Routt and his big contract released by the Raiders
--Cornerback Stanford Routt, who was labeled the cornerstone of the Raiders' defense when he signed a five-year contract one year ago, became the first victim of the Raiders' new regime, which released Routt Feb. 9.
Routt was released one year into a five-year $54.5 million deal. He had been with the Raiders for seven years.
This is the first significant move by new general manager Reggie McKenzie and new head coach Dennis Allen.
McKenzie had said on the day Allen was hired that some of the Raiders' contracts were "out of whack."
Al Davis, then the Raiders' owner and general manager, gave Routt a lucrative contract last year and let Nnamdi Asomugha become a free agent. Asomugha signed with Philadelphia.
The Raiders are apt to make more changes in their defense, which set team records for the most touchdown passes allowed (31) and most passing yards allowed (4,262).
Routt has free-agent visits scheduled with the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported.
--Al Saunders, the Raiders' offensive coordinator under Hue Jackson in 2011, has opted to stay with the organization in the role of "senior offensive assistant."
It was a mild surprise in that Saunders, who had a year left on his contract, was allowed to interview with other teams and in fact was a candidate to be the offensive coordinator in Kansas City.
The Chiefs, however, hired Brian Daboll.
In theory, Saunders gives offensive coordinator and play-caller Greg Knapp a sounding board and knowledge of existing personnel as the Oakland offense undergoes a change.
Knapp is a proponent of a West Coast style of offense that includes possession passing and zone blocking. Saunders, 65, is from the Don Coryell tree favoring downfield passing, a style that suits incumbent quarterback Carson Palmer.
Saunders' retention would suggest Oakland will incorporate things Palmer does well into Knapp's system.
--With many potential assistant coaches tied to their contracts, the Raiders looked to the college ranks to reportedly fill three other vacancies besides the selection of Tarver as defensive coordinator.
John DeFilippo will return to his role as quarterbacks coach, having worked for the Raiders in that capacity in 2007 and 2008 before moving on to the New York Jets in 2009 and San Jose State for the last two seasons.
Oakland went without a quarterbacks coach last season, with Saunders and Jackson handling the position.
The new wide receivers coach, replacing Sanjay Lal, is Ted Gilmore out of USC. Gilmore was with the Trojans last season and Nebraska before that, at one point working for former Raiders coach Bill Callahan.
The secondary coach will reportedly be Keith Burns, who coached at Ole Miss last season. The Raiders defensive backs coaches last season were Rod Woodson (cornerbacks) and Kevin Ross (safeties).
Coaches aside from Saunders who have returned to the staff include Kelly Skipper (running backs), Steve Wisniewski (assistant offensive line) and Eric Gordon (defensive quality control).
--Wide receiver Tim Brown failed to make the final cut for the NFL Hall of Fame in his third year of eligibility.
Brown was caught in a glut of wide receivers that included Cris Carter and Andre Reed -- none of which were ultimately enshrined. Given that Carter and Reed both made the final cut, Brown's wait -- despite being among the all-time leaders in catches, yards and punt returns -- could be a long one.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"From where we are, we've got some contracts that are kind of out of whack, but in discussions and viewing the cap situation, we should be fine. We don't have to make wholesale changes." -- Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie on the club's payroll and salary cap situation.
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