Raiders running back Justin Fargas has the claim to fame of being the son of the actor who played Huggy Bear on the television series "Starsky & Hutch". But now a bear hug at the running back position could squeeze Fargas right off the roster.
Seems crazy, as Fargas was the Raiders' leading rusher last season -- by more than 350 yards. But the Oakland Tribune's Jerry McDonald sees it coming in his pre-training camp running backs analysis piece. "Fargas will at some point be de-emphasized in favor of (Michael) Bush," McDonald writes. "It’s just a matter of when."
"Keep what the Raiders did with Greg Biekert in the back of your mind with regard to Fargas," McDonald continues. "Biekert was a starter, every bit as respected as Fargas." McDonald is referring to the training camp 2002 cut of Raider linebacker Greg Biekert, a solid contributor who was losing his starting position to Napoleon Harris. Biekert was offered the choice between an enormous pay cut or a pink slip, and he took the pink slip.
The Raiders certainly hope for Fargas to not be the starter. Darren McFadden was drafted fourth overall to be a superstar, and they really think they have another one after Michael Bush's 177-yard performance Week 17 in Tampa. The only way Fargas should start is if McFadden and Bush can't remain healthy. And that scenario would indicate disaster, because the rushing attack is supposed to be one the Raiders' most potent weapons.
David White shoots down the possibility of a Fargas cut on his SF Chronicle Silver and Black blog. "There's a school of thought out there that Fargas could be cut to save money," writes White, "but the Raiders already restructured his deal in January to levels they were pleased with. As for his limited carries in the offseason, it was the same way in 2008 to preserve his body."
That's a good point about Fargas' salary. Fargas had most of his salary for 2009 converted into signing bonus, in an elaborate restructuring arrangement that White described on his blog in March. But even with the restructure, ProFootballTalk.com points out that the Raiders would still save money by releasing Fargas.
The Raiders would have to be confident that both McFadden and Bush would spend the entire season healthy. That seems more unlikely than Huggy Bear borrowing clothes from Bill Belichick.
Sports
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who mispells "Fargas" as "Fragas" every single time he types that name.
