Raiders & their "interesting" tenders (1 Viewer)

[Polar Dude]

I'm surprised not to see this posted in here. If I missed it, please delete.

article

Raiders apply same logic to RFA process as everything else

By Doug Farrar

Yeah, yeah ... we know. When it comes to football writers and the Oakland Raiders, we're guilty of picking the low-hanging fruit far too often. While the Raiders' methods are, um, "unconventional," and far from successful over the last few years, I sometimes wonder if we bash this franchise as a reflex action. After all, the Raiders are far from the only dysfunctional NFL team, and there are great seasons not too long ago. Sometimes, it even seems like they might even start to turn things around.

And then, days like Wednesday happen, and I realize that Al Davis is an evil genius, writing our jokes for us. In case you didn't catch it, the Raiders put a third-(original)round restricted free agent tender on linebacker Kirk Morrison(notes), despite the fact that Morrison has been one of the NFL's more consistent defenders over the last few years, and has missed only one game since 2005. They then placed a second-round tender on quarterback Bruce Gradkowski(notes), despite the fact that Gradkowski (who I actually like a lot) saw only limited action behind (you'll pardon the expression) JaMarcus Russell(notes). That Gradkowski is infinitely better than Russell is totally irrelevant; Davis has repeatedly expressed his commitment to Russell no matter what the tape shows.

But throwing a bigger tag on their backup quarterback than they did on their starting middle linebacker wasn't the wackiest thing Oakland did Wednesday -- it put the highest tender, the first- and third-round version, on nickel cornerback Stanford Routt(notes). This move will require the Raiders to pay Routt over $3 million in 2010 despite the fact that Routt has never shown anything remotely approaching starting cornerback ability. The only time Routt was ever in competition with Chris Johnson for the starting corner job on the other side of Nnamdi Asomugha(notes) was when head coach Tom Cable put a few veterans through trumped-up position competitions in an attempt to enforce discipline and accountability. Routt is fast on the track, but he has never been more than a reserve defender in the NFL, and he gets burned so often in man coverage, his nickname should be "Fire Marshall Bill."

Are we surprised? No. Are we gratified? Not really. We don't WANT the Raiders to be this bad. I remember the days of Ken Stabler and Fred Biletnikoff and Marcus Allen and John Madden, and I miss the teams they used to have. But if Vampire Al is going to keep planting orchards of low-hanging fruit ... it'd be a sin to pass it up.

Addendum: The Raiders also placed the second-round tender on linebacker Thomas Howard. Also, courtesy of Football Outsiders' Aaron Schatz, are the top defenders in Defeats (efficient defensive stops) from 2006-2009. Morrison is fourth, behind Lance Briggs, DeMarcus Ware and Jared Allen.

 

[renesauz]

It really has to suck to be a Raiders fan the last few years. It would almost be better to be a Lions fan.

 

[Mikey16x]

At least they Raiders FO is consistent in being terrible.

Edit: At least they didn't put their first round tender on Janikowki, they just paid him starting QB money.

 

[Yenrub]

Tell me about Kirk Morrison. Looks like the Raiders put a low tender on him.

Would he be a nice fit for the Giants who are looking for a MLB?

 

[Native]

Sorry Raiders fans.

Kirk Morrison really does look like a bargain - plus hes only 28 years old.

 

[SSOG]

To be honest, putting a 3rd round tender on Morrison is stupid, but it's not like if some team signs him to an offer sheet he's as good as gone. They still retain the right to match. Not that I'm really defending the Raiders or anything, since anyone who signs him to an offer sheet is going to overpay in a big way in order to discourage Oakland from matching, which means the Raiders will either let him walk for a third, or else they'll wind up overpaying him dramatically. I'm just saying it's not like they're just letting Morrison walk away for a 3rd.

 

[Polar Dude]

To be honest, putting a 3rd round tender on Morrison is stupid, but it's not like if some team signs him to an offer sheet he's as good as gone. They still retain the right to match. Not that I'm really defending the Raiders or anything, since anyone who signs him to an offer sheet is going to overpay in a big way in order to discourage Oakland from matching, which means the Raiders will either let him walk for a third, or else they'll wind up overpaying him dramatically. I'm just saying it's not like they're just letting Morrison walk away for a 3rd.

