Michael82
03-01-2005, 12:55 PM
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
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