Tag: Oakland Raiders

Why Seahawks should stay away from wide receiver Antonio Brown

Sometimes the juice isn’t worth the squeeze – why the Seattle Seahawks should stay away from wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The rumor mill was in full production on Wednesday evening when Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was seen working out with former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. The video was posted on Brown’s private Instagram account with the caption “Who would like to see this on Sundays?”

This of course set up a new wave of speculation on if the Seahawks are going to be Brown’s next landing spot. Seattle has been linked to Brown in the past, and recently the team has admitted they’ve had internal discussions about the topic again. It’s no secret  Wilson would love another target like Brown to throw to, as he has stated he thinks the Seahawks need more superstars.

The idea of a receiving corps headlined by Brown, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf is quite tantalizing. However, sometimes the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.

There is a reason why Brown hasn’t played a snap of football since Week 2 of last season – he’s got so much baggage he makes Coach look like a gas station. He has been a major headache for the Steelers, Raiders and even the Patriots all within the span of less than a year.

Brown became a toxic member of the Steelers and essentially forced his way out. The relationship between him and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, as well as coach Mike Tomlin, had deteriorated past the point of no return.

Once Brown forced his way to the Raiders, his tenure in the silver and black was nothing short of a train wreck. During the short few months, he managed to get frostbite on his feet during cryotherapy, held out of training camp because he protested the NFL’s helmet policy and cursed out his general manager. Because of his antics, he lost out of over $29 million when Oakland voided his contract.

Brown’s time in New England didn’t last long either as he was released after one game due to allegations of sexual misconduct. He later found himself back in legal jeopardy with burglary and battery charges.

While Brown cut a deal to avoid jail time due to those charges recently, he still faces a lawsuit for sexual misconduct and a potential suspension from the NFL.

There is no doubt a Wilson to Brown connection could be electric, but the Seahawks don’t need to add such a volatile player into the mix. Especially since they released notable malcontents in Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett a little over three years ago.

If Brown was unhappy in Pittsburgh where he was getting 160-plus targets a year, it is hard to imagine he will be content in a run-first style offense and splitting targets three ways.

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Former Cardinals head coach Joe Bugel dies at 80

Joe Bugel, who coached the Cardinals and built the Hogs in Washington, has died at 80.

Joe Bugel, who built the legend of the “Hogs” in Washington and went on to coach the Phoenix Cardinals, died Sunday at the age of 80.

“I am absolutely devastated by the news of Joe’s passing,” Washington owner Dan Snyder said in the statement. “ … He was a man who not only gave me a better understanding of the game of football, but who also gave me perspective on what is truly important in life. I absolutely adored him and will miss him terribly. Tanya and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Brenda and the entire Bugel family during this time.”

Bugel was Washington’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1981-82 and the assistant head coach from 1983-89.

He went on to become the head coach of the Phoenix Cardinals from 1990-93. Bugel spent time on the coaching staff of the Raiders — head coach in 1997 — and Chargers before returning to Washington as assistant head coach-offense from 2004 to 2009. Overall, Bugel was 24-56 as a head coach.

He retired from the NFL at the end of the 2009–2010 season on Jan. 13, 2010. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion (XVII, XXII).

Bugel finished having coached for 32 NFL seasons. Bugel was the architect of the dominating “Hogs” offensive line that included stalwarts Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Jeff Bostic, and George Starke.

“I am absolutely devastated by the news of Joe’s passing,” owner Dan Snyder said in the statement. “ … He was a man who not only gave me a better understanding of the game of football, but who also gave me perspective on what is truly important in life. I absolutely adored him and will miss him terribly. Tanya and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Brenda and the entire Bugel family during this time.”

Former Washington coach Joe Gibbs paid tribute to one of his top assistants.

“Joe had an incredible passion for the game of football. He came to work every day with such great excitement and his players had tremendous respect for him,” Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs said. “The strength of our coaching staff on both sides of the ball was a key reason we had so much success. Bugel was such a big part of that and his impact was felt not only by those Redskins’ teams, but truly across the entire League. I will miss his friendship and I will always cherish our late-night arguments putting together the game plan each week.”

 

CBS Sports top-10 NFL WRs for 2020 list includes former Tide standouts

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have recently become popular for producing high-talent wide receivers that are not only able to stand out at the collegiate level, but to carry that elite talent to the NFL. In the 2020 NFL draft Henry Ruggs …

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have recently become popular for producing high-talent wide receivers that are not only able to stand out at the collegiate level, but to carry that elite talent to the NFL.

In the 2020 NFL draft Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy were the first two receivers selected. However, the two receivers mentioned by CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin as being “top-10 in the NFL for 2020” are from years past.

