Raiders tender contracts to 7 free agents

Mar 4, 2010 - 2:28 AM By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif.(AP) -- The Oakland Raiders tendered contracts to quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and six other restricted free agents on Wednesday.

Gradkowski got a second-round tender, meaning he will get at least $1.759 million if he makes the team next season. The Raiders also have the right to match any offer sheet he signs with another team or receive a second-round pick as compensation.

Coach Tom Cable said Sunday that Gradkowski would compete for the starting quarterback job next season with former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.

Gradkowski replaced Russell as Oakland's starting quarterback midway through last season. He provided an immediate spark, leading Oakland to comeback victories in two of his first three starts. He got hurt midway through his fourth start, suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and a partially torn MCL in his right knee and did not play the rest of the season.

Gradkowski completed 54.7 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.

Oakland also placed a first and third-round tender on cornerback Stanford Routt, second-round tenders on linebackers Thomas Howard and Ricky Brown and Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo, a third-round tender on linebacker Kirk Morrison and an original round tender on offensive lineman Chris Morris.

The most surprising decisions were the ones with Routt and Morrison. Routt, who has been mostly a nickel back, will be guaranteed $3.268 million if he makes the team next season. Another team would need to give up a first and third-round pick to sign him, meaning he will assuredly return to Oakland.

Morrison has been the leading tackler on the Raiders the past four seasons. But Oakland has had one of the league's worst run defenses in that time. He will get at least $1.226 million next season but could leave for a third-round draft pick.