Training Camp News...

[Angry Pope]

One Raider turns a corner
Fabian Washington is no longer a tentative rookie defensive back.

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, August 11, 2006


NAPA -- The nervousness in his backpedal is gone. The wariness about making a play has waned.
Fabian Washington is a new, smarter man.

The second-year cornerback was a nervous wreck as a rookie but now speaks with the confidence of a veteran.

After an offseason of self-examination and studying, Washington found he was too cautious. Now he's taking "educated guesses" on the field without fear.

"I just go out and play now," Washington said. "If I make a mistake, I make a mistake. But I'm going to make that mistake going 100 mph."

That wasn't the case in 2005.


Break on the ball for an interception? Forget it. Washington was content to be there after the catch for the tackle and not get beat deep.
That's not the way to be a successful NFL cornerback.

"Cornerbacks have to be daring," said head coach Art Shell. "They're out on an island a lot. They're playing against some of the great receivers out there, so they're out on an island so they have to be a daring guy. They can't be afraid."

So it wasn't surprising that Washington didn't have an interception as a rookie after 11 in three seasons at Nebraska.

Washington studied hours of game footage from 2005 to find his way. He started 11 games last season, taking on a larger role when Charles Woodson broke his leg in the Raiders' sixth game.

A first-round pick with the fastest 40-yard dash time at the 2005 NFL Combine (4.29 seconds), Washington didn't utilize his speed to take chances like he did in college and he knew it.

"This whole summer I watched myself more than anything," Washington said. "Just seeing the little mistakes I was making, I shouldn't be making. I just watched more film and cleaned up my technique."

Learning led to a more daring Washington. When he intercepted Philadelphia quarterback Jeff Garcia during last Sunday's preseason game, it validated the film work.

"Take your shot, take your shot," Washington said. "And that was something I definitely wasn't doing last year. Last year I know I would have just broke that pass up."

Washington is more vocal on the field, helping to make calls in the secondary and communicating what he sees during training camp.

"As a young guy, you're so worried about where you're supposed to be on the field, you're not even considering where your help is or what the offense is doing," said free safety Stuart Schweigert. "But he knows what he's doing on the field. He knows what the plays are. From there it can stem to now, in this formation I know what they're going to do, and that's where you start making plays."

Washington struggled in training camp last year and second-round pick Stanford Routt logged more playing time.

Washington was burdened by being a high draft pick, and playing poorly hurt his confidence.

"You're going to come in with pressure just by being a first-rounder," Washington said. "Then when you're not living up to expectations, it's tough on you. But you've got to fight through that. And for all rookies it's going to be an uphill battle. You've just got to pretty much get up that hill."

Washington might not be at the top of that hill yet, but he's doing all he can to get up there.

"The more experience they have, and they stay and they work, they're going to get better," said defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. "The game slows down for them.

"That's the biggest thing, is once they see the game at a slower speed, they can make quicker plays, quicker decisions."

Washington knows there are routes a receiver can't run in certain spots on the field. He also knows there are some plays he doesn't have to be cautious of based on formations.

"It's film study and the knowledge of the game," Washington said. "Receivers are very smart, so in turn defensive backs have got to be just as smart."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "Boy, he's got a lot of hair on his head. He's got almost as much hair as Gallery." - Coach Art Shell on defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's long hair, comparing it to tackle Robert Gallery's hair that hangs past his shoulders.

Play of the day: The secondary is hungry for interceptions. Of the four during the afternoon practice, defensive back Alvin Nnabuife pulled off the most impressive feat. The rookie from SMU made a play on a pass from rookie quarterback Kent Smith, coming up with a one-handed interception before the ball hit the grass. Nnabuife added another pick during the afternoon. Michael Huff and Fabian Washington also intercepted passes.

Player watch: Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott, who played with the Raiders and 49ers, and former 49er Harris Barton made an appearance at practice with members of their HRJ Capital investment group. It's the second consecutive year Lott and Barton have chosen to bring investors to watch practice.

Injury report: RB ReShard Lee missed morning practice with a dislocated thumb but returned in the afternoon. WR Kevin McMahan (tongue, jaw, concussion) returned to practice. TE James Adkisson said he's at least three weeks away from returning from a sprained left MCL

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: August 10th

August 11, 2006



The Oakland Raiders took the field on Thursday morning at their Napa Valley training facility for the last day of their two-a-day practice sessions before the weekend. With game two of the preseason soon approaching, the team is now starting to prepare for the Minnesota Vikings and is excited about playing in the first Monday night game of the year.
For every player in the NFL, training camp is a time where they have a chance to work on improvements in order to make the team succeed in the regular season. It is all about becoming a better football team when it is time to go into Week 1 of the regular season.

In preparing for Monday's game, quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo has been working on making his adjustments from the last game to this one. "We have got to win, that's the bottom line. It doesn't matter how you do it," said Tuiasosopo. "Hopefully we'll play better than we did at the Hall of Fame game, but the bottom line is to win. So I'm going to go in there and fight, scratch, claw, whatever it takes." Winning is always on the minds of these players, and Head Coach Art Shell has done a great job of getting the team into that mentality.

Quarterback Andrew Walter, who is in his second year with the Raiders, is looking forward to playing in his fourth game since entering the NFL. "The biggest thing is definitely to improve. I would say to throw more live bullets and get more reps," Walter said after practice on Thursday. "In game time situations there's going be more opportunities to get comfortable with the offense and to get the guys on the same page. I think its going to be good for us. I mean every time we get a chance to play we get a chance to show what we can do."

The Raiders can do a lot on offense and defense this year, especially with the addition of the rookie class and the return of Randy Moss. Last year Moss suffered injuries that kept him from playing 100 percent. This year Moss is healthy, rejuvenated, and itching to get in there and get the job done.

Raiders guard Barry Sims, is working on improving one aspect of his game one day at time. For this eight-year veteran, playing in the NFL is nothing new to him, but there is always room for improvement. Today Sims said he had a good practice and he looks forward to Monday's game. "We're looking to improve each day and to iron out the little things and work on getting better," Sims said.

Monday's game will be a test as to what the team has learned over this last week. Be sure to watch the game and log on to Raiders.com every day, to get the latest news from the team's Napa Valley training facility.

[Angry Pope]

Injury report: RB ReShard Lee missed morning practice with a dislocated thumb but returned in the afternoon. WR Kevin McMahan (tongue, jaw, concussion) returned to practice. TE James Adkisson said he's at least three weeks away from returning from a sprained left MCL

Interesting, yesterday he caught a touchdown pass.

[Angry Pope]

"This whole summer I watched myself more than anything," Washington said. "Just seeing the little mistakes I was making, I shouldn't be making. I just watched more film and cleaned up my technique."

Way to go, Fabian!

[Angry Pope]

The Sacramento Bee says WR Ronald Curry is struggling to overcome his Achilles tendon injury. WR Jerry Porter is back at practice but is running with the second teamers according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Hopefully they will interview Curry and we can be better informed.

[Angry Pope]

Here is an article that mentions Chad Slaughter...

Foster an anchor for Delta Devils up front

By TROY TREASURE



ITTA BENA - Mississippi Valley State right tackle Alter Foster knows the Delta Devils have closed the gap from being pretenders to contenders in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Foster has started on the MVSU offensive line since the first game of his freshman season in 2003.

Valley has gone 2-9, 3-8 and 6-5 since then.

Now a senior, Foster is optimistic the Delta Devils can win the SWAC East and gain a berth in Birmingham for the league championship game.



“We're very close. I think we're on our way,” Foster, a Canton native, said. “We have to stay positive and avoid injuries.”

It's hard for Foster to comprehend how quickly his final season at MVSU arrived.

“I have a lot of good memories,” Foster said. “Going back to my freshman year, you aren't expecting to come in and start against Southern in your first game.

“I was nervous.”

Foster agreed when it was suggested to him that many average football fans overlook the importance of quickness in offensive linemen.

“The feet are important for the simple fact of getting in position to block,” Foster explained. “But also in recovery when you stick and counter attack. You're not going to win on every play.”

MVSU offensive line coach Riley Murry thinks Foster compares favorably with Oakland Raiders tackle Chad Slaughter, whom he coached at Alcorn State.

“He's similar in his work ethic and he's a quick learner. He's definitely got a shot at the next level,” Murry said. “His strength is with pass blocking, but he's developed his run blocking skills. We're a 50-50 team running and passing and I feel he's developed into a well-rounded offensive tackle.”

Slaughter reached the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets. Foster hopes to have the same opportunity.

“I feel like I have the skills to play pro, if not in the NFL, then the Arena League or Canada,” he said.

First, there's his final season at Valley with the opener on Sept. 2 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Soldier Field in Chicago.

[Angry Pope]

I think that Gallery on the right side may be a goal line drill and that his position is firmly planted on the left side.

[Angry Pope]

Madsen made a nice play despite being against reserves. He has been doing well in camp until the injury. With Adkisson out another three weaks, Madsen can make some noise.

[Angry Pope]

Ryan's defense makes it fun
Third-year coordinator wants smart, tough play

By PHIL BARBER




NAPA - The connections between Art Shell and Rob Ryan go way back, though the two coaches met for the first time last February.

"I just knew he was one of Buddy's sons, and I'm a great admirer of Buddy Ryan," Shell said Thursday, a reference to the famed defensive coach whose twin sons, Rob and Rex, are now NFL coordinators. "I can remember years ago when I wasn't a head coach anymore and Buddy thought at some time I might get a job. He says, 'You need to take a look at my sons.'"

Rob Ryan's memories of Shell also involve his father, but they aren't as whimsical.

"My first experience with Art Shell was watching my father coach the Vikings, and (Shell) made me cry, him and Willie Brown, when they beat the crap out of the Vikings," Ryan said in his first public interview in more than a year. "(Defensive end) Jim Marshall, Dad's player, didn't have any tackles, so apparently it was a pretty good impression."

Nearly 30 years after the Raiders' 32-14 victory in Super Bowl XI, Shell and Ryan are rowing in the same direction. Shell said he confers with Ryan and adds comments and suggestions, but the 43-year-old assistant is mostly left free to design and tinker with his defense.

Such a situation looked like a remote possibility a year and a half ago, subsequent to Ryan's first season in Oakland. After signing big-name free agents such as defensive tackles Warren Sapp and Ted Washington, the Raiders' defense fizzled in 2004, surrendering 442 points (31st in the NFL) and yielding 371 yards a game (30th).

After the season, there was widespread speculation that owner Al Davis would fire Ryan. Davis stayed his hand, and the defense improved markedly in 2005. The numbers still weren't particularly impressive - 27th in the league in total defense (330.8 yards a game), 25th in rushing defense (128.1 yards) and 29th in takeaways (19). But the unit remained competitive after three key starters (Charles Woodson, Derrick Gibson and Sapp) went down with injuries.

The Raiders re-signed Ryan in January, nearly a month before hiring Shell. After re-introducing Shell at a Feb. 11 press conference, Davis made it clear Ryan's job had not been sacred during the coaching search.

"I don't think that ever came up, the defensive coordinator, because I felt if we had the right guy and he wanted to change it, I would change it," Davis said.

Still, Davis had expressed his confidence in Ryan with a financial commitment, and Shell liked what he saw when he took the head job. Ryan was impressed, too. "He's a strong man," he said of Shell. "You just feel his intensity when you meet him. And the first time I met him, I'm like, 'Ooh, this is gonna be all right.' "

Retaining Ryan was a popular choice with his players. Even as the defense bombed in 2004, they never blamed him or questioned the system. Half mad scientist, half grizzly bear - Shell said Ryan has "almost as much hair as (Robert) Gallery" - he wins over players with his analytical mind and keeps them loose with his gruff humor.

"If it ain't fun, then you're just out here grinding," Sapp said. "That'll wear you down. We laugh, we joke, we kid, we work, the whole gamut. When you got somebody like that who lives and loves football, it's contagious."

Linebacker Robert Thomas, a five-year veteran, signed with the Raiders in May primarily because he hit it off with Ryan.

"Being a free agent, it allowed me to look at different schemes and stuff," Thomas said. "I just liked the way Rob Ryan handled himself, and the way he runs his defense."

Ryan has abandoned many of the experiments that blew up on him in 2004-05. Tyler Brayton is back at defensive end, Sam Williams is strictly a linebacker and the 3-4 scheme is a thing of the past.

Asked his vision of the system, Ryan said: "I hope we see a tough group, and smart, and flies around to the football and makes things happen. I don't know if we've seen that every time, but we'll damn sure see it this year."

EXTRA POINTS

WR Kevin McMahan (tongue/concussion) was back in action after getting laid low in the Eagles game.

RB ReShard Lee is out with a dislocated thumb.

[Angry Pope]

Although I haven't heard similar stories as Fabian's with Routt, I have a good feeling regarding improvement with Routt and I am actually excited about his future.

[Angry Pope]

Bits and pieces

August 11th, 2006

— A pretty intense practice Friday afternoon, one of the most lively of the season. Far from error-free, but mistakes were made with enthusiasm _ which beats the alternative of going through the motions.

— Still tough to discern whether Andrew Walter is worthy of holding off Marques Tuiasosopo as the backup quarterback. Barring injury, it’s a foregone conclusion Aaron Brooks will start.

— TE Randal Williams bulked up quite a bit since last year in an effort to become a full-fledged tight end, but you wonder if worked too hard in getting so big. He has been sidelined by back trouble and spent Friday’s practice pacing back and forth while his teammates practiced.

— Oakland’s efforts to become more sure-handed on defense suffered a minor setback as Stanford Routt, Fabian Washington and Danny Clark all dropped potential interceptions.

— Wide receiver Doug Gabriel had a conspicuous drop off a nice throw from Tuiasosopo, and Jerry Porter continued to build momentum to challenge for playing time.

— One’s misfortune is another’s opportunity. DeJuan Green left practice after Shell said he was “dinged,'’ and Reshard Lee responded with his most sustained opportunity and looked good running the ball.

— QB Kent Smith, the No. 4 quarterback, got some action in team sessions but Shell said it is unlikely he would play against Minnesota.

— TE John Madsen, showing no sign of the oblique strain which slowed him earlier in the week, made a nice catch of a low throw over the middle from Tuiasosopo, outwrestling middle linebacker Kirk Morrison for the ball.

– Oakland’s goal line defense was stout in holding off the offense. Grant Irons dumped Justin Fargas for a loss on one play, and Tyler Brayton came up with an interception off Walter when off a ball deflected by Jarrod Cooper.

— WR Johnnie Morant, second in the NFL in yardage in the preseason in 2005, caught a deep post for a long gain from Brooks but juggled the ball before holding on.

The battle at wide receiver beyond Randy Moss, Gabriel and Porter is a close one, with veteran Alvis Whitted, Morant, rookie free agent Will Buchanon and seventh-round draft pick Kevin McMahan competing for what could be three spots. Carlos Francis remains on the outside looking in with a hamstring pull. Francis is still walking gingerly and rehabbing in the pool.

— Haven’t seen a lot of Zack Crockett as the goal line runner, but Shell warned that may not be the case later on.

“I know what Crockett can do,'’ Shell said. “I want to find out what the other guys can do.

[Angry Pope]

Way to fight, Madsen. Always nice to hear Morant's name.

[CrossBones]

I hope they really let Morant show what he can do.

If he plays this pre-season like last he's got to see the field more this season.

[Rupert]

Some of the words are that Morant just doesn't know the plays. He's been voted most likely to line up in the wrong place. Not to mention he runs the wrong routes too.

I hope the kid comes around, he's got talent.

[Angry Pope]

Shell expects patience from QBs on pass plays


NAPA -- Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon attributed some of his success to his ability to know when to get rid of the ball or take off and run.

He said the key is having a "clock" in your head. When that clock hits a certain time, say three seconds, it's time to do something with the ball, be it throw to a receiver, throw it away or tuck it in and head upfield.

Raiders quarterbacks aren't told to function that way, coach Art Shell said Friday. They are instructed to give the designed play ample time to unfold before doing anything impulsive.

"We want to throw the ball when we think the receiver is going to come open ... ," Shell said. "We tell our (offensive) line, 'There is no time frame here. You block until the ball is gone, until the whistle blows.'"

If a called play breaks down, he added, "Pull the ball down, try to make something happen, get the first down if you can, and get down on the ground."

The goal is to avoid a sack or, worse, having the quarterback get hit. The latter scenario raises the possibility of the quarterback losing his grip on the ball and getting hurt.

Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells oftentimes stands behind the quarterback at practice, waits for the ball to be snapped and then counts: "One, two, throw the ball! Throw the ball! Throw the ball!

Other coaches instruct their quarterbacks to take no more than two or three seconds -- depending upon the number of steps he drops back -- before getting rid of the ball.

Shell said it was ingrained in him during his 15-year playing career and his subsequent 12-year stint as an assistant and head coach for the Raiders from 1983-94 that there is no time frame for a quarterback to get rid of the ball.

"I grew up with no time frame," Shell said. "We were a seven-step drop team for many years at the Raiders. Where everybody else was doing three-, and five-(step drops), up until about 1980, we were a seven-step drop team. So, during the course of a year we had maybe eight three-step drops."

The Raiders have broadened their scope in the passing game since Shell last coached here, Shell said.

"In our system now, we have all, we have three-step, five-step and seven-step," Shell said. "We understand that you have to utilize all the different drops with your quick passing game."

Plays of the day

Outside linebacker Sam Williams blitzed on a play in which he met running back LaMont Jordan just as he received a handoff, stopping Jordan for a 4-yard loss.

Safety Jarrod Cooper batted a pass into the air and defensive end Tyler Brayton snared it before it hit the ground for an interception in the end zone. The play looked similar to some of the drills the Raiders have worked on extensively throughout camp.

Extra points

Running back ReShard Lee returned to practice two days after sustaining a dislocated thumb. He ran the ball without any apparent lingering effects from his injury and is expected to play in Monday night's exhibition game against the Minnesota Vikings. Running back DeJuan Green "got dinged a little bit," Shell said, and missed most of practice Friday. His status for Monday's game won't be known until today, at the earliest. ... The Raiders practice this afternoon and then leave for Minnesota on Sunday. ... Popular radio show host Renel conducted her morning show from the Raiders training camp site Friday. She had Shell and Williams, among others, on as her guests.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders LB experiments have mixed results
Irons finds himself a new home, while Brayton returns to defensive end spot

By Bill Soliday

NAPA — When last visited, Oakland Raiders defensive ends Tyler Brayton and Grant Irons were being reinvented into linebackers — one willingly, one if not unwillingly, with at least a degree of skepticism.

One switch worked. One didn't, and change is in effect.

Brayton is back at defensive end, the position at which he was drafted in the first round in 2003. Irons, an undrafted rookie that same year, is still plying his trade as a linebacker.

Both are delighted. And, in Brayton's case, there is no longer need for defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to tell his player to keep his thoughts to himself and just play ball.

"Sometimes you have certain needs, and people have to adapt to those needs," Ryan said by way of explaining originally switching Brayton.

There has been speculation that the move took the heart out of Brayton, who was drafted largely because of his nonstop motor. Ryan would disagree.

"Tyler has always been a team player," he said. "Right now, he is working down at defensive end, and obviously that's where we think it's best for the team.

"With him, you always get hard work, and you always get 100 percent. That's all you can ask from a guy."

Irons had an impressive debut in last weekend's exhibition opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, living up to the nickname coaches and teammates have bestowed upon him — "Game Ready."

He administered a sack, forcing Jeff Garcia to fumble and threw running back Bruce Perry for a 5-yard loss.

"This is my fifth year in the NFL," Irons said, explaining that his goal is to play with what he calls aggressivefrom Sports 1


passion. "Each and every year there is more to learn, and I want to improve and get better. It's all been a learning experience and a great journey."

"He's been doing a great job," Ryan said. "He has really improved. He's another smart guy. He has great talent. His abilities really help us on defense. He can make plays. We like those kinds of guys."

There wasn't much to Brayton's first game back at end. He had one tackle, and it would be a stretch to say the starting line distinguished itself.

However, if happiness is the measure of a man's potential, Brayton's future looks bright indeed.

It was during the off-season that Brayton learned he was being reinstalled at end.

"It was still on the fence going into the off-season," he said. "I just kind of took it upon myself. I got in the weight room ... put on a few pounds. I just put it in my mind that's where I was going to be, and it turned out that's where coaches told me to be. Once I found that out, I knew I was going in the right direction."

Coach Art Shell broke the news to Brayton.

"I said 'Tyler, you're a defensive end,'" Shell recounted. "He said, 'Thanks a lot, coach. I really appreciate it. I'll show you what I can do from that position.'"

For the most part, Brayton toed the company line when he had been asked to play in the up position. However, on occasion he acknowledged the strangeness of it all.

"I had played my entire career with my hand on the ground," he said.

However, if he was fighting it, he kept it to himself.

"It was one of those deals where I'm going to do whatever they ask me to do the best I can," he said. "You can't sit there and complain about anything. My (approach) was it wasn't a position, it was a disposition. So, outside linebacker, defensive end — there wasn't a ton of difference. But it's definitely a lot more comfortable being a defensive end."

Brayton refuses to say the experiment was a total loss.

"Playing outside linebacker has given me a whole new perspective," he said. "You get to see the whole field. You know what everybody does on the defense. You understand what we're trying to accomplish with every blitz and every movement, in every defense.

"Sometimes, when you play defensive line, you get locked in and think 'I need to be here or here,' and that's it. You don't really understand why. Understanding helps you get the job done that much better.

"I don't think it was a waste at all."

Brayton wants to play at 270 pounds. Although he was being fashioned as a linebacker carrying 10 fewer pounds, the team believes he is stout enough to play on goal-line situations.

"I think 270 is an ideal weight for me," he said. 'It's just a matter of getting used to getting my pads down again, getting underneath blockers."

Getting used to being at home.

[Angry Pope]

Man of action, not words

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, August 12, 2006

NAPA -- Tommy Kelly doesn't like to talk.
He politely declines interview and autograph requests. The defensive lineman usually leaves the practice field wearing headphones and nodding to onlookers.


What becomes obvious when talking to others about Kelly is he is catching on to what he needs to do on the field.
Kelly's growth will be key for the defense as it looks to field a quick unit up front that can rush the passer and stuff gaps quickly against the run.

Kelly came to the Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2004 from Mississippi State and ended up with a team-high four sacks.

Much of the defensive success inside will rely on Kelly to elevate his play in his third season and combine with a rejuvenated Warren Sapp to clog running lanes and pressure the passer.

Kelly is replacing Ted Washington and is about 70 pounds lighter than the run-stuffing Washington, who was released by the Raiders and signed with Cleveland.

The Raiders aren't worried about their interior, relying heavily on Kelly's potential.

"They're very stout," said coach Art Shell. "They're stout enough and quick enough to get off the block and get to the ballcarrier. So I have no concerns about that."

Sapp said he looks at Kelly as both get into their three-point stances. Kelly then gives Sapp a nod to acknowledge that he knows what to do.

That's because Sapp pestered the youngster last year weekly to make sure he was catching on.

"I used to give him a paper every Thursday," Sapp said. " 'Here, will you draw it up for me and give it back to me?' I said, 'You're getting it.' And then it was one of those deals where I'd say, 'You call the game today. You got it.' He'd say, 'Come on, Sapp.' I'd say, 'No, you got it today.' You've just got to put a little bit more on his plate and see if he can digest that."

The word is Kelly has.

At 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Kelly stands out on the field. He's quick and can play defensive end or tackle. But Sapp is quick to note, only Kelly's regular-season play will matter.

"When he gets his feet wet, he's going to really understand what we're going to ask of him this year," Sapp said. "And he's going to be big for us."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "We need the time. Believe me, we need the time. It gives us an extra couple of weeks to get prepared for the regular season, so I'm ecstatic about having the time. The more time we practice, the better off we'll be." -- Coach Art Shell, on the benefit of having an extra preseason game this year.

Play of the day: On a day the defense dropped three interceptions, one of the best plays came on a near-interception.

Quarterback Andrew Walter's pass to running back ReShard Lee sailed over the head of defensive back Alvin Nnabuife, who managed to tip the ball.

Lee showed good concentration in catching the pass off the deflection down the sideline.

Player watch: Linebacker and special-teams player Ryan Riddle is making a habit of getting around the ball.

The Raiders' sixth-round pick out of Cal last year had to learn a new position after playing defensive end in college. It's not uncommon to hear inside linebackers coach Don Martindale yell, "Way to go, Riddler." Riddle hopes his special-teams work and being more comfortable at linebacker will ensure him a roster spot this season.

Injury report: RB DeJuan Green left practice after being "dinged" on a run, Shell said. CBs Duane Starks and Tyrone Poole are expected to play Monday against Minnesota.

[Angry Pope]

Disregard...I messed up again.

[Angry Pope]

Sapp stepping forward at Raiders camp


NAPA, Calif.

Warren Sapp is entering his 12th NFL season, turns 34 in four months and is coming off the first serious injury of his career. He's also having the time of his life at the Raiders' training camp, where his presence - and voice - loom as large as ever.

