Donald Penn’s return cements Raiders strong offensive line
By Matt Conner
Donald Penn’s return from holding out this preseason means the Oakland Raiders strong offensive front will be cemented for the regular season.
Any hopes for an extended holdout and costly battle between the Oakland Raiders and Donald Penn was put to rest on Wednesday. For those outside of Oakland, looking in on one of the most talented overall teams in the AFC (NFL, even), the idea that Penn might hold out and even miss some of the regular season provided a ray of hope, a bit of news that made the team seem less daunting offensively. Instead, Penn reported on Wednesday, allaying any such hopes.
For the Raiders, however, this is good news indeed. Penn is correct in saying he should paid more than he is. As a 34-year-old tackle beginning his 11th season in the NFL, Penn has performed at an above average level for a very long time—an unfortunate fact that such an under-the-radar player with such longevity is still struggling to be paid among the best.
Penn was a Pro Bowl performer as the left tackle on one of the NFL’s best offenses last season. It was the best bit of late-career leverage for Penn to try to use, a nod from the league that Penn, indeed, should have at least one more of these awards as the blind side protector for the now-highest paid player in football. It’s hard to blame Penn for wanting to cash it in for more money in his mid-thirties.
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By returning, he’s reportedly hoping general manager Reggie McKenzie will meet him in good faith with a new deal of some kind.
With the arrival of Penn back in training camp for the Raiders, it gives the offensive front a couple weeks to find their rhythm as they step into the regular season. As a unit, they’re already celebrated as one of the NFL’s best. Rodney Hudson is a familiar face at center who is one of the league’s elite players. Surrounding Hudson are a pair of fellow Pro Bowl caliber players in Gabe Jackson and Kelechi Osemele.
Penn’s return locks down the all-important left side for Derek Carr and gives the Raiders a tested veteran presence who hasn’t missed a start since 2007. Yet his $5.9 million salary is less than half of what the Chiefs pay Eric Fisher. Maybe the Raiders could have been just fine without him, replacing him with Marshall Newhouse, but now there’s no guesswork involved.