The Official Oakland Raiders 2012 Offseason Thread
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DL Tollefson says he’s ready to get to work
By Steve Corkran
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 at 2:53 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Dave Tollefson, the newest Raider, arrived in Alameda today, got in his first workout and then took a few minutes to discuss things such as what he brings to the equation, what it’s like returning to the Raiders and the key to being sucessful.
Tollefson will wear No. 58, which suggests the Raiders envision him as an outside linebacker. Don’t be fooled by the number. Tollefson is versatile enough to help out at linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, as well as special teams.
As evidenced by this 10-minute question-and-answer session, Tollefson also has a firm grasp on the nuances of the NFL, the Raiders history and Jim Carrey’s movie career.
Here is the entire transcript:
Q: What have the Raiders told you about how you’re going to be used?
A: “It’s just a jack-of-all trades is what I’ve been able to kind of hang my hat on. They haven’t promised me anything, which is what I want. I don’t want to be promised anything. That’s not the style of player that I am. There’s an opportunity to play, whether that’s starting or a backup, a rush guy or a guy that can play the edge in the run. So, it’s going to be a little bit of everything, which is what I love to do.”
Q: What’s it like coming back home?
A: “Well, it’s awesome. To grow up here, I lived here for 22 years, to come back home where my mom, my step-dad are out here, my sister, my brother, a lot of my friends. My phone was blowing up as soon as this thing went public. It’s definitely exciting for me and my family.”
Q: How hard was it to leave the Raiders in 2007?
A: “It was definitely tough. The Raiders (allowed) me to continue my career in the NFL by sending me to Europe and putting me on the practice squad. There’s a debt there that I feel I like I never really got to repay after leaving. So, it’s kind of funny how life works. You get an opportunity to come back to someplace like this and kind of really show them that you appreciate the opportunity that they gave you.”
Q: How much did it help you learning under the likes of Strahan, Umenyiora and Tuck?
A: “It’s huge, man. To be the best, you got to be around the best, to be surrounded by people that are successful for yourself to be successful. They’re a great group of guys. That period of time was really special. I just got here today and got my first workout in today. There’s a group of guys here that can play ball up front, too, which is exciting to see. I’m not quite an old, wily vet yet, I got a few good years left in me, but I’ve seen quite a bit in this league. We got a group of guys here that can do some big things, also. I look back fondly on my time with those guys. It was special, for sure, but you can’t dwell on the past. You got to keep moving forward and make it the future.”
Q: What kind of lessons can you bring to this team?
A: “I don’t know much, but there’s a few things that I do know. One of them is, getting in the tournament. You have to have a chance. If you’re not in the tournament, which is playoffs, when I say that, you don’t have a chance. I always like to quote my favorite movie, ‘Dumb and Dumber,’ when she was asking, ‘What are the chances that a girl like me and a guy like you can be together? And she says, ‘One in a million.’ Jim Carrey says, ‘So, you’re saying there’s a chance?’ Just have the opportunity to play for a title, get in the playoffs, that’s all you need. Then you take it one game at a time and the next thing you know, you’re hoisting up the Lombardi trophy. There’s no secret to winning championships. It’s just a matter of doing the work and when it comes to playoffs time, taking advantage of the opportunities.”
Q: How do you think you fit with the Raiders’ defensive schemes?
Tollefson: I think it’s the multiplicity of different things I can do as a player. I’ve played a lot of snaps inside. Will I do that here? I’m not sure, we’ve got a great group of D-tackles that can do a really good job inside. So who knows? I think that’s what intrigued the Raiders about me was the ability to kind of do everything. And that’s something that you have to do as a guy who hasn’t necessarily started in this league, started a couple of games, but you kind of got to be good at everything because you really don’t know when the opportunity is going to come for you to contribute to the team winning a game. I think that’s what hopefully they’re going to use me for, kind of, whatever, what do you need me to do? I can even mow the grass if you want to.
Q: Establish any relationships here that still endure to this day?
Tollefson. It was great to see the equipment guys again. When you’re an old practice squad guy you get close to those guys like that. It was good to see them again. Some of the front office guys, I remember. When I left here, it was kind of like, it was a like a secret mission and left in the middle of the night. It was such a quick stop here. There is a mutual amount of respect throughout the league amongst players, so there is a bunch of guys that I do know that I played against that I do have a lot of respect for so that comes into play.
