Uncle Rico was almost a Raider

[JBell]

He knew he wasn't ready to play and he knew he'd have been inactive every week.

He chose to stay around our coaching staff and players like Tony Romo who were spending extra time with him.

Say what you want about Tony and out staff but that speaks volumes.

It really does say a lot.

Because if I'm a young TE and I'm looking for an opportunity to play, Oakland couldn't have been more ideal.

Great young QB in a top 10 offense with no established veteran ahead of him at TE (at the time...they signed Jared Cook this off-season). Would have had a easy path to playing time. But he chose to stay here, behind Witten for at least another season or two.

 

[speedkilz88]

He did give up a chance to earn a year of service (towards free agency)

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Maybe, but Oakland doesn't need permission. They put a claim in, and if no one higher puts a claim in, they are awarded the player, no? I'm not even sure if the players are notified as to who put a claim in for them until it becomes official.

They didn't claim him after waivers. They were trying to sign him from the practice squad and then yes they can refuse to sign the contract

 

[Ranching]

He knew he wasn't ready to play and he knew he'd have been inactive every week.

He chose to stay around our coaching staff and players like Tony Romo who were spending extra time with him.

Say what you want about Tony and out staff but that speaks volumes.

Tony?

 

[DallasDomination]

That's my boy jerry..get'r done.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Tony?

It was reported Tony was spending extra time with him.

 

[xwalker]

Since when do teams have to ask to claim a player of someone's practice squad? Those players are waived and don't have a choice. Maybe Oakland was going to do something shady like claim him, keep him on the roster for 1 week, then cut him and put him on their PS, I don't know.

also, even with the money being the same, being on the PS delays UFA by 1 season, so this story feels like it's missing something.

The story does not make sense.

Non-vested players have no choice if claimed.

 

[speedkilz88]

The story does not make sense.

Non-vested players have no choice if claimed.

He had already cleared waivers and was on the practice squad. I think 3 days later.

 

[xwalker]

Jones cannot prevent a player leaving the practice squad as long as they are signed to another team's active roster. However, I am fairly certain the player can choose to stay on the practice squad if they want.

So basically Jones matched Oakland's offer and Gathers chose to stay rather than move.

The story implied this happened after cuts last year. The Raiders could have claimed him if that was the time frame.

Once they clear waivers, then it's the player's choice.

Either the Raiders were too dumb to claim him in time or there is a problem with the story.

The story I saw originally was that they agreed to pay him the full salary before cuts, not after as claimed in this story.

 

[Ranching]

It was reported Tony was spending extra time with him.

Got it, thanks!

 

[xwalker]

He had already cleared waivers and was on the practice squad. I think 3 days later.

Raiders must have dummies in their front office if they were 3 days late.

Good thing the Raiders didn't start a bidding war.

 

[calico]

Derek Carr and Gathers would be scary.

the b side to dak and gathers.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I thought players didn't have a choice on which team to play for? Any team can claim any player off waivers right?

OH nevermind. I see he cleared waivers. Too bad for the Raiders.

 

[Reality]

The story implied this happened after cuts last year. The Raiders could have claimed him if that was the time frame.

Once they clear waivers, then it's the player's choice.

Either the Raiders were too dumb to claim him in time or there is a problem with the story.

The story I saw originally was that they agreed to pay him the full salary before cuts, not after as claimed in this story.

Interesting .. I had not heard about this until this thread so no idea how accurate it is.

 

[xwalker]

Interesting .. I had not heard about this until this thread so no idea how accurate it is.

That site tends to report partial truths. They'll have it 3/4ths correct but then add in their own spin.

 

[Reality]

That site tends to report partial truths. They'll have it 3/4ths correct but then add in their own spin.

I think that's a fair statement about a lot of media these days I don't blame the writers usually though as their media employers are usually the ones pushing speed over thoroughness.

 

[xwalker]

I think that's a fair statement about a lot of media these days I don't blame the writers usually though as their media employers are usually the ones pushing speed over thoroughness.

Agree.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

The story does not make sense.

Non-vested players have no choice if claimed.

Yea, I guess it must have happened after he cleared waivers, thus Oakland did not try and claim him after the initial roster cuts. Maybe at that point, players can decline.

 

[xwalker]

Yea, I guess it must have happened after he cleared waivers, thus Oakland did not try and claim him after the initial roster cuts. Maybe at that point, players can decline.

They can definitely decline after they clear waivers.

A good reporter would address those issues in more detail.

 

[Verdict]

Maybe, but Oakland doesn't need permission. They put a claim in, and if no one higher puts a claim in, they are awarded the player, no? I'm not even sure if the players are notified as to who put a claim in for them until it becomes official.

You are confusing the practice squad with the waiver wire. If he was claimed he would have no choice in the matter. It sounds like he cleared waivers and made it to the practice squad and they tried to bring him to their active roster. If he wasn't claimed he had a choice. He made the right choice.