Ron Stone with the Raiders

[Kirkendall]

This should have been pursued. A three time Pro Bowler would have been a nice replacement for Goff, and the money was NOT that bad. It would allow the draft to be completely on Defense instead of picking up a backup here or there. The contract was worth 3-year $8.35 million which I'm sure is more back-loaded. Oh well, as long as Marvin keeps picking up former players from the Ravens and Redskins, we should be ok, eh?

Here's the AP Report.

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Raiders signed three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Ron Stone to a $8.35 million, three-year contract Monday.

Stone spent the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before being cut last week in a salary-cap move. He will be counted on to boost an offense that ranked 25th last season and struggled to protect the quarterback.

"Ron adds Pro Bowl-caliber experience to our team,'' coach Norv Turner said. "He is a big, physical and versatile player and we're excited to add him to our offensive line.''

The Raiders went from AFC champions in 2002 to 4-12 last year in the worst collapse ever by a Super Bowl team.

Stone, who will get a $2 million signing bonus, is the second Pro Bowler the Raiders signed this month. Last week, they agreed to a $14 million, four-year contract with former New England Patriots defensive tackle Ted Washington, who has made four Pro Bowls.

Stone has played in two Super Bowls, winning in 1996 with Dallas and losing in 2001 with the New York Giants. Stone made the Pro Bowl three consecutive years from 2000-02.

[chrishcovga]

I'm still on the Ruben Brown bandwagon.. the contract that Stone signed might give us the contractual leverage needed to sign a guy like Brown and fit him under our salary cap.