Angel
02-25-2006, 06:49 PM
ERIC GILMORE: TIMES COLUMNIST
Raiders should hunt for new QB
It's still only February, but the Raiders already have made plenty of progress on their offseason to-do list.
Fire coach Norv Turner. Check. Rehire The-Great-Art-Shell. Check.
Unveil a new ticket plan, sans the dreaded personal seat licenses. Check.
Cut ties with overpriced cornerback Charles Woodson. Check. Rehire Tom Walsh, Shell's former trusted aide, as offensive coordinator. Check.
So what's next on Raiders boss Al Davis' list? Who knows? He never calls. He never writes.
Here's my suggestion: Dump Kerry Collins and find a new quarterback. Do it now before you convince yourself he's your best option.
This just in: He's not.
We've spent two seasons watching Collins take too many sacks, throw too many interceptions, make too many bad decisions and lose too many games as a Raider.
Collins is what he is. Brilliant one moment. Horrific the next. He's thrown 173 career touchdown passes and has been intercepted 166 times. He's been sacked 296 times. He's completed 55.6 percent of his passes and posted a career passer rating of 73.7.
I'm not suggesting the Raiders adopt an ABC quarterbacking plan -- Anyone But Collins. But there have to be better options for a team that has won a combined nine games the past two years and desperately needs a spark on offense.
Last year, Davis pulled off a stunning trade with the Minnesota Vikings for wide receiver Randy Moss.
This year, the Vikings reportedly are shopping quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
Why not a Moss-Culpepper reunion in Oakland? Make it happen.
Granted, Culpepper is recovering from major knee surgery. But I'd take that risk because the potential payoff is so great.
Consider Culpepper's career numbers: He's thrown 135 touchdown passes with just 86 interceptions. He's completed 64.4 percent of his passes and posted a 91.5 passer rating. He's also rushed for 2,476 yards and 29 touchdowns.
From 2000 to 2004, Culpepper and Moss formed one of the NFL's most dangerous tandems.
Earlier in the week on Fox Sports Radio, Moss was asked if he wanted Collins to be his quarterback next season.
Moss paused briefly before answering.
"Man, I don't really care," Moss said. "I mean, I'm cool with Kerry. ... But, you know, they're talking about Daunte Culpepper coming to the Oakland Raiders.
"I mean, I have a relationship with Daunte on and off the field. So, you know, I really don't care who's my quarterback. I just want somebody to come in there and get us to the Super Bowl. ... If (Culpepper) becomes a Raider, then, you know, the show is back on."
Moss may be "cool" with Collins, but it's obvious he'd be even cooler with Culpepper and the return of their football show.
If the Raiders trade for Culpepper, they also might need to sign another lower-priced veteran, both as insurance and to baby-sit the job until Culpepper fully recovered.
Jeff Garcia and Jay Fiedler are available, just to name two possibilities. Call me crazy, but I'd take either one of those quarterbacks over Collins. At least they aren't sack-me statues.
Now what if the Culpepper trade rumors turn out to be just that, rumors?
What are the Raiders' other options?
Well, San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees is expected to become an unrestricted free agent March 3.
Yes, Brees is recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder. But he's thrown 51 touchdown passes with just 22 interceptions the past two years. The Miami Dolphins are reportedly very interested in Brees.
Cincinnati Bengals backup Jon Kitna appears headed for free agency, in search of a starting job.
Not excited? As Cincinnati's starter in 2003, Kitna threw 25 touchdown passes with just 15 interceptions, completed 62.3 percent of his throws and had a passer rating of 87.4.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown is headed for free agency. New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks could be waived soon and become a free agent. Miami Dolphins quarterback Gus Frerotte could be cut if he refuses to restructure his contract. Ditto for New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, another quarterback recovering from shoulder surgery, and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Brian Griese.
There's even some speculation that Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair could be a salary cap cut if he refuses to restructure his deal.
Who knows? Maybe the Raiders can land a quarterback gem with the No. 7 pick in the NFL draft. It can't hurt to dream.
