Curry To Return...

[Angry Pope]

Curry hoping for receptive return
Receiver practices for the first time since retearing his left Achilles tendon

By Cam Inman


NAPA - The Raiders' already-deep receiving corps picked up more punch Tuesday when Ronald Curry practiced for the first time since retearing his left Achilles tendon last Sept. 18.

Curry, who also missed the final four games of 2004 with an Achilles tear, said he's been ready to practice since training camp opened July 25. Camp ends today, but it's just the beginning for Curry as he tries finding his way through a stacked corps.

"I've got a big obstacle to overcome to get back on the field, and I'm up for the challenge," Curry said. "... I'm going to make it hard on the coaches to keep me on the sidelines."

Behind current starters Randy Moss and Doug Gabriel, Curry will compete for playing time with Alvis Whitted, Johnnie Morant and Jerry Porter, a starter the previous two seasons who's fallen out of favor with the organization and been relegated to a No. 5 role. Will Buchanon, an undrafted rookie out of USC, is also pushing for a roster spot.

"I've been through a lot here and they've been good groups, but this is a really good group," said Fred Biletnikoff, in his 32nd year with the Raiders and 15th as a wide receivers coach. "They're nice size kids that are quick and can move."

Added coach Art Shell: "We have some good guys, some good talent. Fred can interchange those guys at the different positions and different spots. It works well for us."

Here's a quick review of that top-tier talent:

• Moss: The ninth-year veteran and five-time Pro Bowler has only two receptions for 30 yards as several passes his way have been off target in exhibition play. Biletnikoff is still encouraged by what he's seen, saying: "He's gotten more disciplined and better with his routes. He's not the most devastating blocker, but he's giving an effort."

• Gabriel: Porter's troubles have opened the door for Gabriel to seize the starting role opposite Moss. Biletnikoff said of Gabriel: "He has to (seize the opportunity), and he's doing a good job with it. With Doug, he's just got to be more consistent and be in the game all the time. The last year or two, he'd make a good play and then a couple bad plays."

Gabriel, in his fourth NFL season, has two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown this exhibition season.

He said of his role: "It all depends upon the situations. Us, we don't think of what number we are. When your number is called, you just got to realize it's your time, do good."

• Whitted: The speedy veteran in his ninth NFL season has seen time this exhibition season as the No. 3 receiver. He left practice early Tuesday with a slight groin injury. Before that, Biletnikoff said Whitted's been doing "very good" and improved on his catching and route running.

• Morant: A third-year player, he caught a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second exhibition game and was elevated to the No. 3 role at practice Tuesday after Whitted's departure.

Asked if Morant's moved ahead of Porter, Shell said of Morant: "He's been here all training camp, hasn't missed a day. You don't just shut people down when they've been working and giving it their all."

• Porter: Limited by a calf injury since the start of camp, he played only a few snaps in his exhibition debut Sunday. Porter did make a spectacular catch in the back of the end zone Tuesday on a 40-yard pass from Marques Tuiasosopo. That marked the final play of practice. Asked if Porter has recovered from a calf injury, Shell said: "He is out here working. I assume he is pretty close or there."

• Curry: Shell said he's happy Curry is back but said there's no immediate plan for him other than working him into the new offensive scheme. Curry has 57 receptions in 29 games the past three seasons.

"The kid has talent, I've heard," Shell said. "I watched him when he played here in the past. I watched that. And everybody is ranting and raving about his talent. So that's a big plus."

Notes: Second-string quarterback Andrew Walter did not throw in practice. "His arm was a little tired so I said take (practice) off," said Shell, adding that he'd talk to trainer Rod Martin and Walter before determining Walter's status for Friday's exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. ... Shell praised defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, stating: "He's really going to come into his own this year."

 

[Angry Pope]

Healthy Curry returns to drills
RECEIVER BELIEVES DELAY UNNECESSARY

By Bill Soliday

NAPA - The Raiders turned Ronald Curry loose to practice Tuesday. And although he was grateful, the wide receiver remained underwhelmed by the club's decision to have him sit out the first month of camp.

After being KO'd by torn Achilles tendons two consecutive seasons, Curry arrived in camp July 24 insisting he was fully healed and ready to practice.

But the team wasn't listening and placed him on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he could work out individually but not in team drills.

Tuesday, he was allowed to practice for the first time. For four weeks, he had been listed as day to day, but Curry has doubts about that.

``The further and further along it went, it was obvious they had a plan,'' Curry said. ``I was just basically left out of it. I think they were going to put me out here today (and that) was the plan all along.

