Angry Pope
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Training camp, Day 1
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Friday at 7:45 pm
Sights and sounds, news and notes from the Raiders' first day of training camp:
– Oakland's first two draft picks, quarterback JaMarcus Russell and tight end Zach Miller, were unsigned and not on the grounds of the Napa Marriott.
"We felt that Zach was going to practice, even up until a few minutes before practice," coach Lane Kiffin said. "But at the last minute, it just didn't happen."
When asked if Miller was in in the area, Kiffin said, "Zach was on his way up. Zach is on his way back down."
– Defensive end Derrick Burgess underwent hernia surgery, a condition he said he has had since birth, and was placed on the physically unable to perform list along with rookie running back Michael Bush.
"It just flared up on me while I was working out," Burgess said. "We decided, the doctors decided, it’s better to get it done, get it out of the way so it won’t be no problem in the future.”
Both players can be taken off PUP at any time. Burgess said he could be out one day or two weeks. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp gave Burgess points for creativity.
"He's fine. I talked to him before he went into surgery, after he came out of surgery and I saw him this morning," Sapp said. "He's taking advantage of the situation. He's no PUP. No way."
Kiffin said the Raiders wanted to see Bush in better condition as to not risk injury after rehabbing from a broken leg.
– Burgess said he is willing to live with his contract, which pays him $2.5 million this season after leading the NFL with 27 sacks over the past two seasons.
"Well, we all deserve a lot of things. But it is what it is, man," Burgess said. "I'm here. I signed a contract here. I'm here to play for the Raiders that's what I'm (going to) do."
Burgess said his agent had talked to a member of the Raiders front office about an extension following the season but that, "evidently, the guy we talked to is no longer here."
When informed Mike Lombardi had joined the personnel department of the Denver Broncos Thursday, Burgess said, "Tell him I said, ‘What’s happening? I appreciate it.’'
– The first practice was not in full pads, but ran nearly 2 1/2 hours at a brisk tempo. Center Jeremy Newberry said the offensive line got in 18 drills "and had time to spare," a pace he said would have been difficult to maintain when they first began under Kiffin and line coach Tom Cable.
– Sapp said he weighed in and 282 pounds and playfully addressed an item in a San Francisco Chronicle column that he could be released because as an older player he is a threat to the 32-year-old Kiffin.
"I guess it's my age that got me in trouble so let's not talk age," Sapp said. "The only thing I know is I'm ready to prepare for 16 games if they allow me to do so."
When asked if Kiffin was "sending a message" by cutting veterans such as Adam Treu, Courtney Anderson and Jarrod Cooper, Sapp said, "I take direct messages. If you have something to say to me look in my eye and say it. I don't know what other veterans would have to say to that. I just know what Warren has to say. If you have something to say
just look me in the eye and tell me and I'll be fine."
He said he expected to put on to 10 to 15 pounds before the season started. Sapp said he felt "disrespected" after being overlooked for the Pro Bowl following a 10-sack season and wants to be even better this year.
"You can go longer when you got the wind," Sapp said. "That's the thing that I want to contribute this year. I know I can't go 70 plays anymore. I'm not a fool. But I can go 45 and those 45 are going to be deadly."
– Robert Gallery took all his reps as a the first team left guard and expects to be there for awhile.
"I think they’re going to try it. They want people to get comfortable in one spot," I’m sure it depends on how things go in other places," Gallery said. "That’s the way we’re working right now."
The rest of the first team offensive line was Barry Sims at left tackle, Jake Grove at center, Cooper Carlisle at right guard and Cornell Green at right tackle.
The second team line was Mario Henderson at left tackle, Paul McQuistan at left guard, Jeremy Newberry at center, Kevin Boothe at right guard and Mark Wilson at right tackle.
– Quarterbacks Josh McCown and Andrew Walter split time with the first team. Walter, recovering from knee surgery, did his best work when throwing on time and staying in the pocket. McCown had some nice plays on bootlegs and rollouts.
When asked if Russell would fall behind by not being in camp, Walter said, "Obviously, I don’t know. I didn’t hold out. You’ll have to ask him when he gets here."