Obviously, none of these options is perfect. Yet most of them are better than another year of the same old Collins story.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/13960141.htm
Raiders should hunt for new QB
It's still only February, but the Raiders already have made plenty of progress on their offseason to-do list.
Fire coach Norv Turner. Check. Rehire The-Great-Art-Shell. Check.
Unveil a new ticket plan, sans the dreaded personal seat licenses. Check.
Cut ties with overpriced cornerback Charles Woodson. Check. Rehire Tom Walsh, Shell's former trusted aide, as offensive coordinator. Check.
So what's next on Raiders boss Al Davis' list? Who knows? He never calls. He never writes.
Here's my suggestion: Dump Kerry Collins and find a new quarterback. Do it now before you convince yourself he's your best option.
This just in: He's not.
We've spent two seasons watching Collins take too many sacks, throw too many interceptions, make too many bad decisions and lose too many games as a Raider.
Collins is what he is. Brilliant one moment. Horrific the next. He's thrown 173 career touchdown passes and has been intercepted 166 times. He's been sacked 296 times. He's completed 55.6 percent of his passes and posted a career passer rating of 73.7.
I'm not suggesting the Raiders adopt an ABC quarterbacking plan -- Anyone But Collins. But there have to be better options for a team that has won a combined nine games the past two years and desperately needs a spark on offense.
Last year, Davis pulled off a stunning trade with the Minnesota Vikings for wide receiver Randy Moss.
This year, the Vikings reportedly are shopping quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
Why not a Moss-Culpepper reunion in Oakland? Make it happen.
Granted, Culpepper is recovering from major knee surgery. But I'd take that risk because the potential payoff is so great.
Consider Culpepper's career numbers: He's thrown 135 touchdown passes with just 86 interceptions. He's completed 64.4 percent of his passes and posted a 91.5 passer rating. He's also rushed for 2,476 yards and 29 touchdowns.
From 2000 to 2004, Culpepper and Moss formed one of the NFL's most dangerous tandems.
Earlier in the week on Fox Sports Radio, Moss was asked if he wanted Collins to be his quarterback next season.
Moss paused briefly before answering.
"Man, I don't really care," Moss said. "I mean, I'm cool with Kerry. ... But, you know, they're talking about Daunte Culpepper coming to the Oakland Raiders.
"I mean, I have a relationship with Daunte on and off the field. So, you know, I really don't care who's my quarterback. I just want somebody to come in there and get us to the Super Bowl. ... If (Culpepper) becomes a Raider, then, you know, the show is back on."
Moss may be "cool" with Collins, but it's obvious he'd be even cooler with Culpepper and the return of their football show.
If the Raiders trade for Culpepper, they also might need to sign another lower-priced veteran, both as insurance and to baby-sit the job until Culpepper fully recovered.
Jeff Garcia and Jay Fiedler are available, just to name two possibilities. Call me crazy, but I'd take either one of those quarterbacks over Collins. At least they aren't sack-me statues.
Now what if the Culpepper trade rumors turn out to be just that, rumors?
What are the Raiders' other options?
Well, San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees is expected to become an unrestricted free agent March 3.
Yes, Brees is recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder. But he's thrown 51 touchdown passes with just 22 interceptions the past two years. The Miami Dolphins are reportedly very interested in Brees.
Cincinnati Bengals backup Jon Kitna appears headed for free agency, in search of a starting job.
Not excited? As Cincinnati's starter in 2003, Kitna threw 25 touchdown passes with just 15 interceptions, completed 62.3 percent of his throws and had a passer rating of 87.4.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown is headed for free agency. New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks could be waived soon and become a free agent. Miami Dolphins quarterback Gus Frerotte could be cut if he refuses to restructure his contract. Ditto for New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, another quarterback recovering from shoulder surgery, and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Brian Griese.
There's even some speculation that Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair could be a salary cap cut if he refuses to restructure his deal.
Who knows? Maybe the Raiders can land a quarterback gem with the No. 7 pick in the NFL draft. It can't hurt to dream.
Obviously, none of these options is perfect. Yet most of them are better than another year of the same old Collins story.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/13960141.htm