There is a saying out there that goes “a creative mess is better than a tidy idleness.” Though I am not exactly sure what that means, I can say one thing for sure…the Raiders are most definitely not a creative mess. Following the news that Rodger Saffold “failed” his physical and will not be signing with Oakland…
and will be returning to the St. Louis Rams on a similar five-year deal, we now have to wonder exactly what Reggie McKenzie and Co. are doing in Napa. This isn’t an attempt to jump on the bandwagon that seems to be making a mockery of what the Raiders have done thus far this offseason. Instead, it really is a legit question to ask.
Flush with the most cap room in the NFL and with two young studs that they could have retained in the form of Lamarr Houston and Jared Veldheer, Oakland has just Austin Howard to account for after two days of free agency.
The Saffold situation is beyond disturbing. Disagreements likely arose about a shoulder situation with Oakland possibly demanding some insurance in case things went sour on that end. Interestingly enough, the Rams were quick to sign Saffold to a five-year deal, which is an indication that their postseason medicals checked out. Short of something happening over the past two months, there doesn’t seem to be a real issue as it relates to his shoulder.
With nothing else to show in free agency and a couple visits lined up tomorrow, Oakland needs to get down to brass tax. It is, however, the opinion of this one writer that the Raiders did luck out on Saffold. Paying him $21 million guaranteed was beyond ridiculous. The larger issue now is that we simply can’t have faith in the Raiders to do the right thing moving forward. They are, for a lack of a better term, a dumpster fire of epic proportions right now.
In any event, here is some reactions to Oakland’s offseason and Saffold’s failed physical, which was reported earlier this evening.
What they’re saying
After a disagreement in OAK on OT Rodger Saffold’s physical condition, he is returning to STL to sign a 5-yr contract with the Rams. Wow.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2014
Tough to blame this one on Al Davis. Wow.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 13, 2014
From a Raiders source: ‘one of the worst days of my life as a professional’ (re saffold failing physical) @nflnetwork @NFL_ATL
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 13, 2014
Hey guys, Reggie McKenzie’s bigger mistake would have been if Saffold passed the physical and got paid like an elite Tackle.
— Ryan Riddle (@Ryan_Riddle) March 13, 2014
@MikeSilver Ah yes, the process that continues to look more and more like the sinking ship you recently spoke of.
— Ryan Riddle (@Ryan_Riddle) March 13, 2014
After failing his physical Rodger Saffold is going back to St. Louis to play for the Rams. It sure would be nice to have Jared Veldheer.
— Henry Wofford (@HenryWoffordCSN) March 13, 2014
Poor Rodger Saffold. But honestly, it’s best that the deal fell through for the #Raiders. Simply out-of-whack $ to begin with for him.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) March 13, 2014
Reggie McKenzie took the brown acid RT @BairCSN #Raiders announce Rodger Saffold failed a physical and will not be signing with the team
— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) March 13, 2014
Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA Today