We Cut Six Players...

[Angry Pope]

Getting a head start

August 28th, 2006

The Raiders cut six players today and will have to part with nine more before Tuesday’s deadline to be at 75.

PK Tim Duncan, P Glenn Pakulak, TE Marcellus Rivers, DB Raymond Washington, QB Reggie Robertson and G Rod Green were released. The only minor surprise was Rivers, a five-year veteran who has played 76 games with 14 starts, including five last season for the Houston Texans.

There are no NFL Europe exemptions this year, with the league opting to increase the first cut from 65 to 75. Trimming nine more names Tuesday probably will not bring any major surprises, but the 22-man slashing Saturday figures to be interesting.

[CrossBones]

No blood, no harm. :p

[Rupert]

No shock with Rivers. We're going to sweat blood over a couple of the final decisions, like Madsen and Santiago at TE. But if a guy like Garmon can play a credible TE in goalline situations (and I don't see why not) there's no reason to dangle a tempting player like Madsen across the waiver wire.

[Angry Pope]

If we waive Madsen, the 49ers will probably pick him up at the urging of his former quarterback Alex Smith...in my opinion. Rivers didn't really pan out like we thought when first signed.

[Angry Pope]

Update on cuts...

August 29 K Tim Duncan Released
August 29 WR Rick Gatewood Released
August 29 QB Kent Smith Released
August 29 WR Burl Toler Released
August 29 CB Dennis Davis Released
August 29 TE Derek Miller Released
August 29 RB DeJuan Green Placed on Injured Reserve
August 29 FB Joe Hall Placed on Injured Reserve
August 29 LB Timi Wusu Placed on Injured Reserve
August 29 DT Michael Quarshie Placed on Injured Reserve
August 28 QB Jeff George Signed
August 28 G Roderick Green Waived
August 28 K David Kimball Waived
August 28 P Glenn Pakulak Waived
August 28 QB Reggie Robertson Waived
August 28 DB Raymond Washington Waived
August 28 TE Marcellus Rivers Released

[CrossBones]

So much for the Kent Smith discussion.

Is Tui next? Think there is a shot we could trrade him? How about to Minnesota?

I see they foound a way to hide Wusu and Quarshie in IR...

[Angry Pope]

Well, I kind of knew Kent Smith would get cut because we probably want him on our practice squad not only for his strong arm but also the potential he has.

I didn't realize that Joe Hall was injured to that extent...maybe I missed it.

[Angry Pope]

Your theory might be right afterall, Bones. Supposedly someone in the front office said we signed George because of Walter's tired arm. It will be interesting to see how Walter holds up in practice and at the game Thursday.

[Angry Pope]

It’s 75 and counting down

August 29th, 2006

OAKLAND _ The Raiders accounced the cuts of six players and put four more on injured reserve Wednesday to reach the NFL limit of 75 players.

Released were PK Tim Duncan, WR Rick Gatewood, QB Kent Smith, WR Burl Toler, CB Dennis Davis and TE Derek Miller.

Four players were placed on injured reserve, ending their relationship with the Raiders this season _ RB DeJuan Green, RB Joe Hall, LB Timi Wusu and DT Michael Quarshie.

The four players on I.R. will be eligible to catch on with another team if they reach an injury settlement with the Raiders.

[CrossBones]

Your theory might be right afterall, Bones. Supposedly someone in the front office said we signed George because of Walter's tired arm. It will be interesting to see how Walter holds up in practice and at the game Thursday.I wonder if Walter is going to start on Thursday?

[Rupert]

Not likely to start. They usually throw the 1's out for a series, two at the max if the 1st was quick. Then shut them down. It's likely that Walter would see action near the end of the 1st.

Smith had to be released at some point as Benedict pointed out.

It's interesting that those players got IR-ed. Hall especially. I didn't think he was injured. Quarshie's injury wasn't serious either, but it's a way to hold onto them. They can't do any team activities, but they can "rehab" with the team "physician". Just no coaching. None of those guys are likely to be in demand by another team, but it keeps them in the fold without having them in danger. Always a neat trick.

Crockett is likely to be gone next year, as is Clark. Enter Hall and Wusu. Sapp and Hamilton might be gone next year, and I saw Quarshie get some time at DE (3-4 anyone). Good reason to keep him around. DeJuan Green? Who knows.

Rumblings out the front office say 4 QB's is possible. Looks like Walter needs to build some stamina back up in that arm. Too long without hundreds of throws will wear you down. And he is dealing with surgical repair, so those muscles might be working just a little differently these days.

[CrossBones]

Man 'ya just have to believe Tui is gone.

We'll know soon. Think Al has a trade lined up to include Tui and Jerry "STFU" Porter?

