Kiff-Notes

[Stanny]

Raiders | Kiffin hopeful for a Moss return
Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:05:37 -0800

Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin has had discussions with WR Randy Moss over the telephone and believes Moss can be a part of the team's plans for 2007. "He hasn't been in town yet so we haven't gotten to meet face to face," Kiffin said. "But Randy was very positive and we're excited about Randy. He's a great player and we think he can fit into our system very well."


Raiders | Kiffin says some players could switch positions
Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:56:53 -0800

Jerry McDonald, of MediaNews, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin will likely ask some players to switch positions in 2007. "I'm not going to get into specifics of moving players right now, but there are going to be some moves made," Kiffin said.


Raiders | Walter not out of the picture
Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:44:35 -0800

Jerry McDonald, of MediaNews, reports Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin has not ruled out the possibility of QB Andrew Walter starting for the team in 2007. Walter is currently the only experienced quarterback on the team's roster with the departure of QB Aaron Brooks and QB Marques Tuiasosopo about to become an unrestricted free agent. "Obviously there are some other things that we have to look into, with the draft coming up and free agency...but we're very excited about Andrew and we think he's going to be a very good quarterback," Kiffin said. "We don't need to figure out a starting quarterback today. Obviously, there's a lot of tools there that excite us about him, and he'll get a shot."

 

[Stanny]

Raiders decide their plans won't include QB Brooks
Coach Lane Kiffin says the veteran wasn't the right fit, and he's now excited about Andrew Walter's promise.

By Jason Jones - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:42 am PST Friday, February 23, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1



Following the Raiders' season finale, quarterback Aaron Brooks declared his support for coach Art Shell and said he wanted to return as Oakland's starting quarterback.

Shell was fired less than a week later. And now Brooks is no longer a Raider.

The team announced Thursday it would not pick up the option on Brooks for the 2007 season.

Brooks came to the Raiders as a free agent after being released by New Orleans. He finished the 2006 season 0-8 as the starter, throwing for 1,105 yards with three touchdown passes and eight interceptions as he missed eight games because of injury. Brooks was due a $5 million roster bonus next month and $720,000 in base salary for the 2007 season. Brooks' agent, Mason Ashe, declined comment as to the possibility of Brooks returning at a lower salary.

New Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said the decision was made Wednesday.

"It was just a direction, for a number of reasons, obviously, that we needed to go into," Kiffin said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

"We just thought, when we put everything together, that it wasn't the right fit right now," Kiffin said. "So obviously when you do that, you don't make a decision just on the guy's playing ability. You make a decision on his money as well."

Third-string quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo becomes a free agent next week. That leaves Andrew Walter as the only quarterback on the Raiders' roster.

After not playing as a rookie, Walter played in 12 games last season with eight starts. He threw for 1,677 yards, with three touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. He was also was sacked 46 times.

"We're very excited about Andrew," Kiffin said. "Obviously there are some other things that we have to look into, with the draft coming up and free agency, to figure out what we're going to do (at quarterback), who is available and what decision that we'll make at that time. But we're very excited about Andrew and we think that he's going to be a very good quarterback."

The Raiders also hold the first pick in the draft. Kiffin said letting Brooks go wasn't an indication the team plans to draft LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, as is widely speculated.

"There are a number of players at the top of that draft that can change our team really quick and a number of playmakers, especially on offense, that can come in right away and help us," Kiffin said. "So we'll evaluate all of that."

Regardless, the Raiders need a veteran quarterback on the roster as a starter or mentor to Walter and/or perhaps a draftee.

Notable veterans available when free agency starts include Philadelphia's Jeff Garcia and Kansas City's Damon Huard.

The team also could opt to trade for a veteran, such as Jacksonville's David Garrard or Houston's David Carr, both of whom could be available. Atlanta restricted free agent Matt Schaub, who played for new Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp with the Falcons, is another possibility.

"There are a lot of different ways we can go with this," Kiffin said