Q: What would you say was deciding factor for choosing Oakland?
Tollefson: Obviously I have that relationship with Reggie McKenzie being drafted by Green Bay, so the level of comfort to come in here knowing this organization is heading in the right direction with the guys they brought in to run it, coach Allen, I got to meet him on my visit here and the energy that he brings, it’s exciting, and obviously, I’m from here. I grew up a Raiders fan. My mom is a Raiders fan. Obviously she’s a fan of her son, but if you ask her who her favorite team is she’s going to say the Raiders. There’s something special about playing for the team that you grew up watching and where you grew up. It means a lot to me that they believe in me, that’s a big part of it. Again, I just go back to the excitement here. Guys are excited to play football, talk football and get ready.
Q: Difficulty here stopping the run for several years, what’s the key to a defense stopping the run?
Tollefson: You’ve got to be physical, and I think sometimes run defense can be overshadowed by the want to get sacks because they are such big game-changing plays. But you’ve got to earn the right to rush the passer and the way you do that is by stopping the run. That’s going to be a focus of mine no matter what, and I think it will be the guys up front. You’ve got to do it up front. Obviously, the linebackers are named linebackers because they back the line, and if the guys up front aren’t getting the job done, it doesn’t matter who you have behind you. It’s definitely going to be a focus of ours, to stop the run, because if you can’t stop the run, you can’t even start thinking about getting sacks because they’ll just run the ball all day on you.
Q: No more questions?
Tollefson: Go Ygnacio Valley Warriors.
By Steve Corkran
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 at 2:53 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Dave Tollefson, the newest Raider, arrived in Alameda today, got in his first workout and then took a few minutes to discuss things such as what he brings to the equation, what it’s like returning to the Raiders and the key to being sucessful.
Tollefson will wear No. 58, which suggests the Raiders envision him as an outside linebacker. Don’t be fooled by the number. Tollefson is versatile enough to help out at linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, as well as special teams.
As evidenced by this 10-minute question-and-answer session, Tollefson also has a firm grasp on the nuances of the NFL, the Raiders history and Jim Carrey’s movie career.
Here is the entire transcript:
Q: What have the Raiders told you about how you’re going to be used?
A: “It’s just a jack-of-all trades is what I’ve been able to kind of hang my hat on. They haven’t promised me anything, which is what I want. I don’t want to be promised anything. That’s not the style of player that I am. There’s an opportunity to play, whether that’s starting or a backup, a rush guy or a guy that can play the edge in the run. So, it’s going to be a little bit of everything, which is what I love to do.”
Q: What’s it like coming back home?
A: “Well, it’s awesome. To grow up here, I lived here for 22 years, to come back home where my mom, my step-dad are out here, my sister, my brother, a lot of my friends. My phone was blowing up as soon as this thing went public. It’s definitely exciting for me and my family.”
Q: How hard was it to leave the Raiders in 2007?
A: “It was definitely tough. The Raiders (allowed) me to continue my career in the NFL by sending me to Europe and putting me on the practice squad. There’s a debt there that I feel I like I never really got to repay after leaving. So, it’s kind of funny how life works. You get an opportunity to come back to someplace like this and kind of really show them that you appreciate the opportunity that they gave you.”
Q: How much did it help you learning under the likes of Strahan, Umenyiora and Tuck?
A: “It’s huge, man. To be the best, you got to be around the best, to be surrounded by people that are successful for yourself to be successful. They’re a great group of guys. That period of time was really special. I just got here today and got my first workout in today. There’s a group of guys here that can play ball up front, too, which is exciting to see. I’m not quite an old, wily vet yet, I got a few good years left in me, but I’ve seen quite a bit in this league. We got a group of guys here that can do some big things, also. I look back fondly on my time with those guys. It was special, for sure, but you can’t dwell on the past. You got to keep moving forward and make it the future.”
Q: What kind of lessons can you bring to this team?
