THE OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2009 OFFSEASON THREAD
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Raiders re-sign Sam Williams and ...
The Raiders re-signed strongside linebacker Sam Williams, who is more of a core special teams player at this stage of his career, the team announced on the transaction page of its website Wednesday night.
They also signed defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti, who played for the Redskins since they signed him out of UCLA as an undrafted free agent in 2004.
Boschetti adds a little depth to the interior line, something they lacked all of last season. Williams is just the latest special teams player to re-sign with the Raiders. Remember how converted tight end Fred Wakefield was their idea of a second-stringer at the start of last season?
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 289 pounds on nfl.com, Boschetti played in three games last year. His size allows him to play all four defensive line positions, something he did sparingly as a Redskins reserve player when he wasn't sitting on their practice squad. He can also play special teams.
Boschetti joins offensive tackles Erik Pears and Khalif Barnes as the only free agents signed from outside the organization this offseason. (And I forgot about defensive back Jason Horton) Three of those four have no chance to start, and Barnes will have to fight Mario Henderson for the left tackle gig.
Williams is one of those Al Davis favorites who is still sticking around six years after he was drafted in the third round out of Fresno State. He lost the starting job in 2007 but has carved a significant niche on special teams.
Other special teamers to re-sign with the team include Isaiah Ekejiuba, Jon Alston, Jon Condo and Tony Stewart.
The Raiders re-signed strongside linebacker Sam Williams, who is more of a core special teams player at this stage of his career, the team announced on the transaction page of its website Wednesday night.
They also signed defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti, who played for the Redskins since they signed him out of UCLA as an undrafted free agent in 2004.
Boschetti adds a little depth to the interior line, something they lacked all of last season. Williams is just the latest special teams player to re-sign with the Raiders. Remember how converted tight end Fred Wakefield was their idea of a second-stringer at the start of last season?
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 289 pounds on nfl.com, Boschetti played in three games last year. His size allows him to play all four defensive line positions, something he did sparingly as a Redskins reserve player when he wasn't sitting on their practice squad. He can also play special teams.
Boschetti joins offensive tackles Erik Pears and Khalif Barnes as the only free agents signed from outside the organization this offseason. (And I forgot about defensive back Jason Horton) Three of those four have no chance to start, and Barnes will have to fight Mario Henderson for the left tackle gig.
Williams is one of those Al Davis favorites who is still sticking around six years after he was drafted in the third round out of Fresno State. He lost the starting job in 2007 but has carved a significant niche on special teams.
Other special teamers to re-sign with the team include Isaiah Ekejiuba, Jon Alston, Jon Condo and Tony Stewart.
Will Raiders crown Ramses?
A large contingent of Raiders officials, including at least three scouts, attended USC's much-anticipated (and attended) Pro Day on Wednesday. They very well may have been paying as much attention to the non-Trojan on site as anyone from USC itself.
Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden, who is training in Southern California, swung by to be one of the receivers to run routes during quarterback Mark Sanchez's passing drills. As it turns out, the Raiders are huge on the 6-foot-6 receiver from John Madden U and could take him with their second-round pick in the April 25-26 draft.
"Gotta help him out, give him some moral support, a high-five after a nice throw," Barden said by phone about teaming up with Sanchez in front of the scouts.
Barden wanted to take part in the actual workouts but the Pac-10 did not allow it. He worked out in front of scouts two weeks ago at the San Jose State Pro Day, very likely cementing his place as a second-round pick -- and certainly no later than the third round -- with a 4.48 time in the 40.
Barden had a private interview with the Raiders at his Pro Day workout. He declined to give details, but The Chronicle has confirmed he has been in contact with Raiders wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal several times now.
The Raiders also recently contacted his college coach to find out more about the small-school standout. They interviewed him at the Senior Bowl. They interviewed him at the NFL Combine. A far as due diligence goes, they're all over it.
