Raiders News

"Raiders running backs coach Tom Rathman fumbled just seven times in a nine-year career at fullback that included 864 total rushes and receptions. Rookie running back Darren McFadden fumbled 23 times in three seasons at Arkansas. Guess what Rathman is going to be a stickler about with his prized pupil? Extra emphasis is being placed on McFadden's ball security. It's a common theme with rookies, but when a player shows a propensity for fumbling, that player can expect to constantly be reminded about holding onto the ball. "

"No one can blame Michael Bush if he tunes out the NFL draft in its entirety next year. As a college prospect last year, he watched his stock plummet into Day 2 before the Raiders chose him in the fourth round. As a returning player this year, he saw his depth-chart status potentially skydive when the Raiders picked Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall selection. For a moment, it looked like Bush's career in Oakland was done before it really started."

"It has been a while since Bush was in the football spotlight. His last taste perhaps came in the fall of 2006, when he was a Heisman Trophy hopeful for Louisville. Then came a broken right leg in the season opener against Kentucky. Suddenly Bush became a man on the mend, a stint that lasted through 2007 after the Raiders selected him in the fourth round of the NFL draft. And because he spent last season on the physically unable to perform list, Bush is eligible to participate in this weekend's rookie minicamp. It's not exactly how he envisioned things in the fall of 2006."

"The Raiders conducted their first organized practice of the year Friday, a day otherwise known as running back Darren McFadden's coming-out party amid a sea of players from which few will make the opening-day roster. Officially, Friday's 90-minute session was for rookies and players with fewer than four games on the 53-man roster of an NFL team. The first of three practices came as part of the team's rookie minicamp. The veterans won't join the on-field fray until early June, when the Raiders hold their mandatory minicamp."

"His reputation precedes him but you don't really understand what Darren McFadden is until you've seen him in motion...This weekend it was the Raiders' turn to go camping. And so, just how do you know what Darren McFadden really possesses under such circumstances. You watch him run through the line with no concerns about getting clocked. There'll be no rain on this parade. But suddenly you stop, blink, then re-focus. There goes No. 20, finishing his run by continuing to go for another 40 yards downfield with no opposition."

"Put the Sam Keller story to music and it would be a country western ballad where the only thing missing would be the death of the family dog. A local high school passing prodigy at San Ramon Valley High, Keller was a prize recruit to Arizona State who seemed poised for liftoff to college stardom and the NFL after passing for 1,582 yards in his first four games as a starter. And then ... "Once I came back, I got my job taken away ... I had to transfer (to Nebraska)... we went 5-7 so the transfer didn't pan out the way I hoped ... the combine didn't go the way I wanted ... the draft was obviously a huge flop," Keller said. "Now I'm struggling to make a team.""

"Pity the defender who crosses paths with Raiders running back Michael Bush for the first time. Bush is a load at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, with a ball in his hands and the goal line in his sights. Throw in the fact that Bush hasn't played in a game for 20 months, his surgically repaired right leg is healed, and he isn't assured any playing time, and you have the recipe for a player in search of someone to take it out on. "I've been telling people that my season starts the first preseason game," Bush said Saturday, in reference to the Raiders exhibition game against the 49ers on Aug. 8."

"They are behind the home runs, stolen bases and strikeouts. Behind the touchdowns, dunks, assists, goals and medals. They are at the root of each display of sportsmanship, each act of charity, every gracious signing of an autograph. Mothers and their surrogates did the carrying, the holding and the supporting. Still do. Always will. They are all over the sports landscape, sometimes invisible but always present. We see them through their children. "

"Darren McFadden and Michael Bush met for the first time Friday, and only time will tell if a beautiful friendship — not to mention an ultra-productive working relationship — was born. But there's not much question that the McFadden-Bush rookie-camp introduction was the most high-powered meeting of young Oakland Raiders running back talent since Marcus Allen once exchanged mitts with a guy named Bo Jackson. "

"The Raiders have been searching for a veteran presence at right defensive end. Pass rusher Greg Spires was looking for a job. Both can check their respective wishes off the to-get list. The Raiders agreed to terms with Spires on a one-year deal Saturday, an NFL source confirmed. Spires spent the past six seasons in Tampa Bay. He was a full-time starter until last season, when he missed six games because of a calf injury and was released in a February salary-cap move. "

"Is baseball almost over? Good, because I can't wait for football. This is going to be the most exciting NFL season in the Bay Area in many years. Actually, the real season might be ugly, but the training camps and preseason will be one thrill after another for both teams. The Raiders and 49ers will be more fun to watch in minicamps than most teams will be in the NFL "playoffs," whatever those are. Take the quarterback situations. Please. For both teams, this will be the fifth consecutive season of starting out with a quarterback who is not a proven, reliable, NFL-caliber ball-chucker. The 49ers opened the '03 season with Jeff Garcia and the Raiders opened with Rich Gannon, and since then it's been "Star Search." So this season will make a combined 10 years of wandering in the wilderness. Moses' record no longer seems untouchable."

