Raiders News

"Bo Jackson? Napoleon Kaufman? Marcus Allen? It's hard to say when the last time was the Raiders had an offensive backfield weapon comparable to Darren McFadden. After this weekend, it still might not be evident how much of an impact McFadden, the team's first-round draft pick last month, can have this season. Coach Lane Kiffin, who longed for an explosive offensive player, gets his first look at McFadden when the Raiders open a three-day rookie minicamp today at team headquarters."

"In an age where the value of the contract often precedes the name, it behooves a professional sports organization to provide a healthy, supportive and stable environment for its people. The greater the investment in the employees, the greater the need for protection. It may be as simple as having a "big brother" or "big sister" on the payroll. Someone willing to handle details and capable of advising or listening. "

"Raiders quarterback Brian White drops back, fakes a handoff to Louis Rankin and looks for Chaz Schilens downfield. Trevor Scott brings pressure from one side. Greyson Gunsheim comes from the other end. Offensive linemen Brandon Rodd and Adam Spieker give White enough time to get a pass off to Arman Shields. All this must mean it's rookie minicamp time in Alameda, the perfect chance for the Raider Nation to get to know their transaction wire."

"The Raiders announced the signing of veteran linebacker Edgerton Hartwell on Wednesday. Hartwell, 29, will have his best chance of making the team if he can prove to be an effective run stopper, a weakness for the Raiders in recent seasons. Hartwell would have to beat out incumbent Robert Thomas and Sam Williams for a starting spot, as Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard appear entrenched at middle and weak-side linebacker, respectively. "

"The Indianapolis Colts have put their tag-team runners -- Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes -- back together. The tandem that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title has been reunited after Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Colts. Rhodes' agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed the signing Wednesday in an e-mail to the Associated Press, although he did not disclose financial details."

"Two weeks of banging against each other should be more than enough for the 49ers by the time they get around to their first exhibition game against the Raiders on Aug. 8 at the Coliseum. Kickoff is 7 p.m. The 49ers open training camp in Santa Clara on July 24, a week earlier than a year ago."

"The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent linebacker Edgerton Hartwell, hoping he can revive a career beset by injuries in recent seasons. The 30-year-old Hartwell played only 13 games in 2005 and '06 with Atlanta because of injuries to his knee and Achilles' tendon. He was cut by Cincinnati before the start of last season and sat out the entire year."

"All that awaits Edgerton Hartwell's addition to the Raiders linebacking corps is the official annoucement. Hartwell excelled playing alongside Ray Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens from 2001 through 2004, cashing in with a six-year, $26 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He played in only 13 games before being released, the victim of an Achilles' tendon tear in 2005. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on May 3, 2007, but was released before the season started on Sept. 1."

" The times and dates of most exhibition games were announced by the league Tuesday, with the Raiders game against the 49ers set for Friday, Aug. 8 in Oakland at 7 p.m. Also, the Raiders game against the Tennessee Titans pushed up one day to Aug. 15. In addition, the Raiders learned that their home game against the Arizona Cardinals will be played Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. and their road game against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m."

"The NFL has moved the Titans-Oakland Raiders preseason game at LP Field from Saturday, Aug. 16 to Friday, Aug. 15. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Fox will televise the game nationally. "

"Dangerous flashback: Darren McFadden supposedly reminds Al Davis of Marcus Allen. Does that mean McFadden is doomed to be exiled mysteriously to the bench, with no explanation from the coach or from Davis? -- It's a strange comparison. Allen had nothing like McFadden's warp speed. Bo Jackson was the man with the golden wheels. All Allen had was moves, instinct, vision and a kind of man-up football toughness that most Raiders of the last five years wouldn't recognize if they bumped into it."

"A key member of the Rams' front office might be joining Al Davis' operation with the Oakland Raiders. Davis is looking for a new contract negotiator and salary-cap specialist, and Samir Suleiman reportedly is a candidate for the job. Suleiman, 32, has been the Rams' director of football operations since 2000. In that position, he assists Jay Zygmunt, president of football operations and general manager, with contracts and cap management, among other duties."

"Raiders coach Lane Kiffin's primary requirement for any safety the team was going to draft was that he had better be an asset on special teams. Welcome aboard, Tyvon Branch. The Raiders have been looking for an explosive kick returner since their last kickoff return for a touchdown on Dec. 28, 2003, by Doug Gabriel. They might have found that and more in the first of their two fourth-round draft picks. Branch played cornerback at Connecticut but will move to safety for the Raiders. "

"Raiders fans may be debating Darren McFadden vs. Glenn Dorsey for years, but the fact is there is no way of knowing which was the better pick for Oakland. Quite frankly, it's probably a no-lose no-brainer either way, so why not go with the guy who'll sell more tickets and score more touchdowns? Football fans will always opt for the electric running back over the electric defensive tackle. Can't blame them one bit, and McFadden is as electric as they come. At long last, the Raiders may be able to answer LaDainian Tomlinson after years of getting trampled by him. "

"Four seasons ago, Edgerton Hartwell was considered one of the NFL's premier young inside linebackers with the Ravens. Three lost seasons later, he hopes to rejuvenate his career with the Raiders. Hartwell agreed to a free-agent deal with Oakland, two NFL sources confirmed Friday, giving the team a veteran presence at middle linebacker and the player a chance to get back into the league."