So the way this works out for the Raiders is that they either get to match a team who tried to put Morrison's contract offer way out of their reach, or they get a 3rd round draft pick in return for losing their best LB and forcing one of their 31 competitors into overspending. That Al Davis is a pretty smart guy.

 

[Buffaloes]

Maybe a Raider fan can shed some light here, but didn't the Raiders kick the tires on replacing Morrison at MLB early last year? I thought I remembered reading they were trying to get another guy reps at MLB for some crazy reason.

 

[Don Quixote]

Another "interesting" aspect from Jim Trotter (on Twitter)

how did the raiders notify players who were tendered? by fedex-ing notices to their homes. no personal contact with players or agents.

link

 

[Buffaloes]

Maybe a Raider fan can shed some light here, but didn't the Raiders kick the tires on replacing Morrison at MLB early last year? I thought I remembered reading they were trying to get another guy reps at MLB for some crazy reason.

Nevermind, I found a link. I suppose they might have just been creating competition, but why waste the time putting Morrison with the 2s at all?

LB Morrison challenged by being forced to split first-team playing time

August 11, 2009|By David White, Chronicle Staff Writer

Raiders middle linebacker Kirk Morrison, by all appearances, was a made man.

He led the Raiders in tackles for the third straight year. His 135 tackles last season were fifth most in the NFL. He even walked the red carpet at the ESPY awards during the offseason.

Then, Morrison came to training camp two weeks ago and ... had to fight for his own job?

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"I know how this business is," Morrison said Monday after getting a full day's turn with the first-team defense in Napa. "The organization is always trying to replace you no matter what.

"I've got to go out and prove myself to them on an everyday basis, regardless how many years you have been here or what you've accomplished in this league."

Spoken like a fired-up player with no inclination to run with the twos.

Morrison is sharing first-team snaps with Ricky Brown, last year's starting strongside linebacker who is competing for Morrison's job while also preparing to be his backup.

Coach Tom Cable said he simply wants to create competition in training camp. It's worth noting only three of 11 defensive positions have players splitting first-team playing time: middle linebacker, strongside linebacker and left cornerback.

The last two positions brought back first-time starters. Morrison has started every season since the Raiders drafted him in 2005.

"He's handling the competition well," Cable said. "He has to. He doesn't have a choice."

 

[IDrinkyourMilkshake]

Raider fans can maybe chime in here on this. I'm hearing Morrison was a solid but not really great MLB. He gets pushed around a lot and would be better served as a WLB.

 

[ravage]

To be honest, putting a 3rd round tender on Morrison is stupid, but it's not like if some team signs him to an offer sheet he's as good as gone. They still retain the right to match. Not that I'm really defending the Raiders or anything, since anyone who signs him to an offer sheet is going to overpay in a big way in order to discourage Oakland from matching, which means the Raiders will either let him walk for a third, or else they'll wind up overpaying him dramatically. I'm just saying it's not like they're just letting Morrison walk away for a 3rd.

You have to remember the "poison pill" can still be used by a team that signs him. For example, if he plays more than 6 games in California his contract escalates to some unbelievable number.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Kirk Morrison isn't the strongest MLB at the point of attack, but he survived multiple challenges to his job last year and he's far from the sole reason the Raider run defense isn't great. They tried to bench Morrison in camp for Ricky Brown and Morrison proved himself the better player, then they tried to bench him for Brown in the nickel packages midseason before Brown's ankle injury hurt him.

They've given Thomas Howard and Brown second round tenders and apparently like Trevor Scott at WLB. If Morrison isn't signed by another team -- and plenty of teams could do worse at MLB right now -- those tenders would seem to suggest that Morrison could be cut. The Raiders have cycled that MLB position over the past decade, so it's not too surprising that Morrison is on the way out. Historically, they like more of a plugging type in their scheme. Ricky Brown wouldn't seem to fit the Greg Biekert, Danny Clark, Napoleon Harris mold, but he's got the favor of the front office.

 

[massraider]

If some team wants to pay him a big deal, that's great, and people can laugh at the Raiders if they want. But that new team better have some big, run-stuffing defensive tackles.

I like Kirk, he's from the area, grew up a Raiders fan, and has been a good company man. He's not the biggest problem on the Raiders D.

His best attribute is his range. He is a 3 down LB, and has decent range in the passing game. But he is pretty deficient in the run game, especially against the inside running game. Before the season, there was a lot of debate among Raider fans about his game, and with the talk about Ricky Brown, I paid more attention to Kirk this year than ever before.

He gets caught up in the trash way too much, and any sort of lead block negates him. He can't shed. If it's a run up the gut, he darts into a spot, and gets smoked by the cutback, over and over. Way too many runs where some unknown FB ties him up, and the back goes steaming by him. The Raider D is on the field a lot, and Morrison is on the field every play, so he racks up tackles. So I understand how a fantasy player thinks he's a great player. Hey, gets you 8 tackles a week, he must be good, right? Stupid Raiders, right?

If Morrison left, his nickel LB duties would be what they'd be looking to replace, not his play on 1st and 2nd down. His play on running downs is below par, period.

I would like to see them keep him, but move him to SLB. Still taking on blocks, but less trash to sift through, and has the range to string plays outside.

 

[BigJim®]

To be honest, putting a 3rd round tender on Morrison is stupid, but it's not like if some team signs him to an offer sheet he's as good as gone. They still retain the right to match. Not that I'm really defending the Raiders or anything, since anyone who signs him to an offer sheet is going to overpay in a big way in order to discourage Oakland from matching, which means the Raiders will either let him walk for a third, or else they'll wind up overpaying him dramatically. I'm just saying it's not like they're just letting Morrison walk away for a 3rd.

So the way this works out for the Raiders is that they either get to match a team who tried to put Morrison's contract offer way out of their reach, or they get a 3rd round draft pick in return for losing their best LB and forcing one of their 31 competitors into overspending. That Al Davis is a pretty smart guy.

Or they get hosed by a poison pill...

 

[Garrett]

He gets caught up in the trash way too much, and any sort of lead block negates him. He can't shed. If it's a run up the gut, he darts into a spot, and gets smoked by the cutback, over and over. Way too many runs where some unknown FB ties him up, and the back goes steaming by him.

 

[Donnybrook]

For the price of a third round pick (94th overall), I would like to see the Vikings take a shot at him. He wouldn't have to fight as many blocks with the Williams wall in front of him.

 

[Da Guru]

It really has to suck to be a Raiders fan the last few years. It would almost be better to be a Lions fan.

Are you serious? Lions have the worst record in the NFL in the last decade. 42 wins for the whole decade, and that is after going 9-7 the first year of the decade. So 33 wins over the last 9 seasons. That is two good years for the Colts and Pats.

 

[mcintyre1]

It really has to suck to be a Raiders fan the last few years. It would almost be better to be a Lions fan.

Are you serious? Lions have the worst record in the NFL in the last decade. 42 wins for the whole decade, and that is after going 9-7 the first year of the decade. So 33 wins over the last 9 seasons. That is two good years for the Colts and Pats.

Yeah, but they at least seem like they're headed in a positive direction, and not just waiting for a guy to die.

 

[Don Quixote]

It really has to suck to be a Raiders fan the last few years. It would almost be better to be a Lions fan.

Are you serious? Lions have the worst record in the NFL in the last decade.

At least the Lions have hope of turning things around now that Millen's gone. Al Davis is going nowhere.

 

[rascal]

To be honest, putting a 3rd round tender on Morrison is stupid, but it's not like if some team signs him to an offer sheet he's as good as gone. They still retain the right to match. Not that I'm really defending the Raiders or anything, since anyone who signs him to an offer sheet is going to overpay in a big way in order to discourage Oakland from matching, which means the Raiders will either let him walk for a third, or else they'll wind up overpaying him dramatically. I'm just saying it's not like they're just letting Morrison walk away for a 3rd.

Yes it is. I wouldn't be opposed to the Broncos signing him.Chargers released Jamal Williams. Sign him up and have a rotation of him and Fields. Makes the need for NT a lot less allowing us to focus on other needs.

 

[Dexter Manley]

Did I seriously read that the Raiders gave their longsnapper a 2nd round tender? And he received notice of said tender via FedEx of course.

 

[Buffaloes]

Did I seriously read that the Raiders gave their longsnapper a 2nd round tender? And he received notice of said tender via FedEx of course.

The Raiders are stranger than fiction.

