Ward Cut

I just got word that S BJ Ward has been released. This is a little surprising. First off, its 3 days before gameday and the only backup safety on the roster is Hiram Eugene. I guess the coaching staff didn’t like the fact that Ronnie Brown trampled him on his way to the endzone. Still, I liked Ward in training camp and it appeared that he was starting to push Stuart Schweigert for playing time. He must have fallen out of favor in a hurry. Former Raider, Jarrod Cooper is being worked out. Cooper was released shortly before the preseason began because of a four game steroid-related suspension. When you look at it that way, it could have been the team’s plan all along, to bring him back after 4 games.

Signing Cooper would make sense. The special teams unit is playing devastatingly bad when it comes to kick and punt coverage. Cooper is listed as a safety, but is really best utilized strictly on special teams.

The problem is that the team needs a better backup safety (that can actually play safety).

Former New England Patriot, Tebucky Jones worked out with the team last week, but it seems as though the Raiders decided to pass on him. Jones, a native of Connecticut, takes credit for coining the phrase, “Hard-Hittin New Britain.”

In order to make room for the return of Dominic Rhodes, the Raiders released preseason standout, Adimchinobe Echemandu. Echemandu, the cousin of CB Nnamdi Asomugha, was signed by the Houston Texans on Tuesday. I liked Echemandu, but there is simply no need to have him around with so many other options at running back.