Silver and Black Report

Marques Tuiasosopo.

By Eric Strauss, S&B Report Staff Columnist

The Raiders brought back a familiar face today, re-signing former backup quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo.

“Tui,” as he is known to fans and teammates, spent last season as the New York Jets’ No. 3 quarterback after signing with New York as a free agent.

Originally a second-round pick of the Raiders in 2001, under Jon Gruden, Tuiasosopo has played in only a handful of games, starting two, in his seven-year career.

Stuck on the bench when the offense shifted from the Gruden/Bill Callahan West Coast style to Norv Turner and Art Shell’s power games, Tui may be a better fit in Lane Kiffin’s system.

Either way, he offers a veteran backup the team was looking for behind 2007 No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. The only other passer with any experience on the team is Andrew Walter, another “quarterback of the future” who has seen his future come and go in Silver & Black.

Tuiasosopo will wear his familiar No. 8, donned last season by the departed Daunte Culpepper.