The Cut to 53 - Crockett first victim of the Turk

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Fullback Crockett says Raiders have cut him
Jason Jones - Bee Staff Writer
Published 4:35 pm PDT Friday, August 31, 2007

ALAMEDA -- The Raiders don't plan to announce their final cuts until Saturday, but one veteran already knows his fate.

According to Zack Crockett, the fullback was told Friday the team was cutting him. He spent the plast eight seasons with the Raiders, tied with tackle Barry Sims for the longest tenure on the team.

Crockett's 35 rushing touchdowns with the Raiders are tied for third in team history.

Crockett was the starting fullback most of training camp and in two exhibition games. But after saying Tuesday the job was a competition between Crockett, free agent addition Justin Griffith and rookie Oren O'Neal, coach Lane Kiffin declared Griffith the starter.
 
R4Life said:
Fullback Crockett says Raiders have cut him
Jason Jones - Bee Staff Writer
Published 4:35 pm PDT Friday, August 31, 2007

ALAMEDA -- The Raiders don't plan to announce their final cuts until Saturday, but one veteran already knows his fate.

According to Zack Crockett, the fullback was told Friday the team was cutting him. He spent the plast eight seasons with the Raiders, tied with tackle Barry Sims for the longest tenure on the team.

Crockett's 35 rushing touchdowns with the Raiders are tied for third in team history.

Crockett was the starting fullback most of training camp and in two exhibition games. But after saying Tuesday the job was a competition between Crockett, free agent addition Justin Griffith and rookie Oren O'Neal, coach Lane Kiffin declared Griffith the starter.
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This is sad, but it needed to happen. Crockett was the man. I hope he makes another team somewhere.
 
Good luck Crockett. Thanks for the Blood and Sweat.
 
Who stays, who goes
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Friday at 5:00 pm

Lane Kiffin said the process has already begun, and by Saturday afternoon, we'll know the makeup of the Raiders 53-man roster. Trades or the signing of top pick JaMarcus Russell could shake things up, but here's how things might look (debate is welcomed and encouraged):

QUARTERBACKS (3)–Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown, Andrew Walter.

RUNNING BACKS (6)–LaMont Jordan, Justin Griffith, Adimchinobe Echemandu, Zack Crockett, Oren O'Neal, Justin Fargas.

Cuts_Michael Bush (regular-season PUP), Dominic Rhodes (suspended, reinstated on Oct. 1). Maybe Bush stays?

WIDE RECEIVERS (5)–Ronald Curry, Jerry Porter, Mike Williams, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Travis Taylor.

Cuts_Alvis Whitted, Carlos Francis, Chris McFoy

TIGHT ENDS (3)–Zach Miller, John Madsen, Tony Stewart.

Cuts_O.J. Santiago, James Adkisson.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)_Barry Sims, Robert Gallery, Jeremy Newberry, Jake Grove, Cooper Carlisle, Cornell Green, Mario Henderson, Kevin Boothe, Paul McQuistan.

Cuts–Chris Morris, Mark Wilson, Jesse Boone, Chad Slaughter.

DEFENSIVE LINE (9)_Derrick Burgess, Warren Sapp, Terdell Sands, Tommy Kelly, Jay Richardson, Quentin Moses, Chris Clemons, Tyler Brayton, Anttaj Hawthorne.

Cuts_Gerard Warren, Josh Shaw, Dave Tollefson.

LINEBACKERS (6)–Sam Williams, Kirk Morrison, Thomas Howard, Robert Thomas, Ricky Brown, Jon Condo.

Cuts_Kyle Shotwell, Kurt Campbell, Isaiah Ekejiuba (injured reserve).

DEFENSIVE BACKS (10)–Nnamdi Asomugha, Fabian Washington, Michael Huff, Stuart Schweigert, Donovin Darius, Stanford Routt, Chris Carr, B.J. Ward, John Bowie, Duane Starks.

Cuts_Marquice Cole, Hiram Eugene, Chris Johnson, Eric Frampton.

