In an offseason wrought with mixed signals, the Raiders cleared up at least one issue when they re-signed Justin Fargas to a three-year contract 17 days before he was to be eligible for free agency.
Fargas, in his fifth year out of Southern Cal, didn't become a starter until Week 7 and missed the last two games with an MCL strain, but gained 1,009 yards on 222 carries to lead the Raiders in rushing.
According to Fargas' agent, that was good enough for $6 million in guarantees in a deal which could be worth $12 and $14 million.
Fargas made $800,000 in 2007, the fifth year of a contract he signed as a rookie third-round draft pick out of USC.
Never a team to make its intentions known, the Raiders played the Fargas issue close to the vest following the season, with coach Lane Kiffin saying they would love to have him back but realizing free agency beckoned.
Kiffin also pointed out that Fargas had liabilities as a receiver which hurt the club in the red zone and noted the Raiders' zone blocking scheme had also gotten 100-yard games out of two other runners, LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes as the Raiders finished fifth in the NFL in rushing.
Fargas began the season behind Jordan on the depth chart, and was the backup only because Rhodes missed the first four games on a suspension for violating the NFL policy on substance abuse.
In Week 4 against Miami, the week before Rhodes was to come off suspension, Fargas came off the bench to replace an injured Jordan and ripped off 179 yards rushing. He gradually got more playing time until seizing the starting job, at rushing for 917 yards in a span of 11 games.
It was the second consecutive season Fargas led the Raiders in rushing, as he had 659 yards in 2006.
Notes, Quotes
• Safety Jarrod Cooper, a free agent who said it is his wish to remain with the club, has been a regular volunteer at an animal shelter in Oakland.
Cooper, who has owned reptiles in the past, was planning on breeding his Presa Canario dogs for profit but instead had them fixed.
Cooper, whose past includes run-ins with the law and a suspension last season for violating the policy on performance enhancing drugs, has started his own organization that promotes better pet care.
• Supporters of Raiders owner Al Davis insist the only thing on his mind is winning football games. To hear Randy Moss tell it at the Super Bowl, things have changed.
"I think a lot of things got in the way where football wasn't really the main priority there any more," Moss said.
• After a rocky week of speculation during the Senior Bowl, things have been relatively quiet in Alameda regarding coach Lane Kiffin and Davis.
Kiffin has not spoken to the local media since his season-ending press conference, and at the Senior Bowl did his best to deflect all talk of discontent in the face of reports he had been asked to resign and stripped of his personnel responsibilities.
According to an anonymous source, Kiffin learned of the hire of wide receivers coach James Lofton from a source not affiliated with the team.
Raiders senior executive John Herrera denied the report, saying Kiffin knew after he interviewed Lofton the next step would be a job offer.
Kiffin was not quoted on the club press release regarding Lofton's eventual hire, nor was he quoted in the release announcing the signing of Justin Fargas.
• Wide receiver Todd Watkins, claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons, has the classic background as an athlete favored by Al Davis.
At Helix High School in San Diego, Watkins became the school's first athlete in 25 years to letter in football, volleyball soccer and track in the same year.
At Grossmont Community College, Watkins caught 40 passes for 915 yards and eight touchdowns one year and also kicked 12 of 14 field goal attempts.
His football teammates included Reggie Bush and Alex Smith.
Watkins has been property of both Arizona and Atlanta.
Quote To Note: "Things started getting in the way with coaches and play-calling and stuff like that. The team concept was sort of screwed up in Oakland." -- Former Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss during Media Day with the Patriots at the Super Bowl.
Strategy And Personnel
Bringing back running back Justin Fargas was step one in not only building a team, but more importantly, building it around their most valuable commodity.
That would be quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who this season will get a full complement of minicamps and a complete training camp as he enters the 2008 season as the No. 1 quarterback.
Every move the Raiders make on offense or defense on some level will have to do with the development of Russell -- making him a more effective quarterback when the Raiders have the ball and getting it back for him when they do not.
