Jack Tatum, who was once one of the most feared tacklers in the NFL, died Tuesday morning of a heart attack. His death was confirmed by longtime friend and ex Ohio State teammate, John Hicks. Tatum was 61 years old.

The man known as "The Assassin" was selected in the first round of the 1971 draft by the Oakland Raiders. Tatum served the Raiders for 9 out of his 10 NFL seasons, was a part of the 1976 Super Bowl Championship team and also earned 3 nods to the Pro Bowl.

Jack Tatum was a two-time All-American at Ohio State, where he began his college career as a running back, then was later moved to safety.

"We have lost one of our greatest Buckeyes. When you think of Ohio State defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum. His loss touches every era of Ohio State players and fans."

Jim Tressel, Head Coach - Ohio State

Source: NFL.com

Tatum, who was regarded as one of the most feared defensive players in the history of the NFL, was perhaps best known for the hit in which he paralyzed former New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley. The hit occurred during a 1978 pre-season game in which the Patriots wide out ran head on into Tatum on a crossing pattern. Stingley's 4th and 5th vertebrae were severed as a result of the devastating blow, leaving him paralyzed for the rest of his life. Stingley passed away in 2007.

Tatum alleges that he tried to visit Stingley in the hospital after the accident, but was immediately turned away by family members.

After nine seasons with the Oakland Raiders, Tatum finished out his career by playing one season with the Houston Oilers.

Later on in his life, Tatum had his own struggles. Due to complications caused by his Diabetes, Tatum ended up having all five the toes from his left foot amputated as a result of a staph infection. Later he also had much of his right leg removed due to an arterial blockage. Tatum devoted much of his life to increasing awareness of Diabetes.

Tatum created the Ohio-based Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes, which finances diabetes research. He also served as co-chair of an annual fundraiser for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, Celebrities for Diabetes, which is held during the week of The Ohio State-Michigan game in Columbus, Ohio.

Last year, the NFL Network ranked Jack Tatum at no. 6 in their list of Top Ten Most Feared Tacklers in NFL History.

Jack Tatum wrote three best-selling books, including: They Call Me Assassin in 1980, They Still Call Me Assassin in 1989, and Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum in 1996.

Tatum is survived by his widow, Denise, and their three children.

Former Raiders' quarterback Jamarcus Russell was arrested on Monday for possession of codeine syrup, a key ingredient of Purple Drank. Russell was arrested at his home in Mobile, Alabama Monday afternoon. He was later released from custody on $2,500 bail.

Jamarcus Russell was released from the Oakland Raiders in May of this year.

Prior to Russell's arrest, the New York Jets had expressed interest in the former LSU star quarterback. This recent brush with the law may sway the Jets against picking up the former Raiders first round pick, and may serve to put the final nail in the coffin, closing the lid on an already disappointing and underachieving career.

Purple Drank

Purple Drank aka Sizzurp, originated some years ago in the Houston rap scene, but has since seen its use become widespread across the country. It's a drink made from codeine and the antihistamine promethazine, mixed with Sprite or 7-Up, along with some Jolly Ranchers or other hard candy.

Purple Drank's popularity has been on the rise in recent years, with users treating it like it's a typical alcoholic beverage. Because it's sipped from soda bottles, students have brazenly used the concoction while in public schools, with teachers totally oblivious to what it is the students are actually consuming.

Having just turned 30 and about to embark upon his ninth season in the NFL, San Diego Chargers' running back Ladainian Tomlinson is anxious to prove that he's still the best back in the NFL. Tomlinson has had a chip on his shoulder ever since Jim Brown and other analysts claimed Minnesota's Adrian Peterson was currently the top running back in the NFL.

Tomlinson is looking to prove his claims that he's still the best back in the NFL by running all over the Raiders on Monday Night Football.

The Raiders lead the all-time series over the Chargers (54-42-2) and also possess an impressive 15-6 win record on Monday Night Football home games.

San Diego has won the last 11 straight meetings vs the Raiders, and are expected to trounce them on Monday night in Oakland. The Chargers are 9 1/2 point favorites over the Raiders.

On Thursday, the Detroit Lions signed former Raiders' receiver Ronald Curry to a one year deal. By Friday, he was already on the practice field working out with the team during their mandatory 3 day mini-camp.

Curry struggled along with the rest of the Raiders offense last season, amassing a mere 19 receptions for 181 yards. Prior to that, he averaged 50 plus catches in three out of four seasons, with the exception being the 2005 season where he was out most of the year because of an injury to his achilles' tendon. Curry hopes to make a positive impact on the Lions' squad and plans to re-invent himself in Detroit.

