Oakland
Raiders

News: Pryor's work ethic has impressed Raiders' Quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact: Pryor will most likely start the season as the team's third quarterback, behind starter Carson Palmer, and recently acquired backup Matt Leinart. While he's making a positive impression on his coaches, he's still a major work in progress, and probably isn't too close to seeing any real playing time.

News: McClain is taking part in OTAs despite being convicted of assault charges last week, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Impact: McClain faces an 180-day prison sentence after being convicted on assault charges last week, but he remains free while appealing the judge's decision. McClain's status for the 2012 season remains uncertain until a final decision is reached, but for now he is able to take part in offseason workouts with his teammates.

News: McClain has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for assault and other charges stemming from a fight in his hometown when he allegedly threatened to kill a man and fired a gun next to his head.
Impact: Decatur Municipal Judge Bill Cook convicted the 22-year-old former Alabama star Thursday of third-degree assault, menacing, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in the city limits. He fined McClain $2,000.

News: McClain was sentenced to 180 days in jail on Thursday, Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. McClain's sentence, which he will appeal, stems from an incident that took place in McClain's native state of Alabama last November, an incident that neither the Raiders nor the NFL disciplined McClain for at the time.
Impact: McClain was alleged to have been involved in the beating of another man and was found guilty on charges of third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, menacing, and unlawful discharge of a firearm, all misdemeanor charges carrying a 45 day sentence. At this point, it is unclear whether or not McClain's sentence can be served after the upcoming season, clouding his availability for the start of the 2012 season.

News: The Raiders have signed Schmitt, the team's official site reports.
Impact: Schmitt will give the Raiders some fullback depth behind Marcel Reece, but he's not likely to have any fantasy value unless he unexpectedly becomes heavily involved in the team's offense in a pass-catching capacity. Schmitt carried four times and caught just three passes for the Eagles last season, but he did catch 19 passes for 136 yards in 2010.

News: Criner has caught the eye of coach Dennis Allen during the Raiders' OTA's, Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "It's been a learning process for (Criner)," Allen said Tuesday. "I think every day he gets a little bit better. I was pleased with the way that he practiced today. It's not a whole lot different than what we saw on tape in college."
Impact: Criner's wheels have been questioned by many, but he has the size and body control to develop into a nice weapon at the NFL level. Currently though, he'd need to leapfrog the likes of Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Louis Murphy to make much of a splash as a rookie.

News: McFadden (foot) is reportedly looking good as he participates in the Raiders' organized team activities, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "I thought he looked pretty good," coach Dennis Allen said. "He's out here running around and looks like he's running full speed, so I've been pleased with the way he's looked."
Impact: Allen also noted that McFadden appears to be working without limitations at this point. Now that he's past the foot issues that slowed him last season, the trick for McFadden will be staying healthy. If he can manage to do that, he's a prime bounce-back candidate this year. If he ends up getting hurt again, then Mike Goodson and Taiwan Jones are next in line for carries, with Michael Bush having departed via free agency.

News: Hardy was released by the Raiders.
Impact: Oakland took a chance on the former hoopster, but has released Hardy just one month after signing him.

News: Bomar was released by the Raiders.
Impact: With QB injuries piling up last season, Oakland signed Bomar as a backup. He has yet to see the field in the NFL.

News: Heyward-Bey has been charged with misdemeanor drunken driving following his arrest last month after a traffic stop on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
Impact: Heyward-Bey was the Raiders first-round draft pick in 2009. He had a breakout season in 2011 after struggling in his first two years.

News: The Oakland Raiders have signed Miller to a contract. The team announced the move on Tuesday.
Impact: Miller was signed last year by Pittsburgh as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Central Michigan. He was cut by the Steelers at the end of training camp.

News: Branch has signed his $6.2 million dollar franchise tag tender and reported to workouts with the Oakland Raiders. Branch was a fourth-round pick out of Connecticut in 2008. He has started every game the past three seasons and led the Raiders in tackles the past two years.
Impact: The Raiders placed the tag on Branch on March 1. He decided to sign it Monday and joined the team for the offseason program. The two sides are still hoping to reach a long-term deal that would give the Raiders more salary cap room and Branch more stability.