News & Info/Headlines
As Associated Press sports writer Barry Wilner suggested this afternoon, "NFL teams were almost as busy dealing veterans as they were making draft picks Saturday."
Jason Campbell, LenDale White and Leon Washington were the notable offensive skill players to change teams. Kirk Morrison (who moves from Oakland to Jacksonville) and Bryant McFadden (from Arizona to Pittsburgh) were also dealt on the final day of the draft. ...
The biggest deal of the day, from a Fantasy perspective, was the one sending Campbell from the Redskins to Oakland Raiders in exchange for a 2012 fourth-round draft pick, possibly signaling the end of JaMarcus Russell’s tenure in Oakland.
Campbell previously signed a restricted free agent tender that pays him $3.14 million this season. According to Washington Post staffer Rick Maese, Campbell agreed to a $4.5 million extension for 2011.
As AP sports writer Josh Dubow reminded readers, the Raiders had been linked this offseason to possible deals for Donovan McNabb and Ben Roethlisberger. But the trade that finally materialized was for Campbell, who became expendable when the Redskins got McNabb from Philadelphia earlier this month.
According to Dubow, Campbell talked with owner Al Davis, head coach Tom Cable and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson after the deal was made. He liked what he heard.
“We can do some good things together,” Campbell explained during an NFL Network appearance. “I see they’re putting together a good draft. They’re putting together a defense that has been outstanding. Last year their defense started to become one of the premier defenses in the league.
"If we can help out offensively and turn some things around anything is possible.”
Asked specifically if he was assured a starting role, Campbell told ESPN.com's Matt Mosley, "I got that feeling. I'm going to work hard to make sure that happens."
The Raiders had been looking for an upgrade at quarterback this offseason after former No. 1 overall pick Russell was benched midway through last season.
Campbell started 52 games for Washington since being a first-round pick in 2005. He has thrown for 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a passer rating of 82.3 in his career.
He has been sacked 102 times since the start of the 2007 season, tied for third most in the NFL in that span behind Roethlisberger and David Garrard.
But Campbell is coming off his best season, completing 64.5 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 86.4.
Overall, Campbell has been hurt by constantly changing offensive coordinators and schemes since his time in college at Auburn. He had four different offenses in four years at Auburn, then three more in five years with the Redskins.
Now he has to learn a new system with the Raiders. Even so, the idea of Campbell running the offense is a more promising prospect than the current alternatives.
In case you missed it, Russell completed 48.8 percent of his passes last season, with just three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in the league in 11 years. He has struggled with weight and questions about his work ethic throughout his career and never developed into the franchise quarterback the Raiders expected when they drafted him in 2007.
In 31 career games, Russell has completed 52.1 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 15 lost fumbles and a 65.2 passer rating.
Russell has already been paid more than $36 million since being drafted in 2007. The Raiders still owe him $3 million in guaranteed money. Still, The National Football Post's Michael Lombardi is reporting that Russell, who is scheduled to make $9.4 million this season, will be forced to take a pay cut or be released from the team.
The Raiders currently have five quarterbacks on the roster: Russell, Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye and Kyle Boller.
Gradkowski had been expected to compete with Russell for the starting job before the trade for Campbell. Gradkowski hurt himself lifting weights this offseason and recently had surgery. He is expected to be fully recovered by training camp.
By then, however, Campbell should be firmly installed as the starter.
And as ESPN.com AFC West blogger Bill Williamson points out, Campbell has the big arm Oakland covets and he is a smart player. He should help Oakland’s young receiving corps of Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Provided the receivers hold onto the ball better, Oakland’s passing game should be improved.
The Raiders also have running backs Michael Bush and Darren McFadden. If these two runners can become more consistent, Oakland’s offense should be much improved.
Or, as Williamson suggested, it should at least be competitive -- something that wasn’t the case much of last year. ...
Meanwhile, the Seahawks' moves also have broad Fantasy implications. ... The Titans dealt White to Seattle, reuniting the running back with his college coach, Pete Carroll. Later, the Seahawks acquired the versatile Washington from the Jets.
“Just a great one-two punch to add to our team,” Carroll said of the new runners, both of whom come with question marks. “We’re real excited about Leon Washington. Our guys loved him.”
White helped Carroll win a national championship with the Trojans. But he lost his starting job to Chris Johnson and had problems being on time for meetings.
“As far as LenDale falling out of favor, he practiced,” Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said. “He was prepared to play. I think I can’t blame him for wanting to play more. That’s the kind of players you want on your roster. Considering the circumstances, he handled things.
"There were issues I don’t need to bring up. I thought he handled things reasonably well.”
In the end, Seattle got a running back who has had a 15-touchdown season and a big defensive tackle in Kevin Dickerson (also part of the deal), who can be part of a rotation. In return, the Titans moved up from 111th in the fourth round to 104th and also swapped sixth-rounders, moving up to 176th from 185th in the sixth round.
So as ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky notes, they gained seven spots in the fourth, nine spots in the sixth in exchange for two veterans.
It's not great value, but Nashville Tennessean staffer Jim Wyatt advised readers that the Titans figured White just wasn’t worth the trouble. With Johnson’s star now shining bright and Javon Ringer convincing coaches he's a capable back himself, White wasn’t going to get a chance to expand on last year's role. ...
Moving onto the second acquisition. ... As ESPN.com's Mike Sando notes, Washington brings added value in the return game. Carroll has been known to covet "gadget" players. Washington fits the gadget mold because he's explosive and on the short side at 5-8.
"Washington is an explosive change-of-pace runner who places a lot of pressure on opposing defenses," the Scouts Inc. profile on Washington reads in part. "He can get downhill quickly and press the hole. He can turn upfield after the catch and can adjust to balls outside his frame. He has the speed to turn the corner. He's very dangerous in space."
Remember: That report was written before Washington suffered the broken tibia and fibula that ended his season early last November. Surgeons reinforced the leg with a metal rod that will remain in the leg, Washington said.
He hopes to be ready for training camp. ...
It's safe to say the arrival of the two newcomers casts serious doubt on the respective futures of Julius Jones and Justin Forsett in Seattle.
As for the Jets. ... Washington apparently became expendable when New York traded up into the fourth round to select USC's Joe McKnight, further loading up the team's backfield.
The Jets also have last year's playoff sensation as a rookie, Shonn Greene, and LaDainian Tomlinson, whom they signed after San Diego released the veteran star. ...
I'll go ahead and remind you that change tends to lead to fluid situations that don't always hold up to the instant analysis. That being the case, it's safe to assume I'll be following up on the progress of all the teams involved as mini-camps begin and we get a better feel for how things might play out as training camps draw nearer.
So as always, stay tuned. I will have more.