[Angry Pope]

The Grim Reaper, pt. 1

The Raiders are where they need to be, at 75 players. They got there by cutting six guys Tuesday - wide receivers Burl Toler and Rick Gatewood, quarterback Kent Smith, tight end Derek Miller and cornerback Dennis Davis - and placing four players on injured reserve - fullback Joe Hall, linebacker Timi Wusu, running back DeJuan Green and defensive tackle Michael Quarshie.

Those 10 joined six players cut the previous day: tight end Marcellus Rivers, quarterback Reggie Robertson, guard Rod Green, cornerback Raymond Washington, kicker David Kimball and punter Glenn Pakulak.

There were no bombshells in this round, no respected veterans sent packing early so they could increase their chances of latching on with another team. If there was a surprise, it was Rivers. He didn't stand out much during training camp or in the preseason games, but he seemed a viable candidate for a backup tight end position, if only because of his prototypical size (6-4, 250) and five years of NFL experience.

The sentimental pick may have been Toler, a gregarious athlete who played at Cal and never stopped smiling on the practice field. Toler's father and grandfather, Burl and Burl, showed up at camp to observe one day. Burl Jr. also played at Cal, and now works for an architectural firm in the East Bay. Burl Sr. was an All-American at USF and the first African-American game official in the NFL; he officiated three Super Bowls. Burl III won't be at a loss if his NFL hopes don't pan out. Hid dad says he's already done some student teaching and is on his way to a teaching career.

It's always interesting to see who winds up on injured reserve this time of year. Teams often stash players they'd like to keep off the market, though they don't have immediate room on their 53-man rosters. Wusu (groin) and Quarshie (knee) have fairly significant injuries. Green was a little banged up. And Hall? There had been no word of an injury to the 280-pound fullback, and he looked all right walking around the locker room Tuesday.

The Raiders must cut another 22 players by Saturday.

[Angry Pope]

Who do you guys think will stay and who will go...I have too many and mine will obviously differ from some of yours...



47 Adkisson, James TE 6-5 230 26 1 South Carolina
83 Anderson, Courtney TE 6-6 270 25 3 San Jose State
21 Asomugha, Nnamdi CB 6-2 210 25 4 California
70 Badger, Brad G 6-4 320 31 10 Stanford
59 Bing, Darnell LB 6-2 230 21 R USC
67 Boothe, Kevin G 6-5 315 23 R Cornell
91 Brayton, Tyler DE 6-6 280 26 4 Colorado
2 Brooks, Aaron QB 6-4 220 30 8 Virginia
41 Brown, Ricky LB 6-2 235 22 R Boston College
13 Buchanon, Will WR 6-3 185 23 R USC
56 Burgess, Derrick DE 6-2 260 28 6 Mississippi
23 Carr, Chris CB 5-10 180 23 2 Boise State
55 Clark, Danny LB 6-2 245 29 7 Illinois
40 Cooper, Jarrod S 6-1 215 28 6 Kansas State
32 Crockett, Zack RB 6-2 240 33 12 Florida State
89 Curry, Ronald WR 6-2 210 27 5 North Carolina
50 Ekejiuba , Isaiah LB 6-4 240 24 2 Virginia
31 Eugene, Hiram DB 6-2 200 25 1 Louisiana Tech
25 Fargas, Justin RB 6-1 220 26 4 USC
49 Foschi, John Paul RB 6-4 270 24 2 Georgia Tech
82 Francis, Carlos WR 5-10 190 25 3 Texas Tech
85 Gabriel, Doug WR 6-2 215 26 4 Central Florida
76 Gallery, Robert T 6-7 325 26 3 Iowa
69 Garmon, Kelvin G 6-2 350 29 7 Baylor
3 George, Jeff QB 6-4 214 38 17 Illinois
36 Gibson, Derrick SS 6-2 215 27 6 Florida State
64 Grove, Jake C 6-4 300 26 3 Virginia Tech
98 Hamilton, Bobby DE 6-5 285 35 12 Southern Mississippi
77 Hawthorne, Anttaj DT 6-3 310 24 2 Wisconsin
53 Howard, Thomas LB 6-3 240 23 R UTEP
24 Huff, Michael S 6-1 205 23 R Texas
71 Hulsey, Corey G 6-4 325 29 5 Clemson
94 Huntley, Kevin DE 6-7 270 24 1 Kansas State
96 Irons, Grant LB 6-6 285 27 5 Notre Dame
11 Janikowski, Sebastian K 6-2 250 28 7 Florida State
51 Johnstone, Lance DE 6-5 250 33 11 Temple
34 Jordan, LaMont RB 5-10 230 27 6 Maryland
93 Kelly, Tommy DT 6-6 300 25 3 Mississippi State
9 Lechler, Shane P 6-2 225 30 7 Texas A&M
42 Lee, ReShard RB 5-10 220 25 3 Middle Tennessee State
72 Levey, Jabari T 6-6 315 22 R South Carolina
10 Madsen, John WR 6-5 220 23 R Utah
5 McMahan, Kevin WR 6-2 200 23 R Maine
92 McNeal, Bryant DE 6-4 250 27 3 Clemson
79 McQuistan, Paul T 6-6 315 23 R Weber State
97 Moore, Rashad DT 6-3 325 27 3 Tennessee
19 Morant, Johnnie WR 6-4 220 24 3 Syracuse
61 Morris, Chris OL 6-4 305 23 R Michigan State
52 Morrison, Kirk LB 6-2 240 24 2 San Diego State
18 Moss, Randy WR 6-4 210 29 9 Marshall
37 Nnabuife, Alvin DB 6-1 205 23 R SMU
74 Obeng , William OT 6-7 325 23 1 San Jose State
38 Poole, Tyrone DB 5-8 190 34 12 Fort Valley State
84 Porter, Jerry WR 6-2 220 28 7 West Virginia
57 Riddle, Ryan LB 6-2 250 25 2 California
26 Routt, Stanford CB 6-1 195 23 2 Houston
90 Sands, Terdell DT 6-7 335 26 4 Tenn.-Chattanooga
43 Santiago, O.J. TE 6-7 265 32 7 Kent State
99 Sapp, Warren DT 6-2 300 33 12 Miami (Fla.)
30 Schweigert, Stuart S 6-1 210 25 3 Purdue
65 Sims, Barry T 6-5 300 31 8 Utah
78 Slaughter, Chad T 6-8 340 28 6 Alcorn State
39 Smart, Rod RB 5-11 205 29 6 W. Kentucky
22 Starks, Duane CB 5-10 175 32 9 Miami (Fla.)
58 Thomas, Robert LB 6-0 235 26 5 UCLA
62 Treu, Adam C 6-5 300 32 10 Nebraska
8 Tuiasosopo, Marques QB 6-1 220 27 6 Washington
45 Tuiasosopo, Zach FB 6-2 245 24 1 Washington
66 Walker, Langston T 6-8 345 26 5 California
16 Walter, Andrew QB 6-6 230 24 2 Arizona State
75 Washington, Donnell DT 6-6 330 25 2 Clemson
27 Washington, Fabian CB 5-11 185 23 2 Nebraska
87 Whitted, Alvis WR 6-0 185 31 9 North Carolina State
86 Williams, Randal TE 6-3 235 28 6 New Hampshire
54 Williams, Sam LB 6-5 260 26 4 Fresno State


