http://www.yardbarker.com/content/team/43 Recent articles about the Oakland Raiders en-us In a move that Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles could see coming a mile away, LaMont Jordan has been released according to the NFL Network. After signing his big contract in 2005, Jordan could not finish a season and averaged 3.8 yards a carry each of his three seasons in Oakland. To say that he was disappointing would be an understatement. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:38:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295767 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295767 The Raiders did the only thing they could do with running back LaMont Jordan. They released him Friday. The dismissal, first reported by profootballtalk.com, was confirmed by a league source this afternoon. By cutting Jordan, the Raiders did the smart thing and avoided an unnecessary training camp showdown and a potential grievance filing with the league. The Raiders told Jordan not to report to camp this week even though he was under contract. With no teams willing to trade for the onetime 1,000-yard rusher, they had no other choice but to grant his release. So ends a three-year stay that began with a 1,000-yard season in 2005, only to fall apart with consecutive seasons of back troubles. Jordan lost his starting job to Justin Fargas last year, then became further expendable when the Raiders drafted Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the draft. Take into account the May release of Dominic Rhodes, and the Raiders have set the stage for a future that has Fargas mentoring and grooming McFadden to become a franchise star with Michael Bush adding muscle and depth. Next up: sign a player to fill out the 80-man roster. Don't be surprised if they bring back camp arm Jeff Otis or Sam Keller, two quarterbacks released Thursday to make roster room for the last two draft picks to sign. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:33:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295765 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295765 The reports out of training camp are aglow that the Oakland Raiders are off to a good start. Everyone not named LaMont Jordan has reported to camp and is working. The players coming off of injuries are on the mend. Lane Kiffin is now in his element getting the team ready to play some football. This Oakland Raider team looks on paper to be much improved from the previous incarnations. Its easy to look at the schedule and think of the possibility of playoffs. However, the specter of all the offseason drama lingers. The pieces are in place to have a good team, but it is also a chemistry experiment, and if it goes off the rails it will be ugly. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:54:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295678 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295678 For the first time in several years, the 49?ers and Oakland Raiders will hold joint-practices. Both teams announced yesterday that a morning and evening practice session will be staged on Sunday, August 4th at the Raiders' training facility in Napa. Both sessions will be closed to the public. The teams will hook up again on Friday, August 8th as the 49ers will travel across the bay to Oakland for the preseason opener. Kickoff from McAfee Coliseum is scheduled for seven p.m.   Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:08:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295666 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295666 Lamont Jordan was told by the Raiders to not show to training camp but they didn't cut or trade him. Now they have finally decided that they will release him. He could be a good pounding back on short yardage and goal line situations. That is if he still has the desire to be a role player and enough gas in the tank for a couple more seasons. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:52:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295663 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295663 A list of the top 40 fantasy NFL running backs heading into the 2008 season. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:22:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295576 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295576 With the first training camp practice coming this afternoon, a pre-camp review of the Raiders' linebackers: Starters–WLB Thomas Howard, MLB Kirk Morrison, SLB Robert Thomas. Reserves–Jon Alston, Ricky Brown, Jon Condo (long snapper), Isaiah Ekejiuba, Edgerton Hartwell, Grant Irons, Malik Jackson. Remember the days when running backs glided into the wide open spaces behind the Raiders' front four, free to catch passes and turn up field for easy first downs? Nothing against Greg Biekert and Elijah Alexander, a pair of capable savvy veterans, but when the Raiders were winning division titles it seemed only William Thomas was adept in coverage in the Raiders linebacking corps. No longer. Howard intercepted five passes year, took two to the house for touchdowns, and Morrison had four more. Nine picks from two linebackers. Throwing underneath against the Raiders is not without an element of risk. So teams opted to run against them