Oakland Raiders Sign Marques Tuiasosopo

Marques Tuiasosopo (Tui) is returning to Oakland after spending a year away from the team with the Jets. This gives the Raiders another veteran to backup JaMarcus Russell. Tui will have a chance to compete for the backup-QB spot on the roster along with Andrew Walter. 

Tuiasosopo was at the Raiders' offseason practice today in his street clothes, consulting with quarterback coach John DeFilippo.

If Tui and Walter both make the cut, the Raiders will have three quarterbacks on the roster that were drafted by the Raiders. Tui was drafted in 2001, in the second round, as the future starter in what was at the time, Jon Gruden's West-Coast system. He seemed to be a younger clone of Rich Gannon; who was a perfect fit for Gruden's offense. 

Tui never played a single down in his year with the Jets. The grass is not always greener in New York. He returns back to the West Coast with another shot in the West Coast system. Kiffin's offense is better suited to quarterbacks that are mobile. If Tui can regain the confidence he once had in his youth, he will be a solid backup. He may even be a better fit than Andrew Walter. Walter has a much stronger arm, but he was set way back under Art Shell's, sack oriented offense.   

Tui completed 48 of 88 passes for 550 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions in the six years with the Raiders. He will not be much of a hit on the salary cap. This is good news, as the Raiders need plenty of room to sign McFadden to a long deal. Let's hope Tui's second trip to Oaktown is a better one.

Welcome back to the Nation, Tui.

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