04/26/24
August 28, 2006
Raiders go way back, sign inactive quarterback George: The Oakland Raiders signed Jeff George to a contract Monday, bringing back a player who hasn't thrown an NFL pass in five seasons.
Crap, and I already made my fantasy quarterback selections! Seriously, though, the Raiders should just be banned from the league. That way we won't have to be embarrassed by their ridiculous play, moves and fans. I can't believe they'd sign George when Elway, Marino and Montana aren't signed.
posted by dyams at 06:41 PM on August 28, 2006
Did Marinovich want too much money?
posted by rcade at 06:52 PM on August 28, 2006
Well...at least he's probably well rested.
posted by ctal1999 at 07:04 PM on August 28, 2006
He must have some video of Al Davis doing something illegal. This confirms that Davis has lost his mind, and I am a Raider fan.
posted by poppopp1945 at 07:05 PM on August 28, 2006
I was hoping it was George Blanda
posted by FriarDuck at 07:28 PM on August 28, 2006
For a moment it looked like San Fransisco had its franchise quarterback...
posted by Kendall at 08:03 PM on August 28, 2006
This is so ridiculous. They knew they didn't have many quarterback options long before this moment. They had plenty of chances to make a move and try to get Culpepper, Griese, Harrington, Ramsey, somebody, anybody. George wasn't even good when he wasn't old. They should try to get Hamdan (NFL Europe, cut by Seahawks). He is probably better than anyone else they have on their roster.
posted by bperk at 08:19 PM on August 28, 2006
I doubt a Culpepper to Oakland deal would have happened with the whole Randy Moss deal.
posted by igottheblues at 08:39 PM on August 28, 2006
I bet Doug Flutie wasn't even called...
posted by grum@work at 09:40 PM on August 28, 2006
Hey, didn't his dad used to play in the NFL? Oh wait, you mean he's not Jeff George Jr.? My guess is that either Al had a stroke and can only say Jeffffffffff Georgggggggggge or he's being blackmailed or he's doing it to rile people up. Maybe its so George can retire as a Raider?
posted by fenriq at 09:54 PM on August 28, 2006
I don't know, he's only 38 and even though he hasn't played for 5 years that's still young enough to be a QB. What the hell, give the guy a chance.
posted by commander cody at 10:02 PM on August 28, 2006
The team saying"commitment to excellence". Also this tells me why Raider fan is always mad.
posted by kckurtbusch at 11:41 PM on August 28, 2006
things that make you go hmmm! whiskey tango foxtrot
posted by Spitztengle at 01:56 AM on August 29, 2006
It's sad when the head coach says a quarterback who hasn't played for the team in almost 10 years is a good fit for the system (even if it's only by a little bit.) But if it didn't work then... I wasn't one of those Raiders' fans who was perplexed when the team passed on Leinart, but I have to say I am now. Lame.
posted by forrestv at 02:57 AM on August 29, 2006
George, the top pick by Indianapolis in 1990, previously played for Oakland in 1997-98, is mostly an insurance policy for the Raiders, who already have Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo on the roster. The article doesn't mention money, unless I missed it, but I bet the "premiums" on this "insurance policy" are dirt cheap, too. Anybody wanna bet whether he's still on the roster (not practice squad, etc.) at the end of the season? And yeah, everybody's raggin' on Al Davis, but I wonder what on earth Art Shell is thinking unless he got George for, like, five cents a game.
posted by alumshubby at 06:37 AM on August 29, 2006
Al Davis needs a drinking buddy. George sees the field only if there is some kind of NFL QB holocaust. (There - that will virtually guarantee that he'll be under center by week 10.)