There's Sapp needling Sebastian Janikowski from the sidelines, trying to rattle Oakland's kicker before a long field goal attempt. Then it's on to backup quarterback Andrew Walter, who finds himself in Sapp's cross hairs during a hurry-up drill.

Two days later during a turnover drill, Sapp takes a lateral from a defensive teammate and high-steps it into the end zone, drawing cheers and lighthearted jeers from the rest of the Raiders' players.

"Hey man, we were having a little fun," Sapp said. "If it ain't fun, it ain't worth being out here. If it ain't fun, then you're just out here grinding. That'll wear you down."

With cornerback Charles Woodson having left for Green Bay and defensive tackle Ted Washington now in Cleveland, Sapp is asserting himself as Oakland's elder statesman and self-appointed locker room leader.

It's a role he dominated during nine seasons in Tampa Bay, where he earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl while helping the Bucs win their first Super Bowl championship in 2002.

But Sapp's good times hit a wall after signing a seven-year, $36.6 million deal with the Raiders in 2004.

During his first season in Oakland, Sapp played out of position at defensive end in Rob Ryan's failed attempt to implement the 3-4 defense in Oakland.

Last year, he moved back to tackle and had five sacks and an interception before suffering a season-ending rotator cuff injury.

As a result, Sapp - one of the most outspoken, colorful characters in the game - stayed in the shadows and kept to himself, even when the Raiders finished 5-11 and 4-12 over the last two years.

"I was just trying to find my niche within the system and trying to not be overbearing," he said. "Now the young kids look at me and they give me the respect that's due for an old head like myself. I just want to do it in the right way and if I'm doing it in the right way, they'll continue to look to me in that fashion."

Third-year safety Stuart Schweigert has noticed the Raiders' younger players gravitating for advice to Sapp, defensive end Bobby Hamilton and defensive back Tyrone Poole.

"He knows how to do it," Schweigert said. "He's got the credibility behind him. He's been to the Super Bowl, he's been to the Pro Bowls, so guys really take what he says to heart."

The Raiders finished 27th overall in defense last season, 25th against the run. Oakland lost its final six games in 2005, and has won just 13 games since playing in the 2002 Super Bowl against Sapp's Tampa Bay team.

With a little good fortune, Sapp says, the Raiders can get back to the good times and into the playoffs.

"It didn't go too well for us the first two years but I bet on this (defense)," Sapp said. "I'll bet on this unit right here because we got it going real well. I don't see any pitfalls for us."

[Angry Pope]

Moss growth
A more subdued Raider wideout returns to Minnesota

David White

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Randy Moss is going back to Minnesota for some prime-time football. Vikings fans should note he wears No. 18, because they might not recognize much else about their former superstar receiver.

Moss hasn't pretended to moon a crowd, shoved a traffic cop, been arrested for marijuana possession, or anything of the kind since the Vikings traded him to the Raiders in February 2005.

Outside his "blue moon" interview with HBO last August, Moss has done little more than put up 1,000 yards, be the good teammate and play while hurt for the Raiders.

Healthy as ever for his first return trip to Minneapolis, he can remind Vikings fans in person how he became a five-time Pro Bowler when Oakland and Minnesota gather in the Metrodome for an exhibition game Monday night.

"I don't have any thoughts, man," Moss said. "It is going to be special. Hopefully, the Metrodome will sell out because I'm coming back, but I'm a Raider now. In a certain sense, it is going to be special but, at the same time, I still have a job to do.

"What I did in Minnesota, what I accomplished in Minnesota, is way, way behind me."

The Raiders have yet to showcase Moss as world-beater in training camp. He played eight snaps in Sunday's exhibition opener against Philadelphia, and did not have a pass thrown his way.

Raiders coach Art Shell was asked if Moss will get more looks in Monday's homecoming. It seems Shell, who spent his entire career with one team, isn't big on sentimental reunions.

"To say that we're going to give him much more playing time because he's going back to Minnesota, that's not the way it's going to work because we're in this thing for the long haul," Shell said. "We're trying to get ready for San Diego in the opening game. So, Randy Moss will work with the progression of training camp, just like the rest of our players. We're not going to do anything special."

Everyone expects big things from Moss, even if the freshly installed offense is bent on running the ball, then running some more.

Downfield passes have been a play-action afterthought in training camp. Moss has spent more time teaching teammates, both receivers and cornerbacks, on the sideline than chasing down spirals from new quarterback Aaron Brooks.

Shell knows what Moss can do, so he isn't in a rush to give Moss a ton of jump balls in mid-August. Moss played through groin, pelvic and abdomen injuries last season, and Shell won't take many preseason risks with the star attraction, no matter how many Purple People come out to see him play.

"If you know his history, he's an excellent football player," Shell said. "He can be great again. There's no doubt in my mind, I see it. We've just got to keep him healthy coming out of training camp and get through the season, and he'll make his mark."

[Angry Pope]

The end is in sight for two-a-day practices

Bruce Adams

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Art Shell gave his players 10 minutes of overtime at practice Friday afternoon. And not a peep was heard.

"Nobody complains," the Raiders' head coach said. "We need to work. We need to get things done."

The extended afternoon session actually marked a major change in training camp -- with the players no doubt happy about the team shifting to one practice a day instead of the grueling two-a-days that are a staple of camp.

Friday marked the end of the third week of camp, and the team has just two more double sessions before finishing Aug. 23.

"You don't always have to be on the field," Shell said. "You can get a lot done being in the classroom."

And Shell -- who says his credo is "let coaches coach" -- makes rare appearances during those classroom sessions, which are usually divided up by position or offense and defense.

"I'm in my office looking at tape," Shell said, adding he also catches up on "busy work," such as reviewing and revising practice plans or the team's schedule.

The company line: Shell appears to be patient with his starting offensive line, which played with a lack of intensity in Sunday's 16-10 win.

"It's a time-consuming thing to get five guys in concert together," he said.

While the O-line is a veteran unit, four of the five players are at new positions.

Shell noted that successful teams always seem to have lines where the players have been together at the same positions for some time.

"Our guys have only been together for a few months," he said. "We're going to keep the chorus line moving and trying to get them better."

Practice highlights: Safety Jarrod Cooper made a picture-perfect tip of an Andrew Walter pass in the end zone during goal line drills, his volleyball-like set serving the ball up to defensive end Tyler Brayton, who made the pick and knelt down for a touchback.

The highlight on offense came during a running play up the middle. Linemen from both sides of the ball were in a grappling cluster, suddenly divided amidst the loud sound of cracking pads.

Fullback Zack Crockett emerged, with running back LaMont Jordan cutting behind Crockett's lead block and popping into the open field.

[Angry Pope]

Renel in the Morning

August 11, 2006

By Mario Andrews



Popular Bay Area radio personality Renel and her crew spent Friday morning at The Oakland Raiders training camp. The Renel in the Morning Show on 98.1 KISS FM aired live during a remote broadcast, with Renel and co-host Marcus Osborne interviewing Raiders coaches and players about training camp, the upcoming season and team history. Renel and Marcus had the opportunity to talk with Head Coach Art Shell, DT Warren Sapp, QB Aaron Brooks, TE Courtney Anderson, LB Kirk Morrison, FS Stewart Schweigert, OT Langston Walker, SS Jarrod Cooper, and assistant coach Willie Brown.

"Raider Renel" and Marcus Osborne began the broadcast by talking with Raiders Hall of Fame cornerback and current assistant coach Willie Brown. Later on in the broadcast Raiders Head Coach Art Shell made his way to the microphone to speak about his return to sidelines for the Silver and Black. He also spoke about his time playing with The Oakland Raiders.

Sapp was next to talk with Renel and Marcus after Coach Shell's segment. Sapp, coming off an injury last season, was quick to reassure Renel and the listening Raider fans that he is back and ready to play.



Oakland-native LB Kirk Morrison joined defensive teammate Schweigert to chat about their new head coach and their experiences at training camp.

The two defensive players had nothing but good things to say about their experiences. Because Morrison grew up a Raider Fan, Renel asked him "What has it been like to play for your favorite team, the Raiders?" Morrison's response was, "It's truly been a dream come true. Every time I put the uniform on I get chills." The two were then asked about their new head coach Art Shell. During the radio session it was clear that Schweigert and Morrison really respect Shell as a coach and a man. "He's like a father figure," Schweigert said.

Fifth-year offensive lineman Langston Walker and six-year veteran safety Jarrod Cooper were eager to join the special radio show guests. Renel inquired about the experience Walker had when the Raiders were winners in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game versus Philadelphia last Sunday. "It was nice to see where we were as a team, and see where we are now," Walker replied.

Cooper was then asked about Art Shell as a head coach. He responded, "He's just scary. Like a father figure you don't want to disappoint."



Raiders Head Coach Art Shell poses for a photo with 98.1 KISS FM's Renel.

Tony Gonzales
Quarterback Aaron Brooks came to talk with "Raider Renel" about his new team. Renel was quick to ask the new Raider quarterback about his first preseason win last Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brooks told Renel he felt very good and then joked, "I looked pretty good in that Silver and Black too!" getting a laugh from both Renel and Marcus.

Bay Area native and starting tight end Courtney Anderson came by to talk with Renel and Marcus. Renel also asked Anderson about his bond with the Raiders. Growing up in the Bay Area, Anderson has always been a Raider fan. "It's an amazing feeling to represent a team you have rooted for your whole life," said Anderson.

Raider Renel was ecstatic about joining the Silver and Black for a morning. "Today exceeded my wildest dreams!" Renel relayed after Friday morning's show. Renel was extremely excited to be at Training Camp and meet the coaches and players of The Oakland Raiders. And the Raiders were happy to have The Renel in the Morning Show at their Napa Training Facility.

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: August 11th

August 11, 2006



The Oakland Raiders took the field at their Napa Valley training facility for only one practice on Friday afternoon, as they prepare to go into Monday's night game at The Metrodome in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Vikings. With only one practice scheduled for tomorrow, the Raiders will be able to rest up for Monday night.

This trip to Minnesota will be the first time that Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss and defensive end Lance Johnstone get a chance to go back to the Metrodome. "It is going to be strange to be on the opposite sidelines and I'll be able to talk with some of my friends there. So it will be strange but fun at the same time," Johnstone said on his trip back to Minnesota. Johnstone, who played for the Raiders for five years before going to Minnesota, is back in the Silver and Black this year after spending the last five years in Minnesota.

This game will be the second of the preseason schedule for the Raiders and will be the last game before they come back to Oakland to play in front of the Black Hole, where they will have a two-game homestand against the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions, before finishing up the 2006 preseason at Seattle. After spending the first two weeks on the road, they will be excited to be back at home in front of their fans.

Rookie wide receiver Kevin McMahan, who suffered an injury in Sunday's Hall of Game, is ready to get back on the field and said that the injury to his tongue wasn't that painful and that he wanted to go back in the game. McMahan said he will be able to play on Monday and hopes that he can get some more reps this time and avoid any injuries. "I feel good right now. I missed a couple practices because of the hit I took last week but I feel good. I got to go out and get some reps today. I'm just hoping to go and to be able to get some time in the second half," McMahan said after practice on Friday afternoon.

With a week of practice since the last game, the Raiders have had plenty of time to review game footage and work on the mistakes that were made against Philadelphia. Wide receiver Will Buchanon, who was an important part of the passing game in the second half last week, making four receptions for 50 yards, is ready for some Monday night action but says that he goes into every game the same way. "I'm just trying to treat it like any other game. I prepare the same. It's the same game, different day," said Buchanon.

The Raiders lead the regular season series against the Vikings 8-3. Though the Raiders lead in overall standings against the Vikings, they have never prevailed against the Vikings in preseason. This game should be a fun match-up and you can follow all the action right here on Raiders.com.

[RaiderIVlife]

Tommy Kelly is one of my favorite Raiders. It's really hard to believe this dude went undrafted, but hey, it's our gain in the end.

I know there has been a lot of talk about Warren Sapp is "rejuvenated", but I still would prefer to see us go with Terdell Sands or Rashad Moore as the starting DT next to Kelly. I just believe that Sapp would be much more effective in a limited "pass rushing" role from the DT spot.

Also, I've been looking at a lot of camp photos and I've noticed that Micheal Huff and Derrick Gibson have been on the field A LOT together. Any chance that we'll see Gibson at SS and Huff at FS once the season starts?

Does Ryan Riddle have the quickness to play LB'er? I thought we were going to utilize him as a situational pass rusher from the DE position when we drafted him?

[RaiderIVlife]

Do you who has dominated the preseason thus far? Art Shell.

As I read through these articles, it just seems to me that Art Shell is the correct hire at the right time. I know reports from all training camps are normally overly optimistic, but I get a different sense with Art Shell this time around. I think he learned alot from his time away from coaching and is now the perfect man for Oakland.

Who would've thought this "old Raider" would be such a breath of fresh air.

Did Norv Turner really coach the Raiders the past two seasons?

[Angry Pope]

I think Huff starts out the season at the SS spot with Schweigert at the other safety position.

I am not sure on Riddle yet..I have to see more of him to see how his size translate into the end position.

[Angry Pope]

Moss has been a picture perfect player and teamate, in my opinion. His work ethic, willingness to teach and ability to be heard, and his ability to put teamates at ease is awesome and contagious.

[Angry Pope]

I can understand the part Art says to block until you hear the whistle so I assume that the quicker drops are the way we are going or that the QB will tuck and run.

[CrossBones]

From what I saw in his limited action in the first game Sapp got owned in his time in there. Pushed nd shoved all over the field. Dude has to back up his big talk.

[CrossBones]

Frankly I think the love affair with Art Shell will be short lived if we get more of the same of the last three years during th first half of the season.

The psyche of the fan 'ya know.

[Angry Pope]

The confidence Art has in our defense line (stout) eases my concerns a little but still a little concerned. I think Sapp will put it another gear come the regular season...I don't want to depend on him to stop the run though.

[CrossBones]

Yeah, Sapp's forte is not stoppng the run.

That's why he was so miserable in that stupid 34 Ryan insisted on running two years ago! :mad:

[Angry Pope]

I can appreciate Irons' tenacity and motor but I have to see a bit more of him to see how playing the backer position works out.

[Angry Pope]

Brothers' act

It's not unprecedented, but rare -- brothers on the same NFL roster.
The Raiders have that with quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo and fullback Zach Tuiasosopo. In fact, for a brief time, there was a chance Oakland might have had two sibling duos in training camp when fullback Zack Crockett's brother, NFL linebacker Henri, was signed during the offseason but released a short time later.

What chance is there that both Tuiasosopos will stick? Well, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Marques, 27, would appear to be a keeper as a sixth-year reserve. A second-round draft choice from Washington in 2001, he'll probably finish camp as the first backup to new starting quarterback Aaron Brooks.

Conversely, the 6-2, 245-pound Zach, 24, is a longshot to make the team.

An undrafted free agent from Washington, where he was a three-year starter, he spent his rookie year in 2005 on the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad but missed out on a Super Bowl championship ring when he was released before the regular season. The Raiders picked him up late last year for their practice squad.

Marques said he didn't recommend Zach to the Raiders nor did he ask to be his roommate. Marques does, however, think Zach is worthy enough to be a teammate.

"He's very physical," said Marques. "I mean, if you're looking for a fullback who is going to hit somebody, run down the field and make plays, he can do that."

Zach said it would be a dream come true to end up on the same team with his brother, with their biggest booster being their father, former NFL defensive lineman Manu Tuiasosopo.

"Marques and I have been able to spend some time off the field, between practices and meetings," said Zach, reluctant to gauge his progress. "I'm just looking to get the opportunity to play and let the coaches judge on what they see. But just being together, doing this, has been a lot of fun so far."

[Angry Pope]

Two corners not fading away
Veteran Raiders duo settles into new roles as mentors

Jerry McDonald

NAPA — The end is near.
Tyrone Poole knows it. So does Duane Starks.

Once established NFL starters, the veteran cornerbacks are hoping to extend their careers as reserves with the Oakland Raiders.

Their mission is to be mentors as well as playmakers, and neither has any illusion of supplanting starting cornerbacks Fabian Washington or Nnamdi Asomugha. A pair of first-round draft picks, their jobs, barring injury, are written in indelible ink.

Poole and Starks can relate. Poole was a first-round pick by Carolina in 1995, the 22nd pick overall. The Baltimore Ravens used the ninth pick overall to take Starks in 1998.

As the Raiders prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings Monday night at the Metrodome in their second preseason game, Poole and Starks are fighting their bodies as well as younger competition. Poole recently returned from a hamstring injury; Starks has needed occasional adjustments on a sore back.Standing in a hallway of the Napa Marriott, the last Raider to leave the weight room after practice, Poole, 34, makes it clear his role is to serve as well as defend.

"I've played in the league for a long time, and you learn many things," Poole said. "It is time for me to pass along what I know."

Starks, 32, may be the most soft-spoken player to come from the brash and brassy University of Miami. He is watching Washington and Asomugha closely.

"My job right now is to push the guys to live up to their potential, and if I'm needed on the field, to go out there and do what I have to do," Starks said.

Recent history suggests the Raiders have had success with defensive backs thought to be past their prime.

Rod Woodson was 37 when he joined the Raiders in 2002, and all he did was play a key role on an AFC champion.

Eric Allen, who was 32 in 1998, brought instant respectability to a defense that ranked last against the rush and last against the pass in 1997.

Albert Lewis was 33 when he left the rival Kansas City Chiefs in 1994 to serve with distinction through 1998.

Ronnie Lott, placed in the "Plan B" free-agency scrap heap prematurely by the San Francisco 49ers at age 32, became a Pro Bowler with the Raiders in 1991.

Poole, with stops in Carolina (1995-97), Indianapolis (1998-2001) and Denver (2002), played in just six games over the past two seasons for New England after intercepting six passes for a Super Bowl champion in 2003.

Starks played in seven games for the Patriots last season before a shoulder injury that later required surgery ended his season.

"My main goal is to make it through the season healthy," Starks said.

In practice, Poole settled in early as the first-team slot cornerback, making plays in the secondary and as a 5-foot-8 pass rusher who attacks with the element of surprise.

One day, he sliced in to force a fumble from quarterback Aaron Brooks, scooping the ball up and running the other way.

"It's a new role for me, but it's one I like," Poole said. "I can use what I know and kind of lay in the weeds to make a play."

When Poole was out, second-year man Stanford Routt made a push for being the first-team nickel slot. Poole spent much of Friday's practice working outside.

Starks is playing strictly on the outside as a backup corner.

In practice and in meeting rooms, the status of Poole and Starks exceeds their designation as reserves.

"I'm like a sponge right now," Washington said. "I'm trying to soak up everything they know because they've been in the league almost as long as I've been playing football."

Asomugha still visits Woodson in his Pleasanton home for film sessions. Now he has two more sources of information, absorbing what Poole has to stay and keeping a close eye on Starks.

"Poole calls himself the old man. He says he's seen every route that there is, and that if there's anything that we need, then ask. And we do," Asomugha said. "He has an answer for everything. With Starks, it's more about watching him. He'll jump a route, and I'll ask, 'Why did you do that?' and he'll explain the concept."

Starks has 25 career interceptions with the Ravens, Cardinals and Patriots, outnumbering by three the total of the rest of the Oakland secondary combined. He said if Raiders defenders can simply catch the balls they get their hands on, "We could pretty much lead the league."

With that in mind, Starks has instituted an in-house fine system for dropped interceptions in practice.

Starks also brings the experience of having played for the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the defense that vanquished the Raiders 16-3 in the AFC Championship Game and is widely regarded as one of the most dominating defenses in NFL history.

"He knows what it takes, and he'll tell us we have a long way to go," Washington said.

With an optimism typical of training camp, Starks sees big possibilities.

"If we can ever get everyone in sync, teams are going to have a problem with us," Starks said.


EXTRA POINTS: Coach Art Shell said Saturday he expects disgruntled wide receiver Jerry Porter to play against the Vikings, but he hedged about whether Porter would play with the starters. Porter has been nursing a calf injury for much of training camp and only recently returned to practicing full time, though not with the starting unit. "(Trainer Rod Martin) says he's expected to play so we'll see," Shell said. "If he's ready to play, he'll play." ... First-round draft pick Michael Huff, projected as the Raiders' starting strong safety, spent time Saturday working at left cornerback with Oakland's second-team defense. "I'm trying to learn it all," Huff said. "You never know what will happen as far as injuries and stuff like that. Hopefully I can stay flexible where I can play both during the season."

[Angry Pope]

Solution to the riddle of switch to linebacker

Bruce Adams

Sunday, August 13, 2006


Ryan Riddle, an All-American defensive end at Cal who was moved to linebacker as a rookie with the Raiders last year, said the new position is beginning to feel a lot more natural.

"It's like night and day," Riddle said.

And he certainly showed improvement in last Sunday's 16-10 exhibition win over the Eagles in the Hall of Fame game.

He had two tackles, including one sack for a 4-yard loss, and two quarterback hurries. He caused one fumble and recovered another.

"I guess some people's adrenalin pumps a lot deeper in games," he said. "I know mine does."

Based on the attention in practice, it appears that Riddle has become somewhat of a pet project of linebacker coach Don Martindale.

Riddle characterized their talks as instructive and encouraging. In fact, Martindale can frequently be heard praising Riddle's play.

At linebacker he's had to improve on making reads and checks, and become more mentally involved.

"You're seeing the game at a totally different angle," he said. "It's almost like playing a different sport."

Riddle, who has dropped from 255 pounds to 248 since playing defensive end, hopes to get closer to ideal linebacker weight by losing 2 to 4 more pounds.

Riddle likely will continue to get most of his play on special teams.

"Of course, special teams is a big part of what we do with our football team," coach Art Shell said. "But he made some hellacious plays on the defensive side of the ball, too."

Game plan: Shell said Saturday he hadn't decided how long the first units will play in Monday night's exhibition game against the Vikings in Minnesota or whether he'll treat the game as the first or second exhibition.

Most teams have four preseason games, but the Hall of Fame game gave the Raiders a fifth.

Normally, NFL teams play their regulars one quarter in the first game, the first half in the second, into the third quarter in the third game and then a much shorter stint in the final game.

Off the clock: Quarterback Aaron Brooks doesn't have to worry about beating the clock in the pocket -- which is not the case on many NFL teams.

That's because Shell isn't holding a stop watch -- expecting Brooks to conform to the 2 1/2 seconds from snap to release that is the standard on many teams.

Shell, who played offensive tackle for the Raiders from 1968-82 is old school. That means he's comfortable with the traditional seven-step drop, once a staple for quarterbacks in the league.

The Raiders have three-step, five-step and seven-drop plays in the offense, but timing is up to the quarterback.

"We want to throw the ball when we think the receiver is going to come open," Shell said. "If the clock goes, you don't see anything, pull the ball down, try to make something happen. Get the first down if you can and get down on the ground."

Briefly: The players were given Friday night off -- their first free evening in three weeks ... Wide receiver Jerry Porter, slowed earlier in camp with a calf injury has been medically cleared to play.

[Angry Pope]

Starting lineup appears to be set
Rookie strong safety Huff last piece of the puzzle

PHIL BARBER


NAPA - He avoided any admission until the evidence became overwhelming.

When Derrick Gibson returned from an illness and rookie Michael Huff was still running with the first team at strong safety - even in Sunday's exhibition game against the Eagles - coach Art Shell stopped pretending the position was up for grabs.

"I would say that he's on the way to being the guy, if he continues to grow as he's growing," Shell said of Huff.

Huff's elevation was the final element of a somewhat startling situation. Just 2½ weeks into training camp, all 22 of the Raiders' starting spots seem to be stabilized.

There is a question at wide receiver. But Jerry Porter's status might rely less on video evaluation and more on psychoanalysis. If he decides to buy into Shell's program, he'll probably start over Doug Gabriel.

Otherwise, it's hard to find a pitched battle. The Raiders don't have guys alternating snaps, like Brad Badger and Ron Stone did at right guard last year. There's no rookie breathing down the neck of an established veteran, as tight end Courtney Anderson did to Doug Jolley in 2004.

Just don't suggest that the starting lineups are penciled in for Sept. 11. Not only does that ignore the reality of injuries, it would suggest that the starters can afford to be complacent, and no one wants to toss that one out there.

"You try to settle things before you come to camp, but within every situation the guys are competing, and they know that," Shell said "But is it public? No, it doesn't have to be public, as long as we know they're competing."

"There's definitely competition going on," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "There's no job around here that's set, except a couple of spots that will be that way until the end of time. ... And I don't think anybody's resting on their laurels."

One explanation for the stability is Shell's willingness to stick rookies in the starting lineup at an early juncture. It took Huff a few days to bump Gibson. But Paul McQuistan and linebacker Thomas Howard were on top when camp began. They didn't have to spend their summer easing out veterans (Badger and Danny Clark, respectively).

The question is, what's better for team morale? Spotlighting a couple of intense battles to whip up the troops, or removing uncertainty by settling on first-teamers early? Free safety Stuart Schwei-gert prefers the stability.

"I think it's good," he said. "(Otherwise), so much tension builds up: I've got to make every play in practice, I can't mess up, the coaches are watching. If I make a mistake in practice, my job's going to be taken.

