Shilique Calhoun To Play Linebacker
- Former Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun was one of the more productive defensive players available in the 2016 draft, but the Raiders will be asking the third-round pick to man a different position in the NFL, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes that Calhoun will play rush linebacker in Oakland’s 4-3 scheme. “I’ve been playing a little bit of everything,” Calhoun told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I’ve been moving around, but I’m mainly at (strongside linebacker) and the LEO. I’m trying to learn those two positions and master them behind two great players in Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin.” The Raiders have been more than willing to move players around the defense, and Mack is Exhibit A, as he infamously made the All-Pro Team at both end and linebacker.
Aldon Smith To Be Arraigned For Violating Probation
- Raiders defender Aldon Smith will be arraigned for violating his probation, reports CSNBayArea.com. The 26-year-old was already on probation in August of 2015, when he was charged with DUI, hit and run and vandalism. According to the website, these charges proved to be in violation of that previous probation.
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Latest On Las Vegas
The plan that would make a 65,000-seat domed stadium would include a record stadium bill for the public, Bloomberg.com’s James Nash and Darrell Preston report. The proposal put forth by the Las Vegas Sands calls for $550MM from the public and $200MM from developers on top of the Raiders’ estimated $500MM contribution and additional funding from private investors, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News. However, no site has been determined, and at least 24 NFL owners would need to OK a Raiders-to-Vegas move by January if the team is to begin play in Nevada by 2020.
“We are going to find a way to make this work,” said Andy Abboud, a top executive at Las Vegas Sands, of the plan for an estimated $1.45 billion stadium, via the Associated Press.
Under this plan, a hotel tax would be the primary source of funding for this stadium, but the $750MM in taxpayer money would be a record, surpassing the $620MM for the Colts’ relocation into Lucas Oil Stadium in 2007. The cost overruns would be the collective responsibility of the Raiders, the NFL, the Sands Casino, among other non-governmental properties, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes.
The tax, which would come to about $1.08 per night for a room, hasn’t drawn much opposition to this point since it would mostly be tourists footing the collective expense. But Steve Hill, the top assistant to Nevada governor Brian Sandoval, suggested at Thursday’s Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee meeting that public funds should be dropped to $500MM, with the private-sector cost being raised to $900MM, per Nash and Preston.
The governor-backed rival plan to Adelson’s could come up for a vote on July 11. Any additional tax would require the Republican governor’s approval, Bloomberg reports. The SNTIC will turn over its recommendations next month to Sandoval.
Although Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf was said to be meeting with a Ronnie Lott-led developmental group on the subject of financing a Raiders stadium in the Bay Area, it’s not clear if there has been any progress on that front. As it stands now, Oakland hasn’t given in on using public funds for a new Raiders stadium, which has led to Mark Davis seeking other options.
In related news, Wednesday’s announcement of Las Vegas being awarded an expansion NHL team could help open the door for an NFL venture.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Las Vegas Sets Public Contribution Amount For Stadium; Raiders' Relocation Fee Could Match Rams'
- Less than two months after the Broncos cut Richard Gordon, the journeyman tight end looks to have made a potential route back to the NFL difficult. Gordon was arrested on charges of battery and battery on a law enforcement officer, Brian Hamacher of NBCMiami.com reports. A police report indicates a passerby observed a man punching a woman and push her out of an SUV. The woman, who told police she lives with the 29-year-old Gordon, said he punched her arm several times and slapped her in the face. The Broncos cut Gordon three times since last October but re-signed the blocking tight end in February. Gordon’s seen game action for four teams, previously spending time with the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs.
- Although the Raiders didn’t receive the concrete answer they wanted at today’s Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee meeting on a potential stadium, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reports (on Twitter) belief remains Las Vegas will find common ground on a stadium deal. Raiders president Mark Badain told media (including Bonsignore, via Twitter) the franchise is disappointed by what it heard today, the SNTIC believes (Twitter link) common ground will be reached. Today’s meeting set the public contribution amount to $550MM after developers hoped that number would reach $750MM (Twitter links, via Bonsignore). Regardless, the Raiders’ cost in this equation remains $500MM, no matter how the rest of the money arrives.
- The cost the owners could bill the Raiders for the right to move to Las Vegas is expected to be between $250MM and the $550MM the league charged the Rams, Andy Dolich of CSNBayArea.com reports.
