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Walter, Raiders shrug off latest round of barbs tossed by Moss
By Jason Jones - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 5, 2006
Andrew Walter is about as comfortable addressing large groups of media as he is absorbing a hit from a blitzing linebacker.
But there was Walter, the 24-year-old Raiders quarterback, talking about getting things in order for Sunday's game against the 49ers, and also about leadership heading into his second career start.
Two days earlier, team captain Randy Moss said on Fox Sports Radio he wasn't concerned about the Raiders' 0-3 start, "because it doesn't seem like nobody else is concerned. So, why should I?"
Moss doesn't talk to local media, leaving Walter and his teammates to answer for his latest radio rant.
Walter, for one, appeared unaffected by Moss' remarks, which came a day after some questioned Moss' effort to catch a deep pass from the young quarterback.
"He has his views," Walter said. "I have to go out and do my job. ... Football is about individual battles, working together with the team. So, what I have to do isn't affected by what anybody says, outside or inside the program. He's entitled to his beliefs."
Walter said he knows where leadership should come from, even on a team whose offense is last in the league in passing and total offense and whose erstwhile star receiver is bailing out.
"I would like to think that comes from the quarterback position," Walter said. "I'm not going to ever say that, though. That's not something I would talk about. I don't think that's something you talk about. That's something that just happens. I just want to keep it at that."
Walter is far from earning his stripes as a leader, something that can come only with more playing time and some wins.
"I'm not saying it's me," Walter said. "I'm not saying it's anybody else. It's something that isn't really talked about. You have to step up. Players recognize leaders. They don't recognize if you just sit around and talk about it like I am now."
Coach Art Shell said other players can withstand Moss' broadcast.
"I know what they're like, and I know what they're capable of doing and what they've done," Shell said. "I don't worry about that. Maybe I'm naïve, but I don't worry about that."
News flash -- Cornerback Fabian Washington was surprised when he saw a report on ESPN Tuesday evening saying he wouldn't play against the 49ers.
The Raiders, however, confirmed the report, listing Washington as out for the game.
Just a couple of hours earlier, Washington said he didn't know if the right hamstring injury initially suffered Sept. 17 at Baltimore would keep him out.
Duane Starks and Stanford Routt are candidates to start in place of Washington because they have worked on the left side more than Tyrone Poole.
• Quarterback Aaron Brooks also is out for Sunday's game because of an injured right shoulder.
• Running back Zack Crockett (knee), linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder), tackle Robert Gallery (shoulder) linebacker Grant Irons (back), defensive end Lance Johnstone (knee) and running back ReShard Lee (neck) are questionable.
Brooks, Washington, Irons and Ekejiuba did not practice.
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/34223.html
By Jason Jones - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 5, 2006
Andrew Walter is about as comfortable addressing large groups of media as he is absorbing a hit from a blitzing linebacker.
But there was Walter, the 24-year-old Raiders quarterback, talking about getting things in order for Sunday's game against the 49ers, and also about leadership heading into his second career start.
Two days earlier, team captain Randy Moss said on Fox Sports Radio he wasn't concerned about the Raiders' 0-3 start, "because it doesn't seem like nobody else is concerned. So, why should I?"
Moss doesn't talk to local media, leaving Walter and his teammates to answer for his latest radio rant.
Walter, for one, appeared unaffected by Moss' remarks, which came a day after some questioned Moss' effort to catch a deep pass from the young quarterback.
"He has his views," Walter said. "I have to go out and do my job. ... Football is about individual battles, working together with the team. So, what I have to do isn't affected by what anybody says, outside or inside the program. He's entitled to his beliefs."
Walter said he knows where leadership should come from, even on a team whose offense is last in the league in passing and total offense and whose erstwhile star receiver is bailing out.
"I would like to think that comes from the quarterback position," Walter said. "I'm not going to ever say that, though. That's not something I would talk about. I don't think that's something you talk about. That's something that just happens. I just want to keep it at that."
Walter is far from earning his stripes as a leader, something that can come only with more playing time and some wins.
"I'm not saying it's me," Walter said. "I'm not saying it's anybody else. It's something that isn't really talked about. You have to step up. Players recognize leaders. They don't recognize if you just sit around and talk about it like I am now."
Coach Art Shell said other players can withstand Moss' broadcast.
"I know what they're like, and I know what they're capable of doing and what they've done," Shell said. "I don't worry about that. Maybe I'm naïve, but I don't worry about that."
News flash -- Cornerback Fabian Washington was surprised when he saw a report on ESPN Tuesday evening saying he wouldn't play against the 49ers.
The Raiders, however, confirmed the report, listing Washington as out for the game.
Just a couple of hours earlier, Washington said he didn't know if the right hamstring injury initially suffered Sept. 17 at Baltimore would keep him out.
Duane Starks and Stanford Routt are candidates to start in place of Washington because they have worked on the left side more than Tyrone Poole.
• Quarterback Aaron Brooks also is out for Sunday's game because of an injured right shoulder.
• Running back Zack Crockett (knee), linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder), tackle Robert Gallery (shoulder) linebacker Grant Irons (back), defensive end Lance Johnstone (knee) and running back ReShard Lee (neck) are questionable.
Brooks, Washington, Irons and Ekejiuba did not practice.
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/34223.html