"Darren McFadden isn't a know-it-all rookie, but the Raiders are working on it. Two weeks after drafting him fourth overall, the Raiders handed their new star running back a playbook that's as thick as it is complex. After all, before McFadden can school the NFL with talent that can't be taught, the Raiders want to teach him exactly what he should be doing out there. "It's different," McFadden said at rookie minicamp Saturday in Alameda. "They hand you a playbook with pens and highlighters in there with a notebook to take notes."

"It was the first day of a rookie minicamp, and most of the players present won't be on the roster when the Raiders' regular season starts. But coach Lane Kiffin is raising his expectations. He's looking for players to excel, things to be done right. The thing he was most proud of after Friday's initial practice was the offense making just one turnover – an interception by linebacker Ronnie Pentz, who dived to catch an errant Jeff Otis pass. "

"Chaz Schilens once turned his back on Major League Baseball's draft. Four years later, he was sure the NFL draft was turning its back on him. Six rounds passed and nothing. Teams were calling his agent, not to say he was their next pick, but that they'd like to sign the wide receiver as an undrafted free agent just as soon as the draft was over... Schilens emerged as a go-to player among 41 drafted, undrafted or unsigned rookies Friday. He went high for a catch in front of cornerback Brian Williams on one sideline, then got both feet in on a sideline pass later."

"Bo Jackson? Napoleon Kaufman? Marcus Allen? It's hard to say when the last time was the Raiders had an offensive backfield weapon comparable to Darren McFadden. After this weekend, it still might not be evident how much of an impact McFadden, the team's first-round draft pick last month, can have this season. Coach Lane Kiffin, who longed for an explosive offensive player, gets his first look at McFadden when the Raiders open a three-day rookie minicamp today at team headquarters."

"In an age where the value of the contract often precedes the name, it behooves a professional sports organization to provide a healthy, supportive and stable environment for its people. The greater the investment in the employees, the greater the need for protection. It may be as simple as having a "big brother" or "big sister" on the payroll. Someone willing to handle details and capable of advising or listening. "

"Raiders quarterback Brian White drops back, fakes a handoff to Louis Rankin and looks for Chaz Schilens downfield. Trevor Scott brings pressure from one side. Greyson Gunsheim comes from the other end. Offensive linemen Brandon Rodd and Adam Spieker give White enough time to get a pass off to Arman Shields. All this must mean it's rookie minicamp time in Alameda, the perfect chance for the Raider Nation to get to know their transaction wire."

"The Raiders announced the signing of veteran linebacker Edgerton Hartwell on Wednesday. Hartwell, 29, will have his best chance of making the team if he can prove to be an effective run stopper, a weakness for the Raiders in recent seasons. Hartwell would have to beat out incumbent Robert Thomas and Sam Williams for a starting spot, as Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard appear entrenched at middle and weak-side linebacker, respectively. "

"The Indianapolis Colts have put their tag-team runners -- Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes -- back together. The tandem that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title has been reunited after Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Colts. Rhodes' agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed the signing Wednesday in an e-mail to the Associated Press, although he did not disclose financial details."

"Two weeks of banging against each other should be more than enough for the 49ers by the time they get around to their first exhibition game against the Raiders on Aug. 8 at the Coliseum. Kickoff is 7 p.m. The 49ers open training camp in Santa Clara on July 24, a week earlier than a year ago."

"The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent linebacker Edgerton Hartwell, hoping he can revive a career beset by injuries in recent seasons. The 30-year-old Hartwell played only 13 games in 2005 and '06 with Atlanta because of injuries to his knee and Achilles' tendon. He was cut by Cincinnati before the start of last season and sat out the entire year."

"All that awaits Edgerton Hartwell's addition to the Raiders linebacking corps is the official annoucement. Hartwell excelled playing alongside Ray Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens from 2001 through 2004, cashing in with a six-year, $26 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He played in only 13 games before being released, the victim of an Achilles' tendon tear in 2005. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on May 3, 2007, but was released before the season started on Sept. 1."

" The times and dates of most exhibition games were announced by the league Tuesday, with the Raiders game against the 49ers set for Friday, Aug. 8 in Oakland at 7 p.m. Also, the Raiders game against the Tennessee Titans pushed up one day to Aug. 15. In addition, the Raiders learned that their home game against the Arizona Cardinals will be played Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. and their road game against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m."

