Randall Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Wow. Ronald Curry and Kalimba Edwards were also released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballjoe Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Didn't Gibril just sign a HUGH contract last year? What would his cap hit be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Didn't Gibril just sign a HUGH contract last year? What would his cap hit be? Yeah. They haven't said anything yet. From the Sacto Bee: "He finished second on the team with 129 tackles to go with two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. Wilson's deal was for six years and worth up to $39 million with $16 million in guarantees." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 (edited) From Raider beat writer Jerry McDonald In all, the cuts cleared $6.2 million in salary cap space. Wilson was due a $2.5 million salary and had a pending roster bonus of $4.5 million. With a salary cap figure of $8.4 million and $7 million in pro-rated bonus money from his original signing bonus of $8.4 million, it the release cleared $1.4 million in cap space but will mean $7 million in dead money under the cap. Curry, due $3.5 million in salary, had a $4.1 cap figure and $1.8 million of pro-rated bonus money for a $2.3 million savings. Edwards, with a cap figure just under $3.2 million with $697,500 in bonus pro-ration, clears another $2.5 million from under the cap. While I loved Gibril Wilson and the numbers he put up on my IDP team, he wasn't the in-the-box run stopper or the coverage safety that the Raiders expected him to be. I DO think keeping him heavily outweighs the $1.4 we'd be saving (especially with other less useful tools on the team) .... but oh well. When people look at Gibril and the numbers he put up last season and the cut today, most will be scratching their heads. Realize the cut came because he wasn't fitting into the Raiders' coverage system. Every time DeAngello Hall was beat deep last year, Gibril Wilson was never over the top like he should have been; the exclusive man-to-man coverage Rob Ryan ran pretty much required safeties over the top on pass coverage to ensure that corners wouldn't lose the 1 on 1 battle. The significance of Gibril's departure means two things to me: 1. Al & Co are starting to clean house. 2. John Marshall will be keeping the same Rob Ryan defense in place that Gibril Wilson didn't fit into. Bad news for Gibril, great news for Nnamdi Asomugha and Chris Johnson. While Huff has always been rumored to be the safety on the way out, it looks like he will stick around a while longer. He'll probably roll back over to SS now. (He played FS at UT, then started SS for Oakland. His ineffectiveness was blamed on playing out of position. When he moved back to FS this past season, he was benched - he's really just our Robert Gallery of the DBs) Don't be surprised to see Kwame Harris, Terdell Sands, or Gerrard Warren go next. I would love to get that piece of trash Walker off of our team, but because his contract was front loaded it wouldn't save us any money. Oh well. ETA: I completely expected the Raiders to go OL/DL with Pick 1.7 (unless Crabtree fell), however with this latest move I don't think it would be a stretch to say Al would be enticed by Malcolm Jenkins' raw ability and try to put him at FS. (Snatching another CB away from Randall's Packers) Edited February 21, 2009 by kpholmes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 (Snatching another CB away from Randall's Packers) I don't think he's a CB in the NFL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Some team is gonna land one heck of a player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Some team is gonna land one heck of a player. A lot of this release also has to do with him publicly mocking the franchise last year... calling them a "soap opera" Now I'm not arguing that... but that might add some more reason to the release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Some team is gonna land one heck of a player. No kidding. I hope it's Green Bay. Does Kyle want Woodson back? We're not exactly flush with talented CB's. As for him calling the Raiders a soap opera was he wrong? Last year was pretty bizarre with Walker in Vegas spraying champagne, disappearing, being found beat up, etc; Kiffen geting fired...well you know the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 As for him calling the Raiders a soap opera was he wrong? Last year was pretty bizarre with Walker in Vegas spraying champagne, disappearing, being found beat up, etc; Kiffen geting fired...well you know the rest. Nah, even KP just said that it WAS a soap opera atmosphere. But you can't think Al would go for that. Hell, he benched Marcus Allen for asking for a raise. Great insight as always, KP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 "Ted Thompson plaese pick up the green courtesy telephone" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 (edited) Nah, even KP just said that it WAS a soap opera atmosphere. But you can't think Al would go for that. Hell, he benched Marcus Allen for asking for a raise. Great insight as always, KP. Appreciated as always. It most certainly was a soap opera. And Al doesn't tolerate people that speak out against what's happening internally... Exhibit A: Lane Kiffin. Like I said, overall I'm fairly indifferent towards this move. On the one hand: I loved the fire Gibril brought to the defense, I loved the 129 tackles, and I loved the play maker ability. In my opinion a player of his caliber is worth much more than the $1.6 we'd be saving. He is a Tier 1 SS and we should have tried to deal him instead. (The reason we probably didn't deal him mind you is because of the way Davis structured his contract... most teams probably wouldn't have wanted anything to do with it) On the other hand though: He didn't fit our system on defense... when he played in the box he wasn't plugging the holes for us, and when he played coverage he couldn't for the life of him stay over the top of receivers. I can honestly tell you that Gibril's tackles all came from runs that made it to the second level, or receivers in his zones catching passes. He was my #1 DB in AFL - my eyes were glued to him on defense and very, very few of his tackles were in the box where they should have been coming from. I don't care how talented a player is, if they're in the wrong system they're ineffective - and the Raider's system didn't fit a "roaming" safety. He'll be great in a system that utilizes the Reeds, Polomalus and Bigbys of the NFL - but not in Oakland. Tackles vs. Effectiveness are very different things. But yes... obviously trading him would have been a better alternative. Let's not forget the biggest reason I'm indifferent towards this cut - it is Al Davis we're talking about. You have to realize when Raider fans hear news like this coming from Oakland, all they can think is "Hmm... could have been worse." And to be honest, the day after we re-signed the league's best man-to-man corner who also happens to be a Golden Bear - this move really doesn't upset me as much as it would have several seasons ago. Edited February 21, 2009 by kpholmes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 No kidding. I hope it's Green Bay. Does Kyle want Woodson back? We're not