If they want Barden, they'll most likely have to use their eighth overall pick of the second round. The only way they do that is if they don't draft a wide receiver like Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree or Missouri's Jeremy Maclin in the first round.
(Maybe they call them mock drafts so people like me can be mocked if we guess wrong, huh?)
They need a big receiver, and Barden is certainly big at 6-foot-6. He's 229 pounds with room to muscle up. He set an NCAA record with 20 straight games with a touchdown catch. He reminds some of two other tall AFC West receivers: Broncos Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall and the Chargers' Vincent Jackson.
They could hope Barden makes it to the third, but this is a kid who's interviewed with Bill Parcells of the Dolphins. He's not exactly a secret anymore.
Barden did say this about the Raiders and quarterback JaMarcus Russell:
"He can make all the throws. He's a talented guy, you know? I'd love to be part of any team I can help turn around."
** Speaking of wide receivers, the Raiders had a formal interview with Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams at the Combine, according to Scout.com.
So yeah, wide receiver is clearly a priority, even with the return of Chaz Schilens, Johnnie Lee Higgins and Javon Walker. This explains why they've done nothing in free
A large contingent of Raiders officials, including at least three scouts, attended USC's much-anticipated (and attended) Pro Day on Wednesday. They very well may have been paying as much attention to the non-Trojan on site as anyone from USC itself.
Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden, who is training in Southern California, swung by to be one of the receivers to run routes during quarterback Mark Sanchez's passing drills. As it turns out, the Raiders are huge on the 6-foot-6 receiver from John Madden U and could take him with their second-round pick in the April 25-26 draft.
"Gotta help him out, give him some moral support, a high-five after a nice throw," Barden said by phone about teaming up with Sanchez in front of the scouts.
Barden wanted to take part in the actual workouts but the Pac-10 did not allow it. He worked out in front of scouts two weeks ago at the San Jose State Pro Day, very likely cementing his place as a second-round pick -- and certainly no later than the third round -- with a 4.48 time in the 40.
Barden had a private interview with the Raiders at his Pro Day workout. He declined to give details, but The Chronicle has confirmed he has been in contact with Raiders wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal several times now.
The Raiders also recently contacted his college coach to find out more about the small-school standout. They interviewed him at the Senior Bowl. They interviewed him at the NFL Combine. A far as due diligence goes, they're all over it.
If they want Barden, they'll most likely have to use their eighth overall pick of the second round. The only way they do that is if they don't draft a wide receiver like Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree or Missouri's Jeremy Maclin in the first round.
(Maybe they call them mock drafts so people like me can be mocked if we guess wrong, huh?)
They need a big receiver, and Barden is certainly big at 6-foot-6. He's 229 pounds with room to muscle up. He set an NCAA record with 20 straight games with a touchdown catch. He reminds some of two other tall AFC West receivers: Broncos Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall and the Chargers' Vincent Jackson.
They could hope Barden makes it to the third, but this is a kid who's interviewed with Bill Parcells of the Dolphins. He's not exactly a secret anymore.
Barden did say this about the Raiders and quarterback JaMarcus Russell:
"He can make all the throws. He's a talented guy, you know? I'd love to be part of any team I can help turn around."
** Speaking of wide receivers, the Raiders had a formal interview with Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams at the Combine, according to Scout.com.
So yeah, wide receiver is clearly a priority, even with the return of Chaz Schilens, Johnnie Lee Higgins and Javon Walker. This explains why they've done nothing in free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQtlGOBoTNs heres a little hughlight reel of him for those who havent seen him,its a deep draft of wr which makes me believe they will not pick a wr first if they know they can snag one in the later rounds.
Report: Raji failed drug test at combineComment Email Print Share ESPN.com news services
NEW YORK -- Former Boston College lineman B.J. Raji, who is considered the top defensive tackle eligible for this month's NFL draft, reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL combine.
The report, which did not identify the drug, was published on SI.com and attributed to unidentified NFL team sources. The Web site reported that Raji's name will be on a list of players who tested positive.