"I talked to a lot of other teams, but a lot of teams wanted to wait until after the draft, and I felt like the longer I waited, the worse position I was going to be in", said Curry. "Right now I'm just basically trying to make the team. It seems like a talented receiver group, but I talked to the coach and he said it's a great place to reinvent yourself. So I'm just looking for the opportunity to go out there and still show people I can play."

Lions' coach Jim Schwartz recognizes Detroit's need for a reciever in the slot position, and sees Curry as a perfect candidate for that role.

"He's had a lot of production in the slot and with Calvin and Bryant Johnson outside, we have a need for a slot receiver. As a defensive coach, I've gone against him a lot of times and he fits there."

Curry is optimistic about his role as the slot receiver for Detroit. He feels his best years with the Raiders were when Norv Turner was head coach, and was working Curry in the slot position.

"That's kind of how I really became who I was in Oakland. When Norv (Turner) was there, he really worked me in the slot, making a lot of plays. With three receivers, I can play outside, but I'm more effective inside. And I think I could help this team out a lot in the slot."

Curry will be playing with a familiar face in former teammate Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper was among the list of starting Quarterbacks for Oakland during the 2007 season. Curry had some of his better games with Culpepper throwing to him, and he looks forward to the chemistry continuing in Detroit.

"I think our chemistry will be good," Curry said. "We had good chemistry in Oakland, the time that he played. The playbook was a little limited for him, because he joined us late, and then he wasn't playing and then he was playing and then he got hurt at the end.

"But he looks great now. He looks like he's in better shape than he was when he came out to Oakland. He's real fiery right now, and I think he's gonna do a great job."

Source: The Detroit News

In a move to free up $2.5 million in salary cap space, the Raiders released DE Kalimba Edwards.

The former second round pick of the Detroit Lions had a solid 2008 season with the Raiders, posting 48 tackles and tying the team's lead for sacks with five. The eighth-year pro started eleven games for the Raiders, and set a personal record for most tackles in a season despite being hampered by a tricep injury towards the end of the year.

Sources close to Don Martindale, the Oakland Raiders linebackers coach for the past five seasons, say that he's likely to be joining Josh McDaniels and his staff over in Denver. McDaniels took over the reigns for the Broncos after 14 year coach Mike Shanahan was fired earlier this month.

Prior to this discovery, there was much speculation that Martindale was a top candidate for the Raiders' defensive coordinator position, or possibly even head coach.

Source: InsideBayArea.com

Get ready for more mediocrity in the coming season on defense. After former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan left to take a job with the Cleveland Browns, the Raiders have been eyeing his assistant for the defensive coordinator position.

Don Martindale, the team's linebacker's coach, joined the raiders in 2004. This was the same year in which Ryan was named defensive coordinator. He's been around long enough to know two things: Ryan's defense and who his daddy is. Daddy being none other than Mr. Davis.

Davis doesn't like being challenged by his coaches, which is why Ryan was such a good fit for the defensive coordinator position. Ryan was Davis' boy because he knew Al was the shot caller.  Martindale looks to be the same way. If he's promoted, then we're sure to see another abysmal defense in 2009.

When's Al going to realize it's the 21st century and that straight man-to-man and fourth quarter prevent aren't gonna get it done..?

After failing to make the playoffs for the fourth time in six years, Head Coach Jon Gruden and General manager Bruce Allen were given the boot by Tampa Bay. The team started out with a promising 9-3 record but fell on their face in the final weeks.

The death blow was landed when Oakland took a surprising win from them on the road in the final game of the season. Oakland's 4th quarter comeback dashed the Buc's playoff hopes and ultimately cost Gruden and Allen their jobs.

This news undoubtedly has put a smile on Al Davis' face. After being thrashed by Gruden's Bucs in the Super Bowl the following season, the Raiders have been bottom dwellers in the NFL. Davis hasn't had too much to be happy about until now. Gruden's the second former Raiders head coach to be fired within the past two weeks. The other being Denver's Mike Shanahan. Al Davis is definitely enjoying his offseason so far!

Winston Moss, the assistant head coach for the Green Bay Packers, seems excited about the possibility of becoming a part of the Raiders organization. There is speculation that Moss might be picked up to fill the vacant defensive coordinator position, if not hired as a head coach.

“I want to help them win as many games as they could,” Moss said. “As a former player, having a chance to come up and lead a football team as a head coach or in whatever capacity Mr. Davis feels would help the team, I’d be interested.”

Source: SF Chronicle