"Raiders owner Al Davis is reorganizing his front office and could bring in a new salary "capologist" and contract negotiator, a league source said Thursday. Rams executive Samir Suleiman, director of football operations in St. Louis since 2000, is among those being looked at. A source within the Rams organization confirmed his candidacy Thursday."

" Having traversed various parts of the world -- Africa, Europe, South America -- the Raiders' star cornerback wanted to share the exhilaration of visiting new places, expose some deserving kids to opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise. So he set up a college tour last month to Boston for six underprivileged youth from the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC). It's the latest helping hand by one of the NFL's most charitable players. Asomugha, 26, said his desire to give back is a natural reaction."

"Most NFL teams got high marks on draft day, but does that mean this will be a good year to employ rookies in fantasy football? Probably not. Like most years, 2008 appears to be a season when early-choice quarterbacks will struggle on bad teams, a couple of rookie backs could make an immediate splash, and last year's collegiate receiving stars are more likely to be disappointments than fantasy contributors as first-year pros. "

"The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, a move precipitated by their trade Sunday of cornerback Fabian Washington. The Raiders absorbed a $1.1 million salary-cap hit when they traded Washington to the Baltimore Ravens for a fourth-round draft pick. That pushed them over the salary-cap limit and necessitated a counter move. Releasing Rhodes saved the Raiders approximately $1.25 million in cap room."

"NFL conundrum No. 1: Is it better to draft for need or for the best athlete? Confession: I am a needs guy. Here's why: Fail to fill your needs now and you're still going to be knee-deep in need in a year. Go for the best athlete and you're just playing Lotto. We all know the odds on that. That is why I was down on the Raiders' draft and why the best draft I've seen in years just concluded over the weekend in Kansas City. If player ratings are all they're cracked up to be, the Chiefs should replace San Diego as the top team in the AFC West somewhere around or shortly after the 2010 season."

"The Raiders are serious about bringing speed to the offense. They have signed seven rookie free agents, among them Washington running back Louis Rankin, a Stockton native noted for his speed. He reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, the fastest among a group of players who worked out for the Seattle Seahawks earlier this month. Rankin joins a running back group that features Justin Fargas, first-round draft pick Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and LaMont Jordan. "

"The Raiders spent Monday offering one-year contracts with four-figure bonuses to undrafted free agents. They then saved cash by releasing running back Dominic Rhodes. Things will get much more expensive when it comes time to sign the running back they selected fourth overall in the NFL draft. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is by far the most dynamic offensive player coming out of college. As such, he will command a six-year deal worth at least $50 million with no less than $20 million in guarantees."

"Now that the next class of instant multimillionaires has been determined, we rediscover that the NFL is, for the privileged few, the most generous Sugar Daddy in sports. Thanks to the endless cash flow of the world's most profitable league, first-round draft picks gain entrance into the highest levels of wealth, receiving access to the kind of luxury that defies our foundering economy. Now that this has been tossed at their feet, courtesy of the current draft system, they get to decide whether they deserve it. "

"The Raiders got the guy Greg Papa wanted. The 49ers didn't do the same for Joe Starkey. Is it a coincidence then that the play-by-play voices of the rival franchises walked away from the NFL draft with differing opinions on the television coverage provided by ESPN and the NFL Network? In a word: Yes, they insisted Monday. "I watched both," Papa claimed. "It's a tough event to cover because of the timing of it. When do you look ahead to the next pick? When do you look back? "

"The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, the first domino to fall after the team picked Darren McFadden in the first round of the NFL draft on Saturday. Rhodes' release was meant to put the Raiders back under the league salary cap, which they exceeded when they traded cornerback Fabian Washington to the Baltimore Ravens. That trade gave the Raiders a nearly $1.1 million cap hit, ESPN reported. Rhodes, who had restructured his contract to remain with the Raiders, was due to earn $1.75 million this year. "

"Boy, that was fast. Not the NFL draft itself. Rather, the four sprinters plucked by the Raiders on closing day Sunday, proving ever more that the Raiders' organizational chart remains huge on stopwatch measurables. "In the National Football League, speed's always huge," said Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who met with reporters after the draft, as did offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, while coach Lane Kiffin worked on recruiting undrafted free agents. "That's the difference between saving touchdowns on defense and making touchdowns on offense. Speed kills.""

"The need for speed. It's a trait that masks other deficiencies and locks otherwise nondescript prospects onto the radar of NFL teams. Players who run well jump to the head of the class when it comes time for the NFL draft. On Sunday, the allure of speed was in full evidence at Raiders headquarters as the four players they selected on the second day of the draft boast of some of the best 40-yard-dash times by players at their respective positions."

