The Tennessean is reporting that restricted free agent defensive back/return specialist Chris Carr has signed an offer sheet with the Tennessee Titans.

The Raiders have a week to decide whether to match the offer and retain Carr. Should they decline to match, Carr, who joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent, would bring no compensation.

During a free agent visit to Buffalo, Carr expressed a desire for a fresh start. Given the recent additions of DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson into the secondary, the Raiders could grant his wish and find another return specialist.

Carr is Oakland’s all-time leader in kickoff returns (201) and yards (4,841), although he never scored a touchdown on special teams. In 2006, Carr had the Raiders’ biggest defensive play of the season, a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown off Ben Roethlisberger that helped put away an upset win against the Steelers.

The Raiders are expected to confirm today the signing of Kalimba Edwards, who according to the NFL Network signed a two-year contract worth $5 million.

Edwards was released by the Lions along with running back Kevin Jones on March 13 by the Lions after being inactive for much of the second half of the season.

Assuming Edwards is coming aboard, it’s an interesting acquistion of an intriguing talent who was let go just a year after signing a lucrative contract extension. Not coincidentally, Edwards had his best game of the season in Week 1 against the Raiders, with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble against Josh McCown which helped the Lions put the Raiders away.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli, one of the most respected line coaches in the league during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, apparently believed Edwards underperformed.

Primarily a right end, Edwards, at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, has been described as either a “big outside linebacker or a small defensive end.” He has the skill set to play either in a three-point stance or standing up, which could put Rob Ryan in position to get Edwards in some mismatches on pass rushing downs.

A second-round draft pick by the Lions in 2002, No. 35 overall, Edwards was widely considered a disappointment by Lions fans who consider him as just another mistake in the Matt Millen era.

He had three sacks in eight games last season and three in 16 games in 2006. Edwards, with 26 sacks in his career, had a high of seven in 2005. He has been mostly a situational player, with 22 starts in 87 games.

It may not have bowled over the Lions, but compare Edwards’ production with that of Tyler Brayton, a defensive end the Raiders drafted the following season at No. 32 overall, the last pick in the first round. Brayton had just six sacks in 79 games.

In college at South Carolina, Edwards was considered a potential top 10 selection until a late-season knee injury dropped him into the second round.

The son of a bio-statisitican professor at the University of North Carolina, Edwards described in his combine interview six years ago what dinner conversations were like in his home.

“It’s only philosophical. I cannot speak slang,” Edwards said. “Only intelligent conversations. Only correct grammar, good pronunciation of your words, opening your mouth. It’s a beautiful thing because it kind of made me the man I am today _ disciplined.”

Edwards’ knee healed, but he had needed sports hernia surgery in 2003.

In other news, the Raiders have retained exclusive rights free agent Jon Alston, a linebacker and special teams player.

You want good news?

The Raiders have had the best offseason of any team in the AFC West.

RAIDERS POLL: Rate the DeAngelo Hall trade

There. That wasn’t so hard.

Of course, the Raiders are the only team that has done anything of note in the division, so bringing in DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker, Gibril Wilson and even Kwame Harris and Drew Carter makes it a veritable landslide no matter what you think of how much they paid.

The losses _ wide receiver Jerry Porter, defensive end Chris Clemons, defensive lineman Tyler Brayton and quarteback Josh McCown _ were more than offset by the gains. They also managed to bring back Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes and Tommy Kelly, and the first two came at extremely reasonable prices.

Division play happened to be one of Oakland’s best areas of progress last season. Until faced with the murderer’s row final four of Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and San Diego, Oakland’s back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Broncos were one of the most positive developments of the past few seasons.

The Broncos have signed LB Boss Bailey, WR Keary Colbert, LB Niko Koutovides, S Marquand Manuel, S Marlon McCree, RB Cecil Sapp and C Casey Wiegmann.

Wiegmann has been a solid center for a long time _ possibly too long. Bailey never seemed to realize his ability in Detroit. Colbert is a No. 2 receiver at best.

The Broncos wanted no part of Walker, deciding the $5.4 bonus was too much for an unhappy player with a history of knee trouble. That risk was assumed by the Raiders at a much higher price. Denver might have second thoughts if Walker regains his form, because Brandon Marshall, the talented receiver who replaced him, has a serious right arm injury sustained in a mysterious accident.

Losing kicker Jason Elam will cost them a game. Based on recent history, it could come against Oakland.

