See ‘ya Randy
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 29th, 2007 at 8:15 am in Oakland Raiders.
Randy Moss arrived with a police escort. He left for a fourth-round draft pick.
Moments before the Raiders selected Louisville running back Michael Bush, the Raiders dealt Moss to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round draft pick.
Thus ends a failed two-year experiment in which Al Davis acquired football’s most explosive player in 2005 for Napoleon Harris and the No. 7 selection of the first round of the 2005 draft.
The word is that Moss goes to New England with a shape-up or ship-out ruling from Bill Belichick. Even with that warning, Belichick’s rhetoric about drafting players of character looks a lot like rhetoric at this point, particularly after New England drafted Miami brawl-instigator Brandon Merriweather on Saturday.
As for the Raiders, this was clearly a jump job and another indication Davis is giving coach Lane Kiffin room to run. When the Raiders convene for a mandatory minicamp _ provided Moss passes his New England physical _ they will do so without the most distracting presence in the locker room.
Even if Moss turns it around for New England, this was a necessarily deal for the Raiders. Moss had to go, for the sake of the Kiffin regime.
And if Moss somehow returns to form, disregard all those stories about how the Raiders environment was responsible.
Moss quit on his team, pure and simple. It’s addition by subtraction.
Bush is a 252-pound running back from Louisville who would have been a first-round choice had it not been for a broken leg suffered in his senior year. He can catch as well as run, and with LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes on the roster, the Raiders can allow Bush plenty of time to get ready.
More to come throughout the day . . .
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April 29th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Well there we go guys we got bush. “Steal”
April 29th, 2007 at 8:23 am
WE brought randy in on a limo and should bring him out on a stretcher. Let the nation give him a goodbye a** kickin out the door.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:25 am
I am not up on Bush how long will it be until he is ready to play?
April 29th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Bush can sit all he wants. That broken leg need to recover fully. I wonder who else is available as a STEAL in the 4th round. This draft is beginning to look like A+++ rating by the experts next few days. LOL Good bye Randy! Hope we’d meet again in the playoffs when our shut down corners take your game away!
April 29th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I know we have the luxury to sit M. Bush. I was just wondering what the prognosis is. I think this will be last year Jordan will be on our team unless he shapes up.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Essentially Randy Moss for Michael Bush, as I doubt the Raiders would have taken the risk on Bush without the extra pick.
A few years from now, this could be one of the most lopsided deals you could imagine (in favor of the Raiders).
Then again, it might not.
Time will tell.
In any event, a shrewd, brilliant move by the Raiders.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:41 am
The Falcons had a FULL prognosis of Bush. They were very HIGH on him and talks they were gonna take him in the 3rd round with his injuries. Go to their sites and blogs. They have the prognosis. Raiders got their power RB in Bush. Jerome Bettis 2 IMO.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Bloggers… we’d are picking again after the Falcons. Is there a trade made? Or the ESPN draft cast made some sort of error.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:48 am
This is the 4th round pick from the Pats I believe. After the Falcons pick. Hope this is another draft STEAL pick.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:51 am
John Bowie CB. 40’s 4.24 clock. Another Al Davis pick, look like a sleeper.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:51 am
And the pick is…..John Bowie?!?!?!?
April 29th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Bowie? The 1st Raider pick I know nothing about.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Love the Bush pick. A perfect eventual #1 back to complement either Rhodes or Fargas.
The Moss trade is kind of sad. I would so much rather have had the great player Moss could have been. Oh well, he’s a punk, he’s gone, and I hope the Pats have as much luck with him as we did.
So what’s next? Any fullbacks in the draft?
April 29th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Actually, given the Bowie’s size and speed, I wonder if this isn’t more a special teams pick than a DB pick.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Battle is still there right now. I say take a gamble on Battle. Kiper say he goes in the 6th to 7th on ESPN.
April 29th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Don’t need another FB. We got Justin Griffith. I think we’ll look back at this draft as the point in which the Raiders’ culture changed for the better. I’m already voting for Lane Kiffin as coach of the year.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:02 am
“Dandy” Randy is gone! Good for us. We don’t need quiters on this team and Moss is the poster boy for overpaid non-performers who want to take their ball & go home if things don’t go their way. It’s too bad we only got a 4th for him but maybe that’s all he’s really worth nowadays. Maybe NE coaching can get something out of him, maybe not. In any event, he’s no longer our problem and the freed up cap space will help.
