OAKLAND – O.J. Simpson could be paroled from prison this summer and the Hall of Fame may have a job lined up for him in the NFL when he is released with the Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders recently met with free agent running back Adrian Peterson and have also kicked around the idea of luring Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, but the front office has settled on Simpson in recent days.
“I’m not sure there’s a huge difference in backs once they get over age 30,” said a Raiders front office source. “Adrian and Marshawn are both over 30, as is O.J. But the thing that Simpson has going for him is a lot less wear and tear on his legs in recent years. He’s fresh. He’s just been sitting, resting, waiting, getting primed to bust out.”
Simpson will turn 70 in July, but did run for more than 1,500 yards as early as 1976 and has proven to be very elusive even in retirement. If the Raiders to settle on signing him upon his release from prison, the 49ers – the last team Simpson played for in 1979 – may have to release him or trade him.
“It’s been a while since he played, so we’re not really sure if we still retain his rights,” said new 49ers general manager John Lynch. “I’m also not sure we’d want to give him up. He could really be an upgrade in our backfield.”
Also see … QUIZ: Which awful Bears QB from history are you?
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