Raiders Sign Ashlie Lelie

[RaiderNation]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3563841

In need of downfield speed for their passing offense, the Oakland Raiders reached a one-year agreement with Ashley Lelie.

Could be our 3rd WR.

[Geo]

Makes sense if he can give them a deep threat, which suits his talents.

[D4rk 0ne]

He definitely has the tools to do well here... But he didn't do his job in SF which is discouraging. Still, good signing. He should make the team and hopefully he will perform like we know he is capable of doing after being tormented by him during his four years in Denver.

[Kurve]

Chad Jackson cut by NE will also visit raiders tuesday so we will see he is a young talent surprised NE got rid of him

[RaiderNation]

Originally Posted by Kurve

Chad Jackson cut by NE will also visit raiders tuesday so we will see he is a young talent surprised NE got rid of him

Id be very happy to get Jackson. I thought when he was coming out he would be a good WR. Having Walker, Curry, Lelie, Jackson and Higgins would be a decent WR core

[brat316]

Lelie is crap and Chad Jackson is lookin that way, not being the 4th or 3rd wr on the Pats come on.

[D4rk 0ne]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

Lelie is crap and Chad Jackson is lookin that way, not being the 4th or 3rd wr on the Pats come on.

Yeah, because he was expected to surpass Welker and/or Moss (not to mention Donte' Stallworth)... He was on the PUP list to start off the season, he was probably not given many opportunities. For a second year player to surpass any of those guys (or even Jabar Gaffney or Troy Brown) he'd have to be consistently great in practice and even then, why mess with a winning formula? You are just being pessimistic.

Lelie has not been very good in the past couple of years, but I could see him having a decent year as a situational player. I doubt we'll be calling on him to do things he isn't capable of doing. Just play hard, play smart... It's not like he'll be expected to step in as our #1; he'll be the third option at best (unless he somehow plays better than he ever has).

As for Jackson, I was more impressed with him than I was with Santonio Holmes in that class. He's faster, bigger, stronger, and IMO he has better hands. I don't know what caused him to be released from NE (whether they just had too many WRs and didn't need his services, or he wasn't practicing well, wasn't running routes well, or had other issues) but I would love to get him, even though we've already signed Lelie. I'd rather have:

- Curry
- Walker
- Lelie
- Jackson
- Higgins
- Schilens/Watkins

One of those last two will have to be put on the practice squad. (Sucks because I'd rather have both on the team and Higgins off, but we don't really have anyone who can return with Branch out unless we want to try D-Mac or Hall...)

Bottom line: more WRs = more competition = better production

[brat316]

Last year I see why he couldn't get on the field injuries and stuff, but this year I don't see why he couldn't stay on the team. Its his third year that supposed break out year for WR. More WR = more competition then why would the Pats have cut him unless he brings no competition.

[D4rk 0ne]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

Last year I see why he couldn't get on the field injuries and stuff, but this year I don't see why he couldn't stay on the team. Its his third year that supposed break out year for WR. More WR = more competition then why would the Pats have cut him unless he brings no competition.

They don't need the competition; they have three more than capable WRs. They are satisfied with those guys, so they don't have to worry about getting Jackson on the field. We, on the other hand, need all the help we can get at WR. I can see why they would get rid of him; why pay what he was earning when he wouldn't actually be necessary to the team's success?

Worst case scenario: we sign him, he isn't good, we have other guys.
Best case scenario: we sign him, he impresses and our offense is better.