ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders were dealt a setback on Wednesday in their plans to rebuild the struggling franchise when offensive lineman Rodger Saffold failed a physical one day after agreeing to a $42.5 million, five-year contract. The two sides had agreed to the deal shortly after the start of free agency on Tuesday but the contract was never signed after team doctors would not give Saffold a clean bill of health after a physical on Wednesday. The Raiders did not give a reason why Saffold failed the physical. Saffold was set to be paid $16 million in 2014 and $27.6 million over the first three years as the Raiders viewed him as a building block in a rebuilding plan after 11 straight years without a playoff berth. But Saffold had durability problems in his four years with St. Louis, missing 17 games with a variety of injuries. He missed time with a knee injury last season and has also had problems with his neck, shoulder and pectoral muscle in his career. Despite those issues, the Raiders valued Saffold higher than homegrown tackle Jared Veldheer, who was allowed to leave as a free agent for Arizona on Tuesday. The Raiders did sign one offensive lineman, finalizing a five-year, $30 million deal with former New York Jets tackle Austin Howard on Wednesday. But with about $60 million in salary cap room heading into free agency and numerous holes to fill following two straight four-win seasons, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie needs to find more help soon. The Raiders did host a number of free agent defenders on Wednesday in hopes of upgrading that side of the ball. Former Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley tweeted that he was headed for a visit to Oakland and Dallas defensive tackle Jason Hatcher also tweeted his plans to visit. ESPN reported that former New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck and cornerback Terrell Thomas are also set to visit the Raiders. The Raiders need help on their pass rush after losing last years leading sacker and most consistent defender LaMarr Houston to Chicago in free agency. The other three starting defensive linemen - Pat Sims, Vance Walker and Jason Hunter - are also free agents. Oakland also has holes in the secondary with starting cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins and free safety Charles Woodson also free agents. After showing some promise early in the season, the Raiders defence wilted late and allowed the second-most points per game (28.3) in franchise history. Oakland has had two of the three highest scoring seasons allowed in coach Dennis Allens first two years with the franchise. Tuck, Woodley and Hatcher all have proven themselves as accomplished pass rushers in the NFL, a trait the Raiders have been lacking in recent years. They have not had a player reach double figures in sacks since Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp both did it in 2006. Tuck was rated as the ninth best pass rushing defensive end by Pro Football Focus last season when he had 11 sacks, 12 quarterback hits and 44 hurries. Woodley struggled with injuries the past three seasons but was still an effective rusher when healthy. He ended last season on injured reserve with a calf injury and the Steelers released him because of his high salary. After averaging 11 sacks per season from 2008-11, Woodley has only nine sacks in 24 games the past two years. He did have eight quarterback hits and 24 hurries last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Hatcher was one of the most productive inside pass rushers last season with Dallas, when he had 11 sacks to lead all defensive tackles. Thomas, who missed the 2011 and 12 seasons with a pair of ACL tears, struggled in his return last season in coverage for the Giants. He allowed 52 catches on 79 balls thrown his way for 550 yards and six touchdowns for a 106.0 passer rating against, according to game-charting by Pro Football Focus. His one interception came against Oakland. Robert Franks Hornets Jersey . Of course that doesnt mean hes ignoring it. Thats actually rather impossible given the behind-the-scenes access to the Toronto Maple Leafs the network is getting. Glen Rice Jersey .ca. Kerry, I hope you address Ron MacLeans comment during the second intermission of Game 4 in Montreal-Tampa series. Basically, he suggested that the NHL should not have used a referee from Quebec, following the Game 3 disputed non-goal, because the referee could be biased towards Montreal. https://www.hornetslockerroom.com/Nicola...Edition-Jersey/. The Canadiens captain, who underwent surgery on his injured biceps in the off-season, had been skating with the team in a non-contact capacity since last week. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Jersey . -- Thirty years ago, the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime, a game that remains the highest scoring in NBA history. Terry Rozier Hornets Jersey . "All he says is, its crazy," DeMar DeRozan told reporters following Torontos win over the Pistons Wednesday. The Raptors longest-serving members, Johnson and DeRozan have had two coaches and 56 different teammates in five seasons with the club, all without appearing in a single playoff game.PHILADELPHIA -- A.J. Burnett struck out 12 in seven innings and Cody Asche and Carlos Ruiz homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday night. Domonic Brown had two hits and an RBI for Philadelphia, which won for the fourth time in five games. Wilson Ramos and Anthony Rendon homered for NL East-leading Washington, which lost for just the second time in 14 games. Burnett (7-14) won for the first time since the All-Star break, allowing one run on three hits with just one walk. The right-hander entered leading the majors in walks with 76. Tanner Roark (12-8) gave up two runs on five hits in six innings and lost for just the second time in his last nine starts. Roark has a 2.25 ERA over that stretch. Burnett retired the first eight batters before Roarks two-out single in the third. It was just the pitchers sixth hit in 60 at-bats this season. The Nationals didnt get another hit until Rendons one-out homer to left in the sixth that pulled them within 2-1. It was the third homer 15 at-bats for Rendon off Burnett. Burnett had been 0-6 with a 7.41 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break prior to Monday. But he was stellar against Washington, setting a season-high in strikeouts while finishing in double-digits for the 35th time in his career. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Browns RBI single and went up 2-0 on Asches leadoff homer to deep right in the fifth. After Washington closed within a run, Ruiz cleared the wall in left off left-hander Jerry Blevins to push Philadelphias advantage to 3-1.dddddddddddd Ramos homered to right with two outs in the ninth off Jonathan Papelbon, who earned his 32nd save in 34 opportunities. Ben Revere, who began the day tied for the NL batting lead at .314 with Colorados Justin Morneau, went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .311. Chase Utley went 0-for-4, extending his slump to 3-for-29. TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera was out of the starting lineup after injuring his rib in Sundays 14-6 win over San Francisco. Manager Matt Williams said prior to the game that Cabrera is day-to-day. Cabrera pinch-hit in the ninth inning and singled. Phillies: OF John Mayberry Jr. (wrist) played in his fifth rehab game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday night. Mayberry entered 4-for-14 with a homer and three RBIs in four games there. UP NEXT Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-9, 3.83) takes the mound for Washington at 7:05 Tuesday. He pitched seven shutout innings but got a no-decision in the Nationals 1-0 win over Arizona Thursday. Gonzalez has received two runs of support over 33 1/3 innings in his last six starts. Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels (7-6, 2.53) got rare run support in his last outing when he snapped string of seven straight starts with at least seven innings in a 4-3 win over Seattle Wednesday. Hamels is 15-7 with a 2.54 ERA in 30 careers starts against Washington. ' ' '