Raiders likely to make "Strong offer" for Lamont Jordan

[RobbleRobble]

The SF Chronicle had this article today about the Raiders and Jerry Porter. In it, it says that the Raiders have offered Porter $20 million over 5 years, but he's turned it down to test the free agent market instead. Porter says, "I owe it to myself to get my market value, if not (sign with) some team that will pay me more than market value. I owe it to myself to find out (what I can get).''

The article ends with:
Should Porter reject the Raiders' contract extension, the team is expected to make a "strong offer" for soon-to-be free-agent running back LaMont Jordan of the New York Jets, NFL sources said. Jordan was a versatile runner, receiver and return man for the Jets last season, with 93 carries for 479 yards playing behind NFL rushing leader Curtis Martin.

So if Porter doesn't re-up with the Raiders, and that sounds very likely, the Raiders will throw a lot of that coin in LaMont Jordan's direction. I don't know that we're going to want to get into a bidding war with the Raiders for Jordan. I'm thinking its more and more likely that we sign a "budget" RB in free agency and draft Ronnie Brown at #8.

 

[Sandan]

I'm thinking its more and more likely that we sign a "budget" RB in free agency and draft Ronnie Brown at #8.

I don't get the connection ?

Why does a guess about what the Raiders might do affect what we might do ?

 

[Russ Smith]

I don't get the connection ?

Why does a guess about what the Raiders might do affect what we might do ?

Because they would drive the price for Jordan up I assume. Seems to me if we pursue Jordan at market value we're "saving" the cost of paying Ronnie Brown #8 money and freeing ouselves to use the pick on another player. We don't actually "save" the money of course we're just paying it to a CB or LB or whoever we pick, but picking that high after about 2 years the caphit will be higher on Brown than it would probably be signing Jordan as a FA.

Depends upon what Jordan considers his market value to be of course, he may already be out of our "tax bracket".

 

[JPlay]

So, what we aren't interested in Jordan. He's more of a bruiser. We already have Shipp. Denny is looking for speed out of the backfield with the ability to catch the ball.

 

[Sandan]

It sounded like a "Bidwill is cheap" shot to me that was whjy I asked the question.

Regardless of the player/position we should not get into a bidding war, Denny has proven that he can find talent that others have missed.

Also I'm told this is a great draft for RBs

 

[RobbleRobble]

I don't get the connection ?

Why does a guess about what the Raiders might do affect what we might do ?

I think Jordan offers the most "bang for the buck" out of the free agent RBs. However, if the Raiders offer Jordan a fortune, the Cards will go in another direction. Shaun Alexander figures to be out our price range. After those two you have some "budget" RBs like Blaylock and some guys on the trade block: Travis Henry, Reuben Droughns, Michael Bennett, etc. I just don't see Denny breaking the bank or parting with a good draft choice.

So the optimal play would be if we could sign Jordan to a reasonable contract, allowing us to go in another direction with the #8 pick. But if the Raiders bid up Jordan, I think we add a cheap RB for depth/"change of pace" and take someone like Ronnie Brown at #8.

 

[RobbleRobble]

Also I'm told this is a great draft for RBs

Depends on what you mean by "great". In terms of depth, this RB class is unmatched. Benson, Cadillac, Ronnie Brown at the top. Lots of other good guys like Fason, Morency, Barber, etc. Some high upside/high bust potential guys like Clarett, McClendon, Walter Reyes, etc.

But from the standpoint of "can't miss" studs, I don't see a Kevin Jones or a Tomlinson in this class. Benson does everything well, but nothing exceptionally. Plus he has a lot of miles. Cadillac has size/durability concerns. Ronnie Brown has the measurables, but is less tested than some other backs. Arguably Fason has the best measurables of any back, but is as raw as they come.

 

[Sandan]

Ok, I understand. I also agree that DG/RG would not get into a bidding war for LJ or SA and rightly so.

If you spend too much $$ on one position the rest of the team suffers. That's why the Pats keep beating the Colts.

 

[Sandan]

Is Brown a speed or power RB

 

[Stout]

Ok, I understand. I also agree that DG/RG would not get into a bidding war for LJ or SA and rightly so.

If you spend too much $$ on one position the rest of the team suffers. That's why the Pats keep beating the Colts.

I'd be either with you or against you on this. If we aren't willing to spend at least some pretty good coin at skill positions other than receivers, we may end up with great receivers, but nothing else. The draft is no sure thing.

Then again, if they sign for record-setting, or near record-setting deals then yes, I'm fully with you. Break the piggy bank and spend some of your coin, Bidwill's---spend to the cap, for crying out loud!---but don't blow it all on one guy. Overspend a bit for the right guy, yes, but do not mortgage our future for him either.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

So, what we aren't interested in Jordan. He's more of a bruiser. We already have Shipp. Denny is looking for speed out of the backfield with the ability to catch the ball.

