Angel
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NEIL HAYES: TIMES COLUMNIST
Collins may still be in the mix
The Raiders desperately need a quarterback, in case you hadn't noticed. Fans may have sighed in relief after the team released Kerry Collins but there is no quarterback on the current roster with more than two career starts.
Does anyone have a number for Donald Hollas?
The problem is there doesn't appear to be an ideal solution to their quarterback dilemma. The quarterback of their dreams may be out there, but he'll likely be either too inexperienced or unavailable to play early in the season.
Where that leaves the Raiders is not only the question of the day, but a question that could ultimately determine their fate next season.
They could trade for Daunte Culpepper.
They could draft Vince Young, who has the combination of athleticism, swagger and star quality that Al Davis finds irresistible.
They could even move up and select USC lefty Matt Leinart, who is poised and polished and reminds some scouts of a young Ken Stabler.
You don't want to hear it. Not after he won just seven games in two years. But there's a good chance we haven't seen the last of Collins, either.
The Raiders are in the midst of a high-stakes gamble.
If they win they could be set at the quarterback situation for years to come. If they lose it's Collins going for that elusive eighth victory.
Davis always wants to win now. Culpepper would seem to be a perfect fit. He's one season -- one horrendous season that ended with a serious knee injury, granted -- removed from being an MVP candidate. He has reconciled with Randy Moss and one of the most explosive tandems in NFL history could be reunited.
Several factors complicate what could otherwise be a straight-forward transaction, the first being Culpepper's apparent desire to play for the Miami Dolphins, which would allow him to live closer to his Orlando home.
Culpepper's rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery presents another problem. He might not be available until midseason or later.
That's a major sticking point.
It might be possible for a patient team to acquire Culpepper for as little as a fourth-round pick. Teams could wait until the Vikings are forced to release him to avoid paying a $6 million signing bonus and give up nothing at all.
That's a real bargain when you consider that we're talking about a franchise-caliber quarterback who threw 39 touchdown passes and had the fourth best quarterback rating in NFL history in 2004. At 29, he's still in his prime.
But what do you do if he can't play until midseason or beyond?
Perhaps the best-case scenario has the Raiders acquiring Culpepper and re-signing Collins at cap-friendly prices, unlikely as that may be. That way Collins could lead the team until Culpepper completes his rehabilitation.
That scenario is unrealistic, however, especially if Collins gets a better offer from the Baltimore Ravens, where he would be reunited with Jim Fassel, his former coach with the New York Giants, or some other team.
If they ended up with Culpepper and not Collins who would quarterback the team until Culpepper was healthy enough to take over? Marques Tuiasosopo?
He may no longer be in the Raiders' plans. Andrew Walter? The second-year prospect could be the quarterback of the future but is he ready to lead a veteran team?
It's slim pickings on the free-agent market. Jon Kitna has already visited the Detroit Lions and New York Jets. The Chargers' Drew Brees appears earmarked for New Orleans or Miami. Josh McCown has a strong arm but often looks like a younger version of Collins.
Davis is said to be infatuated with Young. It's possible the Texas all-American could be available when the Raiders pick seventh overall.
If the Saints get Brees they may be less willing to take Leinart with the No. 2 overall pick, which means the Raiders might be able to trade up for him.
But does Art Shell want to begin his second stint with the Raiders by explaining to Moss and Warren Sapp that a rookie will start at quarterback?
Davis has only drafted three quarterbacks in the first round -- Eldridge Dickey, 1968; Marc Wilson, 1980; Todd Marinovich, 1991 -- since joining the team in 1963. He's 76. Why would he want to build around a rookie now?
That brings us back to Collins, whether we want it to or not.
If Brees goes to New Orleans and Culpepper gets his wish and goes to Miami, where he could even be teamed with Terrell Owens, the Raiders would have little choice but to attempt to re-sign Collins and hope for the best.