Red - Cut
Blue - Injured Reserve
Green - Traded
Black - On The 53 Man Roster

[Rupert]

I expect us to keep Chris Morris over Adam Treu, especially now that Hulsey has proven he can handle the job if we need him to. Thanks for the service Adam.

I don't see both O.J. Santiago and John Madsen sticking around. My feeling is O.J. gets the boot and Sims flys out to be the 3rd TE with Garmon or Hulsey filling in the middle. Hell, I think Slaughter tried it a bit last year.

I think Rashad Moore gets the boot too. Is there any real reason for keeping him with the guys we have on the bench? He's a slug. Rashard, meet the Turk.

Kevin Boothe and Will Buchanon seem like possible cuts as well. But I'd seriously be willing to cut Rashard Lee loose to keep Buchanon. Only 4 RB's total? We can always grab Zach Tui off of the upholstered bench and turn Crockett into a RB. It's nice to have a versatile guy like that isn't it?

I think with my cuts I get you to the 53 man limit.

Well, that's my attempt.

[Angry Pope]

This year’s Carr is . . .

August 29th, 2006

OAKLAND _ Five undrafted free agent rookies remain on the Raiders roster, and none are the lock that Chris Carr was last season to make the 53-man roster.

In fact, all five could be gone when the Raiders cut 22 more players Saturday to finalize their 53-man roster.

Undrafted free agents remaining are LB Ricky Brown of Boston College, WR Will Buchanon of USC, Jabari Levey from South Carolina, S Alvin Nnabuife of SMU and TE John Madsen of Utah.

Madsen, who ran with the first team on three special teams units against Detroit and who shows promise as a pass receiving tight end, would seem to have the best chance. Nnubuife, a safety who has made his share of plays in training camp, would be No. 2.

Carr seized the return job on both kickoff and punt returns early in camp last year and fared well enough that it was not a surprise when he made the team.

Coach Art Shell said an undrafted rookie must stand out.

“He has to make a statement,'’ Shell said. “He has to be noticed. You expect your draft choices to make you notice them because you drafted them. It’s not like you don’t know your free agents. You bring them in because they have a quality that gives them a chance to make your team.

“I told all of them when they came here. Everybody is on equal footing in the sense that you can show what you can do. If you show what you can do, you have a chance to make this team. So you’ve got to make an impact. Paul McQuistan was drafted in the third round, but when he came out here, people noticed him. He made an impact, and that’s what you’ve got to do whether you’re drafted or undrafted.'’

[Angry Pope]

Shell trims fat, reduces roster by 10

Local products Gatewood and Toler are among the six players cut


ALAMEDA -- The Raiders took the next step toward determining their 53-man, opening-day roster by releasing six players and placing four on injured reserve.

They now have until Saturday afternoon to trim 22 more players from their roster, as mandated by the league. Fringe players have one more shot at proving themselves worthy of a roster spot, Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks.

"There are guys that still have the opportunity to show what they can do," coach Art Shell said. "They'll play on Thursday night, and we'll see what they do. You pretty well have a feel for who is going to make it and who is not going to make it. But there are always two or three guys who are sitting there that will make you make a decision."

None of the moves came as a surprise. Five of the players are rookies, three are first-year players, the two others in their second year.

The players no longer on the roster are quarterback Kent Smith, running backs DeJuan Green and Joe Hall, wide receivers Burl Toler (Cal) and Rick Gatewood, (El Cerrito High School), tight end Derek Miller, defensive tackle Michael Quarshie, linebacker Timi Wusu (Stanford), cornerback Dennis Davis and kicker Tim Duncan.

Green, Hall, Wusu and Quarshie sustained injuries during training camp and were placed on injured reserve. The Raiders remain contractually obligated to those four players and retain their rights. The injured players, though, aren't eligible to play for the Raiders this season. They are free to play for one of the league's 31 other teams if they reach an injury settlement with the Raiders or upon returning to health, get released by Oakland.

Bust out the art

Tattoo-covered safety Jarrod Cooper announced Tuesday that he is sponsoring a contest to see which fan has the best Raiders-related tattoo. Cooper said fans have until Halloween to submit their entries via hard-copy pictures. The person judged by Cooper and his teammates the winner will receive $1,000. No temporary tattoos are allowed. Those interested in entering the one-of-a-kind contest can enter by sending pictures to the Raiders, at 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, 94502, attn: Jarrod Cooper.

Quote of the day

"First thing I said to coach Shell was, 'I feel like Vince Evans.' When I was here (in 1997) was one of his last years. In training camp you look down and everybody's yelling, 'Old man, old man.' And I always thought I didn't want to be that old man. Now, (nine) years later, here I am, guys calling me the old man." -- 38-year-old quarterback Jeff George upon his return to the Raiders after leaving seven seasons ago

Frequent fliers

The Raiders are scheduled to log a league-high 30,702 miles for their 10 road games this season, including three exhibition games. It would have been even higher had one of their road games not been in San Francisco.

Extra points

Quarterback Andrew Walter (shoulder) looks "fine," Shell said, and is expected to play Thursday night against the Seahawks. Rookie strong safety Michael Huff (ankle) has resumed practicing and is expected to play Thursday, Shell said. Left guard Barry Sims (elbow) is progressing but won't play Thursday as a precautionary measure, Shell said.

-- Steve Corkran

[Angry Pope]

Some receive a last chance
ROSTER SPOTS ON LINE AS RAIDERS PONDER FINAL PLAYER CUTS

By Steve Corkran

The Raiders took the next step toward determining their 53-man, opening-day roster Tuesday by releasing six players and placing four on injured reserve.

Coach Art Shell has until Saturday afternoon to trim 22 more players. Fringe players have a last shot at proving themselves worthy of a roster spot Thursday in an exhibition against the Seattle Seahawks.

``There are guys that still have the opportunity to show what they can do,'' Shell said. ``They'll play on Thursday night, and we'll see what they do. You pretty well have a feel for who is going to make it and who is not going to make it. But there are always two or three guys who are sitting there that will make you make a decision.''

None of the moves came as a surprise. Five of the players are rookies, three are first-year players, and two are in their second year.

The players no longer on the roster are quarterback Kent Smith, running backs DeJuan Green and Joe Hall, wide receivers Burl Toler and Rick Gatewood, tight end Derek Miller, defensive tackle Michael Quarshie, linebacker Timi Wusu, cornerback Dennis Davis and kicker Tim Duncan.

Green, Hall, Wusu and Quarshie sustained injuries during training camp and were placed on injured reserve.