"The NFL has moved the Titans-Oakland Raiders preseason game at LP Field from Saturday, Aug. 16 to Friday, Aug. 15. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Fox will televise the game nationally. "

"Dangerous flashback: Darren McFadden supposedly reminds Al Davis of Marcus Allen. Does that mean McFadden is doomed to be exiled mysteriously to the bench, with no explanation from the coach or from Davis? -- It's a strange comparison. Allen had nothing like McFadden's warp speed. Bo Jackson was the man with the golden wheels. All Allen had was moves, instinct, vision and a kind of man-up football toughness that most Raiders of the last five years wouldn't recognize if they bumped into it."

"A key member of the Rams' front office might be joining Al Davis' operation with the Oakland Raiders. Davis is looking for a new contract negotiator and salary-cap specialist, and Samir Suleiman reportedly is a candidate for the job. Suleiman, 32, has been the Rams' director of football operations since 2000. In that position, he assists Jay Zygmunt, president of football operations and general manager, with contracts and cap management, among other duties."

"Raiders coach Lane Kiffin's primary requirement for any safety the team was going to draft was that he had better be an asset on special teams. Welcome aboard, Tyvon Branch. The Raiders have been looking for an explosive kick returner since their last kickoff return for a touchdown on Dec. 28, 2003, by Doug Gabriel. They might have found that and more in the first of their two fourth-round draft picks. Branch played cornerback at Connecticut but will move to safety for the Raiders. "

"Raiders fans may be debating Darren McFadden vs. Glenn Dorsey for years, but the fact is there is no way of knowing which was the better pick for Oakland. Quite frankly, it's probably a no-lose no-brainer either way, so why not go with the guy who'll sell more tickets and score more touchdowns? Football fans will always opt for the electric running back over the electric defensive tackle. Can't blame them one bit, and McFadden is as electric as they come. At long last, the Raiders may be able to answer LaDainian Tomlinson after years of getting trampled by him. "

"Four seasons ago, Edgerton Hartwell was considered one of the NFL's premier young inside linebackers with the Ravens. Three lost seasons later, he hopes to rejuvenate his career with the Raiders. Hartwell agreed to a free-agent deal with Oakland, two NFL sources confirmed Friday, giving the team a veteran presence at middle linebacker and the player a chance to get back into the league."

"Raiders owner Al Davis is reorganizing his front office and could bring in a new salary "capologist" and contract negotiator, a league source said Thursday. Rams executive Samir Suleiman, director of football operations in St. Louis since 2000, is among those being looked at. A source within the Rams organization confirmed his candidacy Thursday."

" Having traversed various parts of the world -- Africa, Europe, South America -- the Raiders' star cornerback wanted to share the exhilaration of visiting new places, expose some deserving kids to opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise. So he set up a college tour last month to Boston for six underprivileged youth from the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC). It's the latest helping hand by one of the NFL's most charitable players. Asomugha, 26, said his desire to give back is a natural reaction."

"Most NFL teams got high marks on draft day, but does that mean this will be a good year to employ rookies in fantasy football? Probably not. Like most years, 2008 appears to be a season when early-choice quarterbacks will struggle on bad teams, a couple of rookie backs could make an immediate splash, and last year's collegiate receiving stars are more likely to be disappointments than fantasy contributors as first-year pros. "

"The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, a move precipitated by their trade Sunday of cornerback Fabian Washington. The Raiders absorbed a $1.1 million salary-cap hit when they traded Washington to the Baltimore Ravens for a fourth-round draft pick. That pushed them over the salary-cap limit and necessitated a counter move. Releasing Rhodes saved the Raiders approximately $1.25 million in cap room."

"NFL conundrum No. 1: Is it better to draft for need or for the best athlete? Confession: I am a needs guy. Here's why: Fail to fill your needs now and you're still going to be knee-deep in need in a year. Go for the best athlete and you're just playing Lotto. We all know the odds on that. That is why I was down on the Raiders' draft and why the best draft I've seen in years just concluded over the weekend in Kansas City. If player ratings are all they're cracked up to be, the Chiefs should replace San Diego as the top team in the AFC West somewhere around or shortly after the 2010 season."

"The Raiders are serious about bringing speed to the offense. They have signed seven rookie free agents, among them Washington running back Louis Rankin, a Stockton native noted for his speed. He reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, the fastest among a group of players who worked out for the Seattle Seahawks earlier this month. Rankin joins a running back group that features Justin Fargas, first-round draft pick Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and LaMont Jordan. "

"The Raiders spent Monday offering one-year contracts with four-figure bonuses to undrafted free agents. They then saved cash by releasing running back Dominic Rhodes. Things will get much more expensive when it comes time to sign the running back they selected fourth overall in the NFL draft. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is by far the most dynamic offensive player coming out of college. As such, he will command a six-year deal worth at least $50 million with no less than $20 million in guarantees."