instead, and the bad news is that Morrison and Howard weren't nearly the roadblocks against the run than they were against the pass. At least one defensive lineman grumbled about their inability to get off blocks last year, hinting that the defensive line's troubles against the run wasn't being helped any by two smallish linebackers who didn't adequately fill gaps. Morrison and Howard, who are on the field for most every snap, in theory have help in front of them and behind them this season. Up front is Tommy Kelly, replacing the more run-challenged Warren Sapp. Joining them in the box is strong safety Gibril Wilson, who will lend a physical presence. If these two men play as advertised, Howard and Morrison will demonstrate whether they're one trick ponies or every-down linebackers who can excel regardess of down and distance. What's to like Howard was even running stride-for-stride with Darren McFadden during one minicamp practice. He runs like a young Derrick Brooks and can be a Pro Bowl player if his run defense goes all the way to average. Morrison has a relentlessly positive attitude and is seemingly immune to bad vibes. It shows in the way he pursues and tackles, even if sometimes those tackles are too downfield. Thomas' versatility enables him to step into any situation in a pinch, and special teamer Ricky Brown has the same quality. Ekejiuba is strictly a special teams player and is likely to stay that way, but he is very good at it. The Raiders were a different team when he was on the field _ as he was in their shutdown of Bears' return specialist Devin Hester. The Raiders will watch Hartwell closely. He was a stout run defender with the Ravens who had a serious knee injury with Atlanta. If he can somehow regain his form, he could find a role in short-yardage or even move Morrison to the strong side for some formations against run-heavy teams. What's not Williams simply can't remain healthy enough to become the player Davis is convinced he can be. He is the Raiders' version of Rich Harden _ you're never entirely comfortable waiting for the next trip to the training room. There are those who not only wonder if Hartwell has anything left, but who believe he wasn't all that special in Baltimore and simply profited from playing alongside Ray Lewis. Kiffin loves Alston's speed, recounting the story of the time the linebacker ran down Reggie Bush from behind when Stanford played USC. He got on to the field in some packages last season, but had some troubles in pass coverage despite that speed. After missing a year because of a serious back injury, Irons is back and looks as good coming off the bus as ever. At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, he looks more suited for defensive end than linebacker. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:18:31 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295495 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295495 Raiders coach Lane Kiffin met with reporters for the first time at camp Thursday afternoon. Here are some nuggets, with a blog follow-up coming after the 3-5 p.m. practice. LaMont Jordan: Kiffin said the situation is being handled by Raiders owner Al Davis and agent Alvin Keels. Jordan is the only player on the 80-man roster who is not at camp -- because the team told him to stay away -- and he is not being fined. Javon Walker: The wide receiver is good to go one month after being robbed and assaulted in Las Vegas. He will, however, be limited to one practice a day when there are two-a-days. Other injury updates: Everyone passed the conditioning test Wednesday morning, which means everyone is cleared to practice. Like Walker, others returning from injury will be held to one practice a day: receiver Ronald Curry, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, center Jake Grove and safety Jarrod Cooper -- all players returning from surgery. Camp schedule: Players will practice in pads today, with the game-situation work coming during tomorrow's two-a-day. Training camp will go three weeks and break before the trip to Tennessee. The Raiders also finalized a shared practice with the 49ers, set for Monday, Aug. 4 in Napa. The teams will practice twice that day, which comes the week of their Friday exhibition opener at The Coliseum. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:15:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295489 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295489 NAPA - Lane Kiffin knows his role. Perhaps the offseason drama served as a figurative smack down. Maybe Kiffin is just choosing his words carefully. But he's making it clear: all of the weird things about being an Oakland Raider that Warren Sapp, Stuart Schweigert, Mike Lombardi, Randy Moss or any other former Raider have complained about don't fall on him and he can't change them. "What they're discussing I can't change so that subject is what it is," Kiffin said in his first press conference of training camp. "I go about and I control what I can control and get us as good as we can get with what I can control. I don't have control of that." The Raiders job is unique in that Al Davis is not just the owner, but essentially the general manager, director of player personnel and college scouting. Kiffin has learned to work