It’s about time someone signed Jeff Garcia. Today, the Oakland Raiders agreed to terms with Jeff on a one-year deal. Considering the fact that he started 11 games last season for the Tampa Bay Bucs, he’s an impressive insurance policy for the Raiders behind incumbent starter JaMarcus Russell. In fact, if JaMarcus should falter, I have every confidence Jeff can step in.

As far as free agent QBs are concerned, I was very surprised to see Jeff continue unemployed this far into the offseason. I mean, last season he had 2,712 yards passing, a 90.2 rating and 12 touchdowns to just …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
It is with great sadness that the search and rescue mission for NFL players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, and former South Florida football player William Bleakley, has come to an end. The Coast Guard covered 24,000 square miles in three days and were unable to find these men. Coast Guard Captain Timothy Close said if there were any other survivors, they would have been found. Nick Schuyler was the only survivor on the boat and while he has been mostly unable to offer much information because of his condition in recovery, he did tell …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
NFL players Corey Smith (Detroit Lions) and Marquis Cooper (Oakland Raiders), and former University of South Florida football player William Bleakley, are still missing after their boat was found capsized off the Florida Gulf Coast today. The Coast Guard found the boat and one of its passengers, Nick Schuyler, also a former University of South Florida football player. Nick is in serious but stable condition at Tampa General Hospital. After finding him, the Coast Guard has now been able to narrow their search, but these men have been officially missing for nearly 48 hours so …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Two NFL players — Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper — are reported missing off Florida’s Gulf Coast in a fishing boat. Corey and Marquis (and two other men) were on a 21-foot vessel that left Clearwater Pass for a fishing trip yesterday morning, but they didn’t return as expected according to the Coast Guard today. They’ve been missing for nearly a day in choppy seas. No distress signal was ever received from the missing craft. The search continues.
Source: NFL.com

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Oakland Raiders interim head coach Tom Cable was named the team’s official head coach today (he’ll be introduced at a presser tomorrow). Coach Cable went 4-8 after replacing Lane Kiffin last season, including winning his last two games against Houston and Tampa Bay. Apparently that was all the proof owner Al Davis needed to make his decision even though it comes over a month after those final victories and subsequent interviews with Kevin Gilbride (N.Y. Giants) and Winston Moss (Green Bay Packers).
This is not a surprise. I think keeping coach Cable is the only …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Apparently so desperate for a head coaching position is Jim Fassel, he resorted to sending a handwritten letter (nice touch) to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis expressing his respect and admiration for Mr. Davis and his desire to obtain the worst job in the National Football League. Uggh. I can’t understand why anyone would want to put themselves through the torture of attempting to accomplish the seemingly impossible — which is making winners out of the modern day Oakland Raiders under 79-year-old owner Al Davis. If Coach Fassel is hired in 2009, he’ll be the …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Oakland Raiders continue to be involved in the unfathomable. After giving cornerback DeAngelo Hall his walking papers and $8 million for eight games, the team will now be without receiver Javon Walker who will have season-ending surgery on his ankle after eight games. He walks limps away with $13 million even though he had a colossally disappointing 15 catches for 196 yards and one touchdown during that time. Unbelievable.
Source: SFGate.com

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
As anticipated, Oakland Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall was released by the team today. NFL.com reported “DeAngelo was practical, saying he understood and was not angry.” Of course he understands. My guess is he’s elated to get out of the black hole:
“This is a blessing. I have learned it’s not all about the money. I’ve learned now it’s more about the team. Ain’t all money good money. I took the bait. I went for the money and I didn’t research the situation. But I don’t think I would trade this for the world. Just to meet …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Nothing coming out of the Oakland Raiders organization really surprises me anymore. Therefore, while I was not anticipating the team releasing their biggest offseason acquisition, they are, in fact, ready to give cornerback DeAngelo Hall his walking papers. And I’m not shocked. The whole situation was supposed to hit the fan today, but the Raiders are apparently putting it off until tomorrow for some reason.
If DeAngelo is cut (and all signs are pointing to exactly that happening), he will have made $8 million for his eight games with the Raiders. Yeah, I know. As …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Their 2-6 record might not immediately announce themselves as the worst team in the National Football League. But the Oakland Raiders are the worst team in the National Football League. And they proved it yesterday in one of the most pathetic performances I have ever seen from an NFL team. Raiders safety Gibril Wilson had no answers afterward:
“During the week, we look like we’re a Super Bowl team, and we come out there and we’re damn near the laughingstock of the league, and it’s ridiculous. I’ve never been in a situation where it’s been like …read more