``I think last year kind of scared them a little bit. They just took all the time they could. I feel I could have been going from Day One, but I understood the situation and why they held me out.''

Although Curry is back, he will not be rushed, said Coach Art Shell, who was dubious about whether Curry would play Friday in an exhibition game against Detroit. Curry's workout was closely monitored.

``You can't bring him out here and have him full go, so he is limited,'' Shell said. ``We don't want to give him the full shot, just slowly get him involved.''

• That other receiver who has seen scarcely any action, disgruntled Jerry Porter, continues to practice but in a virtual state of limbo. A former starter, he played with the second unit Sunday in an exhibition game against the 49ers.

Asked how close Porter's sore calf was to being completely healed, Shell said: ``I don't know. He is out here working. I assume he is pretty close or there. (Trainer) Rod (Martin) hasn't put any limitations on him. If he's out here working, he has the green light. So he will work just like everybody else is working.''

Yet Johnnie Morant -- not Porter -- was the third receiver in the two-minute offense Tuesday.

``It just means Morant is deserving to be at that particular spot at this time,'' Shell said. ``He's been working, has been here all training camp and hasn't missed a day. You don't just shut people down when they've been working and giving it their all. All these kids have been working very hard, so there is a pecking order we are going to use.''

• Quarterback Andrew Walter did not throw during team drills after reporting a tired arm. His status for Friday's game was unknown, but Shell said he planned to err on the side of caution.

 

[Angry Pope]

Oakland receiver makes long-anticipated return

NAPA, Calif.

Raiders wide receiver Ronald Curry shook hands with Hall of Fame assistant coach Willie Brown then walked over and lined up opposite cornerback Duane Starks. A few seconds later, Curry sprinted downfield, cut right on a short in-pattern and caught a quick pass from quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo.

It was nothing more than a simple one-on-one receivers' drill, but for Curry the return to the practice field was a major accomplishment. Exactly four weeks after Oakland opened training camp, Curry made his first appearance of the preseason after being activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday.

"It's finally here," Curry said after the Raiders' afternoon workout. "The season was creeping closer and closer and I just wanted to get out there. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I'm just ready to go out there and put on a show."

Curry had not practiced since Sept. 18 when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg in the second regular season game last year. It was the same injury that prematurely ended Curry's 2004 season as well and left his playing future in doubt.

After rehabbing over the summer Curry reported to Oakland's training camp in late July and declared himself healed and ready to play. The Raiders had different plans, though, and Curry stayed on the PUP list until Tuesday despite repeated attempts to convince the coaching staff otherwise.

"I've been ready for the last couple of months," Curry said. "I think last year kind of scared them a little bit, me getting out there and not being ready. They just took all the time they could. It was just a matter of when they felt like bringing me out."

Curry was one of Oakland's top young receivers in 2004 when he started 12 games and set career-highs for receptions (50), receiving yardage (679) and touchdowns (six). Before tearing his Achilles tendon in early December, the former North Carolina quarterback had supplanted Jerry Porter as the Raiders' biggest downfield threat.

Since then the 27-year-old's career has been in constant rehab mode.

Now that he's back on the field, however, Curry finds himself in the middle of a logjam at wide receiver. The Raiders have already penciled in Randy Moss and Doug Gabriel as the likely starters in the regular season, with Jerry Porter and Alvis Whitted waiting in reserve.

"It can be tough but the kid has talent, I've heard," Shell said. "I watched him when he played here in the past ... and everybody is ranting and raving about his talent, so that's a big plus. But hey, we'll look at him and continue to evaluate."

Curry's progress in the next few weeks could determine Porter's fate with the team. The disgruntled wide receiver has been seeking a trade since the offseason but Oakland has been hesitant to deal him, partly due to Curry's status.

If Curry can stay healthy and regain the form he had in 2004, it's conceivable the Raiders would be willing to part ways with Porter, who ironically had his most impressive practice of training camp on the same day that Curry returned. Working strictly with the second-team offense, Porter made two catches on crossing patterns then ended practice with a 40-yard touchdown catch at the back of the end zone.

But Curry isn't even secure in his own status. While he put up solid numbers in 2004 - highlighted by a one-handed leaping touchdown catch in the snow at Denver - Curry is playing for a coaching staff that hasn't seen him except on videotape.

"I have good film but that's (from) two years ago," Curry said. "We'll see how it unfolds. I've seen a lot of guys sit around here and get healthy and get released."

 

[Angry Pope]

Curry has challenge ahead

By Bill Soliday

NAPA — Ronald Curry's chains were removed Tuesday. The Raiders turned him loose to practice.

