Go Al

[totoro]

ESPN news...

The Raiders have offered their franchise cornerback a deal that would satisfy Woodson's wish to be the highest-paid cornerback -- i.e., more than the seven-year, $63 million deal Denver Broncos star Champ Bailey signed -- the Contra Costa Times reports.

The team that has the best offseason moves. Go Raiders!!

[pennywisesb]

Thats right Al, keep 'em happy. Get ready guys, the Silver and Black is back. This is going to be a great year, I can already feel it.

[yabanci]

From the contra costa times:

Raiders make Woodson huge offer

NAPA -- Raiders senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi said Wednesday that holdout cornerback Charles Woodson has been offered a contract that exceeds the reported seven-year, $63 million deal given to Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. That would satisfy Woodson's desire to be the highest-paid cornerback.

Still, Woodson remains a holdout and the two sides continue negotiating. Woodson's agent, Carl Poston, didn't return a phone call but was interviewed on Sirius NFL Radio.

"We were actually pretty close before there was an increase in Charles' (salary)-cap number," Poston said. "The problem right now is, that the Raiders are a little ... I'll use the word 'bitter' about Charles' cap number going from $7 (million) to $8.7 million, and they don't want to reflect those changes in his contract. So once we get to that point, we can probably get something done."

As the Raiders' exclusive franchise player, Woodson is guaranteed an average of the top five cornerback salaries for 2004. The spike in the one-year tender happened when Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield signed a five-year contract March 5 that included an $11 million roster bonus.

[Franklinnoble]

Uhh... can I remind you Raiders fans of one thing?

Head Coach Norv Turner

[totoro]

Uhh... can I remind you Raiders fans of one thing?

Head Coach Norv Turner


Exactly, he's gonna TURN everything around... :p

[Franklinnoble]

Exactly, he's gonna TURN everything around... :p
As a Washington Redskins fan, I can tell you this much: Turner is a much better offensive coordinator than he is a head coach. He might be a step up from Callahan, but he's not the second coming of John Madden or Tom Flores or anything....

[Pyser]

maybe he's the second coming of art shell.

[judicial clerk]

How has Gannon been looking?

[Mo.Raider]

Sometimes people improve...I am hoping that Norv's prior experience has helped him to evaluate his job performance, and he has learned from his mistakes, while recognizing his strengths. Rob Ryan will vastly improve this Raiders team. From what I have seen Norv is going to rely on the strengths of his staff heavily.

Woodson though is not the best corner in the league. He is a very good tackler for a corner, but he is NOT that much of a ball hawk. If you look at his career totals the interceptions are very average, and if you have watched his career, many were made when the game was out of reach. Don't get me wrong, the Raiders are a better team with Charles on board, but he is not the best corner in the game.

[General Mike]

Sometimes people improve...I am hoping that Norv's prior experience has helped him to evaluate his job performance, and he has learned from his mistakes, while recognizing his strengths. Rob Ryan will vastly improve this Raiders team. From what I have seen Norv is going to rely on the strengths of his staff heavily.

Woodson though is not the best corner in the league. He is a very good tackler for a corner, but he is NOT that much of a ball hawk. If you look at his career totals the interceptions are very average, and if you have watched his career, many were made when the game was out of reach. Don't get me wrong, the Raiders are a better team with Charles on board, but he is not the best corner in the game.

I definitely agree that Woodson is overrated, but interceptions are not the best judge of who is a great corner and who isn't, because the great CBs don't get thrown at.

[Mo.Raider]

I definitely agree that Woodson is overrated, but interceptions are not the best judge of who is a great corner and who isn't, because the great CBs don't get thrown at.

Very true, but Woodson is thrown at more than his ego would allow. He continually says he is bored and then gives up a touchdown. This is usually when I yell in frustration "are ya bored now Chuck". Don't get me wrong, I think Charles is a premiere corner, but if he wants to be the top corner in the game, he needs to mature. Charles needs to put the childish cocky attitude that is so prevalent in pro athletes aside and focus on developing some professionalism that the "greats" display.

[judicial clerk]

Woodson is overrated. I remember the game a few years ago against Arizona when Boston just kept getting great seperation from Woodson and burned us for a couple of long gains (touchdowns?).

I think Woodson would be a better player as a free safety.

[pennywisesb]

How has Gannon been looking?
Judicial clerk, the rumor has it that Gannon's arm looks stronger now than it did before the surgery. Also, he's got Collins breathing down his neck this year, so if he starts to suck again, at least we have a great backup now compared to Rick Myer from last year. I can't stand Rick "Mr. INT" Myer.

[pennywisesb]

Very true, but Woodson is thrown at more than his ego would allow. He continually says he is bored and then gives up a touchdown. This is usually when I yell in frustration "are ya bored now Chuck". Don't get me wrong, I think Charles is a premiere corner, but if he wants to be the top corner in the game, he needs to mature. Charles needs to put the childish cocky attitude that is so prevalent in pro athletes aside and focus on developing some professionalism that the "greats" display.
What I'm worried about with Woodson, is that he hasn't finished the season the last couple of years. I'm worried that we'll end up getting in over our heads by signing him to a big deal, and then him still having injury problems. Hopefully he'll be healthy from here on out.

[totoro]

Well talking about overrated. Last season when Randy Moss got all the hype and came to Oakland. Woodson totally shut him down.....

Overrated, underrated, overpay, underpay..... welcome to NFL

[Ragone]

Sure he shut down randy moss for one game.. but he got torched by johnnie morton for god sakes... i was afraid to look at what david boston or other afc west teams did.. i do know they were throwing away from buchanon towards the end of the year though.

[Raiders Army]

I don't question his talent when he wants to play, but I would question his health. That's way too much to pay someone, regardless of talent, when you look at his injury history.

[Ksyrup]

maybe he's the second coming of art shell.
I don't think so. This is his second head coaching job.

[WSUCougar]

Somewhere in the Bay Area, in a dark basement operating room, Norv Turner is tinkering. Amidst ghastly screams, under the yellowish glare of cheap bare light bulbs, he's making incisions, reshaping, cutting a little here, adding a little there. And when he's finished, no longer will there be any doubts about who will carry the rock for the Silver and Black. No more questions. No more running back by commitee. For it will emerge, Frankenstein-like. The One True Back...




...Zerewheatgasbrick!

The perfect blending of speed, power, 3rd downyness, and 3.0 yards per carry!

[JAG]

LOL!