We’ve reached 72 days until the Raiders season opener at Foxboro against the Patriots, With our countdown at 72 days we take a look at who currently dons the number in Silver & Black and who has brought it the most distinction.
No. 72Who’s wearing it now: T Gottlieb Ayedze
Ayedze is a first-year player out of Maryland. He was originally signed by the Philadelphia Eagles last year as an undrafted free agent. He didn’t make the roster out of camp and the Raiders signed him to the practice squad. They brought him back on a reserve future contract following the season.
Don Mosebar #72, Offensive Tackle and Center for the Los Angeles Raiders in motion covering Quarterback Jay Schroeder during the American Football Conference West game against the Kansas City Chiefs on 25th November 1990 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Kansas City Chiefs won the game 27 – 24. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)
Who wore it best: TIE C Don Mosebar, RT Lincoln Kennedy
I have looked at this as many ways as I can and keep coming back to the same conclusion. I simply can’t choose one over the other. Both were great players at their respective positions for a long time and both deserve recognition.
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Mosebar spent his entire 12-year career in Silver & Black, becoming the third great center in franchise history after Jim Otto and Dave Dalby. He got his ring as a rookie sitting behind Dalby and then took the baton and locked down the center position for a decade, making three Pro Bowls along the way.
Kennedy came to the Raiders after the Falcons had given up on the former ninth overall pick. He immediately became the Raiders’ starting right tackle and never let go. For the next eight years, he was there. This included the entirety of the franchise’s last successful era of the early 2000s in which he went to the Pro Bowl three straight times, was an All Pro first teamer once and the All Pro second team once as well.
Honorable Mention: DE John Matuszak
When Tooz is third in line, you know the 72 is quite the legendary number for the Raiders. The Tooz spent six seasons with the Raiders, helping the team win their first two Super Bowls. He also had quite a successful acting career including the iconic role of Sloth in Goonies.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders countdown to kickoff No. 72: Who wore it best, wearing it now