Raiders cleaning house

The Oakland Raiders continued to purge their roster of nearly every player involved in last season’s spending spree by cutting OT Kwame Harris, Adam Schefter has reported.

Harris now joins DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson as players that were one-and-done in Oakland (Hall was actually released mid-season, but I’m including him in this report so I could use that crafty intro). 

The team is also rumored to soon be parting ways with receiver Javon Walker.

Walker is due an injury-guaranteed $5 million payment by March 3, after finishing 2008 on IR with a broken ankle. The Raiders would save no money by cutting Walker, it may only mean an extra roster spot and removing all memories of the failed acquisitions of ‘08. Schefter is reporting the move may come this week.

The Raiders also waived FB Justin Griffith. Per  Schefter, the release of Griffith and Kwame Harris will save the team $8.3 million against the cap.

Griffith, a 6-year vet, started his career with the Falcons in 2003 and joined the Raiders in 2007. He was seldom used in the Raiders offense, but the six-year starter will likely draw interest from other teams in need of a dependable fullback.

Expect Griffith to receive calls from teams that don’t address fullback in the draft, possibly the Patriots, Jets, Bengals, Ravens or Steelers.

Source: NFL.com, NFL DraftBlitz.com - 9:21 p.m. et

Gruden adds another former Raider, Zack Crockett

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed fullback Zack Crockett, adding to the list of former Raiders to follow coach Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay. Gruden, who coached the Raiders from 1998-2001, has made a habit of luring in former members of the Silver and Black.

Other former Raiders who have followed Gruden include current Bucs CB Phillip Buchanon, WR Tim Brown, RB Charlie Garner, TE Roland Williams, TE Rickey Dudley, TE Doug Jolley,  as well as Bucs GM Bruce Allen. (I’ll add more if I think of them.) Longtime Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp is one player who returned the favor. Sapp has been with the Raiders since 2004.

Sims to IR

Bucs quarterback Chris Simms was placed on injured reserve, the Tampa Tribune has reported. Simms placement on IR gave the team room to sign Crockett. Running back Carnell Williams was placed on IR Oct. 3.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Tampa Tribune. Oct. 10 – 12:22 p.m. et

Leinart to IR, team signs Rattay

The Arizona Cardinals placed starting quarterback Matt Leinart on injured reserve Tuesday, effectively ending his season, the team has announced.

In the Cardinals 34-31 win over the St. Louis Rams, Leinart was sidelined with a broken collarbone in his throwing shoulder.

Leinart had been sharing time with quarterback Kurt Warner, who will now takeover as the full-time signal caller. The team also signed eight-year veteran QB Tim Rattay.

Rattay was most recently with the Tennessee Titans but was released after training camp. Drafted by the 49ers in 2000, Rattay played in San Francisco until being traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2005 season.

Source: NFL.com, azcardinals.com. Oct. 9 – 6:53 p.m. et

Friday injury report

Buffalo Bills— wide receiver Peerless Price was scheduled for surgery Friday to repair a disk in his neck. Coach Dick Jauron said Price will be placed on IR. The team placed linebacker Kevin Harrison on injured reserve Friday and activated Anthony Hargrove.

St. Louis Rams—the Rams welcome back two starters this weekend when the face the St. Louis Cardinals:  guard Richie Incognito and cornerback Fakhir Brown. Incognito has recovered from a high ankle sprain suffered in the preseason. Though not injured, Brown is eligible to play now that his four-game suspension has been lifted. Wide receiver Isaac Bruce (hamstring) has been ruled out. Safety Cory Chavous (pectoral) will be a game-time decision. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger (ribs) was benched Wednesday in favor of backup Gus Frerotte.

Carolina Panthers—quarterback Jake Delhome is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. If Delhome is unable to play, backup quarterback David Carr will takeover under center. Wide receiver Steve Smith injured his leg at the end of practice Friday, but coach John Fox said he believes the seven-year vet will be fine.

Arizona Carinals—tackle Levi Brown will miss his second-consecutive game as he recovers from an ankle injury. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin (hip) may be out as well.

Indianapolis Colts—three starters are dealing with injuries from last Sunday’s win over Denver: WR Marvin Harrison (knee), RB Joseph Addai (shoulder), S Bob Sanders (ribs). Linebacker Rob Morris was placed on IR after surgery Tuesday to repair a tendon in his left knee.

Pittsburgh Steelers—wide receiver Hines Ward will be out for his second-consecutive game as he recovers from a sprained knee.

Houston Texans–running back Ahman Green (knee) will sit his second straight game. Megan Manfull of Chron.com has reported that WR Jerome Mathis (leg) is likely done for the year. Manfull speculated that WR Andre Johnson (knee sprain) may miss two more starts, and WR Jacoby Jones might miss one more.

Washington Redskins–wide receiver Santana Moss is listed as doubtfull with a groin sprain.

Source: NFL.com, ESPN.com, Rotoworld.com, Washingtonpost.com, Chron.com. Oct. 5 – 4:08 p.m. et. Updated 9:58 p.m. et

Cadillac, Petigout lost for season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-7 win over Carolina Sunday brought them to 3-1 on the season, but it also cost them two starters: running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and tackle Luke Petigout.

Both Williams and Petigout will undergo season-ending knee surgery this week, ESPN has reported. Williams injured his right knee when he was tackled by Carolina safety Chris Harris in the first quarter. Petigout injury came when defensive tackle Kris Jenkins fell into his leg in the second quarter.

Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham filled in well for Williams, gaining a combined total of 138 yards and one touchdown. But the loss of Willaims is definitely a set-back to the team’s season.

“That’s a big blow…we have some people who need to step up,” coach Jon Gruden was quoted on ESPN.com. 

The Bucaneers have not yet officially placed the two on injured reserve, but an announcement is expected soon.

Source: ESPN.com. Oct. 1 – 4:02 p.m. et

McAlister out for year with torn ACL

The Saints lackluster start was blamed in part on their lack of plays featuring RB Deuce McAllister, who ranks 39th among running backs with 92 yards on 42 carries.

But unfortunately for the Saints, getting McAllister the ball will no longer be an issue: the 7-year vet tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in Monday night’s 31-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He has been placed on injured reserve, effectively ending his season.

The team will now be forced to rely on two-year back Reggie Bush. Bush has 80 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries this season. The next running back in line is eight-year vet Aaron Stecker.

Source: ESPN.com, NFL.com. Sept. 25 – 9:36 p.m. et

Lions send Campbell to IR

The Detroit Lions today placed starting tight end Dan Campbell on injured reserve, effectively ending his season.

Campbell was a third-round pick of the New York Giants in the 1999 draft. He played four seasons in New York (1999-2002) before a two-year stint with the Cowboys. Campbell signed with the Lions as an unrestricted free-agent in March 2006.

Source: ESPN.com. Sept. 23 – 12:11 p.m. et