ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Raiders’ decision to waive DeAngelo Hall just eight games after signing the cornerback to a $70 million contract brought surprised reactions from his teammates.
“I’ve never been in a situation where you cut one of the best players,” safety Gibril Wilson said. “That’s strange to me. It’s almost like we’re throwing in the towel.”
The Raiders waived Hall on Wednesday, bringing a disappointing end to a short tenure in Oakland. The Raiders sent a second-round draft pick in 2008 and a fifth-rounder next season to the Falcons in March to acquire Hall, who was given a seven-year contract.
Hall was supposed to form one of the top cornerback duos in the league with Nnamdi Asomugha, but struggled from the start of the season as he adjusted to the Raiders’ man-to-man defense. Hall had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, but was let go after Sunday’s 24-0 loss to the Falcons.
Chris Johnson, who had mostly been the fourth cornerback this season, has moved ahead of Stanford Routt and will start Sunday against the Panthers.
“I don’t think he’s the one scapegoat,” Asomugha said. “. . . He was kind of singled out in regards of let’s cut someone.”
Coach Tom Cable said he hopes the move sends the message that no one’s job is safe, but he went out of his way to say receiver Javon Walker won’t be the next high-priced acquisition to go.
In other moves, the Raiders placed safety Tyvon Branch (shoulder) and linebacker Robert Thomas (hamstring) on injured reserve and signed defensive tackle William Joseph, defensive back Michael Waddell and linebacker Marquis Cooper.
