Report: Oakland mad about Jordan signing

There’s a new chapter in the long-running feud between the Patriots and Raiders.

According to reports, Oakland owner Al Davis is steamed running back LaMont Jordan signed with New England over the weekend. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Davis and Jordan’s agent Alvin Keels had an agreement that if the Raiders did grant Jordan’s release, he wouldn’t sign with the Patriots or the Broncos.

Oakland, who drafted Darren McFadden in the offseason, cut the 29-year-old Jordan on Friday. Jordan agreed to a deal with New England on Saturday, and he told reporters the Patriots expressed an interest in him as soon as he was released.

“I think LaMont adds some quality depth to our backfield,” New England head coach Bill Belichick said of Jordan, who ran for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns in 2005. “He’s a tough guy to tackle, hard runner, good in the passing game, and good with the ball in his hands.”

“Any time you have a chance to put on a Patriots uniform, you take it,” Jordan said Sunday.

Keels told the Chronicle no such agreement existed.

“I can understand whatever frustration that Mr. Davis may have to see a good player going to an archrival,” Keels said. “I never agreed to not explore a deal with the Patriots. Teams were waiting for him to be released. Once he hit the waiver wire, we weighed several offers. It was LaMont’s choice to go to New England.”