ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Oakland Raiders have fired Head Coach Hue Jackson.

The Oakland Raiders will introduce new General Manager Reggie McKenzie in a press conference at 2PM PST, and we'll likely get a denial/confirmation at that point.

I'm @ work and can't update this story as it unfolds, so please feel free to add more details as they become available.

NFL.com is reporting that DT Richard Seymour, P Shane Lechler, and K Sebastian Janikowski have been named to the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl team. Speculation leading up to today's announcement also had DT Tommy Kelly, CB Stanford Routt, FB Marcel Reece, and RB/ST Rock Cartwright in the running for Pro Bowl selections. I think a few other Raiders will end up on the AFC roster before all is said and done.

Congratulations to these Oakland Raiders for making the 2012 Pro Bowl team, and let's hope they can't go to Hawaii because they're preparing in Indianapolis.

GO RAIDERS!

Raiders.com is confirming that the Oakland Raiders have signed veteran wide receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh to a 1-year deal worth approximately $500K. The 9 year veteran has played with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2001 through 2008 (5 years with Carson Palmer) before two one-year stops in Seattle and Baltimore. Over those 10 years, Housh has caught 616 passes for 7,091 yards and 43 TDs.

I have mixed feelings about this move. On the one hand I want the team to do whatever it takes to make Carson Palmer feel comfortable to keep our playoff hopes alive this season. On the other hand, those who worried that Coach Jackson was delusionally remembering Carson Palmer from his All-Pro 2004-2006 era may be having some of those fears confirmed as Jackson again brings in someone with whom he is familiar who had great success in the '04-'06 seasons.

The Raiders have not announced a corresponding roster move to make room for Housmanzdeah, who will wear #84.

Thanks to Marcofromda510 and R8RFAN12 for being the first to post this information on S&BP.

Sorry to break up the flow of our discussion about the future of the QB position for the Oakland Raiders, but I have some other news to report. According to his Twitter page, safety Chinedum Ndukwe has signed with he Raiders. Last week NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported that Ndukwe had a workout for the Raiders, along with several other players.

Ndukwe was originally drafted by the Bengals in 2007 and played with them until last year when he tore his MCL. In 53 career games Ndukwe has managed to rack up 257 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 6 INTs, 3 FRs, and 18 PDs. At 6'2" 225 lbs. Ndukwe has a similar build to Mike Mitchell.

The Raiders have not confirmed this transaction or made a corresponding roster move to make room for Ndukwe, but my guess would be that S Ron Parker would be the odd-man out. Ndukwe may also push Jerome Boyd for playing time.

So welcome Chinedum Ndukwe to the Raider Nation!

Multiple sources, including Jerry McDonald, are reporting that the Raiders have added CB Lito Sheppard to their ranks. The 30 year old Sheppard spent his first 7 seasons with the Eagles before 1 year stints with the Jets and Vikings. Sheppard struggled with the Vikings last year but brings veteran experience to a very young DB corp. With Chris Johnson out after having surgery and rooking CB Demarcus Van Dyke missing the last two practices with an undisclosed injury, the Raiders needed to add to their DB depth.

Now if they'd only do the same thing with the LB corp.

ESPN's Bill Williamson just posted a nice write up of some issues and observations from Raiders training camp in Napa. It doesn't provide a lot of new information for those of us who have been keeping on top of things on a day-to-day basis, but summarizes what's been happening in training camp thus far and what to look forward to for the 2011 season. Enjoy.

As previously reported and discussed on Silver and Black Pride here, Marcus Cannon had previously been diagnosed with a mass in his stomach/groin area, which ended up not being testicular cancer based on a biopsy. Unfortunately, however, the biopsy did confirm that Cannon has a treatable form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and will require chemotherapy. According to the PFT story, the prognosis sounds promising and doctors are "hopeful" that Cannon can continue his football career after 12 to 24 weeks of chemotherapy.

The football-related ramifications of this news aside, I think I can speak on behalf of all of Silver and Black Pride when I say that we hope for a successful and speedy recovery for Marcus Cannon.

National Football Post is reporting that the Raiders have re-signed RB Michael Bennett and G Daniel Loper.

Bennett signed a 1-year, $865K contract.

Loper signed a 2-year, $4.2M contract.

I didn't think Bennett would be back with Louis Rankin back in the fold. I'm glad Loper is back, but $4.2M seems like a lot for a guy who was making near league-minimum before.

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Robert Gallery and Mr. Davis had a conversation in the past few days and both made the mutual decision that the 7 year veteran would not return to the Oakland Raiders next year.

Said Gallery: '"With the end of the league year coming today, and the few conversations I've had with the Raiders and Mr. Davis, we've come to a mutual agreement that it's time for me to move on with my career. I appreciate the start that they and Mr. Davis gave me and I truly have enjoyed my time wearing the silver and black. I wish them well, I thank the fans and I take away great memories of my time in Oakland."

