AFC West: Andrew Walter
New England adds another former Raider
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
The New England Patriots just announced they have signed former Oakland defensive tackle Terdell Sands.
Sands was a surprise cut by the Raiders on the final cut day because Oakland had paid him a $1 million-plus roster bonus earlier this season. Sands, though, was a disappointing player for the Raiders.
Despite his massive frame, Sands was fairly ineffective in Oakland. He has 12 career starts.
Sands is the third Oakland player New England has added since the start of training camp. It signed quarterback Andrew Walter (he has since been cut) and traded for defensive end Derrick Burgess.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
- The Kansas City Chiefs went to the New England well again, this time for a No. 3 quarterback.
The Chiefs claimed quarterback Matt Gutierrez. He was cut this week by New England when the Chiefs signed former Oakland quarterback Andrew Walter. The Chiefs cut quarterback Ingle Martin to make room for Gutierrez.
Kansas City now has two former New England quarterbacks on the roster. Starter Matt Cassel was acquired this offseason. Gutierrez was a backup for the Patriots when new Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli was in New England. Gutierrez likely has little chance to beat out Tyler Thigpen as the backup, but he could stick with the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Walter had some interesting things to say about his departure from Oakland.- Safety Brian Dawkins is expected to miss a few days because of an injury.
- The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Oakland tackle Khalif Barnes will miss 6-to-8, not 4-to-6 weeks as originally reported. He has a fractured ankle. This means Mario Henderson will surely open the season as the Raiders' left tackle.
- Receiver Chris Chambers had a big day in San Diego.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Glenn Dorsey has yet to hit the practice field in the Chiefs' camp. He is not in good enough condition yet.
This is not good for Dorsey, who had a lot to prove in his second season. He is transitioning to a new scheme and after coming off an underwhelming rookie year, the last thing Dorsey needed to do was to show up for camp in anything less than premium shape. Dorsey has to get it in gear.
Denver rookie Robert Ayers, who signed his contract Monday, is expected to make his camp debut Tuesday.
The Patriots signed quarterback Andrew Walter. He was cut by Oakland last week. Denver did investigate Walter last week after he was cut.
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm, recently cut by San Diego, has signed with the Eagles, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.
Linebacker Shawne Merriman practiced in the afternoon Monday after taking the morning off.
Walter cut; Heyward-Bey signing official
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
NAPA, Calif. -- We knew the end was near and now it's here for Andrew Walter.
ESPN's John Clayton is reporting that the Raiders have released quarterback Walter. The former starting quarterback fell out of favor and wanted to be dealt. He did not come to the offseason workout program and didn't get any repetitions at the mandatory minicamp in May or in the Raiders' first practice Thursday. On Wednesday, Oakland coach Tom Cable said Walter's situation would be resolved soon.
Walter was fifth on Oakland's depth chart and had no chance to play. Still, some around the league believe Walter could eventually succeed after a change of scenery. Now, it seems he'll get that chance.
Meanwhile, the Raiders are confirming the Darrius Heyward-Bey signing.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Joe from Royersford wants an update on where AFC West teams stand with signing their rookie classes.BW: Denver got the ball rolling for the division Friday by signing seventh-round pick Blake Schlueter. Usually, most teams don't start knocking off draft picks until after the Fourth of July. However, there has been a recent flurry of signings around the league. Really, there is no urgency and most teams will likely sign their picks in the days before training camp starts in late July. I don't really expect any AFC West teams to have many problems with draft choices. The contract of No. 3 overall pick Tyson Jackson in Kansas City could be somewhat tricky after the Jets gave No. 5 overall pick Mark Sanchez $28 million guaranteed. But it shouldn't be anything to cause a major delay.
Ken from Elizabethtown, KY wants to know what's in store in Oakland for backup quarterback Andrew Walter.
BW: I think the writing is on the wall for Walter; I think he is out of there. The team has six quarterbacks on the roster now after it signed Charlie Frye, who will likely be the No. 3 quarterback. Walter has been staying away from voluntary camps this offseason. He didn't receive any repetitions in the mandatory minicamp. I expect Walter to either be traded or cut sometime this summer. I don't think Oakland could get a lot in return, perhaps just a low-round draft pick. Given a fresh start elsewhere, Walter, a former starter in Oakland, could have a chance as a backup.
Aaron from Syracuse wants to know if Tony Curtis has a chance to be in the tight end mix in Kansas City.
BW: The tight end competition is wide open as the Chiefs try to find a replacement for Tony Gonzalez. Curtis is a journeyman, but he has a history with new Kansas City coach Todd Haley. He has good hands, but he has never been a steady weapon. Keep an eye out for veteran Sean Ryan, who also has a history with Haley. Still, I think second-year player Brad Cottam, who is a better blocker than receiver, will get most of the playing time at tight end. Really, Haley's history is not to use the tight end much, so don't expect a whole lot of receiving production from whoever is the primary tight end in Kansas City.
Michael from Colorado wants to know if former Denver safety Steve Atwater will ever make the Hall of Fame.
