July

July 19, 2008   

Raiders CB Asomugha may not report to camp on time

Nnamdi Asomugha

Sources in Oakland say don’t be surprised if Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha holds out from the first couple of weeks of training camp to express disappointment with his contract situation. The Raiders failed to work out a long-term extension for their star corner prior to the July 15 deadline for franchise players to sign contracts longer than one year. The parties cannot resume negotiations until after the season, and Asomugha has yet to sign his tender of just under $10 million. Word is Asomugha, widely regarded as one of the best man corners in the league, has received no assurances that he won’t be tagged again next offseason, much to his dismay. We hear Asomugha might have agreed to play for the league minimum base salary this season, had he been given a long-term deal with a lucrative bonus, just so he could have some security in the future. There is a sense in Oakland that the Raiders dropped the ball on this one and that Asomugha will be looking for a way out of town after the season.

July 4, 2008   

Trade winds for Raiders RB Jordan still stagnant

It’s been nearly a full month since RB LaMont Jordan was told to stay off the practice field and he received permission from Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin to seek out a trade to another club. One month, yet Jordan still sits in limbo, with no takers for his services. The way we hear it, the 29-year-old’s status is unlikely to change any time soon. Sources in Oakland say teams are waiting out the Raiders, knowing that Jordan will be cut before long if no trade materializes. The most likely scenario has Jordan being released sometime before or during camp and then joining a team that has felt the injury bug bite in their backfield. There’s still an outside chance the Raiders could work a deal that brings them a low draft pick, if another team becomes desperate enough. However, by handling Jordan’s situation with such transparency, his trade value has been greatly diminished.

June

June 27, 2008   

Raiders WR Walker a major disappointment thus far

Ex-Bronco Javon Walker

Javon Walker's night of partying in Las Vegas — which ended with him being beaten, robbed and left in a street with a concussion, multiple facial wounds and a fractured orbital bone, according to some reports — speaks to a larger issue of the wide receiver's immaturity, the way we hear it. Rather than stay home and prepare for the week's session of OTAs, Walker was out drinking and reportedly spraying people with champagne in a club. Sources say the Raiders are taking a wait-and-see approach as Las Vegas law-enforcement officials uncover more details about the June 16 beating and robbery. One arrest had been made in relation to the incident, and another suspect was being sought at the time of this writing. The extent of the impact from his injuries is not yet known, but the team says it expects Walker to be ready for training camp. The Raiders were counting on Walker to bring some much-needed experience to their receiving corps when they signed him to a six-year, $55 million contract in the winter. Walker, who had been limited to just one practice per day during OTAs because of a bad knee, already was behind schedule in establishing a rapport with QB JaMarcus Russell, and this is yet another setback, which doesn't bode well for Walker's future.

June 6, 2008   

Huff, Wilson taking snaps at both safety positions for Raiders

We hear the Raiders have been using starting safeties Gibril Wilson and Michael Huff interchangeably between the strong and free safety positions in offseason workouts thus far. It’s the type of flexibility head coach Lane Kiffin has wanted since he arrived in Oakland, but he didn’t have the personnel to do it last season. Wilson is considered a better fit at strong safety because of his hard-hitting, run-stuffing style, which were elements the Raiders' safety corps was lacking before the team signed him to a six-year, $39 million deal in the offseason. However, he started at free safety for the Giants as they plowed to a Super Bowl title last season. Regardless of his position, sources say Wilson’s presence should make a major impact on the team’s defense because he’s the sure tackler that Huff, a first-round pick in 2006, has yet to become. Unless Huff improves on that part of his game, Kiffin may be forced to keep him at free safety and lose the interchangeable aspect he desires.

May

May 29, 2008   

Russell moving toward leadership role with Raiders

JaMarcus Russell

Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell appears to be on the fast track toward a leadership position with the team, the way we hear it. Sources in Oakland say Russell has gained his teammates’ respect through showing a commitment and strong work ethic in offseason workouts. He has looked in command of the offense during practices thus far, which is a big departure from where he left off at the end of last season. Russell’s development as a rookie was crippled by a lengthy contract holdout that lasted into the regular season. He is primed to enter the ’08 campaign under a vastly improved set of circumstances that are more conducive to winning. There were widespread reports that Russell had gained weight in the offseason to the point where he was teetering on 300 pounds. Those stories seem hard to believe, we hear, considering how well Russell has been moving around in workouts. Plus, he recently told reporters he weighs 269 pounds and would like to drop five before the season.

