Raiders sign FB Griffith
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) —The Oakland Raiders gave Dominic Rhodes a lot of money to be their running back for the next two years. They provided him a lead blocker as well.
The Raiders continued to overhaul their backfield Saturday, signing free agent fullback Justin Griffith.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but ESPN.com reported that the two-time Pro Bowl alternate agreed to a three-year deal worth $3.8 million.
The signing came less than 24 hours after Oakland signed Rhodes to a two-year contract reportedly worth $7.5 million. A key member of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, Rhodes figures to share time with LaMont Jordan in the Raiders’ revamped backfield.
Both Rhodes and Jordan will have the luxury of running behind the 235-pound Griffith, who spent his first four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He ran for 106 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries last season while hauling in 23 receptions for 168 yards and three scores.
But Griffith, who turns 26 years old next month, primarily has value as a lead blocker. He was one of the unsung heroes for a Falcons’ offense which averaged a league-leading 183.7 rushing yards per game last season.
“We have made some solid improvements to our ballclub in the last couple of days, and Justin is another example of it,” Raiders first-year coach Lane Kiffin said. “We’re obviously very familiar with him as a player and a person through his involvement with (assistant coaches) Greg Knapp and Tom Cable at the Falcons, and we’re confident he will fit in well with the Raiders. He’s looking forward to coming in and instantly competing to be our fullback.”
A fourth-round selection in the 2003 draft, Griffith has 378 rushing yards and 621 receiving yards on 87 receptions in 60 career games - 48 starts - with the Falcons.
The Raiders also made a pair of minor roster moves Saturday, signing free agent tight ends Tony Stewart and Fred Wakefield at undisclosed terms.
Stewart had 14 catches for 120 yards with the Cincinnati Bengals last season while Wakefield hauled in two receptions for 26 yards with the Arizona Cardinals.