"That's how it kind of was the last two years. Guys didn't have the opportunity to make plays on their own, because they're so worried about making a mistake."at

[Angry Pope]

Coach Shell: August 12th

August 12, 2006


Raiders Head Coach Art Shell addressed the media following Saturday afternoon's practice session at the team's Napa Valley training complex as Training Camp 2006 continues and the Raiders prepare to take on the Minnesota Vikings on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

Q: Do you go into each preseason game looking at something specifically?

Coach Shell: We want to look at different things. Last week I wanted to see how far we have come during the course of the off-season and training camp. We had the chance the measure where we are. You want to go back to the things that you want to do well before the regular season rolls around. Now is the time to get those things taken care of; things like linebacker coverage. The next time they are in that same situation with a great player they will know what to do.

Q: Do you like the "trial and error" approach?

Coach Shell: Sure! You don't want to take everything that we are installing into the season. Each team, you might want to implement something differently, however, you are going to have some core things that you carry every week. Those are the things that you are going to have to adjust.

Q: In exhibitions, can you play better but sometimes lose the game?

Coach Shell: The team can make some plays at the end when you have some young kids in the game. [The young kids] might not know what the other team is doing. That can happen. You want your top people to play well and you want the others to improve.

Q: Is it important to get that feeling of winning even in the pre-season?

Coach Shell: I am a firm believer in developing good habits; winning is a good habit. I want to win. I want to go in every game that I am involved in and try to win the game.

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: August 12th

August 12, 2006

After a walk-through practice on Saturday morning, The Oakland Raiders headed back out on to the field at their Napa Valley training facility for afternoon practice. The team travels to Minneapolis, where they will play the Minnesota Vikings in the first Monday night game of the year, and in the first ESPN Monday Night Football telecast. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
In each preseason game, Head Coach Art Shell wants to see how the team has developed over the past week. In this week's game, Coach Shell will be looking at different points of emphasis from last week. "Last week I wanted to see how far we have come during the course of the off-season and training camp," said Shell. "We had the chance to measure where we are. You want to go back to the things that you want to do well, before regular season rolls around," Shell continued. "Now is the time to get those things taken care of, like linebacker coverage. The next time they are in that same situation with a great player, they will know what to do."

With already three weeks of practice under their belts, the team is ready to start playing more games and see their hard work pay off. After last week's win in the Hall of Fame game, the team is looking to improve to 2-0 before coming home to play the San Francisco 49ers a week from tomorrow at McAfee Coliseum.

International Flavor

A few days ago, Radames Carrillo of Mexico arrived at Raiders training camp in Napa to begin his coaching internship. Carrillo has been in charge of all the divisions of Club Jaguares since 1991. In 2002, he became the coach of Vikingos San Isidro, only to return to Jaguares as head coach in 2004, a position he currently holds. Patrick Esume of Germany has been with the team since camp began, and Tang Hai-yan of China is expected to arrive next week. Esume, 32, has spent the past two seasons on the NFL Europe's Hamburg Sea Devils coaching staff as special teams coordinator, while Tang Hai-yan, one of the first flag football coaches in China, has led Beijing Shoushi Middle School of China to the Beijing City Championship three years in a row, and to a National Flag Football title.

Prime Time Raiders

The Raiders have already been involved in the opening game of the year during NBC's debut of Sunday Night Football and this Monday will be the debut of Monday Night Football on ESPN. The Raiders are always involved in the biggest televised games, and will also kickoff the 2006 regular season on Monday Night in Oakland against the San Diego Chargers.

The Raiders made their debut on ABC's Monday Night Football with a thrilling 34-20 victory over the Washington Redskins on October 19, 1970. Ever since, the excitement of playing at night in front of a National television audience galvanizes the Raiders allowing the Silver and Black to build their legacy of playing their best football in the biggest games. They have a compiled a record of 36-23-1 on Monday nights and dominated Monday's from 1975-1981 winning 14 contests in a row.

Be sure to watch Monday's game and stay logged on to Raiders.com for the latest updates on the Silver and Black.

[RaiderIVlife]

Frankly I think the love affair with Art Shell will be short lived if we get more of the same of the last three years during th first half of the season.

The psyche of the fan 'ya know.

True, but it seems to me that Art is approaching this the right way. If the Raiders fail to win it will because they lack talent in certain areas, namely offensive line, DT and perhaps QB. I do think the squad will play hard for him and this ship will get righted at some point in the next two years.

Great timing with the Ryan Riddle article. I guess he's a true 3/4 OLB at this point. I'm pulling for this "project" player myself. One of them has to pan out eventually and he does have a good burst and constant motor. Looks like a better prospect than Tyler Brayton IMHO.

[RaiderIVlife]

Moss has been a picture perfect player and teamate, in my opinion. His work ethic, willingness to teach and ability to be heard, and his ability to put teamates at ease is awesome and contagious.

Agree completely. Who would've thought that Randy Moss would be described as such? To his credit, Warren Sapp appears to be a much better "Team Guy" than we had been led to believe also. Go figure.

[Angry Pope]

Great timing with the Ryan Riddle article.

You are psychic R4 :p

[CrossBones]

Some disturbing reports from ESPN radio...

I know, I know the media dislikes the Raiders BUT many football "experts" ase predicting the Raiders coulde possible be worse this year than last. With disgruntled WR Jerry Porter causing havoc in the receiving game and all the changes including a new coaching staff and new system, don't be surprised if the Raiders are in the Brady Quinn sweepstakes this coming April.

Sobering.

[Rupert]

Bah! I don't buy anything I hear or read on N.E.SPN. But with the approach Shell is taking, and he appears to have full authority to do it, we might actually see a re-building year. Though I only think we'll get one.

[CrossBones]

Bah! I don't buy anything I hear or read on N.E.SPN. But with the approach Shell is taking, and he appears to have full authority to do it, we might actually see a re-building year. Though I only think we'll get one.Bassically I think that is what they are saying -- that it might get worse for the Raiders before it starts getting better. That could be the case. I hope not. I can't take this shit.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' Huff has the right stuff

By Charean Williams

CANTON, Ohio - Oakland Raiders rookie Michael Huff has practiced at left corner. He's practiced at right corner. He's been in the nickel. And when free safety Stuart Schweigert injured his groin, Huff stepped in there temporarily.

But it is strong safety first.

"He's shown versatility, but right now he's a strong safety," Raiders coach Art Shell said.

Huff, the seventh overall pick from Texas, started at strong safety ahead of veteran Derrick Gibson in the Hall of Fame Game. He is expected to start there again Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

It's obvious, though, that the Raiders are experimenting with their new toy, figuring out all that he can do. Huff also has played special teams and jokingly has volunteered to help out on offense.

"I think it's good because it kind of adds more depth to our secondary, depending on injury, depending on matchups," Huff said. "I can play anywhere in the secondary. I did that at Texas. It doesn't matter.

"As long as I'm on the field, I have a chance to make plays. Whether it's corner, free safety, nickel, strong safety, whatever it takes to get on the field."

So far, Huff has been exactly what the Raiders thought Charles Woodson would be.

Oakland made Woodson, the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner, the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft. They expected the next Deion Sanders, only even more versatile. While Woodson did make four Pro Bowls in his eight seasons, he never lived up to the hype.

Woodson hasn't played a full 16-game schedule since 2001 . After doling out $19.32 million to him the past two seasons, the Raiders let Woodson leave as a free agent in the off-season. He signed with the Green Bay Packers.

Huff inherited Woodson's No. 24, as well as the high expectations.

"He's lights out," said Raiders defensive lineman Warren Sapp, a seven-time Pro Bowler. "The kid's just special. You normally get a rookie in camp, and they're wide-eyed and trying not to make mistakes. This kid is just playing. That's the thing that's going to really bode well for him.

"We're putting him right in the middle of it, and he's still reacting well and doing the things you need to do to become a better player. The kid has got it; he's definitely got it."

The Raiders, who were 27th in total defense last season, could end up starting Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington at the corners, Stuart Schweigert at free safety and Huff at strong safety. That's a total of only six years experience in their secondary.

"We have a young defense, period," said Huff, an Irving Nimitz product. "We just need to get more reps and get everybody experience. We've got a bright future as a defense."

Huff doesn't set personal goals. He said he would love to win defensive rookie of the year, but "as long as the defense does well and the team does well, I'll be happy regardless."

The Raiders are happy with what they have in Huff. They're just not quite sure all that is yet.

"He's an outstanding talent," Shell said, "and he's getting better every time he takes a snap."

[RaiderIVlife]

I'm normally not a fan of moving players around, but Michael Huff is such a talent, we shouldn't pigeonhole him as a "strong safety" per se. The Raider scheme sort of blurs the lines between SS-FS-CB anyway. I say move him around and let him shine in a situational or down-and-distance type basis. He appears to have the Big Play potential that we never really witnessed with Charles Woodson.

People often talk about our talent at WR, but I'm more excited about our secondary. Seriously.

CB1 - Fabian Washington - looks poised to have a great year. Lightning quick, hard working and plays a bit tougher than I expected for his relatively small size. Excellent Al Davis pick IMHO.

CB2 - Nmandi Asomugah - Many in Raider Nation underappreciate this tall, physical corner. What he may lack in "big play" ability, he makes up for with his solid run support and ability to handle big WR's. "MUG" has become a better player each year in this league.

CB3 - Stanford Routt - Considered a reach when selected in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft, Routt has excellent athletic ability and is currently working as the Nickel back in camp. Looks like a possible Albert Lewis type DB IMO and could eventually supplant Asomugha as the starting CB opposite Washington.

SS - Michael Huff - While he has yet to play an NFL down, this young man has all the tools you would covet in a DB and has an excellent attitude and work ethic to boot. Huff is currently listed as a SS, but is also seeing action at FS and CB. Could very well become the difference maker in our secondary that Charles Woodson never really became.

FS - Stuart Schwiegert - Personally, I'm not a big fan of Stu, but he did break Rod Woodson's INT record at Purdue and has excellent speed. Schwiegert by all reputeable accounts is having a solid camp and is the captain of the secondary. IF Schwiegert is able to improve his reliability in tackling, he will ensure that the Raiders have and excellent core of DB's at all positions for years to come.

For good measure, the Raiders have veteran Safeties Derrick Gibson (former 1st rounder) who might be having his best camp thus far and Jarrod Cooper (solid special teamer and hits like a missile). Tryonne Pool and Dewayne Starks will provide solid veteran depth at CB.

In short, the Raiders are loaded in the Secondary. Charles Woodson, who?

[CrossBones]

Nice take brotha! REP!!!!

[Angry Pope]

Moss ready to face former fans
Ex-Viking makes first return to Minneapolis since 2005 trade

PHIL BARBER

MINNEAPOLIS - It may come during pregame introductions. It may have to wait until the Raiders' offense first takes the field. But sometime tonight, Randy Moss will strap on his silver helmet and charge onto the artificial sod of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

Will the crowd respond with wild cheers? Lusty boos? Epithets? Blown kisses? It will probably be a mix of all of them. The only certainty is that the fans won't be lulled into silence by the meaningless of the Vikings' first exhibition game.

Moss was both a dynamic force and a lightning rod during his seven seasons in Minnesota (1998-2004). The positive drug test, an incident involving a traffic officer, the premature exit against Washington, the pantomimed mooning, the declaration that "I play when I want to play" - all of them came while Moss wore a Vikings uniform.

The Minnesota fans, many of them rooted in the Lutheran values and Midwestern humility so keenly satirized in Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," grew tired of the antics.

But Vikings fans also know their football, and they recognized what they had in Moss - one of the most breathtaking talents ever to play the game. His numbers over those seven seasons were unprecedented: 574 receptions, 9,142 yards, 90 touchdowns, five Pro Bowls. Without him last year, no one on the team surpassed 69 catches, 604 yards or five touchdown receptions.

This is the Twin Cities' first chance to figure out how they feel about Moss since his March 2005 trade to the Raiders.

As for Moss' feelings, they seem a bit contradictory.

"I don't have any thoughts, man," he said in the cramped locker room of Fawcett Stadium after the game against the Eagles in Canton, Ohio, last Sunday. "It is going to be something special. Hopefully, the Metrodome will sell out because I'm coming back, but I'm a Raider now. ... What I did in Minnesota, what I accomplished in Minnesota, is way, way behind me."

Apparently, his lack of openness on the subject is not restricted to the media.

"Randy pretty much keeps to himself, as far as his past experiences, and I can't really expound on that," wide receiver Alvis Whitted said. "He'll probably open up one day. ... He's trying to move forward, I guess - if that's the right way to put it. He's thinking about the Raiders now."

Moss will almost certainly start with the first-team offense tonight, but coach Art Shell has been coy about his plans for rotating players. Moss played only a couple series against Philadelphia, and quarterback Aaron Brooks didn't throw a sin gle pass in his direction. So it's possible the Metrodomers won't get much chance to watch their former star tonight.

"To say that we're going to give him much more playing time because he's going back to Minnesota, that's not the way it's going to work, because we're in this thing for the long haul," Shell said. "So Randy Moss will work with the progression of training camp, just like all the rest of our players ... We're not going to do anything special."

Well, Shell won't. There's always a chance Moss will do something outrageously special.

NAPOLEON'S COUNTER-ATTACK

The only veteran involved in the Moss trade, linebacker Napoleon Harris, had a miserable first season with the Vikings in 2005. Harris was a first-round draft choice and a regular starter during his three seasons with the Raiders (2002-2004). But Minnesota defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell moved him from middle linebacker to the strong side, and Harris wound up getting benched after four games. He finished the year with only 20 tackles.

Now Harris has a new defensive coordinator in Mike Tomlin, a new scheme (similar to Tampa Bay's) and a familiar face in his camp - linebackers coach Fred Pagac, who formerly had the job in Oakland. Most important, Harris is back in the middle, where he feel he belongs.

"He's real focused, has a lot of confidence," Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield told the Associated Press. "He's our leader at the middle linebacker. We're expecting big things out of him this year.



EXTRA POINT

Versatile rookie Michael Huff, who started at strong safety last week, got some practice repetitions at cornerback Saturday, though not with the first team

QB Kent Smith, a rookie free agent from Central Michigan, got to take some snaps during scrimmages this week - the first time that anyone beyond Brooks, Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo got to do so during training camp - but Shell implied it was mostly to get Smith ready for scout-team duties.

"We got too many quarterbacks right now that are trying to play," Shell said. "He's a guy you look at for the future."

[Angry Pope]

Moss to visit his old home
The veteran makes his first trip to Minnesota since he played there

By Steve Corkran


MINNEAPOLIS - Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss last played a game in Minnesota the day before Christmas in 2004. He packed his bags for Oakland a little more than two months later.

Tonight, Moss makes his first return to Minnesota as a member of a team other than the one that drafted him in 1998 and provided him the platform to develop into the league's most dynamic receiver.

Moss, 29, likely won't make more than a cameo appearance in Oakland's second exhibition game, but it figures to be enough for the fans who once cheered him at every turn to show what they think of him now that he wears the silver and black of the Raiders.

"It is going to be something special," Moss said. "Hopefully, the Metrodome will sell out because I'm coming back, but I'm a Raider now. In a certain sense, it is going to be special but, at the same time, I still have a job to do."

That job, he said, entails his returning to the elite level that made him perhaps the most-feared receiver, if not player, in the NFL from 1998-2004. He averaged 82 receptions, 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns during that span.

"What I did in Minnesota, what I accomplished in Minnesota, is way, way behind me," Moss said. "But this being my first trip back to the Metrodome, it will be special, but I'm focusing on trying to get our offense moving in the right direction."

Last season, he totaled 60 receptions for 1,005 yards and eight touchdowns. His yards receiving and touchdown receptions led the Raiders, but they paled in comparison to a typical Moss season's production.

Part of his drop in production owes to his getting hurt in Oakland's fifth game and not being 100 percent healthy the rest of the season. The rest stems from Oakland's offensive line not pass-blocking well and teams double-teaming Moss and daring the Raiders to throw elsewhere.

Some might suggest that Moss is getting to the point in his career where he is slowing down. They would be dead wrong, Raiders coach Art Shell said.

"If you knew his history, he's an excellent football player," Shell said. "He can be great again. There's no doubt in my mind. I see it. I saw it during the offseason when we had our (organized team activities) and our minicamps. You can see he's still there to play this game at a high level. We've just got to keep him healthy coming out of training camp, get through the season, and he'll make his mark."

Moss saw limited action in Oakland's first exhibition game. He might get a few more snaps tonight but only if it is predetermined and within the context of what Shell wants to see from his offense, Shell said.

Fans who come to see Moss put on a show stand a decent shot at walking away disappointed. Moss didn't catch any passes in Oakland's game Aug. 6. Heck, quarterback Aaron Brooks didn't even throw any balls Moss' way.

"We're in training camp and we're not going to do anything different than what the plans are," Shell said. "To say that we're going to give him much more playing time because he's going back to Minnesota, that's not the way it's going to work because we're in this thing for the long haul.

"We're trying to get ready for ... the opening game against a very tough football team. So, Randy Moss will work with the progression of training camp, just like all the rest of our players. We're not going to do anything special."

Raiders defensive end Lance Johnstone spent the past five seasons with the Vikings. He said he expects Vikings fans to be quite vocal in response to Moss' return.

"It would be a bigger deal if it were a regular-season game, being able to get after them all game," Johnstone said, "but we're still looking forward to it. It will probably be mixed, but loud. It will be interesting to see the reaction if he goes deep on them and gets a touchdown. I bet they almost forget that he's not on the team and cheer for him."

[Angry Pope]

No diddle in the middle
Raiders plan to use TE Anderson to free Moss, other receivers

By Jerry McDonald

MINNEAPOLIS — All eyes will be on Randy Moss, but if tonight's pre-season game is anything like training camp, the ball will be headed in the direction of Courtney Anderson.

The tight end is back in vogue for the Oakland Raiders, meaning the Minnesota Vikings will need to pay close attention to the middle of the field at the Metrodome.

Moss, playing in the town where he was both prolific and notorious from 1998 through 2004, may make no more than a cameo appearance.

Traded to the Raiders for the No. 7 pick in the draft and linebacker Napoleon Harris, Moss, in a brief interview following Oakland's 16-10 win over Philadelphia, conceded it will have more emotion than a normal pre-season game.

"What I did in Minnesota, what I accomplished in Minnesota, is way, way behind me," Moss said. "This being my first trip back to the Metrodome, it will be special, but I'm focusing on trying to get the offense moving in the right direction."

Part of the plan for freeing Moss of double coverage downfield this season has to do with attacking the middle with the tight end, a position of dwindling importance in the Oaklandreceiving game in recent years.

"We want to throw the ball to our tight ends," Raiders coach Art Shell said. "If you're throwing the ball to the tight end, that opens up the outside for the other receivers. You won't be able to cover them all,"

Anderson, a Richmond native in his third year out of San Jose State, scored the Raiders lone touchdown in the preseason opener on a 12-yard reception from quarterback Aaron Brooks.

He was also Oakland's leading receiver at tight end last season, although the numbers were meager when measured against the rest of the AFC West.

In San Diego, Antonio Gates was the focal point of his team's passing attack with 89 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cal's Tony Gonzalez had 78 catches for 905 yards for the Chiefs. The Denver duo of Jeb Putzier and Stephen Alexander combined for 58 receptions and 651 yards.

Anderson's 24 receptions for 303 yards were the fewest receptions for Oakland's top receiving tight end since 1987, when Todd Christensen had 15 catches in seven games.

The last time the Raiders had a tight end catch as many as 50 passes was 1991, when Ethan Horton had 53 catches for 650 yards — numbers that would seem to be well within Anderson's reach based on visual evidence in training camp.

Practices have seen a steady stream of completions to the tight end from Brooks, Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo.

"Basically, we're running the Raider offense the way it was run in the 60s, 70s and 80s," said offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, who was on the Raiders offensive staff in 1991 as well as in 1986, when Christensen had 95 catches for 1,153 yards and was one of the league's most reliable possession receivers. "Whether it was Raymond Chester or Dave Casper or Ethan Horton or Bob Moore, you can go back as far as you want."

Anderson, 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, ran off a pair of second-round draft picks in Doug Jolley and Teyo Johnson but would disappear for games at a time in the passing game.

"In the opener last year (against New England), I had two touchdowns, and the next game I didn't have the ball thrown my way," Anderson said. "In Week 3 against Philadelphia, I had 100 yards receiving and then the next week didn't get the ball thrown my way. It was frustrating, but I didn't take it personally. This year, I think the tight end is going to get some looks every game."

While Anderson's job as the starter appears secure, there is an intriguing competition for what is probably two roster spots.

Marcellus Rivers, in his sixth season, started five games with the Houston Texans. Based on how the team has lined up in camp, he may have the edge to be the backup.

Randal Williams, a key special teams player and a converted wide receiver, has added more bulk but has battled a bad back throughout training camp. O.J. Santiago, who played with the Raiders in 2003, is a seven-year veteran.

A pair of converted wide receivers — an Al Davis staple — have good receiving skills but are behind the curve in terms of blocking. John Madsen, an undrafted rookie free agent from Utah, was having an eye-opening camp as a receiver until slowed by an oblique strain.

Madsen has since recovered, and caught a 40-yard touchdown pass in a two-minute drill Friday.

James Adksisson was strong in mini-camp but has been out with a knee injury. Derek Miller, an undrafted rookie from Maryland, has caught his share of passes.

"It's going to be hard to pick who is going to stay and who is going to go," Anderson said. "All you can do is put your best foot forward and hopefully you make the team."

along with your buddy."

NOTES: Shell didn't sound as he would be swayed into giving Moss a little extra time against his former team. 'He would play more based on where we are with how long we want to play our starters. He might play the same as he did last week. He might play less," Shell said.

[Angry Pope]

Moss returns to old haunt

MANKATO, Minn. - Football season at the Metrodome seemed to be missing something last year.

For the first time in eight years, Randy Moss wasn't there hauling in long touchdown passes.

That could change tonight when Moss returns to the place where he became a star, this time for a preseason game against his former team. The Minnesota Vikings traded the supremely talented but enigmatic Moss to Oakland before last season.

"It is going to be something special," Moss said. "Hopefully, the Metrodome will sell out because I'm coming back, but I'm a Raider now."

Before he came to town, the Vikings often had trouble filling seats. But every home game Moss played for the Vikings - from his preseason debut in 1998 to his final appearance in 2004 - sold out.

He racked up more yards and scored more touchdowns in his first six seasons than any other receiver in history, but too often found himself in the middle of dustups on the field and off.

"What I did in Minnesota, what I accomplished in Minnesota, is way, way behind me," Moss said. "But this being my first trip back to the Metrodome, it will be special, but I'm focusing on trying to get our offense moving in the right direction."

Vikings center Matt Birk, who confronted Moss after he left the field early in a 2004 game against Washington, was never a big fan.

"I don't know," Birk said of Moss' return. "I guess I really don't care. He's on a different team now. He's got his own deal. I'm more worried about us."

Also, espn.com said Raiders receiver Jerry Porter is unlikely to be dealt this season despite his trade demand.

[Angry Pope]

More class time, less field time
LINEBACKER COUNTING ON QUICKER START


Even though Coach Art Shell says there is much work to be done, the Raiders will be spending less time on the practice field during their final days in Napa. When the Raiders return from Minnesota and resume practice Wednesday, there will be just two two-a-days until camp breaks Aug. 23. The team will then retreat to their regular-season campus in Alameda and practice once a day until the opener Sept. 11.

Shell said he was delighted that the team got five exhibitions this summer -- ``We need the time, believe me'' -- but he explained that work on the field will be replaced by classroom and film study.

``You don't always have to be out on the field getting stuff done,'' he said. ``You can get it in the classroom and get a lot done just by watching tapes of what you've been doing, then having some walk-throughs. Those things can be very good for you, too.''

• Middle linebacker Kirk Morrison wasn't happy with the Raiders' showing against Philadelphia's first team in the exhibition opener, and hopes to see a rapid turnaround today against Minnesota.

``It's going to be huge,'' he said. ``Last week was not at all the way we want to play the game. We looked at the film of it, then we looked at it again today. We didn't get lined up right. They came out fast, high-tempo, and we were just getting lined up. They quick-counted us. I don't want to make any excuses, but we are settled in now.

``I am expecting us to come out and start fast. That's been the whole motto of this week's practice: to start fast.''

• Grant Irons was one guy who was ready to play against the Eagles. The linebacker sacked quarterback Jeff Garcia, forcing a fumble, and also threw running back Bruce Perry for a 5-yard loss.

``This is my fifth year in the NFL,'' Irons said. ``Each and every year there is more to learn, and I want to improve and get better. It's all been a learning experience and a great journey.''

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said Irons has been doing ``a great job.'' ``He has really improved. He's another smart guy. He has great talent. His abilities really help us on defense. He can make plays. We like those kinds of guys.''

• Cornerbacks Tyrone Poole (hamstring) and Duane Starks (back) might have recovered enough to make their Raiders debut today. Still, neither has any illusion of supplanting starters Fabian Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha.

``I've played in the league for a long time, and you learn many things,'' Poole, 34, said. ``It is time for me to pass along what I know.''

Starks, 32, said he has been watching Washington and Asomugha closely.

``My job right now is to push the guys to live up to their potential,'' he said, ``and if I'm needed on the field, to go out there and do what I have to do.''

• Shell said a decision on when wide receiver Ronald Curry (torn Achilles tendon) will play was still up in the air. ``We will not do anything crazy with him,'' the coach said.

[Angry Pope]

New start for tight end
ANDERSON LEADS A REVIVED UNIT

By Jerry McDonald


MINNEAPOLIS - All eyes will be on Randy Moss, but if today's exhibition is anything like training camp, the ball will be headed in the direction of Courtney Anderson.

The tight end is back in vogue with the Raiders, meaning the Minnesota Vikings will need to pay close attention to the middle of the field at the Metrodome.

Part of the plan to free Moss of double coverage this season is attacking the middle with the tight end, a position that in recent years had dwindled in importance within the Raiders' passing game.

``We want to throw the ball to our tight ends,'' Coach Art Shell said. ``If you're throwing the ball to the tight end, that opens up the outside for the other receivers. You won't be able to cover them all.''

Anderson, in his third year out of San Jose State, scored the Raiders' only touchdown in the exhibition opener, catching a 12-yard pass from Aaron Brooks in the 16-10 victory over Philadelphia. He also boasted the best numbers of any Oakland tight end, although his statistics proved meager when measured against the rest of the AFC West.

In San Diego, Antonio Gates was the focal point of his team's passing game with 89 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez had 78 catches for 905 yards. The Denver duo of Jeb Putzier and Stephen Alexander combined for 58 catches and 651 yards.

Anderson's 24 receptions were the fewest by Oakland's top tight end since 1988, when Todd Christensen had 15 catches in seven games.

The last time the Raiders had a tight end catch as many as 50 passes was 1991, when Ethan Horton had 53 for 650 yards. Such numbers seem within Anderson's reach based on training camp. There has been a steady stream of completions to the tight end from quarterbacks Brooks, Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo.

``Basically, we're running the Raider offense the way it was run in the '60s, '70s and '80s,'' said offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, who was on the Raiders' staff in 1986, when Christensen had 95 catches for 1,153 yards. ``Whether it was Raymond Chester or Dave Casper or Ethan Horton or Bob Moore, you can go back as far as you want.''

Anderson ran off a pair of second-round draft picks in Doug Jolley and Teyo Johnson, but he disappeared for games at a time.

``In the opener last year (against New England), I had two touchdowns, and the next game I didn't have the ball thrown my way,'' Anderson said. ``In Week 3 against Philadelphia, I had 100 yards receiving, and then the next week didn't get the ball thrown my way. It was frustrating, but I didn't take it personally. This year, I think the tight end is going to get some looks every game.''

[Angry Pope]

Killion: Raiders' challenge is to make Moss matter
THE RECEIVER WAS QUIET LAST SEASON -- TOO QUIET FOR TEAM'S GOOD

By Ann Killion


Tonight is an anticlimactic homecoming for Randy Moss.

Traded by the Vikings for all his naughty transgressions, he returns to Minnesota not even in the running for the NFL's bad-boy receiver title. In fact, Moss -- sure to be vilified at the Metrodome -- isn't in the running for his own team's bad-boy receiver title.

The Raiders' honor goes to disgruntled, whining Jerry Porter. Porter might play tonight, and if he does he had better play darn well if he wants to (a) be traded, or (b) earn his way out of Art Shell's doghouse.

The league leader among bad-boy receivers is, of course, Terrell Owens, still and for the foreseeable future. Owens claims he has become a better man thanks to his new contract, a change I predict will last approximately 47 seconds. Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells has expressed outrage that the media scrutinizes everything T.O. does. Hey, Big Bill, that's part of the package. Your outrage is as valid as when Barry Bonds complained about cameras in his face to his ``Bonds on Bonds'' camera. By single-handedly destroying the Eagles, T.O. eclipsed Moss and every other lightning-rod player in the league.

Moss? So far his time in Oakland has been remarkable only for not being remarkable. It is easy to forget that Moss was even on the Raiders last year. That's how little impact he made.

So that's one of Shell's top priorities on his to-do list: make Randy Moss matter again.

Tonight he's going back to the Metrodome, where Moss mattered every game. He caught more touchdown passes and had more receiving yards in his first six seasons than any other receiver.

``Hopefully, the Metrodome will sell out because I'm coming back, but I'm a Raider now,'' Moss said after last Sunday's Hall of Fame game. ``In a certain sense, it's going to be special, but at the same time, I have a job to do. What I accomplished in Minnesota is way, way behind me.''

That's the way it appeared last season, in every way.

After earning a reputation as a volatile, mega-talented receiver in Minnesota, Moss was virtually invisible, on the field and off. He scored a mere eight touchdowns in yet another lost Raiders season. Struggling with groin and abdomen injuries, Moss had 1,005 receiving yards, the second-fewest of his career, behind only a season in which he missed three games. He didn't help the Raiders win (though no one could do that). He didn't have many ``Did you see that?'' moments.

And he was equally without impact off the field. When he spoke to reporters last weekend in Canton, Ohio, it was the first time he had addressed the local media since the Raiders' 2005 opener.

And he was not missed. Because really, there wasn't much to talk about.

In fact, Moss' biggest impact was a 15-second silence. That's how long it took him to answer a question in an ESPN interview about Norv Turner last season.

A year ago in training camp, Moss was praising Turner, calling his offense ``Algebra II'' compared with the simplistic Vikings system. Apparently, the Raiders aren't mathematicians, because they all flunked Algebra II.

Turner is gone, finding ways now to get the ball to the 49ers' Antonio Bryant. Moss didn't need a 15-second pause the other night to praise Shell.

``Guys are a lot more tuned in and more disciplined, on and off the field,'' Moss said. ``The addition of Art Shell coming to our team, he's very soft-spoken and he demands a lot. That's one thing you can appreciate in a man, if he doesn't really have to be too verbal. Just his presence alone, he got our attention.''

Moss was shipped out of Minnesota for a relatively paltry price: traded for linebacker Napoleon Harris and two seventh-round picks. His departure was spurred by his history of bad behavior: mooning Packers fans, walking off the field with time left, bumping a traffic officer with his car, saying ``I play when I want to play.''

When he arrived with the Raiders, it was expected to be a match made in controversy. Moss in an eye patch.

But aside from that 15-second pause and telling Bryant Gumbel a year ago that he smokes marijuana ``once in a blue moon,'' Moss made no headlines. No noise. Little impact.

And that's a problem. Shell has to find a way to get Randy back to being Randy. He doesn't need to hire a traffic cop or round up Packers fans, but he needs Moss to matter. To be the kind of guy worthy of those Vikings fans' boos.

[Angry Pope]

Moss returns to scene of memories, mayhem

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Monday, August 14, 2006


MINNEAPOLIS -- He grabbed 90 touchdown passes for the Minnesota Vikings -- and his share of negative headlines in these parts.
Randy Moss is back where he was the center of an explosive passing game and controversy.

Tonight's preseason game against the Vikings is Moss' first game in Minnesota, where he played his first seven seasons, since being traded to Oakland in March of last year for linebacker Napoleon Harris, the Raiders' 2005 first-round pick and a seventh-round pick.

Moss didn't speak to local media after last season's opener while struggling through hip, pelvis and groin injuries much of the season.


He did, however, chat after the Raiders' win over Philadelphia in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio. He tried to downplay his return to the Metrodome but conceded it would be special.
"But I'm a Raider now," Moss said. "In a certain sense, it is going to be special, but, at the same time, I still have a job to do."

And Moss might not be on the clock long tonight.

He played one series against Philadelphia. Coach Art Shell said he wouldn't leave Moss on the field long just because he is in Minnesota.

If that's so, Vikings fans might have to rely on memories for Moss highlights.

Moss was a three-time All Pro and played in five Pro Bowls and two NFC championship games with the Vikings.

Moss also was a source of headaches. He bumped a traffic-control officer with his Lexus in 2002 and verbally abused corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001. He also squirted an official with a water bottle in 1999.

Moss' last season in Minnesota was his worst statistically as a pro with 767 receiving yards, the only time he hasn't topped 1,000 yards, while battling a hamstring injury.

Moss angered teammates when he left the field early during the closing seconds of a loss to Washington and pretended to moon fans in Green Bay, for which he was fined $10,000.

"What I did in Minnesota, what I accomplished in Minnesota, is way, way behind me," Moss said. "But this being my first trip back to the Metrodome, it will be special, but I'm focusing on trying to get our offense moving in the right direction."

One reason Norv Turner was fired after last season was that, despite adding Moss, the Raiders scored fewer points than in Turner's first season.

Moss managed 1,005 yards and eight touchdowns last season but went long stretches without a pass in his direction.

A key to turning around the offense will be Moss, who is healthy and lively in practice this season.

He jokes with teammates and ribs fellow receiver Jerry Porter for playing well against third-string players.

Moss also likes Shell's approach and said the team is more focused this year.

"He's very soft spoken, but he demands a lot," Moss said. "That's one thing you can appreciate in a man, if he doesn't really have to be too verbal. Just his presence alone, he got our attention."

Moss isn't out to necessarily gain the Vikings' attention tonight. The preseason isn't about that for him.

"(Shoot), just try to stay healthy," he said. "That's about it."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raiders (1-0) at Vikings (0-0)
Time: 5 p.m.
Where: Metrodome, Minneapolis

TV: ESPN

Radio: KHTK 1140, KSFO 650


Three keys for the Raiders

1. Be physical. The offense and defense were not aggressive against Philadelphia to start the game, particularly along the lines.
2. Consistency at quarterback. Coach Art Shell's assessment of Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo against the Eagles was "overall bad."

3. Can the turnovers continue? The Raiders forced five against the Eagles and had nearly half as many interceptions (two) as they had all last season (five).


Three keys for the Vikings
1. Can they run? RB Chester Taylor and All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson were brought in to bolster the 27th-ranked rushing offense from last season.
2. Still trying to replace Randy. Travis Taylor led the team with 604 receiving yards. WR Troy Williamson had just 372 yards. Maybe WR Koren Robinson fulfills the promise he showed early in his career.

3. New coach jitters. It's former Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress' first game as a head coach.

[Angry Pope]

Vikings still reeling in aftermath of Moss trade
Minnesota needed to deal WR, but franchise hasn't recovered yet

COMMENTARY
By Pat Borzi
Updated: 8:53 a.m. PT Aug 14, 2006

Even in an NFL-crazy city like Minneapolis, a Vikings exhibition game is usually worth watching for maybe 45 minutes, or until the first bag of chips runs out. Once the starters are done after a couple of series or one quarter, who cares?

But the return of Randy Moss with Oakland for the Vikes’ preseason opener Monday night at the Metrodome skews all that, because Moss can create a scene just standing on the sideline.

Will he go Afro, cornrows, or something new? How will he react to the crowd? Might he squirt an official with a water bottle, just for old times’ sake? Or hand all the Raiders’ spare footballs to the kids in the handicapped section, whom he always loved?

Eighteen months is enough time to judge whether the Vikings made a mistake by shipping Moss to the Raiders in February 2005 for linebacker Napoleon Harris and a first-round draft pick that turned out to be wideout Troy Williamson. The last major move of Red McCombs’ ownership turned out to be the first in a shakeup that altered the face of the franchise, which has since changed owners, coaches, starting quarterbacks, schemes and even uniforms.

Separate the deal itself from the things that led to it. Moss had to go, and dumping him was necessary and inevitable.


Between heading to the locker room with two seconds to play in the regular-season finale that season at Washington, and that pantomimed mooning of the crowd in Green Bay in a wild-card game later, Moss proved more of a distraction than he was worth. The Washington walkoff, with the Vikings three points down and preparing to kick onside, lost the support of quarterback Daunte Culpepper and Pro Bowl center Matt Birk, probably his two biggest backers in the locker room. They could put up with eccentricity, but not disregard for teammates. There was no coming back from that.

Then-coach Mike Tice’s attempt to motivate Moss by buddying up to him proved, in the long run, an abysmal failure. Moss, whom Tice once called “dawg” when he called into Tice’s radio show, still only played hard when he felt like it. And Moss declined to fully back Tice when the coach’s job was on the line late in the 2004 season.

But once you decide to unload one of the best wide receivers in NFL history, you’d better not deal him for people who can’t play, which is exactly what the Vikings did.

Harris couldn’t hold a starting job last season on a team short of quality linebackers, and the speedy Williamson hasn’t shown he can be more than a backup. (Jets fans, think Johnny “Lam” Jones, with worse hands.) If both Harris and Williamson turn out to be stiffs, this will be one of the worst trades in NFL history, even if Moss never catches another pass.


And Moss can’t be blamed for what happened next. Culpepper, without his best receiver or the offensive coordinator who nurtured him (Scott Linehan, who left for Miami when the penny-pinching McCombs refused to bump up his contract), floundered, tore up his knee and was eventually traded.

The Love Boat fiasco and the team’s failure to make the playoffs cost Tice his job, but even an 11-victory season might not have saved it. New owner Zygi Wilf’s desire for tighter discipline and a new stadium made a coaching change inevitable.

At least Moss should be grateful he was long out of Vikings employ when those two ill-fated cruise boats left the dock at Lake Minnetonka. The incident proved enough of a national embarrassment for the Vikings as it was. Imagine the uproar had Moss been along, even if all he did was sip bottled water on the back deck. Somebody would have blamed Moss for the worst of the conduct whether he showed up or not.

It’s also conceivable Moss could have surveyed the scene, wisely gauged the potential for trouble and bolted, only to be pulled over for speeding on the way home. He was just that kind of magnet for trouble.

It would have been fun to see how Moss meshed with new Vikings coach Brad Childress, a control freak who reportedly found just the way to annoy Terrell Owens when both were with the Eagles: He called him by his actual first name, instead of T.O. It was Childress who ordered Culpepper dealt with Wilf’s blessing, and because he appears to favor the blandest players possible, Moss never would have lasted.

So Moss’ return Monday should be a hoot, as much for what will happen as what might have happened had the Vikings kept him. Maybe he’ll beat Antoine Winfield deep for a touchdown and jump into the crowd, like he did his last few seasons here. Or maybe he’ll do something really wild and unpredictable, keeping it real, just to mess with people.

Pass the chips. This ought to be good.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' plan is one big do-over

David White

Monday, August 14, 2006


(08-14) 04:00 PDT Minneapolis -- Take the same defensive coordinator (Rob Ryan), give him mostly the same players (Warren Sapp, and so forth) and call a lot of the same plays (4-3 defense), only run them right this time.

That's the Raiders' plan in a tidy capsule, one they hope yields plus-side results when they visit the Minnesota Vikings for an exhibition game tonight in the Metrodome.

There's no telling if Ryan can take last year's manual and parts and make them add up to a different sum, but so help them, the Raiders are going to try.

"I think obviously we have to improve on what we've done in the past and we've got the players to do so," said Ryan, a third-year defensive coordinator and carryover from Norv Turner's staff.

"We're going to preach fundamentals like we always have and play aggressive. You know, good things happen when you play aggressive and you're smart."

Perhaps that explains what went so terribly wrong last year, when the Raiders did neither. They led the league in penalties, ranked 27th in NFL defense out of 32 teams and set a 16-game standard for fewest interceptions with five.

Last week's exhibition opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, nice as the 16-10 victory and five turnovers were, didn't do enough to prove the Raiders are closer to a 12-4 turnaround than a 4-12 repeat.

But, hey, it's early yet. That's what these five exhibition games are for.

"We need the time, believe me, we need the time," Raiders coach Art Shell said. "You get back to the things that you don't do well. You go to work on those things because eventually the regular season's going to roll around and you're going to be off and running.

"So, now is the time to get all those things taken care of."

Donovan McNabb and the first-team Eagles offense stuck around for one unimpeded drive last week, putting the Raiders' defense through the shredder on a nine-play, 61-yard touchdown march.

The single-serving whipping left a sour taste that lingered all week at the Napa Valley Marriott, training-camp home of the Raiders. That's what makes tonight's game in Minnesota an important gauge of lessons learned.

The Vikings should give the Raiders more first-team looks than did Philadelphia, because they have so much more to learn.

The Vikings have a new coach in Brad Childress, previously the offensive coordinator during Philadelphia's four-year run to the NFC title game. He's installing a West Coast offense behind quarterback Brad Johnson, who permanently has replaced Daunte Culpepper (off to Jacksonville).

Of course, Shell insists none of this matters. He expects the defense to run fast and hit hard with no respect to the opponent's depth chart.

"I'm not so much worried about what they do but what we do," Shell said. "Give our guys a chance to play. There's a time frame we have. It could be half a quarter, it could be a quarter. If we don't think we've done enough plays, then we'll say, 'OK, maybe we need to get another series in.'

"We want to do a lot of different things."

The Raiders need Sapp to play closer to the Defensive Player of the Year he was in 1999 than the aging defensive lineman he is now. Sapp was shoved back and jerked aside on the Eagles' touchdown drive. He needs to push up the middle to force the quarterback outside to defensive ends Derrick Burgess and Lance Johnstone.

Important, because the Raiders have little interior experience beyond Sapp. The Vikings have one of the best offensive lines in the league, and they will force defensive tackles Tommy Kelly and Terdell Sands to make a run-stopping play.

Strongside linebacker Sam Williams, good for an injury a year, is getting out the rust. Weakside starter Thomas Howard, quick as can be, is getting out the rookie, and second-year starter Kirk Morrison is learning the middle-linebacker position.

They'll work on gap assignments against the run and pass coverage when Vikings running back Chester Taylor comes out of the backfield. Same goes for rookie strong safety Michael Huff.

"You've got to have guys ready to perform when it's their time," Sapp said. "When it rears its ugly head, get ready to chop it off. That's what we're doing right now, we're just sharpening our knives.

"I'll bet on this unit right here because we've got it going real well. I don't see any pitfalls for us."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's game
Raiders at Vikings

Where: Minneapolis


When: 5 p.m.

TV: ESPN Channel: 44

[Angry Pope]

Moss … is back
A lightning rod for passes as well as controversy as a Viking, the wide receiver returns wearing a different uniform and a different number.

BY SEAN JENSEN

MANKATO, Minn. — The scenario is familiar: Randy Moss playing in a prime-time game at the Metrodome.

So much, however, has changed in the 18 months since the Vikings traded Moss to the Oakland Raiders: Moss hasn't made the Pro Bowl, hasn't made as many highlight shows, hasn't made as many catches and hasn't even made as many headlines.

He even switched his jersey number from No. 84 to 18.

His numbers last season for receptions (60), receiving yards (1,005) and touchdowns (eight) were all the second-lowest figures of his NFL career, and an interview on HBO last August, during which he admitted smoking marijuana since joining the league in 1998 and to still smoking it "every blue moon," generated only a modest buzz.

Moss declined to be interviewed for this story through his agent, Tim DiPiero, and the Raiders' public relations department.

But in a rare interview after the Hall of Fame game Aug. 6, Moss said what he accomplished in Minnesota is "way, way behind me."

Still, Moss said his return to the Metrodome would be "special."

"Hopefully, the Metrodome will sell out because I'm coming back," Moss said. "But I'm a Raider now. In a certain sense, it is going to be special, but, at the same time, I still have a job to do."

Moss won't work for too long tonight, although he will get his wish for a capacity crowd at the Metrodome.

He played for only a few of snaps in the Raiders' 16-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, and Oakland coach Art Shell has indicated that Moss would not get a lot more looks or playing time because of his homecoming.

"You can't take it out of context," Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot said. "It's a preseason game. Everybody just wants to make sure they make it out healthy."

Added cornerback Antoine Winfield: "This is like a scrimmage. Nothing counts."

But Winfield said the competitive factor would be evident.

"I'm sure he's excited about coming back here, and he wants to show off and score a touchdown or whatever," Winfield said. "But we'll definitely try not to let that happen."

In addition to barely topping 1,000 yards last season, Moss has posted the worst two-season stretch of his career. But former teammates insist that Moss, 29, is still an elite receiver.

"He's the best receiver in the game. He's got all the tools," Winfield said. "Randy Moss gives you that home run (threat) all the time, like Barry Bonds."

Vikings safety Darren Sharper said injuries can hamper even the best players.

"That happens to all the great players. You're going to have some years where you deal with injuries," said Sharper, who regularly faced Moss when Sharper played for the Green Bay Packers. "I know he did all he could to prevent injuries and get himself into top condition. But Moss is going to be one of the top receivers in the league, every time he steps on the field, because of how big a threat he is."

Said receiver Marcus Robinson: "Even when Randy is hurt, he's still a feared receiver."

Moss will get a warm reception from many of his former teammates, including Robinson, Winfield, running back Mewelde Moore and tight end Jim Kleinsasser.

"I'm looking forward to seeing him," Kleinsasser said. "He was always a good guy to me."

But Vikings center Matt Birk declined to comment on Moss' return. When asked about the reaction Moss would get from the Metrodome fans, Birk said: "I don't know. I guess I really don't care.

"He's on a different team now, and he's got his own deal. I'm more worried just about us, and how we respond to our first real action against someone else."

Some Vikings players, though, wonder what type of reception Moss will get tonight.

"I don't know how the fans will respond," left tackle Bryant McKinnie said. "They shouldn't boo him, because he didn't say, 'Get me out of here.' They decided to trade him. I don't think he truly wanted to leave here. But he's dealing with it."

Kleinsasser said Moss' on- and off-the-field issues are behind him.

"I think all that stuff in the past has washed away," Kleinsasser said. "There's not too much left to talk about."

Sharper and defensive end Darrion Scott expect fans will boo Moss.

"I know how they'll respond. The same way they did when I went back to Green Bay," Sharper said. "They boo you. But it was a boo of love, though."

That will be better than nothing at all, he added.

"Fans are going to root for their team," Sharper said. "If they didn't care about you, you wouldn't hear (anything). So he probably is expecting to get booed."

Winfield predicted the majority of fans would cheer Moss.

"He was a star here," Winfield said. "You'll see people come in with No. 84 jerseys, or No. 18 Raiders jerseys."

Said Moore: "I think fans enjoy watching him play, even with him being on the other side."

Meanwhile, the two players the Vikings ultimately acquired in the Moss trade aren't placing any significance on tonight. Receiver Troy Williamson, taken with the No. 7 pick the Vikings received as part of the deal, will start, along with linebacker Napoleon Harris.

"A bunch of stuff happened for different reasons," Williamson said. "But it won't be strange for me."

Said Harris: "To be honest, I haven't even looked at it like that. I prepare for each game the same. It's far enough removed where I don't even think about it."

[Angry Pope]

Shaking off the rust

Date: Aug 14, 2006

While the Oakland Raiders have never been a team to shy away from taking on a veteran player, they had not ventured into such lenngths within their coaching staff - until now.

Tom Walsh and Rob Ryan have spoken.
That's news in itself, considering Walsh had not received clearance to speak to the media since being hired by Art Shell in February and Ryan hadn't spoken about the performance of his defense since Sept. 12, 2004.

Walsh was Shell's surprise choice as offensive coordinator. He hadn't coached in the NFL since leaving the Raiders staff the same time as Shell in 1994 and hadn't coached at all since 1999.

He was doing some analysis for college football games, helping Sega design football video games, running a bed and breakfast in Swan Valley, Idaho, and serving as the town's mayor.

But Shell and Walsh had remained friends, and Shell promised that if he ever got another head coaching job, Walsh would come with him.

He is restoring an offense as one would a 1956 Chevy, getting the Raiders back to their roots of power running, play-action passing and striking with a vertical passing game.

"I don't feel like I've been in retirement at all," Walsh said to a group of reporters. "It's not like I've been in mothballs."

Walsh stressed that it was not "his" offense. Shell referred to it as the "Al Davis offense," and Walsh traced its roots back to Sid Gillman.

"My roots in this system go back to Sid Gillman, who was the head coach when Al was first coaching with the Los Angeles Chargers in 1960," Walsh said. "No disrespect to any other coach out there past, present or future, but the majority of what you see in the game today has some form or element and the same thing Al was doing when he was coaching for Sid.

"Power off-tackle, throwing the ball downfield, those traditions have come down for decades. We have to get back to that. There's no fancy way about it. We're not going to come out and finesse people."

Left tackle Robert Gallery was unconcerned about Walsh's time away from the game, given that Shell hired him.

"If coach Shell hired him, he hired him for a reason," Gallery said. "I'm totally on board with coach Shell. If he hired Santa Claus I wouldn't question it."

Ryan, entering his third year, was given a contract extension before Shell was hired.

He was reportedly being courted by the New York Jets and coach Eric Mangini, who had worked with Ryan in New England. Ryan said he was "not very" close to leaving.

"I want to be here, and I love working for the Raiders," Ryan said. "I can't wait to win for the Raiders. That's why I'm here. I appreciated Mr. Davis doing that for me, and I'm not going to let him down. This is the year to show up. We're not going to talk about doing it. We're just going to play great ball."

Ranked 32nd in scoring defense in 2004, the Raiders were only 25th in 2005. However, unlike in past years, when players often rolled their eyes at some of the coaching staff when things went bad, it never happened under Ryan.