with the constraints of being a coach under Davis, making headway where he can. "I think you try to change anything there is as far as what you can do to be a better team," Kiffin said. "I'm always going to find the best way to do things that I can and the best way we can put our players in the best situation to win. That doesn't necessarily create a smooth environment or a smooth relationship but that's my job to our staff and our players, I feel." Kiffin said he and Davis have a "working relationship" and they share the same goal of winning. Kiffin said he wasn't worried that he wouldn't return as coach. As the old saying goes, he knew the job was dangerous when he took it. "I think as we've discussed before, when you take this job you realize who the owner is and you realize most guys don't last really long so that is what it is," Kiffin said. "If you sit there and worry about that and you think about that you're not doing the best that you can for your team." Kiffin begins controlling his domain, the practice field, today about 3 p.m. Here are some highlights of Kiffin's chat: LaMont Jordan update "That's Al and LaMont's agent on that and I'm out of that. They're handling it so all the information I've got for you that was relayed to me is that they're continuing to work on it. LaMont won't be here and we won't be fining him." Jordan's agent, Alvin Keels, will file a grievance if this isn't resolved soon. NFL rules prohibit teams from not allowing players to report. On Javon Walker, who suffered a fractured jaw and orbital when robbed last month in Las Vegas according to a police report. "I don't know about all those reports. I know this. I know he's here, that he's going to practice, and it's as if nothing happened as far as him being on the field. No restrictions at all that have to do with that. We're going to start out with him as one-a-days as far as two-a-days, but that has nothing to do with that." Kififn said Walker's knee is fine and that he's in good shape after mentioning Walker needed to lose some weight multiple times this offseason. "He ran well today. He's actually down about eight pounds about where he was last time we had him, and his body fat measurements were down as well. So I'm anticipating that he's in much better shape. He looked it, just what he did right there, but we'll see in the two-hour practice this afternoon." Kiffin believes Walker will be more careful after being robbed. "We all make mistakes as far as situations we put ourselves in, and I know Javon is going to be more safe as far as who he's around and having the right people around him. Javon's a really nice guy that is very trustworthy -- to a fault sometimes -- and has had a lot of people around him, maybe with not the proper security around him that you should have, especially (since) that it's so well known how much money he makes, so it was a learning experience for him. Nnamdi Asomugha reporting in time for the first practice rather than holding out in protest of being the team's franchise player. "I think it's a statement about who he is. Obviously he didn't have to be here. He could have stayed out of camp, and for him to be here the first day to run the conditioning test with us today, shows what a team player he is and who he is." Every player passed the conditioning test, including Terdell Sands, listed at 335 pounds but was close to 400 pounds last season. "Sands made his conditioning test today. I know there were some guys worried because in position groups if everybody didn't make a certain number they had to keep going. If everybody made a certain number they didn't have to do their final one. So a lot of guys were over there stretching Sands, giving him some extra Gatorade, they were cheering him on. But it was good because the position groups went at different times so guys were on the sidelines, other position groups, cheering him on." Kiffin estimates there will be seven or eight new starters on the team. His goal of "fixing the locker room" is moving and he thinks he's seen progress. "I think we work better," Kiffin said. "I think our players are more positive in the way they go about things. They don't look to the negative as much as when we got here. There was so much negativity when we got here, so much losing, so much the players were always complaining about this or whining about that. And I think we've gotten rid a lot of that. We've got some guys out here that were that way and we have some guys that were on the fence that we got to change. I know our environment is better and the way our players go about their work is better. Now we've just got to put this new guys together and form a team." Kiffin is happy to have Darren McFadden in camp and ready to go after not having JaMarcus Russell all of camp last year. Kiffin reports Russell is in good shape and did fine in the conditioning test even though he's 50 pounds heavier than some of the quarterbacks. McFadden spent a lot of time in the Bay Area preparing for camp. Kiffin already likes how McFadden and Russell carry themselves. "Darren's been here most of the last month even though guys were off and didn't' have to be here," Kiffin said. "He was here working out and is in phenomenal shape. The thing that I really like about both of them is they're real