Oakland Raiders: Five Veterans Who Are Most Likely To Be Pink-Slipped

Ben Heeney (LB)

Ben Heeney has a fantastic story and he’s a guy who is incredibly easy to root for. By all accounts, he’s a great guy, fantastic in the locker room, and never, ever fails to give 110 percent.

Unfortunately for Heeney, that 110 percent he gives – and he does give it – simply isn’t enough to secure his spot on the roster.

There was a time when most thought Heeney was going to be able to man the middle. That he had a ton in common with former Dolphins great Zach Thomas. They’re roughly the same size and both have the same heart and motor.

Heeney though, has less in common with Thomas and more in common ommon with Miles Burris – another guy with endless heart, but limited physical skill.

That became apparent last season when he was stripped of the green dot and lost his starting job altogether. Not that he didn’t always give maximum effort – because he did – he just simply wasn’t quite good enough in coverage or against the run.

Although the Raiders have depth issues in the middle of that defense, the team seems – at least, to this point – content to go with free agent add Jelani Jenkins, second year man Cory James, and fifth-round draft pick Marquel Lee on the inside.

HC Jack Del Rio has also alluded to the fact that they will continue to look for ways to bulk up their linebackers group. And as teams begin culling their rosters, look for GM Reggie McKenzie to be scouring the next wave of free agency.

And though it appears unlikely at this point in time, it’s still not outside the realm of possibility that they could bring Perry Riley back, given that he played very well as a street free agent last season. He’s a guy who already knows the system and has shown a competency in his play. With Riley, it will boil down to dollars – and whether or not Oakland has enough to pay him after paying Carr and Jackson.

Heeney is a great story. He’s a guy with a ton of heart, grit, and determination. He’s a guy you can’t help but like and root for. Unfortunately, he’s just not quite up to the level Oakland needs in their linebackers as they look to build on last year’s playoff season.