Raiders let Jordan go free

No surprise as the Raiders finally gave running back LaMont Jordan his walking papers in a move that was long overdue.

Releasing Jordan was not only the right thing to do, it was the only thing to do.

His future in Oakland had long ago been determined and it was an issue that was only going to serve as a thorn in the team’s side until it was resolved.

Jordan and his agent Alvin Keels had been given permission by the Raiders to seek a trade but no teams showed interest simply because it made no sense to trade for a player who was not in Oakland’s plans anyway, a fact made clear when Jordan was told by head coach Lane Kiffin to stay away from the team’s June mini-camp and training camp.

Still, Oakland could have held onto Jordan a little longer. Running backs routinely get injured in training camp and the preseason and some team might develop an emergency need at some point in the future.

That probably would have created a storm within the players union, though, and so it was time to part ways with a running back who led the team with 1,025 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 2005.

What will be interesting is to see what Jordan has to say when he does find a new team. Former players Warren Sapp, Dominic Rhodes and Stuart Schweigert were all critical of the organization in the offseason after cutting ties with the Raiders.