– Receivers, as well as quarterbacks and running backs, were rotated in and out without regard to who coaches believe will be the eventual starters.
– Rookie wideout Johnnie Lee Higgins made a few nice catches and was the first return specialist to field punts from Shane Lechler.
–With Burgess out, Kevin Huntley was filling in with the first team defensive line at right end. The rest of the first-team line was Terdell Sands at right tackle, Sapp at left tackle and Tommy Kelly at left end.
– Donovin Darius and Stuart Schweigert both got first team reps along with Michael Huff at safety, with Huff playing deep safety when Darius was on the field.
On one play, Darius came forward and knocked the ball free from tight end Fred Wakefield.
"Nice punch, Donnie," Wakefield said.
– In contrast to last season, Jerry Porter arrived in good spirits and was wearing a shirt that did not have an obscene gesture. Porter said he still has the shirt, however, as well as the garish"championship belt" buckle he proudly wore for pictures.
"You'll see the belt later this week," Porter said. "I lost about seven pounds so it's going to look even better."
– Newberry took Treu's No. 62. Tight end Tony Stewart is wearing Tim Brown's No. 81, the number Porter wanted to wear until he found out it would cost him more than $200,000.
– Wide receiver Mike Willams, who sustained a hamstring pull in his first minicamp practice and wasn't seen for the rest of the offseason, was back on the field Thursday and was catching the ball well.
"He's moving around OK," Kiffin said. "He caught the ball real well today. But he has a long ways to go. There is al ot of potential in there. We'll see if it comes out."
– Running back LaMont Jordan dropped at least three passes in drills and team sessions.
– Cornerback Fabian Washington left practice and was having his legs worked on by trainers but reported "just a tweak. Linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba was carried to the field house by trainers about a half-hour after he had already left practice. A teammate said Ekejiuba had a "body cramp."
– Receivers were catching footballs during drills which had different colors at each tip. Every time a receiver caught a pass, he would yell out the color of the tip which reached his hands first.
That person, presumably Mike Lombardi, is no longer with the organization and in fact joined the Denver Broncos personnel department Thursday.
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Friday at 7:45 pm
Sights and sounds, news and notes from the Raiders' first day of training camp:
– Oakland's first two draft picks, quarterback JaMarcus Russell and tight end Zach Miller, were unsigned and not on the grounds of the Napa Marriott.
"We felt that Zach was going to practice, even up until a few minutes before practice," coach Lane Kiffin said. "But at the last minute, it just didn't happen."
When asked if Miller was in in the area, Kiffin said, "Zach was on his way up. Zach is on his way back down."
– Defensive end Derrick Burgess underwent hernia surgery, a condition he said he has had since birth, and was placed on the physically unable to perform list along with rookie running back Michael Bush.
"It just flared up on me while I was working out," Burgess said. "We decided, the doctors decided, it’s better to get it done, get it out of the way so it won’t be no problem in the future.”
Both players can be taken off PUP at any time. Burgess said he could be out one day or two weeks. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp gave Burgess points for creativity.
"He's fine. I talked to him before he went into surgery, after he came out of surgery and I saw him this morning," Sapp said. "He's taking advantage of the situation. He's no PUP. No way."
Kiffin said the Raiders wanted to see Bush in better condition as to not risk injury after rehabbing from a broken leg.
– Burgess said he is willing to live with his contract, which pays him $2.5 million this season after leading the NFL with 27 sacks over the past two seasons.
"Well, we all deserve a lot of things. But it is what it is, man," Burgess said. "I'm here. I signed a contract here. I'm here to play for the Raiders that's what I'm (going to) do."
Burgess said his agent had talked to a member of the Raiders front office about an extension following the season but that, "evidently, the guy we talked to is no longer here."
When informed Mike Lombardi had joined the personnel department of the Denver Broncos Thursday, Burgess said, "Tell him I said, ‘What’s happening? I appreciate it.’'
– The first practice was not in full pads, but ran nearly 2 1/2 hours at a brisk tempo. Center Jeremy Newberry said the offensive line got in 18 drills "and had time to spare," a pace he said would have been difficult to maintain when they first began under Kiffin and line coach Tom Cable.
