2008 Season - Day 16 - Mini Camp

Darren McFadden burst through the middle during a drill and slowed up as he reached the secondary only to be scolded by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp for not running hard for 40 yards.

Tom Rathman got on McFadden’s case another time when he carried the ball back to the huddle with his elbow not tucked in close to the body to secure the ball.

The NFL education of McFadden began at the Oakland Raiders rookie minicamp this weekend, when the fourth overall pick in the draft got his first taste of professional football.

McFadden said Saturday he noticed the difference from college as soon as he was handed pens, a highlighter and a notebook with his playbook. McFadden gets to work with rookies this weekend before joining the rest of the team later this month.

“It’s good to get a few things so that you can understand and get the concept of it,” he said. “Once you get the concepts of the first part of it, it’s a lot easier to catch on to the rest of it when they throw it at you.”

After working primarily as a tailback on his first day of practice, McFadden showed off his variety of skills Saturday. He lined up as a wide receiver at times, ran the ball out of the I-formation and even worked at quarterback in some individual drills.

McFadden was often utilized as the quarterback in college at Arkansas in the “Wildcat” formation, with fellow first-round pick Felix Jones as running back. McFadden threw seven touchdown passes in his career.

He ended the practice Saturday, by winning a competition for the offense when he beat a linebacker to the corner after taking a pitch and broke off a long run.

McFadden is being counted on to team with last year’s No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell and give the Raiders a more potent offense. Oakland has won only 19 games the past five seasons and has often lacked the playmakers needed to win in the NFL.

But coach Lane Kiffin cautions about putting too much pressure on McFadden so early.

“He’s not here to save the franchise. He just happens to be our first pick of the draft,” Kiffin said.

One of the immediate priorities is working on McFadden’s ball security. He fumbled 15 times last season at Arkansas, although some of those came as a quarterback or kick returner as opposed to a tailback.

Rathman pointed out that McFadden carried held his elbow too far from his body when they first met before the draft last month and is working on fixing the flaw before the season.

“You’ve got to be a good fundamental football player, and that’s what we’re working on right now,” Rathman said. “Obviously, coming out of college his biggest negative was probably his ball security, so we’ve jumped on that early. He understands where we’re coming from. He’s using better technique, better decision on where he’s putting the ball at certain times. So he understands what he needs to do.”

McFadden is part of a crowded backfield in Oakland. Justin Fargas started for most of the second half of last season, finishing with 1,009 yards, and another former 1,000-yard back, LaMont Jordan, is also still on the roster.

“I feel like the coaches know what they want to do,” McFadden said. “I’m just sitting back right now and trying to learn from those guys that are ahead of me and just learn the playbook and things so I can get out there on the field and when I get out there, I know what to do.”

The most intriguing option is Michael Bush, a fourth-round pick a year ago who missed his rookie year recovering from a broken leg.

Bush was projected as a first-round pick before breaking his leg in his season-opener for Louisville in 2006. He sat out all last season, getting to practice only briefly with his new team.

He admits he was taken aback when the team drafted another running back, but was reassured after talking with Rathman.

“Coach Rathman after they drafted McFadden and told me, ‘This has nothing to do with you. Just hang in there, keep focusing and keep working hard like you been doing. Everything else will take care of itself,”’ Bush said.

Bush and McFadden give the Raiders more options at running back than they had last year because both are talented receivers, as well as runners.

“We’re excited they’re all different,” Kiffin said. “They’re very different players and bring different things and we’ve got to figure it out. Two of them, in Michael and Darren, catch the ball really well so we’ve got to see how much we can do with that.”

2008 Season - Day 16 - Photos

"I'm kind of nervous. I haven't seen this in a while."

Raiders running back Michael Bush wasn't referring to the football field when he made that statement, rather the media throng as he sat behind numerous microphones.

The same can be applied to the media.

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.

"It's awkward, but at the same time, I love it because I've been out of football," Bush said. "And I'm just glad to be doing football plays and getting out there and running around and showing the coaches that I'm healthy and that I'm fine and I'm ready to play."

The Raiders' decision not to release LaMont Jordan last fall kept Bush from joining Oakland's backfield in 2007. Bush was allowed to practice with the team toward the end of last season, but once the Raiders didn't activate him, he went back to individual workouts.