May 23, 2008   

Raiders disappointed in WR Walker's conditioning

We hear Raiders WR Javon Walker showed up at OTAs out of shape, which frustrated team officials, who expected more from him after he received a six-year, $55 million contract in March. Walker is slotted as Oakland’s No. 1 receiver and was signed to provide QB JaMarcus Russell with a proven go-to guy as the second-year quarterback embarks on his first year as the full-time starter. The news on Walker wasn’t completely negative, though — he was able to make sharp cuts on slant routes and didn’t appear to be slowed by the multiple knee injuries that have dogged him in the past. There are some concerns about the health of No. 2 WR Ronald Curry, as well. He underwent foot surgery recently, although the procedure has been called minor. As more questions emerge about a fragile passing game, the Raiders’ deep backfield is looking more valuable with each passing day.

May 14, 2008   

Raiders RBs McFadden, Bush impress at weekend minicamp

Word out of the Raiders’ rookie minicamp is RB Darren McFadden lined up in the backfield, split out wide as a receiver and even took a few shotgun snaps as a quarterback during non-contact drills this past weekend. So much for easing him into things. Head coach Lane Kiffin wasn’t kidding when he said on draft weekend that McFadden would be a major part of the passing game, and he apparently isn’t opposed to drawing up some of the direct-snap plays that worked so well for the ballcarrier during his career at Arkansas, either. 2007 fourth-round pick RB Michael Bush, who spent last season on injured reserve, was being utilized as a receiver out of the backfield, as well, during the camp. We hear both players looked crisp, but, of course, the weekend was only an orientation. When the full pads go on in training camp, things will change in a hurry. This, however, was a preview of things to come, and it’s clear that Kiffin is willing to get creative with some intriguing weapons on offense.

May 2, 2008   

Choice of McFadden leaves Raiders with tenuous situation at defensive end

The Raiders selected RB Darren McFadden and passed on DE-OLB Vernon Gholston in last weekend’s draft, leaving them with a somewhat fragile situation at defensive end. The stage has been set for a training-camp battle between DEs Kalimba Edwards and Jay Richardson to win the starting nod opposite Derrick Burgess, but neither appears to be a sufficient replacement for the departed Chris Clemons, who jump-started Oakland’s pass rush last season with eight sacks before signing with the Eagles as a free agent in March. Edwards, who was cut by the Lions in March, has had just three sacks in each of the last two seasons, and Richardson is known more as a run stuffer, netting just one sack as a rookie in ’07. Raiders owner Al Davis didn’t snag any help at end in the later rounds of the draft — sixth-round pick DE Trevor Scott has been characterized as a prospect who may be more useful at tight end. Burgess, who is seeking a new contract, would seem to have some leverage in negotiations for a deal, especially if he threatened to hold out. Without Burgess, who has either held or tied for the team lead in sacks at the end of each of the past three seasons, Oakland’s pass rush would be significantly weakened.

April

April 25, 2008   

Holdout by Asomugha could affect secondary's cohesiveness

For all the fawning over the Raiders’ CB tandem and the somewhat premature crowning of DeAngelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha as the best duo in the league, it’s important to note Asomugha remains unsigned. Asomugha received the exclusive franchise tag in February, which would pay him a salary of at least $9.465 million in 2008, but he is one of just four remaining tagged free agents who have yet to sign a tender. Word is Asomugha is holding off while his agent, Steve Baker, and the Raiders work on hammering out a long-term deal by the July 15 deadline. The holdout hasn’t had an adverse effect on Oakland’s free-spending offseason, but it could become more of a problem if it stretches into the team’s first minicamp, which is scheduled for May 9-11. With a new-look secondary in place, it would be helpful for Asomugha to be on the field to help guide and establish relationships with offseason additions like Hall and S Gibril Wilson.

April 11, 2008   

DE Burgess feeling left out of Raiders' spending spree

The Raiders’ massive spending this offseason has yet to include a new deal for DE Derrick Burgess, who is growing increasingly miffed about the issue, we hear. Burgess, who has tied for or held the team lead in sacks the past three seasons, watched as DT Tommy Kelly received the largest contract in league history for a defensive tackle (seven years, $50.5 million) on the eve of free agency. It struck some as a smack in the face to reward Kelly, who has just nine sacks as a defensive tackle and end over the past three seasons and missed nine games last season with a torn ACL, before giving Burgess a raise from the five-year, $17.5 million contract he signed in 2005. According to sources close to the team, Burgess was told by senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi last offseason that a new deal was on the way, but Lombardi was fired in May, and there has been no significant progress made on a contract since then. Thus far, Burgess has opted to take the high road, showing up for last year’s training camp and not venting to the media, but his patience may be wearing thin.

