Oakland Raiders Sign Mike Jenkins to Pair with Tracy Porter

Mike Jenkins is a former first round draft pick, he’s been to a Pro Bowl and has played on one of the most popular teams in America. Now he’s riding a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders — the black hole for the careers of underperforming players that should be better than they are. ESPN’s Adam Schefter deflected his open wounds from his beloved Michigan Wolverines losing in the NCAA National Championship by reporting late Monday night that Jenkins had reached a deal with the Raiders.

Jenkins now joins the frequently burned Tracy Porter who was inked earlier this offseason. Together, the Raiders are hoping that Jenkins and Porter can tap into the players they used be, as both were previously solid cornerbacks at one time in their careers. Jenkins went to the Pro Bowl in 2009 with the Cowboys and Porter had his heyday with the New Orleans Saints, winning a Super Bowl ring in 2009.

But now both find themselves in Oakland, a place no one wants to play. The Raiders are trying to string together a respectable team in 2013, and truthfully there are worse options out there than both Porter and now Jenkins. The upside with Jenkins is undeniable, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be successful. Hopefully for Raiders fans, Jenkins and Porter can break the streak of players who come to Oakland and only continue to fizzle out.