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It’s official! Spires is a Raider

By Rob Calonge | May 13th, 2008

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The Oakland Raiders have made a press release on their site reporting that they’ve signed Greg Spires formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raider Nation may remember him as one of the two heralded defensive ends from Super Bowl XXXVII, or 37.

Image details: Buccaneers v Raiders served by picapp.com

Tacked on to the release was news that FB, Matt Hahn had been cut along with veteran CB, Duane Starks. Speaking of Starks, does anyone know what it is that he has over Davis? Is there anything that could embarrass Davis besides losing? Just wondering, because this guy has been signed and released in the neighborhood of 6 times over the past three seasons, not playing a down, and receiving somewhere in the neighborhood of $135,000 per year for being on the team for a few games a season. I’ll take that job!

The Raiders also signed another former Huskie, when they signed undrafted rookie free agent WR, Marcel Reece. We’ll have more on this later if there is anything to report on the guy. I’ve got no problem with signing the best talent, but I’m a little shocked that the Raiders haven’t signed any Trojans. If you were going to sign undrafted rookies, wouldn’t you first want to look on the good teams for them? Just checking, because the last time I checked Washington was middle of the road at best…scratch that, they were the worst team in the PAC-10. Yes, worse than Stanford.

More later…

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm and is filed under 2008 Offseason. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 Responses to “It’s official! Spires is a Raider”

LDizzle says:

May 13th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

Rob I disagree with the idea that signing a player from USC would be a better idea in Free Agency. If a player plays for USC can’t get drafted they must really be bad. Every one of their players is under the microscope and many are overrated because they are given the benefit of the doubt simply because they are a trojan. They are also many times made to look better because they are surrounded by great players even if they are not.
While a guy like Reece can fly under the radar because he plays for a terrible team with likely a QB that can’t make the most of his potential. Not only that but unlike a div 2 school, he played against top flight competition in the Pac10 every week so he is more prepared than small school players.
There are surely arguments that oppose this point of view but I like the idea of finding a diamond in the rough as opposed to a polished turd in a pile of diamonds.
MartinTheMerciless says:

May 13th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

http://www.trojancondoms.com/P.....ample.aspx

Here’s your Trojan, Rob.
Spencer Mills says:

May 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pm

Well,

I can understand why starks was kept on the roster. Until the emergence of Routt and the recent acquisition of Hall, the Raiders were struggling at CB. Woodson was always injured and unmotivated in the second half of his Raider career, and Aso was the only bright spot in a group of undeveloped CBs. Sometimes, you have to fill, or attempt to fill, the gaps with veterans, and Starks was that emergency veteran option.

OakFoSho
Rob Calonge says:

May 13th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

Martin - Thanks…I was looking for those!

LDizzle - I see your point. I just thought that it was odd that besides Arizona St., most of the Div I talent was from schools not as talented. Also, since Kiffin is only one year removed from the program, you’d think that there would be someone that he recruited he’d like to bring in…at least I think that you’d think.

OakFoSho - Good to see you back regularly. I really liked the signing of Starks the first few times, but after checking and calculating what he makes for being on the roster, the money is better spent with Bowie or someone like him than somebody you’ll NEVER play. I’d rather take a chance on a guy that makes the league minimum of ~$150,000 than the league min of $750,000. See my point?

Thanks for reading guys!
Spencer Mills says:

May 14th, 2008 at 1:59 am

I do, i do…..

and I’m not at all displeased with the release. However, without Hall, the emergence of Rout, and whatever the Raiders see in Bowie (as we have not seen the id play yet) allowed for them to feel comfortable in releasing Starks. The salary part is obviously a huge factor as well concidering the Raiders situation.

OakFoSho
J. Rasmussen says:

May 14th, 2008 at 9:03 am

I thought Starks was there to provide some verteran leadership and the kind of help coach the young guys.
eks says:

May 14th, 2008 at 9:30 am

How about this Marcel Reece who signed on with Oakland. This guy looks pretty good. When you look at him, he’s slightly taller, about 20 pounds heavier and slightly faster then J.Russells old teammate Dwayne Bowe. Bowe ran a 4.5, Reece at 40 pounds heavier ran a 4.4. Big kid with potential.
Imagine trying to check him off at the line. He also palyed Half back. I don’t know why the Dolphins cut him. Time will tell I guess.
inonewordraider says:

May 14th, 2008 at 10:52 am

I just keep thinking the Spires signing was the last piece to the puzzle. If he plays well enough to start great. If he doesn’t (as someone I heard earlier mention) that means maybe Gunheim, Trevor, or Edwards beat him out (and Spires was still playing well last season till he got hurt) which would also be great. Then if Hartwell can regain his form, you might be talking about one of the best d’s in the league. Our success now rests in the hands of Jamarcus and he’s game, GO RAIDERS!!!
Raider Blues says:

May 14th, 2008 at 10:57 am

I’m with Diz on this one. Go with the PAC 10 talent!
BIG BOLA says:

May 14th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Yeah that was a good decision to sign that reece kid he”s a beast!! I seen him play in the pac 10 and he was killing DB”s all the time! and i”ve seen him in JC and he was unbelievable at EL Camino out here in LA. I think you can always use a guy who can play multiple positions!!