As of 9:01 p.m. Thursday, Andrew Walter is the starting quarterback of the Oakland Raiders.

Because he is the only quarterback of the Oakland Raiders.

Aaron Brooks, who the club announced would not be back last week, officially came off the books Tuesday. That provided an additional $5.7 in salary cap room to the miniscule $87,773 under the approximately $109 million ceiling.

Marques Tuiasosopo, barely a factor in six seasons, earns his freedom as an unrestricted free agent.

Which leaves Walter all by his lonesome.

There are those close to Walter who believe he may need a year to decompress and re-learn football in a new system after being exposed to the disaster of 2006. Experience is supposed to be a good thing, but you wonder if Walter learned anything other than being a confused fumbler waiting to be sacked in eight games as a starter.

Walter aside, your 2007 Oakland Raiders starting quarterback could be on this list:

Jeff Garcia: There is some interest on the Raiders part here, a reliable source claims. As a potential starter, no less.

If the Raiders draft JaMarcus Russell, all of 21 years old, they need a veteran caretaker, much as Kurt Warner was with the New York Giants until Eli Manning took over.

I’ve got mixed feelings on this one. Garcia was marvelous for Philadelphia last season, and he’s done some good things when he had a solid supporting cast that was suited to his skills.

But on a team which isn’t doesn’t have reliable short-yardage receivers, backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield and an offense that allows him to move and be creative, Garcia is awful.

Since no one knows exactly what a Lane Kiffin offense looks like yet, it’s hard to know whether this would be a good move or not.

Aaron Rodgers: This one arrived courtesy of ProFootballTalk.com, the Web site that correctly reported the Randy Moss-to-Oakland deal before anyone else. The Raiders supposedly thought Walter was better than Rodgers, straight-up, in the 2005 draft. And the Packers are said to be less than thrilled with the former Cal star.

So why do it? It offers the opportunity to unload Moss and his $9.75 million salary cap figure in exchange for Rodgers’ salaries of $505,000, $680,000 and $800,000 over the next three years.

Salaries can’t play quarterback, of course.

We have no idea at this point what Kiffin thought of Rodgers when they were Pac-10 competitors at Cal. If Kiffin is a big Rodgers fan, this isn’t out of the realm of possibility. If he isn’t, Al Davis will likely want more. Like Rodgers and a third-round pick, perhaps. Rodgers and any pick better than a third is slam-dunk. You take it and thank the heavens.

Rodgers wouldn’t even have to be the starter. He could battle Walter for the job while Russell got his crash course.

David Carr: At the NFL scouting combine, Houston coach Gary Kubiak and G.M. Rick Smith didn’t exactly shower Carr with praise. He can be had for the right price. You bring in Carr, however, and you’re probably not taking Russell with the top pick in the draft.

Byron Leftwich: Was the Jaguars’ commitment to Leftwich the real thing? Leftwich has been silent on the matter, so he may not believe it. Moss-for-Leftwich has been rumored, but that appears highly unlikely.

Yes, Mike Tice is a Jacksonville assistant who Moss likes. But Tice isn’t the head coach of the Jaguars. That would be Jack Del Rio, an old-school type who isn’t likely to take a chance on anyone who went through the motions as Moss did last season.

Jake Plummer: On his way out in Denver, he has talked of retirement. Frankly, I like the idea of Plummer over Garcia as a caretaker quarterback if the Raiders select Russell. Is he going to get you a Super Bowl? No. But he won a lot of games in Denver and the Raiders aren’t going to the Super Bowl any time soon.

Trent Green: The word is the Chiefs may be willing to trade him. They re-signed Damon Huard as a backup, and I talked to more than one person at the combine who said they absolutely love the long-term prospects of Brodie Croyle, a rookie last season.

JaMarcus Russell: Pick him and throw him in there. What the hell.

Not the wisest course of action, however. Probably ought to sit and learn awhile.

Brady Quinn: Have a hard time envisioning him as the No. 1 pick based on his performance in big games in college. Then again, Peyton Manning couldn’t win the big one at Tennessee, either. He’s not Manning (Eli, maybe), but Quinn should be the most NFL-ready rookie based on his two years with Charlie Weis.

Matt Schaub: If the Raiders could somehow wrest this restricted free agent from Atlanta, he could be the best option of all. He’s knows offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and line coach Tom Cable. The Raiders won’t sign Schaub and pay the first- and third-round draft picks.

The question is what Atlanta would want in a trade. I seriously doubt Bobby Petrino wants to start his first NFL job with Moss on the roster.

Late addition . . .

Joey Harrington: Detroit and Miami both let him go . . . another former Pac-10 talent Kiffin his familiar with.

Allison Long posted the correction in a blog entry regarding the passing of her husband, former Raiders public relations employee Craig Long, but I wanted to post it again for anyone who missed it.

The correct information for the Craig Long Memorial Fund:

Via bank
Allison Long
Bank of America
405 South Main St.
Salinas, CA 93901

Account No.: 00728-60472

Or if mailing:
Under name: Allison Long
63 Carmel Avenue
Salinas, CA 93901

Write “Craig Long Memorial Fund” in the memo section of the check.

Those who made donations to the original account number which was incorrectly published by the funeral home will have their checks returned due to an invalid account.

Additional information and comments on Craig from friends and family can be found at www.stuveandlaporte.com.