The Oakland Raiders were looking to add depth to their secondary after releasing Stanford Routt earlier this year and they did so on Thursday with the signing of cornerback Brandon Underwood. The sixth round pick in 2009 saw some time on the field with the Packers last season, mostly with the special teams unit. The team announced the signing via their official Twitter page.
The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent DB Brandon Underwood.
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) February 16, 2012
Underwood comes with plenty of baggage, although new general manager Reggie McKenzie must know him pretty well after working in the Green Bay front offices for quite some time. Mac's Football Blog provides some details on the off-field issues:
Underwood's tenure with the Packers was marred by a pair of off-field arrests, one for having non-marital sexual intercourse in an act of prostitution during an incident at a charity golf event in June of 2010. Underwood was fined $379 for that incident and the record will be expunged within a year.
Last year, Underwood was charged with domestic disorderly conduct after allegedly ripping a necklace of his estranged wife's neck after the Packers' Super Bowl ring ceremony. Underwood was fined a little over $700 for that incident.
Not necessarily a big-time signing, but Underwood presents very little risk and could be a valuable backup cornerback and/or special teams player for Oakland.
For more on the team, head on over to Silver and Black Pride.