He is a big back, but like Jamaal Lewis, has good speed and a great burst. He is not a Bettis type back.

 

[Russ Smith]

He is a big back, but like Jamaal Lewis, has good speed and a great burst. He is not a Bettis type back.

Yep, he's considerably faster than Martin for example on the same team. In fact in many ways Ronnie Brown reminds me of Jordan, except Jordan was a feature RB in college so we got see him carry the load, we really didn't see that with Brown except his Soph year.

I'm with you I'm a huge Jordan guy.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Yep, he's considerably faster than Martin for example on the same team. In fact in many ways Ronnie Brown reminds me of Jordan, except Jordan was a feature RB in college so we got see him carry the load, we really didn't see that with Brown except his Soph year.

I'm with you I'm a huge Jordan guy.

Most people forget Russ that during Jordan's senior season at Maryland he was a pre-seaosn top 5 pick for the Heismann Trophy.


Al ittle bio:

"top career rusher among all NCAA schools entering the 2000 season … only returning player from College Football News and Football News first- and second-team running back selections …became three-time nominee for the Doak Walker Award after finishing as a semifinalist in 1999 … primary cog in Maryland’s improved running game the past three seasons (106th in NCAA in 1997, 50th in 1998, 12th in 1999) … punishing, hard-nosed, determined runner who gains yards inside and outside … not afraid, and in fact prefers, to run through opposing tacklers … deceptive speed, difficult to tackle one-on-one, quick to break through an open hole … great burst to and through the hole...very versatile in the Maryland offense as a runner, receiver and even a passer … has thrown two TD passes and caught another … big-play man who is always a threat to break a long-gainer … fifth in the nation in rushing as a junior, second in the ACC as a sophomore and junior … boasts 3,227 career rushing yards and a 5.4 average per rush . Needs 1394 yards to be the ACC all-time leading rusher. Member of the All-Acc All-Decade team!"


I say break the bank on him!!

 

[Sandan]

I'm saying the say thing as you Stout, except the shot at the Bidwills.

DG has said he won't overpay for FA and I agree with that. In fact he has said he really doesn't like high priced big name players and I agree with that.
Where I don't agree is the motivation. You post implies that you still think the motivation is for BB Snr to save money to increase his bottom line.

M Bidwill just doesn't talk that way, he seems focused on a business plan that allows them to afford the players they want to get. As oppsoed to finding players that allow them to make their bottom line.

The way I read that statement is that he believes in working the way the Pats do, building a team rather than trying to go for a home run with one player. Given his aquisitions last year I have to say it's working so far.

 

[Russ Smith]

Most people forget Russ that during Jordan's senior season at Maryland he was a pre-seaosn top 5 pick for the Heismann Trophy.


!!

Jordan really WAS the back in college that people think Brown is now, big, fast, good hands. I think it's really a math question, what's cheaper, Brown at 8 or Jordan as a FA? If you get Jordan you can draft a Johnson, Rolle, Pacman, if you draft Brown can you sign a Johnson, Rolle,Pacman caliber FA?

That's why I was so insistent early in the year we should have been after the Jets in a trade for Jordan, if there was ANY chance at all they'd have taken a trade for him and got him to agree to a new deal before finalizing the trade, that would have been a major coup IMHO.

 

[Stout]

I'm saying the say thing as you Stout, except the shot at the Bidwills.

DG has said he won't overpay for FA and I agree with that. In fact he has said he really doesn't like high priced big name players and I agree with that.
Where I don't agree is the motivation. You post implies that you still think the motivation is for BB Snr to save money to increase his bottom line.

M Bidwill just doesn't talk that way, he seems focused on a business plan that allows them to afford the players they want to get. As oppsoed to finding players that allow them to make their bottom line.

The way I read that statement is that he believes in working the way the Pats do, building a team rather than trying to go for a home run with one player. Given his aquisitions last year I have to say it's working so far.

I'm not trying to take cheap shots at the Bidwills. Not yet, anyway. We've done a good job in starting to build this team, but we'll have to fully release the pocketbook in a non-conservative way if we're ever going to fully succeed. I think we've seen the start of that. Now I want to see it continue to grow.

As long as the failure to fully utilize our cap space this season is just a blip on the radar and not the norm, then we should be fine. I mean, we were WAY too conservative with our cap space this last year. NO doubts about it. I'm willing to give management the benefit of the doubt and say the Boldin injury screwed us up cap-wise...for now. BUT...if we see a repeat of the same conservative, save 5+ million in cap space that we don't use again, I'm going to flip out.