MVN: Most Valuable Network

Much of the talk surrounding the impending Raider free agents surrounds Nnamdi Asomugha and Justin Fargas, there are several role players who are also on the free agent market that are important for the Raiders to retain. At the top of that list is reserve safety special teams ace Jarrod Cooper. Not far behind him are reserve linebackers Ricky Brown and Isaiah Ekejiuba. Collectively Cooper, Brown, and Ekejiuba form the Bermuda Triangle, returners get in but don't get out.

The Raiders kick coverage units were inconsistent through 2007. Those units hit an upswing after the re-singing of Cooper who had been cut prior to the season, and reached their epoch against the Chicago Bears when they completely shut down all-universe kick return ace Devin Hester. After Coop and Ekejiuba went down to injuries, the Raiders coverage units fell to pieces allowing back to back games with returns for touchdowns.

Jarrod Cooper is an unrestricted free agent, who has already said that he wants to remain a Raider and even rejected overtures from other teams before re-signing with the Silver and Black in October. Coop is not a guy that a team would want starting at safety, but can play well in a fill in role in that position. His number one contribution throughout his career has been his special teams performance. He is a big hitter and a smart football player.

It is the chemistry that Coop has developed with Brown and Ekejiuba that allowed Coach Lane Kiffin to state prior to the Bears game that the Raiders would kick to Hester, then to everyone's shock actually do it. Kiffin was mocked for that statement, and the sentiment around the league was that Hester was licking his chops and would have a big day. Hester's line for the game against Oakland: 1 reception for -2 yards, 6 punt returns for 14 yards with a long of 9, and 2 kick off returns for 34 yards for an average of 17 and a long of 19. Those are pedestrian numbers by any standard, and Hester is a high standard.

Isaiah Ekejiuba is a restricted free agent, meaning that the Raiders need to make him a qualifying offer and could match any offer made to Eke or receive draft picks as compensation. The Raiders should sign Eke as he has been a consistent asset in the kick coverage department dating back to the game against the 'Skins in 2005 where he knocked out one of the Skins players. That player (Can't recall who) came back into the game to get Eke back, and got called for a cheap shot on Eke, and had to be helped off the field.

Ricky Brown is the third member of the Bermuda Triangle and is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning that as long as the Raiders make him an offer, he is going to be a Raider. The Raiders should definitely bring him back to keep the triangle in tact.

These three guys are not, nor will they ever be Hall of Famers or even superstars, but these are the kind of guys that a team needs to be successful. They are the all guts no glory players who bring it every time they step on to the field. Special teams is also a very important aspect to a team that is often overlooked by the fans. Keeping these three guys will not cost much against the salary cap, and continue to improve the kick coverage game that is so important in the NFL.