Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Raiders moving on from longtime offensive starter
Andre James. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Raiders moving on from longtime offensive starter

The Las Vegas Raiders are moving on from one of their longest-tenured players.

Veteran offensive lineman Andre James will be released by the Raiders after the start of the 2025 NFL league year on Wednesday, according to a report from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

James signed with the then-Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has been with the team ever since and started 60 games at center across six seasons.

James was thrust into the starting lineup due to an injury to a teammate midway through his rookie season. He eventually became the Raiders' full-time starting center. The 27-year-old signed a three-year, $24M extension last offseason.

The Raiders are making significant changes after hiring Pete Carroll as their new head coach. They are now in the market for a new starting center in addition to a starting quarterback. They could address one or both positions in the draft.

James has plenty of experience and has proved to be a reliable every-down player. The former UCLA player will likely have no problem finding a new team in free agency.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate 
NFL

Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate 

The Dallas Cowboys extended one of their stars Sunday, just not the one fans wanted them to pay. At Cowboys training camp Saturday, Dallas fans serenaded owner Jerry Jones with "Pay Micah [Parsons]" chants. The EDGE, of course, is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Jones must not have been listening. He gave tight end Jake Ferguson a new contract instead. Dallas and the 26-year-old pass-catcher agreed to a four-year, $52M contract extension, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This move seems head-scratching. Parsons has won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods since the Cowboys took him with pick No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old EDGE also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ferguson, meanwhile, is solid but not elite. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the 2022 fourth-round pick has made one Pro Bowl and has never finished with more than 761 receiving yards in a season. An extension for Parsons will devour future cap space. The Cowboys may be worried about that after giving quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) long-term deals in 2024. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt signed a lucrative three-year, $123M extension on July 17, making him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Parsons could command a similar contract. If cap space is Dallas' primary concern, however, why would it extend Ferguson? He's now set to be the NFL's seventh-highest-paid TE. The Cowboys waited to extend Lamb and Prescott just before the start of the 2024 season. They may be doing the same with Parsons. The star defender has said, "Ownership is always gonna make [contract negotiations] drag out." Regardless, the Cowboys should've paid Parsons before Ferguson. That's a much bigger priority for the team.

Celtics Rumors: Damian Lillard, Neemias Queta, Ben Simmons
NBA

Celtics Rumors: Damian Lillard, Neemias Queta, Ben Simmons

Damian Lillard was briefly linked to the Celtics after being waived and stretched by the Bucks, but that possibility came and went quicker than a Jrue Holiday text. Turns out Holiday did shoot his shot. “As soon as I was waived … he sent me the eyeball emoji,” Lillard said at his introductory presser in Portland. “I already knew where I was pivoting to when he sent it, but I didn’t want to say nothing too soon, so here we are.” “Here” is back in a Trail Blazers uniform. And while Lillard isn’t expected to play this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles, the idea of him as a long-term Jayson Tatum insurance policy briefly crossed Boston’s radar. That was about as far as it got. As MassLive’s Brian Robb wrote, the Celtics never had the financial path to compete with Portland’s three-year, $42 million offer. Boston only has the $5.7M taxpayer MLE to work with — and using that might’ve meant shedding some other salary just to stay under the second apron. Who’s starting at center? In a new mailbag, Robb projects Neemias Queta as the likely starting center if the roster stays put. That would give Boston a lineup of Queta, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White, with the last two spots up for grabs. Payton Pritchard vs. Anfernee Simons at point guard? Sam Hauser vs. Georges Niang at forward? Maybe Josh Minott sneaks into the mix? Yeah, it’s July. But hey, the debates have begun. No Davison, slim Simmons ddds Boston officially parted ways with JD Davison this week, ending a three-year run with the former second-round pick. According to Robb, the team just didn’t see NBA-level growth. And what about that open roster spot? Ben Simmons is out there. But Robb pegs the odds of Simmons landing in Boston at just 10-20 percent, mainly because he’s expected to get better money (and probably a bigger role) elsewhere. More NBA News Rumors

Rangers sign veteran winger to PTO
NHL

Rangers sign veteran winger to PTO

In an effort to extend his NHL career, veteran winger Conor Sheary has agreed to a professional tryout (PTO) with the New York Rangers, per the NY Post’s Mollie Walker. Sheary has played in 593 games throughout his 10-year career, posting 124 goals and 267 points. He has also shown an ability to elevate his game in big moments during the playoffs, as evidenced by his contributions to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup wins early in his career, when he often played a key role alongside Sidney Crosby. Notably, some of his best professional seasons came in Pittsburgh under head coach Mike Sullivan. After signing a five-year deal in May to lead the Rangers, Sullivan is bringing in a familiar face as he looks to implement a new game plan in New York. However, Sheary has struggled in recent years. After producing just 15 points in 57 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2023-24 season—his lowest output since his rookie year—he dressed in only five games last season with the team. He spent the majority of his year with Tampa’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, where he produced 20 goals and 61 points in 59 games. Sheary, 33, will now look to rejuvenate his career with the Rangers, a team in the midst of transition. Beyond the obvious changes that come with a new head coach, the team has also seen longtime staples Chris Kreider and K’Andre Miller depart, while adding forward Taylor Raddysh and prospect Carey Terrance. While PTOs are anything but guaranteed, Sheary’s history of producing quality offense, combined with his relationship with Sullivan, should give him a strong chance to make the opening night roster.

Unique Cowboys offensive lineman getting work at new 'jumbo' position
NFL

Unique Cowboys offensive lineman getting work at new 'jumbo' position

The Dallas Cowboys will be learning a lot more about the team's talent in the trenches with players in full pads for the first time during training camp in Oxnard, California. An intriguing position is offensive tackle, where last year's first-round pick Tyler Guyton is attempting to bounce back after struggling as a rookie, Terence Steele is dealing with a minor ankle injury, and players like Asim Richards and Nathan Thomas have received some hype. Last week, Thomas received high praise from the coaching staff and was named a player to keep an eye on, so what does that mean for Richards? Well, Richards isn't quite on the outs. In fact, Brian Schottenheimer said the team is getting him looks at another position. Richards has bene getting looks at "jumbo" tight end as the team looks to beef up its blocking in goaline and short-yardage packages. "We’ve got jumbo tight ends we’re training. You look at Asim Richards. He’s not playing just tackle. He’s playing tight end," Schottenheimer revealed, via Blogging the Boys. "Well how does he get with Lunda Wells, and how do we make that happen?" The 6-foot-4, 306-pound Richards came to the Cowboys as a unique prospect after being selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He can play guard and tackle, and now, apparently, tight end. Schottenheimer loves to get players reps at multiple positions and "cross-train," so it will be interesting to see if the Cowboys use the jumbo package as an opportunity to get Richards on the field.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!