Banks weighs in on NFL moves thus far
Don Banks of SI.com gives his thumbs up and down to those NFL teams that have made moves in free agency thus far.
Thumbs down:
Oakland Raiders — Where to begin? The Raiders gave defensive end-turned-tackle Tommy Kelly more than $18 million guaranteed despite the fact that the onetime undrafted collegiate free agent played just seven games last season and is coming off ACL surgery. They paid a steep price as well for receiver Javon Walker, who has had three knee surgeries and is said to be playing with a bone-on-bone situation in one of his knees. And they added ex-49ers offensive tackle Kwame Harris, a former first-round pick who couldn’t even stay in the lineup for San Francisco’s less-than-dominating offensive line last season.
Couldn’t agree more. Kelly and Walker are good players, but they’ve got GIGANTIC injury concerns. Plus, in an offseason where teams have been reluctant to overpay for free agents (unlike last year), the Raiders have handed out money like the Olive Garden hands out breadsticks.
It’s not your money. At least Mr . Davis is passionate about winning. He tries.
ETM,
No argument there – you’re right, Davis does try. So does Daniel Snyder, Arthur Blank and a handful of other owners, too. That doesn’t mean I can’t disagree with their free agent moves.
By the way, I hand Davis a wad full of cash every July for his birthday so technically, some of it is my money.
This article is BULL!!
Don Banks fails to mention the re-signing of breakout RB Justin Fargas who gained over 1000 yards last season, the restructured contract of backup RB Dominic Rhodes, the resigning of offensive tackle Cornell Green, and the signing of superbowl champ ex-NY Giant safety Gibril Wilson.
In a limited market for wide recievers Javon Walker, who is only 29 years old and a former pro-bowler, is a good pickup.
The Raiders are doing a fine job this off-season of filling thier needs as a team, the only move I am dissapointed in is not resigning D-lineman Chris Clemons.
My bad Jim, he actually does. I didn’t include the full section (I just linked the entire article):
Ex-Giants safety Gabril Wilson is a solid — if unspectacular player — but at $39 million, the Raiders had to over-pay to entice him to town. While it certainly made sense to re-sign running back Justin Fargas and franchise cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, the Raiders saw receiver Jerry Porter and quarterback Josh McCown walk away in free agency without getting anything in return. At this point, quarterback is again a concern, because no one knows if JaMarcus Russell is ready to take over the starting job. There are rumors that he’s close to 300 pounds and not exactly prepared for his close-up.
For the record, I really like the Wilson signing. Not sure why they’re shopping Michael Huff so early in his career, but Wilson had his best year as a pro in ’07…