Feeling a draft? The Raiders aren't

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

E-Mail

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

ALAMEDA -- Finishing with the worst record in the NFL usually gives a team one benefit: picking first in each round of the next year's draft.

Despite that advantage, the Oakland Raiders have gotten little production from their draft picks this season.

No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell has yet to take the field for a single snap after missing training camp in a contract dispute; two players (Jonathan Holland and Michael Bush) have been sidelined all season with injuries; two other picks didn't make the team and one hasn't played at all.

On The Hive: Silver and Black Raiders blog

Other than second-round pick Zach Miller (tight end) and the fifth-rounder Jay Richardson (defensive end), the Raiders have gotten almost no production from their draftees.

"If everything was perfect, you'd expect to see more production out of guys, but there are variables which go into it with JaMarcus getting here late," coach Lane Kiffin said.

Russell missed all of training camp in a contract dispute and the Raiders have yet to see any dividends from the $29 million in guarantees they gave the former LSU star. He has worked mostly with the scout team and in extra practice sessions, but could play sometime in the final five games.

Miller has 28 catches for 255 yards and one touchdown, one reception behind Chicago's Greg Olsen for most among rookie tight ends. Richardson has started seven games, providing a good spark on a defensive line that has been hit with injuries.

The only other draft pick to make any sort of contribution is Oren O'Neal, a sixth-round pick who has excelled at times as a blocking fullback.

With the top pick in the third round, Oakland drafted defensive end Quentin Moses, who became the highest draft pick to be cut at the end of training camp. Fifth-round pick Eric Frampton was also cut.

Third-round pick Mario Henderson (offensive tackle) was active for the first time last week, and fellow third-rounder and receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins has lost his job as punt returner.

WILLIS REMEMBERED -- Bill Willis, a two-time All-American at Ohio State and Hall of Famer with the Browns who helped break down pro football's color barrier in the 1940s, died Tuesday night in Columbus from multiple illnesses. He was 86. "Bill was a pioneer," said Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel, a black coach who used Willis as a mentor. "He blazed a trail for guys like myself."

FRIEND: TAYLOR WAS TARGETED -- Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle, a childhood friend of murdered Redskins safety Sean Taylor, said Taylor had many enemies on the streets of Miami. "This was not the first incident," said Rolle, who doesn't believe the incident was a burglary. "They've been targeting him for three years now." Rolle said many former "friends" had it in for Taylor, who was trying to build a more stable life. After a Monday confrontation inside his home, Taylor was shot once in the upper leg and died early Tuesday after losing a tremendous amount of blood.

QUICK HITTERS -- 49ers cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer and Marcus Hudson were injured in the second half of the 49ers' overtime win over the Cardinals, and they have been ruled out for Sunday's game. ... Wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback Darrell Green were the only first-year eligible players among 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2008. ... Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson will have season-ending surgery on his ailing right heel, the team said.