K (2)_Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler

Cut_Tyler Fredrickson.
 
RaiderIVlife said:
Here here. My favorite current Raider is gone. Sad day for me. :(

Good Luck Crock. You'll always be a RAIDER baby !!!!
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Kinda of feels like when we let Greg Biekert go...


I have a feeling that Orien O'Neil is going to be a real fan favorite, but it's still hard to see Crock have to go...
 
When Zack first came on board, I was a total doubting Thomas. Last year, when they had him playing running back instead of fullback, I was a total doubting Thomas. Through it all, Zack busted his ass and made a believer out of me and, regardless of this news, I'm still a big fan of the guy. Best of luck, Zack. They invented the term "Once a Raider, always a Raider" for guys like Zack Crockett.

It is staggering for me to think that Zack is third all-time in rushing touchdowns for the Raiders.
 
Good luck Z-Crock.

I like the guy but yes it's time to move on. I hope the guy catches on with an NFC team.
 
I maintain hope that he comes back for the vet minimum.
 
Longtime Raiders may not make cut

David White, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, August 31, 2007

Rookie Raiders coach Lane Kiffin spent Friday hatching his inaugural 53-man roster. When his sweeping cuts are announced today, expect some recognizable names to get lumped in with the Tyler Fredricksons of the universe.

Veteran fullback Zack Crockett, set to begin his ninth season in Oakland, is in danger of getting released, if not traded, by today's league deadline for a final roster, two team sources confirmed on the condition of anonymity.

Other longtime Raiders who could be in trouble include wide receiver Alvis Whitted, defensive lineman Tyler Brayton and offensive tackle Chad Slaughter, who have a combined 14 years with the Raiders.

Kiffin stressed that no players were cut Friday, and that no official moves would be made until today. "We're going to wait ... just going over film, guys coming in and out," Kiffin said in a teleconference Friday, one day after Oakland finished a 2-2 exhibition season with a 19-14 loss to Seattle. "I've started having conversations with the players."

One reason Kiffin doesn't want names leaked is because the Raiders are entertaining trade offers that could move some players and make room for bubble-sitters.

Third-string quarterback Andrew Walter, who was bumped from the starting competition this week, has "generated interest" from teams, Kiffin said.

Kiffin apparently has researched the idea of going into the season with two quarterbacks instead of the traditional three.

"Ten teams carried two last year," Kiffin said while praising Walter's improvement. "That is a direction that teams have gone into and that is an option."

As it stands, one quarterback will have to go if and when the Raiders sign No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell, and Walter is a leading candidate for now.

Crockett is one of eight players remaining from Oakland's 2002 Super Bowl run, and he's tied with left tackle Barry Sims for the longest current tenure.

A starter throughout his time in Oakland, Crockett became expendable when the Raiders signed Falcons free agent Justin Griffith in the offseason and drafted Arkansas State fullback Oren O'Neal in the sixth round of April's draft.

Kiffin named Griffith the starter Friday, citing his receiving abilities and all-around consistency as the decisive factors. Crockett was primarily a blocking back and short-yardage runner.

One player Kiffin praised Friday was defensive tackle Gerard Warren, a former No. 3 overall draft pick who they got from Denver in a trade last week. Warren could make the cut because of what Kiffin called "exciting potential there."

Briefly: Kiffin said he could name a starting quarterback - either Josh McCown or Daunte Culpepper - by practice Sunday, and that he may not announce his decision until the Sept. 9 season opener against Detroit. ... Running back Dominic Rhodes began serving his four-game suspension Friday for violating the league substance abuse policy before he joined the Raiders as a free agent. He can't be in team meetings or practice until Oct. 1. ... Special teams starter Isaiah Ekejiuba cracked a bone in his right heel in Thursday's game and could miss four weeks.
 
Hearing that Zack and Barry are the longest tenured Raiders make me miss Adam Treu all over again. Another "Once a Raider..." kind of guy.
 