The Raiders remain contractually obligated to those four players and retain their rights. The injured players, though, aren't eligible to play for the Raiders this season. They are free to play for another NFL team if they reach an injury settlement with the Raiders or, upon returning to health, get released by Oakland.

• Tattoo-covered safety Jarrod Cooper announced that he is sponsoring a contest to see which fan has the best Raiders-related tattoo. Fans have until Halloween to submit their entries via hard-copy photographs, Cooper said. The person judged the winner by Cooper and his teammates will receive $1,000. No temporary tattoos are allowed. Those interested in entering the contest can send pictures to the Raiders at 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, CA, 94502, attn: Jarrod Cooper.

• Quarterback Jeff George, 38, said he has noticed a few changes in his return to Oakland after seven seasons away from the Raiders.

``First thing I said to Coach Shell was, `I feel like Vince Evans.' When I was here (in 1997) was one of his last years. In training camp you look down and everybody's yelling, `Old man, old man.' And I always thought I didn't want to be that old man. Now, (nine) years later, here I am, guys calling me the old man.''

• The Raiders are scheduled to log a league-high 30,702 air miles for their road games this season, including three exhibitions. It would have been higher had one of their road games not been in San Francisco.

• Quarterback Andrew Walter (shoulder) looks ``fine,'' Shell said, and rookie strong safety Michael Huff (ankle) has resumed practicing. Both players are expected to play Thursday.

• Left guard Barry Sims (elbow) is progressing but won't play Thursday as a precaution, Shell said.

[Angry Pope]

Shell cuts 10, including ex-Cal WR Toler

David White

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Ten down, 22 to go.

The Raiders whittled their roster to 75 players Tuesday by waiving six players and placing another four on injured reserve. They have until Saturday to finalize their 53-man roster for the regular season.

Players who cleaned out locker stalls were wide receivers Burl Toler (Cal) and Rick Gatewood, quarterback Kent Smith, kicker Tim Duncan, cornerback Dennis Davis and tight end Derek Miller.

The injured-reserve players are running backs DeJuan Green and Joe Hall, defensive tackle Michael Quarshie and linebacker Timi Wusu (Stanford).

"It's a tough thing," Shell said of cutting players. "That's hard."

Players on the injured-reserve list cannot play for the team this season. They can be released to play for another team, but only if they reach an injury settlement with the Raiders.

Duncan, Green and Quarshie were on the practice squad last year. None of the players played in a regular-season game.

The cuts get much more difficult with the next round. That's when Shell has to let go of players with game experience and locker-room bonds.

He said he has a good idea who will make the final cut, but there are "two or three guys" on the fence. The Raiders can assemble their practice squad as soon as Sunday.

"It's hard," starting free safety Stuart Schweigert said. "I don't know what they're going to do because we have a lot of good guys on this team."

Tattoo contest: Raiders safety Jarrod Cooper announced a $1,000 contest for the best Raiders-related tattoo. The deadline for fans to send pictures to Raiders headquarters, care of Cooper, is Oct. 26. The winner will be announced by the Oct. 29 game against Pittsburgh.

"Yeah, I'm serious," said Cooper, who has a linked tattoo running up one arm, up and down the back and around the waist. Teammates can vote, but Cooper gets final say over who gets his cash.

"I want to see what's out there. I saw one guy with 50 cheerleader heads on his arm, like portraits. I'm not exactly sure what he's got going on."

Slingin' George: Newly signed quarterback Jeff George ran the scout-team offense Tuesday. Shell said he threw nothing like a 38-year-old quarterback who has been out of the game for almost five years.

"He's a very accurate guy, and when it comes out, it's like a missile," Shell said.

Shell said it's "always possible" the team will keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

Briefly: Backup quarterback Andrew Walter had a full practice Tuesday and is expected to play Thursday at Seattle. ... Left guard Barry Sims (elbow) had limited practice Tuesday. Sims said he's ready to play Thursday, but Shell will sit him as a precaution. ... Linebackers Darnell Bing (neck) and Grant Irons (concussion), and tight end Randal Williams (knee) missed practice. ... Raiders Hall of Fame center Jim Otto is a finalist for the Gerald R. Ford Legends of Center Award, given annually to an all-time great center who has made lifetime contributions to football and other areas.

[Angry Pope]

I wish we would keep Buchanon over Whitted...nothing against Whitted though. The ceiling on Buchanon is a lot higher where Whitted's has reached a plateau.

The other thing is that with Moss, Curry, Porter, and Gabriel as our receivers, that is virtually all of the balls being thrown. In this case, Whitted wouldn't be used as much and his roster spot would best be used for a developmental player...perfect for Buchanon, in my opinion.

