Jordan: No way
Disputes report that release from Raiders had conditions
New England running back LaMont Jordan yesterday refuted a report in Monday’s San Francisco Chronicle that his recent release from the Raiders was contingent on his not signing with the Patriots or Broncos.
“One thing I know about the media is that a lot of times, they have no idea what they’re talking about,” Jordan said after the morning practice session at Gillette Stadium. “I’m quite sure that if my release was contingent on that, that it wouldn’t have just been heard in the Bay Area. It would have been heard all over. Everybody wants to take a shot at the Patriots.
“From my understanding, my release wasn’t based on that,” he added. “My release was based on the fact that the Raiders no longer wanted me out there, and I think that’s what I comes down to.”
The Raiders drafted running back Darren McFadden in the offseason, and were clearly looking to move forward without Jordan, who rushed for a career-high 1,025 yards in 2005. According to reports, Oakland owner Al 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. Jordan was released on Friday, and Jordan signed with New England on Saturday.
“I can understand whatever frustration that Mr. Davis may have to see a good player going to an archrival,” Jordan’s agent Alvin Keels told the Chronicle. “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.”
For what it’s worth, the 29-year-old Jordan appears to be one of several players happy to put Davis and Oakland in the rearview mirror. Jordan took great pains with the media yesterday to happily identify himself as an “ex-Raider.” And defensive lineman Warren Sapp told reporters in the offseason that his experience with the Raiders was “as dark as a black hole.”
“Stuff went on in that organization that shouldn’t go on in sports,” Sapp told the St. Petersburg Times. “I don’t think there’s one person who knows who or what is making the call. Let’s just say the Oakland experience is unique. The phone rings quite a bit on that sideline. Insubordination is grounds for termination in any company.”
Yesterday, Jordan had a big smile on his face. After three years with a Raiders team that was going nowhere, he said he was happy with be back with Randy Moss and said he was excited to be with an organization that “wants you to be here.”
"I love it,” said Jordan, who was with the Jets from 2001 through 2004 before spending three seasons in Oakland. “I think the hardest thing for me so far has been signing autographs. I made a couple mistakes, I put [No.] 34 down there because I’m so used to signing 34.
“But I love the fact that right now I have on a Patriot uniform. When you put on that uniform, I think the name on the uniform speaks for itself. The players that wear the uniform are very privileged. I’m very privileged and honored to wear this uniform.”
