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Tough decisions by Kiffin knows best
By Stefani Rebekah Black September 2, 2007 |
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This is the time of the year the coach's toughest job is to choose who will be staying and who will be going. Oakland Raiders head coach Layne Kiffin made the choices on Saturday after the Raiders lost to the Seattle Seahawks 19-14 on Thursday night. Some of the cuts were surprising and some were not. Kiffin cut 20 players amongst them some semi household names but household names in the Raider family for the last few years. Nonetheless wave good-bye to Raider main stays wide receiver Alvis Whitted, Carlos Francis, and full back Zack Crockett. Also leaving the team, second team right guard Kevin Boothe, defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne and strong safety Donovin Darius. Missing from the 53-man roster is rookies defensive end Quentin Moses who is a third round draft pick, and fifth round safety Eric Frampton. Kiffin said that all played satisfactory but with what he has to work with and what he could keep some tough decisions had to be made. "We wish the best of all of the players that were released today as there were some difficult decisions that are made,” said Kiffin. “However, we kept the best 53 players for the future success of the Oakland Raiders”. Defensive tackle Tyler Brayton made the cut as he was a first rounder in the 2003 draft picks and succeeds the out going Hawthorne. Gerard Warren another defensive tackle was knocked throughout camp for good measure but made the cut along with wide out Mike Williams. The Raiders now will start the season without three of their six draft picks however; six members of the 11 draftees from this past draft are on the roster. JaMarcus Russell being one of them and still holding out as the Raiders and Russell are still trying to smooth out the $3 million difference in agreement between them. Fourth round pick running back Michael Bush will be placed on the reserve list and has been listed as physically unable to perform. Replacing Moses and the six other draft picks Kiffin is likely to call on Zach Miller a second round tight end who will get a starting role. Moses was surprised to be cut and fifth round pick Jay Richardson and free agent Chris Clemons will be on the opening day roster. Clemons stays in for tough luck Isaiah Ekejiuba who is suffering from a cracked foot which Ekejiuba injured in the last pre season game on Thursday in San Diego. The Raiders improved defensive backs going with 11 backs that included seven corner backs and cut O.J. Santiago and James Adkisson who is blocking tight end. The Raiders kept seven linebackers including Ricky Brown and Jon Condo for special teams. The Raiders get ready for the Detroit Lions and open up at the Coliseum on Sunday September 9th. Stefani Rebekah Black will be covering Raiders football this year with Jeremy Harness on game pre views and Jeremy Kahn on game day reports. quote source: KGO ABC 7 San Francisco |
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