Raji, rated fourth on Todd McShay's projected list and No. 5 on Mel Kiper's most recent Big Board on ESPN.com, missed the 2007 college season with academic problems.
SI.com reported that NFL scouts had been told that Raji also tested positive for marijuana during his time at BC.
oh well i would still take him everybody be smokin' including me... hold up man hurry up and pass that quit babysittin fool!!!!
NEW YORK -- Former Boston College lineman B.J. Raji, who is considered the top defensive tackle eligible for this month's NFL draft, reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL combine.
The report, which did not identify the drug, was published on SI.com and attributed to unidentified NFL team sources. The Web site reported that Raji's name will be on a list of players who tested positive.
Raji, rated fourth on Todd McShay's projected list and No. 5 on Mel Kiper's most recent Big Board on ESPN.com, missed the 2007 college season with academic problems.
SI.com reported that NFL scouts had been told that Raji also tested positive for marijuana during his time at BC.
oh well i would still take him everybody be smokin' including me... hold up man hurry up and pass that quit babysittin fool!!!!
Raji report complicates matters
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm in Oakland Raiders.
CNN-SI is reporting Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji tested positive for drugs at the NFL scouting combine and that teams were already aware he had tested positive for marijuana at Boston College.
There are some mock drafts, including one by former Raider exec Mike Lombardi, which have the Raiders taking Raji in an effort to shore up the NFL’s 31st-ranked rushing defense.
Drug test stories always make me a little uncomfortable. It’s a mine field fraught with the possibility of error, with those who want to float information for their own purposes and reporters eager to be the first to a story.
I’ve heard rumors before, but nothing close to the reporting stage. Frankly, without the drug test directly in front of me so I could see it with my own eyes (and someone who could help me understand what I was looking at), I’d just as soon take a pass.
It’s like one of those occasions where I run into a Raiders player out on the town during a road trip. “You going to write about this?,” they’ll sometimes ask.
My answer?
“Not unless you wind up on a police blotter. Then I’ve got no choice.”
Listen to Warren Sapp talk about how he was linked to cocaine by ESPN, a story which caused him to fall in the first round. Charlie Garner, an affable sort, never did truly trust the media again after a false report in a Philadelphia newspaper chronicled a positive drug test for marijuana.
It usually turns out that most of the stories linking athletes to drugs are true. The NFL seems to have a pipeline regarding its allegedly anonymous drug and steroid program which runs straight to ESPN, Fox, etc.
It makes the league look as if it is serious in cleaning up the problem.
Whether Raji truly has a problem or not, or whether he ever failed a test, is not known.
But it’s out there now, and it could cost him. I’m sure there are teams that fully realize there are players who may go Michael Phelps from time to time, and they’re more worried about the positive test and the negative spin then they are the fact that the drug was actually consumed.
The Raiders are known for going their own way and not concerning themselves with what people think. They had the information anyway. The story alone isn’t going to alter their perception.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm in Oakland Raiders.
CNN-SI is reporting Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji tested positive for drugs at the NFL scouting combine and that teams were already aware he had tested positive for marijuana at Boston College.
There are some mock drafts, including one by former Raider exec Mike Lombardi, which have the Raiders taking Raji in an effort to shore up the NFL’s 31st-ranked rushing defense.
Drug test stories always make me a little uncomfortable. It’s a mine field fraught with the possibility of error, with those who want to float information for their own purposes and reporters eager to be the first to a story.
I’ve heard rumors before, but nothing close to the reporting stage. Frankly, without the drug test directly in front of me so I could see it with my own eyes (and someone who could help me understand what I was looking at), I’d just as soon take a pass.
It’s like one of those occasions where I run into a Raiders player out on the town during a road trip. “You going to write about this?,” they’ll sometimes ask.
My answer?
“Not unless you wind up on a police blotter. Then I’ve got no choice.”
