Oakland Raiders get quarterback Jason Campbell in trade with Washington Redskins - ESPN
The Oakland Raiders, after making a deal that shipped out their leading tackler for the past four years, added a possible starting quarterback Saturday in a deal with the Washington Redskins for Jason Campbell.
In acquiring Campbell, the Raiders added a year to his existing contract, the quarterback told ESPN.com's Matt Mosley. He will make $4.5 million in 2011.
"I look at this as getting to start over," Campbell told Mosley via phone. "I talked to Mr. [Al] Davis, and he wanted me for two years. He wants me to help their team to a new level."
Campbell had already signed the Redskins' tender offer worth $3.1 million for 2010. Campbell said he and his agent, Joel Segal, had received interest from the Carolina Panthers on Friday until they selected Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen with the No. 48 overall pick.
When asked if he was promised the starting position by the Raiders, Campbell said he "got that feeling."
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"Had I stayed [in Washington], there was no guarantee I was going to be the backup. Now I have a chance to go play for a team that really wants me.
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-- Quarterback Jason Campbell
"I'm going to work hard to make sure that happens," said Campbell, who will compete with former No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell, who was benched last season.
The Redskins, who earlier this month acquired Donovan McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles, received a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft.
"Had I stayed [in Washington], there was no guarantee I was going to be the backup," Campbell told Mosley. "Now I have a chance to go play for a team that really wants me."
Campbell started 52 games for Washington since being a first-round pick in 2005. He has thrown for 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a career passer rating of 82.3. Campbell has been sacked 102 times since the start of the 2007 season, tied for third-most in the NFL in that span, behind Ben Roethlisberger and David Garrard.
Campbell is coming off his best season, completing 64.5 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 86.4. But the Redskins went 4-12 last season and coach Mike Shanahan was brought in to turn the team around. Shanahan decided to go with McNabb instead of Campbell.
Campbell has been hurt by the constantly changing offensive coordinators and schemes since his time in college at Auburn. Campbell will be playing in his ninth different offensive system and under his 10th coordinator since entering college.
Russell completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in the league in 11 years. He has struggled with his weight and questions about his work ethic throughout his career and never developed into the franchise quarterback the Raiders expected when they drafted him in 2007.
In 31 career games, Russell has completed 52.1 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 15 lost fumbles and a 65.2 passer rating.
Russell has already been paid more than $36 million since being drafted in 2007. The Raiders still owe him $3 million in guaranteed money. If he makes the team, Russell will be paid $9.45 million next season.
The Raiders currently have five quarterbacks on the roster, with Russell, Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye and Kyle Boller.
Gradkowski had been expected to compete with Russell for the starting job before the trade for Campbell. Gradkowski hurt himself lifting weights this offseason and recently had surgery. He is expected to be fully recovered by training camp.
Meanwhile, the Raiders sent their starting middle linebacker, Kirk Morrison, to Jacksonville as the bartering got heavy in Round 4.
Oakland selected one of the draft's fastest players, wideout Jacoby Ford of Clemson, with the pick acquired from the Jaguars.
After the Raiders drafted Rolando McClain in the first round to take over at middle linebacker, Morrison became expendable.
"For me, it's a new beginning. I feel like I was drafted all over again," Morrison said. "I definitely didn't see a slip in my play. Now I can move to Jacksonville and show what I can do."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
Ben Tate: Houston Texans pick in second round of NFL draft | al.com
Houston Texans pick Auburn's Ben Tate in second round of NFL draft | al.com
Ben Tate is taking his legs and confidence to the NFL.
The Houston Texans drafted the Auburn tailback in the second round Friday night with the 58th overall pick. Tate led Auburn in rushing in each of the last three seasons.
The selection was something of a surprise to Tate.
"The only time I had talked to the Texans was when I was at the Combine," Tate said. "I thought it would be more of a longshot for them."
But Tate, who had some of the best times at the NFL Combine among the running backs, was remembered.
He ran for 1,362 yards last season, the fourth best season in Auburn history, and finished his career with 3,321 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Tate is the fifth leading rusher in Auburn history.
