Raiders Sign LB Greenwood; Release DE Gray

by LiveAdam on Aug 16, 2009 6:20 PM PDT

The Associated Press as well as the Raiders Transactions page are reporting that the Raiders have signed OLB Morlon Greenwood and released DE Derrick Gray.

The move announced Sunday gives the Raiders more depth at outside linebacker with Jon Alston nursing a foot injury and Ricky Brown competing with Kirk Morrison for the starting middle linebacker spot.

Greenwood saw his production and playing time decrease last season in Houston and was released in February. He started 10 games and finished with 31 solo tackles last season.

Prior to last season, Greenwood started at weakside linebacker for the Texans for 4 years, racking up over 100 tackles in each season. Oddly enough though, Texans fans seemed glad that Greenwood was no longer on the field. Greenwood provides more depth at both OLB positions, mainly WLB.

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I like this pickup!

This adds competition and depth to our linebacking corps.

by Raider76 on Aug 16, 2009 6:23 PM PDT reply actions

who is this Greenwood guy?

Amazing, Jamarcus Russell hands off to McFadden who pitches it back to Russell who finds Darrius Heyward Bey in the Middle of the Field wide open 30, 20,10,5 Touchdown Raiders! Amazing. This telecast is Brought to you by Cable.

by nishal26 on Aug 16, 2009 7:02 PM PDT reply actions

i dont really know

but if he adds more competition, i like it.

Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!

by naq92 on Aug 16, 2009 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions

somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming

this signing is huge. I hope that he start at SLB because that would give the Raiders three quality starting linebackers (that is if Morrison starts which he really should) and would be a big help in the running game to get a sure tackler like Greenwood playing strong side. He won’t excel at coverage, but he’s a great blitzer and a very sure tackler.

"You'll take my life but I'll take yours too. You'll fire you musket but I'll run you through. So when your waiting for the next attack. You'd better stand there's no turning back"- "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden

by KA1Z3R on Aug 16, 2009 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

but if he's so good

why did it take so long for him to get signed?

Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!

by naq92 on Aug 16, 2009 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Starting? Really?

How does Ricky Brown go from starting at SLB last season, pushing Morrison for time at MLB, to the Raiders signing Greenwood and Brown turning into a backup at both positions?

Don’t hand Greenwood a starting spot the day he’s signed. He’s going to have to seriously outplay both Brown and Alston for the starting SLB spot. There is less depth at WLB, so I think he’s being brought to backup Howard there.

Slade Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.

ESPN’s draft coverage missed the moment when Al Davis and Tom Cable each took turns using Mel Kiper’s mock draft as toilet paper. - Chris Shellcroft

by LiveAdam on Aug 16, 2009 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions

+1, same opinion on Brooks too

Brown is a young player with upside.

Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!

by naq92 on Aug 16, 2009 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Brown’s upside is limited and so I think one year of Brooks starting won’t hinder Brown’s development at all.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 16, 2009 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions

what makes you think his upside is limited?

he is pushing Morrison for the starting job…and i just see him being a much better long-term (and maybe even short-term) option than greenwood. do you by any chance know why his numbers decreased significantly last year? i barely had any idea who he was until he drew interest from the raiders

Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!

by naq92 on Aug 16, 2009 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Xavier Adibi

Greenwood lost his starting job to Xavier Adibi. That’s why his numbers went down.

Slade Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.

ESPN’s draft coverage missed the moment when Al Davis and Tom Cable each took turns using Mel Kiper’s mock draft as toilet paper. - Chris Shellcroft

by LiveAdam on Aug 16, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

k thx.

he was a WLB too right? not SLB.

i like this move for depth and competition. i just hope he doesnt take a starting spot unless he shows that he’s an absolute BEAST.

Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!

by naq92 on Aug 16, 2009 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

This is already Brown’s fourth year and he hasn’t shown much. I doubt he’ll become anything more than your average linebacker whether it’s inside or outside. Holding him back a year in favor of Brooks is what I think is the better option. I do, however, think he’s at least better than Greenwood right now.

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 16, 2009 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Did I miss something?

You guys talk about Derrick Brooks like we already signed him? If we did I wasn’t aware of it. But moving Morrison to SLB and Brooks as the starting MLB sounds like the best LB corps in the NFL to me.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til' I die.

by thepunisher00187 on Aug 16, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions

We didn’t sign him yet and I doubt we will now with the addition of Greenwood.