Here’s where the former Crimson Tide pass catchers ended up:

6. Amari Cooper

Amari Cooper-Dallas Cowboys-Alabama football
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Biletnikoff-winning receiver was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He has since been traded to the Dallas Cowboys, where he has thrived has the lead wide receiver. Overall, he has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his five NFL seasons.

“Cooper’s sporadic injury issues have affected him only slightly since being traded to the Cowboys, and his once sky-high drop rate has fallen from 6.4 percent in Oakland to 4.6 percent in Dallas,” says Dubin. “It also seems far more likely that the strange home-road splits Cooper has exhibited in Dallas are the result of a small sample than something we should expect to continue into the future, considering he did not display the same splits during his time with the Raiders. (Those splits are also affected by the fact that he played only three snaps in one of his 12 Dallas road games. They’re not quite as dramatic if you take that game out of the equation.)

Cooper’s arrival also hastened the breakout of Michael Gallup, who has been able to take advantage of opposing No. 2 corners while working opposite his star teammate. Gallup is more of a pure X receiver than Cooper, who has the flexibility to move around, and he’s benefitted from having someone to draw attention away from the boundary.”

2. Julio Jones

Julio Jones
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Jones has an NFL resume that backs up the No. 2 ranking. after being the No. 6 overall selection in the 2011 NFL draft, he has been a seven-time Pro Bowler, two-time first team All Pro and a two -time receiving yards leader.

Dubin has high praise for Jones’ elite skills as a receiver.

“Even during the three seasons since his last First Team All-Pro appearance (2017 through 2019) he leads the NFL in yards per route run, with a 2.80 average,” says Dubin. “His per-16-games average during that time is 102-1,537-6, with a 63 percent catch rate. (He’s played 47 of 48 games.) The ridiculous touchdown concerns should have been written off immediately when they first surfaced, considering he he scored eight, 10, six, eight, and six times during his first five healthy seasons, but hopefully his 14 scores over the past two years put them to bed for good.

Jones is a massive target at 6-3, 220 pounds and is still an excellent downfield threat, and it’s really only his decline in yards per reception (17.0 -> 16.4 -> 14.8 -> 14.1) and per target (10.9 -> 9.8 -> 9.9 -> 8.9) over the past several years that keeps him out of the No. 1 spot.”

Roll Tide wire will keep you updated on former Alabama players as the 2020 NFL season gets closer!

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Defensive efficiency a lingering concern for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020

The Las Vegas Raiders struggled on the defensive side of the football in 2019. How did they look to improve themselves this offseason?

(In this series, Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield takes a look at one important metric per NFL team to uncover a crucial problem to solve for the 2020 season. In this installment, it’s time to look at how the Oakland Raiders struggled on the defensive side of the football in 2019, and how they might address that issue in 2020).

Imagine a situation where, as a football team, you were faced with playing Patrick Mahomes twice a season.

That might cause some heartburn.

That is the exact scenario facing three teams in 2020 and beyond: The Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders. How are you going to contain what Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy have assembled in Kansas City? A West Coast-based system that has grown into so much more under the trinity of Reid/Bieniemy/Mahomes. An offense that can strike in the blink of an eye.

Just ask the San Francisco 49ers.

The concern might be tangible around the Raiders, given what that team did last season. In their final season in Oakland, the Raiders put on the field an offense that perhaps showed they could compete with the Chiefs. Despite the annual consternation over Derek Carr, the quarterback quietly put together a solid season. His Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of 7.25 was ninth-best in the league, and he completed over 70% of his passes, coming in in second behind only Drew Brees. Carr’s Completion Percentage Over Expectation (CPOE) of 2.4 was seventh-best in the league as well. Yes, the team brought in Marcus Mariota, but Carr is perhaps better than conventional wisdom tells us.

No, the concern might be better placed on the defensive side of the football.

Last year the Raiders defense struggled. They ranked 31st in Defensive DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average), with a Defensive DVOA of 14.8%. That was actually a step back from their 30th place finish in 2018 in Defensive DVOA. A main culprit for their struggles? Pass defense. The Raiders posed a pass defense DVOA of 30.2%, ranking them 20th in the league.

There are of course other numbers to point to that highlight just how the Raiders struggled defensively in 2019. They managed to generate pressure on opposing passers just 19.9% of the time, sixth-lowest in the NFL. They allowed 2,064 yards after the catch in 2019, fourth-most in the league. Opposing passers put up an ANY/A of 7.8 against the Raiders, which was the highest ANY/A allowed by a defense last year. For a point of reference, an ANY/A of 7.8 would place that “generic Raiders opposition QB” seventh in the league in 2019. Yes, the Raiders turned opposing passers into a top ten QB.

So, what have the Raiders done this offseason to fix their defense?

