Category: Oakland Raiders

Raiders Answer Backup QB Question After 30-19 Win Over Seahawks

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Photo credit: @NBCSRaiders

By Tony Renteria

The Oakland Raiders have spent much of the preseason looking for the backup to All-Pro quarterback Derek Carr and have found that answer in a great game by EJ Manuel.   Manuel, who spent time in Buffalo before coming to the Silver and Black last season, has looked spotty at best during the first three preseason games, but came out tonight looking like a quality starter as he went an outstanding 18-for-22 with 255 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders won 30-19 against the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night.

Manuel found a security blanket in Keon Hatcher, who caught two of those touchdowns from Manuel, three overall and seemed to be everywhere on the field as he was the punt returner and on special team coverage. Hatcher did make a case for making the final 53-man roster, but might end up on the scout team.

Quarterback coach Brian Callahan took over the play calling duties tonight from head coach John Gruden and seemed to do a good job balancing the run/pass ratio. The Raiders, who did not dress 21 of the 22 starters, did a very good job with players who will be cut on by September 1.

The Raiders used this last game to ensure that Manuel had it in him to be the backup and with the team more than likely only keeping two quarterbacks this last meaningless preseason game carried some meaning for the Raiders’ coaching staff.

NFL preseason leading Rusher Chris Warren III had 41 yards on 12 rushing attempts, but looked much better in pass protection and route running and looks like he will be one of the five running backs to make the roster.

Manual, Hatcher and Waarren III all made a differance tonight, lets see if tonight turns in a roster spot for these three young men.

The Raiders host the Rams to open the season on Monday Night Football on Monday, September 10 at 7:20 pm PDT.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Conflicting trade rumors on Mack, who wants up to $11 million raise; preview of tonight’s game in Seattle

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Photo credit: @TurntSportsNews

On the Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria:

Conflicting trade rumors persist regarding the Oakland Raiders’ Khalil Mack. The team and Mack are far apart in negotiating Mack is getting $11 million per year. But he wants an $11 million raise to $22 million. This hold out has been been going on for months and knowing how the Raiders do business, they’re holding out too–they feel Mack is getting a fair deal. Mack, the best defensive player in the NFL, is asking for equal money that Denver Broncos’ Von Miller at $16 million is getting or as high as the $22 million figure.

Quarterback Derek Carr hasn’t seen a lot of snaps this preseason this maybe as a precaution to keep Carr for the regular season. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is having his two backup quarterbacks getting the snaps to see how they do in the preseason games.

The Raiders’ last game against the Green Bay Packers used back up quarterbacks Connor Cook and EJ Manuel who combined for 14-of-27 for 159 yards. Will the Raiders look for a veteran backup quarterback? The last preseason game of the season on Thursday night in Seattle and Tony takes a look at what coach Gruden will be looking for.

Tony does the Raiders podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders head to Seattle for final preseason game against the Seahawks

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — The 2018 preseason comes to a merciful end Thursday night, when the Raiders travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. This matchup will mark the 13th consecutive season that the Raiders have finished up their preseason schedule against the Seahawks, with nine of the 13 matchups in Seattle, the first being in 2015.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.

Last week, the Raiders defeated the Green Bay Packers 13-6 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. With the score tied 6-6 late in the fourth quarter, undrafted rookie running back Chris Warren III would score the go-ahead touchdown to put the Raiders up for good.

Warren rushed for 54 yards on 15 carries.

Oakland’s defense feasted on Packers’ quarterbacks (not named Aaron Rodgers), recording a preseason-high five sacks.

The Seahawks lost to the Vikings in Minnesota, 21-20, last week.

Former Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski converted both of his field goal attempts, one booming shot from 55 yards out in the third quarter that gave the Seahawks a 13-7 lead.

Janikowski, who spent his first 18 seasons in Oakland before signing with Seattle in April, is the Raiders all-time leader in points (1,799), games played (268) and seasons of service (18).

Oakland and Seattle will meet each other in the regular season, when the two teams face off in Week 6 in London, England on Oct. 14.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders still far away from negotiations with Mack; What coach Gruden expects this season

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Photo credit: @BR_NFL

On the Raiders podcast with Joe:

#1 With the Raiders headed to ready to conclude their final game of the 2018 preseason on Thursday at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, the talk has focused on Khalil Mack on the trip. Mack is reportedly no closer to signing with the Raiders since camp opened back in July.