The meeting room for running backs remains crowded. Dominic Rhodes is gone, but the Raiders selected running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick in last month's draft. Bush watched the draft and was puzzled that the team would add to its deepest position.

"At first I was like, Why do we need another back?, because, at the time, we did have Dominic, and LaMont still on the roster, and (Justin) Fargas and me," Bush said. " … It kind of bothered me, but it didn't because he can help us. … I'm glad that he's on our side."

The buzz about McFadden was considerable coming off his All-America season at Arkansas. Bush, who rushed for 2,508 yards and 39 touchdowns for Louisville, might have had the same hype if not for his injury.

"Actually, I was watching the game when he broke his leg," McFadden said. "It was the only time I really got to see him play."

They have seen a lot of each other this weekend. When they're not rotating plays, they're on the field together to give the Raiders' offense some new looks.

McFadden is known as a speedster, and Bush is different from the other Raiders running backs mainly because he looks more like a linebacker. Listed at 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, he spent a lot of time solidifying his frame in the weight room.

On the field, Bush moves fine and says the knot in his shin is the only reminder of his broken leg. He's eagerly awaiting the exhibition season so he can hit someone for the first time in almost two years.

"I think Michael's in a great place right now," coach Lane Kiffin said. "It was a good challenge for him for us to have drafted Darren, for him to see that. It's kind of similar to what Justin went through last year … Rhodes comes in, LaMont's here, and Fargas just keeps working and working. I think it's going to continue to show up, and we'll keep using (Bush) in different ways as camp goes on."

That just wasn't coach-talk from Kiffin.

Bush said he was "happy" the Raiders drafted McFadden and that he would play special teams just to get on the field.

"I think the coaches still know what I can bring to the table, as well," Bush said. "I've never doubted myself at any point. And as far as team-wise, bringing in the best guy that was on the board at the time is good because it'll also help us out as a winning team."

2008 Season - Day 15 - McFadden

2008 Season - Day 15 - Photos

Coach Ryan.
#91 Trevor Scott.

2008 Season - Day 15 - Photos

#33 Tyvon Branch

#20 Darren McFadden.

#8 Sam Keller hands off to #20 Darren McFadden.

2008 Season - Day 15 - Mini Camp

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.

First-round draft pick McFadden was among the 40 or so players who donned Raider jerseys and, in most cases, received their first taste of life as an NFL player.

This camp is one of the many avenues through which Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and his assistants base their opinions when deciding which 53 players to keep on the opening-day roster.

To that end, there is plenty to be gleaned from a gathering of rookies, players who weren't even selected in the NFL draft or deemed talented enough to make more than a token appearance last season

"Guys will always look different than what you thought they were going to," Kiffin said in response to the value of such minicamps. "It's going to happen. You're going to have some guy in a drill, who is a free agent, and he's going to look better than some guy you drafted in the third or fourth round. It's fun to evaluate them."

The Raiders spent inordinate time evaluating McFadden in the months leading up to the NFL draft last month. Even so, there is something to be said for seeing McFadden in person, Kiffin said.

"The quickness shows up so fast, he just looks so much quicker than everybody around him," Kiffin said. "He's so fun to work with because he's a football guy. He loves it. You can see it in his eyes. He wants to learn. He's out there and if pads were on, you would have heard a lot of noise from him as well."

McFadden is but one of five Raiders draftees seeking to open eyes and make waves on the field the next four months.

Arman Shields and Chaz Schilens were selected in the fourth and seventh round, respectively, based mainly upon their above-average speed and potential as big-play wide receivers.

Both made several nice catches during the team's first organized practice. It's not a stretch to say both looked more impressive than Carlos Francis and Johnnie Morant, receivers the Raiders selected in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively, in the 2004 NFL draft and released last year after three unproductive seasons.

In Shields and Schilens, Kiffin sees two potentially big, fast targets for second-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell to connect with, when he isn't throwing to the likes of Ronald Curry, Javon Walker and Drew Carter.

"Shields would have gone much higher if it hadn't been for him missing (most of) his senior year," Kiffin said.

Schilens opened plenty of eyes with an impressive predraft workout. The Raiders took note.

"His offseason workouts were (impressive), and we really felt he improved enough to take a chance on him," Kiffin said.

