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Around SBN: News And Other Updates Leading Up To Pats-Giants

Oakland Raiders finish final roster cut on sour note


After deliberating for what can compare to a game-clock hour at the Super-Bowl, Oakland, which had a reasonable roster cut  through 21 of 22 players, decided to cut a universal fan favorite - Stevie 'Wunderkind" Brown who had distinguished himself during preseason at FS and on STs. This came as something of a shock, I had expected the obvious pairing down of "RT"Pears or the hapless MLB, Ricky (Ricky) Brown.

All said and done, it was a shaky B+ / solid B day of cuts and keeps.

I'll miss Slade Norris (9 pts scored on STs in preseason) and Stevie Brown who many of us considered a threat to Huff and Eugene at FS.Those two athletes should have been kept, in my opinion ... wtf.

According to a another source, Andy Slater, the decision to release Brown came after intense discussions over keeping either Mike "the Missile" Mitchell or Stevie Brown. How both of these excellent football players could even be 'on the bubble' is surprising, but what is far more surprising are the 2 or 3 players who made the team today who are not fit to wear the Silver & Black or carry the soiled jock of either Mitchell or Brown to the dry cleaner.

Overall, I know the Cut was good, but feel that we somehow screwed up today.

Poll
Is Tom Cable too close to his Offensive Lineman to make reasonable decisions about who of them should be released?
I'm affraid so.
630 votes
No, Cable is as clear thinking as his DC
179 votes
No, Tom is now in shape and will play on the O-line himself
88 votes
No, Eric Pears is a much better asset for Oakland than Stevie Brown
95 votes

992 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 90 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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I think you can never really have too many OL. Depth is very important at that position.

However, I do think Erik Pears needs to GO.

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

I'm also a Raider Fan dammit!!! RAIDER NATION!!!!

by patriotguy2 on Sep 4, 2010 5:44 PM PDT reply actions  

S Brown made the cut

but even he was cut he would be brought back on the practice squad once he cleared waivers.

Sorry to see Todd Watkins stunk it up and missed his chance.

by Al's Wingman on Sep 4, 2010 5:46 PM PDT reply actions  

Link?

I don’t see any site that says he was cut besides the twitter account of the guy who said Mitchell was going to be gone and Huff was likely to be traded.

by duballers23 on Sep 4, 2010 5:52 PM PDT reply actions  

Look at the post again

I believe he fessed up it was a joke.

When you least expect it there I am waiting below to take you out......if your lucky.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Sep 4, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

Where?

Do you mean this “Those two should have been kept, in my opinion … wtf.”? I think he’s just mad.

by duballers23 on Sep 4, 2010 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

Nope this
That was just me messing around

by dubzfan who posted the original fanshot. I am not sure if its about the whole post or ESPN using Mr. Davis as a referral.

When you least expect it there I am waiting below to take you out......if your lucky.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Sep 4, 2010 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

Oh okay

Thanks. I didn’t see the orignial post.

by duballers23 on Sep 4, 2010 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions  

How the FUCK?

Does Pears waddle his way onto the roster? Does he have pictures of Al, Tom, Herrera et al with animals and naked with syrup or peanut butter on their bodies? Fuck. We can pick up another guy off waivers for sure that has to be better.

When you least expect it there I am waiting below to take you out......if your lucky.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Sep 4, 2010 6:07 PM PDT reply actions  

Last week it was Henderson

before that it was Satele and Carlisle, or Barnes, or Walker, this week it is Pears.
Look all we are talking about are guys #52 or #53 and have no impact one way or the other on the teams success. Listening to the blather on this site you would think we let Nnamdi go.
And by the way, I do believe Cable knows a little bit more about offensive linemen than anyone writing on this site. You guys sound like wanna be sportswriters who never played a down of football in their life giving expert opinions on things they know nothing about.

by Laoren on Sep 4, 2010 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions  

All 53 are important. You can't seriously discount the 2nd or even 3rd tier players - especially given proneness to injury

 Your remarks about wholesale deference to Cable’s (or any authorities?) judgments are pathetic and against the spirit of sports blogs in general. As for football background – I’ve had my share, in fact I played yesterday.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 4, 2010 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

A bit harsh. Rather than justify your argument you call him pathetic. Good to know you’re stable in the stance you’re in.