Curtis Lofton Hopes To Continue Playing
Free agent linebacker Curtis Lofton is without a team as we head into July, but he hopes that will change by August. In an interview on 92.9 The Game, Lofton explained he underwent offseason ankle and knee surgeries, but intends to continue playing in 2016 (Twitter link via Alex Marvez of FOX Sports). 
[RELATED: 2016 NFL Free Agents]
Lofton, 30, was released in a cap-saving move by the Raiders in March. The Oklahoma product joined the Raiders for the 2015 season after spending his previous seven NFL seasons in Atlanta and New Orleans. Unfortunately, inking a three-year, $18MM deal with Oakland, Lofton failed to make a real impact for the team, starting just nine games and struggling to produce. Pro Football Focus ranked him 94th out of 97 qualified linebackers.
Lofton’s contract stipulated that $3.5MM of his $5.35MM base salary for 2016 would become guaranteed in February, less than a week after the Super Bowl. Reportedly, the Raiders couldn’t cut the linebacker prior to that date because he was unable to pass a physical due to an arm injury and they ultimately wound up waiving him with a failed physical designation.
Now that Lofton has copped to having serious ankle and knee issues in addition to his arm surgery, it seems unlikely that he’ll net a deal with much in the way of guarantees. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team bring him in on a low-risk, one-year deal while there are expanded rosters. After all, Lofton can provide valuable experience for someone’s linebacking corps after playing in a starting role across his eight-year career.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NHL's Vegas Expansion Could Help Pave Way For Raiders
The National Hockey League officially announced its expansion into Las Vegas on Wednesday, which could affect the NFL – and the Raiders, to be more specific. The Raiders have been working to relocate to Vegas if they fail to come up with a stadium solution in Oakland, though there has been concern historically about placing a pro sports franchise in a city built on gambling. However, as evidenced by the NHL’s decision, sports commissioners are less and less worried about gambling as a factor, per Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). Now, with the NHL having taken the plunge into Vegas, the door has opened that much more for the Raiders to do the same.
Opinion: Raiders Poised For 2016 Leap
- Despite some talk to the contrary, the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee will in fact recommend a stadium plan for the Raiders, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. The plan may not be OK’d on Thursday, he adds, but he hears that it will happen sometime soon. The MGM Grand is fighting the stadium and they could look to counter any approval via the legislature.
- After adding Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin, and Sean Smith this offseason, ESPN.com’s AFC West writers debated whether the Raiders stand as the most improved team in the division. Jeff Legwold writes that he would be extremely surprised if Oakland didn’t end the playoff drought and notes that Denver made the playoffs in 2014 after a similar free agency binge netted them DeMarcus Ware, Emmanuel Sanders, and T.J. Ward.
Raiders Sign Calhoun, Lock Up Draft Class
The Raiders have announced the signing of third-round pick Shilique Calhoun, the final member of their 2016 draft class to officially join the organization. Calhoun, the 75th overall selection, had a highly productive three-year run along the defensive line at Michigan State, where he piled up 44 tackles for loss and 27 sacks. He’ll now join an Oakland team that spent the meat of the offseason making a concerted effort to improve its defense through both free agency and the draft. Along with Calhoun, the Raiders added first-round safety Karl Joseph and second-round defensive linemen Jihad Ward via the draft. Prior to that, they doled out significant money to veteran linebackers Bruce Irvin and Aldon Smith, cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson.
Here’s the complete list of drafted rookies secured by the Raiders:
- 1-14: Karl Joseph, S (West Virginia)
- 2-44: Jihad Ward, DE (Illinois)
- 3-75: Shilique Calhoun, DE (Michigan State)
- 4-100: Connor Cook, QB (Michigan State)
- 5-143: DeAndre Washington, RB (Texas Tech)
- 6-194: Cory James, LB (Colorado State)
- 7-234: Vadal Alexander, OL (LSU)
Latest On Raiders, Las Vegas
- The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee will meet June 23 to endorse the construction of a stadium that would house the Raiders and UNLV, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). It remains up in the air whether the state of Nevada can raise the projected $750MM needed to build the stadium, but if it does, the Raiders will seek the NFL’s approval to relocate, says Cole.
Raiders Sign Marvin Hall
- The Raiders signed former University of Washington receiver Marvin Hall, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets. Hall had been a tryout player at Oakland’s rookie mini-camp last month.