Aug 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub (8) prepares to take a snap against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
In not-so surprising news today, the Oakland Raiders cut quarterback Matt Schaub after just one year on the team. G.M. Reggie McKenzie, who likes his picks, traded a 6th-round pick to the Houston Texans and took his salary of $8 million last year. And in return, the Raiders got a total of 10 passes, two of them for interceptions, out of Schaub.
Schaub made the wrong kind of history in 2014, becoming the first NFL quarterback in history to throw an interception in a game he didn’t take a single snap at quarterback in. This was another one of McKenzie’s questionable signings of aging players last year. Schaub did however do a good job of helping quarterback Derek Carr get through his rookie year.
When the Raiders signed Christian Ponder, you could see the writing on the wall. Ponder was with Raiders new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave while with the Minnesota Vikings so he knows the offense. If you’re a Raiders fan, God forbid he should have to enter a ball game but unlike Schaub, he at least has an arm that is firmly attached to his body.
Actually, to be honest, the first backup to go in the game will probably by Matt McGloin anyway. Ponders’ main role with the Raiders will be that of a tutor as the Raiders install their offense over the course of OTAs, mini camp and training camp. This should mean the end of the road for Schaub, who has done well for himself but had the Sun setting on his career while with the Raiders.
The Raiders are going with the youth movement now.
I think.