"There were some games where he'd stand up and say, `Hey, I called a bad game,'" free safety Stuart Schweigert said. "That's really nice to see as a player to show some accountability and responsibility, that he's not putting it off on the players. He's not going to throw any of us under the bus. It's nice to have a defensive coordinator in your corner."

[Angry Pope]

Coming Full Circle

BY Brian Bainum

Monday, August 14, 2006


NAPA, Calif.-As the afternoon sun starts to set over the practice field, Reggie Robertson drops back to pass and finds Burl Toler streaking down the sideline.
For a second, the scene seems identical to training camp at Memorial Stadium two years ago, with the Cal football team preparing to embark on what would be a 10-2 season.

A backup to Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, Robertson played only a small role that season. Toler also played a bit part at wide receiver, due mainly to persistent tendinitis in his knees.

Hardly the pair you would expect to see on an NFL roster.

But that is exactly where Toler and Robertson are, fighting to earn an opportunity at the Oakland Raiders' training camp at Redwood Middle School in Napa, Calif.

Hanging up the cleats just doesn't seem to be in their blood.

Toler has taken most of his reps with the third team in practice and appears to be well down the depth chart in a deep receiving corps that includes Randy Moss.

Robertson is also facing an uphill battle, where he has struggled to see the field in practice behind quarterbacks Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo.

"It is a new system (under new coach Art Shell), so they are trying to bring the regular guys up to speed," says Robertson. "It has been difficult, but I've just tried to stick in there and do what I can."

Robertson and Toler are often left with the grunt work, such as throwing passes for defensive drills or filling in on special teams work.

That hasn't stopped Toler from glowing about the experience.

"I'm loving it," says Toler. "It is a lot of hard work, but I've worked hard to get here and I am learning a lot."

Toler and Robertson are not only picking things up from the Raiders coaching staff, but also from their teammates as well. There are three other former Bears on the Silver and Black's roster-linebacker Ryan Riddle, offensive lineman Langston Walker and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

"People joke around and make fun of us because we have our little Cal crew," he says. "After practice, me, Reggie and Nnamdi hang out and do extra work. It's real nice having that support group."

Toler's career at Cal is a well-documented underdog story. He made the team in 2001 as a walk-on and saw action in 11 of 12 games, before struggling to see playing time during his sophomore year, catching just one pass.

But the following year was Toler's breakout season. He caught 48 passes and played a major role (six receptions, 84 yards) in the Bears' 52-49 victory in the Insight Bowl over Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, injuries limited his participation in 2004.

Toler didn't give up his dream of playing professionally, however. Over the winter he trained in Berkeley with John Krasinski, Cal's strength and conditioning coach. In March, he went to the NFL Pro Day and caught the eyes of the Raiders staff.

Four and a half months later, Toler was on the field in Canton, Ohio, fielding punts and lining up at wide receiver on national television as the Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Hall of Fame game.

He was even mentioned by John Madden at one point.

"(Burl) really became a leader for us, and it's nice to see him have an opportunity," says Bears coach Jeff Tedford. "He just kept persevering through times of not playing and he was finally a very strong contributor for us."

Robertson's perseverance has also made his former coach proud.

After playing behind Rodgers his senior season, Robertson signed on with the Indianapolis Colts. He spent some time in Europe, playing this spring for the Amsterdam Admirals, before ending up with the Raiders.

"Reggie could have started a lot of places in the Pac-10," says Tedford. "To see him continue to work and then get noticed and get a chance to play was really nice."

As Tedford prepares his team for its Sept. 2 opener against Tennessee, he needn't look further than Cameron Toler, Burl Toler's younger brother, for an example of team-oriented players on his current roster. Cameron Toler, like his brother and father, walked on and made the team at Cal.

"It's a tradition I've grown up with," says Cameron, a sophomore wide receiver. "My grandpa always told me to give my best and that would be good enough."

For Burl, his best may or may not be good enough to secure a permanent position on the roster in Oakland. One thing seems certain, though-he will not go down without a fight.

"It's kind of like being a walk-on all over again," he says. "I get opportunities just like everybody else, so I just have to use the chance to prove myself and capitalize on it."

[Angry Pope]

Middle linebacker Kirk Morrison wasn't happy with the Raiders' showing against Philadelphia's first team in the exhibition opener, and hopes to see a rapid turnaround today against Minnesota.

``It's going to be huge,'' he said. ``Last week was not at all the way we want to play the game. We looked at the film of it, then we looked at it again today. We didn't get lined up right. They came out fast, high-tempo, and we were just getting lined up. They quick-counted us. I don't want to make any excuses, but we are settled in now.

``I am expecting us to come out and start fast. That's been the whole motto of this week's practice: to start fast.''

I think the lining part is a legitimate point, more so than the tempo. My concerns are still there regarding how stout we are against the run. I am really surprised that we didn't give the player from England, Lorn Mayers, a chance in training camp. He is just the type of player that Art likes, young with some talent and willing to work hard.

[Angry Pope]

Going up?

August 14th, 2006
By Jerry McDonald

MINNEAPOLIS _ “Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it!'’

And there you have it.

My first quote ever from Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly.

Let’s not quibble over the fact that I was unseen in an elevator at the team hotel, Kelly was around the corner and had no idea who he was talking to.

Of course, once he saw the elevator was already inhabited by myself and another writer, he had a change of heart. Or maybe it my request that, “This is an elevator for interviews only.'’

I was only kidding, and Kelly knew it, but he immediately pivoted and waited for the next elevator.

Kelly has not granted an interview since he joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State. He’s never rude about it. Quite pleasant, as a matter of fact. He even declines to talk off the record about the reasons for his silence.

I wrote a story about Kelly anyway last season, doing some backround from his days in high school and college and attempting to solve the mystery.

I talked to reporters who had covered him at both stops. Talked to some of his former coaches who remain in contact with him.

The short version is that Kelly never became the player people expected him to be at Mississippi State. He gained the reputation as an underachiever, as a guy who doesn’t care.

That characterization was refuted by some of his former coaches, who said Kelly’s easy manner is sometimes deceiving and gives the wrong impression. Kelly played hurt as a senior, his draft stock plummeted and the Raiders were able to sign him as a free agent.

When the story ran, I asked Kelly if it was fair. He said it was, but told me not to quote him.

If Kelly ever becomes as good as teammate Warren Sapp thinks he can be, it will be interesting if to see if he maintains his silence. Sapp still doesn’t think Kelly understands what he can accomplish in the NFL.

“That’s the thing about this game,'’ Sapp said. “You can practice well, you can get into training camp well, but it’s all about putting it on the field. That’s the only place you’re ever judged about how good a player you are. The sky’s the limit for that monster. He’s just a monster.'’

After playing both end and tackle last season, Kelly has moved exclusively to the inside after Ted Washington was relesaed. He starts along with Sapp, with Terdell Sands the third tackle in the rotation. Anttaj Hawthorne is also getting work inside.

His education continues tonight at the Metrodome, and if the Raiders are going to have any hope of controlling in the run in the best running division in the NFL, Kelly will have to play a key role.

Whether he talks about it or not.

[Angry Pope]

Bayless: Feeling RandySkip Bayless

At first glance, this was a match made in Raiders heaven, or hell. Yes, Randy Moss was born to wear the Silver and Black, to raise hell and hopes in Oakland, to mock-moon rival fans while playing under Raider Nation's full moon. In the Bay Area, here was the Raiders' answer to Jerry Rice or even Barry Bonds. Here was the most dangerous home-run hitter in NFL history. Rice, obviously, was a more polished and sensationally productive receiver, but Moss had proven in seven Minnesota seasons to be the most gifted Bonds-style game breaker pro football had ever seen. The wiry 6-foot-4 frame, the 4.2 deep speed, the NBA athleticism and elevation... Oh, would Moss ever put the "vertical" back in Al Davis' beloved passing game. Or so some of us thought. Now, as Monday's Raiders-Vikings exhibition game takes Moss back to Minnesota for the first time, you have to wonder if he'll ever be quite as devastating as he was in purple. Last season, his first in Oakland, Randy Gene Moss could have been described, on and off the field, with a shocking new adjective: quiet. This left many NFL insiders, including some in Oakland, wondering whether Moss, at 29, is starting to look like Bonds for the wrong reason. Bonds, at 42, is finally starting to lose it. And some who know the Raiders believe Moss isn't quite as vertically explosive or fearless or durable as he once was. Then again, the opinion here is that (1) Bonds still has enough left to break Hank Aaron's home-run record and (2) Moss, if healthy, can still be pro football's most dangerous deep threat for three or four more seasons. But Moss' biggest problem was that he was born to be a '60s or '70s or '80s Raider. Now, owner and operator Davis is 77. As a GM, Davis definitely isn't what he once was.

Moss is in the right place at the wrong time. Moss is still as freakishly talented, but the Raiders are not. They don't appear to be any better than last year's 4-12 team, and they might not be as good. Moss is not a leader, just a performer. Moss can lose interest quickly when he realizes his team doesn't have much chance of winning. Make Moss the spotlight star on an outrageously talented offense, as he was in Minnesota, and look out, end zone. Make him the media focal point of the fade-to-black Raiders, and look out, dead zone. Though he played all 16 games last season and battled through groin, pelvis and abdomen injuries, Moss took his foot off the accelerator during some losses. He wasn't even fired up enough to get into any off-field scrapes. He caught 60 passes for 1,005 yards and eight touchdowns -- a stunning drop-off from his last healthy season in Minnesota, when he caught 111 for 1,632 and 17 TDs. So Monday night, as Moss trots onto that fast-track turf at the Metrodome, he will miss the firepower that once surrounded him during his great old days in purple. He will miss Randall Cunningham and Daunte Culpepper, Cris Carter and Robert Smith, Dennis Green and yes, even, Mike Tice.

Last season in Oakland, Norv Turner made Mike Tice look like Vince Lombardi. Turner had failed as a head coach in Washington, and it was pretty obvious to just about everyone in the NFL except Davis that Turner was a better in-the-background offensive coordinator than out-front leader. Then again, maybe Davis hired Turner because he isn't dynamic or commanding. Last year, Davis hovered over Raiders practices like a mad puppeteer, controlling and critiquing Turner's every move. Yes, sir, Mr. Davis, sir. Moss quickly lost respect for Turner as a head coach and a play caller. Turner was ultimately responsible for the Raiders' biggest failure last season -- not consistently getting the ball to Moss. But Turner wasn't completely at fault.

AFC West teams often went after Moss with two defenders and tried to rough him up. He took an early-season beating and couldn't get healthy. For all the criticism that Moss takes plays off, he will keep playing hurt -- as he did, to a fault, with a torn hamstring in his final Vikings season. But Moss also was hurt by the just-a-bit-outside inaccuracy of Kerry Collins ... the squeaky-wheel complaining of Jerry Porter, who wound up catching 16 more passes than Moss and now wants to be traded ... the inability of LaMont Jordan, a second-tier running back who was given top-tier money by Davis ... and the struggles of Robert Gallery, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 draft who looked like a bust at right tackle but is moving back to left tackle, his position at Iowa. And when the Raiders weren't stopping themselves, they weren't stopping anyone else. They ranked 23rd in offense, but even worse (25th) on defense. That equaled one bad team with one great player. So Davis reached back into his pride-and-poise past for his Hall of Fame left tackle and head coach from 1989-94 -- Art Shell, who hasn't coached for 12 years. But at least the whip is being cracked again at practice -- in part because Davis hasn't been around much to undercut the head coach's power. Davis' mobility is now limited by a walker, and Davis trusts Shell far more than he trusted Turner.

Shell is treating Moss -- and Porter -- just the way he treats every player. Just show up, shut up and work hard, and you're fine with Shell. So far, Moss seems to like it far more than Porter does. But for how long? Meet the new coordinator, same as the old coordinator? Tom Walsh, who ran the offense through the '80s and early '90s, has rejoined Shell. Walsh, too, has been out of the NFL for 12 years. And in Oakland's first exhibition game, the Raiders' starters were dominated on both sides of the ball by the Philadelphia Eagles' starters. Moss played eight snaps. Zero passes were thrown his way. So began the Aaron Brooks Era. Yes, inconceivably, Davis replaced Collins with the NFL's Quarterback Most Likely to Make a Mistake -- "Error" Brooks. The Raiders failed to acquire Culpepper or Steve McNair, opted not to take Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler with the draft's seventh pick -- and wound up with a guy who can make even wilder throws and worse decisions than Collins. Maybe the universe is getting even with Moss for all his bad-boy behavior. Yes, the emotional Moss will have trouble controlling his tear ducts on Monday night. So many memories, great and bad. So many dome-rocking TD catches, so many fines. Yes, the tears could flow -- tears of nostalgia and frustration. Moss spoke out of both sides of his mouth the other day to the San Francisco Chronicle, saying he didn't really have any thoughts on his return, but that "it's going to be special." He stressed that he's a Raider now, and he has a job to do, but he hopes the game will be a sellout "because I'm coming back." So many mixed emotions. Moss concluded: "What I did in Minnesota, what I accomplished in Minnesota, is way, way behind me." Is it ever. No. 84 is long gone. He wears 18 now. And he's coached by a tough old Raider who has made it very clear the Raiders will not do anything special to feature Moss on Monday night. In fact, it doesn't sound like Moss will play much. Shell said: "He can get great again. There is no doubt in my mind -- I see it. We've just got to keep him healthy coming out of training camp and get through the season [with him healthy] and he'll make his mark." The gut feeling here is that Moss remains highly capable of making the deal that brought him to Oakland look like a steal again. For Moss, Davis traded starting middle linebacker Napoleon Harris, the seventh pick in the draft (which was used for receiver Troy Williamson) and a later-round pick. Then again, maybe Moss should be the receiver who's soon demanding a trade.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders troubled by slow starts
Despite two exhibition wins, Oakland has been outplayed by its opponents early in games 3 sum

By Steve Corkran

Center Jake Grove sounded the early warning bell Monday night after the Raiders' exhibition victory over the Minnesota Vikings. There's still plenty of time, he said, for the Raiders to mesh into a cohesive team and play up to the lofty expectations they have for themselves.

Most NFL teams target their second-to-last exhibition game as the one in which to get their starters the most playing time. Coaches and players treat that game as a dry run for the regular-season opener.

Given that, Grove said, the Raiders have nine days of meetings, seven days of practice and one exhibition game to work out the kinks in the blocking, sharpen the running game, refine the defensive scheme, whatever, before they play the Detroit Lions on Aug. 25, in the fourth of their five exhibition games.

Grove called these next 10 days or so "crucial" toward the Raiders' overall success this season. Wide receiver Randy Moss echoed the sentiment, saying it's critical the Raiders come out playing their best football Sept. 11, against the San Diego Chargers in the regular-season opener.

"It's important for any team to try to make a run for the playoffs," Moss said "you've got to start fast."

By starting fast, Moss means winning games. For now, the Raiders are working on starting fast in a game, period. That hasn't happened in their two exhibition games, as the offensive and defensive starters got outplayed by their counterparts in victories against the Philadelphia Eagles and Vikings.

Not much has worked well in the early going of those games. Troubling signs -- missed blocks and tackles, errant passes, penalties, blown assignments -- surfaced early and persisted throughout.

Some of that is to be expected, Grove said.

"Across the board, we played together as a unit a little better," Grove said. "We tried some new things (Monday) and we're working on some things. That's what the preseason is all about, trying new things and seeing what works and what doesn't."

The defense appears to be ahead of the offense, but that doesn't count for much if the penalties persist, defensive tackle Warren Sapp said.

The Raiders forced Minnesota to punt on two of its three drives with the starters going head to head. The Vikings scored a touchdown on the other drive, courtesy of a missed tackle that would have forced a punt and three penalties.

"I told them out on the field, 'Fellas, if we do this, we will face this all year long,'" Sapp said. "We will have to deal with it for four quarters for 16 (games). And that is not fun at all."

Raiders coach Art Shell said he lectured his players after the game about playing mistake-free football, and he will continue to harp on the subject until he gets the desired results.

"We just can't give up those types of penalties," Shell said. "It will come back to haunt you. ... They will have to understand that those things will have to be taken care of or they won't be able to get on the football team and play for us."

Notes: Rookie linebacker Timi Wusu sustained a groin injury in Monday's game and is expected to miss a "week or two," Shell said. First-year offensive tackle William Obeng sprained his right foot in the same game and likely will miss just as much time. Running back Rod Smart sustained a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee and is day-to-day, Shell said. ... Shell said he is "going to stay the course" with his revamped offensive line despite inconsistent play the first two games. Left offensive tackle Robert Gallery needs to work on "his mechanics and awareness of what's around him," Shell said. ... The Raiders resume training camp in Napa today and stay there through Saturday in preparation for Sunday night's game against the 49ers.

[Angry Pope]

Listen up: Shell's the boss, Moss
Questions about playing time won't be tolerated by the new Raiders coach.

By Jim Jenkins
Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, August 16, 2006


Raiders receiver Randy Moss never has been subtle about expressing his emotions on the field.
Whether by physical gesture or verbal outburst to signal his displeasure of not being involved enough in the offense, he has made sure coaches and quarterbacks got the message.


It was true for seven seasons in Minnesota and his first season in Oakland.
He might have to it tone down this season because Art Shell, the coach he's playing for now, doesn't have much tolerance for such outbursts.

Shell made that clear Tuesday when he was asked about Moss' complaint of being taken out of Monday night's game at Minnesota in the middle of a scoring drive in Oakland's 16-13 victory at the Metrodome, the site of most of Moss' greatest games.

Moss made his only catch of the game, a 16-yarder from Aaron Brooks, in the opening minute of the second quarter before being summoned to the sideline for good. Moss said the move was puzzling.

Shell said he didn't give Moss an explanation afterward.

"There is no need to talk to him," Shell said in a teleconference. "I made a decision to take him out. There was a time for him to play, and the time for him had come and gone. It was time to get him out of there. I don't need to have a conversation about that."

Said Moss after the game: "He's the coach. He made the decision. I've got to live with that."

"There's a time for everything," Shell said when asked if giving Moss more playing time might be beneficial to offensive continuity as a whole. "I'm not going to (commit to playing) Randy a half or three quarters. I'm not going to do that. We're going to do what we think is right to get our team ready to play."

Brooks, the former New Orleans Saint, had another poor effort in his bid to become the Raiders' starting quarterback, completing just 1 of 6 passes.

Said Shell: "Aaron would probably be the first to tell you he's not satisfied with his production at all. Hopefully, he will get better. … There's plenty of time."

Brooks' backup the first two exhibition games, Andrew Walter, completed 10 of 19 passes for 148 yards, including a 67-yard scoring toss to Johnnie Morant in the second quarter.

Walter also threw two interceptions, but Shell said the second-year quarterback improved from the exhibition opener against Philadelphia.

With training camp resuming today in Napa, Shell said he is considering giving Walter and veteran backup Marques Tuiasosopo (3-for-5 passing for 36 yards) time with the first string in the remaining three preseason games, the next of which is 5 p.m. Sunday against the visiting 49ers.

On the injury front, Shell said rookie linebacker Timi Wusu from Stanford will be sidelined with a groin pull for at least a week. Running back Rod Smart has a sprained knee that might keep him out a few days.

[Angry Pope]

Shell gets well-deserved second chance


By Phil Simms



(Aug. 15, 2006) -- At one point during the 2005 season, I found myself in the NFL office at 280 Park Avenue in New York -- a very nice office for those of you who have never been there. I remember walking around and seeing all the pictures on the walls and mementoes on display -- all the great players, from Jim Thorpe to Walter Payton.

On the 17th floor, there's a picture of Art Shell on the wall, celebrating the fact that he was the first African-American head coach of the NFL's modern era. A little farther down the hall, there was Art Shell himself -- not a picture on a wall. Shell was there, serving in his role as the league's vice president of football operations.


Andy Reid welcomed Art Shell back to the NFL coaching fraternity in Canton.
When I saw Shell in the league office, my immediate thought was to ask him this question: Why are you here? I would have asked him that question, but there were other people around and I didn't think it was appropriate.

But it was a worthy question. Here was a Hall of Fame player who became head coach of the then-Los Angeles Raiders and had success. He was 54-38. How many coaches have been fired after posting that kind of record? And even those who have been fired with that kind of record, how many of them didn't get another chance? How come other franchises didn't say, "Wow, look what this guy did with the Raiders. Let's go get him."

For some reason, there was never an outcry for Art Shell. He was never given credit for the success he had with the Raiders. (Maybe it's got something to do with the franchise, because Tom Flores was in the same boat -- he did get one other chance, with the Seahawks, but here's a guy who won two Super Bowls and he doesn't even get mentioned as a potential Hall of Fame candidate.)

So here's Art Shell, a great player who had success as a coach, who has done some great things for the NFL, and now he's finally getting another chance as a head coach -- appropriately with the Raiders.

And if you saw his return to the sidelines, in Oakland's Hall of Fame Game victory against the Eagles two weeks ago, you might have noticed some hints as to what Shell will bring to the team.

Sometimes you can read too much into things, but the very first series of the game said something to me. First down, the Raiders run with no success. Second down, they run again with no success. Third and long -- an obvious passing situation at any level of the game -- and he runs the football. Interesting.

Maybe he wouldn't do that in the regular season, but maybe this was Shell's way of telling everybody -- those watching on TV but more importantly his own players -- what this team will be about. Shell was a great offensive lineman, and he wants to be all about running the football, being tough and getting back to the characteristics the Raiders had in their successful years.

I guess what I'm saying is: Welcome back, Art Shell.

[Raiders_Rock]

A few things that I've heard out of camp - Walter is expected to emerge as our starting QB. Also, surprisingly Zack Crockett and Danny Clark are not expected to make the team.

[CrossBones]

A few things that I've heard out of camp - Walter is expected to emerge as our starting QB. Also, surprisingly Zack Crockett and Danny Clark are not expected to make the team.At this point from what I've seen of Brooks I'd just as soon see if Walter can get it done. I had hight hopes that a change of address would do Brooks good but so far he has looked awful.

Crockett? As if we're not already light on running backs.

[Rupert]

Yeah, but Crockett is the FB and Foschi and Hall have looked good so far. Both have more upside.

If Walter does get the nod, we're going to have to live with some growing pains, but at this point we are going to have to anyway, so we might as well get them all over with in one season, not two.

[Angry Pope]

But we can keep Crockett without attaching a title to him. There is no telling how Fargas will pan out nor if he will stay healthy. Crockett is better at carrying the ball than Reshard Lee and a tougher rounner than Smart.

[Rupert]

Without question.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders' focus on turnovers pays off early in preseason

By JOSH DUBOW


NAPA, Calif.

Linebackers practice stripping the ball away from offensive players. Defensive backs tip passes to each other trying for interceptions. Backup quarterbacks even have purposely dropped snaps from center to give linemen the chance to practice recovering fumbles.

Turnovers - both preventing and causing them - have been a strong point of emphasis for Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell this preseason.

"I never had to work on turnovers so much during practice," defensive lineman Lance Johnstone said. "The first game showed you. I've never been on a team where we actually had a special part of practice where offense and defense is just working on turnovers. It's definitely going to help us out."

The results have been evident so far this preseason. The Raiders forced five turnovers in the preseason opener against Philadelphia and followed that with two more Monday against Minnesota, including recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff.

That's a far cry from last season, when Oakland forced only 19 turnovers in 16 games. The Raiders' five interceptions were the fewest by any team in a 16-game season.

"I hope we continue to do that," Shell said. "We just need to make sure we get them during the regular season when we open up in San Diego. They're working on it. It's a point of emphasis for us coming into training camp and those guys are really working hard on it. They love the turnover drill now. They get a kick out of it because they see results."

One reason for the lack of interceptions last year was inexperience in the secondary. When Charles Woodson went down with a season-ending injury in October, the secondary was left without an experienced leader and some of the young players admitted they were too tentative.

The inability to cause turnovers made it difficult for the defense to get off the field, but that could change this season.

Cornerback Fabian Washington, last year's first-round draft pick, already has one interception this preseason after getting none as a rookie, and plans to take more chances this season.

"That's how I played in college," Washington said. "I don't think it's gambling. I think it's taking an educated guess. You watch enough film to know what the offense is pretty much going to do, so now you have to take your shots.

"That was something that I definitely wasn't doing last year. ... If you look at Deion (Sanders), Champ (Bailey), Charles (Woodson), they take their shots. If they get beat, they get beat. But you have to take your shots."

Along with practicing creating turnovers each day, the Raiders have also put a greater emphasis on speed on defense.

Rookie Thomas Howard is starting at outside linebacker because of his speed, and Kirk Morrison has moved from the outside to the middle, where he should be able to roam from sideline to sideline.

First-round pick Michael Huff is expected to start at safety and use his speed and big hitting all over the field.

"You guys can see the speed out there on defense," Morrison said. "As a linebacker, it's a race for the tackles, because if you slip, there's going to be another guy on that play. That's the kind of competition that we have. That's not just for us as linebackers, it's for the whole defense. We've got speed all around, the D-line all the way up to the secondary. We just want to be able to get there, and make big plays, make interceptions, turnovers."