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:44 AM on August 29, 2006
Holy crap I thought this was a joke. Someone needs to check Al Davis' medication. Next they will tell us Art Shell is going to be a Player/Coach!
posted by T.C. at 08:44 AM on August 29, 2006
All I can say is WOW! Has is really been 5 years since he played???
posted by daddisamm at 09:16 AM on August 29, 2006
Well, the man can throw-interceptions, at least.
posted by Bonkers at 09:17 AM on August 29, 2006
They knew they didn't have many quarterback options long before this moment. They had plenty of chances to make a move and try to get Culpepper, Griese, Harrington, Ramsey, somebody, anybody. They made a move on Aaron Brooks- who is better than almost everyone on your list except Culpepper, who has no shot of working with R. Moss again.
posted by Kendall at 10:07 AM on August 29, 2006
Cut George some slack! He is only the back up.... but man I hope he sees some playing time! He used to air it out to Moss with the Vikings back in 99 or something. He might be 38. but I bet he can still throw accurate 70 yard passes. How fun would it be to cheer for him?
posted by RadioZombie at 10:16 AM on August 29, 2006
In case you were still wondering, the current state of the NFL quarterbacking situation is incredibly pathetic. And even though George is a backup, at this point, don't think for a second he won't be the first one in off the bench when problems arise in Oakland. It sounds like Tuiasosopo is on his way to the unemloyment line, and who knows what Andrew Walter is capable of. The Raiders' line blows, and I doubt George has improved his mobility now that he's pushing 40.
posted by dyams at 11:11 AM on August 29, 2006
They made a move on Aaron Brooks- who is better than almost everyone on your list except Culpepper, who has no shot of working with R. Moss again. All of those names on my list are better than an old Jeff George. Aaron Brooks is erratic and unreliable. You need to have a good backup, they should have tried to get one during the offseason.
posted by bperk at 11:12 AM on August 29, 2006
Aaron Brooks is erratic and unreliable I still remember his backward pass (and not a "it slipped out of his hand" backward pass, but a literal backwards pass). Funniest part was Michael Irvin (who seemed to always pick the Saints to win) was doing commentary on that replay and said "I WILL NEVER PICK THE SAINTS AGAIN" :-) Brooks, the man who led his team to the redzone, then tripped and threw an INT in the endzone while falling , then did the EXACT SAME THING later in the game. Yes, I would say you'd need a good backup with him as your starter :-)
posted by bdaddy at 01:30 PM on August 29, 2006
I'm not much of a Raider fan, but if I were, this would'nt shock me as much as some of his other moves. It seems he likes to pick up players that are either past their prime or surrounded by contraversy. Kind of like the Land for Misfit Toys. They ussally only hang around a season or two tops.
posted by rukidng at 01:38 PM on August 29, 2006
It is odd that just a day or two before a major cut-down of NFL Rosters that the Raiders would make this move. Why not wait to see if there are any semi-surprises on the wire after the teams cut to 75? Maybe they were afraid they might loose Jeff George to another team?
posted by Termite at 01:41 PM on August 29, 2006
Termite, I was thinking the same thing. I'd love to see an old guy do well, and he's not as old as some, but he's got to have rust an inch thick. Why not wait a few days and see what shakes out of the next round of cuts? I mean, I doubt that there was a line of teams waiting to sign George if Davis didn't snatch him up.
posted by ctal1999 at 06:31 PM on August 29, 2006
It is odd that just a day or two before a major cut-down of NFL Rosters that the Raiders would make this move. Why not wait to see if there are any semi-surprises on the wire after the teams cut to 75? Maybe they were afraid they might loose Jeff George to another team? A.J Feely would have been a much better option- since he was released by San Diego yesterday.
posted by Kendall at 08:04 PM on August 29, 2006
Quote of the day: "Is that an AARP meeting?" - defensive tackle Warren Sapp, 33, upon sighting George, 38, meeting with writers after practice. SF Gate
posted by boxscore jr. at 08:28 PM on August 29, 2006
Warren should be looking for a Weight Watchers meeting. He is just not effective at the weight he carries since he's joined the Raiders.
posted by Termite at 01:38 PM on August 30, 2006
Um...excuse me, but what in the hell are the Raiders thinking on this one?