San Diego remains the top team in the division, but they’re only significant addition is linebacker Derrick Smith, a solid if slow linebacker the 49ers didn’t want who could fit nicely as an inside linebacker. Gone is Michael Turner, a valuable No. 2 running back behind LaDainian Tomlinson.

More important to Tomlinson, fullback Lorenzo Neal was released. Count on Tomlinson to lobby hard to bring back his body guard.

As for the Chiefs, who look to be the worst team in the division by a considerable margin, they re-signed punter Dustin Colquitt, and have done little else.

Searching for QBs

Not surprising Quinn Gray signed with someone other than the Raiders. He has aspirations of being a No. 1 quarterback and JaMarcus Russell’s future begins in earnest this season. He’s got a better chance of beating out Sage Rosenfels and Matt Schaub.

But it leaves the Raiders in search of another quarterback to go with Russell and Andrew Walter. According to the Fresno Bee, Trent Dilfer has been contacted.

If that’s the case, he may be better suited as No. 3 and a mentor, because frankly, I’d take my chances with Walter if Russell went down.

Bad day across the bay

I was pretty dismissive of tampering charges in general a few weeks back after getting an up close look at it going right out in the open at the NFL scouting combine.

It’s bad enough that the 49ers got caught tampering. It’s even worse that they got caught tampering with a player they didn’t even get. Lance Briggs is still with the Chicago Bears.

Profootballtalk.com believes it’s the first enforced tampering charge since the Miami Dolphins lost a first-round pick when it hired Don Shula away from the Baltimore Colts 38 years ago.

No official word as yet from the Raiders, but the NFL Network is reporting cornerback DeAngelo Hall agreed to a contract Thursday guaranteeing him $24.5 million.

UPDATE: Bay Area News Group East Bay beat writer Steve Corkran confirms final details are being ironed out on a seven-year contract which would pay Hall between $24.5 and $25 million guaranteed. Heavily backloaded, the deal would pay Hall $30 million over three years.

The Raiders reportedly will trade their second round draft pick, No. 34 overall, and surrender a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft. Original reports had the Raiders giving up their sixth-round pick this season.

That would give the Raiders picks in the first (No. 4 overall), fourth, sixth and two in the seventh on April 26-27.

The total value of Hall’s contract, should he reach the end of the deal, is reported as seven years and $70 million.

Free agent Drew Carter, an occasional starter for the Carolina Panthers last season, has been added to the Raiders’ receiving corps, beat writer Steve Corkran confirmed.

Barring any other acquisitions, Carter would enter training camp as no worse than the third wide receiver, joining Javon Walker and incumbent Ronald Curry.

In seven starts for Carolina, Carter had 38 receptions for 517 yards and four touchdowns, which followed a 28-catch, 357-yard performance in 2006.

The Raiders have added both Walker and Carter to one of the NFL’s thinnest units since losing Jerry Porter (Jacksonville) to free agency.

With Walker (6-3, 215), Curry (6-2, 210) and Carter (6-3, 210), Oakland has given rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell a trio of phyiscally impressive wide receivers. Best case, it means the potential for a lot of big plays. Depth could still be an issue, since all three have had injury issues.

The remainder of the wide receivers includes Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jonathan Holland, Chris McFoy, Drisan James, Will Buchanon and Todd Watkins.

No word yet regarding Quinn Gray, the Jacksonville quarterback who arrived Tuesday night. The St. Petersburg Times reported defensive end Kevin Carter, a 34-year-old, 13-year vet who has talked with the Raiders in past free agent years, was to visit Wednesday.

Gray has already visited Green Bay. If the Packers are serious, that opportunity would seem to be the better chance for Gray to get playing time. Russell will likely be given the chance to grow through his errors. In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers, the man who must replace Brett Favre, would be on a considerably shorter leash and be under much more intense scrutiny on a team with playoff aspirations.

Quinn Gray, the Jacksonville backup quarterback who will reportedly (source, NFL Network) be visiting the Raiders Tuesday, may be the best option available to serve as a backup to JaMarcus Russell.

That is assuming, of course, that Andrew Walter is not the backup.

Some of the other quarterbacks on the market include:

– Daunte Culpepper. You wonder if he would consider the Raiders again if no one comes calling. Seemed like a stand-up guy all season, right up to the point when he vanished from sight the moment he had his mysterious leg injury.