April 4, 2008   

Raiders’ Kiffin ends his silence

After months of speculation about his future as the Raiders’ head coach, Lane Kiffin confronted some of the rumors but did not put them to rest this week at the owners’ meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. For now, it appears Kiffin has weathered an offseason storm that began once owner Al Davis found out Kiffin had shown interest in college coaching vacancies at Arkansas and Michigan. Kiffin indicated there was some truth to reports that his relationship with Davis had unraveled, but he didn’t directly answer whether or not it was true that Davis had drafted a letter of resignation for him to sign. Kiffin spoke candidly, but carefully, admitting that Davis functions not only as an owner but as a general manager, college scout and defensive coordinator much of the time, as well — something that was pretty well known already. It’s not exactly clear how their partnership works, but it appears Kiffin and Davis have come to a mutual agreement and will put aside their differences in the short term. However, if the Raiders get off to a slow start next season, that truce will come to an end in short order.

March

March 26, 2008   

Raiders' offseason spending spree has yet to include a center

While the Raiders have thrown bundles of money at free agents in an attempt for a quick fix to the woes that left them with just 19 wins over the past five seasons, the team still hasn't addressed who will be snapping the ball to QB JaMarcus Russell next season and yet is quickly approaching the $116 million salary cap. Two-time Pro Bowl C Jeremy Newberry, a free agent, recently turned 32 but was able to start 14 games for Oakland last season and avoided the knee injuries that had slowed him in the past. Reports indicate Newberry has offers from other clubs, including the Buccaneers, but has not yet accepted any of them while hoping a deal with the Raiders can be worked out. This year's group of rookie centers is thought to be relatively weak, and sources say bringing back Newberry is the team's best option — his backup last season, Jake Grove, 28, was unable to win the starting job in a training-camp competition last year. Although the Raiders have resorted to loading up on massive contracts to fill holes on their roster, it appears they are looking for more of a bargain when it comes to the player who will be the shield directly in front of Russell.

March 21, 2008   

Even with CB Hall, Raiders' defense still vulnerable

As Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall and Raiders officials put the finishing touches on his new contract, Oakland is poised to have one of the strongest cornerback tandems in the league, although it may not solve some of their problems on defense. Opposing teams that tried to stay away from Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha in past seasons won’t be able to avoid throwing his way as much with Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler who could be entering his prime, on the other side. However, our source said acquiring Hall doesn’t solve the club’s biggest problem from last season, which was stopping the run. The Raiders were 31st against the run in 2007 and eighth vs. the pass. A full year of health from DT Tommy Kelly could strengthen the team’s attack against the ground game, but if Oakland doesn’t add another run-stuffing defensive lineman or linebacker in the draft or free agency, it could suffer through the same struggles, even with an improved secondary.

March 14, 2008   

Big-spending Raiders look to add another quarterback

The Raiders’ free-agent shopping may not be done. They are pursuing a backup quarterback and recently met with unrestricted free-agent QB Quinn Gray, who played behind David Garrard in Jacksonville last season. JaMarcus Russell is firmly entrenched as Oakland’s starter, but a gap on the depth chart was created when UFA QB Josh McCown, who started nine games for the Raiders last season, bolted to the Dolphins. Daunte Culpepper, who made six starts for Oakland in 2007, is also a free agent testing the market. The only other quarterback left on the roster is Andrew Walter, who played in just one game last season but started eight in 2006 while throwing three touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The team would be more comfortable with another backup in place, and if a deal can’t be worked out with Gray, negotiations to bring Culpepper back for another season could begin.

