running back Lamont Jordan part ways

The Raiders released veteran running back Lamont Jordan on FridayJordan signed a free agent deal with the Raiders before the 2005 season; as a member of Oakland's offense, he rushed for 1,893 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons. He became expendable with the drafting of 4 Brett Favre White jersey
ex-Arkansas RB Darren McFadden and the contract extension given to 1,000-yard rusher Justin Fargas. Commentary: Jordan had a good season in 2005 - 1,583 total yards, 11 total touchdowns - but injuries have dropped his production immensely since then. Now, potential suitors include New England and New Orleans. Fantasy Impact: If Jordan's able to pass a physical, he could see third-down back duties with the Patriots or Saints. Jordan would hold some value if he's handcuffed with Reggie Bush or Laurence Maroney. (9)
Tommy Kelly is the one defender who took up most of the outside attention during the offseason. That’s what happens when you sign a $50.5 million contract.But Kelly’s not the player the Raiders need taking up most of the attention on the field this season.That important task goes to the mammoth Terdell Sands, a 6-foot-7, 335-pounder who earned his payday a year prior to Kelly. The former undrafted free agent inked a four-year, $17 million deal in February of 2007. Though not nearly as big as Kelly’s deal, Sands’ performance from '07 still left much to be desired.After a promising 2006 campaign that saw Sands rack up a career-high 41 tackles (30 solo) in just two starts, the 28-year-old followed up with a disappointing 23-tackle performance last season. Despite starting 11 games, Sands recorded just 17 solo wrap-ups on a D-line that ranked 31st versus the rush and last in yards against per carry. The veteran lineman’s numbers were nearly identical to those he posted back in 2004, when he started zero games and was used purely as a rotational DT.To the Chattanooga, Tenn., native’s credit, though, there were some reasons behind the major drop-off in production.Sands lost his mother in February of last year, and, as he told the Sacramento Bee, everything else in his life took a backseat.“I wasn’t doing cardio like I should and conditioning, so I kind of got behind in my workouts and stuff,” Sands said last week. “So it was a big part of last year.”Oakland let its ’07 opponents rush for a 30th-ranked 121 first downs last season, something the Raiders expected Sands to help remedy when locking him into a long-term deal.“I take [responsibility for] it all, because they look for me to be a big part of it,” Sands added. “And like I say, I wasn’t mentally in it, so I did some gap responsibility and all my true effort wasn’t out there. I thought I was. But when I watch film, it really wasn’t like I was the year before. So I take responsibility and put it on myself.”This season, Sands expects that effort to return, and the loss of “a bunch of” weight, as he puts it, should make things a bit easier for him.Several early reports, though, have former first-rounder Gerard Warren slated as the starter alongside Kelly, who’s added about 30 pounds to his frame since last season. Still, that’s no lock, particularly considering the team hasn’t yet played its first preseason game. Last week, both tackles spent time on the sidelines at camp; Warren rested after suffering a thigh injury on Dallas Cowboys jersey
Wednesday and Sands had his knee drained Friday. The two will likely battle it out for the remainder of the summer for the title of “starter.” Though, both will see plenty of action this season.“I see myself in shape,” Sands said. “I’m running to the ball more, and I look good. I’m slimmer.”Even with a slimmer frame, Oakland can only hope Sands is as scary as he was in 2006. That could mean a major rebound for the Raider run ‘D’ in 2008.Anthony Carroll can be contacted at Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game! (17)