Angry Pope
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Inside Slant
7/21/2007
With negotiations usually flying well under the radar of both the local and national media, the Raiders manage virtually every year to come into training camp with all their picks ready to play.
The first-round holdouts which happen elsewhere, simply don't happen in Oakland, and the silence surrounding No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is no different than negotiations that went on between high picks such as Darrell Russell (No. 2 overall in 1997), Charles Woodson (No. 4 overall in 1998) and Robert Gallery (No. 2 overall in 2004).
The last Raiders first-round pick to hold out more than a couple of days was linebacker Rob Fredrickson in 1994.
While no one in the organization would admit or even consider the notion, it could prove beneficial for the Raiders if Russell is the first holdout since Fredrickson.
If Russell were to be a late arrival, it gives the Raiders a built-in reason to stick with what most believe is a commitment to free agent Josh McCown to begin the season as the starter.
McCown's ability to move set him apart from Russell and Andrew Walter in minicamps and OTAs. (Walter later had arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.)
He is also considerably more experienced and game-ready. McCown fully understands Russell is the Raiders' future, but in the final year of a two-year contract, he can get his resume' ready as an Oakland starter this season.
For the sake of Kiffin, McCown, and even Russell, the Raiders might be better off having the quarterback position settled in public early in training camp — and the best way for that to happen is for Russell to come in a little late.
CAMP CALENDAR: Players report to Napa Valley Marriott July 26. The first practice is July 27. Camp is closed except to invited guests. There are no fan days or scrimmages with opposing teams scheduled. Camp closes August. 17.
NOTES, QUOTES
—NFL director of officials Mike Pereira did nothing to alleviate the tension felt between league officials and the Raiders in a recent panel discussion that included Raiders CEO Amy Trask.
At the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission's NFL charity event, Pereira was discussing the complaints lodged by teams each Monday. He said a blown pass interference call with the game on the line was at issue, remarking, "I was really tempted to mention the six turnovers earlier in the game.''
Trask, also on the panel, said, "That's so not the point. After 59 minutes and you are in position to win a game ... "
She was cut off by Pereira, who said, "And you haven't been in that position a lot the past four years.''
—Cornerback Fabian Washington spent some of his pre-training camp time formulating a partnership between his "Franchise Kids Foundation'' and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County (Fla.).
"This is where I pretty much grew up,'' Washington told the Bradenton Herald. "This is the exact one I went to, always involved in sports and activities. Why not try and make it a better place?''
Washington said he spent nearly every day at the Manatee County Club. He played baseball and basketball in addition to football for the Manatee County Broncos.
—Mario Henderson, the offensive tackle from Florida State taken as one of three third-round draft picks, said he planned on helping his grandparents renovate their home and buying them a boat.
Henderson told the Fort Myers News-Press he signed a four-year deal worth $2.8 million.
Henderson's mother Sonia died at age 28 when he was 9. He lived with his grandparents, Floridia and Herbert Pickens.
"They took care of me and now it's my job to take care of them,'' Henderson said. "They gave me the chance to live a good life and I want to do the same thing for them. They didn't have to do it.''
—The Raiders launched two more language sections in their official web site — Raiders in Japanese and Raiders in Tagalog — bringing their total of languages to six.
Raiders en Espanol was launched in 2002, followed by Raiders in Chinese in 2002 and Raiders in German in 2004. All contain original content, rather than using translation software.
"We are the first and only team with six languages of original content,'' Trask said. "We have a global fan base. We're not stopping with these.''
The Raiders also have a limited radio broadcast schedule of games in Navajo.
cont'd...
7/21/2007
With negotiations usually flying well under the radar of both the local and national media, the Raiders manage virtually every year to come into training camp with all their picks ready to play.
The first-round holdouts which happen elsewhere, simply don't happen in Oakland, and the silence surrounding No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is no different than negotiations that went on between high picks such as Darrell Russell (No. 2 overall in 1997), Charles Woodson (No. 4 overall in 1998) and Robert Gallery (No. 2 overall in 2004).
The last Raiders first-round pick to hold out more than a couple of days was linebacker Rob Fredrickson in 1994.
While no one in the organization would admit or even consider the notion, it could prove beneficial for the Raiders if Russell is the first holdout since Fredrickson.
If Russell were to be a late arrival, it gives the Raiders a built-in reason to stick with what most believe is a commitment to free agent Josh McCown to begin the season as the starter.
McCown's ability to move set him apart from Russell and Andrew Walter in minicamps and OTAs. (Walter later had arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.)
He is also considerably more experienced and game-ready. McCown fully understands Russell is the Raiders' future, but in the final year of a two-year contract, he can get his resume' ready as an Oakland starter this season.
For the sake of Kiffin, McCown, and even Russell, the Raiders might be better off having the quarterback position settled in public early in training camp — and the best way for that to happen is for Russell to come in a little late.
CAMP CALENDAR: Players report to Napa Valley Marriott July 26. The first practice is July 27. Camp is closed except to invited guests. There are no fan days or scrimmages with opposing teams scheduled. Camp closes August. 17.
NOTES, QUOTES
—NFL director of officials Mike Pereira did nothing to alleviate the tension felt between league officials and the Raiders in a recent panel discussion that included Raiders CEO Amy Trask.
At the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission's NFL charity event, Pereira was discussing the complaints lodged by teams each Monday. He said a blown pass interference call with the game on the line was at issue, remarking, "I was really tempted to mention the six turnovers earlier in the game.''
Trask, also on the panel, said, "That's so not the point. After 59 minutes and you are in position to win a game ... "
She was cut off by Pereira, who said, "And you haven't been in that position a lot the past four years.''
—Cornerback Fabian Washington spent some of his pre-training camp time formulating a partnership between his "Franchise Kids Foundation'' and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County (Fla.).
"This is where I pretty much grew up,'' Washington told the Bradenton Herald. "This is the exact one I went to, always involved in sports and activities. Why not try and make it a better place?''
Washington said he spent nearly every day at the Manatee County Club. He played baseball and basketball in addition to football for the Manatee County Broncos.
—Mario Henderson, the offensive tackle from Florida State taken as one of three third-round draft picks, said he planned on helping his grandparents renovate their home and buying them a boat.
Henderson told the Fort Myers News-Press he signed a four-year deal worth $2.8 million.
Henderson's mother Sonia died at age 28 when he was 9. He lived with his grandparents, Floridia and Herbert Pickens.
"They took care of me and now it's my job to take care of them,'' Henderson said. "They gave me the chance to live a good life and I want to do the same thing for them. They didn't have to do it.''
—The Raiders launched two more language sections in their official web site — Raiders in Japanese and Raiders in Tagalog — bringing their total of languages to six.
Raiders en Espanol was launched in 2002, followed by Raiders in Chinese in 2002 and Raiders in German in 2004. All contain original content, rather than using translation software.
"We are the first and only team with six languages of original content,'' Trask said. "We have a global fan base. We're not stopping with these.''
The Raiders also have a limited radio broadcast schedule of games in Navajo.
cont'd...
