PFT updates on Raiders personnel situation

[OWShaddock]

A couple of interesting updates this morning:

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

POSTED 11:20 a.m. EDT, May 10, 2007

FOLEY A CANDIDATE IN OAKLAND?

An industry source tells us that one of the candidates for the job vacated by Mike Lombardi in the Raiders front office is a former member of the Minnesota Vikings' clusterfudge of authority, Fran Foley.

Foley was fired by the Vikings last year after only a few months on the job. Errors were detected in his biographical information, and even after he supposedly cleaned up the data there were still gross overstatements. We banged the drum hard for the Fred Flinstone look-a-like to be fired. Despite our position on the matter, he was.

And it was believed that Foley had no real shot at another NFL gig. But who better to take a job no one else wants than a guy no one else wants?

The source says that the Raiders plan to hire a head man, along with two or three additional talent evaluators -- some for the college scouting side and some for the pro personnel side.

A league source tells us that he would be "shocked" if Foley gets the job, but not surprised if Foley is a candidate. If (as we've reported) eight persons have already been interviewed, it's likely that most of those candidates are persons not currently working for an NFL team. "No one would let anyone affiliated with a team interview before the draft," the source said.

The source believes that the presence of Lane Kiffin and Mark Jackson makes Pat Kirwan a strong candidate for the position. Kirwan has a close relationship with USC coach Pete Carroll, and Kiffin and Jackson have strong ties to Carroll as well. In fact, the only thing that could keep Kirwan from accepting the job would be his desire to be available to be hired by Carroll if/when Carroll comes back to the NFL. Many league insiders have long believed that Kirwan would/will be one of the first guys that Carroll brings in if/when he comes back to the pro game.

POSTED 9:32 a.m. EDT, May 10, 2007

RAIDERS ALREADY HAVE INTERVIEWED EIGHT

A league source tells us that the Oakland Raiders discreetly have interviewed eight candidates to replace former personnel executive Mike Lombardi, who left the organization on Wednesday.

Per the source, another four or five will be interviewed in the coming days.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle identifies NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock as a potential candidate, along with newly-hired Raiders director of football operations Mark Jackson.

But it's our understanding the Mayock was considered for a job with the team a year ago, and that the interview didn't go particularly well. Though it could be that Mayock is back on the radar screen, it's also possible that the recent report of Mayock's candidacy related to last year's flirtation.

[LOUISVILLE R8R]

thanks for the info

["BANK$RAIDER"]

Dang was just checkin around to make sure no one posted this info yet lol aww well u beat me to it. Thanx tho.

[raiderfan0231]

thanks. hopefully we can continue adding to this organization going in the right direction.

[Blackened]

and the latest...

RAIDERS TAKING IT SLOW WITH JAMARCUS

NFL Network's Adam Schefter has reported that the Raiders have quarterback Josh McCown taking most of the snaps with the first-team offense, and that they're hoping to give first overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell a "redshirt" season to learn on the sidelines (and let McCown be the one to get pounded behind the Oakland offensive line).

"I would be surprised if it came out any other way," Schefter say.

That seems like the right approach. Some quarterbacks are ready to go as rookies, but throwing Russell to the wolves at the start of his career would probably hinder his development more than a little extra experience would help it. The Bengals made first overall pick Carson Palmer learn by watching Jon Kitna in Palmer's rookie year, then handed Palmer the starting job the following season. That worked for Palmer, and a similar approach can work for Russell.

The problem, though, will arise when the Raiders struggle offensively. Part of the reason the Bengals were able to be so patient with Palmer is that Kitna played well in Cincinnati. It's hard to imagine the Raiders having an offensive resurgence with McCown at the helm. The more the Raiders struggle, the louder will become the chorus calling for Russell to take the field.

That's why owner Al Davis needs to make it clear to coach Lane Kiffin that he has time to develop Russell as he sees fit, even if it means struggling through a long year with McCown. The Raiders might finally have the young quarterback and the young coach to get them back to respectability. They need to have patience with both of them.

[Swoosh23]

Interesting take on the talent scouts, if nothing else Mayock might be being considered for that.

[LOUISVILLE R8R]

Jerry McDonald reported this today about Mayock,

Mike Mayock, the NFL.com analyst whose name appeared in this space last week, told the Philadelphia Inquirer he was not a candidate, saying he talked to Davis last year and doesn't know why his name has resurfaced.

[RAIDER50]

Thanks 4 the info bro

[VaRayder]

RAIDERS PICK A NEW PERSONNEL GUY

A league source tells us that the Oakland Raiders have selected a new personnel executive to replace Mike Lombardi.

We don't have the name just yet, but we're told that it is a guy who currently is employed by another NFL team.

And this would mean that it won't be Mike Mayock, Fran Foley, or Pat Kirwan.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm