Raiders send clear message with Germaine Pratt release

On Monday, the Raiders made the surprising decision to release linebacker Germaine Pratt four games into a one-year, $4.8 million deal.

The decision came as a bit of a shock at first, given Pratt played 88 percent of defensive snaps in the Raiders’ first four games. However, questions began to arise after Pratt missed the team flight and was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Rumors began to circulate about bad blood brewing between Pratt and the Raiders, and the swift release provided credence to those ideas.

If that is the case, then it is hard to argue that the Raiders did not make the right decision.

The Raiders may have nipped any drama in the bud early.

The last thing Pete Carroll and the Raiders need during their struggles are any locker room malcontents, and any rift regarding Pratt could easily lead to such a result.

Carroll was quick to talk about giving other players opportunities in Pratt’s absence, and that belief carried over. Malcolm Koonce and Charles Snowden are getting more involved in the edge rushing rotation, while the trio of Jamal Adams, Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg figure to gain more snaps at linebacker. That figures to remain the case, with a potential emphasis on younger players if the season continues to spiral as it has.

Both Pratt and the Raiders made their choices, and it was clear that Carroll and the rest of the team brass felt no desire to stretch an issue for any longer than necessary.