#2 Mack is seeking a contract extension that would make him the highest player defensive player in the NFL. The asking price has been between $20 to $22 million per year on a six-year agreement. Mack and the Raiders are still far apart on raising Mack’s salary from $11 million per year.

#3 Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie were asked this week about Mack’s chances of signing–is the team close to making an agreement?–and neither could give an answer.

#4 Is Mack work worth the $7 to $11 million raise?

#5 The Raiders are in Seattle for Thursday night football and concluding the preseason. Joe talks about some of coach Gruden’s expectations.

Join Joe each week for the Raiders podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. Also, join Tony Renteria for complete Oakland Raiders game coverage immediately after Thursday’s game.

Warren’s late touchdown wins it for the Raiders 13-6 over the Packers

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — With two preseason games down, and two to go, Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is looking for backups.

With most of the starters on the bench by the beginning of the second quarter, Connor Cook and E.J. Manuel took over for Derek Carr after just one series.

In his only series, Carr went 2-for-3 for 68 yards, including a 49-yard pass to Amari Cooper, but it was the battle of kickers; however, it was a Chris Warren III one-yard run with 5:07 in the game that gave the Raiders a 13-6 victory over the Green Bay Packers at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Friday night.

Treyvon Hester came up with the defensive play of the game, as he sacked Packers quarterback DeShone Kizer on fourth down and the Packers at the Raiders 24-yard line. It was a seven-yard sack for the second-year defensive tackle out of Toledo.

Unfortunately, the Raiders were unable to run out the clock and were forced to punt the ball back to the Packers; however, the Packers drive stalled in their own territory.

Brett Hundley went 8-for-14 for 78 yards, as he started for the Packers in place of Aaron Rodgers, who played at Cal after Butte College.

Cook went 6-for-15 for 72 yards and an interception before being replaced by Manuel, who went 8-for-12 for 87 yards passing.

In a game of field goals, Mike Nugent gave the Raiders the lead on their first series, as he kicked a 40-yard field goal.

On their ensuing drive, Mason Crosby kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie up and that was the score when the two teams went to the locker room.

Crosby gave the Packers their first lead of the game in the third quarter, as he nailed a 36-yard field goal.

Nugent then tied up at six, as he kicked a 40-yard field on the Raiders first drive in the fourth quarter.

Cooper caught one pass for 49 yards, while Jalen Richard caught three passes for 34 yards and Jared Cook caught two passes for 24 yards.

Doug Martin carried the ball six times for 24 yards, while Chris Warren III continues to make great strides to make the team, as he carried the ball 15 times for 54 yards and also caught one pass for seven yards.

NOTES: The Raiders’ next appearance at the Coliseum will be in the season opener on September 10, as they kick off their 58th season against the Los Angeles Rams, a team that the Raiders faced this past Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and lost 22-16.

“I do not agree with playing a team in the preseason that we open the season with,” said Gruden, who also added, “I am sure that the Rams feel the same way.”

UP NEXT: The Raiders will head to Seattle to face the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night at 7 pm PDT to close out the preseason.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Mack still holding out, looking for more; Will the Raiders and Mack sit down soon?

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photo from sfgate.com: Khalil Mack remains a hold out with the Oakland Raiders and head coach Jon Gruden hopes Mack can be back in uniform with the team by the Raiders first game

On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon:

#1 The Raiders’ defensive end Khalil Mack is still a no show in the Raiders camp. He hasn’t reported since camp opened July 26th.

#2 Head coach Jon Gruden said he hopes to see Mack before the start of the regular season in the lineup.

#3 Mack is the 2014 overall fifth pick and the Raiders’ defensive player of the year.

#4 Mack is the best player on the Raiders. Mack is looking for Von Miller type of money $114 million for six years. Mack is making $13.85 million this season.

#5 The Raiders host the Green Bay Packers tonight at the Coliseum in week three of the preseason. What are some of the things to look for? Joe answers those questions and more in the podcast.

J Hawkes does the Raiders each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders to host the Packers in final home preseason game Friday at the Coliseum

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Photo credit: raiderswire.usatoday.com

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — The Raiders and Packers link up for the third time in the preseason since 2014 when Green Bay visits the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Friday night at 7:30 p.m. PT. The last time the two teams met each other in the preseason was in 2016 at Lambeau Field.

Last week, the Raiders traveled to Los Angeles to take on the Rams. It was the first time that that the Silver and Black played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1994, the final season for the Raiders in Southern California before the team moved back to Oakland at the conclusion of that season.