[Angry Pope]

Shell understands Moss' frustration
Coach says it speaks to the star receiver's competitive nature


NAPA -- Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss said coach Art Shell's decision to remove him from the game in the middle of a drive Monday night upset him. Shell responded Thursday by saying there is nothing to respond to.

If anything, Shell said, he views Moss' unhappiness as a positive sign.

"Randy is no different than any other ballplayer," Shell said. "Fred Biletnikoff used to be frustrated. Young Cliff Branch used to be frustrated. All those guys were frustrated. They all wanted the ball, and I understand that. But, no, that doesn't bother me. That's good. That means he's competitive and he wants to do well."

Moss said he understood Shell's decision, he just didn't welcome his getting yanked in the middle of a drive.

Shell no doubt saw the film of Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis sustaining a shoulder injury while making a tackle at the end of an interception return in an exhibition game and used that as a reminder to pull his star player.

Lofty expectations

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski is doing everything asked of him, through two games. Or, make that, told him by Shell.

"I told him in the offseason when I first met him," Shell said, "'I'm going to count on you. I expect you to be a Pro Bowl kicker this year. You have the talent to do that, and I expect that that will happen.' He's been responding."

And how. Janikowski has made all six of his field goal attempts, including three from beyond 50 yards. He missed 10 of his 30 attempts last season and converted none from 50 yards or longer.

Shell said he watches his kicker in pregame warm-ups, gets a feel for how he looks kicking the ball, and then goes off what his kicker tells him during the game. Janikowski told Shell he felt comfortable from up to 60 yards during Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings. So it was that Shell didn't hesitate in sending out Janikowski to attempt a 55-yard field goal.

Janikowski's kick split the uprights and had the distance to be good from 60 yards or more.

Shell said he has never had a kicker tell him that he felt comfortable from beyond 55 yards. That isn't the case with Janikowski.

Shell also has sought to bolster Janikowski's confidence by not bringing up last season.

"I really don't know the history of last year except that I look at the stats and I see where on the field, the grids where he was inconsistent," Shell said. "So, my idea was to come in and show him that I have confidence in his ability, and the team has confidence in him, and to build a relationship that, 'Hey, when the time comes, you do your job.' I expect he'll do it and do it well."

Bombs away!

Punter Shane Lechler put on an impressive display for the 100 or so guests of the Raiders by booming more than 10 straight punts in excess of 55 yards. Some traveled beyond 70 yards, with exceptional hang time. His exploits prompted defensive tackle Warren Sapp to yell, "Hey, Shane, you can go home now. We've seen enough."

Extra points

Cornerback Raymond Washington (hamstring) returned to practice for the first time since the first week of training camp. Linebacker Ricky Brown (knee) also returned to practice after an extended absence. Both are long shots to make the regular-season roster.

[Angry Pope]

Fabian starting to turn corner

With dreadful rookie season behind him, Raiders CB Washington is showing his growth

By Steve Corkran

NAPA - Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington is standing on the sidelines at training camp. He is joking around with a handful of veterans, right in the middle of things, blending in well.

A year ago, Washington didn't have much time for anything other than trying to keep his head above water. He described his rookie season as a "constant swim," an endless succession of waves crashing down upon his head.

Washington no longer is looking for someone to throw him a line. He has emerged from the rough surf that passed as his rookie season and is making waves of his own with play that he hopes will make people forget about predecessor Charles Woodson.

"It's tough," Washington said. "You're going to come in with pressure just by being a first-rounder. Then, when you're not living up to expectations, it's tough on you. But you got to fight through that."

Washington didn't have much time to soak up the nuances of the NFL. Woodson sustained a season-ending injury six games into the season last year. That accelerated Washington's maturation process by thrusting him into the starting lineup.

Suffice to say, his rookie season didn't go as well as he planned. Nor did it meet the lofty expectations the Raiders had for a player they selected in the first round of the NFL draft after trading up to do so.

That shouldn't come as a surprise, Raiders coach Art Shell said. A player's first season is about learning what to expect from the NFL, learning the team's scheme and laying the foundation for the rest of your career.

"I expect Fabian to really grow this year," Shell said. "Most of the time, when a guy comes into this league, after his first year, the growth really begins from the end of his first year until the next season. I expect him to grow tremendously from last year."

Washington offered a glimpse into just how far he has come by intercepting a pass in Oakland's first exhibition game, against the Philadelphia Eagles. He almost intercepted another one Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

The pass he intercepted proved to Washington, he said, that he is back to being the player he was in college, at Nebraska.

"Take your shot," Washington said. "That was something I definitely wasn't doing last year. Last year, I know I would have just broken that pass up."

No more sitting back, letting the receiver catch the ball and reacting from there, he said. He now has the confidence to break on balls and to be more aggressive.

"That's how I played in college," Washington said. "I don't think it's gambling. It's taking an educated guess. You watch enough film to know what the offense is going to do. You got to take your shot."

Washington is one of the young players Shell is counting upon to force more turnovers this season. Last year, the Raiders recorded a league-low five interceptions. Washington had none.

He has all the tools necessary to be that kind of player, Shell said. How good he can be, no one knows quite yet. Yet, everyone agrees that Washington is making significant progress and has only scratched the surface of his potential.

"When you're out there the first year, you're playing off ability," Shell said.

Ability gives way to experience after a breaking-in period, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said.

"The game slows down for them," Ryan said. "That's the biggest thing: Once they see the game at a slower speed, they can make quicker plays, quicker decisions. That's what we're looking forward to."

[Angry Pope]

Raiders are way ahead in one area -- yes, penalties

David White

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Raiders tight end Courtney Anderson jumped before the snap, something football people refer to as a false start. It was the second play of practice Wednesday in Napa.

Starting left tackle Robert Gallery stood up when a coach yelled "Set!" He's supposed to wait until hearing something along the lines of "Hike!"

Want to really, really bother Raiders coach Art Shell at training camp? Commit a few penalties that are 100 percent preventable.

"Those are cheap calls that you're giving away," Shell said, pointing to no player in particular. "You don't want to do that."

Shell is trying to break them from these bad habits, because no one on the Raiders wants to defend their 2005 title as the most flagged team in the NFL.

He started camp by making players who move early at the line of scrimmage stay late to run 100-yard laps. With 14 penalties for 104 yards in two exhibition games, this might be the time to institute a stiffer penal code.

"Self-inflicted wounds are the worst kind," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said after the Raiders had nine penalties for 64 yards in Monday's 16-10 victory at Minnesota.

"I told them out on the field (Monday) 'Guys, we deal with this or we will face this all year long.' We will have to deal with it for four quarters for 16 weeks, and that is not fun at all.

"It concerns all of us."

Raiders fans can't blame the problems on the referees, or some perceived bias against their team. Referee discretion only comes into account on judgment penalties, such as pass interference or roughing the passer. Oakland has been called for three of these in two games.

Its other 11 penalties are procedural, such as defensive offside, false start or delay of game. These are normally open-shut cases where the violator clearly broke the rules, and referee discretion is not a factor -- you either moved before the rules allow, or you didn't.

The Raiders have been whistled for four false starts, four defensive offside (two were declined) and one encroachment. Gallery and backup defensive end Kevin Huntley lead the team with two penalties each.

"Of course I'm discouraged by it," running back LaMont Jordan said. "I hate to go back to last year, but that's what we did last year and we hurt ourselves. Pretty much the same things have been preached, but what we have to do as players is actually go out there and get the job done."

Shell doesn't have a magic tonic or some special drill that will cure his trigger-happy linemen. He just makes sure they hear about it over and over again, in the film room, on the practice field, during the post-practice huddle.

Offensive linemen, don't ... make ... a ... move. If you can't hear the quarterback, talk to him about the inflection of his voice.

Defensive linemen, watch the ball until it's snapped. The Raiders were called for offside and encroachment on Minnesota's lone touchdown drive Monday.

It's that simple, Shell said. Or else.

"Those are things that we have to concentrate on, and talk to them about how it hurts your team in crucial situations," Shell said. "Each individual has to take it upon themselves to concentrate and focus on what has to be done."

Hey Ricky: Linebacker Ricky Brown is back at practice, and he even has a new nickname.

"Ricky Bobby," Raiders receiver Jerry Porter called the rookie from Boston College. He's referring to the star character of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."

Brown missed every practice and exhibition game this month with a hamstring injury. Rookie cornerback Raymond Washington (hamstring) also practiced for the first time in more than two weeks.

Briefly: Porter practiced with the second-team offense. He did not play in Monday's game. ... Defensive end Lance Johnstone worked with the first-team defense despite being listed third on the depth chart. ... Play of the day: Cornerback Duane Starks broke up an Aaron Brooks pass to Randy Moss on an end-zone slant route. ... China flag-football coach Tang Hai-yan will be a guest coach at practice today, making him the third international coach to spend time with the Raiders this month. ... Today marks the team's last scheduled two-a-day workout of training camp.

[Angry Pope]

Ryan not defensive about still having job

However, the Raiders assistant knows much improvement is expected from his defense.

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, August 17, 2006


NAPA -- When the Raiders retained defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after firing head coach Norv Turner and before hiring Art Shell, pundits issued a collective "huh?"

Turner lost his job because of an impotent offense, and Ryan's defense ranked near the bottom of the NFL in his two seasons.

Shouldn't Ryan have been sending out résumés, too?

Not in the mind of Raiders owner Al Davis, who made sure whoever coached the Raiders would have Ryan on his staff.

That was good news for the players who wanted Ryan back, with the chance to continue working on improving a young defense.


Those players can make that choice look like a deft business decision.
Ryan knows incremental improvement (the Raiders went from 30th to 27th in total defense in his first two seasons) won't cut it, especially if the offense needs time to jell in a new system.

And he doesn't want everyone who questioned his return to look like geniuses.

"I appreciated Mr. Davis doing that for me, and I'm not going to let him down," Ryan said. "This is the year to show up. We're not going to talk about it, we're just going to play great ball."

Players gravitate toward Ryan's personality. He's outgoing, keeps the mood light and is the defense's biggest cheerleader.

"When you've got somebody like that who lives and loves football, it's contagious around the whole unit," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said.

It hasn't always been smiling faces on defense. Sapp wasn't happy playing out of position when Ryan tried to install a 3-4 defense two seasons ago.

What the players do appreciate is Ryan's flexibility and willingness to work with the personnel.

"The one thing Rob Ryan does is find a place for you on defense whether you're a starter or not," linebacker Kirk Morrison said.

Morrison said that's a reason players were supportive last season and took blame when things didn't work out on the field.

Ryan's way of coaching is inclusive, and he leaves an open door for players.

"You can definitely go to him and talk to him," Morrison said. "He wants to play to your strengths. Everyone has a role."

That's not to say Ryan is a pushover, as he can yell with the best of them in practice. Nevertheless, he has his players' respect. Though Sapp didn't like playing in the 3-4, he never publicly blasted Ryan.

And that's not easy for Sapp, or any other player, especially when the team isn't winning.

"That's one thing that we really haven't done is blown up at each other on an outward basis, and we never will," Sapp said of the defense. "I don't see that."

When Ryan was a child, Shell and the Raiders made him cry when they beat Minnesota in Super Bowl XI. Ryan's father, Buddy, coached for the Vikings.

Ryan's first meeting with Shell as his boss was more comforting.

"The first time I met him, I'm like, 'Ooh, (shoot), this is going to be all right,' " Ryan said.

Shell saw some of the traits of Buddy, who also had extremely loyal players in his coaching days, in Rob.

"He's feisty like Buddy," Shell said. "Buddy didn't say a whole lot, but when he said something, you knew he meant it and it was time to step aside."

Ryan would like to see in his defense the traits that made his father's teams feared -- intelligent, tough players who swarm to the ball and force turnovers.

"I don't know if we've seen that every time, but we'll damn sure see it this year," Ryan said.

If so, that would answer why Ryan is back.

Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "I understand, I understand. I had a great preseason career in New York." -- Running back LaMont Jordan, as to why starters don't play a lot during the preseason. He backed up Curtis Martin for four years with the Jets.

Play of the day: It's not common for a linebacker to come up with an interception during 7-on-7 drills, but Danny Clark did Wednesday with a pickoff of quarterback Andrew Walter on a short pass.

Player watch: Defensive end Lance Johnstone took snaps with the first-team defense Wednesday, but he's only a starter, per se. The Raiders plan to use the 11-year veteran in obvious passing downs and showed a new wrinkle Monday, lining him up at defensive tackle next to Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess to put two pass-rushers next to each other. The Raiders expect the pass rush to be much improved with Johnstone on the field.

Injury report: Linebacker Ricky Brown (hamstring) and cornerback Raymond Washington (hamstring) returned to practice. Wide receiver Jerry Porter practiced after sitting out Monday's game. Linebacker Timi Wusu said he expects to be back on the field in two weeks after pulling his groin making a tackle.

[Angry Pope]

The part about Moss' frustration is what I thought it was all along. If you don't get frustrated, you don't want to win. That goes for players and fans.

[Angry Pope]

Jordan, Shell have advice: Be patient
Running back, coach insist Oakland offense will get in gear

PHIL BARBER


NAPA - With only six touches against the Vikings on Monday, it's possible LaMont Jordan worked harder Wednesday, when he flashed a wry smile and did everything he possibly could to keep the wrong words from leaving his lips.


"I'm trying my best to be as politically correct as I can," Jordan said at one point.

The subject was the Raiders' first-team offense. And if you can't say anything nice about a subject, you shouldn't say anything at all.

There's no disputing that Oakland's starting offense has laid a giant egg through two weeks of the exhibition season, gaining a total of 44 yards on 32 plays (counting three penalties). In eight possessions, the first-teamers have two first downs and a touchdown. With coach Art Shell and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh having spent so long away from the pro game, it isn't hard to see why a lot of fans are growing skeptical.

But Jordan, Shell and most of the other Raiders are delivering the same sermon to the faithful: Be patient.

"You guys want it done in two games," Shell told reporters Wednesday. "You want instant gratification. It doesn't work that way. That's why you go to training camp. That's why you train. That's why you work. Every team is going through the same thing. Maybe not like we are, but everybody's going through that."

Even Jordan, not the most easygoing athlete in the world, isn't ready to call this offense a failure. The Raiders thus far have been unable to display the "downhill running" everyone keeps talking about. But Jordan likes the concept and believes it can be successful this year.

"Stick with it, it will come around," he said. "The Vikings, sometimes they had eight men in the box for us. Plus, like I said before, we haven't started to scheme and game plan on people yet. We still have three weeks to go. If we can just take what we do on the practice field and convert that to the game day, I think we'll be fine."

That "if" is about as big as the Metrodome, though. Shell and Walsh have been installing their offense for months now, with precious little to show for it. Granted, the blocking schemes are different, the quarterback (Aaron Brooks) is new, there's a rookie (Paul McQuistan) starting on the line and two other guys (tackles Robert Gallery and Langston Walker) have moved positions from last year. And as Shell pointed out, the unit didn't get as much work as he had hoped in the spring.

"They weren't all together during the offseason," Shell said. "There were times when Randy (Moss) was not here and there were times when other guys were not here. Working with the quarterback is very important during the offseason. They didn't do it much."

Though Jordan has averaged only 3.2 yards on his 15 carries, he isn't taking most of the heat for the offense's lack of production. That burden has fallen to Brooks - who has only two completions in two games - and, even more, to the reconfigured offensive line.

The line has yet to assert itself in either the running game or the passing attack.

Jordan again urged patience.

"Right now I know what the guys are going through," he said. "They're trying to learn the system, they're trying to learn a bunch of new things. ... So I'm just trying to maintain my patience, knowing those guys are learning the same way that I'm learning."

Gallery admitted after the game Monday that he's still getting re-acclimated to the left tackle position. He's confident that the skills and reflexes will come back, and that his offensive teammates will follow suit.

"We have three (exhibition) games left," Gallery said. "Obviously we'd like to be perfect right now, but we're not. So I guess we'll have everybody write about it, and we'll go back and practice and do what we gotta do to get everybody in synch together."

OK, big guy, ball's in your court.

EXTRA POINTS

CB Raymond Washington and LB Ricky Brown returned from hamstring injuries Wednesday. Washington hadn't practiced since July26, Brown not since July30.

Missing Wednesday's work were RB Rod Smart (knee), LB Robert Thomas (calf), TE James Adkisson (knee), LB Timi Wusu (groin), T William Obeng (foot) and WR Carlos Francis (hamstring). WR Ronald Curry (Achilles') remains on the physically unable to perform list.

[Angry Pope]

Mr. Nice Guy, Randy Moss

David White

You're an Oakland Raider, tired and beat from a two-hour practice. There's only one way to leave the field, and the path is lined with about a 100 autograph beggars.

How to avoid signing without coming off as a royal jerk? Come out right after Randy Moss. You become the Invisible Man while Moss plays the knight with a black Sharpie.

"Mr. Moss, sign for me, pleeeease."

Fans lined up three-deep behind two barricades at the team's training camp facility behind the Napa Valley Marriott. Moss didn't look up as he walked past everyone when practice ended, but returned 5 minutes later to oblige.

Maybe that's why he is the most popular Raider on earth (see dozens of 18 jerseys in the crowd).

"We drove eight hours for this! Please?"

He shook hands with uniformed military officers, then scribbled as fast as he could on anything thrust his way. Footballs, helmets, a Randy Moss action figure. Some had game programs, others the shirt on their own back. The cutest was this pink baby "onesie."

"Come on, I took a day off with no pay!"

Some gave thanks, others high-fived the nearest person. Those who were skipped just shrugged and moved on to the next player coming out of the locker room.

"Who's this one?"

[Angry Pope]

Remain calm _ all is well

August 17th, 2006
Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ The Raiders went global Wednesday morning, with coaches Patruck Esume (Germany), Radames Carillo (Mexico) and Tang Hai-yan (China) sitting in on meetings and interacting with players and coaches during practice.

It’s a noble undertaking, but you wonder if they’re not giving these guys the wrong impression. The general idea of the passing game is to get the ball into the hands of the receivers, rather than have it fall harmlessly to the ground.

At the risk of inciting mass hysteria in Raider Nation _ or Raider International _ it appears Oakland does not have a quarterback on its roster as good as Kerry Collins.

There. I said it.

This isn’t to suggest the Raiders ought to place a call to Blue Q Ranch in North Carolina, where Collins resides and is waiting for a call which may never come once again be an NFL quarterback.

Collins was a scapegoat on a bad team and took too much of the blame, which goes with the territory of being a quarterback. The two sides did the right thing in parting ways.

But judging from most practices and two pre-season games, if someone were to offer the Raiders a chance at 3,759 yards passing with 20 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, they’d likely take it, no questions asked.

Coach Art Shell is preaching patience. His trained eye is seeing improvement and progress where outsiders are seeing little. A couple of months from now, Shell may end up looking like the wise old professor who knew all the answers and couldn’t convince anyone of them in advance.

Either that or Shell will be the Kevin Bacon character in “Animal House,'’ standing in the middle of chaos and saying, “Remain calm, all is well,'’ while rioters are looting the Food King.

Shell at present has no stated plans to give Andrew Walter extended time with the first team. He says of starter Aaron Brooks that he is concerned, but not worried. As for Marques Tuiasosopo, he doesn’t seem to figure in the Raiders plans, no matter what he does.

Thursday morning’s practice on the final day of double-day sessions was like many others. A few nice plays, many incompletions. Some of them are not even close to an intended receiver.

Left-hander Kent Smith gets a chance to run the scout team, and Kirk Morrison promptly steals a pass and runs unimpeded toward the end zone. Courtney Anderson runs into the secondary uncovered and Tuiasosopo misses him.

“Get somebody in there that can cover,'’ shouts defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, knowing full well his defense was fortunate that the Raiders offense can’t properly time a pass.

I’m getting a kick out of all the reports on ESPN and the NFL Network, from people who have never seen so much as a snap of practice, talking about how impressive Walter has been and how he’s pushing Brooks.

Walter has actually been outperformed in practice overall by Brooks, although Brooks has had the advantage of working more with the first team. His entire challenge for the job is rooted in one play _ his gorgeous 67-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Morant _ along with Brooks’ poor performance in six possessions.

The quarterbacks will get better, and are getting better, Shell says. The line will block better, Shell says. The Raiders will find ways to get the ball to Randy Moss, Shell says.

He sure sounds like he believes it.

Bits and pieces from Wednesday morning’s practice:

— Defensive end Bryant McNeal avoided a few extra laps courtesy of tackle Warren Sapp. “You’re offside, B-Mac. Step back!,'’ shouted Sapp before the snap. McNeal obliged, and Sapp yelled, “Thank you.'’

— Special teams coach Ted Daisher, who has the reputation of being a bit of a drill sargent, lost his temper when the field goal unit was thrashing about trying to get set up. “Knock off the (B.S.) and let’s go!,'’ Daisher said in a voice probably audible to the passing wine train outside the Napa Marriott.

— Sebastian Janikowski clanged a field goal attempt off the clock at the top of a fully extended chery picker, higher than the top of the goal post. Janikowski continues to be deadly accurate with his place kicks.

— Linebacker Grant Irons and fullback Joe Hall went facemask to facemask and got stuck. Hall got out from under his helmet, which was fastened tightly to Irons’ helmet.

— Guard Corey Hulsey got in some work with the first team at left guard as Barry Sims missed some time with an inflamed right elbow.

— Jarrod Cooper may be the best interview in the NFL. He was talking about the give-and-take among teammates during practice, and how he enjoys needling Jerry Porter. And that Porter needles him back. He’s also got on Doug Gabriel of late.

“I’m yelling at Doug, too,'’ Cooper said. “I ain’t seen him catch a pass in awhile.'’

When asked if Porter’s problems are considered a business issue or a team issue, Cooper didn’t mince words.

“I’ve been in the league six years. I’ve been the third safety, the second safety, the first safety. If you have someone who is upset because he’s running at a three, but he’s still contributing to the team, then you don’t really want that person,'’ Cooper said. “You want someone who’s going to contribute anyway that they’re asked, no matter where it’s at. That’s what you want. If they’re not like that, then they can get out of here. It’s about winning as a team, it’s not what you’re doing.”

[Angry Pope]

Don't make this man angry

Art Shell comes across as unflappable, almost serene as he goes about his job. But he obviously has his boiling point. Wednesday, Shell told a reporter: "I don't like the tone of that question." Thursday, the big man got a lot hotter than that.

The Raiders were in the middle of another nondescript afternoon practice in Napa, at about 4:10 p.m., when Shell abruptly called the players around him at midfield. He's a soft-spoken man, and it was impossible to hear what he was telling the group. But the absolute silence shrouding him made it clear he wasn't telling knock-knock jokes.

After a few minutes, Shell dismissed his athletes. They were done for the day. And whereas the players usually walk to the locker room chattering, this time they jogged off the field soundless.

None of the writers could figure out what had preceded the implosion, and Shell wasn't in a mood to clue us in. Asked why he ended early, he said only, "Practice is over," not slackening his pace one bit as he left the field. Why, coach? "You gotta work when you're out here." Do they have extra assignments now? "They got meetings tonight."

The players soon began to trickle from the locker room, but they weren't talking. They had either been intimidated into silence, or expressly directed not to discuss what happened.

Defensive end Derrick Burgess: "No, I got nothing to say today. - Not after what just happened."

Cornerback Fabian Washington: "Not today."

Safety Stuart Schweigert: "Ummm- I don't think I should talk anything about it."

Rookie quarterback Kent Smith: "Best just to stay out the way."

Most bizarre of all, normally reticent quarterback Aaron Brooks approached reporters unsolicited and said, "I apologize for that (stuff) today." It only added to the mystery of a strange afternoon.

Some Raiders were guessing that Shell might schedule an impromptu Friday-morning practice to go with the afternoon session. You can bet there will be some spirited hitting. Perhaps we'll even figure out what irked the coach so much in the first place - if any of us can muster the courage to ask him.

[Angry Pope]

You’re outta here

August 17th, 2006
Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ Art Shell thought so little of the last scheduled practice of double sessions that he sent his team to the showers nearly an hour early.

Shell gathered the Raiders Thursday at 4:10 p.m., a good 50 minutes before the practice was supposed to end. His normally soft-spoken voice could be heard even if the words could not be deciphered.

Then the Raiders, en masse, turned toward the field house and jogged off the field together.

Shell, greeted by reporters as he made his way alone toward the exit, was brief and to the point.

“Practice is over,'’ Shell said. “You’ve got to work when you’re out here. They’ve got meetings tonight.'’

Raiders players said little as they filed out of the field house and back to their hotel rooms.

“Hey guys, I’m sorry about that (bleep) that happened out there,'’ quarterback Aaron Brooks said to reporters before they asked a question.

When Brooks was asked what happened, he smiled, shrugged his shoulders, extended his arms skyward and said, “Hey, I’m new here, man.'’

Defensive end Derrick Burgess waved off reporters.

“I’ve got nothing to say today, I’m so sure,'’ Burgess said. “Not after what just happened.'’

Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, one of the last Raiders to leave the field house, did not want to elaborate but said Shell’s message was loud and clear.

