[TheNextStep]

I'd like to go ahead and respond to some of Stinger's points...

Originally Posted by The Stinger

Sure, they snagged Randy Moss, but look what it cost them. They were cutting players left and right to fit his salary in, and they may lose even more players.

They cut three players to fit his salary. They cut two more to accomodate LaMont Jordan.

Their defense was bad to begin with, but now its horrendous. They traded MLB Napoleon Harris in the Moss trade, along with the 7th overall pick that would have helped in the defense department.

First, Napoleon Harris was outperformed last year by Danny Clark, who had 120 tackles to Harris' 61. Secondly, Napoleon Harris didn't make a single damned play last year that stood out. Guys that get 61 tackles and no big plays DO, in fact, grow on trees.

Secondly, there is not a player in this draft that would be available at #7 who is a better impact player than Randy Moss.

Then they cut S Ray Buchanan in the secondary, and John Parella on the D-line.

True of false: Ray Buchanan sucked.
The answer, of course, it "true." No matter what the Raiders did this off-season, I wanted Buchanan gone. Why? Because his play warranted it. So, seriously, don't point to Buchanan as an example of the Raiders "having to cut" somebody for Moss. He was a guy who is an example of the Raiders "having to cut" somebody for playing like shit on Sundays. No more, no less.

John Parrella is about to be 36 years old, wasn't effective as a nose tackle, and expressed an unwillingness to move to DE in the 3-4 defense. As a result, he was down to #3 on the DT depth chart.

Charles Woodson counts for 10m against the cap, and talks are that he might be traded.

And if he is traded, there's nearly 11 million freed up to hit the free agent market. There's also talk that the Raiders are still trying to work out a long term deal. There's also talk that the Raiders are actively shopping for a cornerback in free agency (Andre Dyson and Ty Law are the ones mentioned most but it was also reported that they were one of the teams who contacted the Dolphins about Pat Surtain). There's also talk that they'll let Woodson play the year on the franchise tender again.

I wouldn't like to lose Woodson, don't get me wrong.

G Frank Middleton is cut from an O-line that needed help, so thats not good news for Kerry Collins.

Frank Middleton has been on Injured Reserve for two years... and adding a running game will certainly help the offensive line in Oakland. Robert Gallery is a year older, as are Jake Grove and Langston Walker. Barry Sims restructured and Brad Badger has played very good ball for us while Middleton was on IR.

I like Middleton and always have. I'm hoping that they bring him back somehow (as they did when they cut him and brought him back two years ago)... but when a guy sits on IR for two years, it is hard to criticize a team for cutting bait on him...