While he was grateful, at the same time the wide receiver appeared underwhelmed by the club's decision to have him sit out the first month of camp.

After being KO'd by torn Achilles' tendons two seasons in a row, Curry arrived in camp on July 24 insisting he was fully healed and ready to practice.

But the team wasn't listening and placed him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he could work out individually but not in team drills.

Tuesday he came off PUP and practiced with the team for the first time. For four weeks, he has been termed day-to-day, but Curry has doubts about that.

"The further and further along it went, it was obvious they had a plan," Curry said. "I was just basically left out of it. I think they were going to put me out here today, (and that) was the plan all along."

Curry took the activation matter-of-factly.

"I've been ready for the last couple of months. I think last year kind of scared them a little bit. They just took all the time they could. I feel I could have been going from Day 1, but I understood the situation and why they held me out.

"It's finally here. I have to catch up because we've got guys out here who are having good camps. I have a big obstacle to overcome just to get on the field, and I'm up for the challenge."

Coach Art Shell said although Curry was back, he would not be rushed and was dubious about whether he would play Friday against Detroit. Curry's Tuesday workout was closely monitored.

"You can't bring him out here and have him full go, so he is limited," Shell said. "We don't want to give him the full shot, just slowly get him involved."

Where Curry fits in after a late start is uncertain.

"I'm definitely going to try to make it a tough decision on the coaches to keep me on the sideline," Curry said.

It could be argued the Raiders were wary about putting him on the field sooner because he was too valuable a commodity to risk early. Curry wasn't sure it was a compliment.

"We'll see how it unfolds," Curry said. "I've seen a lot of guys sit around here and get healthy and get released. If the season is at Week 15 of 16, and we're in the playoffs and all that good stuff, and I'm having a good season, then it was worth it. But it could go 360 (degrees), so it all depends on how the story ends."


MEANWHILE ... That other wide receiver who has seen scarcely any action, disgruntled Jerry Porter, continues to practice in a virtual state of limbo. A former starter, he played with the second unit in Sunday's game.

Asked how close Porter's sore calf was to being completely healed, Shell was blunt.

"I don't know," he said. "He is out here working. I assume he is pretty close or there. (Trainer) Rod (Martin) hasn't put any limitations on him. If he's out here working, he has the green light. So he will work just like everybody else is working."

Owner Al Davis has said he would give Porter his wish and trade him if the offer was right, but so far nothing has transpired. Signs that he is in the doghouse are fairly obvious. Tuesday, Johnnie Morant was the third receiver in the two-minute offense, not Porter.

Shell's cryptic response when asked if the balance of power had shifted away from Porter was ominous.

"It just means Morant ... is deserving to be at that particular spot at this time," Shell said. "He's been working, has been here all training camp and hasn't missed a day. You don't just shut people down when they've been working and giving it their all. All these kids have been working very hard, so there is a pecking order we are going to use."

And at the moment, it doesn't appear Porter is near the top of the order.



EXTRA POINTS: WR Alvis Whitted did not practice after his groin tightened up during warm-ups. ... DT Michael Quarshie went down in pain and did not finish after a teammate fell on his knee during a run up the middle. ... QB Andrew Walter did not throw during team drills after reporting a tired arm. His status for Friday's game was unknown.

 

[Angry Pope]

Raiders take the safe route with Curry

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, August 23, 2006


NAPA -- Practicing with the team wasn't a big deal for Ronald Curry, even if it was about a month later than expected.
Curry practiced for the first time Tuesday after being held out the first four weeks of practice and three exhibition games.

Curry reported to camp last month and said he was healthy after rehabilitating from a torn left Achilles' tendon for the second consecutive year.

But the Raiders were more cautious and placed Curry on the physically unable to perform list and limited him to individual drills.

Curry said at the time he had been told he would be held out for a week.


"I never try to control situations I can't control," Curry said. "I voiced that I was ready to go, that I didn't want to sit out as long as they told me I had to at first. After I got past the little frustration of sitting out, probably about a week ago, I guess it was easy to take in."
Curry added that his health hadn't changed to allow him to practice.

"We didn't have to evaluate how I was doing because I'm fine, and I've been fine," Curry said. "It was just a matter of when they felt like bringing me out."

The Raiders are deep at wide receiver. Jerry Porter, a full-time starter when healthy three of the last four seasons, works with the second and third teams.

Curry was a quarterback at North Carolina and looked to have adjusted to wide receiver in 2004 with 50 catches for 679 yards and six touchdowns through 12 games. Curry led the Raiders in receiving yards and touchdown catches before tearing his left Achilles' tendon against Kansas City.

