Raiders send Nelson packing
High-profile WR, QB McCarron both released
ALAMEDA » The Raiders released both wide receiver Jordy Nelson and quarterback A. J. McCarron, the team announced.
Nelson was the Raiders’ No. 1 wide receiver at the end of last season, and the team paid him a $3.6 million bonus late in 2018. His release open up over $3.5 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, since he carried a cap number of over $5.3 million but a dead money hit of $1.8 million. His $3 million base salary for 2019 would’ve become fully guaranteed if he was on the roster Friday, so the Raiders save cash with the move, too.
Nelson caught 63 passes for 739 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the Raiders after entering as the team’s highest-profile offseason signing. From Weeks 6-10, Nelson caught only five passes for 36 yards. In the final five games of the season in which he played, however, he reeled in 38 passes for 386 receiving yards.
Nelson, who turns 34 in late May, had this to say when asked late last year if he planned to play for the Raiders in 2019:
“It’s not always the player’s decision. But yeah, that’s the plan. We’ve enjoyed our time out here so
far, enjoyed being with the team and starting the rebuilding process and being a part of that.”
McCarron served as Derek Carr’s backup in 2018, seeing time in only two games and throwing three passes. His release frees up $5 million in cap space, according to OTC, which also notes that McCarron’s $3 million roster bonus for 2019 would’ve become guaranteed if he was on the roster on Friday and $1.1 million of his $1.9 million base salary for 2019 would’ve become guaranteed if he was on the roster on Sunday.
The only other quarterback employed by the Raiders is Nathan Peterman, who’s signed to a reserve/ future contract. There are several mid-round quarterback options in this year’s draft that Jon Gruden is familiar with from the Senior Bowl, such as North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley,
Washington State’s Gardner Minshew II and Buffalo’s Tyree Jackson. BROWN HAS MESSAGE FOR
PITTSBURGH » Shortly after saying hello to his new team, Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown said goodbye to his old home in high-profile fashion.
Brown bought space on some electronic billboards in Pittsburgh to display his gratitude toward those who supported him the past nine years. The signs reading “Thank You Pittsburgh, AB 84” were seen downtown on Wednesday, near Heinz Field where Brown became the NFL’s most dangerous receiver.
Considering all the drama surrounding Brown as he was forcing his way out of Pittsburgh and into Raider Nation, we’re guessing not all Steelers fans had warm and fuzzy feelings after seeing the billboard.
Brown, though, had a similarly positive message on Wednesday about the city when he was formally introduced as a Raider.
“To any kid out there from Pittsburgh, Pitts- burgh will always be my family,” Brown said. “Those guys gave me a chance when I was a 21-year- old kid. Obviously, people are listening to the things that are being said and written. At the end of the day, it’s all about how you make people feel. I think I made people feel good and great, really inspired, the way they watched me work.” FIXING THE DEFENSE » Safety Lamarcus Joyner, who played with the Rams for five years, left Los Angeles to sign with the Raiders.
The Rams replaced Joyner, 28, with 34-yearold safety Eric Weddle last week.
Joyner can play free safety and nickel, both areas of need for a young Raiders secondary. After several splashy offensive additions early in free agency — superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown, Trent Brown and wide receiver Tyrell Williams — the Raiders began bolstering their defense by officially signing Joyner and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins on Thursday.
“It’s exciting seeing everybody that they’ve been signing,” Hankins said. “I just can’t wait to get back to work and prove everybody wrong and let them know that the Raiders are back.”
Oakland has featured one of the league’s worst defenses the last two seasons, but free agency and four picks in the top 35 of April’s draft provide an opportunity to equip defensive coordinator Paul Guenther with more.
“I love embracing that challenge,” Joyner said.
The Rams drafted Joyner in the second round in 2014, and he began his career playing all over the secondary. The past two seasons Joyner started at free safety. He only stands 5-foot-8, and a potential starting safety duo of Joyner and Karl Joseph (5-10) would lack size. But the speed Reggie Nelson rarely possessed at free safety last year would be there with Joyner.