Michael Bush is a great pick! Let him heal to 100% and Jordan will have to get his game together or he’ll be following Moss out of town sooner than later.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Justin Griffith is a blocking FB. We’d need a FB getting the yardage plus blocking. Griffith is just a backup in terms of his career productions.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:04 am
unfortunately, Moss will probably be great for the Pats. i cant believe we traded him to team i hate the most Pack wouldnt give up a 4th rounder? hard to believe. Maybe Randy wouldnt sign with Pack. with all their moves this yr, Pats have to be a favorite to win the big one
April 29th, 2007 at 9:06 am
John Bowie, track speed but raw, some potential but probably would have been available in the sixth round. Can you say ‘classic Al Davis pick?’
I guess Kiff isn’t running the whole show just yet..
April 29th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Do we take a chance on DT Marcus Thomas (Florida) in the 5th ? Good talent with character concerns reminds me of Darrell Russell.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:13 am
As for the Raiders, this was clearly a jump job and another indication Davis is giving coach Lane Kiffin room to run.
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and another indication that Al Davis has plenty of room to run as well.
John Bowie, 5-10 1/2 186, 4.3
strengths: is a good athlete and has ideal quickness. Has the elite speed to cover any receiver downfield and an explosive burst to recover from missteps. Is willing to chase down running backs on the other side of the field. Uses his hands well and is physical with receivers.
weaknesses: is raw and a much better athlete than football player. Started only one season in college and lacks experience. Haas a choppy backpedal and doesn’t change direction quickly. Lacks ball awareness. Is a durability risk after missing most of 2005 with an arm injury.
Bottom line: Bowie has off-the-chart skills — he’s a former Big East 100-meter champion — and can make plays in coverage. He’s an intriguing late round project who eventually could develop into a starter.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:25 am
DT Marcus Thomas is gone. Broncos nab him…
April 29th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Broncos loading up on the D-line
April 29th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Good job AL!! You just gave New England 3 to 4 more superbowls! Way to go!
April 29th, 2007 at 9:29 am
You raider fans are NUTS and as senile as your owner if you think that letting randy moss go will be beneficial to your pathetic offense.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Sleeper, DE/LB Antwan Barnes (Florida Int.)
April 29th, 2007 at 9:30 am
One thing that always gets me about the Raiders is why they can’t wait till the 6th round for these track stars….?????? There were some good people that could have provided depth or developed at DT and TE. What is the real chance of Bowie being anything but scout team or Davis speed scholarship material.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:32 am
….and to top that off, the dumbazz davis traded him to an AFC team?! How stupid can one be?!!
April 29th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Davis was probaly desperate to unload Moss. I probaly do a 5th to GB than Pats. LOL..
April 29th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Brown off the board.. darn another one!
April 29th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Pats were the only team Randy would re-do his deal for. He held the cards. Sucks but it’s that simple.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Point taken, buddy. Thanks . save cap space!
April 29th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Barnes is gone! Darn… another one!
April 29th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Jackie Battle…
April 29th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Richardson is a good pick.. another DE!
April 29th, 2007 at 10:21 am
The actual swap then was Moss for Bowie. We already had the Bush pick.
Bowie could develop into a Dime DB who can roam using his speed and avoiding his weak technique. Special teams cover guy like Cooper.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:30 am
RB Jackie Battle (Houston) is a good sleeper pk at 6′2″ 235lbs. ran a 4.42 but were loaded with RB’s. still worth a 6th rnd pk.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Good WR’s still on the board, though were loaded there to. Dallas Baker / Brandon Myles / Daid Clowney
April 29th, 2007 at 10:34 am
We’d can never have enough talent at RB/FB. LOL.. Remember Alexander and George? I say load up and give this offense more octane. The guys drafted gonna be backup anyways. Plus, look at the RB leaving in FA. I like Battle.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:36 am
George coulda gave the Raiders SuperBowl No.4 trophy IMO. Let’s load up on the running game since teams gonna blitz Russell/McCown/Walter alot! The running game neutralize the blitz!
April 29th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Let’s throw in RB Alonzo Coleman (Hampton)
April 29th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Let’s get David Clowney. The kid is NOT afraid of going contact plus going on the middle of the field where safety takes hard hit. The kid got speed to take it all the way plus the size! Moss and his overpaid salary is GONE. We’d gotta take more gamble to put up the points! IMO Anybody drafted here on is backup, I rather have backup weapons than bench warmers!