March 7, 2008   

WR Walker an expensive risk for Raiders

The Raiders raised more than a few eyebrows around the league when they signed WR Javon Walker to a six-year, $55 million contract — a deal that, at first glance, seemed a bit outrageous considering he was just cut by the Broncos and has been plagued by knee injuries in recent years. However, the deal is backloaded and Walker is guaranteed just $25 million over the first three years — a fairly standard price for a bona fide No. 1 receiver when healthy. Oakland could release or attempt to trade him before the contract escalates to $10 million per if the knee in question is acting up. A close observer of the Raiders said acquiring Walker was a wise move to make considering that the six-year veteran, if healthy, gives second-year QB JaMarcus Russell a go-to receiver — something Oakland has been searching for since Tim Brown left after the 2003 season. Aside from his knee, the biggest concern regarding Walker is his attitude, which has earned him ugly exits from Denver and Green Bay, but Raiders owner Al Davis never has shied away from taking players with character issues.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

Ryan looks to bring accountability back to Raiders' defense

Updated at 5:00 EST Thursday, Feb. 28.

The Raiders’ defense nose-dived from third in the league in 2006 to 22nd last season, and according to reports, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was almost fired by head coach Lane Kiffin after the season before owner Al Davis stepped in and vetoed the move. Ryan was at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and spoke with PFW about what it will take to restore order on Oakland’s “D.” “We had some problems with accountability, for one, so we’re going to go back to that, make sure everybody is accountable to each other first,” Ryan said. The Raiders were 31st against the run in 2007, and adding a defensive end figures to be high on their priority list this offseason. Free-agent DT Tommy Kelly was re-signed to a seven-year, $50.5 million contract Feb. 28, which is the largest contract ever given to a defensive tackle. Kelly moved to defensive end before tearing his ACL, but he likely will line up as a three-technique defensive tackle next season, filling the void left by Warren Sapp, who retired in the offseason. “Tommy’s an excellent player; he’s played well in our system,” Ryan said.

Feb. 22, 2008   

Raiders label CB Asomugha 'exclusive'

The Raiders placed an exclusive franchise tag on CB Nnamdi Asomugha, which will keep him in Oakland for the 2008 season. They were the only team in the league to utilize the exclusive designation. Asomugha is set to earn at least $9.465 million this year, the average salary of the five highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. The exclusive tag is different from the non-exclusive designation because it prevents the player from negotiating with other teams. If Asomugha had been given the non-exclusive tag, he could have taken offers from other teams, and the Raiders would have had the option to either match the contract or receive two first-round picks as compensation for losing him. It wasn’t surprising that Oakland used the franchise tag on Asomugha, but using the exclusive version could have implications for the next time the five-year veteran becomes a free agent. Recent talks about a longer-term contract for Asomugha never picked up steam, possibly signaling that he wasn’t interested in remaining in Oakland for many more years. Stopping him from even negotiating with other teams probably won't help matters when the next round of bargaining begins.

Feb. 15, 2008   

Fargas’ return changes Raiders’ plans for draft

The Raiders’ re-signing of RB Justin Fargas appears to have added clarity to what once was a muddled offseason situation in Oakland’s backfield. Fargas, who would have become a free agent Feb. 29, re-upped on a three-year deal worth $12 million, with $6 million guaranteed, and incentives that could make the contract worth up to $14 million. Many figured that Fargas, 28, would test the open market — he was one of the top running backs available following a career year in which he rushed for 1,009 yards — but the lifelong Raiders fan was devoted to staying with the team. His re-signing makes it far less likely that Oakland will have its sights set on Arkansas RB Darren McFadden in April’s draft. The Raiders will have either the third or fourth choice in the first round depending on a coin flip with the Falcons. Fargas’ decision likely signals that LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, or both, will be released and RB Michael Bush, who missed 2007, his rookie season, while recovering from a broken leg he suffered in college, could become the backup.

January

Jan. 30, 2008   

Davis-Kiffin rift tough on fans, could hurt free agency

Sources suggest the turmoil stemming from the power struggle between owner Al Davis and head coach Lane Kiffin and the general drama in Oakland since the season came to a close has really taken its toll on the Raiders’ fan base, and the fear among some members of the front office and coaching staff is it will hurt the team’s chances of landing impact free agents this offseason as well. As first reported by PFW weeks ago, the rift between Davis and Kiffin concerning authority over the roster and coaching staff is very real and may still force them to part ways sooner rather than later. In a poll on a local newspaper company’s Web site that asked readers who should step down, Davis or Kiffin, the overwhelming response was for Davis to call it a career. We hear the Raiders’ faithful who once stood blindly behind Davis are seriously beginning to doubt his guidance, and the continuing lack of stability in the coaching ranks after Davis reportedly sent a letter to Kiffin asking for his resignation will undoubtedly make it difficult to lure some prized free agents to town.