Raiders cut Sims, sign Wilson; 49ers get Bruce

By BEE NEWS SERVICES

last updated: March 01, 2008 04:52:27 AM

The Oakland Raiders on Friday cut longtime offensive tackle Barry Sims and signed free safety Gibril Wilson in a continued overhaul of a team that has won only 19 games in five seasons.

Sims, 33, was the longest-tenured Raider, having joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He started all 16 games last season at left tackle.

Friday was the first day of free agency. The move saves the Raiders slightly less than $200,000 in salary cap room as Sims had $6.67 million in prorated bonuses still unaccounted for. Also, he was due a $2.5 million roster bonus.

"They just didn't want to pay me the salary I was due and wanted to go another direction," Sims said before the news was official. "I'm thankful for the experiences I had with the Raiders."

The Raiders now are without a proven left offensive tackle, unless coach Lane Kiffin intends to move Robert Gallery there from left guard. The early word is that Gallery will stay at left guard, according to two people in the team's front office. That increases the likelihood that the Raiders will select offensive tackle Jake Long with the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft, if he's available.

Wilson, 26, played an integral role in the New York Giants' Super Bowl title last season. He recorded 92 tackles and four interceptions in the regular season. Wilson received a six-year contract that guarantees him $16 million and incumbent Stuart Schweigert's starting spot, according to Wilson's agent.

In other news, former 49ers offensive tackle Kwame Harris visited the Raiders on Friday. Former Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter signed a six-year contract with Jacksonville that includes $10 million in guaranteed money -- he spent his first eight seasons with the Raiders but never materialized into a legitimate No. 1 receiver. Former Raiders quarterback Josh McCown signed a two-year contract with Miami rather than return to Oakland as JaMarcus Russell's backup. Former Raiders defensive lineman Tyler Brayton is meeting with Carolina today. And former Raiders defensive end Chris Clemons is to to meet with the Eagles.

49ERS -- An NFL source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn't been signed yet, said receiver Isaac Bruce agreed to a two-year $6 million deal with San Francisco, one day after St. Louis released him.

Bruce is third in NFL history with 14,109 yards receiving behind Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. Though Bruce is 35, his skills still seem sharper than any 49er -- he had 55 catches last season for 13.3 yards per catch and four TDs.

The 49ers signed 10-year veteran kick returner Allen Rossum, who also plays cornerback. He has seven career touchdowns, all on kick returns. Rossum was let go by Pittsburgh after a season that included returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against the 49ers. Rossum, who made the Pro Bowl with Atlanta in 2004, is likely to handle kickoff and punt return duties with the 49ers.

OTHER MOVES -- Philadelphia landed perhaps the biggest prize in the free-agent sweepstakes, signing free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel to a six-year contract. Samuel, an All-Pro and Pro Bowl pick last season, spent the last five seasons with New England and had 16 interceptions the last two seasons.

Also Friday, Carolina traded three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins to the Jets for third- and fifth-round draft picks. And linebacker Kawika Mitchell signed a five-year contract with Buffalo after playing for the Super Bowl champion Giants.

HELP FOR RETIRED PLAYERS -- The NFL and its players union, which have been under fire for their policy toward retired players, have modified their disability program and doubled the benefits in one part of it. They including doubling the payment for non-football "total and permanent" disability for retired players from $20,000 a year to $40,000. If a player's pension is more than $40,000, he will receive that.

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