Player additions began in free agency. The organization addressed the second level of their defense, adding free agent linebackers Nick Kwiatkowski from the Chicago Bears and Cory Littleton from the Los Angeles Rams. Littleton in particular is a massive acquisition. The veteran linebacker might be the modern prototype at the position, given his ability to cover in the passing game. Remember, the Raiders are in a division where they face Travis Kelce, Noah Fant and Hunter Henry each twice a season. You need a linebacker that can cover those guys, and Littleton might be just that kind of player.

Then in the draft the Raiders addressed the secondary, adding Damon Arnette, the Ohio State cornerback, in the first round. Arnette’s first-round selection caught many by surprise, but he has the background and ability in zone coverage that make him a potential scheme fit in Las Vegas. Then they drafted feisty Amik Robertson out of Louisiana Tech in the fourth round. Robertson is an undersized cornerback who plays much bigger than he measures, and who possesses good press coverage skills.

They also added another hybrid player in the third round, drafting Tanner Muse out of Clemson. Muse was a safety in Brent Venables’ 3-1-7 defense last season, but projects as more of a hybrid linebacker in the NFL.

Whether these additions are enough to shore up what has been a weak defensive unit remain to be seen, but this group will certainly be tested in 2020. If they can improve over their 2018/2019 numbers, perhaps the Raiders will have a better-than-expected inaugural season in Sin City.

Henry Ruggs III introduces his daughter to the world on Instagram

Former Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs introduced his daughter, Kenzli Re’Nai Ruggs to the world on Sunday via Instagram.

Former Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs introduced his daughter, Kenzli Re’Nai Ruggs to the world on Sunday via Instagram. Ruggs is excited to be a #GirlDad, a phrase known from Kobe Bryant.

“May 7th 2020 the day my life changed. My beautiful babygirl was born into this world 5 weeks before her expected due date. Thank god she never needed any oxygen or assistance of any kind. Today she is 1 month old and is moving a lil too fast if u ask me🤣 So blessed and honored to have two strong women with me for the rest of my life @y.d.u.r I Love You 💙 and thank you for our beautiful princess. Everyone meet Kenzli Re’Nai Ruggs💗 #GirlDad”

According to Ruggs, his little girl was born 5 weeks early, and was born healthy and happy. He also shares how much she’s grown in just a month.

As you can see from the pictures, Kenzli is such a cutie, and Henry is a proud father! Congrats Henry!

Ruggs was drafted by the Oakland Raiders as the 12th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Last season, Ruggs recorded an impressive 40 receptions for 746 yards and 7 TDs.

In his career at Alabama, he had 98 receptions for 1,716 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown.

The future is very bright for Ruggs, and it will be very exciting to see what he can do in Oakland this season.

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LOOK: Josh Jacobs gets Raiders tattoo after rookie season

Former Alabama star running back Josh Jacobs posts picture of his new tattoo which shows the Las Vegas Raiders will always be a part of him

Former Alabama standout running back Josh Jacobs finished a successful rookie season with the then-Oakland Raiders.

Many NFL fans were upset when Jacobs was not award Offensive Rookie of the Year after the 2019 season which consisted of 1,150 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and an average of almost 90 yards per game for the Alabama product.

He is celebrated as one of the young players that has potential to blossom into an all-pro running back. Jacobs seems to want to go down that path while wearing a Las Vegas Raiders uniform.

Jacobs posted a picture on his Instagram story which shows the Raiders logo tattooed on his arm with the caption “#raidernation.”

Jacobs was not the only Raider to get a tattoo after his rookie season. Defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who was also a 2019 first-round pick by Oakland, got the same tattoo.

Jacobs is poised to have a strong sophomore season and Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on his experience throughout year No. 2 in the NFL.

Cowboys DE Aldon Smith reinstated by league after 4 years away from field

The standout defensive end has not played since being suspended indefinitely in 2015, but looks to mark his turnaround with the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones rolled the dice this offseason when he signed defensive end Aldon Smith to a one-year deal. The former 49er and Raider hadn’t seen any game action since Week 10 of the 2015 season, the last game Smith played in before being suspended indefinitely by the league.

Now the Dallas Cowboys’ gamble is one step closer to paying off in a big way. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has conditionally reinstated Smith, according to Jori Epstein of USA Today.

Smith is now eligible to participate in any team activities and is expected to virtually join the Cowboys beginning Tuesday when the club’s offseason program kicks off.

Smith, the seventh-overall pick by San Francisco in 2011’s draft, has accumulated 47.5 sacks in 59 games as a pro. He earned a Pro Bowl bid in 2012 and was named the team’s MVP. But the 2013 season saw Smith begin to spiral, with car accidents, DUI arrests, substance abuse, rehab stints, and suspensions putting Smith’s name in the headlines frequently.