'Like' my band. I mean, it'd be awesome if you did that.

by slapchop on Sep 4, 2010 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think Sons referred to Laoren's statement that "Cable knows a little bit more about offensive linemen than anyone writing on this site,"

“Pathetic” may be a strong word, but I think Laoren’s claim that writers on this blog are “wanna be [sic] sportswriters who never played a down of football, etc.” is absolutely unsupported. There may be writers here who just read stats and reports, but Sons is not one of those. And there are many on this site like Sons.

by Spirals galore on Sep 4, 2010 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

+1

"May the wind be at our back, here comes the Silver and Black "

by RUKidding on Sep 5, 2010 2:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

First, I referred to his deference remarks as pathetic (didn't condemn the man), Second, I'm stable enough to know

that Cable is keeping Pears on this team – and I’ve seen him play and wonder if Laoren has b/c he hurt his own credibility to evaluate Offensive Lineman by defending Pears being kept AND gave the appeal to authority argument – a classic inductive fallacy of logic – as support. If that’s harsh, so be it.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 4, 2010 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions  

All I know is from what I’ve seen of you and your pieces, you’re far above denegrating someone —-even if they’ve done it to you (with stupid generalizations). He did inferr that you’re all unathletic dorks, but he’s allowed to think whatever he wants. Mudslinging is a waste of time. I tend to agree that these practice squad players aren’t as important a lot of you are making it seem, but I also understand that until next Sunday, there’s really nothing better to do than talk about these cuts.

'Like' my band. I mean, it'd be awesome if you did that.

by slapchop on Sep 4, 2010 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions  

I apologize if you misunderstood what I said

about you, I was referring to sportswriters who I have known in the past when I played who were unathletic dorks but acted like they knew something about football when they knew nothing. There might be some great athletes writing on this site, I have no idea, I was just saying that it seems to me that some guys are trying to be like those sportswriters I knew. There seems to be a philosophy now in sports that unless you are negative no one will listen. I trust coaches who spend hours with the players, watch film and make value judgments based on what they see, not sportswriters who are trying to be noticed. I would never denigrate anyone on this site and never have although I have been castigated quite a few times. We are after all Raider fans, the Few the Proud.

by Laoren on Sep 4, 2010 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

I understand, thanks for clarifying. We both want what's best for the Raiders. I happen to think that politics

and pride may be involved in a couple of the moves today; and when I see guys like Stevie Brown – who have done nothing but impress me – and learn that they are sent away when slobs are kept, I become emotional.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 4, 2010 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

On goal line situations

Cable likes to insert Pears as a TE eligible for the simple reason he is probably a better blocker than either of his tight ends. I am being put in the uncomfortable position of defending a player I am indifferent to. When Denver was shredding the Oakland run defense a few years ago Pears was the starting tackle so perhaps he does have a little skill, and for that I defer to Cable and the offensive line coach.
And in fact the practice squad players are not really important because it is a fluid situation in that guys come and go from it all the time.

by Laoren on Sep 4, 2010 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

No, you put yourself there

I am being put in the uncomfortable position of defending a player I am indifferent to.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 4, 2010 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

You would think Cable would...

But his insistence of keeping Brown on the field over Henderson makes you wonder. Also making one wonder: his love affair with Green, Carlisle, and Morris.

You can make snide comments about how apparently nobody else here has ‘played a down of football in their life’, but the people on this site aren’t the only ones saying these things… so where does that leave you?

Failure builds character; success reveals it

by signcut on Sep 6, 2010 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions  

there is no way brown will get cut

that andy slater guy is an idiot just trying to make headlines.
like saying they were going to cut mike mitchell
i think you should wait until there is more evidence before posting an article

by paperboye on Sep 4, 2010 6:46 PM PDT reply actions  

Slater is a talk show host on on 640 WTFL Florida. He began tweeting this morning that coaches were lobbying to cut safety Mike Mitchell, who was a controversial second-round draft pick out of Ohio last year, and that they were lobbying in favor of Brown, the seventh-round pick out of Michigan.