Schefter reports that Jacksonville and Atlanta are both interested in AWAL. Jax OC was AWAL's head coach in AZ and Petrino likes him.
 
A sad day indeed for a classic Raider who played on some great teams and will be fondly remembered. Punching in there and doing the 'knucklehead' thing is an image I'll never forget.

His last touchdown in the 2002 AFC Championship was what put it out of reach. But even before that, all the touchdown plunges on regular Sundays. From 2000 to 2003 he averaged a touchdown every 6.7 carries.

He came into the league in 1995, though. These things happen. It was time.

I'd love to see him catch on somewhere like Indianapolis, Baltimore, Seattle, Philly, or New Orleans.

Like everyone's saying, Raider for life.
 
:bugeye: Apparently Crockett ain't too cool with Coach K.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/355379.html

Competition over

Zack Crockett was the starting fullback for most of the offseason, so he was surprised to hear Thursday he was in a three-man race for the job with Justin Griffith and rookie Oren O'Neal.

The Raiders cut Crockett on Friday. He was tied with tackle Barry Sims for the longest tenure as a Raider, eight seasons.

Crockett lost the starting job to Griffith, who signed a three-year, $3.8 million contract in the offseason. Griffith also played for new Raiders offensive-line coach Tom Cable and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp with the Atlanta Falcons.

As Kiffin says, everything counts, and that didn't sit well with Crockett, whose leadership and play weren't enough to keep him a Raider.

"It's not about talent anymore," Crockett said. "It's a buddy system. It shouldn't be about your familiarity with the coaching staff."

Though Griffith hadn't played with the starters as much and was injured part of the offseason, Kiffin said Griffith's consistency put him over.

"He is a natural runner, which helps a fullback in the system to be able to find the holes," Kiffin said. "He also is very good in pass protection."

Crockett has done some running in his day. He is tied with Mark van Eeghen for third in Raiders history with 35 rushing touchdowns. Last season was Crockett's first without a touchdown as a Raider.

Crockett said he would have liked to be let go earlier to try to land a new job. But he said he holds no bitterness toward the many friends he made as a Raider.

"I still love the organization," Crockett said. "The organization has nothing to do with the coaching staff."
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:(
 
Imo Brayton earned a job as rotational DT.

also I agree with crockett. Kiff is using a buddy system factor on the side in "some" cases. But probably not in this case. Theres more reasons to justify parting ways with crockett rather than keeping him.

Also I expect the chiefs, donks, and chargers to give a bitter cut like him a look.
 
I think Zack is referring to the fact that both Knapp and Cable have been coaching Griff for a couple of years and he felt that it gave the "other guy" an unfair leg up.
 
I disagree about Kiffin and a "buddy system" I think Kiffin has ice water in his veins. He wants to get this thing right and if he steps on some toes in the process so be it. that's how I see it and it's high time in my opinion. Probably a little bit of resentment in Crockett's tone...the young kid making good and all that. :shrug:
 
I don't think I understand where you're coming from, Bones. Why was it high time? The guy worked his ass off for the team, doing everything he was asked to do.

I'm not happy to see him go.
 
TommyGirl said:
I don't think I understand where you're coming from, Bones. Why was it high time? The guy worked his ass off for the team, doing everything he was asked to do.

I'm not happy to see him go.
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He's worked his ass off? So what? He's not very good at this level. That's why it's high time. I don't understand why you think he's done anything that warrants a roster spot. I've seen nothing from this guy.
 
I think some financial considerations came into play regarding the decision to release him. I don't see any nepotism shown by Kiff towards certain players. He let two of his USC guys go in Bing and Buchanon didn't he?. Griffith is regarded as one of the better FB's in the league and knows Knapp and Cable's sysytem. That shouldn't come as any surprise. O'neal has tremendous upside and would be gobbled up in no time if we tried to get him to clear waivers. I think Kiff gave Crockett every opportunity to make this team. He's been a good soldier but it's time to move on.
 
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