 

[Chadstroma]

Raider fans can maybe chime in here on this. I'm hearing Morrison was a solid but not really great MLB. He gets pushed around a lot and would be better served as a WLB.

The big knock on Morrison has and continues to be that he is a bit weak on defending the against the run. He has speed (surprised?) but seemingly not the strength to shed blocks or the instincts to make a stop without taking on the blocker. That becomes a REAL problem when you have the crap for DT's the Raiders have had over the last few years. If Morrison had protection from some decent DT's then he strengths would shine even more and his weaknesses would be covered up. He is a solid player and a guy that I would like to keep, but I also do not see it being the end of the world if he is gone. That all being said... I am not sure what the heck is going on with my beloved organization. It is frustrating and Davis needs to retire, but that will never happen. Only the Grim Reaper will be able to pry the Raider org from his grasp.

 

[SSOG]

Did I seriously read that the Raiders gave their longsnapper a 2nd round tender? And he received notice of said tender via FedEx of course.

The Raiders are stranger than fiction.

No stranger than offering one of the top 5 long snappers in the league $1mil a year when you already have another of the top 5 long snappers in the league on your roster.

 

[Pisgah Flying Pigmen]

If some team wants to pay him a big deal, that's great, and people can laugh at the Raiders if they want. But that new team better have some big, run-stuffing defensive tackles.I like Kirk, he's from the area, grew up a Raiders fan, and has been a good company man. He's not the biggest problem on the Raiders D. His best attribute is his range. He is a 3 down LB, and has decent range in the passing game. But he is pretty deficient in the run game, especially against the inside running game. Before the season, there was a lot of debate among Raider fans about his game, and with the talk about Ricky Brown, I paid more attention to Kirk this year than ever before. He gets caught up in the trash way too much, and any sort of lead block negates him. He can't shed. If it's a run up the gut, he darts into a spot, and gets smoked by the cutback, over and over. Way too many runs where some unknown FB ties him up, and the back goes steaming by him. The Raider D is on the field a lot, and Morrison is on the field every play, so he racks up tackles. So I understand how a fantasy player thinks he's a great player. Hey, gets you 8 tackles a week, he must be good, right? Stupid Raiders, right?If Morrison left, his nickel LB duties would be what they'd be looking to replace, not his play on 1st and 2nd down. His play on running downs is below par, period.I would like to see them keep him, but move him to SLB. Still taking on blocks, but less trash to sift through, and has the range to string plays outside.

I've always been happy with Morrison and Howard, but at some point you have to change if it's not working.I'm actually hoping this may mean they'll take McClain.

 

[stronger88]

But throwing a bigger tag on their backup quarterback than they did on their starting middle linebacker wasn't the wackiest thing Oakland did Wednesday -- it put the highest tender, the first- and third-round version, on nickel cornerback Stanford Routt(notes). This move will require the Raiders to pay Routt over $3 million in 2010 despite the fact that Routt has never shown anything remotely approaching starting cornerback ability. The only time Routt was ever in competition with Chris Johnson for the starting corner job on the other side of Nnamdi Asomugha(notes) was when head coach Tom Cable put a few veterans through trumped-up position competitions in an attempt to enforce discipline and accountability. Routt is fast on the track, but he has never been more than a reserve defender in the NFL, and he gets burned so often in man coverage, his nickname should be "Fire Marshall Bill."

Stanford Routt ran a 4.3 40......

 

[Buffaloes]

Did I seriously read that the Raiders gave their longsnapper a 2nd round tender? And he received notice of said tender via FedEx of course.

The Raiders are stranger than fiction.

No stranger than offering one of the top 5 long snappers in the league $1mil a year when you already have another of the top 5 long snappers in the league on your roster.

This is true...but I think one team has made a pattern of strange tenders/front office behavior.

 

[Delusions Of Adequacy]

It really has to suck to be a Raiders fan the last few years. It would almost be better to be a Lions fan.

Are you serious? Lions have the worst record in the NFL in the last decade. 42 wins for the whole decade, and that is after going 9-7 the first year of the decade. So 33 wins over the last 9 seasons. That is two good years for the Colts and Pats.

Over the last 7 seasons the Lions are 28-84, the Raiders 29-83. And that's including the Lions 0-16 2008 season.I'd say fans of either team have serious reason to be unhappy.