PFT’s Lane Kiffin rumors just don’t add up

By Anthony Carroll  |   Sunday, September 02, 2007  |  Comments( 67 )

Oakland Raiders
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Rumors surrounding the Oakland Raiders are always controversial, touchy areas.

Gossip from Adam Schefter, for example, the Bronco-loving "rumor monger," is usually spot on. Think Art Shell being fired. On the other hand, from Nancy Gay, the San Francisco (...49ers) Chronicle writer, the gossip is particularly harsh, but frequently wrong. Think Warren Sapp being cut.

This time, though, ProFootballTalk.com -- or PFT for short -- has taken a stab at taking a stab at the Raiders.

The online Web site, boasting the slogan "The best pro football scoop on the Internet," has reported that first-year head coach Lane Kiffin is irate over the team's recently announced roster cuts.

Keep in mind, the site's slogan is not: "The most correct pro football scoop on the Internet."

The first paragraph of the 200-word report reads: "A source with knowledge of the situation tells us that Raiders coach Lane Kiffin is fuming about the final round of roster cuts in Oakland. Though we don't know of any specific moves about which Kiffin is particularly upset, we're told that the bulk of the moves is evidence that owner Al Davis still has a significant amount of influence over the football operation."

In all, 20 players were cut from Oakland's roster on Saturday, ranging from rookies to veterans, from starters to backups.

Among the debatable cuts are third-round defensive end Quentin Moses, rookie safety Eric Frampton, second-year offensive lineman Kevin Boothe as well as veterans Donovin Darius and Zack Crockett.

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the team let go of some high-end rookies. Just two weeks ago, the 32-year-old coach made clear that any player on the roster was fair game, including all rookies.

"Understand that no one is on scholarship here," Kiffin said. "It comes from the college mentality that once you have a scholarship it can't be taken away for football reasons, it's different in the NFL and you've got to earn it."

Based on the team's four preseason outings, neither Moses nor Frampton "earned it."

Moses, with just four tackles and sack, was greatly outperformed by fifth-round rookie DE Jay Richardson, who registered 11 tackles and a sack. As luck would have it, Richardson made the team. Meanwhile, Frampton, with just four tackles, was outshined by 26-year-old safety Hiram Eugene, who recorded six tackles, an interception and a defensive TD. Again, Kiffin found a spot for Eugene on the final roster.

As for second-year guard Kevin Boothe, who started 14 games in 2006, Kiffin already defended that release, saying the 315-pounder wasn't a "system fit."

Now to the vets.

Strong safety Donovin Darius, who was signed in mid-July, simply couldn't find time to get healthy. Unsurprisingly, Kiffin has a big problem with players who can't, well, play.

As for fullback Zack Crockett, who has spent his last eight seasons in Oakland, he was simply forced out by younger talent. The 34-year-old was cut in favor of a better lead blocker in Justin Griffith and fresher legs in sixth-round rookie Oren O'Neal. Last offseason, Crockett was on the brink of being cut under the leadership of Shell, but he managed to extend his Raider career by a season.

Beneath each roster move, then, is a reasonable, almost obvious explanation.

That's no fun to report, though. Speculating the imminent firing of Kiffin, who is yet to coach an NFL regular-season game, is much more intriguing.

"In our view," the PFT blurb continues, "the mere fact that he didn't shrug in response to moves dictated from above tell us that Lane is his own man. It might get him fired from his current job, but it could help him land his next job."

Of course, let's not forget the clinching proof demonstrating that Al Davis in fact did not have the final say in Saturday's cuts.

Alvis Whitted is no longer an Oakland Raider.

Anthony Carroll, a senior writer for RealFootball365.com, can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

Get daily Oakland Raiders coverage at RealFootball365.com
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal ...
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CommentsComments: 67  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
PercEpTivE		11:22 PM
09/02/2007
Way to go Anth, its cool when a writer calls out another writer like when a player calls out another player.... it makes for good ...
No.2
Okieraiderfntic		11:56 PM
09/02/2007
Anth - first off I love your page and reporting style. It is nice to see someone stick up for the RaiderNation and give us our ...
No.3
RaiderMike		12:07 AM
09/03/2007
I was shocked to see Moses cut, but the Raiders Kif sees the players every day. I thought Richardson played better from my ...
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