ESPN is reporting that Syracuse alum Donovin Darius has signed a three-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. The nine-year Jags vet had been talked about for the Bills, Titans and a few other teams before deciding to join the wasteland that is Oakland Raider football. I will say, one stat did shock me though:
Despite winning only two games in 2006, the Oakland defense statistically ranked No. 3 in the league.
Not that they did much to improve things on the offense side this off-season. Still, the defense could shine again this year, as long as they stop whining long enough to win a few games.
Let's hope Darius isn't the latest vet to wither away in a Raider uniform (Bill Romanowski, Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, Randy Moss) as he seems to have at least a few more seasons under his belt.
In other Syracuse/NFL news, Syracuse.com's Donnie Webb is reporting that Perry Patterson was not offered a contract by the Atlanta Falcons. At least Patterson can stop skim-reading The Idiot's Guide To Dog Fighting now.