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Raiders to play in front of another home sellout
Oakland's game against Cleveland on Sunday will be televised locally
Raiders notebook
ALAMEDA -- The Raiders will make it two-for-two in sellouts Sunday when they take on the Cleveland Browns at McAfee Coliseum.
The team announced Thursday that although scattered seats are still available -- mostly tickets returned by the visiting Browns -- the game has qualified as a sellout and will be televised locally. Game attendance will be approximate 60,000.
The sellout represents a continued coup for the team's takeover of ticket sales this past season. A year ago when the teams met in Week 15, attendance was 41,862, the smallest Oakland crowd of the year. It also represented the lowest attendance for a Raider home game since 1998, when a game against the Washington Redskins drew 41,409.
Raiders coach Art Shell was delighted with the news of a sellout, especially after the team's woeful defeat to San Diego in the season opener.
"It means a lot," he said. "It says the fans are behind us. But as I said many times, we have to give them something to hang their hats on. We've got to give them a product on the field they can be proud of."
The team last posted back-to-back sellouts at the beginning of last season when the Kansas City and Dallas home games both attracted more than 62,000.
Gallery eager
Whether it qualifies as a remarkable recovery or a case of a player refusing to be slowed by injury, left tackle Robert Gallery couldn't wait to get back on the field.
"After the first couple of weeks, I have a lot to prove and we, as a line, have a lot to prove," Gallery said Thursday. "I want to be out there with the guys -- for myself, for this team and for this line."
The Raiders have allowed 15 quarterback sacks in two games.
Gallery suffered a partially torn calf muscle in practice in the days after the opener and missed the Baltimore game. He was expected to be out from two to four weeks.
"I was smart about (the injury)," Gallery said when asked if he was perhaps rushing his return. "But it came around fast. You never feel perfect. I feel good, like I can do my job. So I am going to play."
Shell said Gallery's injury wasn't as serious as first believed, but conceded Gallery's eagerness to return was a factor.
"He didn't want anybody to forget him," Shell said.
A bump up
Although their ranking in team defense is No. 28, the Browns believe they have upgraded their defense from last season with the addition of two free agents -- one of them former Raiders nose tackle Ted Washington.
"We had guys who didn't know how to play ... in a 3-4 (alignment) last year," Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel said. "Bringing in an experienced guy like Washington and (former Patriot Willie) McGinest helps the guys understand where to fit (and) how they need to play."
The Browns ranked 30th in the league last year in rushing defense. They have improved to 25th through three games; however, they rank 19th in average gain per rush.
Raiders' second-year tackle Anttaj Hawthorne said the experience of practicing alongside Washington was invaluable to him.
"His knowledge of the game is to the point where he could be a coach," Hawthorne said.
In fact, Washington did participate in a coaching internship program offered by NFL Europe this past offseason.
For those keeping score on the scales, Washington is listed by the Browns at 365 pounds this year. It has been speculated, though, that he's closer to 400.
"I think he's one of the better nose tackles in the league," Raider center Jake Grove said. "He's certainly the biggest."
Extra points
Besides QB Aaron Brooks, who has been ruled out of the game, the only player who did not practice Thursday was LB Grant Irons ... Shell said cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha should be available for the game with ankle and foot injuries, respectively. "We'll keep our fingers crossed," Shell said.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/15637588.htm
Oakland's game against Cleveland on Sunday will be televised locally
Raiders notebook
ALAMEDA -- The Raiders will make it two-for-two in sellouts Sunday when they take on the Cleveland Browns at McAfee Coliseum.
The team announced Thursday that although scattered seats are still available -- mostly tickets returned by the visiting Browns -- the game has qualified as a sellout and will be televised locally. Game attendance will be approximate 60,000.
The sellout represents a continued coup for the team's takeover of ticket sales this past season. A year ago when the teams met in Week 15, attendance was 41,862, the smallest Oakland crowd of the year. It also represented the lowest attendance for a Raider home game since 1998, when a game against the Washington Redskins drew 41,409.
Raiders coach Art Shell was delighted with the news of a sellout, especially after the team's woeful defeat to San Diego in the season opener.
"It means a lot," he said. "It says the fans are behind us. But as I said many times, we have to give them something to hang their hats on. We've got to give them a product on the field they can be proud of."
The team last posted back-to-back sellouts at the beginning of last season when the Kansas City and Dallas home games both attracted more than 62,000.
Gallery eager
Whether it qualifies as a remarkable recovery or a case of a player refusing to be slowed by injury, left tackle Robert Gallery couldn't wait to get back on the field.
"After the first couple of weeks, I have a lot to prove and we, as a line, have a lot to prove," Gallery said Thursday. "I want to be out there with the guys -- for myself, for this team and for this line."
The Raiders have allowed 15 quarterback sacks in two games.
Gallery suffered a partially torn calf muscle in practice in the days after the opener and missed the Baltimore game. He was expected to be out from two to four weeks.
"I was smart about (the injury)," Gallery said when asked if he was perhaps rushing his return. "But it came around fast. You never feel perfect. I feel good, like I can do my job. So I am going to play."
Shell said Gallery's injury wasn't as serious as first believed, but conceded Gallery's eagerness to return was a factor.
"He didn't want anybody to forget him," Shell said.
A bump up
Although their ranking in team defense is No. 28, the Browns believe they have upgraded their defense from last season with the addition of two free agents -- one of them former Raiders nose tackle Ted Washington.
"We had guys who didn't know how to play ... in a 3-4 (alignment) last year," Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel said. "Bringing in an experienced guy like Washington and (former Patriot Willie) McGinest helps the guys understand where to fit (and) how they need to play."
The Browns ranked 30th in the league last year in rushing defense. They have improved to 25th through three games; however, they rank 19th in average gain per rush.
Raiders' second-year tackle Anttaj Hawthorne said the experience of practicing alongside Washington was invaluable to him.
"His knowledge of the game is to the point where he could be a coach," Hawthorne said.
In fact, Washington did participate in a coaching internship program offered by NFL Europe this past offseason.
For those keeping score on the scales, Washington is listed by the Browns at 365 pounds this year. It has been speculated, though, that he's closer to 400.
"I think he's one of the better nose tackles in the league," Raider center Jake Grove said. "He's certainly the biggest."
Extra points
Besides QB Aaron Brooks, who has been ruled out of the game, the only player who did not practice Thursday was LB Grant Irons ... Shell said cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha should be available for the game with ankle and foot injuries, respectively. "We'll keep our fingers crossed," Shell said.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/15637588.htm