football guys. They really do like football, they like being out here. I think Darren will practice for four hours if you let him. Since I've known him I've never heard one negative thing come out of his mouth." Camp notes *The 49ers will be in Napa on Aug. 4 for two practices prior to their Aug. 8 preseason game against the Raiders. The day will be fun like a regular Raiders two-a-day session. The first practice will be 9-11 a.m. followed by a 7-9 p.m. practice. *Today's practice will be in pads. *Walker (knee), WR Ronald Curry (foot), DT Tommy Kelly (knee), center Jake Grove (knee) and safety Jarrod Cooper (knee) will be limited to one practice a day to start training camp. All spent part of the offseason rehabbing from their injuries. Kiffin said they would be re-evaluated in a week. Kelly is heavier than the team would like but Kiffin doesn't believe it will be a problem getting Kelly ready for the season. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:13:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295488 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295488 Watch video................................................................................... Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:13:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295487 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295487 With the additions of Nnamdi Asomugha, Arman Sheilds and Trevor Scott, the Raiders have waived quarterbacks Sam Keller and Jeff Otis and defensive lineman Tranell Morant to stay at the 80-player limit. LaMont Jordan continues to occupy a roster spot pending his release or a trade. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:11:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295485 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295485 As players from around the league filter in to their respective training camps, the Oakland Raiders have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in 2008. Early hopes by both players and fans would be that the San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs would elect to sit out the season. Unfortunately, as enough players on each team have checked in to make a starting lineup, the chances that Oakland would make the playoffs have faded to nothing. Reports are that both Vegas and Atlantic City oddsmakers have made an unprecedented prediction regarding the likelihood that the Raiders would have any semblance of success this season. For the first time in history, the line for Raiders to make the playoffs is "the infinite symbol" to one. A bet of $1 will result in unlimited money forever. So far, there have been no takers. This is partially due to a lack of faith in Oakland's coaching staff and players, and partially due to true Oakland fans having gone into debt spending their last dollar on Pabst Blue Ribbon and cheap pieces of red meat to tailgate with. Not to mention the black and silver face paint by which they hide the pain that is the rest of their lives. Oddsmakers are also predicting a 2-14 regular season, with wins coming over the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins, by, more likely than not, a score of 3-0 or 6-3. Only the most die-hard and frightening of Raiders fans still hold out hope that the glory days of the John Madden era will be revisited. However, much like Madden, this season is more likely to become a string of completely incomprehensible stupidity that may only be rivaled by the idea that Brett Favre will actually end up with the Minnesota Vikings. Many analysts believe that only one thing could make this season any bleaker for the black and silver: Daunte Culpepper. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:10:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295484 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295484 The 49ers announced plans to scrimmage against the Raiders on Aug. 4 in Napa Valley, Calif. The teams then play in the exhibition opener Aug. 8 at Oakland. The scrimmage is closed to the public. The teams will practice twice on Aug. 4, once in the morning and once in the evening. The 49ers will then return to their facility in Santa Clara that night. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:07:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295483 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295483 Nnamdi Asomugha was on the field for the Raiders' first practice. So was Javon Walker. Find out what they had to say, as well as what else happened during Oakland's first day of training camp. Nnamdi Asomugha surprised more than a few people with his decision to sign the Raiders' franchise tender late but the veteran cornerback said it was an easy call. "I wanted to put everything else behind me and just show up," Asomugha said. "I had heard all the apocryphal stories during the offseason of what was going on so I wanted to put everything to rest and just show up. "I had a lot of people saying don't show up and I had enough people saying show it up so it helped me out. I sought out the counsel that was needed in this situation and I was able to come and be here." Asomugha wasted no time in making his presence felt, making a good read then stepping in front of Javon Walker to intercept a pass from Andrew