You know, addition by subtraction seemed to be the prevailing thought in Alameda.
Pink slips for Javon Walker, Greg Ellis, Justin Fargas, and Gerard Warren signaled that Al Davis was tightening his belt—not trying to break the chains of a seven-year losing streak.
We’ll forget that. The Raiders have made a smart move by bringing the former Florida State pass-rusher to Oakland. And in my humble opinion, Davis isn’t done orchestrating the team's make over—not by a long shot.
Did Oakland want to add Antonio Bryant to the team’s young crop of receivers? You bet they did, but Cincinnati beat them to the punch.
The team also reached out to former Chiefs running back Larry Johnson—even though he’s clearly past his prime.
And the Redskins quickly signed the former 1,000-yard rusher, never allowing Johnson to even speak with Mr. Davis. (According to sources: Mike Shanahan was so happy, he went to the top of the Washington Monument and firmly pressed his thumb to his nose and wiggled his fingers with glee right in the general direction of Raiders headquarters and his old nemesis).
All kidding aside, Davis has been burned by free agency. So who could blame the Raiders boss for allowing somebody else to pick their poison in the free-agent market?
And that’s the downside of sifting through possible free-agent nuggets. Inevitably there's some fool’s gold mixed in. For every Drew Brees, there’s a Daunte Culpepper.
