The Raiders, who entered Thursday as the team most over the salary cap, released three players to save $8.8 million of cap room.
The Raiders released defensive tackle Ted Washington, guard Ron Stone and cornerback Denard Walker in the first wave of releases. The Raiders were $23.6 million over the cap. Now they still have to shave $14.8 million of cap room before Sunday night at midnight, the new extended deadline to comply.
Negotiations continue to restructure the contracts of quarterback Kerry Collins and left tackle Barry Sims. Other Raiders could be involved in cuts before Sunday.
Washington, 37, has played all 32 games since joining the
Raiders as a free agent before the 2004 season. He is a four-time
Pro Bowler and still regarded as one of the top run stuffers in the
league. He would have counted $4.747 million in salary next season.
Stone, a three-time Pro Bowler, started all 16 games in 2005
after playing in only five in his first season in Oakland because
of chronic knee problems. He would have counted $3.08 million
against the salary cap next season.
Walker, 32, played in just nine games and made only two tackles
all of last season. He would have counted $4.59 million against the
cap in 2006.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.