ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, two days after using their top draft pick to take big-play back Darren McFadden.
Oakland had a glut at running back after the draft and began addressing it almost immediately by announcing the team cut ties with Rhodes. The Raiders still have two backs with 1,000-yard seasons on their roster in Justin Fargas and LaMont Jordan, as well as last year's fourth-round pick Michael Bush.
Rhodes signed a two-year contract with the Raiders last offseason after helping Indianapolis win the Super Bowl. He restructured his contract earlier this offseason and was expected to share the rushing load with Fargas before McFadden was drafted.
Rhodes was suspended for the first four games last season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He played sparingly until Fargas went down with a knee injury late in the year. Rhodes ran for 237 yards the last two games of the season. He finished with 302 yards rushing in 10 games last season.
His best year came as a rookie with the Colts, when he ran for 1,104 yards in 2001. Rhodes shared the rushing load with rookie Joseph Addai in 2006, and ran for 113 yards and a touchdown that helped the Colts beat the Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl.
Fargas and McFadden are expected to be the main backs in Oakland next season, with Jordan likely to be the next running back cut loose.
Fargas ran for 1,009 yards in 2007 despite starting only seven games. He signed a $12 million, three-year contract that guarantees him $6 million.
McFadden, the fourth pick in the draft Saturday, was the top-rated running back after rushing for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons at Arkansas.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