A: “I don’t know much, but there’s a few things that I do know. One of them is, getting in the tournament. You have to have a chance. If you’re not in the tournament, which is playoffs, when I say that, you don’t have a chance. I always like to quote my favorite movie, ‘Dumb and Dumber,’ when she was asking, ‘What are the chances that a girl like me and a guy like you can be together? And she says, ‘One in a million.’ Jim Carrey says, ‘So, you’re saying there’s a chance?’ Just have the opportunity to play for a title, get in the playoffs, that’s all you need. Then you take it one game at a time and the next thing you know, you’re hoisting up the Lombardi trophy. There’s no secret to winning championships. It’s just a matter of doing the work and when it comes to playoffs time, taking advantage of the opportunities.”
Q: How do you think you fit with the Raiders’ defensive schemes?
Tollefson: I think it’s the multiplicity of different things I can do as a player. I’ve played a lot of snaps inside. Will I do that here? I’m not sure, we’ve got a great group of D-tackles that can do a really good job inside. So who knows? I think that’s what intrigued the Raiders about me was the ability to kind of do everything. And that’s something that you have to do as a guy who hasn’t necessarily started in this league, started a couple of games, but you kind of got to be good at everything because you really don’t know when the opportunity is going to come for you to contribute to the team winning a game. I think that’s what hopefully they’re going to use me for, kind of, whatever, what do you need me to do? I can even mow the grass if you want to.
Q: Establish any relationships here that still endure to this day?
Tollefson. It was great to see the equipment guys again. When you’re an old practice squad guy you get close to those guys like that. It was good to see them again. Some of the front office guys, I remember. When I left here, it was kind of like, it was a like a secret mission and left in the middle of the night. It was such a quick stop here. There is a mutual amount of respect throughout the league amongst players, so there is a bunch of guys that I do know that I played against that I do have a lot of respect for so that comes into play.
Q: What would you say was deciding factor for choosing Oakland?
Tollefson: Obviously I have that relationship with Reggie McKenzie being drafted by Green Bay, so the level of comfort to come in here knowing this organization is heading in the right direction with the guys they brought in to run it, coach Allen, I got to meet him on my visit here and the energy that he brings, it’s exciting, and obviously, I’m from here. I grew up a Raiders fan. My mom is a Raiders fan. Obviously she’s a fan of her son, but if you ask her who her favorite team is she’s going to say the Raiders. There’s something special about playing for the team that you grew up watching and where you grew up. It means a lot to me that they believe in me, that’s a big part of it. Again, I just go back to the excitement here. Guys are excited to play football, talk football and get ready.
Q: Difficulty here stopping the run for several years, what’s the key to a defense stopping the run?
Tollefson: You’ve got to be physical, and I think sometimes run defense can be overshadowed by the want to get sacks because they are such big game-changing plays. But you’ve got to earn the right to rush the passer and the way you do that is by stopping the run. That’s going to be a focus of mine no matter what, and I think it will be the guys up front. You’ve got to do it up front. Obviously, the linebackers are named linebackers because they back the line, and if the guys up front aren’t getting the job done, it doesn’t matter who you have behind you. It’s definitely going to be a focus of ours, to stop the run, because if you can’t stop the run, you can’t even start thinking about getting sacks because they’ll just run the ball all day on you.
Q: No more questions?
Tollefson: Go Ygnacio Valley Warriors.
Why Oakland Raiders' Tim Brown Is the Most Underrated Player in NFL History
Tim Brown proved to be one of the great wide receivers in NFL history over his 17-career with the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There is no question about it.
Not only did he match up statistically with the all-time greats, but his personality off the field made him one of the more respected players during his playing days.
However, it is a travesty that Brown has never received recognition as one of the better players during his generation. He is struggling to receive support for his induction into the Hall of Fame.
Clearly, the voters must be looking beyond Brown's career statistics.
After 17 years of playing in the NFL, Brown's production matches up against arguably any receiver that has ever played the game.
He is tied for sixth all-time with 100 receiving touchdowns, which is the most observed statistic when looking at the game's greater receivers.
Brown is fifth all-time with 1,094 receptions. Not only does he rank above Andre Reed, but also potential future Hall of Famers Terrell Owens and Randy Moss.
He ranks fourth all-time in receiving yards (14,934), which trails only Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and Issac Bruce.
But what makes Brown stand out as one of the all-time great receivers is his consistency over his career. Credit must be given where it's due.