Walter. Although there had been speculation that the two sides had been close to reaching an agreement on a long-term contract, Asomugha sounded as if that wasn't true. "We went back and forth a few times and weren't able to come up with it, so it depends on what you mean by close," Asomugha said. "But the franchise tag was here so I said OK, what else are you going to do. You've got to play this out and see what happens at the end of the year. "When I was talking to a lot of the players, they were so surprised that I came. But at the same time they weren't because they know it's not about money for me. I really want to win games. That's a big part of why I'm here. It's putting that on the line, that you could get hurt, and those types of things. But it's in the name of being a cohesive unit and coming together and trying to win football games." Kiffin was just happy to have his starting secondary in place after an offseason makeover that included the additions of cornerback DeAngelo Hall and safety Gibril Wilson. "It shows who (Asomugha) is," Kiffin said. "Here's a guy that very easily could have sat out and a number of people, possibly his agent, were telling him to and he decided it was more important to be with his team and to get ready for this season and be with the guys. It shows his character and what he's about." · Meanwhile, Javon Walker took part in his first practice since being found unconscious on a Las Vegas street after being attacked and beaten. While everyone was hoping to hear from Walker exactly what happened that night, the veteran wide receiver politely declined, likely because the case against the two men arrested in the attack is ongoing. There was no evidence of the facial trauma and injuries he supposedly suffered during the attack. A Las Vegas police report indicated Walker had suffered a fractured jaw and fractured right orbital bone. "I ain't talking about that," Walker said. Asked if the details in the police report were wrong, Walker shrugged. "I don't even know. I ain't even heard it," he said. "You're all telling me something new for the first time. To tell the truth, I haven't really seen nothing about it. I just let everybody go into speculations of what they heard and what they think they know, to when I get ready to come out and tell what really happened. I'll clear it up then." And that time isn't today? "Nah, it ain't today. It's too soon for that," Walker said. Walker did talk about his first day of training camp with the Raiders. After being chastised by Kiffin for being overweight in the offseason, Walker was noticeably slimmer in practice and showed no lingering effects from the knee injuries that have plagued him in recent years. "I was out there doing everything today. I'm healthy as can be, not limited from anything," Walker said. · Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly broke a four-year silence with the media when he stopped after practice and chatted with reporters. Kelly, who signed a $50 million contract in the offseason and inherits the position left vacant by Warren Sapp's retirement, looked strong after sitting out OTAs and minicamps while rehabbing from knee surgery. "He's stronger than he's ever been and you can see that, the movement in the pocket," Kiffin said. "He probably had three sacks today if we would have let him bring down JaMarcus. He was really pushing the pocket really strong, and as he continues to get his weight down you'll see even more quickness come out as well." Kelly admitted he was surprised to receive such a lucrative contract from the Raiders but noted that people shouldn't expect the same type of player that Sapp was. "Sapp is more of a finesse guy, he danced," Kelly said. "I'm a little more aggressive, I try to get into my man." · Tight end Fred Wakefield lined up with the defense and was taking reps at defensive end. The plan is to have the veteran continue to work on both sides of the ball, though the emphasis for now appears to be on defense. · Quarterbacks Sam Keller and Jeff Otis, along with defensive lineman Tranell Morant were cut. The moves leave the Raiders with only three quarterbacks in camp, but Kiffin said he expects that to change in the coming days. · Running back LaMont Jordan has been told to stay away from practice while he continues to seek a trade to another team. That isn't likely to happen, at least not until another team loses a running back in camp to injury. · Second-year offensive lineman Mario Henderson is listed as the backup to starting right tackle Cornell Green but Henderson was taking reps at left tackle as well. · Jake Grove handled all the first-team reps at center but Kiffin warned not to read too much into it. John Wade will get his shot as will Chris Morris, who took some reps at right guard with the second offense while Wade ran center. "They'll decide who plays there by the way they practice and the way they play in the preseason," Kiffin said. "All three of them will get a shot. Jake will get a lot of reps when he's out here because he's at a one-a-day. Those other two have two practices to get all their reps so you'll see more of Jake when he's practicing than the other guys." · Ricky Brown and not Robert Thomas was playing strongside linebacker when the first-team defense got on