Schilens said Friday that his potential transcends his pedestrian statistics during his career at San Diego State.

"I always felt that I was a player who got better year to year and game to game," Schilens said. "I feel like I'm constantly learning."

Tyvon Branch played mostly cornerback at Connecticut. He is working at safety and kick returner, his likely ticket to a roster spot this season, given the departure of Chris Carr and Dominic Rhodes.

"It's definitely a great opportunity for me," Branch said. "They lost both their returners, so I'm looking forward to stepping up and competing for that job."

Notes: The Raiders worked out San Ramon Valley High School graduate Sam Keller on Friday. He wasn't selected out of Nebraska in the NFL draft last month. He worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week but was not offered a contract. The Raiders already have five quarterbacks on their roster -- JaMarcus Russell, Andrew Walter, Jeff Otis, Erik Meyer and Brian White. ... Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is sporting a new hairdo for the first time in years. His long, flowing mane is gone, replaced by a close-cropped look. He donated much of his hair to Locks Of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to children with hair loss as a result of any medical condition. ... The Raiders will host their 8th Annual Youth Skills Camp on June 7-8 at their year-round facility in Alameda. The event is open to boys and girls ages 8-14. Raiders coaches and players, as well as Bay Area college and high school coaches, will spearhead the instructing. Registration forms and additional camp information are available on the Raiders Web site at http://www.raiders.com, and on the site's Kids Zone at http://www.raidersforkids.com. ... The Raiders re-launched their Spanish web site, Raidersenespanol.com. The re-launch was designed to allow more Raider fans to interact with the Raiders in a platform developed in the Spanish language. ... The Raiders entered into a joint relationship with the Austrian Football League's SWARCO Raiders football team. The two teams will engage in several marketing and promotional endeavors during the 2008 season. The Oakland Raiders and the SWARCO Raiders will collaborate with regard to Web site content, marketing and coaching.

2008 Season - Day 15 - Mini Camp

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.

Apparently to Kiffin, being a few weeks removed from college studies doesn't excuse players from making multiple errors.

The Raiders began a three-day rookie minicamp with their five draft picks and a collection of rookie free agents, players without a year of experience in the league and players trying out.

The purpose of the camp is to get rookies acquainted with the playbook so that when the mandatory minicamp begins June 3 they can participate rather than look confused.

So Kiffin was happy to see the offense care for the ball so well despite the inexperience of almost everyone on the field.

"So many of these times, you see guys going the wrong way, run into each other, balls on the ground," Kiffin said. "I was very impressed with the players today as far as their carryover from what they learned last night and this morning."

A total of 41 players took part, 14 of whom are trying out for the team.

Most NFL teams held rookie or mandatory minicamps last weekend, or the weekend after the draft – something the Raiders had done in previous years.

Kiffin said the plan was to allow players to recover from the stress of the draft and arrive ready to play without the pressure of working against veterans.

"The plays are different, so anything new is going to be a little difficult," said wide receiver Chaz Schilens, a seventh-round draft pick. "But for the most part, the plays are pretty simple. You can pick them up easily. Of course, they're going slow for us right now."

There's good reason for that.

"Rookies are so far behind, in my opinion you don't get to evaluate them as well," said Kiffin, referring to how new players compare to veterans. "So let's see how far we can catch them up … and now throw them into the mandatory camp when everyone is here."

The Raiders have seen some players only on film. Running back Michael Bush is the one key player from last season participating. He spent last season on the physically unable to perform list.

Bush rotated with first-round draft pick Darren McFadden and rookie free agent Louis Rankin. There were also players who were on the practice squad last season, but the Raiders know little about most participants.

Kiffin said he was excited to get those players on the field and ready to break down their play, whether they were drafted or just hoping to sign a deal and end up in training camp.

"I try to prepare our coaches with an open mind-set to take the draft positions off of them," Kiffin said. "I don't care about that anymore. Evaluate these guys.

"Don't think that guy is better than that guy just because of where he was drafted or how much he was paid. Just keep plugging away at it."

2008 Season - Day 15 - Mini Camp

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.

"I had quite a few calls," Schilens said. "... After it got midway through the sixth round, I just went outside and played with my family, my little sister."