BW: Atwater was a great Bronco. He has a hard-hitting safety who goes down as one of the team's best defensive players. He deserves consideration for the Hall of Fame, but it may take a while. There is a logjam of quality players. Atwater has to be on the list, but just don't expect a quick induction.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The Raiders will have a crowded quarterback meeting room after the signing of quarterback Charlie Frye.
Frye, who was the third stringer in Seattle last season and former starter in Cleveland, is Oakland's fifth quarterback of note. He joins starter JaMarcus Russell and backups Jeff Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski and Andrew Walter.
Just a guess here, but I suspect Oakland envisions Frye being a likely No. 3 quarterback behind Russell and Garcia. Gradkowski has not looked good this offseason and Walter hasn't been attending voluntary camps. Walter didn't get any repetitions during the mandatory camp. Walter will likely be traded or cut as he seeks to revive his career elsewhere.
Veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal explains his excitement about joining the Raiders in a radio interview. This will be Neal's eighth NFL team in 17 seasons. Neal, 38, should help Oakland's blocking scheme.
The San Diego Union Tribune reports that LaDainian Tomlinson looked healthy in an offseason workout Wednesday. Tomlinson, who'll turn 30 next month, is due for some good health. He was hampered by injuries the past two postseasons and he was dealing with nagging injuries virtually all of 2008.
Reserve quarterback Andrew Walter continues to stay away from Oakland's voluntary camps. At this rate, don't expect Walter to be around this season. He didn't get any work during the mandatory camp a couple of weekends ago because he was behind. By continuing to stay away, Walter isn't learning the playbook any better.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Denver
A comparison of John Elway's retirement and Brett Favre's retirement.
My take: Elway went out on top. He won the Super Bowl in his final two seasons and he won the Super Bowl MVP award in his final game. Even though he admitted he was breaking down at the time of his retirement, Elway could have muddled through another year or two. Why, though? He went out on the absolute top and he will always be remembered for that. There is no greater way to depart from the game for a legend.
Kansas City
The Chiefs are hoping to bolster their special teams.
My take: That was a clear theme of Kansas City's draft. Quinten Lawrence, Ryan Succop and Donald Washington were all brought in to help on the special teams. There's nothing wrong with this. But the Chiefs also have major needs on defense and offense. An upgraded special teams will only go so far if the offense and defense still need repairs in Kansas City.
Oakland
The Raiders have added another quarterback.
My take: The team's signing of Danny Southwick doesn't mean much. He is the fifth quarterback and will likely be a camp arm. The more interesting quarterback to watch will be former starter Andrew Walter. He has fallen out of favor in Oakland after not working out with the team this offseason. He didn't do much at all during last weekend's minicamp. Perhaps Oakland will try to deal him for a late-round pick.
San Diego
A look at Malcom Floyd's situation.
My take: Floyd, a restricted free agent, should join the team. The reserve receiver is being paid well. Really, he has no other choice but to join the team. He is not the first restricted free agent and he isn't being treated unfairly.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Forget about the notion of Kyle Boller trying to resurrect his NFL career near where he had collegiate success.
Boller, a first-round pick out of California, signed with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday.
The Raiders were interested in Boller as a backup to JaMarcus Russell. Oakland could still pursue a veteran, perhaps Jeff Garcia. There's also Bruce Gradkowski and Andrew Walter, and the team could also bring back Marques Tuiasosopo.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Several players from the AFC West or who have retired from the AFC West are enrolled in the league's popular NFL business management and entrepreneurial program.
The annual initiative will be held at the Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The program began in 2005 and 407 players have taken advantage of it. The programs are run in four-day increments and will run from February through April.
Here are the players participating this year with AFC West ties:
Denver: Safety Herana-Daze Jones, offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus, safety John Lynch, receiver Ed McCaffrey.
Kansas City: Safety Jon McGraw, running back Kolby Smith.
Oakland: Linebacker Ricky Brown, receiver Ashley Lelie, quarterback Andrew Walter.
San Diego: Center Nick Hardwick, tight end Kris Wilson.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The Oakland Raiders made a move to prepare for free agency by claiming quarterback Bruce Gradkowski off waivers from Cleveland. He was cut Monday.
San Francisco also put a claim on Gradkowski, but Oakland was awarded the QB based on the fact it had a worse record in 2008.
Gradkowski played for former Oakland coach Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay and that fact may have intrigued Raiders owner Al Davis.
There could be room for a backup quarterback in Oakland. Marques Tuiasosopo is a free agent, and the other backup behind starter JaMarcus Russell is Andrew Walter.
Gradkowski, a Toledo product, started the season finale for the Browns after being signed earlier in December.
Chargers-Raiders, by the numbers
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Courtesy of ESPN's Stats & Information, we have several charts on San Diego's 34-7 win over Oakland on Thursday night.
The Raiders' defense kept San Diego tight end Antonio Gates and receiver Chris Chambers out of the mix, but the Chargers burnt Oakland elsewhere. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers hit receiver Vincent Jackson and running back Darren Sproles for big plays. Here's a look:
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Rivers was very efficient. Here is a look at how he distributed his passes:
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After Oakland starter JaMarcus Russell went down with an ankle injury near the end of the half, his replacement, Andrew Walter, didn't fare much better.
