Raiders sign Hartwell
The Raiders continued their off-season defensive spending spree today signing linebacker Edgerton Hartwell. Harwell sat out all of last year after missing portions of the previous 2 seasons due to injury.
The Raiders continue to try and improve their defense through free agency. I’m not real sure how this will play out. On the one hand, Al Davis hasn’t been tight with the purse strings in an attempt to improve the defense. But on the other hand, this reminds me of the Redskins a few years ago, when they signed all the big name free agents in attempt to improve immediately. The issue comes in when all these new players (DeAngelo Hall, Gibril Wilson, Javon Walker, etc) have to share a locker room. Personalities clash; egos get in the way; chemistry suffers. And despite what people think, chemistry is a really important piece of winning a championship. Teams who have the talent but not the chemistry tend to fall just short of their goals (think 2004-2005 Philadelphia Eagles).
It’ll be interesting to see how the situation plays out in Oakland. Honestly, I think they’ll be improved but still be among the top 5 teams picking in the draft next year.
Filed under: Free Agency Signings
Tags: al davis, deangelo hall, edgerton hartwell, gibril wilson, javon walker, oakland raiders, philadelphia eagles, washington redskins