In the prime of his career, Brown's production on the field stood out against all other receivers in football. For nine straight seasons, he recorded 1,000 or more receiving yards. This accounted for 73 percent of his receiving yards over his 17-year career.
He went 10 straight years with 75 or more receptions. During that time, he only produced under 80 receptions once. For 11 straight seasons, Brown had at least five touchdown receptions.
He also holds the record for most consecutive games with at least two or more receptions (147).
The argument made against Brown is that his statistics are blown out of proportion as a result of playing 17 years in the league. Yet, the majority of Brown's success came while he was in his prime.
His success stemmed from nine consecutive seasons (1993-2001), and even his 10th season was a season that any receiver would take.
Lack of respect for Brown also occurs because he never had much success in the playoffs. But, should he be penalized because he wasn't surrounded with many playoff-caliber teams over the course of his career?
The Raiders made six playoff appearances while Brown was on the roster, four of them when Brown was a crucial part of the offense. This included one appearance in the Super Bowl.
He cannot be held responsible.
Off the field, Brown was a class act for the two organizations for which he played. Despite his difficulties with Al Davis, Brown will always be remembered for his dedication to playing football the right way.
Whether Brown is inducted into the Hall of Fame is another story. Ultimately, Brown deserves to be recognized for the success he found on the football field and the professionalism he brought to the NFL.
Matt Miselis is an NFL Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. Pro-Football Reference and Wikipedia were used in this article.
Free agent still left that i think the raiders shood look at is lb london fletcher from the redskins. Hes an old veteran inside linebacker, never missed a game, if we could snag him for the minimum he wouldnt be a bad pick up.
Surprisingly tomlinson is a free agent still, we wouldnt be able to afford him, and hes never been the same since sd, but I would accept him if he ended up on the dark side
Surprisingly tomlinson is a free agent still, we wouldnt be able to afford him, and hes never been the same since sd, but I would accept him if he ended up on the dark side
Redskins re-signed ILB London Fletcher.
He's the last of the marquee free agent inside linebackers to sign. Fletcher turns 37 in May, but remains one of the league's top run defenders and can still hold his own in pass coverage. Fletcher's 166 tackles led the NFL in 2011, and he's also forced six fumbles over the past two seasons. He added two interceptions and will return as one of the better re-draft IDP targets going. Apr 13 - 5:43 PM
He's the last of the marquee free agent inside linebackers to sign. Fletcher turns 37 in May, but remains one of the league's top run defenders and can still hold his own in pass coverage. Fletcher's 166 tackles led the NFL in 2011, and he's also forced six fumbles over the past two seasons. He added two interceptions and will return as one of the better re-draft IDP targets going. Apr 13 - 5:43 PM
yeah theres a bunch of linebackers that could be solid pick ups in the 3rd round. hopefully some of the better names drop to the raiders first pick, which is basically the 4th round since its at the end of the 3rd round.
i dont think we'll sign any more free agents until after the draft. considering our pick situations, the front office has all their focus evaluating the talents from the later rounds. lets hope we get some good hidden talent and another steal like denarius moore last year
i dont think we'll sign any more free agents until after the draft. considering our pick situations, the front office has all their focus evaluating the talents from the later rounds. lets hope we get some good hidden talent and another steal like denarius moore last year
Former University of Washington and Oakland Raiders running back Napoleon Kaufman was hired as the team’s chaplain, the Raiders announced Friday.
A star at Washington, where he was a member of the Huskies’ 1991 co-national championship team, Kaufman has been a pastor in California for the last nine years after an NFL career with the Raiders from 1995-2000.
Considering the longtime reputation of the Raiders as outlaws, it looks like Kaufman has his work cut out for him. Napoleon Kaufman profile
i think my next jersey will be a kaufman jersey, one of my favorites player to play with on madden
A star at Washington, where he was a member of the Huskies’ 1991 co-national championship team, Kaufman has been a pastor in California for the last nine years after an NFL career with the Raiders from 1995-2000.
Considering the longtime reputation of the Raiders as outlaws, it looks like Kaufman has his work cut out for him. Napoleon Kaufman profile
i think my next jersey will be a kaufman jersey, one of my favorites player to play with on madden
