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Raiders plotting their free-agent game plan
They may take their time going after free agents
By Jerry McDonald, STAFF WRITER
The Oakland Raiders, firm believers that a quick strike can be as important during free agency as it is in their passing game, may take some time to survey the market this time around.
Conventional wisdom holds that teams with the least amount of salary-cap room could be rendered inert if no collective bargaining agreement is reached before today's 3 p.m. (PST) deadline.
The Raiders, for better or worse, have seldom acquiesced to convention and don't plan to start now.
"We will be aggressive with or without a deal," a member of the Raiders front office said. "We might not be a first-week player in (free agency), but we will add to the team."
The Raiders have a history of first-week strikes in free agency, which is scheduled to begin at 9:01 p.m. (12:01 a.m. on the East Coast).
Running back LaMont Jordan (2005), defensive tackle Ted Washington (2003), defensive tackle John Parrella (2002), linebacker Bill Romanowski (2002), quarterback Rich Gannon (1999), quarterback Jeff George (1997), defensive tackle Russell Maryland (1996) and cornerback Larry Brown (1996) are players the Raiders snapped up not long after free agency began.
If there is not a CBA extension, the cap will be set at $94.5 million, signing bonuses will be prorated for only four years, and a number of other conditions could lead to fewer big-money contracts and potential bargains down the road.
If the CBA is extended, there could be as much as $10 million more available per team, and it will be business as usual.
Either way, the Raiders must deal with the following issues:
-Quarterback. The Raiders were still carrying the $12.8million cap number of Kerry Collins as of Saturday night, but according to a team source they already had become compliant with the $94.5million cap in advance of today's 3 p.m. deadline with moves that should be apparent within the next few days. If a new CBA goes into effect, the Raiders will have more operating room. Collins earns a $2.5million roster bonus, if he is on the roster five days after the start of free agency, and still seems destined for renegotiation or release. If Collins goes, the Raiders will be looking to free agency, where San Diego's Drew Brees is the big prize and others include Cincinnati's Jon Kitna and Arizona's Josh McCown. Tampa Bay's Brian Griese and Miami's Gus Frerotte are among those who could become cap casualties and become available.
-Their own roster. In getting the Raiders under the cap, defensive tackle Bobby Hamilton ($5.32million) and wide receiver Ronald Curry ($5.04million) had problematic cap numbers, while several other veterans were no doubt asked to restructure their existing contracts. Left tackle Barry Sims ($7.2million), linebacker Danny Clark ($2.7million) and fullback Zack Crockett ($2.3million) have renegotiated deals in the past.
-Their own free agents. The most prominent are safety and special-teams standout Jarrod Cooper and nickel back Renaldo Hill. Both have expressed a desire to remain. The Raiders, according to an NFL source, have been talking with Cooper's agent.
Jacksonville and Kansas City are believed be interested in making a run at free agent cornerback Charles Woodson, according to an NFL source.
EXTRA POINTS: The Raiders completed their 2006 coaching staff with the hiring of special-teams coach Ted Daisher. Daisher, 50, worked the past two seasons as a special-teams assistant under John Harbaugh with the Philadelphia Eagles. Other newcomers to the staff include quality-control coaches Robert Ford (offense) and George Martinez (defense). Irv Eatman and Jackie Slater will serve as co-offensive line coaches. Chuck Pagano, a defensive assistant last season, was promoted to defensive backs coach.
... Guard Brad Badger's 2006 salary has dropped from $1.5 million to $675,000, indicating his contract has been renegotiated.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_3571641
They may take their time going after free agents
By Jerry McDonald, STAFF WRITER
The Oakland Raiders, firm believers that a quick strike can be as important during free agency as it is in their passing game, may take some time to survey the market this time around.
Conventional wisdom holds that teams with the least amount of salary-cap room could be rendered inert if no collective bargaining agreement is reached before today's 3 p.m. (PST) deadline.
The Raiders, for better or worse, have seldom acquiesced to convention and don't plan to start now.
"We will be aggressive with or without a deal," a member of the Raiders front office said. "We might not be a first-week player in (free agency), but we will add to the team."
The Raiders have a history of first-week strikes in free agency, which is scheduled to begin at 9:01 p.m. (12:01 a.m. on the East Coast).
Running back LaMont Jordan (2005), defensive tackle Ted Washington (2003), defensive tackle John Parrella (2002), linebacker Bill Romanowski (2002), quarterback Rich Gannon (1999), quarterback Jeff George (1997), defensive tackle Russell Maryland (1996) and cornerback Larry Brown (1996) are players the Raiders snapped up not long after free agency began.
If there is not a CBA extension, the cap will be set at $94.5 million, signing bonuses will be prorated for only four years, and a number of other conditions could lead to fewer big-money contracts and potential bargains down the road.
If the CBA is extended, there could be as much as $10 million more available per team, and it will be business as usual.
Either way, the Raiders must deal with the following issues:
-Quarterback. The Raiders were still carrying the $12.8million cap number of Kerry Collins as of Saturday night, but according to a team source they already had become compliant with the $94.5million cap in advance of today's 3 p.m. deadline with moves that should be apparent within the next few days. If a new CBA goes into effect, the Raiders will have more operating room. Collins earns a $2.5million roster bonus, if he is on the roster five days after the start of free agency, and still seems destined for renegotiation or release. If Collins goes, the Raiders will be looking to free agency, where San Diego's Drew Brees is the big prize and others include Cincinnati's Jon Kitna and Arizona's Josh McCown. Tampa Bay's Brian Griese and Miami's Gus Frerotte are among those who could become cap casualties and become available.
-Their own roster. In getting the Raiders under the cap, defensive tackle Bobby Hamilton ($5.32million) and wide receiver Ronald Curry ($5.04million) had problematic cap numbers, while several other veterans were no doubt asked to restructure their existing contracts. Left tackle Barry Sims ($7.2million), linebacker Danny Clark ($2.7million) and fullback Zack Crockett ($2.3million) have renegotiated deals in the past.
-Their own free agents. The most prominent are safety and special-teams standout Jarrod Cooper and nickel back Renaldo Hill. Both have expressed a desire to remain. The Raiders, according to an NFL source, have been talking with Cooper's agent.
Jacksonville and Kansas City are believed be interested in making a run at free agent cornerback Charles Woodson, according to an NFL source.
EXTRA POINTS: The Raiders completed their 2006 coaching staff with the hiring of special-teams coach Ted Daisher. Daisher, 50, worked the past two seasons as a special-teams assistant under John Harbaugh with the Philadelphia Eagles. Other newcomers to the staff include quality-control coaches Robert Ford (offense) and George Martinez (defense). Irv Eatman and Jackie Slater will serve as co-offensive line coaches. Chuck Pagano, a defensive assistant last season, was promoted to defensive backs coach.
... Guard Brad Badger's 2006 salary has dropped from $1.5 million to $675,000, indicating his contract has been renegotiated.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_3571641
