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Raiders insider: Raiders a wild card in draft
By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 15, 2006
Include the Raiders among the major story lines developing for the April 29-30 draft, and there's a good reason.
Most NFL trades occur this time of year, and Raiders owner Al Davis, who conducts his team's draft, has a history of boldness and unpredictability during the selections.
That said, intrigue is building in this draft as well on where Oakland's interests really lie if Houston, as expected, makes USC running back Reggie Bush the No. 1 overall pick and New Orleans, at No. 2, begins fielding trade offers from quarterback-seeking teams.
The Saints no longer need a seasoned starter now that they have lured Drew Brees away from San Diego, but the question is: do the Raiders still want a quarterback after replacing their two-season starter, a dumped and still unsigned Kerry Collins, with ex-Saint Aaron Brooks?
It wouldn't seem to be a position of priority anymore for Oakland, particularly with two young backups of promise, Marques Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter, on the roster as alternates to Brooks.
Then again, it wasn't long after Brooks was signed that the Raiders, according to media reports in Detroit, were among teams asking permission to speak to Joey Harrington, the ousted Lions starter who was given the green light to arrange his exit from the organization.
The Raiders, to no one's surprise, didn't comment on whether they've had any contact with Harrington, who has drawn trade interest from Miami and Cincinnati.
At the league meetings, Raiders coach Art Shell smiled when asked, in the context of the draft, how he would feel about nurturing a young quarterback in 2006.
"How young?" Shell asked. "I think if you've got your veteran quarterback, then you sit that (new) guy. I think what Cincinnati did with Carson Palmer was excellent (before he became a starter). Bringing a young guy in and throwing him to the wolves, that's hard."
That doesn't mean, Shell said, the Raiders are ruling out drafting a quarterback if he fits their best-player-available description, and the scuttlebutt is one of the top three quarterbacks on the board meets that criterion, Texas' Vince Young. Reportedly, the Raiders were among the first teams to approach Young at the February NFL scouting combine for draft prospects.
It remains to be seen what will transpire with teams drafting before the Raiders, who sit at No. 7 in the first round. Those dealing with the Saints are expected to go after the consensus best quarterback available, USC's Matt Leinart, and that will make No. 3 Tennessee nervous. Leinart figures to be a perfect fit with the Titans and their second-year offensive coordinator, Norm Chow from USC.
The New York Jets are No. 4 and could be going quarterback as well with so many questions surrounding the health of starter Chad Pennington. If that's the case, do the Jets go after Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler, a more polished in-the-pocket quarterback than Young?
At No. 5 is Green Bay, wondering if Brett Favre will stay or retire. If he departs, do the Packers switch to former Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a first-round pick last year?
No. 6 in the first round are the 49ers. Coach Mike Nolan said he is definitely not shopping for a quarterback but wouldn't be surprised if the Raiders are, nor would he be shocked if he heard from them on draft day.
A Hall of Fame tackle as a player, Shell is already on record as saying he would like to fortify the Raiders' offensive line. So it wouldn't be out of character if he wanted another top pick for that unit, as happened in 2004 when the Raiders made Robert Gallery from Iowa the second overall choice. Certainly, there are other more pressing needs than quarterback with Brooks aboard.
If that is Shell's belief, how much input will he have in who is picked?
"When I was here before," Shell said of his first head-coaching stint with the Raiders from 1989 to '94, "I always had input in personnel decisions. But people have to understand that Mr. Davis has the final say-so. I will say this: If there's somebody I don't want, he won't take him."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14243749p-15062452c.html
By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 15, 2006
Include the Raiders among the major story lines developing for the April 29-30 draft, and there's a good reason.
Most NFL trades occur this time of year, and Raiders owner Al Davis, who conducts his team's draft, has a history of boldness and unpredictability during the selections.
That said, intrigue is building in this draft as well on where Oakland's interests really lie if Houston, as expected, makes USC running back Reggie Bush the No. 1 overall pick and New Orleans, at No. 2, begins fielding trade offers from quarterback-seeking teams.
The Saints no longer need a seasoned starter now that they have lured Drew Brees away from San Diego, but the question is: do the Raiders still want a quarterback after replacing their two-season starter, a dumped and still unsigned Kerry Collins, with ex-Saint Aaron Brooks?
It wouldn't seem to be a position of priority anymore for Oakland, particularly with two young backups of promise, Marques Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter, on the roster as alternates to Brooks.
Then again, it wasn't long after Brooks was signed that the Raiders, according to media reports in Detroit, were among teams asking permission to speak to Joey Harrington, the ousted Lions starter who was given the green light to arrange his exit from the organization.
The Raiders, to no one's surprise, didn't comment on whether they've had any contact with Harrington, who has drawn trade interest from Miami and Cincinnati.
At the league meetings, Raiders coach Art Shell smiled when asked, in the context of the draft, how he would feel about nurturing a young quarterback in 2006.
"How young?" Shell asked. "I think if you've got your veteran quarterback, then you sit that (new) guy. I think what Cincinnati did with Carson Palmer was excellent (before he became a starter). Bringing a young guy in and throwing him to the wolves, that's hard."
That doesn't mean, Shell said, the Raiders are ruling out drafting a quarterback if he fits their best-player-available description, and the scuttlebutt is one of the top three quarterbacks on the board meets that criterion, Texas' Vince Young. Reportedly, the Raiders were among the first teams to approach Young at the February NFL scouting combine for draft prospects.
It remains to be seen what will transpire with teams drafting before the Raiders, who sit at No. 7 in the first round. Those dealing with the Saints are expected to go after the consensus best quarterback available, USC's Matt Leinart, and that will make No. 3 Tennessee nervous. Leinart figures to be a perfect fit with the Titans and their second-year offensive coordinator, Norm Chow from USC.
The New York Jets are No. 4 and could be going quarterback as well with so many questions surrounding the health of starter Chad Pennington. If that's the case, do the Jets go after Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler, a more polished in-the-pocket quarterback than Young?
At No. 5 is Green Bay, wondering if Brett Favre will stay or retire. If he departs, do the Packers switch to former Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a first-round pick last year?
No. 6 in the first round are the 49ers. Coach Mike Nolan said he is definitely not shopping for a quarterback but wouldn't be surprised if the Raiders are, nor would he be shocked if he heard from them on draft day.
A Hall of Fame tackle as a player, Shell is already on record as saying he would like to fortify the Raiders' offensive line. So it wouldn't be out of character if he wanted another top pick for that unit, as happened in 2004 when the Raiders made Robert Gallery from Iowa the second overall choice. Certainly, there are other more pressing needs than quarterback with Brooks aboard.
If that is Shell's belief, how much input will he have in who is picked?
"When I was here before," Shell said of his first head-coaching stint with the Raiders from 1989 to '94, "I always had input in personnel decisions. But people have to understand that Mr. Davis has the final say-so. I will say this: If there's somebody I don't want, he won't take him."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14243749p-15062452c.html