He returned last season but tore the same Achilles' tendon in Week 2 against Kansas City.

Now Curry said he wants to show the new coaching staff he can still make an impact.

"I have good film, but that's two years ago," Curry said.

Coach Art Shell said it would be hard to play Curry in Friday's preseason game against Detroit because he would have had only three days of practice."

Curry remains pragmatic about his role.

"I've seen a lot of guys sit around here and get healthy and get released," Curry said. "If the season is (in) Week 15, 16 and we're in the playoffs and all that good stuff and I'm having a good season, then it was worth it."



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

Raiders camp report

Quote of the day: "I am pretty satisfied with what we got accomplished. Now we go to - I almost said El Segundo - Alameda and continue the process," said Raiders coach Art Shell, on training camp ending today and having a flashback to the Raiders' headquarters when he coached the team in Los Angeles.

Play of the day: Jerry Porter showed his athleticism again. On the last play of the session, quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo ran to his left and fired a pass to Porter about 40 yards away. Porter leaped for the catch and dragged both feet inbound in the back of the end zone before crashing into the goal post.

Player watch: Third-year wide receiver Johnnie Morant has played in only five games as a pro but is pushing to play more with a solid camp. He can make plays downfield and caught a 67-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Walter in the Raiders' second preseason game, at Minnesota. He needs to continue working on his routes to get more playing time, but he has earned some with the first team when the Raiders use three wide receivers.

Injury report: Defensive tackle Michael Quarshie left practice early with a left knee injury. Receiver Alvis Whitted (groin) also left early. Walter didn't throw because of a sore arm. Running back Rod Smart (knee) and receiver Ronald Curry (Achilles') returned to practice.

 

[Angry Pope]

Curry finally works out, perplexed at delay

Bruce Adams

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Wide receiver Ronald Curry practiced for the first time Tuesday and said his appearance on the field was long overdue.

"I've been ready since Day 1," said Curry, who has missed portions of the past two seasons with a torn left Achilles tendon and has been held out of drills, with the Raiders apparently wanting to make sure he's 100 percent healthy.

Curry said it took him awhile to understand why he was being held out of camp.

"The further and further along it went, it was obvious they had a plan," he said. "I was just basically left out of it." He said he simply went along day-to-day waiting to be cleared.

Coach Art Shell said he doubted Curry will play in Friday night's exhibition game against the Lions at the Coliseum.

"The guy just started today," Shell said. "That's hard."

Curry, meanwhile, said he would be ready.

Curry was hurt in the third game last year and missed the rest of the season. He also tore the Achilles tendon in 2004, missing the final four games. He still finished No. 2 on the team in receiving that year.

Walter out for a day: Andrew Walter, currently No. 2 on the depth chart at quarterback, didn't practice because of an apparent sore arm.

"His arm was a little tired," Shell said. "He didn't work."

Walter and starter Aaron Brooks have emerged in camp as the two leading quarterbacks. Marques Tuiasosopo, the backup last year and the starter in one game, is third on the depth chart.

Huff jogs: Safety Michael Huff, the team's No. 1 draft pick this year, did not practice although he did some light jogging around the field.

Huff sprained an ankle in Sunday night's win over the 49ers and could be out the rest of the exhibition season.

Briefly: Today will be the last day of camp at Napa, with the team returning to Alameda on Thursday.

 

[Angry Pope]

Finally Morant gets to shine. Those three receiver sets will be fun to watch as when they bunch the receivers up on top with the lone receiver at the bottom. If Curry is the short guy on that formation, he is great in the open field.

 

[Angry Pope]

I am hoping that Buchanon and Madsen make it to the practice squad if we do keep Francis. The 49er quarterback Smith was Madsen's quarterback in college and the niners may screw it up for us. I know it is only preseason but I like those two players.

 

[Angry Pope]

With a growl, Curry ready to play again
Recovering wide receiver glad to be back in action, but bitter about long wait
By PHIL BARBER

NAPA - Ronald Curry showed up at training camp in Napa feeling completely healed and ready to play, and the Raiders placed him on the physically unable to perform list. Curry figured he'd sit for maybe a week before getting onto the field; it took him nearly a month.

But good things come to those who wait - even if they do so impatiently. Curry finally donned a helmet Tuesday, taking part in pass-route drills and seeing limited action in scrimmages. He got a handshake from assistant Willie Brown, and when he caught a short pass over the middle, teammate Jarrod Cooper yelled from the sidelines, "I see you, R.C.!"

Curry said he felt fine after practice, but coach Art Shell wasn't ready to commit to playing him against the Lions this Friday.