According to his biography on the radio station Web site, "Andy also worked for Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders organization. Slater had the unique privilege of being the tech who prepared the breakdown of NFL game film and present it to players and coaches during their meetings . At an early age Andy Slater went where the rest of media could not go….deep inside.

That was not the source of Sons’ post. I was there when he got the info. So you have the same thing from two sources.

by Spirals galore on Sep 4, 2010 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

from the same link
The Raiders still had one move to make but have declined to make an announcement until the list has gone through league channels.

by Spirals galore on Sep 4, 2010 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions  

...and more
Here is a list of tweets from the Twitter page AndySlater on Twitter which started hours ago:

– allblacklouie they don’t believe he’s that good… and also other factors… trade is possible, but prob. unlikely from AD now.

– @allblacklouie Brown has to clear waivers. Can’t say it enough how much everyone in org. wants Mitchell gone. AD final say. about 2 hours ago via web in reply to allblacklouie

– Starting LBs will be Wimbley, McClain, Groves about 2 hours ago via web

– Brown gone. RT @allblacklouie Hey @AndySlater If we don’t keep 5 safeties, it will be Hiram Eugene who’s cut not Brown or Mitchell about 3 hours ago via web

– Cutting Stevie Brown wasn’t a decision many in the organization are happy with. Seems like AD didn’t want the bad PR cutting Mitchell about 3 hours ago via web

– The Raiders have officially cut Stevie Brown. He is the final cut. Mike Mitchell stays. about 3 hours ago via web

– Team is calling around checking for interest in Mike Mitchell before 6:00pm ET for a late rd. pick.
about 5 hours ago via web

– Coaches are trying their best to have Stevie Brown make team and not Mitchell… We’ll find out what Al Davis decided shortly. about 5 hours ago via web

– Kenzel_D I hear ya… Coaches want Brown, not Mitchell. Let’s see if it sticks after practice. about 7 hours ago via web in reply to Kenzel_D

– LB Travis Goethel has made the active roster. DT Desmond Bryant has made the active roster.
about 7 hours ago via web

– Depsite reports, the Raiders are not keeping 5 safeties. As I stated prior, one will be cut after practice. Mitchell or Brown about 7 hours ago via web

– @GdaRAIDER408 then don’t pay attention. If you’ve been following me for two years on Raiders news, I let my track record speak for itself. about 7 hours ago via web in reply to GdaRAIDER408

– If Raiders release Mitchell, it’s obviously bad PR. 2nd rounder from ‘09, very questionable in first place. What will Al do….. about 7 hours ago via web

– Let me be clear, for those tweeting me on Mitchell/Raiders, coaches do NOT want him. Addition by subtraction. Still no announcement
about 7 hours ago via web.

– If Al does overturn the decision to cut Mike Mitchell, it was SOLELY be b/c it doesn’t look good. Bad PR. Raiders coaches don’t want him. about 8 hours ago via web

– Al Davis is going to have the final word on Mike Mitchell. Right now he is cut… Will Al overturn it? Find out shortly. #raiders about 8 hours ago via web

– Oakland Raiders cuts should be coming shortly… Last minute decision making with a few players going on right now #nfl about 9 hours ago via web

by Spirals galore on Sep 4, 2010 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

I am saddened the coaches don't like Mitchell

if the reports are true and I am starting to believe they are. It seemed like they were high on him.

If Brown clears waivers and finds his way to the practice squad, it all works for me.

I was kind of surprised by Grover being named starting LB and Scott being moved back to DE. I’ve always liked what I have seen of Groves, but the coaches seemed so high on Scott. Groves should help make it a more well-rounded LB group.

Thought is cheap.

by Rich Langford on Sep 4, 2010 7:36 PM PDT reply actions  

I was certainly more impressed with him as a back up.

but I think he is decent and has the potential to be solid.

You can never have too many D-lineman. Scott will be a good rotation end on passing downs.

Thought is cheap.

by Rich Langford on Sep 4, 2010 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions  

Would you say they are Dead Men Walking?