“It was a statement that was pretty well felt throughout the whole team I would expect, and if it wasn’t, then we’re in trouble,'’ Sapp said.

When pressed for specifics, Sapp said, “Whatever he gave you is what you guys can go on. I’m just a soldier in this army. I’m taking orders, I’m not giving any.'’

Sapp said it was the first time as a football player _ high school, college or pro _ that a team he played on was sent in early.

“It’s a new experience for me,'’ Sapp said with a laugh. “Numero uno.'’

To the naked eye, the workout did not appear to be much different than many which preceeded it, although fullback Zack Crockett thought it should have been much better. When asked if that was as mad as he had ever seen Shell, Crockett nodded in affirmation.

“It was a bad day today,'’ Crockett said. “When it happens like that, you’ve got to be better tomorrow . . . he doesn’t expect anything less. As players, we know that’s not going to get it done. We’ve got to go to meetings tonight, get out there tomorrow and bring our A-games to practice.'’

Said safety Stuart Schweigert: “Art Shell wanted us to regroup, I guess.'’

When asked if he thought it was a particularly poor practice, the normally chatty Schweigert opted to keep his opinions to himself.

“I don’t know. I probably shouldn’t talk to anyone about it,'’ Schweigert said. “I don’t want to get in trouble with anyone.'’

Another player who felt the same way said of Thursday night’s meetings, “I’m not looking forward to tonight. It could get ugly. Our single (practice on Friday) could turn into a double.'’

[Angry Pope]

Kawakami: Raiders' offensive problems remain


He looks like Art Shell, talks like Art Shell and everyone around Silver & Black Summer World Headquarters most assuredly treats him like Art Shell, Hall of Famer and Raiders legend extraordinaire.

So why is his team still behaving like it's being coached by Bill Callahan and scolded by Norv Turner?

Well, part of the team, at least. Through several weeks of Napa training camp and two exhibition games heading into Sunday's meeting with the 49ers, the Raiders' defense -- for a change -- looks swift and ready to go.

The Raiders' offense has been another matter entirely, jam-packed with false starts, wacky quarterbacking, whiffed blocks, a mysteriously invisible superstar receiver and surly complainers.

Harkening back to a period of the Raiders' past is great, but Art, it wasn't supposed to be 2003 through 2005. Al Davis wants you to bring back the spirit of 1990, not 13-35.

``It's early, but at the same time, you look at other teams -- you see that they're doing well, they're getting into a flow,'' said running back LaMont Jordan.

The no-flow offense is not Shell's fault, of course. The proper question: Can he and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh do much about it now or later?

Shell finally gave some indication of his building frustration Thursday afternoon when he cut practice short and declared that the players weren't working hard enough.

It's an obvious ploy, but possibly necessary even at this early point.

Shell inherited Randy Moss (who wants the ball much more and probably would prefer Andrew Walter throwing it to him), Jerry Porter (who wants out) and Robert Gallery (who wants to block people but has not yet discovered how).

Plus, the quarterbacking situation was further de-stabilized by the addition of journeyman Aaron Brooks, who has completed only two passes in the exhibitions so far, and even those horrible statistics don't tell the whole story of his jitteriness.

That would be stirring more immediate talk about Walter, a deep-heaver and Al Davis favorite, if only Walter hadn't thrown two interceptions last week. No matter, up until the point Brooks is benched, Walter will be the QB on every Raiders fans' mind.

``There needs to be improvement at the position, period,'' Shell said when asked directly about Brooks. ``I think everybody understands that. We have to improve at that position. And we have to improve elsewhere, too.

``He's coming. He's going to get there. I'm not worried. Concerned, yes. But not worried. He'll get there, along with the rest of them.''

Shell and Walsh, to be fair, are implementing a new system, which takes time. But so are the 49ers (Turner's offense!), Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and several other teams that have performed smoothly in the early going.

Plus, Walsh hasn't been in the NFL since 1994, so how new could ``new'' possibly be?

It is the exhibition season. These games don't count and are barely watch-able. But the Raiders' offensive struggles and problems are significant because they are the same struggles and problems of the past few years.

How can they be a consistent offense if they keep committing pre-snap penalties? How can they beat Denver and San Diego if their quarterback is constantly screwing up? How has their team chemistry improved if they can't get Porter to stop scowling and they can't dump him?

Why trade for Moss, who had either a hissy fit or just a loud reaction when he was pulled after his only catch against Minnesota on Monday, if they can't figure out how and when to get him the ball three or four times a quarter?

Last year: Ask Turner. Now: Ask Shell.

``We'll have plans of getting Randy the ball,'' Shell said. ``Randy will get the ball when it comes time for Randy to get the ball. We're always trying to get other people involved, as well as Randy.

``It ain't just Randy; you guys have got to understand that. There are other people on this football team, too. Randy is a big part of what we do, and he will get his share of balls.''

Moss just has to be patient. So does everyone else, Shell included. So do the hordes of new ticket-buyers that the Raiders swear are out there.

Any day now, Brooks and Moss and Gallery and all the rest will soar, we're told. Any day.

``Once the season starts,'' Jordan said hopefully, ``I think teams will really see what we're capable of doing.''

He's right. By the Sept. 11 Monday night opener against San Diego, the Raiders will show us exactly who they are. Problem is, that might not be much different than who they were when they weren't coached by a Hall of Famer.

[Angry Pope]

Raiders kicker sheds weight, gains confidence



NAPA, Calif.
Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler says Sebastian Janikowski's kicking is a lot like his golf game.

Lechler used to have to spot Janikowski 10 strokes per round; now the two play even. Janikowski says he even got the edge on Lechler in their most recent pairing on the golf course.

More importantly, Janikowski seems to be getting the edge back on his kicking game after struggling through the 2005 season.

Janikowski is a perfect 6-for-6 on field goal attempts in the Raiders' first two preseason games this year. Three of the field goals have come from 50 yards or better, including a 55-yarder in Monday night's 16-13 win over Minnesota.

His kicking has made it easier for coach Art Shell to handle the problems Oakland is having offensively. The Raiders' first-team offense has accounted for just one touchdown in the two preseason games while quarterback Aaron Brooks has completed just two of nine passes for 22 yards and has a quarterbacking rating of 37.5.

"He's confident right now," Lechler said of Janikowski. "He's one of those kind of guys. He plays golf the same way. (If) he birdies one, look out because it's going to be a long day."

Janikowski had several of those long days last season when he suffered through the worst season of his career. Janikowski made just 20 of 30 field goal attempts and didn't have a kick longer than 49 yards for the first time since he entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick in 2000.

The 10 misses matched his career-worst and left Janikowski as a serious question mark in the offseason. Eight of the 10 misses came from 40 yards or longer, most among NFL kickers.

But Shell, who was hired in the offseason to replace Norv Turner as the Raiders' head coach, put aside the tapes of '05 and instead wiped Janikowski's slate clean.

"My idea was to come in and show him that I have confidence in his ability and the team has confidence in him and to build a relationship that, 'Hey, when the time comes, you do your job,'" Shell said. "I told him in the offseason when I first met him, 'I'm going to count on you, I expect you to be a Pro Bowl kicker this year.' He's been responding."

Shell's confidence in Janikowski did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

"That's showing that he cares about kickers and punters," Janikowski said. "Some other head coaches, they don't care. They don't work with us, they don't do anything. To show that he's got confidence in me, that's a good thing.

Janikowski also credits an improved diet and offseason conditioning for his quick start this preseason. After ballooning to 265 pounds last year, the 28-year-old trimmed down to 249 for training camp this season.

"I eat healthy now," Janikowski said. "I don't go to McDonald's at 1 o'clock in the morning. I played basketball twice a week with friends in a league. That helps."

Janikowski isn't making too much of his success this preseason, just like he did with his misses a year ago.

"Last year I hit the ball good, it just didn't happen," Janikowski said. "It's like a golf swing. You're hitting the ball good, but it goes left and right. That's what was happening with me."

[Angry Pope]

Shell shows displeasure over practice
He had his own reasons for ending a second session early.

By Jason Jones


NAPA -- And to think the day began so nicely for the Raiders, with their head coach pleased with morning practice.
As for the afternoon session? Let's just say he didn't see the Raiders' commitment to excellence.


In his first public show of displeasure with the Raiders, Art Shell called together his team to end practice about 4:05 p.m. Thursday, about an hour earlier than normal.
No one would say what Shell told the team, but the players quickly left the field and were quiet returning to their Napa Valley Marriott rooms.

Shell gave no explanation for his decision.

"Practice is over," Shell said as he left the field. "You've got to work when you're out here."

Defensive end Derrick Burgess, known to be talkative, wasn't in the mood.

"No, I ain't got nothing to say," Burgess said. "Not after what just happened."

Quarterback Aaron Brooks offered an unsolicited request for forgiveness before stopping to sign autographs. "I apologize for that (stuff) out there today," Brooks said.

Thursday was the last scheduled day of two-a-day practices. Based on how players worked in the morning, it looked as if they weren't slacking off knowing there would be no more two-a-days.

Instead of being sluggish, the Raiders came out with enthusiasm.

"We met the challenge of practicing," Shell said in the morning. "That has not changed. They are practicing well."

That changed a few hours later, but no one would say exactly what changed.

"I'm just a soldier in this army," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "If you're not getting it from (Shell) there's not much I can give you."

Having practice end in such a manner is not something to which pro players are accustomed.

"Nah, that's a first," Sapp said.

International visitors -- The Raiders have hosted three international coaches during training camp.

Patrick Esume (Germany), Radames Carillo (Mexico) and Tang Hai-yan (China) have attended meetings to assist in their coaching duties back home.

Esume and Carillo said the Raiders are very popular in their homelands, while flag football has just caught on in China, Tang said through an interpreter.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "Yeah, they're lazy." -- Safety and special teams standout Jarrod Cooper when asked if kickers were a different kind of football player.
Player watch: Training camp must be winding down, because players are doing anything to prevent boredom. Further proving Cooper's point that kickers don't have enough to do, they played a version of soccer -- using a football -- during Thursday's morning practice while the rest of the team scrimmaged. Sebastian Janikowski, David Kimball, Tim Duncan and punter Glen Pakulak took turns kicking the ball at each other, while one played the role of goalkeeper as he stood under the goal posts. Janikowski has earned praise during the preseason. At 249 pounds, he's 16 pounds lighter than last season's listed weight and credits playing soccer, basketball and an improved diet. "I eat healthy now," he said. "I don't go to McDonald's at 1 o'clock in the morning." Janikowski has made all six of his preseason field goals, including three of at least 50 yards, and has been accurate in practice.

Play of the day: Janikowski showed nice goalie form in stopping one kick and catching it in his midsection. As for the players without as much free time, linebacker Kirk Morrison surprised rookie quarterback Kent Smith by intercepting a pass intended for receiver Kevin McMahan.

Injury report: Tackle Jabari Levey did not practice because of a tight hamstring. Guard Barry Sims sat out practice with a sore left elbow.

[Angry Pope]

Weight loss a net gain for Jano
Leaner Janikowski boasts he can make kicks from 60 yards

By Bill Soliday


NAPA — The 2006 version of Sebastian Janikowski is leaner, meaner and so far, dead solid perfect.

He's 6-for-6 with field goals of 55, 51 and 50 yards thrown in — kicks he probably wouldn't even have been given a chance of trying in years past.

That's not the way coach Art Shell approaches it.

Shell raised a few eyebrows with his response when asked if he would have let the seven-year vet try one from 60.

"Probably, because he said he could do it," Shell said. "That lets him know that I have confidence in him."

Shell will always ask his kicker how far out he thinks he can produce before a game and go with that information. Janikowski is appreciative of the faith Shell has placed in him.

"It makes me feel confident, especially when you are making those 50-yarders," Janikowski said. "If I go out there and show you I can do it, I will probably get more chances during the season. Last season, I don't know how many 50-yarders I had — two, maybe three at the most."

However, Janikowski also had a secret confession to make when answering Shell's question about his range that day.

"I lie," Janikowski said. "I'll tell them 64, 65 (yards). I want to try anything."

Janikowski's holder, punter Shane Lechler, says he isn't surprised by Janikowski's range or his success. It's all part of being in what athletes refer to as "the zone." "He plays golf the same way," Lechler said. "If he birdies one, look out. It's going to be a long day."

Lechler said the confidence Janikowski is displaying stems from the coach's approval to let him go for the big ones.

"He likes a little pat on the back now and then," Lechler said. "He'll kick better for you."

The pumping up of the man teammates call "Sea Bass" began after Shell replaced Norv Turner.

"I told him when I first met him, 'I'm going to count on you,'" Shell said. "'I expect you to be a Pro Bowl kicker this year. You have the talent to do that, and I expect that will happen.'"

"It shows he cares about kickers and punters," Janikowski said. "Some coaches don't care. They don't want to work with them. That he has confidence in me is nice."

"He's been responding," Shell said, clearly pleased.

Janikowski also responded to what was a mandate to get his weight down. He played at 265 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame last year. When the team published its roster on Raiders.com, he was listed at 250 pounds.

"They told me to and if they tell you you've got to do it, you do it," Janikowski said. "I won't argue with Art. He's too big."

A Jacksonville, Fla., off-season of soccer, basketball and a lot fewer cheeseburgers later, Janikowski is at 249 pounds.

"I eat healthy now," the Castro Valley resident said. "I don't go to McDonald's at 1 o'clock in the morning. I don't know if it helps or not. Late in the season you get tired in Weeks 10, 11 and 12. That's when you find out."

Janikowski finished at the bottom of the league's kicking statistics last year, making 20 of 30 field goals for a percentage of .667. It was a disappointment for a player the club used a first-round pick on.

"I thought I hit the ball good, it just didn't happen," he said. "It's like a golf swing — you hit the ball good but it goes left and right."

During the off-season, Shell charted Janikowski's kicks, trying to ascertain where he was most inconsistent.

"I think six out of those 10 (misses) were on the left hash mark," the left-footed Janikowski said. "I know he was watching other film, but I didn't know he was watching film of the kickers."

It's because he cares. But as for what would be that NFL record 64 or 65 yard attempt ... well, now he knows Janikowski fibs.

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: August 17th

August 17, 2006


After returning to California after their win in Minnesota, The Oakland Raiders went back to work at their Napa Valley training facility. Getting the win was important, but the team still has three more preseason games left and has some work to do in camp, in order to be prepared for the regular season. Today the Raiders were greeted by season ticket holders, who were some of the lucky winners in the "One Nation - 200 Prizes Contest." They received the ultimate training camp experience by watching practice from the sidelines, receiving player and coaches' autographs, and finishing their day with a lunch provided by the Raiders.

With the upcoming preseason home opener against San Francisco this Sunday, the players are now starting to get themselves ready for their 2006 debut in front of the Black Hole. The Battle of the Bay series is always a top priority for Bay Area football fans, as it serves as a chance for fans to have bragging rights for the next year.

Since the Raiders take on the 49ers in San Francisco during regular season this year, these bragging rights will only hold over for a few weeks, until the two teams meet again in Week 5. Many players are excited about the opportunity to play in the Battle of the Bay, and the Raider rookies will get a first hand experience of what the Raider Nation is really all about.

Raiders tight end Courtney Anderson has played in the series before, and always looks forward to playing against the 49ers. "This is our first home game so we really want to put on a show for the home crowd. We might be a little bit more excited, because it is the 49ers and we want to have a heads up on them," Anderson said on Thursday. Anderson, who is a Bay Area native out of Richmond, has watched the rivalry for many years and is now a big part of it.

Wide receiver Johnnie Morant, who hauled in a 67-yard pass for a touchdown on Monday night, is ready to go back and do it again. "It was exciting! I'm still high from it. It's something you just have to do. It's hard to explain. I want to do it again though," Morant said of his touchdown in the win against the Vikings. Morant is not letting all the hype of this Sunday's game get to him, "I just take it as a regular game. I'm just going out there and play in it like a regular game. I'm just trying to win," stated Morant.

One thing Raider fans are going to see differently this year is the versatile running of RB Justin Fargas. Fargas is in his fourth year with the Raiders and he is looking to make this year a break-out season for him and the Raiders running game. Fargas has been working hard in the backfield to become a solid back-up to LaMont Jordan. "Every day I just want to get better and work on every part of the game, not just running the ball but pass protection, receiving the ball, making people miss downfield," Fargas said.

This game will be the third game that the Raiders have played in the 2006 preseason and it sure will be one to watch. If you haven't already gotten your tickets, be sure to contact the Raiders ticket office at 1-800-Raiders so you don't miss Sunday's live action at McAfee Coliseum.

[Angry Pope]

Back on the horse

August 18th, 2006
By Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ To tell the truth, practice didn’t look all that much different Friday than it did the previous day.

Except, of course, it went the full two hours.

And when it ended, instead of seeing a large group of grown men jogging to locker room, each looking as if he’d been hit on the snout with a rolled-up newspaper, there was the more familiar sound of laughing and joking.

“I thought practice today was very good,'’ Shell said. “A good practice. A lot of attention. A lot of focus.'’

A day after calling his team to the center of the field at 4:10 p.m. and essentially kicking them off the field, Shell was not about to go into detail about what had him so angry.

“I just decided to give them the day off,'’ Shell said. “That’s all. Just give them the day off.'’

Perhaps practice was slightly more animated and players had energy which wasn’t there 24 hours earlier. Quarterback Aaron Brooks said he thought the team had sort of “hit the wall,'’ and that the issue was talked out among the team Thursday night.

It must take a coach to tell the difference. Paid professionals don’t often muster up phony enthusiasm and an NFL practice is nothing like a high school or college practice. It’s more technical, more studious, more businesslike.

Only Shell knows whether Thursday’s aborted practice was a ploy. Whether it was or not, Shell has succeeded in enhancing the notion that he is the man in charge.

He’s been working at it since the day he arrived with the team, with the media, with his staff.

As coach of the Oakland Raiders, that’s no small thing. The only other coach who has managed it since 1995 is Jon Gruden. Mike White didn’t. Joe Bugel certainly didn’t. Neither did Bill Callahan or Norv Turner.

How Shell will handle his next “situation'’ remains to be seen. He has yet to make a depth chart change based on performance, or cut an established player.

One thing for sure _ none of the Raiders want to find out the hard way.

Bits and pieces from Thursday’s practices:

— Nice bit of generational history going on Friday with Burl Toler Sr. and Burl Toler Jr. on the sideline, with Burl Toler III playing wide receiver with the Raiders.

Burl Sr. played football at USF along with Hall of Famers Gino Marchetti and Ollie Matson.

He became the first black official in NFL history in 1965, and he was still reviewing officials all the way up to 1999. Burl Jr. played linebacker at Cal under Mike White and works as an architect.

Burl III had himself a nice practice Friday, catching a few passes and managing to get in a wave to his grandfather on the sidelines.

— Shell said the Raiders first team would play at least a half against San Francisco. Brooks connected on three big pass plays with Randy Moss as the Raiders offense showed some improvement.

— No. 4 quarterback Kent Smith got in so many throws he may need a cortisone shot in his left shoulder. Shell said, however, Smith was merely getting in extra work in practice because he is unlikely to play in a game. Brooks will be followed by Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo.

— One throw Smith would like to forget was a screen intended for LaMont Jordan that as snatched out of the air with a one-handed interception by Warren Sapp, who ran unimpeded the other way.

— Barry Sims will not play at left guard against the 49ers because of inflamed right triceps. Corey Hulsey will take his place with the first team.

— Tight end Marcellus Rivers caught a deep ball at the goal line over Michael Huff when the rookie turned the wrong way in coverage.

— Either the Raiders are comfortable with what they know about Bobby Hamilton and are simply looking at other players, or Hamilton is being phased out and is unlikely to make the 53-man roster.

He often works with the third team in the base defense and on second team in the nickel.

— The Raiders had no meetings scheduled Friday night and were scheduled to visit a local winery for dinner.

— Jarrod Cooper made a diving interception of a pass from Reggie Robertson.

– Defensive line coach Keith Millard was using Warren Sapp as an example for Michael Quarshie on how to properly execute an inside rush.

“Watch Warren do it,'’ Millard said.

— Free agent wide receiver Will Buchanon has cooled off over the past few days after several sessions of outstanding and eye-catching play.

– Adam Treu worked with the first team at center as Jake Grove rested a sore heel.

[Angry Pope]

Invited guests are more than casual observers
Coaches from foreign countries are blending in with Shell and his staff


NAPA -- The Raiders are fond of saying their appeal transcends the United States, that they are "global."

As if to perpetuate that image, they have hosted football coaches from China, Germany and Mexico at different times throughout training camp.

Look around the practice fields these days and you can spot China's Tang Hai-yan, Mexico's Radames Carrillo and Germany's Patrick Esume blending in with the likes of Raiders coach Art Shell and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

They are here as invited guests of the Raiders, but their role is more than that of casual observers.

Esume, Carrillo and Hai-yan sit in on positional meetings, converse with the players and take notes on the things that pique their interest.

Hai-yan said football didn't take hold in China until four years ago. He coaches a five-player flag football team, with the hope that eventually his people will warm to tackle football.

"Football is a very fun sport to play," Hai-yan said through an interpreter. "All my players like football very much. One day, they will play tackle."

Esume said he has learned plenty of things from watching the Raiders that he can take back to his players on the Hamburg franchise in NFL Europe.

Football also is gaining in popularity in Mexico, Carrillo said. Raiders jerseys can be seen anywhere you go in Mexico, with the 49ers the second-most recognized team, followed by the Dallas Cowboys.

The Raiders perhaps do more than any of the NFL's 32 teams in terms of reaching out to foreign countries. They already boast of Web sites in Spanish, Chinese and German, among numerous others. A few more are slated for launch this season.

Burl, Burl, Burl

Three generations of Tolers graced the practice field Friday. Wide receiver Burl Toler III ran routes and caught passes during practice, while his father, Burl Toler II, and grandfather, Burl Toler, watched from the sideline.

The grandfather lives in San Francisco and is retired from NFL-related activities. He worked three Super Bowls during his 26-year career as a head linesman. He then spent a decade or so as a league observer. Before that, he starred at USF as a two-way player.

Toler II played on the great Cal teams in the mid-1970s as an outside linebacker. He lives in El Sobrante. Toler III also played at Cal.

Extra points

Wide receiver Jerry Porter is expected to play Sunday night against the 49ers, Shell said. He missed Oakland's first two exhibition games because of a lingering calf injury. Fellow receiver Ronald Curry (Achilles) will not play for the third straight game, Shell said. Injured left guard Barry Sims (elbow) will be replaced by Corey Hulsey in the starting lineup Sunday. ... Shell said he intends to go with his starters for "at least a half" Sunday. They played approximately one quarter in each of the first two games. ... The Raiders-49ers game will be broadcast in Spanish on KLOK (1170-AM), the team announced Friday. KLOK also intends to broadcast all Raiders regular-season games.

-- Steve Corkran

[Angry Pope]

Penalties continue to plague the Raiders

By JOSH DUBOW


NAPA, Calif.

The flags started flying almost from the start of the Oakland Raiders' last exhibition game.

Two delay of games, a pair of false starts, three offsides penalties. There were nine penalties in all. It was a development that riled coach Art Shell, who has stressed eliminating the silly infractions that plagued the Raiders in recent years.

"It's a concern that we'll continue to address," Shell said. "It's a point of emphasis for us. The players understand that. We'll make sure they understand how much it hurts the team when those things happen. They don't want to do it and I know that. They're just trying to make plays and get off the ball quickly."

Shell opened training camp by requiring players who jumped off sides or committed false starts in drills to run sprints after practice. Most of the players welcomed the discipline they hadn't seen since they were youngsters, but the lessons apparently haven't sunk in.

Shell wrote down notes after each penalty in the game last Monday against Minnesota, probably getting writer's cramp from the work. He's hoping his hand will have an easier go of it on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

"Each individual has to take it upon themselves to concentrate and focus on what has to be done, which is to watch the ball when it's snapped," Shell said. "On the offensive side of the ball, get into the quarterback's ear on the inflection of his voice."

The penalties in the Vikings' game were especially distressing to some of the players who were around last season, when Oakland led the NFL with 147 penalties.

The sloppy play was a big reason the team finished the season 4-12, leading to coach Norv Turner being fired.

"I hate to go back to last year, and I know people hate talking about the past, but that's what we did last year," running back LaMont Jordan said. "So we have to get away from the penalties, and we have to be a much more disciplined team. Pretty much the same things have been preached, but what we have to do as players is actually go out there and get the job done."

The Raiders even committed three penalties on Minnesota's lone touchdown drive, a pair of offsides against defensive linemen Tommy Kelly and Tyler Brayton and a pass interference against Nnamdi Asomugha.

The infractions led defensive tackle Warren Sapp to pull his teammates aside and tell them to clean up their play.

"Self-inflicted wounds are the worst kind of wounds to take in a football game," Sapp said. "You can never get those back. That has been something we have been putting an emphasis on and all of a sudden we do three in one drive. That's not winning football."

Shell's frustration boiled over when he cut short the team's afternoon practice on Thursday. But he said he was pleased with the team's attention and focus Friday.

"I thought it was the right approach," quarterback Aaron Brooks said. "I think at a time like that you don't want to overemphasize yelling."

