The Raiders have said goodbye to 13 veterans from the 2017 roster as they begin the redo of the Jon Gruden era. None was overly surprising … until now. In a shocking Good Friday afternoon move the Raiders released Pro Bowl punter Marquette King. The release virtually came out of nowhere. The source said the
Details of Raiders’ release of Marquette King
Dude was a great weapon on ST’s. What I don’t understand is why OAK is just dropping these guys and not trading them for, at least, some late-round picks….?!? WTF?
Because no team wanted to pay $3m+ for a punter, trust me Reggie called around.
He’s not an idiot.
An idiot would spend a first round pick on a guy who ruptured his vena cava a few months earlier, but he’s still not one.
In my opinion, this is the first stupid move of the G2 era.
The only way you do this is if King and Gruden sat down together and King told Gruden to kick rocks when asked to tone it down a little.
And I don’t care if RM was surprised by the move. Thankfully its not only his opinion that counts.
Crazy move. He wanted to win and gave his all to the Raiders. Why not just restructure his deal. All Gruden had to do was sit down with him.
I saw King on NFL network a month ago bagging on Grudens TV persona. Maybe that’s what did him in.
The move had nothing to do with money or personality, and everything to do with Gruden wanting to get his players’ attention in advance of the first full-team gathering in early May. Cutting a player of King’s stature was enough to accomplish that goal, while Gruden knew that even a good punter can be replaced rather easily. Calculated move by Gruden. Read the post that I just filed. Thanks, Noah, and everyone else.
Great insight Cork. Thanks!
Not enamored with this move. For all of his antics, King was a top tier punter who could change field position much like Ray Guy. Gruden said in his Owners’ meeting breakfast presser that he wanted to be more flexible. This is not flexible. Why create a roster hole where none exists when the team has so many holes to fill?
We don’t know a conversation took place or not. We don’t know if he was asked to restructure his salary. We don’t know if he was on the trade block. I actually like this move. It sucks to lose the talent but if you’re not all in or you aren’t going to take the job seriously hit the road. It looks as if they are really analyzing cap space. Who knows what’s up. Maybe they are gearing up for a trade
I’m watching Gruden and there’s something going on. And it doesn’t to me fit what the Raiders have always been. AL wouldn’t be getting rid of guys who was a Raider and Grew up a Raider. I’m very concern with all this. I was happy to hear Gruden was hired but my only things was as Coach only. He hasn’t proven anything as gm. And god I remember all the love he had for Johnny Manziel and how he was a first round Qb according to Gruden. Too much cleaning house of talented player Reggie drafted. Why Reggie there if you just gonna get rid of every find he found. I been a raiderfan for 30 years. This is not coo
Seems like getting rid of a good player you haven’t even coached is a funny way to build a good team –
This is not a smart move by whoever made it (Gruden? RM? Both?) I agree with Michelle M – “Why create a roster hole where none exists when the team has so many holes to fill?”
The sheen on Gruden-2 is starting to fade a little…
King was cut because the coaches and front office (and even players) know this guy isn’t going to be a fit for the Gruden Raiders culture they’re building.
KC didn’t get rid of Peters because he sucked either.
Bisaccia had a chance to keep MK too I’m sure and declined, obviously.
I trust this staff knows what they’re doing. Bring in guys that have played for them and our known quantities on the field and in the locker room.
The lockeroom (and JDR/TD/KNJ) was the reason last years team under performed.
Cut out th cancers.
This makes me wonder – why is Marshawn Lynch still there?
On the one side, I think he played with heart to the last game (unlike many of his team mates), and he could’ve hit 1000 yards rushing if he played the entire season.
On the flip side, “dancing” Marshawn does what he wants, often lacks field discipline (which got him suspended one game), and stories came out about how his behavior was a negative influence on overall team chemistry.
This overview might also apply to King in general, yet the punter in his playing prime is gone, and the soon-to-be 32-year old RB is still on the roster ?
Also agree with Ed Z.: “Seems like getting rid of a good player you haven’t even coached is a funny way to build a good team –”
You pose a great question. The simple answer is: it’s worth putting up with whatever issues might come with having Marshawn Lynch on your roster than it is with a punter — this isn’t to say that Gruden had any issues with Marquette King, because I don’t know that to be the case — because it’s much harder to find a lead back in the NFL, and one as durable and productive as Lynch. Punters aren’t held in the same regard. They are deemed almost as interchangeable. Hence, King is gone.
I have to admit that SeaBass wasn’t missed after 1st-time roster K Tavecchio took over his duties. So they may be able to find a cheaper journeyman P to replace King, and not have any drop-off in team punt performance.
So true
I agree with David this coaching staff wants guys who’s love is football not dressing up in different costumes and acting like a clown. Does
anyone on here really believe that Belichick would pay a punter 3 to 4 million a year especially one that is a locker room distraction. Come on guys he was no Ray Guy on or off the field or even Shane Lechler for that matter. The thing that we should really be scratching our heads about is the fact that we can’t sign or keep a decent middle linebacker because we want to lowball them, but we were willing to pay a punter this much money. Come on!!!
According to this site, King made $2.5 million last year, and was the 10th highest-paid punter in 2017:
https://overthecap.com/position/punter/2017
The 2017 Raiders ranked #5 in the league in avg. yards per punt (47.4):
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2017/#all_returns
I also thought King was pretty good at “coffin corner” kicks, or getting his punts to dribble to a stop inside the 10.
Given his salary relative to other punters in the league, and how he performed, I don’t think he was overpaid. KC’s Dustin Colquitt (#1) was paid over $4 million last year !
Oh well, water under the bridge… lets see if Bisaccia can at least match team punter performance from last year…..
I was happy when Gruden comeback but this move is not bright. The raiders had a special punter in King. Gruden messed this one up
Time will tell, of course. I tend to agree with your take, though, that Marquette King was way down the list of issues that needed to be addressed. That is, if there even was an issue that went beyond purely a salary-cap dump. Thanks for your take. — Cork