April 29th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Another good pk could be OT Mike Otto (Purdue), Give the man double zero and were set.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Coleman lacks hands catching the dumpoffs. Nahh.. let’s stay with the talk about RB/FB.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:48 am
The report say he’s a GOOD zone blocker. We’d could take a gamble with this kid too.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:53 am
My thinking is Jordan and Fargas ain’t the RBs of the future. If Jordan comes thru with 1000+ yards rushing maybe? But, that’s an “if” plus, we’d need to surround Russell with alot of weapons for him to succeed and get the necessary points to win ASAP.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:54 am
More RB’s to throw out there: Garry Russell (Minnesota) 5′11″ 215lbs. 4.43 (40) 6.1 rushing avg. Eldra Buckley (Tennessee-Chattanooga) 5′10″ 200lbs. 4.57 (40) (ran 4.4 as Jr.) 5.7 avg.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Clowney’s gone
April 29th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Gary Russell ran a 4.77 NOT 4.43… look it up.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:01 am
What do the Raiders have 4 more pk’s ? Let’s go RB Jackie Battle, WR Dallas Baker, DT Joe Anoai, & OT Mike Otto.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Buckley…nahh. The other RB is Darius Walker from ND. He’s a sleeper! I say get another weapons this 5th round. The 6th round ain’t garantee they be there.. the OL guys be there in the 6th to 7th. Shit..Clowney GONE!
April 29th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I say take Jackie Battle with the 5th. He gets it done IMO. He might not be there in the 6th to 7th. LOL.. teams are on to these guys.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Thats right, Russell’s the guy who showed up at the combine totallt out of shape. Ran 4.77 & 4.8 I believe, also only did 9 reps of 225lbs. Scratch that.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Russell got alot to prove IMO. No excuse being outta shape at the combine. ZERO excuse IMO.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Dallas Baker looks like a sleeper. LOL.. Otto gonna be there in the 7th. A project. LOL
April 29th, 2007 at 11:15 am
The Raiders lost out on Calvin Johnson. Let’s surround DEEP talent at the WR to compensate CJ draft lost. Give Russell the weapons to succeed.. LOL.. everyone don’t wanna see him BUST out as a Raider. That’s common sense.LOL
April 29th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Eric Frampton. Decent speed not great but Raiders need a little more depth. Good insurance pick for the Raiders.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Frampton’s a good pk, productie S reminds me of (and I’m stretching a little)Brian Dawkins
April 29th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Yes. I forgot about the lack of depth at DB. My mistake. I gotta run, Cya tonight!
April 29th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Lets hope they take that Battle kid too.
Freakish speed for a huge back.
Don’t know if he can cook cajun as well, but if they do, Zack Crockets likely out the door too..
April 29th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Lets make the 6th rnd a sexy pk. RBJackie Battle or WR’s Dallas Baker/Brandon Myles
April 29th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Que ? FB Oreon O’Neal, No Comprende!
April 29th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
what happened to pick 211??????
April 29th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Draft Tracker says 211 choice goes to New England (from Oakland). Maybe that’s a thank you for clearing cap space for us LOL
April 29th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Mixed feelings here in Beantown about Moss deal. We need a power back to replace
Corey Dillon and liked the idea of Bush. Deal w Moss stipulates first bit
of trouble and he gets released. Contract incentive laden w little guaranteed.
I don’t think we need him after signing 3 new free agent receivers. But I GUARANTEE
you this: Bruschi, Vrabel, Seymour et al will show him the door if gives anything less
than 100%.
Good luck to you guys out there. Super AAA ‘07 draft for you!
April 29th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Randy is gone Good> I never wanted him any way. he is a punk . he is only one man.True he might have been a good WR. But the man showed no class unlike Brown and Rice he will never match up to . they were not whiners like moss.maybe he will be in a good mood to catch balls in new england, Good Bye randy moss or should i say good riddance!!!!
May 1st, 2007 at 3:50 am
Jerry -
You said “Belichick’s rhetoric about drafting players of character looks a lot like rhetoric
at this point”
When did he say that? Or are you just reading other headlines before you sit down to
to write? Before you accuse Moss pf taking some plays off, do a little work yourself.
Bellichik was Lawrence Taylor’s coach. He’s from the Al Davis school of “Just win baby!”
It’s Bob Kraft who makes all those “integrity speeches”
Do some homework before you nake any judgements,
May 2nd, 2007 at 11:05 am
PLEASE WHO CARES MOSS IS GONE? WE STILL HAVE PORTER WHO IS JUST AS MUCH THE SAME TEAM CANCER SINCE HES BEEN A RAIDER. HAVE YOU GUYS FORGOT DUDES HISTORY. HE NEEDS TO GO TOO.HES NOT THE ONE WE NEED WITH A YOUNGER WR CORE. JUST A MATTER OF TIME. HE SHOULD KEEP #84. HE DOESNT DESERVE #81. BUT I AM GLAD MOSS IS IN NEW ENGLAND THATS MAYBE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THAT MONSTER THEY GOT GOING ON IN BEANTOWN, MOSS COULD DO MORE GOOD FOR US OVER THERE THAN IN OAKLAND. GIVE HIM A MINUTE TO SPREAD HIS LOVE, DUDE IS A VIRUS.