[Angry Pope]

Shell's message felt on Friday


Porter to play

By: Michael Wagaman

Date: Aug 18, 2006

A day after cutting practice short and sending his players off the field, Raiders head coach Art Shell tried to downplay the incident but Oakland's players sang another tune, saying the coach sent a message to the team that was received loud and clear.

That was apparent during Friday's practice, which was more spirited and lively than the previous day's workout.
On Thursday, an hour into a scheduled two-hour afternoon practice session, Shell summoned his players together in a large circle and spoke quietly while conveying his frustrations. After a brief discussion Shell dismissed the team -- coaches and all -- from the field while he angrily walked off.

On Friday, Shell was much more pleased with how things went.

''I thought practice today was very good,'' Shell said. ''A good practice, a lot of attention, a lot of focus.''

When asked what spurred his decision to cut Thursday's practice short, Shell said simply that ''I just decided to give them the rest of the day off. That's all. Just give them the day off.''

Oakland players, though, had a different version. Many refused to discuss the incident but those that did said it was evident Shell was unhappy with the mood and tone of the practice.

''I think we kind of needed to step away from it and refocus ourselves,'' quarterback Aaron Brooks said Friday. ''It's part of camp. We had a nice meeting, we all talked about it and we came out here for a better day today.

''I thought it was the right approach. I think at a time like that you don't want to overemphasize yelling. I don't think out on the field we were at top speed like what you guys had been seeing. I thought we were sluggish.''

That wasn't the case Friday, particularly on defense.

Defensive tackle Warren Sapp made a one-handed interception in the backfield during a scrimmage drill while backup safety Jarrod Cooper made a diving interception in front of wide receiver Jerry Porter.

Offensively, the Raiders' running game started to show signs of life. Running back LaMont Jordan found a huge hole on the left side of the line during one play and cut upfield for a huge gain. Backup quarterback Andrew Walter later threw a perfect pass to tight end Marcellus Rivers that split the gap between safeties Michael Huff and Stuart Schweigert.

The workout put Shell in a much better mood than he was a day earlier, enabling the head coach to fondly look forward to his long-awaited return to the Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders host San Francisco on Sunday night and it will be Shell's first appearance at the Raiders home since he was an assistant coach with Kansas City.

''It's going to mean a lot,'' Shell said. ''Coming back home, being in front of the rabid fans that we have, the loyal fans that we have, it's a great group of people to be in front of and have cheer for you. I know you go around the country and everybody talks about one of the worst places you can play is Oakland because of the noise and the fans. The fans kind of intimidate people sometimes. But we have to go out and play well to give our fans something to cheer about.''

Porter is expected to play against the 49ers after sitting out the first two games. But left guard Barry Sims (elbow) won't play. Team officials were concerned that Sims had suffered damage to his right triceps as well but an MRI test on Thursday showed no significant damage.

Shell also said he expects the Raiders starters to play a full half against San Francisco.

[Angry Pope]

Shell much happier with players' effort

Bruce Adams

Saturday, August 19, 2006


The Raiders apparently learned their lesson -- returning to the practice field with vigor and determination.

"I thought practice was very good, a lot of attention, a lot of focus," coach Art Shell said Friday -- one day after sending the players off the field for not working hard enough.

On Thursday, Shell abruptly gathered the team in the middle of the field at training camp at Napa and sent them in -- 45 minutes early. Some players said it was the most animated they had seen Shell -- normally the very picture of calm.

As he stalked off the field Thursday, Shell was short with writers, saying, "You've got to work when you're out here."

On Friday, Shell downplayed the dismissal, saying -- with a wry smile -- he was just giving his players a little extra time off.

Quarterback Aaron Brooks said the players met Thursday night.

"We all talked about it and came out for a better time today," Brooks said, blaming Thursday's poor performance on mental and physical fatigue.

Brooks went so far as to apologize to beat writers on his way off the field Thursday.

Thursday was the last scheduled two-a-day practices. Friday's single practice was held in the afternoon -- and ran for the full allotted time.

The right moves: Burl Toler, a member of USF's legendary 1951 football team who in 1965 became the NFL's first African American referee, still has the right moves.

He was in camp Friday to watch his grandson, Burl Toler III, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Cal trying to make the team as a wide receiver.

During drills, young Toler caught a pass at the back of the end zone, walking the tightrope along the endline before stepping out. The elder Toler, watching the play closely, held both arms up and curled them in toward his stomach -- a referee's signal for a catch.

Toler played on an undefeated team that had three players who made the NFL Hall of Fame -- Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson and Bob St. Clair.

He blew his knee out in the old College All-Star Game, ending his hopes of an NFL career. But he became an official -- working three Super Bowls. He retired from the field in 1990 and continued for another eight years in the press box as an NFL observer, grading other officials.

Tickets and TV: Tickets should be available until game time for Sunday night's exhibition game between the Raiders and the 49ers at the Coliseum.

And even if the game doesn't sell out, it will be carried on KTVU, Channel 2 -- thanks to a geographic fluke.

While NFL rules say games must be blacked out in a home team's market area if not sold out, the rules also say the game can still be televised in the visiting team's market.

And of course, in this case, both teams share the same metropolitan area.

Sims out: On Thursday, guard Barry Sims was looking forward to the so-called Battle of the Bay.

And even more so this year, with a for-real rematch with real consequences when the 49ers and Raiders meet a second time Oct. 8 in the regular season.

"It's always been a big thing since I've been here," said the eighth-year offensive lineman, who talked about the game with his right elbow wrapped in ice.

But on Friday, it was learned that Sims will miss the game with that injured elbow.

Shell and Sims said it wasn't serious, but he definitely has been ruled out for Sunday.

The beleaguered offensive line has much to prove Sunday after faltering in Oakland's first two exhibition games, the team managing two wins despite inconsistent play on offense in general and breakdowns along the line in particular.

Sims said the line -- with four players at different positions than they normally play -- is coming together.

"It's gradual," he said. "We have a close-knit group already. We spent a lot of time together this offseason, and I feel this is as close as any line we've had in the last few years. ... We're going to be just fine."

[Angry Pope]

Family Tradition

August 18, 2006
By Kevin Hale

Raiders rookie wide receiver Burl Toler III, comes from a family rich in football tradition. His father Burl Jr., was a walk-on linebacker at the University of California at Berkeley his freshman year and grew with team to become a Pac-8 All-Conference performer. He followed in the footsteps of his father Burl Sr., who played as a linebacker at the University of San Francisco in the 1950s. Burl Sr., was also the first African-American referee to work in the National Football League. It is no wonder, after seeing his grandfather and father accomplish so much, that Toler wants to accomplish similar feats.

During Friday's practice session Toler received a surprise from both his father and grandfather, as they came to see the Toler name continue on in football. Toler had no idea that they would be coming to Friday's practice session, and was extremely happy to see them. "They told me that they were going to come out here and watch practice one of these days, and I was surprised to see both of them, they didn't tell me they were coming," Toler said of his family's visit. "Of course I had to go all out and show them a little something. It was good to see them out there. It's a different level now, they were there when I was at Pop Warner, high school, college, and now I'm in the NFL. So it's all different levels, but the support and the love, it's all the same and it's still there."

Toler is proud of his father's and his grandfather's accomplishments and realizes the road they have paved for him. "For him (Burl Sr.) playing in 1951 against all odds and becoming what he has become. All the stories and all the influence have come through him, passed down to my father, and passed on to me," Toler said of his grandfather. "I'm just kind of carrying the tradition on, it's in our blood and it will carry on to my brother at Cal. It's a family thing and we're all so appreciative to have the opportunity to come out and play and take advantage of it."


For Burl Jr. seeing his son play at the NFL level means so much and he is very proud of how far he has come. "Seeing my son is an exciting opportunity for me. He is doing well, he just needed to get his foot in the door and the rest is on him. He is trying very hard to make the club. He is a definite student of the game and I like his odds," said Burl Jr. Toler made some nice catches today on the practice field and showed his family how what he has learned is starting to pay off. "He has really good hands, his hands are just like his granddad's hands, big and strong. He has always been driving to succeed and I think he's going see it here," Burl Jr. said of his son.

After being a walk-on at Cal, Toler is ready to face the challenges and do his best to make the team. He has rebounded from injuries that he sustained his senior year at Cal, and is not wiling to give up just yet. When he received the call from the Raiders he knew that his hard work and determination had paid off. Being that there are so many football players who graduated this past year, it is not every day that you get an opportunity like this. "Getting the call was huge and he was one of these kids that slept very little that night and he sees the opportunity," Said Burl Jr.

Sometimes just being given the opportunity to show what you can do is all it takes. Burl Sr., who knows all about defying the odds and taking advantage of opportunities, is a great role model. "I always said just do your best and your best will be good enough regardless of what you do. You put forth the effort and that's what happens," Burl Sr. stated. He plans on being at the game Sunday to watch his grandson play in his first home game and knows that it is just a matter of time.

[Angry Pope]

Camp Notebook: August 18th

August 18, 2006


This Sunday, The Oakland Raiders will take on the San Francisco 49ers in the Battle of the Bay at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland. This will be the Raiders first home game of the year and on Friday the Raiders took the field at their Napa Valley training facility to prepare for Sunday's game. The action starts at 5:00 p.m.
This game will kick off the beginning of the Raiders' two-game home stand, with the Detroit Lions coming to Oakland on Friday August 25th. For Raider rookies, this will be their first experience playing in front of the Black Hole, which always gives newcomers to the Silver and Black a warm welcome.

Oakland-native LB Kirk Morrison, a life-long Raiders fan and a third-round pick a year ago, received his first chance to play in front of the Black Hole during the 2005preseason. "It was feeling that I will never forget, coming out there, I had so many emotions so many feelings, for me it was that I grew up watching them and now I play every day," Morrison said on playing in Oakland for his first time. "You see it on TV and you always want to live it, but the first time going out there, you're just like wow' you get overcome with emotion and until that first play happens, you're just in shock."

Rookie Burl Toler, who played high school ball at Bishop O'Dowd in Oakland, and College football at the University of California at Berkeley, is extremely excited to see his dreams come true and is ready to take the field in front of the Raider Nation. "It's a dream come true, to play at Bishop O'Dowd right up the hill, to Cal and now here in Oakland, I'm loving every moment of it. I cherish the opportunity that I get and Sunday going out there in front of the Black Hole, I am going to live it up," said Toler after practice on Friday.

For Head Coach Art Shell, this will be his return to the Raider Nation as well. After playing for and leading the Raiders for so many years, it will be a great home coming for him on Sunday. "It's going to mean a lot; coming back home and being around of the fans we have. Just being out and about in the community, people see me and tell me it's good to have you back,'" Coach Shell said about his return to Oakland.

With one day of practice left before Sunday's game, the team will be preparing for their return to the Raider Nation for 2006. Be sure to log on to Raiders.com throughout the game, so that you can keep up-to-date on all the action from McAfee Coliseum.

[Angry Pope]

In my opinion, we usually see holding penalties when the offensive linemen are losing the battles. We have had some penalties but for me, I can see the emphasis on limiting penalties paying off already.

[Rupert]

I agree completely. Holding is a result of being beaten, whether on offense or defense. Now some of that is called gamesmanship, and cheating disguised as "trying". New England "tried" their way to a Super Bowl championship, and very few people complained, only the losers during the playoffs and their fans. No only true fans of the game remember those assisted results.

[Angry Pope]

Shell relishes return to Oakland

Raiders legend gets his first chance to coach in the Coliseum

By Bill Soliday


OAKLAND — Art Shell hasn't been to the Coliseum in Oakland for a game in years. The last time he had that opportunity, the visiting team bus he was riding in was the target of a well-aimed egg from Raiders fans.

He laughs about it now.

"Hey, it happens when you go elsewhere," he said.

Laughter comes easily at this point because the situation is totally different. Shell is the prodigal son returned to coach the home team, not invade its territory.

The storied Hall of Fame lineman will coach the team in black for the first time ever in Oakland this evening, appropriately enough against the cross-Bay rival San Francisco 49ers.

The first time he coached the Raiders, from Game5 of the 1989 season through 1994, the team played in Los Angeles. There, he was respected. Here, he is the face of the Raiders' glory years.

Since being named in February to lead the Raiders for the second time, Shell has discovered the love.

"They see you and theystop and talk to you, saying it's good to have you back, it's great, and we look forward to you having a good season with this team," Shell said. "That's very heartwarming."

To date it has been warm to be sure, at least in terms of results. The Raiders are 2-0 in preseason, having beaten Philadelphia 16-10 and Minnesota 16-13.

It is somewhat reminiscent of Shell's first go-round as Raiders coach when he replaced Mike Shanahan (1-3 at the time), won his first two games, four of his first five. He then took the 12-4 Raiders to the AFC Championship Game a year later, losing running back Bo Jackson one week then a shot at the Super Bowl in a disastrous 51-3 title game defeat in Buffalo.

Shell finished with a 54-38 record as Raiders coach. His last season, his Raiders lost an embarrassing season opener to the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers, 44-14, at Candlestick Park. Although the Raiders finished with three wins in their final four games to salvage a 9-7 season, Shell was cashiered in what has been regarded as a palace coup.

Since then he served as offensive line coach in Kansas City (1995-96) and Atlanta (1997-2000). But until this year, when apologetic owner Al Davis brought him back, Shell has not been a head coach.

"He did a heck of a job there in Atlanta," Shell's former Raiders coach John Madden said. "He helped get them to the Super Bowl when no one thought that would happen (in 1999)."

And the Chiefs led the AFC in rushing under Shell. But past successes and all the heartfelt emotions in the world don't obscure the fact that the Raiders' two preseason wins did not come with a pretty bow tied around them.

Shell's pet project, the power running game, has come along slowly. The passing game, in particular when the starters were on the field, has been slipshod. Offensive line play, Shell's primary area of expertise, has not jelled, most in evidence at Shell's old position of left tackle, where 2004 first round pick Robert Gallery has struggled.

Tonight, the goal is to give that first unit some extended playing time in hopes of rectifying that. Shell does not expect the 49ers, who were impressive in their 28-14 victorious exhibition opener, to be easy prey.

"I am sure we are aware we are playing a pretty good football team," Shell said. The rivalry, though, doesn't enter into it, according to the coach.

"It's special because we want to win," Shell said. "They (the 49ers) are in the Bay Area, so we want to win. But it's no big deal. We still have to get our team ready for the regular season."

Like the Raiders, the 49ers are coming off a 4-12 season and trying to establish momentum. In their win over Chicago, they achieved that by dominating the first down total (26-9) and racking up nearly 400 yards of offense.

Under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who coached the Raiders the previous two years, second-year quarterback Alex Smith looked like a new man, completing 16 of 21 passes for 137 yards. The running game accounted for 150 more yards . And since the 49ers defense allowed the Bears only 1.8 yards a rush, Shell's desire to pump up the Raiders rushing total will get a challenge from a 3-4 defense similar to the one the Raiders will see in their regular-season opener against San Diego.

Three games into the Shell-redux era, few expect a finished product to appear — and that goes for the 49ers as well. But a few signs of advancement are a must, especially for an Oakland team that has played one more game and will be using starters for an entire half.

"You know mistakes are going to be made," Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks said. "At the same time, the overall goal is to win. That's the habit we want to create ... even if we're winning ugly."

[Angry Pope]

Raiders camp report

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, August 20, 2006


Quote of the day: "… Coach Shell … was special. He was a big, physical guy, and he was always attacking. Prototypically built for the position. … Look at the legs on this guy, they're bigger some of our guys now. He was a guy who I tried to pattern my game after, with him being a little bit older." -- Co-offensive line coach Jackie Slater on similarities between himself and head coach Art Shell, a fellow Hall of Fame tackle.
Play of the day: Rookie defensive back Michael Huff leaped to intercept a pass by quarterback Reggie Robertson intended for tight end John Madsen near the goal line.


Player watch: Several players stayed after practice to watch the annual game between Raiders training camp interns. The Raiders usually collect some money and award it to the winning team. The flag football game featured some tackles that got the Raiders yelling and cheering.
Injury report: Guard Barry Sims (elbow) is out for today's game against the 49ers. Center Jake Grove (heel) is expected to play. Linebacker Robert Thomas practiced, but he will not play after missing the first two preseason games because of a calf injury. Receiver Jerry Porter is expected to play, but he was supposed to play in Minnesota until his calf tightened up before the game.

[Angry Pope]

Camp tour: Shell loves the smell of football

Aug. 19, 2006
By Mike Freeman

Raiders: Five things to know

NAPA, Calif. -- It is the winter of 2005 and Art Shell sits peacefully inside the NFL's Park Avenue offices in the middle of a bustling midtown Manhattan, many months and many miles away from his Raiders training camp home of today.


Art Shell takes over a team that is coming off a 4-12 season. (Getty Images)
Shell is steadfastly trying to convince me that he is happy with his new career as a league executive. He is just fine without a head coaching position in professional football. Just dandy, yes sir, thank you very much. Love what I do. Yup.

There isn't a soul on this planet who does not like Shell. He is just one of those kinds of people; you know the ones. The kind everyone enjoys and respects. He has never been a softy or a sucker. You cannot be a Hall of Fame offensive lineman that once used to forearm shiver the snot out of people and be a patsy. So do not mistake his congeniality as lacking a spinal cord. It's there. Trust me.

It's just that Shell has learned something that other coaches have not and it is when to turn on that roguish coaching gene -- the gene that transforms some coaches from decent human beings into permanent jackasses -- and when to deactivate it.

In other words, Shell has never allowed coaching and stardom to get to his head. Or define him.

But back to New York and that nice corner office. Shell attempts to convince me that his NFL coaching career is over and he's cool with that. At the time Shell was the league's senior vice president of football operations and development. It was a sexy, big title and he had the nice office digs to boot.

He was saying how the Shell that had tried so hard and become so angered at his lack of rehiring as a head coach after being released by Oakland in 1994 and could not get another head coaching position was a different man. He no longer stirred or winced at hearing how every goofball, dorkface and loser was getting head coaching sniffs but he was not.

That was his story and he was sticking to it. I asked if he still felt the pangs of coaching. "If you had asked me that question two years ago," he was saying then, "I'd say the pull was there. No more. I have evolved. I like what I'm doing. Somebody said to me, 'Don't you miss it?' The only thing I miss is the interaction with the players during practice and on game day. That was fun to me."


A rookie fourth round pick out of USC, Bing has impressed the Raiders staff with his quickness on the field and how fast he has picked up the defensive calls. "He's doing very well," Shell said of Bing. "He's making adjustments very well. He's putting on weight so he can play down in the box. And he's picking up coverages. He's doing alright."
Five things you should know
Here's the rub. Shell and I both knew he was full of it. It was coming out of his ears.

He still dreamed of coaching again. It still consumed him. Shell still wanted it. Anyone who spent more than three minutes around Shell knew that.

When working for the commissioner, Shell would occasionally visit NFL training camps. He would inhale the smells of the locker rooms, the grass and the sweaty uniforms. He did not run for the Lysol; instead, he inhaled deeper. The smells reminded him of the game he so dearly missed. He loved those smells.

Now, he is back. Can you believe it, he was asked recently? "A few months ago nobody would have ever thought it," Shell said, "but strange things happen in the world of football."

Somehow, someway he was coming back. It was destined because Art Shell is the NFL and the NFL is Art Shell.

Shell's story is not an odd one but instead a story of perseverance, about a league righting a wrong and hiring someone that should have received a second chance a long time ago.

Once again, The Empire Strikes Black. It took a brave Al Davis and the Raiders to hire the first black head coach in the modern NFL era and then Davis hired Shell again to right a second series of wrongs. The Empire Strikes Black ... twice.

Who knows what will happen this time around. Maybe the Raiders will win under him; maybe they will not. Maybe there is not enough talent on this team to break 8-8 or maybe the head case known as Randy Moss will implode like a dying sun and take down everyone around him. The offense stinks right now and Shell was recently so irritated at his team that he cut practice short because players were lollygagging instead of working dutifully.

Maybe the Raiders are simply too dysfunctional an organization to win again.

Or maybe Shell can get this proud organization back on track.

Whatever happens, the NFL is a better place with Shell coaching in it than stuck in an office on Park Avenue. It just feels right having him back in the game instead of doing some strange pencil pushing job, all the while peering into the coaching world from the outside, the way a kid peeks through a hole in a fence trying to catch a glimpse of his favorite team.

"It's good to play for a coach that was such a great player," said lineman Robert Gallery. "He's a no nonsense kind of guy that is always straight with you and supports you. I'm personally glad he's here."

Shell is back. Just like he should be. Just like he should have been a long time ago.

[Angry Pope]

The slot dilemma

August 22nd, 2006
By Jerry McDonald

NAPA _ The Raiders called an end to practice Tuesday after Jerry Porter made a finger-tip catch of a Marques Tuiasosopo pass at the goal post, executing a perfect double toe-tap for the touchdown.

The news earlier in the session came when No. 89, Ronald Curry, made his first practice appearance of training camp after being activated off the physically unable to perform list.

Porter and Curry happen to be the Raiders two best slot receivers, physical enough to patrol the middle of the field and make the sort of catches which move the chains.

Randy Moss can play in the slot, but mostly it’s a ploy to get him outside. Doug Gabriel played strictly on the outside last season and he too thrives as a go-get-it deep threat. Johnnie Morant has the size to play in the slot, but has yet to develop the instincts to consistently find open areas.

Two seasons ago, Curry played the slot about as well as it’s been played for the Raiders since the club moved back to Oakland. He had 50 receptions for 679 yards in 12 games, displaying soft hands, a knack for getting open and the ability to make the spectacular catch.

His one-handed touchdown reception in a Denver snowstorm ranks with the best catches the franchise has ever seen. Unfortunately, Curry suffered torn left Achilles’ in the season’s 13th game, ending his season.

He tore it again last Sept. 18 in the final two minutes of a 23-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Having already suffered a right Achilles’ tear in college at North Carolina, Curry is attempting a third comeback from an injury that often spends the end of a career when it happens once.

The Raiders have been extremely deliberate with Curry, not without reason. While no one will come out and say it, they realize they probably rushed things last season and paid the price.

Curry showed up on July 24, pronounced himself ready to go, and was promptly told he was being put on PUP. Rather than simply tell Curry he was going to take things slow, the Raiders underwent what seemed to be a charade of constant evaluation.

The date for his return was probably circled on the calendar weeks ago. At least that’s what Curry believes.

“I think today was the plan all along,'’ Curry said. “Instead of informing me that today was the day I would practice, I was basically on a day-to-day basis.'’

While expecting Curry to return to form after two Achilles’ tears may be a reach, the Raiders will be crossing their fingers. The better Curry plays, the more they won’t have to rely on Porter.

Porter’s play has been better of late, with Tuesday’s catch his training camp highlight. Still, he’s given no indication he has gotten with the Art Shell program and still acts in a way that screams “trade me.'’

He still wears the same vile T-shirt every day. It has two hands, one with a middle finger extended and the other pointing an index finger at whoever happens to look at it.

Whether the shirt is intended for the media, his teammates, the coaching staff, or invited guests of the team (including children) is not known. Porter stopped talking after the first day of camp.

Perhaps tellingly, when Porter is walking around the hotel grounds, out of the public eye, he takes the shirt off. He is behaving in such a way that makes potential trade suitors back off. According to ESPN.com, the Atlanta Falcons went off the market Tuesday when the dealt for Denver’s Ashley Lelie.

The problem is, shirt or no shirt, Porter remains Oakland’s most logical solution to be the slot receiver unless Curry makes a miraculous comeback. He wasn’t as good in the slot as Curry was before he got hurt, but he was the closest thing the Raiders had to a possession receiver last season.

Whatever form the 2006 Raiders take, common sense says Porter will end up seeing a lot of time as the slot receiver, even if public sentiment and poetic justice demands Curry.

“I haven’t felt this good in a long time,'’ Curry said. “I’m just ready to go out and put on a show.'’

Curry no doubt believes it.

For the rest of us, if wishing only made it so.

As much as objectivity is part of the job, anyone who has spent any time around Curry the past couple of years is pulling for him.

Bits and pieces from Tuesday’s practice:

— The Raiders are not sounding overly concerned about it, and perhaps Andrew Walter indeed has only a tired arm. But anyone who is a little more than a year removed from shoulder surgery bears watching.

By the way, I wrote in a Monday column that Walter was a “third-year'’ quarterback. He is, of course, in his second. Those types of errors don’t get past Raider fans.

— Tight end John Madsen got in with the first team and promptly dropped a perfectly thrown deep ball from Aaron Brooks.

— Brooks built on his solid game against San Francisco, with the Raiders passing offense _ barely watchable even a week ago _ continued to show signs of life. Brooks even began to locate Moss.

— Interception-challenged cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha had two conspicuous drops _ one in a drill in which he made a perfect break on the ball and the second in an 11-on-11 session on a pass that hit him directly in the hands before falling harmlessly to the ground.

— Defensive tackle Michael Quarshie left the field house on crutches and with his right knee wrapped after being injured in practice.

— The Raiders hold their last practice open the media today as the club leaves Napa and begins working in Alameda Thursday.