Raiders release G Frank Middleton and two others

[Michael82]

The Raiders released three veterans Monday as they moved closer to reaching compliance with the salary-cap limit by today's deadline, a league source said.

Gone are free safety Ray Buchanan, left guard Frank Middleton and tight end Roland Williams. Buchanan and Middleton were starters at the beginning of the 2004 season.

Also, the Raiders restructured the contract of starting left offensive tackle Barry Sims on Monday. That leaves them with little to do today in reaching the league-mandated $85.5 million limit.

Middleton, 30, spent the past four seasons with the Raiders. However, injuries cut short his past two seasons, and Brad Badger's play in place of Middleton last season and Middleton's $2 million salary for '05 made him expendable. Badger's play also makes it unlikely the Raiders will re-sign Middleton as they did after releasing him last offseason.

Middleton started for the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII and was considered one of the team's leaders.

Buchanan, 33, signed with the Raiders before last season and started all 16 games at free safety. He was scheduled to earn $1 million this season.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/11018007.htm?1c

[BuffaloRanger]

Middleton is the dirty F#&% that cheap shotted Cowart back in 2000 ending his season and the basically the Bills. I hope he rots in hell.

[ryjam282]

I would take him in a heartbeat. He is a solid tackle.

[Canadian'eh!]

I would take him in a heartbeat. He is a solid tackle.

I didn't know hw played tackle... i thought he was a Guard.

[PISSCHUNK]

Middleton is the dirty F#&% that cheap shotted Cowart back in 2000 ending his season and the basically the Bills. I hope he rots in hell.

You beat me to it but yeah, he was with Tampa then and he is/was a dirty beeotch!


Late

[ryjam282]

I didn't know hw played tackle... i thought he was a Guard.

Typo....I meant solid player...mi malo

[The_Philster]

Typo....I meant solid player...mi malo

solid POS...bring him to Buffalo...so we can toss him down the Falls!!!

[ICE74129]

Middleton is the dirty F#&% that cheap shotted Cowart back in 2000 ending his season and the basically the Bills. I hope he rots in hell.

I'd take his ass in a heartbeat. Let that POS Harrison try a safety blitz! Middleton will send his punk ass to the hospital and I for one will cheer!

[ICE74129]

BTW...something not brought up here. B. Simms was due to be cut. They are going to move Gallary to LT. MAYBE, just maybe the redo on the deal was to make it easier for them to do the Henry trade???

[Mudflap1]

I'd love one of the Raiders linemen. That and the Shelton-Henry trade would make the line at least a little better.

Jon

[ddaryl]

BTW...something not brought up here. B. Simms was due to be cut. They are going to move Gallary to LT. MAYBE, just maybe the redo on the deal was to make it easier for them to do the Henry trade???

Distinct possibility but Sims is a LT plagued with penalties and sacks.

http://snap.stats.com/stats/nflinfo/playerstats.asp?id=4913&Submit=Go

[Kerr]

Nay to Middleton.