"First-round draft pick Darren McFadden wasted little time in checking out his new workplace. He arrived in Oakland on Saturday night, caught up on his sleep and arrived at team headquarters Sunday afternoon for his first look around since the Raiders made him the fourth player picked overall... "It's very important," McFadden said of reporting to training camp on time. "I want to be out there playing. I don't want to be sitting back, I want to be out there learning. The more time you miss, the less chance you have of playing. I want to be out there..."

"Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said he knew months ago that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden "was the guy we had to have." Months ago? Try years and years ago. By selecting McFadden fourth overall Saturday, the Raiders drafted themselves a certifiable play-making threat, something their offense has glaringly lacked for far too long. "I want to play great and make big plays," McFadden said to finish his conference call with the Bay Area media. That short line is all we really needed to hear. And then he was gone. It was breakaway speed, at its finest."

" When it was clear McFadden would be available, Kiffin said, owner Al Davis didn't consider trading down to acquire more picks. McFadden was the guy all along, the coach added, saying Davis was prepared to trade up if necessary. McFadden, by reputation, provides Oakland with the kind of dynamic offensive presence they haven't had since quarterback Rich Gannon befuddled defenses with his brain, his arm and his feet. The Raiders are convinced defensive coordinators will have to game-plan for this guy."

"For the second consecutive year, the Raiders added a fourth-round draft pick by dealing a player who once figured prominently into their future plans. Last year, the Raiders traded Randy Moss to New England for a fourth-round selection. This time it was cornerback Fabian Washington, who was dealt to the Baltimore Ravens for the 125th pick in the 2008 NFL draft. "

"Appropriately decked in a black three-piece suit, Raiders lapel pin with a silver-and-black tie and Raiders cap, McFadden answered questions with a smile, looking the part of the brighteyed rookie ready to leap to the NFL. "I want to be out there playing, I don't want to be sitting back, I want to be out there learning," McFadden said. "The more time you miss, the less chance you have of playing. I want to be out there, so I'll let my agent take care of that and I feel like he's going to get it done for me." "

"Remember the good ol' days, when the 49ers and Raiders would draft wide receivers, develop them and ride them to victory? Well, in this era of losing seasons, our plucky little teams have been opening NFL drafts by taking quarterbacks No. 1 overall, and then failing to find those franchise arms a true No. 1 wide receiver to grow old with. This past weekend's draft was, again, an exercise in futility and frustration when it came to finding the 49ers' and Raiders' next great pass catcher."

"Arman Shields knew what he was waiting for -- that draft day phone call hopeful players are told about, the one that will change their lives and mark the completion of a dream. For Shields, that began when he was just 6 years old."

"The Ravens addressed their need at cornerback yesterday, but it didn't come in the draft. Instead, the Ravens traded a fourth-round pick to the Oakland Raiders for Fabian Washington."

"Raiders owner Al Davis spoke. Glamorous size and world-class speed trumps glaring need. He proved it by taking Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft Saturday, with Raiders coach Lane Kiffin nodding in agreement afterward."

" Lo and behold, there he was, some 30 minutes into the two-day, seven-round process, awaiting some team to call his name. At that point, the Raiders' dream of landing Arkansas running back Darren McFadden turned into reality and sparked visions of an offensive turnaround."

"The Raiders' glut of running backs didn't go unnoticed by Darren McFadden. Neither did McFadden's unique skills by the Raiders. The result: The best running back in college football joined one of the most crowded backfields in the NFL."

"Leave it to the Oakland Raiders to take one of the biggest risks of the draft, selecting running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick."

"There weren't going to be any problems for Darren McFadden either way. The Jets would have thrilled him. The Raiders would have thrilled him."

"But with that $31 million quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, now the full-time starter, this is a win-now year. Running back Darren McFadden may not have made the most sense. But he was the win-now pick."

" Al Davis could not resist the bright lights, fast feet, funky headlines and Bo Jackson flashbacks. He had to take Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick. Davis was compelled. He couldn't avoid it, didn't want to try."

"For all his talents, Raiders first-round selection Darren McFadden isn't without his flaws. McFadden fumbled 23 times during his three seasons at Arkansas, more than any other player in the nation during that time. He lost nine of those fumbles. "

"Permit me to be the first to douse the business conducted by the Raiders and the 49ers with a spray of cold water. Kindly lay off the comments about a need for Prozac."

"Q: How are you similar or different from Adrian Peterson? A: We're both big backs, pretty fast. He probably is a little more physical when he runs than I am."

"The Raiders have spent the past two weeks threading together a safety net, the better to catch a falling star or two in the NFL draft."

" Amen, according to recent addition DeAngelo Hall. It's time for the Raiders to get offensive. Literally. Dorsey and Long being gone before the Raiders are on the clock would only make it more logical to think offense."

"Son of former Raiders standout defensive lineman Howie Long is regarded as can't-miss-type player who can contribute right away."

"Disbelief filled the Raiders' 1982 draft headquarters. The brain trust of Silver and Blackdom could not believe what it was seeing: Marcus Allen, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner out of USC, was free-falling … without a parachute."

"The Raiders figure to dangle their first-round pick – their only one in the first three rounds – in hopes of landing more picks. Teams might consider trading up for players such as Arkansas running back Darren McFadden and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan."