Post by TheShadow on Oct 29, 2012 17:13:41 GMT -5
www.insidebayarea.com/
By Jerry McDonald
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Raiders cornerback Michael Huff took obvious glee in analyzing the performance of former teammate Stanford Routt in a joyous winning locker room Sunday.
"Started off good for him but went downhill from there," Huff said after the Raiders prevailed 26-16 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Routt, whose release was the first big move by first-year general manager Reggie McKenzie, intercepted a Carson Palmer pass intended for Darrius Heyward-Bey on the first snap of the game.
No flag was thrown on a play in which Routt appeared to jostle and push off Heyward-Bey before making the interception. After making between a reported $15 million and $20 million from the Raiders from a contract extension negotiated by Al Davis, Routt was cut in March before a $5 million roster bonus was due.
It was Routt's second interception for the Chiefs, who signed him for a reported $19.6 million over three years and instantly integrated more man-to-man defense into their schemes.
Routt got a lot of action afterward, and none of it was good.
Near the end of the first quarter, Routt was called for illegal contact on third-and-7 at the Kansas City 42 for an automatic first down, extending a drive that resulted in a 35-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski.
Just before halftime, with the Raiders facing third-and-8 at the Kansas City 9-yard line, Routt was the closest Oakland defender to Denarius Moore on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Palmer.
It got worse in the third quarter when Palmer threw to his left and connected with Heyward-Bey for a potential short gain with Routt covering. Heyward-Bey spun out of the tackle and raced 32 yards for a touchdown and a 23-9 lead.
Palmer said the plan was to go at Routt from the outset.
"He made a great play on the first play of the game," Palmer said. "I have to give Darrius a better chance to make that play. We tried to set the tone with that one, but he got the best of me."
Routt wasn't interested in getting into details.
"Obviously, they were trying me," Routt said. "You think about that with every team and every quarterback you go against as a corner. It wasn't anything deeper than what you guys are trying to make it out to be."
In describing the play, Heyward-Bey didn't call Routt by name.
"I caught the ball, made somebody miss, got in the end zone," Heyward-Bey said. "Brandon (Myers) did a good job blocking downfield. Simple as that."
Asked if there was any talk with his former teammate, friendly or otherwise, Heyward-Bey said: "I don't care. It's about the Raiders and the Chiefs. He's an ex-teammate."
Chimed in Myers from the next locker: "It's not about Stanford Routt. It's about the Raiders and the Chiefs."
Safety Mike Mitchell, whose locker was next to Routt's for three years, said his former teammate wasn't in much of a mood for conversation after the game.
"Stan didn't want to talk to me," Mitchell said. "He's a little hurt."
By Jerry McDonald
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Raiders cornerback Michael Huff took obvious glee in analyzing the performance of former teammate Stanford Routt in a joyous winning locker room Sunday.
"Started off good for him but went downhill from there," Huff said after the Raiders prevailed 26-16 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Routt, whose release was the first big move by first-year general manager Reggie McKenzie, intercepted a Carson Palmer pass intended for Darrius Heyward-Bey on the first snap of the game.
No flag was thrown on a play in which Routt appeared to jostle and push off Heyward-Bey before making the interception. After making between a reported $15 million and $20 million from the Raiders from a contract extension negotiated by Al Davis, Routt was cut in March before a $5 million roster bonus was due.
It was Routt's second interception for the Chiefs, who signed him for a reported $19.6 million over three years and instantly integrated more man-to-man defense into their schemes.
Routt got a lot of action afterward, and none of it was good.
Near the end of the first quarter, Routt was called for illegal contact on third-and-7 at the Kansas City 42 for an automatic first down, extending a drive that resulted in a 35-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski.
Just before halftime, with the Raiders facing third-and-8 at the Kansas City 9-yard line, Routt was the closest Oakland defender to Denarius Moore on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Palmer.
It got worse in the third quarter when Palmer threw to his left and connected with Heyward-Bey for a potential short gain with Routt covering. Heyward-Bey spun out of the tackle and raced 32 yards for a touchdown and a 23-9 lead.
Palmer said the plan was to go at Routt from the outset.
"He made a great play on the first play of the game," Palmer said. "I have to give Darrius a better chance to make that play. We tried to set the tone with that one, but he got the best of me."
Routt wasn't interested in getting into details.
"Obviously, they were trying me," Routt said. "You think about that with every team and every quarterback you go against as a corner. It wasn't anything deeper than what you guys are trying to make it out to be."
In describing the play, Heyward-Bey didn't call Routt by name.
"I caught the ball, made somebody miss, got in the end zone," Heyward-Bey said. "Brandon (Myers) did a good job blocking downfield. Simple as that."
Asked if there was any talk with his former teammate, friendly or otherwise, Heyward-Bey said: "I don't care. It's about the Raiders and the Chiefs. He's an ex-teammate."
Chimed in Myers from the next locker: "It's not about Stanford Routt. It's about the Raiders and the Chiefs."
Safety Mike Mitchell, whose locker was next to Routt's for three years, said his former teammate wasn't in much of a mood for conversation after the game.
"Stan didn't want to talk to me," Mitchell said. "He's a little hurt."