[Rupert]

Yes, my mistake indeed. Whitted might be on a plateau, but I think he's looking at the downslide. He's just going to keep getting worse. He's 31 and it took him until last year to be a viable receiver. Sure he's got world class speed. But at this age, you start losing it. And the guys he's competing with just have more natural moves, like Buchanon.

Buchanon on the rise, Whitted on the decline. Easy decision in my book. But you already had him out the door, so....

[Angry Pope]

Long shots get last chance to shine
Undrafted rookies rarely make roster; Seattle game could be end of road for 5

By PHIL BARBER


ALAMEDA - One deadline has passed. Another looms. And in between, one final chance to make an impression.

"Yeah, it's a big game," safety Alvin Nnabuife said of the date with the Seahawks on Thursday night. "I'll probably get a lot of playing time. I've got to show them I can do it, so they keep me on this team."

Nnabuife - affectionately known as "Boof" to his defensive teammates, primarily because they can't pronounce "Nnabuife" - is among a handful of Raiders trying to make the final 53-man roster as rookie free agents. It's a tough assignment. Last year, return man Chris Carr was the only player to make the Raiders' opening-day roster as an undrafted rookie.

In other words, you don't exactly have to be Vince Papale - the inspiration for the new movie "Invincible" - to make this team, but the typical rookie free agent has to overcome a strict disadvantage if he hopes to beat out players who were drafted.

"He has to make a statement," coach Art Shell said Tuesday. "He has to be noticed. ... That's what I told all of them when I came here. I said: 'Everybody is on equal footing in the sense that you've got to show what you can do. If you can show what you can do, then you have a chance to make this football team.'"

After Tuesday's transactions - six cuts, four players on injured reserve - only five undrafted rookies remain on the Oakland roster: linebacker Ricky Brown, wide receiver Will Buchanon, tackle Jabari Levey, tight end John Madsen and Nnabuife.

Buchanon was the talk of training camp three weeks ago but has faded since. Levey hasn't played much recently, and Brown has been hurt most of the summer. That leaves Madsen and Nnabuife as viable candidates, with final cuts coming by Saturday.

Madsen is an intriguing prospect. He didn't play any football in high school, broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle at Utah last fall and had surgery in November, getting his pro career off to a slow start. That career hit another obstacle when he showed up for training camp in July and learned he was now a tight end; he had been a 220-pound wide receiver in college.

"I didn't even know the terminology (the Raiders) were using in the running game and stuff," Madsen said. "Basically, now I've just got to master the technique. I'm not as strong and big as I need to be for the position."

Madsen, while still learning how to block, has been a standout pass-catcher. The question is whether he can beat out Randal Williams or O.J. Santiago for a tight end spot, or whether the Raiders might keep four players at the position.

Nnabuife, a former linebacker at SMU, hasn't been as noticeable, but the Raiders obviously like him. Stuart Schweigert, Derrick Gibson and Michael Huff have all missed practice time at safety, and when they did, it was Boof who moved up to the second team. Last year, the Raiders had 10 defensive backs on their opening-day roster. If they do that again, Nnabuife could be one of them.

The final exhibition game is a nerve-wracking time for borderline players. All summer long, they've been told to play under control and stay within their assignments. Now they have perhaps 20 to 30 plays to get noticed.

"You're trying to do the right thing, you're trying to run the right route, you're trying to read the right coverage," Madsen said. "Sometimes, when you should just be thinking about catching the ball, that's the last thing on your mind. And that's when you drop the ball."

In midseason, a dropped ball might be easy to move past. Thursday night, it could spell the difference between the active roster and the practice squad.

EXTRA POINTS

Tuesday's cuts included WR Burl Toler, QB Kent Smith, TE Derek Miller, WR Rick Gatewood, DB Dennis Davis and K Tim Duncan. FB Joe Hall, LB Timi Wusu, RB DeJuan Green and DT Michael Quarshie were placed on injured reserve.

DT Terdell Sands (hip) was back at practice. Players sitting out included C Jake Grove (shoulder), LB Grant Irons (concussion), LB Darnell Bing (neck), TE Randal Williams (knee) and TE James Adkisson (knee). G Barry Sims warmed up but sat out drills. He will not play Thursday, but should be fine for the Sept. 11 opener.

[Angry Pope]

The final act

August 30th, 2006
By Jerry McDonald

It happens every year.

The Raiders, like every other NFL team, tell a respected veteran player to bring in his playbook as they make the final cut to 53 players.

In most cases, the decisions are already made. Art Shell conceded he already has an idea who will make up the team, with only a few instances where a perfomrance in Thursday night’s pre-season finale in Seattle could make a difference.

It’s not always easy to tell who the veterans on the bubble really are. Sometimes they’re not playing simply because the coaches already know what they can do and are saving them for the regular season.