Ro is going to have to grow up quick. I really think Groves will be a little quicker to the runs than Scott and better in pass coverage. Still, I am fidgeting with ya.

I didn’t see, did they name Routt the starter?

Thought is cheap.

by Rich Langford on Sep 4, 2010 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

it's official

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oakland-Raiders/139061532786633

BREAKING NEWS: It is now official the change has been made on raiders.com raiders have cut Stevie Brown hopefully he makes it to the practice squad

by Spirals galore on Sep 4, 2010 7:41 PM PDT reply actions  

I think this is outrageous

Al’s Wingman was referring to it above, methinks. Stevie was told he made the roster a few hours before he was cut.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/raiders/detail?entry_id=71651

by Spirals galore on Sep 4, 2010 7:50 PM PDT reply actions  

Also Veld's the starter!

Which meant Morris got the axe and Loper was retained since Barnes is now the back up LT. I have to admit, that I didn’t pay any attention to Loper in the pre season. Anyone notice how he did?

Thought is cheap.

by Rich Langford on Sep 4, 2010 7:50 PM PDT reply actions  

I am struck dumbfounded that we couldn't save both Mike "Missile" Mitchell and Stevie Brown. This was a very bad

finish to a happy day. There are no less than 4 players on this roster who aren’t worthy to carry Stevie’s soiled jock. But, it sounds like it was all pride & politics that came in and fucked things up.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 4, 2010 7:51 PM PDT reply actions  

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Put him on the practice squad at least, seriously. who the fuck made this move?

" Only build on positives , don't stack the negatives...Instead of criticizing , what was a positive?" - Donavin Darius

‎"There is nothing like a wise phrase or quote to help convince others that your decision makes sense." - Anon

"If you're ever in a fair fight, then your tactics suck." ಠ_ಠ

by dubzfan on Sep 4, 2010 8:01 PM PDT reply actions  

I've rethought this, and it seems to me that the only thing Al prevented was Mitchell's being released. Cable & Co. could

have kept Stevie Brown – that was not Al’s decision. Cable chose to part with a valuable asset to keep his linemen in place. Well, Tom, this move was not your best one recently and when our STs stink up the field and our O-line causes us to lose – and I hope these things do not come to pass – it will be your ass and you may remember this day.

I apologize Al. You only stepped in to save Mike Mitchell – your staff sold Stevie down the river for lesser men after he had done everything possible to earn a rightful place on this team

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 4, 2010 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hahah.

So you’re apologizing to Al Davis for something you completely fabricated in your head in the first place? Clutch.

'Like' my band. I mean, it'd be awesome if you did that.

by slapchop on Sep 4, 2010 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

Poor Al - a victim of his own coaches!

Oh the diabolical plot, oh the injustice…. This argument of yours doesn’t make any sense, and as you well know, I’ve examined it from all sides.

by Spirals galore on Sep 5, 2010 6:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

Give the coaches enough rope and what do they do with it ... we'll see.

S.Brown giving up 20lbs could outplay the inferior Brown (Ricky) at MLB – Stevie played LB at Michigan and is twice the athlete. As you know, I am out of sorts and depressed about the disgraceful handling of this situation. The list of 22 was given to Al and he handed it back with Mitchell’s name crossed off – a very good decision, imo. And how do the coaches or committee respond they hand it back with Stevie Brown in Mitchell’s place! We have several players who we could have cut instead of Stevie, so this “hard decision” could have been avoided. I’ll list a few whose names could have been offered to Al instead of Mike Mitchell’s, starting with: Eric (the Blob) Pears, then Ricky (Shitty) Brown, then Yamon (the Yips) Figurs, then Chris (I’m a victim of Asom1’s greatness) Johnson, then Rock (pedestrian) Cartwright. Our team could have been better with Stevie Brown, he will be picked up by Denver probably and become an annual curse on our house.
Cable is too close to some of his players to make objective calls on who stays and goes. We could pick up Hartwig and Gaither and drop some of Cable’s buddies – starting with Pears and Carlisle.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 5, 2010 6:55 AM PDT up reply actions  

And how do the coaches or committee respond they hand it back with Stevie Brown in Mitchell’s place!