The two previous main categories are for infotainment -- informing in an entertaining manner.
TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY
Designating cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha as a franchise player is a foregone conclusion, with the only way of avoiding it coming to an agreement on a long-term contract.
Having re-upped with Fargas, the Raiders are taking inventory of their other free agents and determining if they fit into their plans. Included are wide receiver Jerry Porter and defensive end/tackle Tyler Brayton, both of whom voided the last year of their contracts, and defensive end Chris Clemons, who had eight sacks last season and was a pleasant surprise on a poor defense.
1. Defensive tackle: Run defense is the top priority, with the Raiders having given up 100-yard games to 10 different running backs. Warren Sapp's retirement also leaves a void for a pass rushing interior lineman.
2. Wide receiver: Wide receiver Ronald Curry led the Raiders in receiving but dropped too many passes. If Porter and free agent Tim Dwight don't return, all that remains with experience from 2007 are second-year man Johnnie Lee Higgins and short-timer Chris McFoy, called up late from the practice squad. Their combined production -- seven receptions, 66 yards, no touchdowns.
3. Tackle: Barry Sims held on to his job at left tackle last season, but the Raiders are on the lookout for someone to protect Russell's blind side. Paul McQuistan filled in for the injured Cornell Green at right tackle last year, but may not be the long-term answer.
Medical Watch: Fargas did not require surgery after an MCL strain that caused him to miss the final two games. The Raiders felt good enough to sign him to a three-year contract as their lead runner, Defensive end Tommy Kelly was moving well on injured reserve by the end of the regular season following an ACL tear and is expected to be ready for training camp.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
• CB Nnamdi Asomugha will be given the franchise tag if he does not reach agreement on a long-term contract before Feb. 29.
• DE-DT Tyler Brayton has played 41 consecutive games without a sack as a starter and reserve, outside and inside, but the coaches love his energy and motor.
• DE Chris Clemons had eight sacks in 16 games in a pass rushing role and was one of few defensive bright lights.
• S Jarrod Cooper is a special teams standout and has stated his desire to return. He is recovering from ACL surgery.
• QB Daunte Culpepper got in enough starts while Raiders waited for Russell to put on his resume and move on.
• WR Tim Dwight caught a pair of touchdown passes and provided a spark but had trouble staying healthy at age 32.
• OT Cornell Green was primarily a backup for seven seasons, started 10 times for Raiders but didn't finish the season with a knee injury.
• DE-DT Tommy Kelly is the Raiders' most versatile lineman with outside/inside capabilities but played in just seven games before an ACL tear.
• QB Josh McCown floundered early, played better toward the end of the season and said he would have no problem mentoring Russell.
• C Jeremy Newberry surprised everyone by starting 14 times after knee troubles had limited him to 11 games in three previous years with the 49ers. Said he wants to return.
• WR Jerry Porter had career-best 16.0 yards per catch average (44 receptions, 705 yards, 6 TDs) but reception count was lowest of his career for seasons in which he played 16 games.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
• LB Jon Alston was a core special teams player who also played in some defensive packages, mostly in pass coverage.
• LB Ricky Brown plays on all special teams and has the versatility to play inside and outside at linebacker.
• CB-S Chris Carr plays as a nickel corner in one package, a deep safety in another and has returned both kickoffs and punts.
• C Jon Condo enjoyed a solid year as the long-snapper, displacing veteran Adam Treu, and has good coverage skills on punts
• LB Isaiah Ekejiuba was kept on the roster with a foot injury despite missing the first four games and is the club's best wedge-buster, although he seldom if ever plays defensively.
• TE John Madsen, a converted wide receiver, remains an effective if under-utilized receiver who can play in the slot.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
• RB Justin Fargas: Potential UFA; $12M/3 yrs, $6M guaranteed.
• LB Sam Williams: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
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Raiders Off-Season Outlook
Raiders Off-Season Outlook
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