Here are five veterans who are no doubt examining all the scenarios:

— LB Danny Clark: He was moved aside in favor of Kirk Morrison in the middle, and even the biggest Clark supporter would have to concede it’s been an upgrade. Morrison is more active and light years ahead of Clark as a pass defender.

Clark was a standout special teams player with Jacksonville, but if the Raiders don’t want go down that road, and Ryan Riddle, a middle linebacker, is in their plans on special teams, then Clark is expendable.

The downside of cutting him: If an outside linebacker goes down, and they’re crossing their fingers with Sam Williams, the Raiders lose the option to move Morrison back outside and put Clark in the middle.

— FB Zack Crockett: One of the most popular guys in the locker room since he got here, Crockett could still be Oakland’s best short-yardage runner, but he hasn’t been used there regularly for a couple of years now.

Shell said the reason Crockett isn’t running in short yardage is because he already knows what he can do. Maybe. Or maybe they think Crockett is finally showing signs of age at 33.

John Paul Foschi is a block-and-catch fullback who comes much cheaper.

The downside of cutting him: The Raiders are very thin at running back, and it seems they still need a guy who can come through once or twice a year as a power back.

— DE Bobby Hamilton: Hamilton has been buried on the depth chart all season behind Tyler Brayton and in some games has been playing with the third team. That is not a good sign.

If the Raiders like what they see of 6-foot-7 Kevin Huntley and Bryant McNeal, Hamilton, a locker room leader for the past two years, could be finished with the Raiders at age 35.

The downside of cutting him: The Raiders play in the AFC West, and Hamilton, at 285 pounds, still might be the most stout run defender at base end.

— C Adam Treu: Making Corey Hulsey the starting center, even though he had never played there in an NFL game, was a red flag.

Treu is a veteran of 44 NFL starts. He’s played in playoff games and the Super Bowl. But when Jake Grove went down for three- to four weeks, Treu was not the short-term answer.

Chris Morris, a seventh-round pick very much like Treu who also has experience as a long-snapper, waits in the wings.

The downside of cutting him: Grove has a history of injury, and when he returns to the lineup, there is no guarantee he’ll stay there. Or that Hulsey will be able to handle the position longterm.

— QB Marques Tuiasosopo: Shell said the Raiders might keep four quarterbacks, but that’s not the way to bet.

There’s been a general feeling for a couple of years now that Tuiasosopo, drafted in the Jon Gruden regime, would have his best chance for success in another system. Andrew Walter is considered their quarterback of the future. If they’re convinced Jeff George can be No. 3, then maybe Tui is traded for a late-round draft choice or simply cut.

The downside of cutting him: Say Aaron Brooks gets hurt because the Raiders have problems protecting the quarterback. Your No. 2 and 3 quarterbacks are a pair of dropback passers with little mobility. In a system which urges quarterbacks to hold on to the ball as long as it takes.

Of course, if it gets to that point, it probably doesn’t matter who the quarterback is.

[RaiderIVlife]

Excellent article.

I think Treu is gone if the Raiders feel that Hulsey can be funtional (or better) at Center.

On that note, I'm sort of pulling for Huntley and Garmon to step up and take the LG & C jobs respectively from Sims & Grove.

It would be nice to see consistent starting five and apparently Garmon & Huntley bring more size & run blocking ability to the table?

[Rupert]

They've got the beef! Hulsey and Garmon, that is. I think Grove can still be an excellent center. But I do like Hulsey out there at guard, and was impressed with him at center. So if Grove and Sims needs to take their time coming back, I'm not too worried.

Garmon needs a little time to get the mental part dialed in, but he'll be good when he does. His biggest problems are in pass protection, but he seems pretty agile, and once he starts making better decisions, he'll be pretty good.

[Angry Pope]

I don't know where to post this but I found it amusing...Gruden just traded for Doug Jolley.

[Rupert]

Not entirely surprising. He drafted the guy, why not try to get him? Jolley was a good route runner, good pass catcher, below average blocker.

[Angry Pope]

Well, the part I found amusing was the Jets trading him..not so much Gruden acquiring him. Another good trade by Al.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders prepare to make final roster cuts

JOSH DUBOW

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Heading into the Oakland Raiders' final exhibition game, there were still a handful of players hoping to impress coach Art Shell enough to play their way onto the roster for the regular season.

The way the 30-7 loss to Seattle went, few, if any, players did that. By the time the Raiders begin their next practice on Saturday, the team will have cut its roster by 21 players and given Shell the 53-man squad he will take into the regular season opener against San Diego on Sept. 11.

"I watched (the film) a couple of times," Shell said Friday. "You have to try to find the positives and find the phases we need to really focus on to get the players better. We've done that. You want to take the film and burn it up, but we don't do that. We'll look at it and move forward."

