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Archive for February, 2013
The NFL’s 2013 free-agency period, beginning on March 12, will be another important phase of the offseason for Reggie McKenzie, Dennis Allen and the Oakland Raiders.  This Raiders regime is committed to building the team the right way. That way is largely based upon doing so through the draft, which free agency is a big part of as well.  There are certainly positives that can come from a free-agency period if done the right way, but we have all too often seen teams that put themselves in difficult situations after making the wrong moves.  That is something that this Raiders ...
The Oakland Raiders are rumored to select Geno Smith at No. 3 overall in the 2013 NFL draft.According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Oakland could be a sleeper team to draft this year's consensus top rookie passer: The Raiders could be pouncing on West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith with the third overall selection. Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that there are rumors of the team’s interest in Smith, who by virtue of the fact that he was the fastest quarterback in Indy makes him an obvious candidate to play for the Raiders. If the Raiders take him, Carson ...
Much has been made of this year's crop of quarterbacks, and while the class of 2013 may not have a perceived "can't miss" prospect like Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin, West Virginia's Geno Smith is generally regarded as the best of this year's bunch.As ESPN's Bill Williamson reports, colleague Chris Mortensen reported Wednesday that sources said the Oakland Raiders are considering drafting Smith with the third overall pick.It's worth noting, as both Williamson and other sources have pointed out, that it's "smokescreen season." The information relayed to Mortensen could easily have been an attempt by Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie ...
So far, it has been relatively ho-hum for the Oakland A's in spring training. In many ways, that is already an improvement over how last year started.And even though it is very early, the first week is enough time to allow a few things to surface. Of those early observations, here are the five that stand out for me. Jemile WeeksFirst and foremost, Jemile Weeks looks much more like the player from 2011 who provided excitement and buzz for the A's. After last year's struggles with too many pop-ups and strikeouts, Weeks has leveled his swing and so far gotten back ...
With 10 infielders on the 40-man roster, the Oakland Athletics certainly have options around the horn. But which combination is the best? First base seems clear: Brandon Moss starts, and Daric Barton will compete for a spot on the 25-man roster. Second base is a wide-open competition predominately between Jemile Weeks and Scott Sizemore. Though Jed Lowrie could very well earn the spot, too. Furthermore, Lowrie, a natural shortstop, could bump Hiroyuki Nakajima to second base. At this point, Nakajima is slated to be the everyday shortstop. Then there's third base. Josh Donaldson has a hold on the position dating back to the end ...
It is the time of year when there is a lot of speculation about the upcoming NFL draft, and there is new speculation that Geno Smith is high on the Raiders' radar in the wake of Alex Smith joining the Kansas City Chiefs.The Chiefs were thought to be targeting Geno Smith with the first overall pick in April's draft, but they are going with a different Smith in Alex Smith.  With the trade for Alex Smith, the door opens for Geno Smith to fall to the Raiders at the third pick.It is early in the offseason and the draft is ...
With spring training in full swing, there is a chance for fans to not only see the returning, new and expected members of a major league roster, but also to get a look at their team's best prospects.Most of these players are pretty well known by die-hard and regular fans. However, there are also players who have to make an impact that fans simply don't know that much about. Many are non-roster invites, but there are some minor league players who were not as heralded but have played themselves into prospect status.In the case of the Oakland A's, there's the ...
The Oakland Raiders haven't had a lot of success with first-round picks in recent years, and if recent reports are to be believed, a franchise that badly needs to hit with their high picks as they try to rebuild is preparing to shoot themselves in the foot once again.Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported (via Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio) on Wednesday that there are rumors that the Raiders are interested in selecting West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith with the third overall pick in April's NFL draft.That pick would follow a rather depressing precedent that the Raiders have set with their ...
The Oakland Raiders are reportedly interested in adding former Super Bowl winning coach Mike Holmgren to their front office for the 2013 NFL season.Bill Williamson and John Clayton of ESPN.com report that the Raiders have been discussing a leadership position for Holmgren to join the franchise, though it is not yet clear exactly what positions are being discussed or offered for the 64-year-old. The Oakland Raiders have been talking to former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren about a leadership position within the organization, according to two sources.Holmgren would be a natural candidate because of his relationship with Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie. For several months, the Raiders ...
The Oakland Raiders hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft and are considering using it to select former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen on NFL 32, Oakland is considering making Smith the No. 3 overall pick in the draft (h/t Rotoworld):"Word around the NFL is the Raiders have interest in Geno Smith with that third overall pick in the draft," said Mort. "Now I can't get this confirmed by the team, but Geno Smith is a guy that everybody sees as a top-10 pick right now -- not everybody -- but he's got ...