The first workout day of the NFL Scouting Combine is in the books. It was a day for offensive linemen and tight ends to show off their skill sets and attributes that may not be visible on tape.
For others, it was a confirmation—the first physical interview that matches the player with the film resume.
Specifically for the Oakland Raiders, the offensive line could be an interest point with Menelik Watson's struggles for a portion of the 2014 season and Stefen Wisniewski’s unclear future.
Don’t be surprised if the Raiders also look to add an extra blocking tight end as added protection for ...
The Oakland Raiders are finally ready to part ways with running back Darren McFadden, who has been a below-average running back since 2011. McFadden hasn’t had a decent season since he returned from a Lisfranc injury in his foot and the team fired Hue Jackson.
Ready to take the reins as Oakland’s top running back is Latavius Murray, who nearly outrushed McFadden last year on about half the carries and did match his touchdown total. Turning to Murray was long overdue last season when the Raiders’ running game was anemic, but now it makes even more sense.
Murray is a big, explosive ...
With seven All-Stars under contract through the 2015 season, many thought the Oakland Athletics would remain silent in winter meetings.
General manager Billy Beane had other ideas, and he dealt fan favorites like Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss and Jeff Samardzija for a collection of younger, less established players.
Oakland's penny-pinching owner Lew Wolff couldn't afford (or to hear Donaldson tell it, didn't want to afford) to keep all his stars around. Some of the deals Beane pulled off netted the A's a good return while parting with expendable players, but others suggested the team was nearing a rebuilding period.
Just like last year, ...
No Oakland Athletics player will be more exciting to watch and have more potential impact on the roster this year at spring training than Barry Zito.
If you recall, Zito came up through the A's organization, helping form one-third of The Big Three (with Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson). After one Cy Young award and three All-Star appearances, Zito went to the other side of the bay, signing with the San Francisco Giants for a then-record for pitchers $126-million, seven-year deal.
The tall lefty had a tumultuous time in San Francisco.
His ERA rose from 3.55 to 4.62. As he aged, he appeared ...
The Oakland Raiders have several needs they want to address with the fourth pick in the 2015 NFL draft.Should the Raiders look to take a wide receiver with the fourth pick? Is there a player who could sway the Raiders from picking a wide receiver?Watch as Stephen Nelson and Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area discuss the Raiders' draft options in the video above. Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
Every offseason in Oakland seems to be more important than the one before it. Until the Raiders can climb out of the bay-area mud and wash away the stench of the darkest years in franchise history, that will continue to be the case.
The Raiders will rely on general manager Reggie McKenzie and head coach Jack Del Rio—an unlikely partnership forged by owner Mark Davis. It’s in their best interest to make the relationship work, but like an arranged marriage, it’s not going to be without its challenges.
The NFL Scouting Combine is the first offseason event with great potential to unite ...
Barry Zito and the Oakland Athletics are reuniting.
The team announced Zito has been signed to a minor league deal:
The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser initially reported the news on Monday.
CBS Sports' Jon Heyman added some monetary details:
Zito commented on the news, via Slusser: "I just want to pitch. I love baseball. I want to enjoy the game...I’ll let my pitching speak for itself—or not speak for itself. Talk is cheap. We’ll see what happens when it happens."
Zito, a first-round pick by the A's in 1999, spent seven seasons with the team, compiling 102 wins, a 3.55 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He ...
This is the offseason, but NFL front offices are on full throttle. The Oakland Raiders have another top-five pick that could potentially become a building block within the roster for years to come.
However, drafting a bust or marginal talent at the top of the draft will keep Oakland in the cellar of the AFC West, so it’s essential that the front office continues to do its homework—starting with the NFL Scouting Combine, keeping eyes on the best selections for the fourth overall pick.
The rumor mill is always churning. Some reports should be taken with a grain of salt, while others ...
The Oakland Raiders are in desperate need of an elite wide receiver. The team had several intriguing receivers in 2014, but no one stepped up as a true No. 1 option. With Derek Carr looking like the answer at quarterback, Oakland now has to focus on securing a reliable receiver threat.
Fortunately, the Raiders are in a great position to address this issue. They have the fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft, and the three teams in front of them are unlikely to select a wide receiver. This means that the Raiders can select any receiver they want.
Oakland also has a ...
Oakland Athletics' FanFest is in the books, which means the next big event is the beginning of spring training.
It's been a hectic offseason, so whether you've lived under a rock or paid full attention, you'll probably need a refresher course regardless.
The team made plenty of additions. That, of course, was to fill the myriad losses. Oakland made some coaching changes. The farm system has been shaken up. All in all, the A's have changed—big time.
As we head into spring training, let's take a look at all of those changes and preview the lineup, rotation, bullpen, potential breakout candidates, prospects to watch ...