Raiders sign ex-49er Bowman.
Former 49er signs a oneyear deal with Raiders
NaVorro Bowman planned to visit the Dallas Cowboys Tuesday after his Monday visit with the Raiders.
Come Monday night, he was still in Alameda, donning silver and black three days after the other Bay Area team released him.
“I didn’t make it on the plane,” he chuckled.
The former
49ers linebacker signed a oneyear, $3 million deal with Oakland on Monday. The three-time Pro Bowler brings a veteran presence to a young linebacking corps and a team in desperate need of any sort of help. The Raiders (24) are mired in a four-game slide. Next up is the division-leading Chiefs (5-1) on Thursday night at the Coliseum.
Is it possible for Bowman to play just three days after coming to town?
“Hey, I’m gonna show you something,” Bowman said. “… If I’m prepared enough, I’ll definitely try to give it a shot.”
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was similarly indecisive when asked if Bowman would suit up, saying “it’s not out of the question” the linebacker gets in. Not only is Oakland struggling skill-wise at
the position, starters Marquel Lee and Cory James are both banged up.
Lee missed Sunday’s 1716 loss against the Chargers with an ankle injury and both wouldn’t have practiced Monday if the Raiders did more than a walkthrough, the team said.
Bowman himself has a history with injuries. He ruptured his Achilles on Oct. 2 last year and missed the remainder of the season. He also sat out the entire 2014 season while getting his knee reconstructed.
So why, if he wasn’t good enough for one of the NFL’s worst teams, does Bowman think he fits on a Raiders team almost halfway through its season?
“I’m only 29 years old and I still have a lot of juice left in me,” he chirped. “That’s why.”
Bowman did have trouble with one thing Monday; he needed help finding the dirty laundry hamper in the locker room. After he did, he strolled out with multiple binders tucked under his arm, shortly after admitting the countless hours it’ll take to get up to speed if he wants to play against the Chiefs.
“He’s a veteran guy. He’s played a lot of good ball over the years,” Del Rio said. “We’re excited to have him. We’re a little green at the linebacker position, so to add somebody with the experience that he had, we think it’s a nice addition for us, so we’ll get him up to speed and see how quickly we can get him on the field.”
The other veteran in the second line of Oakland’s defense seemed thrilled with the signing. While James and Lee have composed the youth of the Raiders’ starting linebacking crew, Bruce Irvin has offered the unit a veteran presence.
“Great job, Reggie,” Irvin said, praising Raiders’ GM Reggie McKenzie. “A proven veteran. Been around a lot of football. I think you add him in, we become better instantly. That’s a great thing.”
The Raiders must become better quick, suddenly in last place in the AFC West after starting the season 2-0. Bowman has 5-year old twin daughters and an 8-year-old son, and getting to keep them in the same school helped in his decision. He also doesn’t have to move houses. That is, he said, until he shows up late.
The family logistics are the easy part. Now he’ll be thrust into a struggling team in need of his help. Fast.
“We’re 2-4, two games behind,” Bowman said. “… I love the challenge. I think the guys do, too. It’s about how you respond to adversity, not when it happens. I look forward to it.”