Schilens tuned out a little too soon. With no head's up given, the Raiders drafted Schilens with the 226th pick of the 252-slot draft two Sundays ago. He made his practice debut Friday with the rest of the first-year players at the team's rookie minicamp.

The Detroit Tigers can officially scrap their hopes of signing the 1,000th pick (34th round) of the 2003 baseball draft. He's a Raider as long as they'll have him.

"The scout from Detroit still talks to me, still calls me and tries to get me to do it," said Schilens, who played baseball as a freshman for San Diego State coach Tony Gwynn.

"But, no. I told him football is what I'm going to be doing and that's what I've been working for."

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.

Then again, being a seventh-round pick, he isn't exactly NFL-ready. He slipped and fell on one pass route, drawing a loud correction from new receivers coach James Lofton.

Schilens missed part of his senior season with a stress fracture in his left foot. So yeah, there's some serious proving to do.

"He really impressed us in some workouts that he had after the season," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "His film wasn't as good necessarily, but we really felt he improved enough to take a chance on him."

He won't find it easy to make the opening-day roster. Last season, the Raiders carried just four receivers throughout the season.

Oakland picked a receiver in the seventh round of the previous two drafts. In 2006, Kevin McMahan was cut after training camp. Last year's pick, Jonathan Holland, broke his collarbone in the offseason and has yet to be medically cleared to play.

At least Schilens can say he was drafted in two sports. If nothing else, catching line drives may have prepared him to play catch with Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

"I hope he doesn't take one of my fingers off," Schilens said.

McFadden debut

No. 4 overall draft pick Darren McFadden practiced in his No. 20 jersey, showing speed and burst in both rushing attempts and pass routes.

Contact isn't allowed in offseason workouts, so plays were whistled dead when tackles seemed imminent - not that many defenders on hand looked capable of doing so in an open field.

"It's so easy for him to run really fast," Kiffin said. "He's running by people and it doesn't look like it's really hard to do. Reggie (Bush) was that way. They don't even have to go to the next level until they really need it."

Grab a roster

The Raiders invited 17 unsigned and undrafted players for a weekend tryout, including former Stanford cornerback David Lofton - who is James Lofton's son.

Former Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller of Danville was a notable invitee. Other locals included three ex-Cal players - defensive back Brandon Hampton, linebacker Greg Van Hoesen and punter Andrew Larson - and ex-Stanford cornerback Tim Sims.

Get a haircut

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan parted with his long hair, shaving it down to a buzz cut to benefit Locks of Love.

Somewhere out there, a young medical patient is walking around with a wild do.

"Why not?" Ryan said. "Clean my act up."

2008 Season - Day 14 - McFadden S.E.C.

The SEC Football Seasons, 2005 thru 2007. Two tailbacks, for the University of Arkansas - this is their statistical comparison.

Darren McFadden & Felix Jones.

Versus Non-SEC competition (yards):

• 2007.....Jones 693-629.
• 2006.....McFadden 538-535.
• 2005.....Jones 347-289.

Versus SEC competition (yards):

• 2007.....McFadden 1365-645.
• 2006.....McFadden 1258-740.
• 2005.....McFadden 876-379.

2008 Season - Day 13 - Camp

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.

Want spectacular? Fine, gawk at No. 4 overall draft pick Darren McFadden for the next three days, just as everyone did when quarterback JaMarcus Russell first showed up last year.

Want intriguing? Then check out Michael Bush's formerly broken leg and wonder why on earth he didn't get to play last season.

Want more? Sorry, because after those two running backs, we're talking about a bunch of late-drafted or undrafted rookies who the casual Raiders fan never heard of until two weeks ago.

Many of them won't be around for the Sept. 11 season opener against the Denver Broncos. Without any pesky veterans around to hog the attention, here are a few questions and answers to mull over during the rookie retreat.

Q: Why is Bush going to be there?

A: Because he's a redshirt rookie, that's why.

Bush didn't play at all last year, and rookie camp is open to souls who haven't accrued one season of experience.

As a refresher, Bush is the fourth-round draft pick in 2007 who was recovering from a wickedly broken leg.

He started the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list and, after spending months proving his leg was fine, finished the season on injured reserve. Write it off as a number's game loss.