Tate improved his stock at the NFL Combine, prompting NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt to say Tate was "the fastest riser on the board, I believe. A lot of people have been working him out and come away feeling he's better than they thought."
Tate was the first back to lead Auburn in rushing three straight years since Tommy Lorino did it from 1956-58.
Auburn has sent plenty of running backs to the NFL, most recently Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown and Kenny Irons.
Ben Tate is taking his legs and confidence to the NFL.
The Houston Texans drafted the Auburn tailback in the second round Friday night with the 58th overall pick. Tate led Auburn in rushing in each of the last three seasons.
The selection was something of a surprise to Tate.
"The only time I had talked to the Texans was when I was at the Combine," Tate said. "I thought it would be more of a longshot for them."
But Tate, who had some of the best times at the NFL Combine among the running backs, was remembered.
He ran for 1,362 yards last season, the fourth best season in Auburn history, and finished his career with 3,321 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Tate is the fifth leading rusher in Auburn history.
Tate improved his stock at the NFL Combine, prompting NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt to say Tate was "the fastest riser on the board, I believe. A lot of people have been working him out and come away feeling he's better than they thought."
Tate was the first back to lead Auburn in rushing three straight years since Tommy Lorino did it from 1956-58.
Auburn has sent plenty of running backs to the NFL, most recently Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown and Kenny Irons.
Walter McFadden: CB selected by Oakland Raiders in fifth round of NFL draft | al.com
Auburn CB Walt McFadden selected by Oakland Raiders in fifth round of NFL draft | al.com
Auburn cornerback Walt McFadden was picked by the Oakland Raiders with the 158th overall selection in the fifth round of the NFL draft Saturday.
McFadden is the second Auburn player chosen in the draft. Running back Ben Tate was picked in the second round by the Houston Texans on Friday.
McFadden had a team-high six interceptions and was a second-team All-SEC player in 2009. He had 87 tackles, nine interceptions and three touchdowns in his four-year Auburn career.
The Pompano Beach, Fla., native was honored by Auburn beat writers with the inaugural "Good Guy Award" after last season.
Auburn cornerback Walt McFadden was picked by the Oakland Raiders with the 158th overall selection in the fifth round of the NFL draft Saturday.
McFadden is the second Auburn player chosen in the draft. Running back Ben Tate was picked in the second round by the Houston Texans on Friday.
McFadden had a team-high six interceptions and was a second-team All-SEC player in 2009. He had 87 tackles, nine interceptions and three touchdowns in his four-year Auburn career.
The Pompano Beach, Fla., native was honored by Auburn beat writers with the inaugural "Good Guy Award" after last season.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ben Tate: USA Today Ranks As 7th Best Draft RB
Head of the running back class in 2010 NFL draft field - USATODAY.com
Auburn, 5-11, 220, 2-3: Tate is a physical runner who many thought flashed surprising bursts of speed during his college career. The real surprise was that he does have excellent speed, as he showed at the combine when he shocked scouts with a 40 time of 4.34 seconds despite his 220-pound frame. He has been compared to Marion Barber III of the Dallas Cowboys in terms of being a tough, inside runner. Some scouts think Tate might have the combination of toughness and speed that will make him productive in the NFL, which shouldn't be that surprising when his college career is put into perspective. Although many think Tate was inconsistent at Auburn, his career total of 3,321 yards rushing was fifth in school history, behind the likes of Bo Jackson, Carnell Williams, James Brooks and Joe Cribbs.
Auburn, 5-11, 220, 2-3: Tate is a physical runner who many thought flashed surprising bursts of speed during his college career. The real surprise was that he does have excellent speed, as he showed at the combine when he shocked scouts with a 40 time of 4.34 seconds despite his 220-pound frame. He has been compared to Marion Barber III of the Dallas Cowboys in terms of being a tough, inside runner. Some scouts think Tate might have the combination of toughness and speed that will make him productive in the NFL, which shouldn't be that surprising when his college career is put into perspective. Although many think Tate was inconsistent at Auburn, his career total of 3,321 yards rushing was fifth in school history, behind the likes of Bo Jackson, Carnell Williams, James Brooks and Joe Cribbs.
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