The Rams held off the Raiders for a 19-15 victory last Saturday, with neither team playing their starters on either side of the football, which wasn’t a huge surprise. It was odd seeing the two teams playing a preseason game against each other, given that the two teams will meet each other in Week 1 of the regular season in Game 2 of ESPN’s Monday Night Football doubleheader on Sept. 10 in Oakland.

Rookies were the story of the game on both sides of the football for Oakland, even in the loss.

Running back Chris Warren III saw plenty of action rushing for 110 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. With veteran Marshawn Lynch slated as Oakland’s starting running back, the undrafted Warren III’s play has earned him strong consideration to make the team and contribute significantly.

Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst recorded two tackles and one sack against the Rams. The fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft has had great practices during training camp and could see some action with the first-team defense against the Packers.

Typically, the third preseason game is where the starters play the first-half of the game so expect to see quarterback Derek Carr along with new Raiders wide receiver Jordy Nelson on the field Friday night.

Nelson signed a two-year $14.2 million ($13 million guaranteed) contract with Oakland in the offseason after spending his first 10 seasons in the NFL in Green Bay. Seeing Nelson in the Silver and Black of the Raiders instead of the Green and Yellow of the Packers will take some time to get used to.

Green Bay defeated the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, 51-34 last week at Lambeau Field.

Following Friday night’s game, both teams will have a short turnaround to end the preseason on the road. Oakland travels to Seattle to face the Seahawks on Thursday Aug. 30, and Green Bay will meet the Chiefs in Kansas City the same day. With the conclusion of the preseason, all NFL teams will make their final roster cuts on Sept. 1, reducing their roster to the mandated 53-man limit.

This will mark the 13th straight season that Oakland has finished the preseason schedule against the Seahawks, with nine of the 13 games coming in Seattle, but this will be the first time since 2015 that the Raiders will finish in Seattle.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Gruden taking a closer look at Whalen for wide receiver; Raiders’ starters get more looks in week 3 of preseason

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photo from pinterest.com: Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Griff Whalen is working at getting the third wide receiver opening at the Raiders in game three at Oakland against the Green Bay Packers Friday night

On the Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Oakland Raiders’ head coach Jon Gruden stated this week that while he’s very happy with his two wide receivers, Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson, he’s searching for a third receiver will he get his answer this week and next week for that third receiver.

#2 Gruden said he all the confidence that receivers coach Edgar Bennett will find that third receiver and said he said Bennett would agree that they find somebody to step in at the third wideout position.

#3 Gruden was looking at wide receiver Martavis Bryant as that third wideout but Bryant during training camp in Napa missed three practices with a headache and one for illness. Gruden said that Bryant comes out to play “sometimes and sometimes he doesn’t.”

#4 Then, there was Seth Roberts, who was going to get some looks, but missed the first two preseason games due to an injury. The Gruden was looking at Ryan Switzer, who looked like he had a shot, but now he’s took some interest in Griff Whalen, who is practicing with the offensive first team and also is a former Stanford player.

#5 The Raiders host quarterback Aaron Rogers and the Green Bay Packers for week three, meaning Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr will get more time and more looks. What are some of the things expected out of the starters and Carr in week three?

Tony Renteria does the Oakland Raiders podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: This Week in 1980, Charlie O. Finley Sold the A’s for $12.7 Million

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Photo credit: thesportsesquires.com

By: Amaury Pi-González

On August 21, 1980, Athletics owner Charlie Finley announced at a news conference that he has sold his A’s to Walter A. Haas, Jr., the chairman of the board of the Levi Strauss clothing empire, Haas’s son Walter Jr., and son-in-law Roy Eisenhardt for $12.7 million.

In 1980, Finley agreed in principle to sell to businessman Marvin Davis, who was planning to move the A’s to Denver, but before that, Finley and Davis were to sign a contract, as the NFL’s Oakland Raiders announced they were moving to Los Angeles in 1982. The City of Oakland and Alameda County officials didn’t wanted to be held responsible for losing Oakland status as a big league city and refused to let the A’s out of their lease with the Coliseum. So the A’s were sold and stayed.

Although they have changed ownership a few times since, today’s A’s are in solid ground to continue playing in Oakland. These days, the last thing in mind for the A’s is to move out of Oakland, because soon they will be the only professional team left, after the Warriors move to San Francisco and the Raiders to Las Vegas. That is the good news. Plus, MLB commissioner Robert Manfred has said it all along, “the Bay Area is a two-team market.”

However, there is presently a group called Protect Oakland’s Shoreline Economy that is questioning the A’s proposed move to their favorite location of the Howard Terminal near Jack London Square. Here in the greater Bay Area, there is never a shortage of groups that oppose construction of sports facilities. and this one is the most recent. This is the second chapter of this novela. In December of last year, the A’s plans to build a 35,000 seat ballpark near Lake Merritt was stopped cold, when the community college refused to start negotiations about the proposed park.

All these recent concerns have been rather silenced by the A’s current play on the field, as they have been shocking the baseball world. They just took two out of three from the Mariners and two out of three from the Astros–two of their biggest rivals. This Monday, the Rangers open a three-game series at the Coliseum and then the A’s go on a six-game road-trip to Minnesota and Houston. They return the 30th of this month to say adios to August and welcome September with a four-game series against the M’s, three against the contending Yankees and the Rangers again. I do not believe the A’s bandwagon is close to capacity yet, as there are still a lot of folks who are not 100 percent certain they are going to see postseason play at the Coliseum. But I think they will.

By then, we will see how are the Atléticos de Oakland doing, with two very possible scenarios: 1) winning the division or 2) advancing as one of the two Wild Card teams.

Listen to the A’s games in Spanish on KIQI 1010am/990am, covering the Bay Area, Sacramento, Stockton and the Valley, and on the SAP Channel on NBC Sports California.

Raiders fall short in 19-15 loss to Rams

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Jeremy Kahn

In their first game back at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since the end of the 1994 season, the Oakland Raiders return was spoiled by the current tenants, the Los Angeles Rams, on Saturday.

John Kelly ran for 56 yards and a touchdown, helping the Rams to a 19-15 victory on a balmy Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.

After trailing 16-0, the Raiders came all the back to get within one point, as Chris Warren ran for 110 yards and a touchdown in front of a partisan Raiders crowd at the stadium that they called home from 1982-1994.

Kelly got the Rams on the board in the second quarter, as he scored on a two-yard run to give the Rams a 7-0 lead.

That Kelly touchdown would be the only one that the Raiders defense would allow, as it became a field goal for the Rams, who are coming off a NFC West Division a season ago.

Greg Zuerlein gave the Rams their next six points, as he nailed a 42-yard field goal with 2:05 remaining in the half and then kicked a 28-yard field goal to send the Rams to the locker room with a 13-0 lead.

Sam Ficken stretched the lead up to 16-0, as he nailed a 31-yard field goal straight thru the uprights for the Rams.

On their next possession, the Raiders finally got on the board, as Warren scored on a three-yard run; however, the Raiders attempt at a two-point conversion was not successful.

Mike Nugent, who is trying to make the team as the teams’ kicker behind rookie Johnny Townsend cut the Rams lead down to seven, as he kicked a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

James Cowser made the defensive play of the game, as he intercepted a Brandon Allen pass at the Rams’ 36-yard line and returned it to the 21-yard line for a 15-yard return.

Just four plays later, the Raiders pulled within one point, as E.J. Manuel found former Stanford standout Griff Whalen for a 10-yard touchdown pass; however, the Warren rush on the two-point conversion came up short and the Rams maintained their one point lead.

Following the Whalen touchdown, Allen drove the Rams all the way down to the Raiders’ 14-yard line and the Rams were held to a 32-yard Ficken field goal.

With a chance to win the game, the Raiders began their final drive of the game, but the offense stalled, as the Raiders could only get to the Rams 47-yard line and then Manuel was sacked for a 10-yard loss and that would be the last time that the Raiders would get the ball.

Following the Townsend punt, the Rams ran the ball and were able to run out the clock and give the preseason tilt to the Rams.

Without the services of David Carr, Marshawn Lynch, Amari Cooper and many other would be regulars, the Raiders were led by Manuel, who went 10-for-16 for 89 yards and a touchdown. Connor Cook started the game for the Raiders, and went 6-for-12 for 49 yards, as he competes with Cook for the backup quarterback position to Carr when the season begins on September 10 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Warren took advantage of Lynch not playing, as he carried the ball 18 times for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Both rookie Paul Butler and Jalen Richard each caught three passes for 35 yards for the Raiders, who fall to 1-1 on the preseason.

NOTES: The Raiders and the Rams will see each other once again in just 23 days, as the two teams will face each other in the season opener on September 10 in Oakland in the second game of the Monday Night doubleheader.

UP NEXT: After the short trip to Los Angeles, the Raiders return home for their home preseason finale on Friday night, as they will face the Green Bay Packers at the Oakland Coliseum at 7:30 pm PDT.