"It's too early," Shell said. "Guy just started today."

While Curry was clearly pleased to be released from his captivity, his remarks after practice were tinged with mild bitterness. Shell had said all along that trainer H. Rod Martin and his staff were constantly evaluating Curry, and would not permit him to play until they were satisfied he had rehabilitated fully from the Achilles' tendon tear he suffered in September 2005. Curry is convinced the team arbitrarily set a date without telling him.

"Today was the plan all along," he said. "Instead of informing me that today was going to be the day that I practiced, I was kind of basically on a day-to-day basis."

Curry said he felt healthy two months before the beginning of camp. When the Raiders said otherwise, he was forced to watch practices in a baseball cap, or to catch passes from a trainer while his teammates ran plays and hit each other.

"It was difficult to wait," Curry said. "I was antsy at first, then the longer and longer I waited, I got a little frustrated. Then the frustration went away,and it was just like blah. It was kind of like 'whatever.' It was out of my control, so I just stopped worrying about it."

If the Raiders were overly cautious, they can be forgiven. Curry was having a breakout season in 2004 - catching 50 passes for 679 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games - before his left Achilles' tendon snapped in a December game against the Chiefs. He returned to the field after a lengthy rehab, only to suffer the same injury in the second game of the 2005 season - also against Kansas City.

Curry also tore his right Achilles' tendon in college at North Carolina. The Raiders' concern can be read as a validation of Curry's value to the team, though he wasn't ready to interpret it that way.

"We'll see how it unfolds," he said. "I've seen a lot of guys sit around here and get healthy and get released. If the season is Week 15, 16, and we're in the playoffs and all that good stuff and I'm having a good season, then it was worth it. But it could go 360 (degrees), so it all depends on how the story ends."

Working in Curry's favor is the Raiders' need for a proven slot receiver. Randy Moss, Doug Gabriel and Alvis Whitted - currently one-two-three at receiver - are all straight-ahead speed guys. Jerry Porter can play the slot, but who knows how the petulant one will fit into the Raiders' plans? Curry is the one guy who excels at getting off of a jam, catching a short slant pass and breaking tackles to pick up a first down.

"Ronald has a real good knack of getting open and making people miss in open spaces," Whitted said. "That's always been his forte. ... He kind of reminds me of the tight end from San Diego, (Antonio) Gates, and the way he uses his basketball skills. ... He can get off the cut real well, and just knows how to get open."

Still, starting his campaign 27 days late has put Curry at a disadvantage in the competition at receiver, and he knows it.

"I have to catch up because we've got guys out here who are having good camps," he said. "I don't want to be out there and feel like I should be playing, and I'm not because guys have been out here working since Day 1 and they deserve to play."

An indication of the muddled situation at receiver came during a two-minute drill at Tuesday's practice. Whitted had left the field with a groin injury. So there was much debate about who would line up as the third receiver in the hurry-up offense. Would it be Porter or Curry? Turns out it was neither. Johnnie Morant got the call.

 

[Rupert]

It's great to see Morant deserving of moving up the chart. I don't see why we'd keep Francis over Buchanon. Just note Art's words about Biletnikof being able to interchange these guys. Whitted is large enough, barely, to fit the bill, Francis is not. Buchanon is.

Morant will be a real asset in the bunch sets.

Madsen at TE might just stick if, as one reporter suggested, the Raiders decide to use an OL as the 3rd TE in goalline situations.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Francis' number should be up in Oakland.

Geez, I'm just praying for health & luck with Ronald Curry and Sam Williams.

Moss
Gabriel
Porter
Morant

These four would appear to be locks at WR. Which leaves, competing for 2 (or at most 3) WR spots.

Curry
Buchanon
Francis
Whitted
Mr. Irrelavent

I'd like to keep Curry & Buchanon. I suppose Whitted if we go with 7 WR's, but the problem is special teams. Moss, Porter, Curry, Whitted don't play special teams. Not sure about Morant, but carrying 7 would be difficult IMHO.

 

[Crossbones]

I don't see how or why Francis makes this team. He's a failed experiment in speed. Nice idea but too fraile and just can't stay healthy. the log jam at WR makes him one of the odd men out IMO.

 

[Angry Pope]

If it were up to me, I would keep Buchanon over Francis...no question.

 

[Rupert]

Well, Francis isn't "fragile" per se, but he's got hamstring problems. And hammy's are all about your ability to have explosive speed. If you can't keep them healthy, you won't have explosive speed. Period. Fragile or not, he can't use his speed. Sorry son, you can't cut it.