By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
The Oakland Raiders continued to bolster their linebacker corps Saturday, signing free agent Dwayne Rudd, who spent the 2003 season with Tampa Bay.
He is the second linebacker acquired by the Raiders in two days, joining former Jacksonville part-time starter Danny Clark, who on Friday agreed to terms.
Contract details for Rudd were not immediately available.
Released two weeks ago after a disappointing performance in his lone year with the Bucs, the former Alabama standout has played at both of the outside linebacker spots during his seven-year league tenure. Rudd, however, needs to show that he can salvage a career that has been in decline.
Signed by the Bucs last spring, he was expected to replace Alshermond Singleton, who had signed with Dallas in free agency, at the starting strongside spot. But he lost his job in training camp to the inexperienced Ryan Nece and never regained it.
Rudd, 28, started only two games and registered 16 tackles and no sacks, all career lows. He added 12 tackles on special teams.
"This is an organization with great history and tradition and I'm happy to be a part of it," Rudd said.
Part of the Raiders tradition, of course, is resurrecting the careers of players in decline, and that should be a positive for Rudd. Another plus: Rudd is still young and athletic enough, and still runs well enough, to perhaps return to his previous form.
A former first-round choice of Minnesota (1997), he visited with Arizona officials last week and it was widely believed he would sign with the Cardinals, given the presence of coach Dennis Green, who drafted him with the Vikings. But the two sides couldn't come to an agreement and Rudd continued to speak with other teams.
In stints with the Vikings (1997-2000), Cleveland Browns (2001-2002) and Bucs (2003), he had 499 tackles, 11½ sacks, one interception and 23 passes defensed.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
