NEU » tion of a process that started

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders were dealt a setback on Wednesday in their plans to rebuild the struggling franchise when offensive lineman Rodger Saffold failed a physical one day after agreeing to a $42.5 million, five-year contract. The two sides had agreed to the deal shortly after the start of free agency on Tuesday but the contract was never signed after team doctors would not give Saffold a clean bill of health after a physical on Wednesday. The Raiders did not give a reason why Saffold failed the physical. Saffold was set to be paid $16 million in 2014 and $27.6 million over the first three years as the Raiders viewed him as a building block in a rebuilding plan after 11 straight years without a playoff berth. But Saffold had durability problems in his four years with St. Louis, missing 17 games with a variety of injuries. He missed time with a knee injury last season and has also had problems with his neck, shoulder and pectoral muscle in his career. Despite those issues, the Raiders valued Saffold higher than homegrown tackle Jared Veldheer, who was allowed to leave as a free agent for Arizona on Tuesday. The Raiders did sign one offensive lineman, finalizing a five-year, $30 million deal with former New York Jets tackle Austin Howard on Wednesday. But with about $60 million in salary cap room heading into free agency and numerous holes to fill following two straight four-win seasons, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie needs to find more help soon. The Raiders did host a number of free agent defenders on Wednesday in hopes of upgrading that side of the ball. Former Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley tweeted that he was headed for a visit to Oakland and Dallas defensive tackle Jason Hatcher also tweeted his plans to visit. ESPN reported that former New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck and cornerback Terrell Thomas are also set to visit the Raiders. The Raiders need help on their pass rush after losing last years leading sacker and most consistent defender LaMarr Houston to Chicago in free agency. The other three starting defensive linemen - Pat Sims, Vance Walker and Jason Hunter - are also free agents. Oakland also has holes in the secondary with starting cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins and free safety Charles Woodson also free agents. After showing some promise early in the season, the Raiders defence wilted late and allowed the second-most points per game (28.3) in franchise history. Oakland has had two of the three highest scoring seasons allowed in coach Dennis Allens first two years with the franchise. Tuck, Woodley and Hatcher all have proven themselves as accomplished pass rushers in the NFL, a trait the Raiders have been lacking in recent years. They have not had a player reach double figures in sacks since Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp both did it in 2006. Tuck was rated as the ninth best pass rushing defensive end by Pro Football Focus last season when he had 11 sacks, 12 quarterback hits and 44 hurries. Woodley struggled with injuries the past three seasons but was still an effective rusher when healthy. He ended last season on injured reserve with a calf injury and the Steelers released him because of his high salary. After averaging 11 sacks per season from 2008-11, Woodley has only nine sacks in 24 games the past two years. He did have eight quarterback hits and 24 hurries last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Hatcher was one of the most productive inside pass rushers last season with Dallas, when he had 11 sacks to lead all defensive tackles. Thomas, who missed the 2011 and 12 seasons with a pair of ACL tears, struggled in his return last season in coverage for the Giants. He allowed 52 catches on 79 balls thrown his way for 550 yards and six touchdowns for a 106.0 passer rating against, according to game-charting by Pro Football Focus. His one interception came against Oakland. Nike Vapormax Wholesale . The Canadian Football Leagues all-time passing leader said he has not made a final decision, but he will discuss his future with Montreal Alouettes owner Bob Wetenhall on the weekend. Cheap Vapormax For Sale .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. http://www.cheapvapormaxuk.com/. The Missouri Tigers Defensive End and SEC Defensive player of the year is eligible for the upcoming NFL draft in May. Buy Nike Vapormax Online . Ribery terrorized the Schalke defence throughout and put the home side ahead in the 36th minute when he chipped the goalkeeper before stroking the ball into the empty net. The French winger struck again after the interval, combining with Thomas Mueller on the left before firing a deflected shot beyond the helpless Timo Hildebrand in the 55th, as Bayern bounced back from Wednesdays 1-0 loss at FC Basel in the Champions League. Cheap Vapormax Online . Fifth-seeded Cilic gained his fourth title in Zagreb and became the third Croat overall to win at least 10 career titles. Cilic also lifted his career record in Zagreb to 22-4, winning 20 of his last 21 matches at the event.RENTON, Wash. - The text messages still havent stopped lighting up Kam Chancellors cellphone.That Chancellor is getting this much attention shouldnt come as a surprise. Its not every day a 6-foot-3, 232-pound strong safety hurdles an entire offensive line — twice.Hes such a unique guy for us, Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn said. We wouldnt have enough time to talk all the attributes that he brings to our defence.While teammate Russell Wilson received plenty of attention for throwing three touchdowns in last weeks playoff win over Carolina, no player was more impressive than Chancellor during Seattles 31-17 victory.Chancellor was at his enforcer-like best, with 10 tackles. He intercepted a pass in his third straight playoff game and took this one back 90 yards for the first touchdown of his career.But what stood out more than anything was his remarkable athleticism during a hurdling exhibition at the end of the first half. Chancellor twice leaped over the Carolina offensive line while attempting to block two field goal attempts.Doing it two plays in a row, with perfect timing, was stunning to the Panthers but not Chancellors teammates.Ive seen him jump over it at practice and he cleared it pretty easily, Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said. So I figured if everything went right he was going to clear it easily. And they didnt change nothing up the next play, so he did it again. And he probably could have done it again because they still kept their head down. I would have kept jumping over them if theyre going to keep their head down.Leaping over linemen is just another example of Chancellors athleticism.Once a pro-style quarterback in high school who was among the top recruits in the country, Chancellor realized defence was his chance at having a career once he saw the late Sean Taylor playing for Washington.I seen a big safety and another guy who capitalized on his size at that position, and I said, Hold on, I think I can be this guy. LLet me try to be this guy, Chancellor said.ddddddddddddThats who I tried to emulate my game after.Where Chancellor stands out is using that athleticism as a tackler. Quinn calls it his explosiveness. Chancellors career is filled with big hits, but one of his most impressive collisions was with Carolina fullback Mike Tolbert. As Tolbert took a handoff up the middle, Chancellor came from the secondary and knocked the 245-pound fullback off his feet short of the first down.You saw the impact that he can have. A few players. A few players have that obvious impact of the physical nature that when they demonstrate it, it picks everybody up and lifts them up, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Part of that is when you know the guy can do that and you anticipate it and then he does it. It just is one of those things that you can see it coming, and then it just, it affects a lot of people, and thats what hes doing right now. Thats what we would hope hell be able to continue to do.Chancellors standout performance against Carolina was the culmination of a process that started in November when he sat out two games as a number of injuries piled up. Chancellors issues started in Week 2 and by the time midseason rolled around, he was beaten down and needed time to let his body heal.It just wasnt my time to feel like I feel now, Chancellor said.Coincidentally, Chancellors best game of the season came on the night former Seahawks strong safety Kenny Easley was in attendance raising Seattles 12th Man Flag before the kickoff. Easley was a three-time All-Pro and the NFL defensive player of the year in 1984 for Seattle.Chancellor once dated Easleys daughter, and has gone back in the archives to watch film of the former Seattle enforcer.I can see a lot of similarity, a lot of physicality, just going out there dominating, and you cant do nothing but look up to a guy like that, Chancellor said.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '