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Raider News: Former Chief, Wesley becomes a Raider

By Rob Calonge | July 22nd, 2008

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Wesley has a lot to prove if he’s going to make the squad

Well so much for dumping Jordan to have more cap room to sign more free agents. With little fan fare, the Raiders inked former starting free safety, Greg Wesley. Wesley will join a group of safeties vying for a backup job with the Raiders. In order to do that, he’s going to have to beat out rookie Tyvon Branch, special teams ace Jarrod Cooper, and former backup-turned starter-turned backup, Hiram Eugene.

They will all try to remain on the squad to backup Michael Huff and Gibril Wilson, who is expected to man the strong safety position this year. The Raiders signed Donovan Darius last year, a former starter for the Jaguars who also became relegated to backup before being cut. Wesley hopes that’s where the comparisons end though. Darius never made it out of the preseason with the silver and black and finished last season with the lowly Dolphins.

Since the 2000 season (his rookie year), Wesley has racked up 497 tackles, 6 sacks, 29 interceptions, and 25 passes defensed. He was drafted in the third round out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2000 and was the starter for seven years before getting beat out last season. The Chiefs drafting DaJuan Morgan sent the message that his services were no longer needed and he asked to be traded or released, which the Chiefs gladly did.

It is being reported that when super agent Drew Rosenhaus was contacted about the signing, he said that Wesley was glad to stay in the AFC West and get a chance to meet his former team twice this season. Raider Nation always loves to hear that.

Lost in the shuffle of this signing and the previously reported signing of Mauricio Lopez, Will Buchanon was waived by the team. You may recall that Buchanon nearly made the team last season, but was cut by his former coach, Lane Kiffin prior to the start of the season. Buchanon was a Raider during the tumultuous 2006 season starting from the practice squad and later added to the 53 man roster due to a rash of injuries on the team.

The Raiders are expected to report to training camp tomorrow in Napa. Stay tuned, this first month should see plenty of activity on and off of the field.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm and is filed under Hiram Eugene, Lamont Jordan, 2008, Lane Kiffin, Michael Huff, Will Buchanon, Greg Wesley, Mauricio Lopez, Raiders News, 2008 Oakland Raiders Training Camp, Raider News, Jarrod Cooper, NFL News, Free agent signings, Gibril Wilson, NFL Draft, Training Camp, Oakland Raiders Coaching Staff, 2008 Raiders Preseason, Tyvon Branch, 2008 Raiders Offseason, Raider Nation, Transactions. 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.

15 Responses to “Raider News: Former Chief, Wesley becomes a Raider”

Big John says:

July 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm

It’s wasted money. We need to go after the positions where we’re weak i.e. Linebacker or some depth on both lines. Wesley won’t make the team, he’s only good for inside info on the Chiefs. Can’t wait for training camp and preaseason. Hell, I can’t wait for football!
Rob Calonge says:

July 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 pm

I’m in complete agreement with you Big John.

Thanks for stopping by.
LDizzle says:

July 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 pm

This is clearly a move to bring in a guy who has knowledge of the inner workings of a rival team. I hope he can beat out Eugene for a backup role. Jarrod Cooper should stay and we all hope Tyvon Branch is good enough to thrive on this team and will likely be given the benefit of any small doubts.
Umer Waris says:

July 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 pm

This is starting to look a little scary, Rob.

Why the hell would u bring a guy from Mexico who hasnt played a single down in NFL level football and sign a person to an already depth-ful secondary (who also happened to be dumped by the lowly Chiefs)?!?!

I can only hope that Al Davis knows what he is doing. By not signing Nmandi, I am starting to have bad feelings about the way Davis has been going about business. (Sigh) We never do know what goes on exactly behind the doors of an organization and can only hope whatever happens is done for the best.

Still searching for some optimism at TFDS!
MrMojo4321 says:

July 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm

I don’t know about the rest of you, but this seems like a “competition” signing. Competition happens to be one tenets of Kiffinism, Wesley really seems like a long shot to make the team though.
One Nation…
Raidermomo64 says:

July 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 pm

The Raiders sign people to come and compete. If they can’t win a spot, then they are gone. If they make it, then we only pay them the minimum for this year. Its a wait and see game, as is with Jordan. It is frustrating though. I don’t think we need insight to beat the Chiefs, now if it was SD, then you might have something. Not signing Aso is also very frustrating. I also just want Raider football to begin! Go Raiders!! 10-6
Rob Calonge says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 am

I think Raidermomo64 is right, except for the fact that if you don’t make the roster, you only keep your signing bonus. If you don’t make the team, you don’t get paid.

Don’t fret Umer. This was a good signing and Mauricio Lopez was also because he’s a free practice squad addition. That puts the practice squad at 9 instead of the usual 8 players. I say bring in all the talent you can possibly find. It can only make you better as a team.
Vince says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am

I’m a Chiefs fan, and I will tell you that I’ve always thought Wesley was a solid player and I’m sad to see him go to a division rival. He would probably still be the starter here if the Chiefs weren’t in a youth movement. His play has declined a little the last couple years but he’s still a solid player, so I wouldn’t count him out on making the team.
Double D says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 am

Another Chiefs fan here and it pleases me to no end that “Whiff” Wesley will be wearing Silver and Black and not Red and Gold. Yet another in the long string of KC wins over Oakland. LMAO

Long live Al Davis!!
Dr. Paine says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 11:38 am

Chiefs fan # 3 here….I’m really glad we could have traded him to a division opponent (Donkeys) last year for a pick, but my buddy (sarcasm) Carl didn’t want to send him to a division rival. So, he waits it out and gets absolutely nothing in return. I’m convinced the Raiders signed him entirely out of spite. He can still contribute on special teams, but his best years are behind him. He will at least push the backup safeties to be better, but I don’t think he’ll make the final 53
azraider37 says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm

This move is questionable at best. Go ahead and beat out Eugene, I don’t have a problem with that. But than stop fooling with the secondary, it’s good. We have other problems to look at.
LDizzle says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Dr Paine I agree with you completely. AD is well known for making business moves out of spite. I feel you pain on letting players go for nothing (Dominic Rhodes) instead of a trading them for something even for a low round pick. Wesley may not make the team but if he does, it means he is an upgrade to Eugene which wouldn’t be too difficult.

Oh and Double D that is Red and YELLOW. See the Niners and Saints to see what Gold looks like. The Rams changed their uniforms to actually be gold as well. They seem to konw the difference. The Chiefs colors are that of ketchup and mustard. So until Mustard is referred to as “liquid gold” don’t kid yourself.
Dr. Paine says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm

I’m a big fan of mustard. You are right, it is mustard yellow. The red is a little brighter than ketchup, though…..
Ryan Brown says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 3:54 pm

It’s a spite signing, plain and simple. Maybe forcing some competition was another factor in bringing in Wesley, but it surely can’t be because the Raiders needed another “leave your feet and miss the big hit” safety.

Wesley needed to go - I whole-heartedly wish that we had gotten SOMETHING for him - but seeing him befuddled in the Raiders’ pass coverage may be reward enough.

Go Chiefs!

RB

www.mvn.com/nfl-chiefs
Ian Brennan says:

July 24th, 2008 at 10:32 am

I am a chiefs fan too and i was a fan of Wesley…yeah i know he is fadijng but he still is pretty decent….actually there were times when he would come in last year andi thought palyed better than Page and Pollard…..I say he makes the team…..and is your third option at Saftey and i would bet money on that