exactly flush with talented CB's. "Ted Thompson plaese pick up the green courtesy telephone" I'm no GB homer by any means - so maybe you and PON can help me out here, but do the Packers really need a safety? Collins really came into his own, and Bigby seemed to be effective when he was healthy - I understand he was out a lot of last season but would they really replace him with another roaming SS so quickly? I also got the impression that when the time was right Charles Woodson would be making a Rod-Woodson-Esq transition to safety... whether for GB or another club. Is this not the case? With your two starting corners being in their mid 30's it just seems like the need is there rather than at safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no one Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Dallas, get on the phone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 I'm no GB homer by any means - so maybe you and PON can help me out here, but do the Packers really need a safety? Collins really came into his own, and Bigby seemed to be effective when he was healthy - I understand he was out a lot of last season but would they really replace him with another roaming SS so quickly? I also got the impression that when the time was right Charles Woodson would be making a Rod-Woodson-Esq transition to safety... whether for GB or another club. Is this not the case? With your two starting corners being in their mid 30's it just seems like the need is there rather than at safety. Collins had a good year last year but the year before he was losing playing time. TT likes talent whether it's needed or not. I'd rather have him than play against him twice a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) I'm no GB homer by any means - so maybe you and PON can help me out here, but do the Packers really need a safety? Collins really came into his own, and Bigby seemed to be effective when he was healthy - I understand he was out a lot of last season but would they really replace him with another roaming SS so quickly? I also got the impression that when the time was right Charles Woodson would be making a Rod-Woodson-Esq transition to safety... whether for GB or another club. Is this not the case? With your two starting corners being in their mid 30's it just seems like the need is there rather than at safety. At this time last year I would have said that Collins was shaping up to be a spare. While I don't think he'll duplicate last years numbers, I now think he's much better than spare. He's a solid starter. Atari on the other hand, when healthy is a monster. I personally think both of the safties if healthy make up a good to very good duo. I don't think safety is a need. As far as Woodson goes, he played saftey a few times last year, but he's still got enough left in the tank to play corner at a high level. I think CB is a definate need by developing young guys through the draft. I like Jenkins, but I think he's a Safety in the NFL. As far as pure CB's go, I like Vonta Davis, but I'm not sure you take him at 9. I'm hoping for an OLB or DT with the 9th, but fully expect Ted Thompson to trade down 1-4 times this draft. /End random packers post. Edited February 23, 2009 by piratesownninjas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 If and when Javon Walker is released in the next few days, does this make Al Davis realize that he's capable of making mistakes? If so, does he consider having someone else help him with GM moves? No. But it's worth asking. I've got a few die hard Raider fans, and they don't deserve this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 RAIDERS CUT KWAMEPosted by Mike Florio on February 23, 2009, 6:30 p.m. EST As expected, the Oakland Raiders have jettisoned yet another free-agent acquisition from last year’s misguided spending spree. Gone, according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, is tackle Kwame Harris. The move saves the team $7.2 million against the cap. Also gone, per Schefter, is fullback Justin Griffith. The move creates another $1.1 million in cap space. As Schefter reported over the weekend, the Raiders also are expected to cut receiver Javon Walker. Keep em' coming baby. Javon Walker, Terdell Sands, Gerrard Warren, come on down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Justin Griffith? I was pissed when he cancelled his trip to GB and signed with Oakland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Justin Griffith? I was pissed when he cancelled his trip to GB and signed with Oakland. Agreed - Like Gibirl it was a acompletely unnecessary cut... but if Al is cleaning house and one or two guys like Griffith are casualties of war... I'm not going to complain. The move also raises speculation to Michael Bush's role next season... for a short period of time last year he was being pushed to play FB - Al could have made an executive decision to move him back and get as much talent on the field as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 Keep em' coming baby. Javon Walker, Al Davis, Terdell Sands, Gerrard Warren, come on down! Fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Agreed - Like Gibirl it was a acompletely unnecessary cut... but if Al is cleaning house and one or two guys like Griffith are casualties of war... I'm not going to complain. The move also raises speculation to Michael Bush's role next season... for a short period of time last year he was being pushed to play FB - Al could have made an executive decision to move him back and get as much talent on the field as possible. Griffith is a contributor, and making Bush a FB is a complete waste , he displayed a lot of talent toward the end of the season, more so than DMC I thought. I hope this is a trend to BUILD our TEAM, now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I don't like the direction the Raiders are heading in. There actually making some sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I don't like the direction the Raiders are heading in. There actually making some sense. And it's confusing the hell out of us die-hards and true believers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Griffith is a contributor, and making Bush a FB is a complete waste , he displayed a lot of talent toward the end of the season, more so than DMC I thought. I hope this is a trend to BUILD our TEAM, now. I'm not disagreeing with you - I would have much rather kept Griffith and Gibril. The fact of the matter is though, is that Al decided it might be a good idea to clean house... and after the past six years there isn't a Raider fan in the world that is going to object... even if a few innocent bystanders get hit in the process. As for Bush - I doubt we'll see him at FB. Jerry McDonald said it best when he said "Bush is a 1st round potential playing on a 4th round contract, you develop that - not trade it." Al talked about having 4 RBs on the roster during the Tom Cable presser... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 25, 2009 Author Share Posted February 25, 2009 And it's confusing the hell out of us die-hards and true believers! I hope it helps Bush and that QB I drafted in the 1st round a couple of years ago. What's his name again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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