So S&BP followers, what are your thoughts on Gallery leaving and the Raiders replacing him on the offensive line?

Last night shots were fired at Raiders LB Rolando McClain's SUV while he was driving in his hometown in Alabama. Thankfully no one was shot in the incident.

Please be safe during the offseason Raiders players!

Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Oakland Raiders will not be bringing back John Marshall as defensive coordinator in 2011.

Discuss potential successors who share Mr. Davis' schematic philosophies on defense who may be brought in to run the Raiders' defense in 2011. Who fits the bill for the Raiders defense?

In the midst of once again revamping the coaching staff, the Raiders front office has managed not to completely drop the ball and signed the entire practice squad and a few other familiar names to reserve/futures contracts for next year's OTAs and training camp.

P Glenn Pakulak
WR Damola Adeniji
WR Shaun Bodiford
TE Kevin Brock
DE Tommie Hill
G Alex Parsons
DB Joe Porter
RB Louis Rankin
G Roy Schuening
LB Quentin Scott
FB Manase Tonga

The Raiders brought back Rankin about 2 months too late for my liking, I thought he should have replaced Michael Bennett as soon as Bennett hurt his hamstring. I expect Rankin to compete for the 3rd RB spot next season. The others are simply camp hands.

Jerry McDonald is reporting that the Raiders have received a 24 hour extension from the NFL league office to sell out Sunday's pivotal game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Get the word out everyone! 2 for 1 tickets still available through TicketMaster with the promo code COMPASS. Get this game sold out and support the Oakland Raiders!

UPDATE: Jerry McDonald has reported that the game is officially a sellout and the local blackout has been lifted! Go Raiders!

As posted on the Raiders.com Transactions page, the Raiders have re-signed S Stevie Brown to the practice squad. The Raiders also signed S/LB Quentin Scott to the practice squad. Scott played at the University of Northern Iowa and signed as an UDFA with the Chicago Bears earlier this year.

To make room on the practice squad for Brown and Scott the Raiders released LB Slade Norris, a 4th round draft pick in 2009. Norris made some nice special teams plays in preseason and may make his way onto another roster as a special teamer. At this point we'll just try to forget that he was the guy taken right before Indy WR Austin Collie.

According to Chick Hernandez of CSN Washington, the Raiders have signed RB/KR Rock Cartwright. Rotoworld does not expect Cartwright to compete for the 3rd RB spot, while Jerry McDonald stated that Cartwright could compete for the role.

So I was checking out Raiders news sites this evening to see if there was any new word about our head coaching situation and I read a few very interesting quotes from former Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

First Ryan said that he'd be interested in the Raiders head coaching job if it became available. Then, according to Jerry McDonald, Ryan talked up JaMarcus Russell a little bit, essentially saying he was a dangerous offensive weapon and that he was surprised Russell hadn't reached his full potential yet.

Rob, I didn't know you were this genius. Ryan is obviously playing on Al Davis' hopes for an offense led by Russell by hinting that he can get the most out of Russell where Coach Cable has failed to do so.

This could get very interesting in the coming weeks.

Al Davis' obsession with speed continues as ESPN's Bill Williamson is reporting the Raiders signed return specialist Yamon Figurs to a futures contract. Figures, a 3rd round pick in the 2007 Draft, spent his first two years with the Ravens before splitting 2009 between Detroit and Tampa Bay.

Figurs' rookie year was his best, as he put up 1309 total return yards with 2 touchdowns. Figurs and Nick Miller figure to compete for the starting KR job in training camp.

On Sunday, JaMarcus Russell became the second quarterback in the past 14 seasons to throw at least 20 passes, complete less than 30 percent and still win a game. The other QB was the Panthers' Jake Delhomme, who went 7-27 with 1 TD and 4 INTs against the Raiders last season and still eeked out a 17-6 win over the Andrew Walter-led Raiders.

Weird that the Raiders would be involved in both those games.

Shawn Merriman arrested for "Maybe" choking his girlfriend Tila Tequila. Suspend his ass Goodell!!!!! Keep him out of Week 1!

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to like our discarded offensive lineman, bringing in backup G Marcus Johnson a day after bringing in C Jonathan Compas. Johnson's starting experience and versatility will get him a roster spot somewhere, I had just hoped it was with the Raiders.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have claimed center Jonathan Compas off waivers from the Oakland Raiders. Good luck to you kid. Go Aggies!

The Green Bay Packers released C/G Duke Preston today. You may remember that the Raiders spoke with Preston prior to acquiring Samson Satele. I'm wondering if Preston makes a better backup center/guard than the undersized Chris Morris. I'll take any opportunity to strengthen the depth on the offensive line. Thoughts?