Raiders audition Maddox
David White
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Former Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox worked out for the Raiders on Wednesday, but the free agent has not been signed.
Maddox was flown to the Bay Area for a brief visit to Raiders headquarters in Alameda, one day after he tried out with the Patriots, according to his agent, Vann McElroy.
With starter Aaron Brooks sidelined two to four weeks, the Raiders are thinking about bringing in a third quarterback as a short-term insurance plan behind Andrew Walter, who will start Oct. 1 against the Browns, and Marques Tuiasosopo.
"That's one guy we've talked to," Raiders coach Art Shell said. "There's no decision on that right now. We might go the way we are right now with just two guys."
Brooks sprained his right pectoral muscle, which is in the upper chest and helps rotate the arm, in the first quarter of Sunday's 28-6 loss to the Ravens.
The team initially thought Brooks hurt his rotator cuff, which would have been considered more serious. With a bye this weekend and Brooks expected to make a quick recovery, the Raiders are less inclined to sign an extra quarterback.
Still, the fact the Raiders auditioned Maddox says they are kicking around the idea. Remember, when Walter was down with shoulder pain during training camp, the Raiders signed 38-year-old Jeff George and cut him less than a week later.
Maddox, 35, spent 2001 in the XFL before re-entering the NFL with the Steelers. He led them to the 2002 season playoffs and was named the Comeback Player of the Year.
Maddox started for the 6-10 Steelers in 2003, then lost his job to rookie Ben Roethlisberger the next year.
As a backup last season, Maddox started two games and completed 34-of-71 passes for 406 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He was not re-signed after the season.
If the Raiders do not add a quarterback to the roster, wide receiver Ronald Curry will be the emergency No. 3 quarterback. A quarterback in college, he set the career passing record at North Carolina.
"It's like riding a bike," Curry said. "There's a slim, slim, slim chance of me getting in to play quarterback, but ... I feel I can do a decent enough job."
Guard change: Sixth-round draft pick Kevin Boothe replaced third-round pick Paul McQuistan at right guard in practice, but Shell hasn't named the rookie from Cornell a starter.
"At times, you put a young kid in there, they're going to stumble a bit," Shell said. "They're going to go back and forth. At this time, Paul just has to stay the course and he's doing that."
Briefly: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said his sprained foot should not keep him out of the Browns game. ... Cornerback Fabian Washington returned to practice after missing a day with a hamstring injury. ... The Raiders take a three-day weekend after today's practice.
