QBs 'R Us

The Raiders appear to be poised to go on a quarterback stockpile binge. Everyone knows about the JaMarcus Russell / Brady Quinn decision looming with the upcoming NFL Draft, but the Raiders also keep coming up in free agent signing rumors.

David Carr, the former Houston Texans and Fresno State Bulldogs QB hit the open market last week after the Texans decided to acquire Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons. Carr's name immediately becomes synonymous with the Raiders, who are in the uncomfortable position of being without a clear #1 at the position.

Carr, faltered in Houston, where the absence of an offensive line made it difficult for him to be successful. The Raiders are in a similar situation and desperately need to rebuild their line in order to start any serious talk about having a quality offense. What Carr has proven, is that he is ineffective when faced with constant pressure. The Texans allowed an average of 3.4 sacks per game during Carr’s tenure.

With the Raiders line in such disarray, it’s impractical to call Carr anything more than a stopgap solution until one of their younger quarterbacks develops (assuming they draft Russell or Quinn).

Andrew Walter is also someone the Raiders need to decide what to do with. Walter is still a work in progress. Giving up on him would be a mistake, although the Raiders need to decide what to do with him should they take one of the two QBs that are sure to go in the top 10 in this year’s draft.

Keeping Walter and bypassing Russell or Quinn would be a mistake, which means that you either have to make him a backup lifer, or you move him. The Raiders should take the San Diego Chargers approach to a similar problem they had three season ago, when they acquired Philip Rivers and still had Drew Brees.

The Raiders should commit the position to Walter next season. Place his destiny in his own hands by making him the starter in 2007. The Raiders don’t cast rookies into the heat of the fire anyway, so Russell or Quinn will sit next season anyway.

What the Raiders shouldn’t do is pass on the QBs in the draft and proceed with Walter as their committed #1 without a viable option down the road. A Carr and Walter battle doesn’t sound like the best answer, but who knows what the Raiders will do. Calvin Johnson is widely regarded as the best available player in the draft, and the Raiders could need another receiver should they move Randy Moss.

Interestingly, the Texans supposedly were forced to up the ante on Schaub, because the Raiders expressed interest in the former Falcons backup.

Oakland made a peculiar move on Wednesday by signing former Seattle Seahawks QB Josh Booty. The LSU star (and NFL bust) has been out of football since 2003, but the Raiders have him under contract. Unless they intend on using him for sack drill fodder for the defense, the signing makes you scratch your head.

Raiders add Griffith

The Raiders fullback Justin Griffith to a $3.8 million, three-year contract on Saturday. The deal with Griffith comes a day after Oakland signed running back Dominic Rhodes to a $7.5 million contract. The addition of the two backs provides some needed depth to the Raiders running game. LaMont Jordan missed half the season in 2006 due to injury.

Griffith's addition provides a true blocker at fullback. Zack Crockett has provided more situational help at the full back position, but wasn't the blocking answer the Raiders need.

Bucs now interested in Moss

The St Petersburg Times is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now in the race to acquire Raiders receiver Randy Moss.

Story: Bucs Curious About Moss?

The Newberry experiment begins

I hope I’m wrong. Flat out wrong. I made no bones about my objection to the potential signing of offensive lineman Jeremy Newberry in a post several weeks ago. Do the Raiders need help up front? Of course they do. Is Newberry the best option out there? Out 448 possible free agents available (not all O-linemen mind you), was Newberry the first priority?

I say no.

Not that there aren’t plenty of places Newberry could play on Oakland’s line. He’s a natural center, and Jake Grove can’t be considered a serious long term solution at the position. Grove did start all 16 games at center for Oakland in 2006, but he was a minor obstacle for opposing defenses.

Finances, as is more the norm, unfortunately contributed to the Raiders decision. Their cap situation didn’t leave them in a position where they could spend big dollars on free agents. There’s also the issue of availability at the position.

Newberry comes at a reasonable $1.5 million, and his deal is limited to a single season.

Tampa Bay’s Sean Mayhan is the only free agent lineman with center experience that’s still available. Mayhan spent all of 2006 at left guard, but he’s an option in the middle. Denver guard Cooper Carlisle also remains an option.

Oakland missed out on Eric Steinbach (signed with Cleveland). Shaun O'Hara and Pro-Bowler Rueben Brown are out of Oakland’s price range (and Brown’s too old). And that’s all she wrote folks. No mas on the free agent market.

So the Newberry experiment begins. The guy’s credentials are decent, but those knees are a huge liability.

I hope I’m wrong about Jeremy Newberry.

News & Notes:

The Raiders also added four more assistant coaches: John DeFilippo (QBs), James Cregg (Assistant O-Line), Randy Hanson (Assistant DBs) and Sanjay Lal (Quality Control, Offense). Kelly Skipper, who was hired last month, will coach tight ends.

Moss talks back on?

Profootballtalk.com reports that discussions between the Raiders and Packers picked up where they left off on a possible transaction which would send Randy Moss to Green Bay. The deal apparently stalled while the Raiders were trying to lure QB Jeff Garcia to Oakland.

The Packers are rumored to be offering Aaron Rodgers or a second round draft pick in exchange for Moss. Seems a little light in terms of compensation for Moss, but maybe the Raiders are willing to cut their losses and get the high priced headache out of Oakland once and for all.

PFT also mentions the Jags and Patriots as potential suitors for Moss’ services. Can’t really see Bill Belichick putting up with Randy Moss’s nonsense.

Glad to hear the Raiders inked Ronald Curry to a one year deal on Sunday. Curry is one of those guys that always seems to be on the verge of taking that next step, but circumstances always seem to get in the way. Who will ever forget that one-handed grab he made in Denver in the end-zone on that snowy Monday night a couple of years ago.

Injuries have been Curry’s biggest obstacles. The guys has skills, he just needs to get past the IR every year. I’d love to see him thrive as the Raiders # 2 receiver (which assumes that I get my wish and Moss is dealt before the start of training camp).

As for the other free agents being considered by Oakland, Daniel Graham seems like a reasonable solution to help establish more blocking presence on the line AND catch a few balls. Reggie Kelly is another option.

Ahman Green is a has-been, which means the Raiders will probably ink him to a multi-year deal.