Former Arizona Cardinals DT Rucker says goodbye to fans

Former Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Frostee Rucker found a new home on Monday with the Oakland Raiders

Saying goodbye is never easy, even if you know it’s coming.  Defensive tackle Frostee Rucker signed with possibly his last team before retirement on Monday and it wasn’t with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Oakland Raiders are benefactors now of Rucker’s services.  Rucker spent the past five seasons in a Cardinals uniform.  The love between Rucker and fans was mostly mutual.

He too time out of his day on Twitter to thank the Cardinals organization, the fans, and the people of the Valley of the Sun.  He is class act all the way.

After starting just one game in 2016, he started all 16 games last season.  He ended up with 29 tackles, one sack, and a pass defensed.

The most sacks he had in one season with the Cardinals was back in 2014.  He had five sacks that season to go with 24 tackles.

Rucker is entering his 13th season in the NFL.  He wanted to go somewhere that he felt gave him a chance to win now.  The Cardinals are also trying to go younger and with a new coaching staff, Rucker wasn’t going to return.

Now Rucker goes to a team in Oakland that is trying to get back to the playoffs after not meeting expectations following a very good 2016 season, which included a playoff win.  Rucker should have a strong veteran presence the Raiders could use.

He will get a one-year deal from the Raiders.  At 34, he will have to work to make the team but should make for an interesting training camp.  He is expected to be ready to suit up in practice at the team’s mini-camp which starts on Tuesday.

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On a personal note, I would just like to add my thank you to him for entertaining us for the past five years.  He was fun to watch and to listen to.  I wish him the best of luck in Oakland.