Breaking news: Raiders to cut Russell

ESPN is reporting the Oakland Raiders are awaiting approval from owner Al Davis to cut 2007 No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell. Russell was benched after 12 games last season due to his poor performance.

Raiders draft, Part II: ‘Deep draft’ yields strong line-up

The first three round of the NFL draft usually earn the most attention. That’s when the familiar names and big “numbers guys”—meaning players who look really good on paper—get picked up by teams that have done their homework and have wrestled with trades and money to attain them.

4.26.2010

The only owner to bring the Warriors franchise to a championship since the move out west, Franklin Mieuli, died over the weekend. The Trib has the obit. California continues to struggle with enacting its own laws regulating illegal immigrants, falling second to the federal government’s power over the situation. An Oakland man was arrested over the weekend for bailing on five checks from Marin restaurants in the last four months. Back to eating slosh at county.

2010 NFL Draft: Al Davis speaks to Kirk Morrison

It’s been confirmed that Raiders owner Al Davis has told recently traded Kirk Morrison the “doors to the organization will always be open” to him. Morrison was traded to Jacksonville in the fourth round in return for a second fifth round pick. It has also been confirmed that quarterback Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins will now be a Raider.

2010 NFL Draft: Trade in the works

Mid-way through the fifth round, reports are coming out that the Redskins and Raiders are discussing a trade for QB Jason Campbell. Before the draft, the Redskins acquired Donovan McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles and if he starts, which he more than likely will, Campbell will have to take a place on the bench. Campbell can have a fresh start in Oakland, a team that definitely needs a pair of fresh legs to fill that position.

2010 NFL Draft: Raiders acquire Walter McFadden

In the fifth round, the Raiders picked Walter McFadden from Auburn at the defensive back position. This should round out the defensive front head coach Tom Cable has been focusing on as top priority in press conferences following the first three rounds. McFadden played cornerback for the Auburn Tigers. The 23-year-old Pompano Beach, Florida native weighs in at 175 lbs. He finished 12th in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC) in passes defended.

2010 NFL Draft: Round 4

Morning, early risers! The action is well under way at Day 3 of the draft. Oakland has already drafted two newbies, Bruce Campbell (106th pick) and Jacoby Ford (108th pick). Now that linebacker Rolando McClain, drafted in the first round, is in the picture, there’s no more need for veteran Kirk Morrison, who led the team in tackles last season. So the Raiders orchestrated a trade with Jacksonville, trading Morrison for a second fourth round pick, which they used to…

Raiders wrap up: NFL Draft Rounds 1-3

With Rounds 1-3 complete, the Raiders have hammered out the line of scrimmage, building upon last year’s mid-season acquisition, defensive end Richard Seymour. Oakland lost most of its games last season due to the team’s inability to stop the run. In its first three picks, the organization has done its best to fill that need.

2010 NFL Draft: Small school victory wraps up day two

The Raiders remain a mysterious force. There’s been talk about Bruce Campbell, the large-and-in-charge offensive lineman from the University of Maryland, since early on in the day and he was still available by the time the Raiders had to make a choice in the third round. And the Raiders choose… Jared Veldheer? He’s not one of those well-known names, but believe it or not NFL analysts think this may have been a good move. Part of Veldheer’s lack of notoriety…

2010 NFL Draft: Second round action

More and more time passed and the most coveted players remained on the table. Neither Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame nor Taylor Mays of USC had been chosen by the time the Raiders 44th pick came around. Minutes before their time came up, the Raiders traded their 39th pick to the Buccaneers for a 2nd round pick and a spot in the 5th round. Turned out to be a good trade as Tampa failed to nab any Oakland’s prospects, picking…

Let the games begin…

For the duration of the draft, I will be reporting directly from the Raiders headquarters in Alameda, keeping you up-to-date with the Raiders’ big moves. Any burning questions? Let me know.

4.23.2010

A child care provider in was arrested in Oakland yesterday by Vallejo police. He is accused of possessing child pornography. Community members will rally today on the 1800 block of Telegraph Ave. at 3pm to protest the brutal attack on Tian Sheng Yu. On the opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, Oakland is having its very own movie night. Tonight at Jack London Square, the Oakland Underground Film Festival will kick off with a screening of…

4.22.2010

Follow up: The two men involved in the attack which led to the death of a San Francisco resident on Telegraph Avenue will be facing murder charges according to the Alameda County district attorney. Yesterday morning, a police officer shot and wounded a man in East Oakland. The victim is in critical condition. The Raiders remain mysterious. Who will be drafted for the 2010 season? We’ll find out tonight. The draft will be televised starting at 4:30 PST. Stay tuned.