Listen to Warren Sapp talk about how he was linked to cocaine by ESPN, a story which caused him to fall in the first round. Charlie Garner, an affable sort, never did truly trust the media again after a false report in a Philadelphia newspaper chronicled a positive drug test for marijuana.
It usually turns out that most of the stories linking athletes to drugs are true. The NFL seems to have a pipeline regarding its allegedly anonymous drug and steroid program which runs straight to ESPN, Fox, etc.
It makes the league look as if it is serious in cleaning up the problem.
Whether Raji truly has a problem or not, or whether he ever failed a test, is not known.
But it’s out there now, and it could cost him. I’m sure there are teams that fully realize there are players who may go Michael Phelps from time to time, and they’re more worried about the positive test and the negative spin then they are the fact that the drug was actually consumed.
The Raiders are known for going their own way and not concerning themselves with what people think. They had the information anyway. The story alone isn’t going to alter their perception.
Papa closing in on Scully
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Ventured in to the city for a dry run performance of the “Chronicle Live” show on the network Comcast Sports Bay Area, with the added bonus of being there for the network’s introductory party in the evening.
As the title suggests, San Francisco Chronicle reporters and columnists will be featured, but those from other media outlets will also be guests.
My topic?
To explain how I could possibly label the Raiders a contender in the AFC West, as I did in an April 1 blog.
(Funny, considering the state of the division and that there are only four teams in it, I didn’t consider it that big a deal).
Anyway, since the show’s host is Raiders radio announcer Greg Papa, at least I had a sympathetic ear. You watch this team every week for several years, you go into every season hoping they’ll be relevant.
Upon arriving at the studio in San Francisco, Papa was having his makeup applied.
“Don’t laugh, Jerry, you’re next,” he said.
A few moments later, I had makeup brushed on my face for the first time in half-century of life. (It got re-applied later _ apparently I have a shiny forehead).
Before the taping began, a news director asked me if I could weave in the fact that Papa had been named winner of the California Sportscaster of the Year. I told him I could handle it.
Papa asked me about the Raiders being a contender on the air, and I talked about the the Raiders closing out the 1999 season with a 41-38 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, which included the memorable call of the newly-named California Sportscaster of the Year saying, “Wheatley won’t go down!.”
While I didn’t think the Raiders were on the verge of a 12-4 season, as that team was, I said I thought considering the state of the division, they were legitimate contenders. The last obstacle was the Chargers (they’ve shown the last two years they can beat both the Chiefs and Broncos) and that was a wall they could climb in Week 1.
I also said I thought the Raiders were better off in the short run but not necessarily in the long run for the Broncos having dealt Jay Cutler to the Bears for a pair of first-round draft picks.
As stated before, I think Cutler’s got wonderful passing skills, but is lacking in leadership and tends to make the worst of a bad situation _ not the skills I would want in a franchise quarterback. Still, the Broncos would be worse off in 2009 after such a messy divorce.
Anyway, I wasn’t included in a later panel of which Bay Area team (excluding the Sharks) would be the first to have a winning season among the Raiders, 49ers, Giants, A’s and Warriors. None of the panelists (Glenn Dickey, Gwen Knapp, Jorge Ortiz, Chris Townsend) thought it would be the Raiders.
When you’re in the worst six-year run in franchise history, media optimists are understandably in short supply.
The Comcast party afterward had big-name attendees from the front offices of every team but the Raiders. That’s not surprising, considering the network’s Web site advertises itself as a network for the Giants, A’s, Warriors, Sharks, Kings, Quakes, Monarchs and also has an entry for “college teams” with the Raiders nowhere to be found.
That’s right. The soccer earthquakes and WNBA Monarchs are involved. Not the Raiders.
(The Raiders have their own syndicated shows, with Papa serving as a host, and will get somewhat of an organizational point-of-view by having Papa affiliated with the station).