the field. Brown had a solid offseason and has worked his way up the depth chart. Thomas worked at middle linebacker with the second-string unit while Brown stayed at strong side with the second unit in an effort to get additional reps at the spot. · Kiffin has raved about the hands of running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush but Justin Fargas hasn't been as consistent. During a skeletal passing drill he dropped a long but catchable pass from quarterback Andrew Walter. · Speaking of McFadden, the rookie running back was sensational in his first training camp practice. McFadden darted through holes, made swift cuts and left defenders grabbing at air. At one point, his feet moved so quick they slipped out from underneath him. "Darren really showed up today," Kiffin said. "(He) had a number of explosive plays on the ground. Didn't catch the ball very well but I thought his speed really showed on a number of plays." · Fourth-round draft pick Arman Shields made some nice plays, going to the ground to make one catch. Shields missed much of the offseason with an injury and is behind the rest of the receivers but he got off to a good start in camp. · Wide receiver Drew Carter made the catch of the day when he ripped the ball out of the hands of defensive back Michael Waddell then took off downfield. · Michael Huff, now at free safety, made a good play to break up a pass from JaMarcus Russell for tight end Tony Stewart. Those are plays the Huff was hesitant to make while at strong safety down in the box so it's a definite positive sign. · Second-year wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins ran an inside slant route but dropped a quick throw from Russell. "Set a standard, offense, set a standard," running backs coach Tom Rathman yelled. · Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess had an outstanding practice, albeit at the expense of right tackle Cornell Green. Burgess, who doesn't appear to have an ounce of body fat, breezed past Green twice and had no problems getting to the quarterback no matter who Oakland put in front of him. · Paul Hackett has indeed been hired as a team consultant but the Raiders say he'll have nothing to do with the players. Instead, Hackett -- noted for his work with quarterbacks like Joe Montana -- will serve as an advance scout for Oakland. "He'll always be watching a team a week before us," Kiffin said. "He won't be involved in any coaching or working with the players but he'll assist with that and keep us a week in advance." Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:06:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295480 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295480 NAPA — All 79 players in attendance at the Raiders training camp underwent a conditioning test Thursday morning before the team's first practice. Everyone passed, coach Lane Kiffin said. That includes wide receiver Javon Walker, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and center Jake Grove, players with an uncertain status as recently as two days ago. Asomugha surprised the Raiders by reporting to camp, signing the one-year tender as the team's exclusive franchise player. "It's a statement about who he is," Kiffin said of Asomugha opting against a camp holdout in hopes of receiving a promise from the Raiders that they wouldn't use the franchise tag on him again next year. "Obviously, he didn't have to be here. ... For him to be here the first day to run the conditioning test with us shows what a team player he is." Walker ran well, according to Kiffin, allaying any lingering concerns about facial injuries he sustained during a robbery in Las Vegas six weeks ago. "It's as if nothing happened as far as him being on the field," Kiffin said of Walker. Walker spoke with Bay Area media for the first time since his ordeal but said it was too soon to discuss the matter. Jordan update Running back LaMont Jordan wasn't on the practice field Thursday, as expected. Kiffin said Raiders managing general partner Al Davis has stepped in to work with Jordan's agent, Alvin Keels, toward a resolution. On Wednesday, Keels said the Raiders instructed Jordan not to report to camp and that he asked the team to trade or release his client. "That's Al and LaMont's agent on that, and I'm out of that," Kiffin said. "They're handling it, so all the information I've got for you that has been relayed to me is that they're continuing to work on it. LaMont won't be here, and we won't be fining him." Jordan became expendable with the emergence of Justin Fargas into a top-flight back last year and the arrival of Darren McFadden via the NFL draft. Extra points The Raiders released quarterbacks Sam Keller (San Ramon Valley High School) and Jeff Otis and defensive tackle Tranell Morant to make room for the signings of Asomugha, receiver Arman Shields and defensive end Trevor Scott. "... The Raiders hired longtime offensive-minded coach Paul Hackett, Kiffin said. Hackett's role will be to scout the Raiders' upcoming opponent. "He won't be involved in any coaching or working with the players," Kiffin said. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:04:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295477 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295477