changed deals for Gallery and Fargas allow the Raiders to prorate the money over the life of the extended contracts, which are each voidable back to the original length (Gallery and Fargas are signed through 2010). That's as opposed to having all of the money count against the cap this year.
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SFGate: Raiders Silver and Black Blog
Raiders left guard Robert Gallery and running back Justin Fargas also restructered their contracts recently, but they didn't take a financial hit like wide receiver Javon Walker.
Both had an undisclosed amount of their contract money converted to a signing bonus and had additional years tacked on to the back of the contract, two league sources told The Chronicle today. They'll still get the same amount of money at the end of the day, whereas Walker forfeited $22 million in base salary and a $5 million roster bonus with his redone deal, a source said.
The changed deals for Gallery and Fargas allow the Raiders to prorate the money over the life of the extended contracts, which are each voidable back to the original length (Gallery and Fargas are signed through 2010). That's as opposed to having all of the money count against the cap this year.
Peterson: Raiders should consider signing Owens
By Gary Peterson
Staff columnist
Posted: 03/05/2009 08:49:05 PM PST
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE the person charged with writing a letter of recommendation for Terrell Owens, who was kicked to the curb by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.
But here's the good news, both for Owens and those inclined to recommend him: As long as Al Davis owns an NFL team, no stinking letter is necessary.
Owens is a megatalent? Davis loves megatalents. Owens plays wide receiver? Davis' Raiders need wide receivers. Owens is a bad act who has been asked to leave three NFL towns the past six years?
Heh, heh, heh.
Owens wasn't unemployed for 24 hours before the ether was thrumming with speculation over where he would wind up. But really, the Raiders make more sense
than every other semi-likely destination combined.
Davis has long been the patron saint of last chances. The Raiders were the third, final and most celebrated stop for Ted Hendricks. Same with John Matuszak and Lyle Alzado. Ditto Jim Plunkett.
The Raiders have long embraced other teams' castoffs, with special emphasis on former 49ers — Plunkett, Cedrick Hardman, Archie Reese, Ronnie Lott, Roger Craig, Riki Ellison, Tom Rathman, Jerry Rice, Jeremy Newberry.
As a bonus, Davis has a long history of not giving a fig about his players' personalities, attitudes or off-field idiosyncrasies. If you produce on Sunday, you're OK by him.
Granted, Owens might be the ultimate test of Davis' patience. He's the full dinner
show, a selfish locker room pariah who has raised the hackles of such NFL stalwarts as Steve Mariucci, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid, Tony Romo and Jerry Jones.
As Steve Young noted Wednesday night on ESPN, his former receiver is certain death to team chemistry. That's why Owens is a poor choice for any team that believes it is on the cusp of something special. Those teams have too much to lose.
The Raiders have nothing to lose. They're coming off six consecutive seasons of double-digit losses, remember? Most of their players can still recall the sight of Randy Moss loafing through his second season in Oakland. Nearly all of them remember coach Lane Kiffin actively trying to get himself fired last summer and fall.
Besides, Owens is always a happy camper when he's the new kid in town. He was in his third season with the 49ers when he made his famous, game-winning catch in a playoff game against Green Bay. He cried afterward, and thanked his teammates for sticking by him.
He spent five more years in San Francisco; that was his final humble moment in a 49ers uniform.
In his first season in Philadelphia he helped the Eagles get to the Super Bowl. He missed most of his second season there after being suspended by the team.
His first season in Dallas was a 13-touchdown extravaganza. His second ended with Owens crying boo-hoo kitty tears for the quarterback he would undermine during his third season in Dallas.
He would come to Oakland with plenty to prove to plenty of people. And a T.O. bent on fluffing up his personal legacy could help the Raiders get better faster than they would otherwise. In so doing, he could accelerate the development of quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
It is safe to assume that Owens is well aware of his professional legacy as well. He is sixth or higher on the NFL's career lists for catches, yards receiving and receiving touchdowns. With a couple more productive seasons he could make a strong case for Hall of Fame consideration.
The downside would be — what? A contentious locker room? (The Raiders have been there). A 4-12 record? (Done that). A hasty midseason divorce if things don't work out? (See: Hall, DeAngelo).
This is the mortal lock of the week. If Davis isn't dialing the phone as we speak, it'd better be because his fingers are shaking with anticipation.
Contact Gary Peterson at [email protected].
By Gary Peterson
Staff columnist
Posted: 03/05/2009 08:49:05 PM PST
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE the person charged with writing a letter of recommendation for Terrell Owens, who was kicked to the curb by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.
But here's the good news, both for Owens and those inclined to recommend him: As long as Al Davis owns an NFL team, no stinking letter is necessary.
Owens is a megatalent? Davis loves megatalents. Owens plays wide receiver? Davis' Raiders need wide receivers. Owens is a bad act who has been asked to leave three NFL towns the past six years?
Heh, heh, heh.
Owens wasn't unemployed for 24 hours before the ether was thrumming with speculation over where he would wind up. But really, the Raiders make more sense
than every other semi-likely destination combined.
Davis has long been the patron saint of last chances. The Raiders were the third, final and most celebrated stop for Ted Hendricks. Same with John Matuszak and Lyle Alzado. Ditto Jim Plunkett.
The Raiders have long embraced other teams' castoffs, with special emphasis on former 49ers — Plunkett, Cedrick Hardman, Archie Reese, Ronnie Lott, Roger Craig, Riki Ellison, Tom Rathman, Jerry Rice, Jeremy Newberry.
As a bonus, Davis has a long history of not giving a fig about his players' personalities, attitudes or off-field idiosyncrasies. If you produce on Sunday, you're OK by him.
Granted, Owens might be the ultimate test of Davis' patience. He's the full dinner
show, a selfish locker room pariah who has raised the hackles of such NFL stalwarts as Steve Mariucci, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid, Tony Romo and Jerry Jones.
As Steve Young noted Wednesday night on ESPN, his former receiver is certain death to team chemistry. That's why Owens is a poor choice for any team that believes it is on the cusp of something special. Those teams have too much to lose.
The Raiders have nothing to lose. They're coming off six consecutive seasons of double-digit losses, remember? Most of their players can still recall the sight of Randy Moss loafing through his second season in Oakland. Nearly all of them remember coach Lane Kiffin actively trying to get himself fired last summer and fall.
Besides, Owens is always a happy camper when he's the new kid in town. He was in his third season with the 49ers when he made his famous, game-winning catch in a playoff game against Green Bay. He cried afterward, and thanked his teammates for sticking by him.
He spent five more years in San Francisco; that was his final humble moment in a 49ers uniform.
In his first season in Philadelphia he helped the Eagles get to the Super Bowl. He missed most of his second season there after being suspended by the team.
His first season in Dallas was a 13-touchdown extravaganza. His second ended with Owens crying boo-hoo kitty tears for the quarterback he would undermine during his third season in Dallas.
He would come to Oakland with plenty to prove to plenty of people. And a T.O. bent on fluffing up his personal legacy could help the Raiders get better faster than they would otherwise. In so doing, he could accelerate the development of quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
It is safe to assume that Owens is well aware of his professional legacy as well. He is sixth or higher on the NFL's career lists for catches, yards receiving and receiving touchdowns. With a couple more productive seasons he could make a strong case for Hall of Fame consideration.
The downside would be — what? A contentious locker room? (The Raiders have been there). A 4-12 record? (Done that). A hasty midseason divorce if things don't work out? (See: Hall, DeAngelo).
This is the mortal lock of the week. If Davis isn't dialing the phone as we speak, it'd better be because his fingers are shaking with anticipation.
Contact Gary Peterson at [email protected].
