The NFL Network (which means it's probably correct) reports the Raiders have signed TE Ben Troupe.
The team would need to release a player to add Troupe, who was recently cut by Tampa Bay.
Why would the Raiders want another tight end?
If Troupe proves to be a good blocker, it all makes sense.
The Raiders are looking for ways to free up Zach Miller to be a bigger part of the passing game.
Here's what Kiffin said about Miller on Thursday when asked him about moving Miller around to create more opportunities in the passing game:
"The thing with Zach, as we talked about before, is he's so good at other things. He's so good at blocking, he's so good at pass protection that that's hurt him a little bit in the passing game because of the way we use him. We use him a lot to help our guys. We use him a lot to stay in protection. With our other tight ends, we don't necessarily have a dominant blocker with our other tight ends. They're more pass receiving type guys. As far as numbers and catches, he's hurt himself a little bit that way because he's so good that we use him so much in protection."
Having another tight end that can catch and block gives the offense flexibility in the passing game and makes it less predictable.
Perhaps an official announcement will come sometime tomorrow.
Here's some background on Troupe:
*6-4, 260
*Second-round pick of Tennessee (40th overall) from Florida
*Signed with Tampa Bay this year. Was released when suspended tight end Jerramy Stevens was activated.
*He has 106 catches for 1,056 yards and seven touchdowns for his career. His best season was 2005 when he caught 55 passes for 530 yards and four touchdowns for the Titans. He had only five catches in 16 games with two starts last season. He didn't catch a pass in two games with the Bucs.
--Jason Jones
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.