In that regard, all his talk about mentoring Russell seemed a little shallow.

– Gus Frerotte. Keeps getting jobs and keeps getting cut.

– Mark Brunell. Would have been a great idea about six years ago.

– Jared Lorenzen. Former Giants quarterback would make Russell look svelte.

– Joey Harrington. May return to Falcons.

– Marques Tuiasosopo. Yep, he’s available again.

There are a few more names, but Gray looks to be the best of a lot. He’s 28 years old, plays a lot like David Garrard and has experience playing on a team with a run-heavy offense.

Apology

Sorry to anyone who had a football-related post deleted this evening. Things got so out of hand I resorted to a “mass edit” mode for the first time.

The bottom line is this _ I have a life outside of work and this is the time of year I can get some time off after a long season of football, free agency, etc. after filing blogs (often more than one in a day) since mid-July.

The draft is still weeks away. I’m pretty much “on call,” which means if I hear anything or news breaks somewhere else that is significant, I’ll probably have something to say about it.

I may be away from the computer for hours at a time and not post for a day or two, and if no else is checking in as a moderator, it can turn into a free-for-all.

Thanks to everyone who contributes responsibly and with passionate opinions.

Linebacker Danny Clark, a fan favorite who was displaced as the middle linebacker when Kirk Morrison moved inside for the 2005 season, visited the Raiders facility Thursday.

No word on the level of interest on either side.

Clark was a fairly stout run defender who had problems in pass coverage. Morrison is one of the NFL’s best pass defenders at his position but struggled last season getting off blocks against the run.

Clark played for New Orleans in 2006 and Houston in 2007.

Carr visits Titans
Defensive back/return specialist Chris Carr met with Tennessee, but as a restricted free agent, the Raiders have the right to match any offer.

As an undrafted free agent, Carr brings no draft compensation if the Raiders decline to match. Same with linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba. Defensive tackle Josh Shaw, if signed by someone else, would net a fifth-round draft pick.

Carlisle under contract

Not sure where the story got started that Cooper Carlisle is on the open market.

Carlisle signed a two-year contract and there was no void involved. He remains the Raiders right guard.

Just got a look at the actual contract figures for wide receiver Javon Walker.

Turns out the figures given to me Wednesday by the club ($6 million to sign, $5 million salary in each of the next two seasons) were in error.

Walker actually got $11 million to sign and has salaries of $1 million in 2008, $4 million in 2009, $6 million in 2010, $8 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012 and 2013.

There is also a $5 million roster bonus which at the Raiders option to be picked up in 2009. It is in essence a three-year, $27 million contract, or a four-year, $35 million deal.

The same Raiders official who gave me the numbers Wednesday confirmed the error Thursday. He was relaying information given to him by someone else and had not actually seen the contract numbers.

So what’s to make of all this?

Are the Raiders overly sensitive to the perception that they’re overpaying to the point where they’d float false information? Doubtful, because the real numbers always bubble to the surface eventually.

Bottom line _ they were desperate for a play-making wide receiver to pair with JaMarcus Russell, thoroughly checked out Walker’s health (he’s had three knee surgeries) and rolled the dice with a monster contract.

If Walker catches 70-plus passes for 1,200 yards and gets to double figures in touchdowns, they’ll be taking bows. If Walker blows out his knee on Day 1 or becomes disenchanted with life in silver and black, the Raiders will take the heat.

Just as they have for the better part of the last five years.

Have many obligations outside work today but will try and check in if and when news breaks. Chances are you may read or hear about things before I can get to a computer for an update, so keep me in the loop with your posts:

As of Saturday morning:

– Defensive end Chris Clemons is in Philadelphia and could be signed by the Eagles before the end of the day.

– Defensive end Ebeezer Ekuban, out with an Achilles’ tear last year, will be visiting the Raiders (forgot to mention this last night).

– The Boston Globe is reporting the Raiders will visit with wide receiver Donte Stalllworth, a first-round draft pick who has never reached his full potential but with stretch-the-field speed which could be an asset to JaMarcus Russell.

– Minnesota is said to be making a big push to sign Chicago wideout Bernard Berrian, having targeted him after releasing former first-round pick Troy Williamson. Berrian could be in Oakland’s viewfinder should he get out of Minnesota without signing.

– Defensive end Justin Smith is off the table. The 49ers agreed to pay Smith a guaranteed $20 million and $32.5 million over four years, according to Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.