Here is a look at Oakland's passing offense by distance thrown:
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Russell out and he should stay out
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
JaMarcus Russell will not return in the second half of the Raiders' game in San Diego.
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| Russell |
Russell should be shut down for the rest of the season. There is no reason for Oakland to play the beleaguered and battered second-year quarterback the rest of the season.
Yes, he needs more seasoning. But he should get it in the offseason, in the preseason and in 2009. Russell can't get anything but more hurt and more frustrated out of the final three games of the season.
Russell isn't going to get anything out playing the rest of this season other than taking a physical beating and losing confidence. The 2008 season needs to be history for Russell.
He was taken off on a cart late in the first half with San Diego leading 24-0.
The NFL Network reported on its broadcast that Oakland coach Tom Cable said Russell would not return to the game but X-rays were negative so he will likely not be lost for the season.
But the Raiders should shelve him anyway. Russell has been dealing with knee and ankle injuries the past several weeks. There is no need getting him anymore banged up. If the Raiders end up losing this game, they will be officially eliminated from contention in the AFC West. So there would be no reason for Russell to risk getting injured.
This season has been a total loss for Russell. The No. 1 overall pick in 2007 can't be called a bust yet, but he is on his way. He has been terribly inaccurate and unable to consistently lead his team down the field.
Oakland needs to shut him down, get better offensive linemen in the offseason and hope Russell can develop in his second full season as a starter.
Taking time off will also give Russell time off to catch his breath. Maybe he is getting tired. On the NFL Network telecast Thursday night, Bob Papa said Russell was a no-show for a production meeting Wednesday and that the Raiders' PR staff unsuccessfully tried to get him to show. Quarterbacks routinely meet with the broadcasting staff prior to every NFL game.
The jury is in on 2008 and it's time for Russell to sit down. It's for his and the Raiders' own good.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Upon my return Sunday's game in San Diego, I wanted to catch up with some of the news of the day on what appears to be a fairly sedate day in the AFC West:
The big news is out of Oakland, where JaMarcus Russell said he is improving. Also, running back Darren McFadden (who has missed three games with a turf toe injuries) and defensive end Derrick Burgess (who has missed five game with a triceps injury) both said they are closing in on returning. All three players may have a chance to play at Miami on Sunday.
Russell missed Sunday's loss to Carolina with tendonitis in his knee. Russell dealt with the issue in college at LSU. It flared up Thursday and he missed the final eight plays of practice that day. He didn't practice in Friday and he was the emergency quarterback Sunday as Andrew Walter started.
There's no guarantee Russell will be ready on Sunday but he is hopeful. Russell needs to get back on the field. He has struggled in his nine NFL starts. He needs all the experience he can get.
LaDainian Tomlinson had some interesting things to say about San Diego's lacking run attack. Tomlinson, who said he is now completely healthy after dealing with a turf toe injury since Week 1, had 78 yards on 22 carries against Kansas City. It didn't appear that Tomlinson had much burst in the game.
Read Tomlinson's comments and it is clear something is bothering him. Reading between the lines, it seems like Tomlinson thinks something could be done to improve the run game. The struggling Chargers surely need to figure out what it is because a sluggish running game is one of their several problems headed into Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.
Meanwhile, the Chargers have been informed their Sunday night home game against Indianapolis on Nov. 23 will not be flexed out and will remain the prime time game. Had San Diego lost to Kansas City, it wouldn't not have been a surprise if the game was moved out of the slot.
Denver star cornerback Champ Bailey said he is unsure if he will be able to play at Atlanta on Sunday. He suffered a groin injury at New England three weeks ago. Bailey's best-case diagnosis was a four-week recovery. He said he hopes to practice this week. Denver badly needs Bailey back. The Broncos are playing without all three of their starting linebackers.
Walter to start for Oakland, Russell third QB
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Its official: JaMarcus Russell is the emergency quarterback for the Oakland Raiders today against the Carolina Panthers. Andrew Walter will start for Oakland.
Russell's playing status took a sudden turn when he missed the last eight plays of practice. Interim Oakland coach Tom Cable said Russell was taken off the practice field for precautionary reasons while dealing with a bout of tendonitis, a condition he dealt with at LSU.
Russell didn't practice Friday and Sunday he was made the third quarterback.
If Oakland loses to the Panthers, they will fall to 2-7. Would it be worth it to Oakland to force a gimpy Russell onto the field, especially since he has been struggling lately?
On the flip side, if Walter, a former starter who had a good preseason in 2008, leads the Raiders to an upset win over the Panthers, fans will be calling for him to play. That would be the wrong direction.
Russell, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007 and the fourth highest paid player in the NFL this season, needs to play. He needs to show he can be a quality NFL quarterback, which he has yet to do.
Meanwhile, Oakland rookie tailback Darren McFadden will miss his third straight game with turf toe injuries on both feet. McFadden has been bothered by the injury since Week 2.
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Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
