Robert Gallery is done with the Oakland Raiders

I was in New York City's Madison Square Garden the April 2004 day then-NFL Commissioner Peter Tagliabue said "With the second pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select offensive lineman Robert Gallery of Iowa."

That was seven years, 75 games started, a significant position change, and no playoff appearances for Gallery, the Outland Trophy-winner at Iowa from a tiny town in that state called Masonville.

Thursday, Gallery said he is going elsewhere. He is an unrestricted free agent, and his Raider days are done.

"I'm looking for a new start somewhere else, to experience another place, and to be able to accomplish some of the things I want to," Gallery said. "It's best for everyone."

He entered the league as a tackle. Tackles are more prominent and better-paid than guards. But midway through his career, he was deemed an ordinary tackle and moved to left guard. He has flourished in that role, and got a lot of credit for Oakland's success with its rushing game in 2010. The Raiders had an NFL second-best 2,494 rushing yards, were sixth in scoring, and 10th in total yardage.

It is believed Gallery will seriously consider moving to the Seattle Seahawks, where recently fired Oakland head coach Tom Cable has been hired as the Seahawks' offensive line coach.