jatfly
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By Steve Corkran STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 11/15/2007 03:00:11 AM PST
ALAMEDA -- One of the enduring images of the 2006 Raiders season was quarterback Andrew Walter picking himself up off the ground after yet another sack.
Raiders managing general partner Al Davis likened Walter's experience to going through "hell" on a weekly basis. Yet, in many ways, the mental anguish of not playing at all this season has been far worse for Walter.
Even so, you won't hear Walter complaining.
"Ultimately I want to play," Walter said. "I would have been thrilled if that was here. If it's somewhere else, obviously, that's up to the organization. My goal is never to be a career backup. I want to play and be a starter."
The time for that to happen as a Raider is running out. The Raiders have only seven games left, and coach Lane Kiffin has said that Walter doesn't factor into the short-term equation.
Walter has been deactivated or the No. 3 quarterback for all nine games this season. For now, he sits behind Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown and rookie JaMarcus Russell.
"Andrew's done great," Kiffin said. "It's not an easy situation at all, and Andrew's handled himself very first-class. That's the only way to do it."
Walter, 25, is resigned to his fate with the Raiders. It was all but sealed when the Raiders selected Russell with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April and traded for McCown one day later. "When you draft a guy No. 1 overall, he's going to get the ball sooner rather than later," Walter said. "It sort of aces out any situation that I can see myself in."
Signing Culpepper four days into training camp further diminished Walter's chances of seeing the field this season and validating Oakland's decision to take Walter in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft.
Walter began the offseason as the Raiders' No. 1 quarterback after playing 12 games (eight starts) last season. He started one exhibition game and was a candidate for the starting job until Kiffin eliminated him from consideration before the exhibition finale. McCown has started five games. Culpepper will start his fifth game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
At some point, it becomes Russell's team. Walter realizes that, and he would just as soon not be here when that time comes.
The Raiders entertained trade offers for Walter earlier this season but resisted for fear of getting caught short-handed. McCown was hurt at the time, Culpepper was still new to Kiffin's system and recovering from a second knee surgery, and Russell was only a month into practice when the trade deadline arrived Oct. 16.
Even so, why keep Walter when he has little or no shot at playing this season?
For one, Kiffin said, McCown and Culpepper aren't under contract for next season. Secondly, it is believed Davis isn't keen on giving up on a player on whom he spent a high draft pick without fully exploring his potential.
Therefore, it's conceivable Walter will be back next season. He is signed through the 2009 season, for $460,000 in '08 and $545,000 in '09. In other words, he's a cheap insurance policy.
"Andrew went through ... hell," Davis said at the start of training camp. "That poor Andrew Walter last year got hit so many times, I don't think he knew where they were coming from. What I'm saying is, he's got to come back. We got to bring him along, and he'll get his confidence back."
Walter said it's frustrating watching quarterbacks such as Vinny Testaverde go from unemployed to starting in a matter of days. Yet, he is encouraged by the path traveled by other quarterbacks.
"Matt Schaub got a big (free-agent) contract by being a good preseason player and sticking it out (with Atlanta)," Walter said of the Houston Texans' first-year starter. "So, there's something to be said about coming in to work, sticking it out and, hopefully, it can be the best situation for all parties involved."
Contact Steve Corkran at scorkran@bayareanewsgroup.com.
And now a editorial by jatfly:
Look I like Walter but he will never be a starter here. He hasn't falling out of favor it seems with the coaching staff. He hasn't started any games, with this staff but they also seem to like him. He can go somewhere else sure but he may not start anywhere else either. Now he could stay here and become the main back up next year. I can totally see Culpepper & McCown both being dumped and us bring in another Vet to be the 3rd string for guidence for both guys. Just my take....
Article Launched: 11/15/2007 03:00:11 AM PST
ALAMEDA -- One of the enduring images of the 2006 Raiders season was quarterback Andrew Walter picking himself up off the ground after yet another sack.
Raiders managing general partner Al Davis likened Walter's experience to going through "hell" on a weekly basis. Yet, in many ways, the mental anguish of not playing at all this season has been far worse for Walter.
Even so, you won't hear Walter complaining.
"Ultimately I want to play," Walter said. "I would have been thrilled if that was here. If it's somewhere else, obviously, that's up to the organization. My goal is never to be a career backup. I want to play and be a starter."
The time for that to happen as a Raider is running out. The Raiders have only seven games left, and coach Lane Kiffin has said that Walter doesn't factor into the short-term equation.
Walter has been deactivated or the No. 3 quarterback for all nine games this season. For now, he sits behind Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown and rookie JaMarcus Russell.
"Andrew's done great," Kiffin said. "It's not an easy situation at all, and Andrew's handled himself very first-class. That's the only way to do it."
Walter, 25, is resigned to his fate with the Raiders. It was all but sealed when the Raiders selected Russell with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April and traded for McCown one day later. "When you draft a guy No. 1 overall, he's going to get the ball sooner rather than later," Walter said. "It sort of aces out any situation that I can see myself in."
Signing Culpepper four days into training camp further diminished Walter's chances of seeing the field this season and validating Oakland's decision to take Walter in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft.
Walter began the offseason as the Raiders' No. 1 quarterback after playing 12 games (eight starts) last season. He started one exhibition game and was a candidate for the starting job until Kiffin eliminated him from consideration before the exhibition finale. McCown has started five games. Culpepper will start his fifth game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
At some point, it becomes Russell's team. Walter realizes that, and he would just as soon not be here when that time comes.
The Raiders entertained trade offers for Walter earlier this season but resisted for fear of getting caught short-handed. McCown was hurt at the time, Culpepper was still new to Kiffin's system and recovering from a second knee surgery, and Russell was only a month into practice when the trade deadline arrived Oct. 16.
Even so, why keep Walter when he has little or no shot at playing this season?
For one, Kiffin said, McCown and Culpepper aren't under contract for next season. Secondly, it is believed Davis isn't keen on giving up on a player on whom he spent a high draft pick without fully exploring his potential.
Therefore, it's conceivable Walter will be back next season. He is signed through the 2009 season, for $460,000 in '08 and $545,000 in '09. In other words, he's a cheap insurance policy.
"Andrew went through ... hell," Davis said at the start of training camp. "That poor Andrew Walter last year got hit so many times, I don't think he knew where they were coming from. What I'm saying is, he's got to come back. We got to bring him along, and he'll get his confidence back."
Walter said it's frustrating watching quarterbacks such as Vinny Testaverde go from unemployed to starting in a matter of days. Yet, he is encouraged by the path traveled by other quarterbacks.
"Matt Schaub got a big (free-agent) contract by being a good preseason player and sticking it out (with Atlanta)," Walter said of the Houston Texans' first-year starter. "So, there's something to be said about coming in to work, sticking it out and, hopefully, it can be the best situation for all parties involved."
Contact Steve Corkran at scorkran@bayareanewsgroup.com.
And now a editorial by jatfly:
Look I like Walter but he will never be a starter here. He hasn't falling out of favor it seems with the coaching staff. He hasn't started any games, with this staff but they also seem to like him. He can go somewhere else sure but he may not start anywhere else either. Now he could stay here and become the main back up next year. I can totally see Culpepper & McCown both being dumped and us bring in another Vet to be the 3rd string for guidence for both guys. Just my take....
