The Oakland Raiders are starting to address their problems on the offensive line signing free agent tackle Tony Hills on Tuesday according to Raiders.com:
The Oakland Raiders have signed free-agent tackle Tony Hills, General Manager Reggie McKenzie announced Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4, 304-pound Hills played in 10-career games with one start over five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. He was released by the Buffalo Bills Sunday.
With the Raiders losing left tackle Jared Veldheer for at least the first six games of the season to a torn triceps, Oakland has been put in a difficult with the team struggling to protect starting quarterback Matt Flynn during the preseason. Veldheer’s absence was felt more than ever in the loss to the New Orleans Saints last Friday with Flynn struggling to stay upright with all the pressure coming from the Saints’ pass rush.
Not only has the loss of Veldheer been a huge blow to this team, but no one has stepped up to fill the void. Alex Barron was given the opportunity to fill in for Veldheer last week and failed to make an impression. Along with his poor play of the field, former St. Louis Rams GM, Billy Devaney, called out Barron for only caring about getting paid rather than improving the Raiders’ offensive line.
As for Hills, the veteran tackle was released by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday making him an free agent. Hills didn’t stay unemployed for long with the Raiders in desperate need for some help on the offensive line.
Since being drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008 NFL Draft, Hills has bounced around quite a bit after three seasons in Pittsburgh. Hills has played for the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts before failing to make the Bills’ roster and signing with the Raiders.
The Texas product won a Super Bowl title with the Steelers back in 2008.