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 16, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Brown looked Fierce on Thursday:

He will start this year.

But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."

by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Aug 17, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Saint, you think that Morrison should be benched and Brown put in as the MLB? Or you want Brown to start at SLB? I think the starting lineup should be: Howard-WLB, Morrison-MLB, Greenwood or Norris-SLB. Alston and Brown should be back ups.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til' I die.

by thepunisher00187 on Aug 17, 2009 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions

correct me if I'm wrong but

didn’t Brown kinda suck at the position last year? Last year he started because there was simply no one halfway decent at the position. Neither Alston or Williams are what I’d call good starting options. Brown is just average enough to beat them out for the starting job.

But now Greenwood comes in and could really help with the run defense. The linebacking corps would be rounded off with three good starters instead of two good starters and a below average starter.

However, Brown is definitely a great depth player because he has starter experience and is very versatile. Brown is also a good special teams player if you all remember that. If he beats out Greenwood for a starting job, (if Greenwood is even being considered for a starting spot) then I know Brown has definitely improved and has rightfully earned the spot. But until then, I pray that we start Greenwood at strongside.

by KA1Z3R on Aug 17, 2009 7:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Brown still very young

Brown played only on special teams in 2006 and most of 2007, played 3 games at LB (1 start) in 2008, then played 7 games (6 starts) last season before being injured. I wouldn’t say he sucked, but you could see his lack of experience at times. Still, the Raiders were high enough on him to give him a nice RFA tender to keep him around, and he’s performed admirably in camp.

Alston took this offseason very seriously and added weight to make more of a contribution besides just special teams. If Marshall is going to have the OLBs blitz more often, Alston is probably the fastest LB on the squad, so schematically he could be a good fit, so long as he can still play the run.

Greenwood took a lot of the same criticism from Texan fans that Morrison gets from us – lots of tackles, but most of them too far away from the line of scrimmage. He could very well start at SLB by Opening Night, my point was simply not to anoint the guy the moment he puts on the uniform.

Slade Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.

ESPN’s draft coverage missed the moment when Al Davis and Tom Cable each took turns using Mel Kiper’s mock draft as toilet paper. - Chris Shellcroft

by LiveAdam on Aug 17, 2009 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions

I know

but Greenwood was a guy I wanted the moment I heard he was a free agent. And when I heard we were interested and eventually signed him, I was so unbelievably giddy.

However, my favoring of Greenwood aside, whoever plays the best and preseason is the one that deserves the job.

by KA1Z3R on Aug 17, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

but why do you think he lasted in FA for so long?

asking for too much money? no interest?

Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!

by naq92 on Aug 17, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions

If Morrison starts????

Let me tell you something… Morrison is starting. If he doesn’t then just fire Tom Cable right now.

I have to admit that I don’t know much about Greenwood, but I agree some friendly competition never hurt. I think Slade Norris has the potential to be a starter for this team one day.

Light up the Freakin Halo!

by marshgr on Aug 17, 2009 6:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Instead of Slade Norris, my Cal bias says that we should have taken Zack Follett.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 17, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not a Cal Fan whatsoever

but even I think we should have taken Follett

by KA1Z3R on Aug 18, 2009 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions

I have to agree with Kaizer

Morlon Greenwood is a big upgrade for our LB depth. The new signings are getting better every day with the additions of Manning Jr. and now Greenwood. I think Greenwood should step in right away and be the starter at SLB with Howard at WLB and Morrison as the MLB. Greenwood has much more experience with some gas left in the tank and is a sure tackler when he can stay healthy.

Whenever I think of Ricky Brown the image of Troy Smith throwing a 50 yard bomb to Joe Flacco pops into my head. It might be irrelevant but I don’t see Ricky Brown being a starter.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til' I die.

by thepunisher00187 on Aug 16, 2009 9:04 PM PDT reply actions

Look Who They Are Replacing

John Paul Foschi and Derrick Gray. I think it is definetely an upgrade. More competition is always better. I’m rooting for Ricky Brown for the starting job. Not at MLB though. I still think Kirk is the right man at that spot. At CB, I am still rooting for Routt to get the job. Hopefully, he improves.

R.I.P - Michael Jackson

by Rayder K on Aug 16, 2009 10:47 PM PDT reply actions