It's not an ideal situation but an ideal situation may not exist.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/14094055.htm
Collins may still be in the mix
The Raiders desperately need a quarterback, in case you hadn't noticed. Fans may have sighed in relief after the team released Kerry Collins but there is no quarterback on the current roster with more than two career starts.
Does anyone have a number for Donald Hollas?
The problem is there doesn't appear to be an ideal solution to their quarterback dilemma. The quarterback of their dreams may be out there, but he'll likely be either too inexperienced or unavailable to play early in the season.
Where that leaves the Raiders is not only the question of the day, but a question that could ultimately determine their fate next season.
They could trade for Daunte Culpepper.
They could draft Vince Young, who has the combination of athleticism, swagger and star quality that Al Davis finds irresistible.
They could even move up and select USC lefty Matt Leinart, who is poised and polished and reminds some scouts of a young Ken Stabler.
You don't want to hear it. Not after he won just seven games in two years. But there's a good chance we haven't seen the last of Collins, either.
The Raiders are in the midst of a high-stakes gamble.
If they win they could be set at the quarterback situation for years to come. If they lose it's Collins going for that elusive eighth victory.
Davis always wants to win now. Culpepper would seem to be a perfect fit. He's one season -- one horrendous season that ended with a serious knee injury, granted -- removed from being an MVP candidate. He has reconciled with Randy Moss and one of the most explosive tandems in NFL history could be reunited.
Several factors complicate what could otherwise be a straight-forward transaction, the first being Culpepper's apparent desire to play for the Miami Dolphins, which would allow him to live closer to his Orlando home.
Culpepper's rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery presents another problem. He might not be available until midseason or later.
That's a major sticking point.
It might be possible for a patient team to acquire Culpepper for as little as a fourth-round pick. Teams could wait until the Vikings are forced to release him to avoid paying a $6 million signing bonus and give up nothing at all.
That's a real bargain when you consider that we're talking about a franchise-caliber quarterback who threw 39 touchdown passes and had the fourth best quarterback rating in NFL history in 2004. At 29, he's still in his prime.
But what do you do if he can't play until midseason or beyond?
Perhaps the best-case scenario has the Raiders acquiring Culpepper and re-signing Collins at cap-friendly prices, unlikely as that may be. That way Collins could lead the team until Culpepper completes his rehabilitation.
That scenario is unrealistic, however, especially if Collins gets a better offer from the Baltimore Ravens, where he would be reunited with Jim Fassel, his former coach with the New York Giants, or some other team.
If they ended up with Culpepper and not Collins who would quarterback the team until Culpepper was healthy enough to take over? Marques Tuiasosopo?
He may no longer be in the Raiders' plans. Andrew Walter? The second-year prospect could be the quarterback of the future but is he ready to lead a veteran team?
It's slim pickings on the free-agent market. Jon Kitna has already visited the Detroit Lions and New York Jets. The Chargers' Drew Brees appears earmarked for New Orleans or Miami. Josh McCown has a strong arm but often looks like a younger version of Collins.
Davis is said to be infatuated with Young. It's possible the Texas all-American could be available when the Raiders pick seventh overall.
If the Saints get Brees they may be less willing to take Leinart with the No. 2 overall pick, which means the Raiders might be able to trade up for him.
But does Art Shell want to begin his second stint with the Raiders by explaining to Moss and Warren Sapp that a rookie will start at quarterback?
Davis has only drafted three quarterbacks in the first round -- Eldridge Dickey, 1968; Marc Wilson, 1980; Todd Marinovich, 1991 -- since joining the team in 1963. He's 76. Why would he want to build around a rookie now?
That brings us back to Collins, whether we want it to or not.
If Brees goes to New Orleans and Culpepper gets his wish and goes to Miami, where he could even be teamed with Terrell Owens, the Raiders would have little choice but to attempt to re-sign Collins and hope for the best.
It's not an ideal situation but an ideal situation may not exist.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/14094055.htm