The Raiders made one roster move Friday, trading defensive lineman Bobby Hamilton to the New York Jets for an undisclosed draft pick. The deal could open up a roster spot for a player like Kevin Huntley, one of the few Shell had anything good to say about following the Seahawks' game.

After winning their first four exhibition games for the first time since 1975, the Raiders ended the preseason with a performance resembling those they had during three straight losing seasons.

They were outgained 185-10 in the first half, finished with just 104 yards, committed two personal fouls and got their only score on Chris Carr's 72-yard punt return just over a minute into the game.

Only a few other players did anything to impress Shell. Johnnie Morant caught another long ball, a 46-yarder from Marques Tuiasosopo, and finished the preseason with a team-leading nine catches for 172 yards. That should help solidify his spot on the roster as a backup receiver.

Linebacker Robert Thomas, a former first-round pick by St. Louis who was slowed early in camp by injuries, stated his case by frequently being around the ball and coming up with three tackles against the Seahawks.

But they will have to wait until Saturday to hear if they will stick with the team.

"It's tough," Shell said of cutting players. "It's a tough thing. It's not easy. Guys walk into your office and you tell them, 'Thank you for giving it your all.' They're a part of your team, part of your family, and to tell them they're not good enough at this time, that's hard."

The Raiders came out of the exhibition season fairly healthy after only a few minor injuries on Thursday. The most notable was backup quarterback Andrew Walter's banged-up knee, but an MRI showed there was no structural damage.

Oakland has five undrafted rookie free agents still on the roster in receiver Will Buchanon, tight end John Madsen, offensive lineman Jabari Leavey, linebacker Ricky Brown and defensive back Alvin Nnabuife.

Last year, Carr was the only undrafted rookie free agent who opened the season on the Raiders' roster. Buchanon and Madsen are the players with the best shot this year. Shell said its difficult for an undrafted player to stick and in order to do so he has to "make a statement."

"He has to be noticed. You expect your draft choices to make you notice them because you drafted them," Shell said. "So those guys, when they come in, and that's what I told all of them when I came here, I said, 'Everybody is on equal footing in the sense that you've got to show what you can do. If you can show what you can do, then you have a chance to make this football team. So you have to make an impact.'"

Buchanon, who caught just four passes during his entire college career at Southern California, was second on the Raiders with eight catches in the exhibitions. Madsen, a converted wide receiver, had five and ended the preseason on a mixed note. He dropped a pass early in the game from Aaron Brooks but did throw a key block on Carr's punt return.

Both Buchanon and Madsen could end up on the eight-man practice squad if they don't make the regular roster. The Raiders will pick those players Sunday, and some of the candidates for those spots include players cut earlier in the week, such as rookie quarterback Kent Smith of Central Michigan.

[Angry Pope]

Madsen, Huntley appear safe

September 2nd, 2006

Defensive end Kevin Huntley and tight end Josh Madsen were in the locker room Saturday and feeling good about apparently making the 53-man roster.

Both players told reporters they had been told they were on the team. Madsen arrived at his temporary locker to find it empty. After a few anxious moments, he discovered his equipment had been moved to a permanent locker.

Special teams player Rod Smart, who seemed to be in good position to be the club’s third down back, has been released. His locker stall was cleared out and his name and number removed.

Still no official annoucement from the Raiders on all the cuts or regarding compensation for Doug Gabriel, who was traded to New England.

[CrossBones]

Special teams player Rod Smart, who seemed to be in good position to be the club’s third down back, has been released. His locker stall was cleared out and his name and number removed.Cut down day is a cold hearted situtation.

Good luck to "He Hate Me"...

[Angry Pope]

Both players told reporters they had been told they were on the team. Madsen arrived at his temporary locker to find it empty. After a few anxious moments, he discovered his equipment had been moved to a permanent locker

This was kind of funny...

[Angry Pope]

Clark gone?

September 2nd, 2006

Veteran linebacker Danny Clark was not present when the Raiders convened for practice Saturday.

The Raiders have not made any annoucements regarding their roster reductions other than the trade of Doug Gabriel.

Among the other players who were not present during the period media members could not watch practice were QB Jeff George, CB Duane Starks, TE O.J. Santiago and DE Lance Johnstone.

It is not uncommon for injured players to not be at practice or to arrive late. Clark has sustained no reported injuries during camp and wasn’t mentioned as being injured by Shell in a conference call Friday night.

A starter for the past two seasons, Clark was replaced by second-year linebacker Kirk Morrison, who moved from outside linebacker.

[Raiders_Rock]

we were looking to trade Clark and Riddle, but it looks like both will be cut. We're trying to ship out Marques Tui.