"Now that the next class of instant multimillionaires has been determined, we rediscover that the NFL is, for the privileged few, the most generous Sugar Daddy in sports. Thanks to the endless cash flow of the world's most profitable league, first-round draft picks gain entrance into the highest levels of wealth, receiving access to the kind of luxury that defies our foundering economy. Now that this has been tossed at their feet, courtesy of the current draft system, they get to decide whether they deserve it. "

"The Raiders got the guy Greg Papa wanted. The 49ers didn't do the same for Joe Starkey. Is it a coincidence then that the play-by-play voices of the rival franchises walked away from the NFL draft with differing opinions on the television coverage provided by ESPN and the NFL Network? In a word: Yes, they insisted Monday. "I watched both," Papa claimed. "It's a tough event to cover because of the timing of it. When do you look ahead to the next pick? When do you look back? "

"The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, the first domino to fall after the team picked Darren McFadden in the first round of the NFL draft on Saturday. Rhodes' release was meant to put the Raiders back under the league salary cap, which they exceeded when they traded cornerback Fabian Washington to the Baltimore Ravens. That trade gave the Raiders a nearly $1.1 million cap hit, ESPN reported. Rhodes, who had restructured his contract to remain with the Raiders, was due to earn $1.75 million this year. "

"Boy, that was fast. Not the NFL draft itself. Rather, the four sprinters plucked by the Raiders on closing day Sunday, proving ever more that the Raiders' organizational chart remains huge on stopwatch measurables. "In the National Football League, speed's always huge," said Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who met with reporters after the draft, as did offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, while coach Lane Kiffin worked on recruiting undrafted free agents. "That's the difference between saving touchdowns on defense and making touchdowns on offense. Speed kills.""

"The need for speed. It's a trait that masks other deficiencies and locks otherwise nondescript prospects onto the radar of NFL teams. Players who run well jump to the head of the class when it comes time for the NFL draft. On Sunday, the allure of speed was in full evidence at Raiders headquarters as the four players they selected on the second day of the draft boast of some of the best 40-yard-dash times by players at their respective positions."

"First-round draft pick Darren McFadden wasted little time in checking out his new workplace. He arrived in Oakland on Saturday night, caught up on his sleep and arrived at team headquarters Sunday afternoon for his first look around since the Raiders made him the fourth player picked overall... "It's very important," McFadden said of reporting to training camp on time. "I want to be out there playing. I don't want to be sitting back, I want to be out there learning. The more time you miss, the less chance you have of playing. I want to be out there..."

"Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said he knew months ago that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden "was the guy we had to have." Months ago? Try years and years ago. By selecting McFadden fourth overall Saturday, the Raiders drafted themselves a certifiable play-making threat, something their offense has glaringly lacked for far too long. "I want to play great and make big plays," McFadden said to finish his conference call with the Bay Area media. That short line is all we really needed to hear. And then he was gone. It was breakaway speed, at its finest."

" When it was clear McFadden would be available, Kiffin said, owner Al Davis didn't consider trading down to acquire more picks. McFadden was the guy all along, the coach added, saying Davis was prepared to trade up if necessary. McFadden, by reputation, provides Oakland with the kind of dynamic offensive presence they haven't had since quarterback Rich Gannon befuddled defenses with his brain, his arm and his feet. The Raiders are convinced defensive coordinators will have to game-plan for this guy."

"For the second consecutive year, the Raiders added a fourth-round draft pick by dealing a player who once figured prominently into their future plans. Last year, the Raiders traded Randy Moss to New England for a fourth-round selection. This time it was cornerback Fabian Washington, who was dealt to the Baltimore Ravens for the 125th pick in the 2008 NFL draft. "

"Appropriately decked in a black three-piece suit, Raiders lapel pin with a silver-and-black tie and Raiders cap, McFadden answered questions with a smile, looking the part of the brighteyed rookie ready to leap to the NFL. "I want to be out there playing, I don't want to be sitting back, I want to be out there learning," McFadden said. "The more time you miss, the less chance you have of playing. I want to be out there, so I'll let my agent take care of that and I feel like he's going to get it done for me." "

"Remember the good ol' days, when the 49ers and Raiders would draft wide receivers, develop them and ride them to victory? Well, in this era of losing seasons, our plucky little teams have been opening NFL drafts by taking quarterbacks No. 1 overall, and then failing to find those franchise arms a true No. 1 wide receiver to grow old with. This past weekend's draft was, again, an exercise in futility and frustration when it came to finding the 49ers' and Raiders' next great pass catcher."

"Arman Shields knew what he was waiting for -- that draft day phone call hopeful players are told about, the one that will change their lives and mark the completion of a dream. For Shields, that began when he was just 6 years old."

"The Ravens addressed their need at cornerback yesterday, but it didn't come in the draft. Instead, the Ravens traded a fourth-round pick to the Oakland Raiders for Fabian Washington."

"Raiders owner Al Davis spoke. Glamorous size and world-class speed trumps glaring need. He proved it by taking Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft Saturday, with Raiders coach Lane Kiffin nodding in agreement afterward."