Silver and Black Report

Stuart Schweigert

By Eric Strauss, S&B Report Staff Columnist

The Raiders ended the tenure of starting safety Stuart Schweigert today, releasing the fifth-year free safety along with journeyman linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.

Schweigert, the team’s third-round draft pick in 2004, became a starter in his second year and kept his job until an injury last season landed him on the bench behind former practice-squadder Hiram Eugene.

The apparent move of 2006 No. 1 pick Michael Huff to free safety, with free agent acquisition Gibril Wilson at strong safety, doomed Schweigert’s chances of making the 2008 squad despite his often-strong special-teams play. Eugene and fellow safety Jarrod Cooper are also strong special-teams players, which may have contributed to the Raiders’ decision.

Although the charismatic Schweigert brought an impressive resume with him from Purdue and led the woeful 2005 Raiders with a pair of interceptions, his inability to consistently force turnovers and his struggles tackling often made him the target of fans’ ire.

Gbaja-Biamila, who first made the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2003, was re-signed in March.