And how does Al respond? He agrees and cuts Stevie Brown without considering all the possibilities.

by Spirals galore on Sep 5, 2010 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

Al has given his coaches leeway this year and it came down to "who will be the 4 Safties" If you look at Al's

record, he is not opposed to having imbalances on the roster in some postions when the athletes are superior and versatile. Rickie Brown is very versatile, FS, SS, LB, STs, who knows what else and he was clearly a superior athlete to several on this team, nay, to several of the DBs!!!. Keeping him would have improved our team and that was supposed to be the whole point and the staff’s agenda.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 5, 2010 7:14 AM PDT up reply actions  

This 180 on Mitchell has thrown me for a loop

He looked like he was making strides in pre season. He’s at least a year away from being able to unseat Huff or Branch, but he wasn’t actively bad. I can’t believe the coaching staff is ready to give up on him already. Stevie getting cut sucks, and Pears making the team sickens me.

by Mike Garza on Sep 4, 2010 9:40 PM PDT reply actions  

I wanted Stevie and Boyd to make it.

Mostly Brown but both get cut!?!? And Mitchell had me sold on him when he destroyed Forsett.

by Dogsoldier on Sep 4, 2010 10:20 PM PDT reply actions  

Hmmm, they cut S Brown after practice

how lame. He’ll be added to the practice squad if he clears waivers. That’s just a stupid decision. The guy makes plays. Can’t believe I agree with SOB on anything but Ricky Brown is terrible. He gets mowed down or juked consistently. I doubt he’s even that effective in special teams anymore.

Sam Williams has to be the biggest joke of Raiders history, surpassed only by you know who.

by Al's Wingman on Sep 4, 2010 11:46 PM PDT reply actions  

How do you know this PR fiasco and disgrace is on AL? He wanted to keep Mitchell - good call. The committee came up

with Brown. That was the best they could do? Go figure. Brown was the best player we had on our kickoff team (Slade Norris was probably the 2nd best) and we cut him (them). Have you noticed our Kickoff “Defense” lately – it sucks.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 5, 2010 7:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

again - if Al had his wits about him, he could have considered other options

He didn’t, so the blame is on him, unless proven otherwise – by means of hard evidence.

by Spirals galore on Sep 5, 2010 7:06 AM PDT up reply actions  

I have to agree with Sons on this

Al can’t make up the whole roster, Christ he can barely eat his hoagie at halftime. He has to rely on his coaches to do most of the hard work but still reserves the final say for himself.
He probably would have signed off on Rickey Brown, Hiram Eugene or Pears. But that’s not who the coaches presented to him as an option. It was the coaching staff that made it Mitchell or Brown
All we can hope for now is that nobody in the NFL was paying attention to the exceptional play of my man Stevie.
I thought Eugene was gone because of the play of this kid, not Mitchell. He should have been or any of the a fore mentioned dead weights on this team.

by rambis64 on Sep 5, 2010 9:26 AM PDT reply actions  

Must like picking in the top 10 every year

Once again Al keeps his pet Sam Williams who is a liability at LB and can only play ST. Norris is better and can play the position too. Roadkill Eugene and Huff kept over Brown? Give me a break! Higgins must be another pet – a liability at WR, forgets his routes and is quite gun-shy. Groan.

by lurker88 on Sep 5, 2010 9:29 AM PDT reply actions  

Al does have sign off on the roster

I wouldn’t give up on Mitchell at this point either. But he’s pretty much a backup SS since he’s lousy at FS and Branch owns the starting SS job (at least this is how is should be played out). Stevie Brown is a free safety so if Huff is the starter, that means they kept… Hiram Eugene instead of Stevie Brown

Eugene sucks so I have no idea what Al is thinking here other than he’s an idiot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWWNQXqvQ9U

by Al's Wingman on Sep 5, 2010 7:27 PM PDT reply actions  

One More Time !!!!

This should’ve been a No-Brainer : Eugene vs. Brown- Mediocre vs. Playmaker !!! Brown is the Winner !!!! Hands Down, end of subject !!!

by papabegood on Sep 6, 2010 8:56 PM PDT reply actions  

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