Talked to Papa at the network’s opening party afterward and told him I’d been set up to sneak in word of his award. He told me Vin Scully had won 28 times, so he needed only 27 more to catch him. Wish I’d had that line before the cameras were rolling.
On the other hand, it doesn’t matter much, since it was a practice show which won’t be aired as the network worked out the kinks for its opening. They’ve been running test shows for awhile now.
I’m tentatively scheduled to be a guest later in the month to talk about the draft. Unless, of course, I don’t make the cut. If not, I’ll figure it’s that my forehead is too shiny.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Ventured in to the city for a dry run performance of the “Chronicle Live” show on the network Comcast Sports Bay Area, with the added bonus of being there for the network’s introductory party in the evening.
As the title suggests, San Francisco Chronicle reporters and columnists will be featured, but those from other media outlets will also be guests.
My topic?
To explain how I could possibly label the Raiders a contender in the AFC West, as I did in an April 1 blog.
(Funny, considering the state of the division and that there are only four teams in it, I didn’t consider it that big a deal).
Anyway, since the show’s host is Raiders radio announcer Greg Papa, at least I had a sympathetic ear. You watch this team every week for several years, you go into every season hoping they’ll be relevant.
Upon arriving at the studio in San Francisco, Papa was having his makeup applied.
“Don’t laugh, Jerry, you’re next,” he said.
A few moments later, I had makeup brushed on my face for the first time in half-century of life. (It got re-applied later _ apparently I have a shiny forehead).
Before the taping began, a news director asked me if I could weave in the fact that Papa had been named winner of the California Sportscaster of the Year. I told him I could handle it.
Papa asked me about the Raiders being a contender on the air, and I talked about the the Raiders closing out the 1999 season with a 41-38 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, which included the memorable call of the newly-named California Sportscaster of the Year saying, “Wheatley won’t go down!.”
While I didn’t think the Raiders were on the verge of a 12-4 season, as that team was, I said I thought considering the state of the division, they were legitimate contenders. The last obstacle was the Chargers (they’ve shown the last two years they can beat both the Chiefs and Broncos) and that was a wall they could climb in Week 1.
I also said I thought the Raiders were better off in the short run but not necessarily in the long run for the Broncos having dealt Jay Cutler to the Bears for a pair of first-round draft picks.
As stated before, I think Cutler’s got wonderful passing skills, but is lacking in leadership and tends to make the worst of a bad situation _ not the skills I would want in a franchise quarterback. Still, the Broncos would be worse off in 2009 after such a messy divorce.
Anyway, I wasn’t included in a later panel of which Bay Area team (excluding the Sharks) would be the first to have a winning season among the Raiders, 49ers, Giants, A’s and Warriors. None of the panelists (Glenn Dickey, Gwen Knapp, Jorge Ortiz, Chris Townsend) thought it would be the Raiders.
When you’re in the worst six-year run in franchise history, media optimists are understandably in short supply.
The Comcast party afterward had big-name attendees from the front offices of every team but the Raiders. That’s not surprising, considering the network’s Web site advertises itself as a network for the Giants, A’s, Warriors, Sharks, Kings, Quakes, Monarchs and also has an entry for “college teams” with the Raiders nowhere to be found.
That’s right. The soccer earthquakes and WNBA Monarchs are involved. Not the Raiders.
(The Raiders have their own syndicated shows, with Papa serving as a host, and will get somewhat of an organizational point-of-view by having Papa affiliated with the station).
Talked to Papa at the network’s opening party afterward and told him I’d been set up to sneak in word of his award. He told me Vin Scully had won 28 times, so he needed only 27 more to catch him. Wish I’d had that line before the cameras were rolling.
On the other hand, it doesn’t matter much, since it was a practice show which won’t be aired as the network worked out the kinks for its opening. They’ve been running test shows for awhile now.
I’m tentatively scheduled to be a guest later in the month to talk about the draft. Unless, of course, I don’t make the cut. If not, I’ll figure it’s that my forehead is too shiny.