The Mississippi native and University of Missouri product was released by the 49ers and subsequently picked up by Oakland in 2015. He played just nine games for the Raiders, until a hit-and-run episode earned him another suspension by the league. Smith sat out the 2016 and 2017 seasons as he waited for reinstatement. After an alleged domestic violence incident, the Raiders released Smith in March 2018.

In March 2020, Smith announced he was lobbying for a return to the league. The Cowboys signed him in April, with the front office believing that reinstatement was inevitable.

As per Epstein, “a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports” that Smith has stayed clean since last July.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Smith was unable to meet personally with Goodell to discuss his status; the pair reportedly met via videoconference late last week.

In an Instagram post last month, the 30-year-old Smith shared some insight into his journey.

“There is beauty in the struggle,” Smith wrote in his post. “Life will always present us [with] tests. I’ve learned how to take a different perspective on the adversities of life. Instead of looking at life as a victim, I have embraced the journey as God has planned it, making exponential strides toward becoming a better man.”

Smith had a chance meeting with new Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy back in December as the two were training at the same Los Angeles gym.

“He’s really prepared himself for this next opportunity,” McCarthy said. “Always admired him from afar, competing against him in the old days a few years back.”

Now both men are Dallas Cowboys, and the new coach is eager to get the new Aldon Smith back on the field in 2020.

“Very impressive young man. Looking forward to having him.”

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Report: Cowboys’ Aldon Smith conditionally cleared by NFL for reinstatement

The NFL made a decision about the status of troubled defensive star Aldon Smith.

The odyssey of Aldon Smith’s NFL career took another turn Wednesday. The one-time, all-league pass-rusher was conditionally cleared for reinstatement by the NFL.

This means, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the former San Francisco 49er and Oakland Raider, can take part in the Dallas Cowboys’ virtual off-season training program. He’s eligible to join Cowboys offseason activities this coming May 26.

Smith was signed by Dallas in the offseason. He has not played in an NFL game since 2015 due to numerous abuse issues and troubles with the law.

He was the seventh pick overall in 2011 by the 49ers and rocketed to stardom. The former Missouri defensive stalwart had 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons with the Niners. He added 10.5 more in 2013 and ‘2014.

In 2013, Smith had 4.5 sacks in the first three games. Smith was involved in a single-vehicle accident in San Jose. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. After the loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the third week of the football season, he voluntarily entered a rehabilitation facility, to be put onto the non-football injury list with an indefinite leave of absence.

The next year, Smith Smith served a nine-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies. He was reinstated in Week 11. On Aug. 7, 2015, following an arrest for his third DUI, Smith was released by the 49ers.

He signed with the Raiders in 2015 and found more trouble, eventually being suspended by the NFL, again. He missed the 2016 and ’17 seasons while on suspension. Following an alleged domestic violence incident, the Raiders released Smith on March 5, 2018.

He signed with Dallas in April, a one-year deal.

If UGA was fielding a starting team based on current NFL players, here’s what it would look like

We assembled a starting lineup full of former Georgia football players who are currently on NFL rosters.

Georgia continues to be one of college football’s leading producers of NFL talent, with seven players being taken in the 2020 NFL Draft.

At almost every position does Georgia have an NFL star — linebacker and running back being the most notable.

From veteran passer Matthew Stafford to new Falcons back Todd Gurley, to rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, former Georgia Bulldogs look to put up big numbers again in 2020.

We’ve gone through an exercise of picking the best at each position to field a starting team of former Georgia players, all from a current pool of those currently on NFL rosters. 

Remember, free agents did not make the team.

So, let’s get it started shall we?

Next … QB

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Jaguars officially sign Mike Glennon, release DT Carl Davis

Mike Glennon has officially become a Jaguar.

The Jacksonville Jaguars officially signed veteran quarterback and former Oakland Raider Mike Glennon to their 90-man roster Tuesday. To make room for the transaction they released veteran defensive tackle Carl Davis.

The Jags agreed to a deal in principle with Glennon last week on Friday as they were looking for a veteran in their quarterbacks room. It wasn’t a secret that they were very interested in Andy Dalton, however, when he signed with the Dallas Cowboys the Jags had to look elsewhere.

“Mike is entering his eighth season in the NFL and will bring vital experience into our quarterback room and make us a better football team,” said Jags coach Doug Marrone on the team’s official site Friday. “We want to be as strong as possible at every position.”

Glennon, who will be entering his seventh season, has accumulated 22 career starts, a 60.9% completion percentage (488-of-801), 5,163 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and 20 picks. He initially entered the league as a third-round pick (No. 73 overall) from the 2013 NFL Draft for the Tampa Bay Bucs.

As for Davis, the Jags signed him back in November of 2019. They re-signed him early last month after he played in two games and registered a tackle for them last season.