Raiders sign QB Brooks to two-year contract

**Batpuff** · 03-23-2006, 01:54 PM

ALAMEDA, Calif. (March 22, 2006) -- The Oakland Raiders found their replacement for Kerry Collins, signing quarterback Aaron Brooks to a two-year contract to compete for the starting job.

The 29-year-old Brooks was cut last week by New Orleans when the Saints signed Drew Brees, one of the most coveted free agents available this year.

[Image: http://images.nfl.com/photos/img6931673.jpg] After a disappointing 2005 season, Aaron Brooks will look to revive his career with Oakland. [size=1] [/size] Brooks started 13 games for New Orleans last season, completing 240 of 431 passes for 2,882 yards and 13 touchdowns against 17 interceptions.

"Oh, sweet," receiver Alvis Whitted said in a phone interview. "I'm glad that we do have a new quarterback. I'm sure he'll fit right in with what we're trying to get done here. I'm sure the coaches are excited. From what I've seen of him play, he's done some great things. He's very athletic, a mobile quarterback and very intelligent, too. He's a great fit for us, and we're happy to have him."

Brooks, who had started 82 straight games before being benched for the final three games of 2005, spent the past six seasons with the Saints after playing for Green Bay in his first NFL campaign in 1999.

Brooks, a fourth-round draft pick by the Packers out of Virginia, was one of few capable quarterbacks left on the market this offseason.

"Aaron gives us great depth at the quarterback position and provides us with a veteran presence," new Raiders coach Art Shell said.

Oakland parted ways with Collins on March 10 in an expected salary-cap move.

The 33-year-old Collins went 7-21 in two seasons as Oakland's starter and said at the end of the season he was willing to restructure his deal but would not play for "peanuts."

When the team cut Collins, Shell was left to consider Marques Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter as leading candidates for the position.

Tuiasosopo has only two starts in his five-year career. In 2003, he replaced the injured Rich Gannon to start against the Detroit Lions but suffered a season-ending injury to his left knee in the first half.

Tuiasosopo started one game last season against the New York Jets after Collins was benched but turned the ball over four times in the 26-10 loss and Collins regained the starting job the following week.

Walter, a third-round pick out of Arizona State last year, didn't play as a rookie. He threw for 85 touchdowns and 10,617 yards during his college career.

The Raiders scored only 51 points -- with only six touchdowns -- in their final five games, and lost their last six overall and eight of nine despite an offense featuring Collins, Randy Moss, LaMont Jordan and Jerry Porter. At 4-12, they finished with one fewer victory than in fired coach Norv Turner's first season a year ago.

Perhaps the most glaring statistic is Oakland's failure to win a division game for the first time since owner Al Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team. The Raiders went 1-11 against the AFC West during Turner's two seasons.

**alfus21** · 03-23-2006, 02:19 PM

Could be a good pick up for the Raiders..

Find · 03-23-2006, 04:41 PM

No way, Brooks sucks. He will do jsut as well as Kerry Collins did there, awful.

**BFritz** · 03-23-2006, 06:35 PM

98NCCalum Wrote:No way, Brooks sucks. He will do jsut as well as Kerry Collins did there, awful.

I thought Collins wasn't that bad, but Brooks is horrible

Find · 03-23-2006, 07:14 PM

He won like a total of 6 games in two years, he's not good.

blackcatfan_48 · 03-23-2006, 07:53 PM

i dont think that this will help the raiders

**Amun-Ra** · 03-23-2006, 08:33 PM

just what i figured!!!!!!!!!!! i wish my team had a better front office.... this is an awful pick up. Brooks is a mediocre QB at best.

golfman42 · 03-25-2006, 01:25 AM

brooks used to be a decent QB but Haslett made him a bad one

corndog23 · 03-25-2006, 01:27 AM

I like the sign...Aaron Brooks can throw the deep ball. Raider fade to Randy all day...

**Playboy5** · 03-25-2006, 09:36 AM

It's the Raiders, who cares. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO WIN!

FreakNasty · 03-25-2006, 03:06 PM

The Raiders would be wise to take Vince Young/Jay Cutler in the draft....

**Old School** · 03-25-2006, 09:18 PM

The Raiders have had a history of picking up down and out players over the years and then them having a few great seasons. Hopefully this will happen again.

FreakNasty · 03-26-2006, 12:48 AM

Old School Wrote:The Raiders have had a history of picking up down and out players over the years and then them having a few great seasons. Hopefully this will happen again.

Plunkett certainly comes to mind.....

**Amun-Ra** · 03-27-2006, 01:32 AM

Brooks sucks and has always sucked... i got my fingers crossed. opefully he can throw a deep ball to Moss. Collins sure couldnt.

corndog23 · 03-27-2006, 05:40 AM

^ He had a couple of solid years in N'awlins, Dont give up on him yet, he's got SOME skill.

**Playboy5** · 03-27-2006, 08:26 AM

He had some skill, now he is with oakland, A.K.A, the place where big name veterans come too diminish quietly. Oakland is a JOKE!

**Amun-Ra** · 03-28-2006, 01:41 AM

yea Oakland hasnt been too good here lately... and they aren't gettin better by this pick.. but they are in on e of the toughest divisions in football. let em play in the NFC west or east and they would have been good last year. only one tough team in either of those divisions and that was Seattle.

**Playboy5** · 03-28-2006, 08:24 AM

Please tell me that you are joking Vincent Vega!!

BurntTires · 03-28-2006, 08:53 AM

Ive been a Raiders fan for life, this pick doesnt help.

venom93 · 03-28-2006, 01:11 PM

Brooks had better receivers at NO then he will have with the Raiders and he couldn't get the job done their. I don't think Brooks will solve the Raiders problems.

**Amun-Ra** · 03-28-2006, 07:43 PM

no playboy i am not jokin... the NFC blows and Oakland would make the playoffs in there.

Venom Nawlins does not have better recievers than Oakland. they had Joe Horn. the Raiders have Moss, Ronald Curry, and Jerry Porter. those are three talented recievers if they all stay healthy

**BFritz** · 03-28-2006, 11:53 PM

Vincent Vega Wrote:no playboy i am not jokin... the NFC blows and Oakland would make the playoffs in there.

Venom Nawlins does not have better recievers than Oakland. they had Joe Horn. the Raiders have Moss, Ronald Curry, and Jerry Porter. those are three talented recievers if they all stay healthy

Wondering if I was the only one who thought that

sf_football · 03-29-2006, 12:56 AM

why did they do that he is one of the worst in the league