By Paul Wexler
RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer
Four time Pro-Bowl selection and three time All-Pro player Lorenzo Neal now is officially an Oakland Raider. Neal has played for the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens during his 16-year NFL career.
Neal practiced with the Raiders on Friday in the first day of their mandatory, three-day mini camp in Alameda, Calif. He is wearing No. 41, which necessitated running back Louis Rankin switching to No. 40.
The 38 year old fullback is best known for his lead blocking for running backs Eddie George and LaDainian Tomlinson. Neal brings veteran leadership, devastating blocking and the ability to protect the quarterback.
Neal’s signing also provides an insurance policy in the event Oren O’Neal has not fully recovered from last year’s season-ending knee injury.
O’Neal did not practice Friday and isn’t expected to hit the field again until training camp, coach Tom Cable said. O’Neal sustained a knee injury in Oakland’s exhibition game against the Arizona Cardinals last August and missed the entire season.
Loading ...
$HIT YES! #5 Best Off Season Move! WE solidified our running game!
Good move, we just need to pick up linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, the rams team’s leading tackler in 2008. to add depth to the LB core. He’s fast as hell and only 27.
Wow! Im going to spasm in my shorts. Now all we need is Dockett and we are AFC West title bound!!!
Pisa is solid I played against him in HS
Ship fargas for Dockett
WOW! AWESOME!
BUSH RUNNING BEHIND LORENZO NEAL?
BAD ASS!
I CAN’T WAIT!
Oh , wait. I wonder what Mel Kiper thinks.
Ha!
screw the critics….cant wait until he trucks Merriman!
that is an exciting pick up but damn, 38 years old! as a blocking FB I am suprised the dude can still walk at 38.
This offseason’s additiona seem to have been as much or more about improving the attitude and psyche of the team as it has been about getting physically better players.
We signed Gary Russell too, i wonder if he will battle to play full back. I cant see him competeing for a RB roster spot.
Great pick up… im ok with bringing in guys with that have that winning attitude. Thats what the raiders need. Neal has been in a lot of locker rooms and knows how to get guys motivated to win. Him and Garcia are the veteran leadership the raiders having been missing. I wish i could say that we had someone like that on the defensive side but now its time for nhamdi, kirk, and howard to take that d to the top. It would be nice to see the raiders go after dockett or pisa but that aint gonna happen. Cable hasnt made any moves on big name players.
[...] Several outlets, including RaiderBeat.com, report that veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal has agreed to terms with the Raiders. [...]
neal is 38 so he will be a temporary fix (and a great one) allowing our other young FB to learn from the best. great move.
Hey paul, get a twitter account so you can give us up to minute camp status, if you are there of course.
TWITTER ACCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh I cant wait for game 1…shut these charger fans up….the bandwagon through the county is disgusting 760
Best offseason move to date. Is Twitting gay???? YES!!!!!
Guess that means we’re going back to the old offense when Marcus was playing tailback. I’d love to see Lorenzo blocking for Mc Fadden.
WOW!! LORENZO NEAL IS GONNA KNOCK SHAWNE MERRIMENS LIGHTS OUT GAME 1 IN OAKLAND I CANT WAIT TO SEE THAT
wave invite…
Awesome article. I was going through a similar situation a little while back and can totally relate to what your talking about! I’m going to link back to your blog so my readers can read your topics….
ticketgenie.com – Your Source to buy Concert Tickets, Sports Tickets and Theater Tickets…
Despite another meltdown by the shaky Giant defense, Lawrence Tynes kicked the G- men to a 34- 31 victory, keeping the Giants in good position for a playoff spot. The giants snapped their four- game losing streak, and Eli Manning threw for a career- hi…