
March 4, 2011RAIDERS PAGERAIDERS VIDEO
Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.com
As expected, and in what may amount to nothing more than ceremonial moves, the Raiders have assigned restricted free-agent tenders to Pro Bowl tight end Zach Miller and running back Michael Bush.And while both players received first- and third-round tenders, as cornerback Stanford Routt did last year, the tags might mean nothing in a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Both Miller and Bush are fourth-year players and would be restricted free agents under the rules of the expired CBA.Also important to notethe tenders had to be assigned before 9 p.m. Thursday, as that is when the CBA expired. No league business can be conducted in the seven-day extension agreed upon today between the NFL owners and players union to try and broker a new labor agreement.Miller said he had been in preliminary contract discussions with the Raiders before the CBA expired.Once the CBA stuff is settled, Im sure well have some more discussions. Its just that everything is so uncertain right now with this extension because this isnt how it usually works. Its just different than its been before.It would be great to be back in Oakland. The teams getting better and I really want to play for Hue Jackson; hes going to be a great coach.Miller is in an unusual situation in that he is also the Raiders player representative to the union.Theres a lot going on, he said. You get to see the business side of things, the micro and the macro.Bush did not respond immediately to a phone call seeking comment and the Raiders would not confirm the tenders.Raiders senior executive John Herrera did say, however, Were doing things to protect our franchise.Miller led the Raiders in receptions for the third straight year, catching 60 passes for 685 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.Bush, running behind Darren McFadden, had career-bests in rushing yardage (655 yards), rushing TDs (eight) and receiving yards (194 yards). Bush, though, was arrested last month on suspicion of DUI.
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