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Thought I would drop in this little goody from the SF Chronicle - dated Monday
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Rison Could Be on the Raiders' Horizon
Several players pushing to sign wide receiver
Tony Cooper, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer
If tight end Derrick Walker had any pull with the front office, the Andre-Rison-to-the-Raiders dispatches wouldn't be rumors. The man already would be on the practice field in Alameda.
``Playing with him in Kansas City, I know what he's capable of,'' Walker said. ``I still think he's capable of doing it. Andre makes plays to win games. . . . Every team he's been on, he's made big plays. Whatever team he's been on, he takes a lot of pressure off (other receivers) and opens things up for a lot of guys.
``When you talk about big-play receivers, how many games can he win for you? Two or three? Why not get him?''
Oakland certainly has considered it. The much-traveled and often-castigated Rison was cut by Kansas City last week, and one can't help but think the Raiders would be a logical choice as his next employer. Not only have the Raiders been taking in players perceived as misfits for years, but with Terry Mickens out indefinitely with a bruised spinal column, an opening exists at receiver, even though promising rookie Jerry Porter and veteran David Dunn are in the picture.
``There's a lot of speculation right now,'' Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. ``The guy has a history in the NFL and has been very productive throughout his career. I've competed against Rison before and have a lot of respect for him.
``Anybody available we feel can help our team, we've look(ed) at. And we've looked at (Rison). We've looked at his situation and thought of what he could do for our football team. We do that with a lot of players who become available. We're going to see the transactions list like everyone else and ponder who's available.''
So, Oakland has been engaging in mere window-shopping so far, though there is sentiment in the locker room for that to change.
``I'm not saying anything bad about who we have here (at receiver),'' backup quarterback Bobby Hoying said. ``Obviously, (Rison) has great talent. I think he's still got it.''
An even stronger Rison ally is starting quarterback Rich Gannon, another ex- Chiefs teammate. Gannon said yesterday Gruden has asked him for an appraisal of Rison, and Gannon replied he'd be a good fit, given Rison's familiarity with Oakland's offensive system. It's similar to what the Chiefs use.
``He's still a very productive player,'' Gannon said. ``The guy's had a great deal of success in the league. Jon (Gruden) asked me if I'd recommend the guy for this team, I said `absolutely.' He's wreaked a lot of havoc on corners and defensive backs in the league. If he's going to do it in this league, I'd rather have him do it with us.''
Rison, who has played for six teams in his 11 NFL seasons and been selected to five Pro Bowls, caught 72 passes for 1,092 yards and seven touchdowns in 1997, his first year with the Chiefs. His production has slipped dramatically since then, and that Kansas City wanted to clear room for top draftee Sylvester Morris and make Derrick Alexander the top receiver also factored into the decision to drop him.
Raiders followers most remember Rison for his last-second touchdown pass in the 1997 home opener, on a Monday night. That not only gave the Chiefs a 28-27 win, but the Oakland season was toast from that night on. Rison has made plenty of news over the years as a reputed disruptive influence on a squad, and was the brunt of more than a few jokes when a spat with his girlfriend prompted her to burn his house to the ground a few years ago.
Gannon knows all this, not buying that Rison has so much baggage that he should be avoided at all costs.
``He's a great guy,'' Gannon said. ``Like a lot of other players in the league, he's got a label, a rap. He's not what you think. He's a hard worker. . . . He leads by example. He was one of my favorite guys in Kansas City to be around.''
Gannon just might have an opportunity to be around Rison again. Walker mulled over the Raiders' receiving corps if Rison joined Tim Brown, Rickey Dudley and James Jett.
``It's going to be potent if it happens,'' Walker said.
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