– Sapp said he weighed in and 282 pounds and playfully addressed an item in a San Francisco Chronicle column that he could be released because as an older player he is a threat to the 32-year-old Kiffin.
"I guess it's my age that got me in trouble so let's not talk age," Sapp said. "The only thing I know is I'm ready to prepare for 16 games if they allow me to do so."
When asked if Kiffin was "sending a message" by cutting veterans such as Adam Treu, Courtney Anderson and Jarrod Cooper, Sapp said, "I take direct messages. If you have something to say to me look in my eye and say it. I don't know what other veterans would have to say to that. I just know what Warren has to say. If you have something to say
just look me in the eye and tell me and I'll be fine."
He said he expected to put on to 10 to 15 pounds before the season started. Sapp said he felt "disrespected" after being overlooked for the Pro Bowl following a 10-sack season and wants to be even better this year.
"You can go longer when you got the wind," Sapp said. "That's the thing that I want to contribute this year. I know I can't go 70 plays anymore. I'm not a fool. But I can go 45 and those 45 are going to be deadly."
– Robert Gallery took all his reps as a the first team left guard and expects to be there for awhile.
"I think they’re going to try it. They want people to get comfortable in one spot," I’m sure it depends on how things go in other places," Gallery said. "That’s the way we’re working right now."
The rest of the first team offensive line was Barry Sims at left tackle, Jake Grove at center, Cooper Carlisle at right guard and Cornell Green at right tackle.
The second team line was Mario Henderson at left tackle, Paul McQuistan at left guard, Jeremy Newberry at center, Kevin Boothe at right guard and Mark Wilson at right tackle.
– Quarterbacks Josh McCown and Andrew Walter split time with the first team. Walter, recovering from knee surgery, did his best work when throwing on time and staying in the pocket. McCown had some nice plays on bootlegs and rollouts.
When asked if Russell would fall behind by not being in camp, Walter said, "Obviously, I don’t know. I didn’t hold out. You’ll have to ask him when he gets here."
– Receivers, as well as quarterbacks and running backs, were rotated in and out without regard to who coaches believe will be the eventual starters.
– Rookie wideout Johnnie Lee Higgins made a few nice catches and was the first return specialist to field punts from Shane Lechler.
–With Burgess out, Kevin Huntley was filling in with the first team defensive line at right end. The rest of the first-team line was Terdell Sands at right tackle, Sapp at left tackle and Tommy Kelly at left end.
– Donovin Darius and Stuart Schweigert both got first team reps along with Michael Huff at safety, with Huff playing deep safety when Darius was on the field.
On one play, Darius came forward and knocked the ball free from tight end Fred Wakefield.
"Nice punch, Donnie," Wakefield said.
– In contrast to last season, Jerry Porter arrived in good spirits and was wearing a shirt that did not have an obscene gesture. Porter said he still has the shirt, however, as well as the garish"championship belt" buckle he proudly wore for pictures.
"You'll see the belt later this week," Porter said. "I lost about seven pounds so it's going to look even better."
– Newberry took Treu's No. 62. Tight end Tony Stewart is wearing Tim Brown's No. 81, the number Porter wanted to wear until he found out it would cost him more than $200,000.
– Wide receiver Mike Willams, who sustained a hamstring pull in his first minicamp practice and wasn't seen for the rest of the offseason, was back on the field Thursday and was catching the ball well.
"He's moving around OK," Kiffin said. "He caught the ball real well today. But he has a long ways to go. There is al ot of potential in there. We'll see if it comes out."
– Running back LaMont Jordan dropped at least three passes in drills and team sessions.
– Cornerback Fabian Washington left practice and was having his legs worked on by trainers but reported "just a tweak. Linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba was carried to the field house by trainers about a half-hour after he had already left practice. A teammate said Ekejiuba had a "body cramp."
– Receivers were catching footballs during drills which had different colors at each tip. Every time a receiver caught a pass, he would yell out the color of the tip which reached his hands first.
That person, presumably Mike Lombardi, is no longer with the organization and in fact joined the Denver Broncos personnel department Thursday.
Man that's a bit disconcerting to say the least. I thought McNasty had the inside track here. I'm just hoping it's some sort of motivational ploy by Cable.