Former KU standout Ben Heeney finished in Oakland

Former Kansas football standout Ben Heeney is finished in Oakland. He thanked the team on social media Saturday.

Several weeks ago I wondered about Ben Heeney’s future with the Raiders. NFL teams are busy with roster cuts this weekend and Heeney is among the casualties with the team who drafted him. I expected the former Kansas football standout ready to return from last season’s ankle injury. After a great start to the 2016 season, he spent most of the year on injured reserve. The Raiders certainly expected big things for Heeney’s third NFL season. Didn’t they?

As training camp started, the guys in charge of the so-called Silver and Black placed Heeney on a non-football injury list, according to published reports and the team website.  Nobody said anything then and we still don’t know many

details. Heeney continued his usual activity on social media , said nothing about the injury but did thank the Raider fans Saturday.

The move prompts many questions. First, how is his health?  The Raiders did have a few options with Heeney, according to NFL rules. I can’t imagine they stopped paying him but that is one option. The Raiders are well known for their secrecy about many things. It is no secret there are a dozen other players listed as linebackers on the team roster. Where does that leave Heeney?  Is his agent shopping him for a return to another NFL team?  It is anybody’s guess.

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Heeney who recorded 127 tackles his senior year in Lawrence had an outstanding Big 12 career for the Jayhawks. I thought the Raiders got a steal by getting him the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played in 15 games that rookie season and four games in 2016. I know all Jayhawk fans wish him the best in recovery and possible search for a new NFL opportunity.