It's never too late to add help and the Oakland Raiders are active as ever. While they try to reel in running back Cedric Benson, the team might want to take an extra look at tight end Visanthe Shiancoe too.
Raiders hoping Benson will give them depth behind Darren McFadden
Rumors finally turned to real interest when word leaked the Raiders were in talks to sign running back Cedric Benson out of free agency. It's a safe move by Oakland since they lost their able backup Michael Bush to Chicago. While Benson won't start he will give the team badly needed insurance if their budding star Darren McFadden has more injury problems in the coming season. Since leaving the Bears in 2008, Benson overcame his draft bust and law-breaking label to post three-straight seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing while also helping the Cincinnati Bengals to the playoffs two out of three years. Age and injury have slowed him down but that hasn't scared the Oakland Raiders who could find him valuable at the right price. Money problems have stopped them from being more aggressive but if the wrinkles get smoothed out then a deal could happen very soon. If it does, is Benson the only player Oakland should target?
Shiancoe likely rejected Seattle Seahawks because of quarterback issues
Visanthe Shiancoe knows better than anybody what it's like to go from a gourmet meal to fast food in football terms. That is what life became when he went from Brett Favre to Christian Ponder in just two seasons. With Favre he had his best season with 11 touchdown catches in 2009. In the two years since with Ponder and Donovan McNabb he has caught five. That could explain why he chose not to accept a one-year deal from the Seattle Seahawks back in March. In addition to his ex-teammate Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle has another former backup in Matt Flynn. At 32 years old Shiancoe might feel he doesn't have time to help either to win a Super Bowl which could take time. If he wants a ring he'll need to join a team with a proven passer. Probably no one fits better than Oakland. Not only do the Raiders desperately need an experienced tight end, they also have Carson Palmer at quarterback. While the pay won't go any higher than what the Seahawks offered, no team will give Shiancoe an immediate chance to start and win.
The Oakland Raiders have money problems but they have good reasons to work them out. Adding Cedric Benson and Visanthe Shiancoe to help Carson Palmer and Darren McFadden could make the Silver and Black favorites in a wide open AFC West division.
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