Bush has declared himself ready (again) to compete for playing time. He'll have to impress in a hurry because he's behind incumbent Justin Fargas with McFadden up next.

If nothing else, his healthy emergence will make it that much easier to cut LaMont Jordan after June 1.

Q: What's McFadden going to do this weekend?

A: Look great in a pair of shorts.

NFL rules prohibit fun stuff like contact. The short list of invitees, accompanied by their lack of star power, rules out much of a challenge.

For now, McFadden will absorb the playbook, execute drills and run plays in a skeletal offense.

He'll get his first real sniff of NFL practice during the all-comers minicamp, June 3-5.

Q: Who has the best chance of making an instant impact?

A: If history holds form, fourth-round draft pick Tyvon Branch.

Look at the Raiders' past five drafts. Three times, the second player drafted made a bigger first-year splash than the player drafted ahead of him.

Last year, tight end Zach Miller set a rookie franchise record with 44 catches while No. 1-pick JaMarcus Russell sat.

In 2006, second-rounder Thomas Howard outhit first-rounder Michael Huff. In 2003, Tyler Brayton, picked 32nd in the first round, made the all-rookie team and outsparkled Nnamdi Asomugha, picked a spot earlier - well, for a year anyway.

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin has hinted McFadden will be worked in slowly as a rookie. Branch, meanwhile, could leap right in as a kick returner.

Q: Anyone else to watch for?

A: Not really.

The Raiders will bring in some undrafted free agents with a mind to sign a few. It's nice to envision the next Barry Sims or Tommy Kelly showing up. It's just as likely Kiffin will go two straight years without putting an undrafted rookie on the opening-day roster.

But hey, at least some of these guys can tell their kids they once pretended to tackle McFadden.

2008 Season - Day 12 - Exhibition vs. SF

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.

For their exhibition against the Raiders, the 49ers will see quarterback JaMarcus Russell at the beginning of his first full season as Oakland's starter.

2008 Season - Day 11 - The Draft Review

The Raiders’ wheeling and dealing left them with just five picks in the draft, but they only needed one to generate perhaps the most-discussed decision of the weekend. Owner Al Davis passed on defensive line studs Vernon Gholston and Glenn Dorsey to take the two-time runner-up in Heisman Trophy balloting, Arkansas RB Darren McFadden. Of course, Oakland already had a fairly strong stable of running backs, including Justin Fargas, who rushed for 1,009 yards in ’07. Davis, however, couldn’t resist adding McFadden’s rare combination of speed, strength and breakaway ability. McFadden may be the best player in the draft because of his potential to become a once-in-a-lifetime performer, but some questionable off-field decisions and fumbling problems could make him the riskiest prospect taken early in Round One. One of the few guarantees McFadden provides is that he automatically will take some pressure off QB JaMarcus Russell in his first year as the full-time starter. The Raiders traded into the Dolphins’ spot at the top of the fourth round to take Connecticut CB Tyvon Branch, who will make an immediate impact as a gunner on special teams. He, like McFadden, was one of the most impressive athletic specimens in the draft, with size, speed, burst and smarts. WR Arman Shields had his senior season cut short by a knee injury, but he’s aggressive and could be a deep threat. Buffalo DE Trevor Scott is a converted tight end with a lot of upside. San Diego State WR Chaz Schilens has good size at 6-foot-4, but needs to become a better route runner.

2008 Season - Day 10 - Latino Spirit Award

Former NFL star Jim Plunkett was honored Monday by the California Legislature with a Latino Spirit Award.

Plunkett quarterbacked the Oakland Raiders to victory in the 1981 Super Bowl, when he was the game's MVP, and again in 1984 after the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. At Stanford, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1970.

Plunkett grew up in San Jose and spent most of his adolescence caring for his parents, both of whom were blind, by working odd-jobs.

The Latino Spirit Award lauds achievements in education, the arts, business, public service and sports.

2008 Season - Day 10 - Preseason Schedule Change

The Titans' nationally-televised preseason game at home against the Oakland Raiders has been moved to Friday, Aug. 15 (7 p.m.) at LP Field, the NFL announced today.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16, but was moved at the request of the NFL and FOX.

....102 days....

2008 Season - Day 9 - Estimated Depth Chart

The 78-year-old team owner is in search of a “capologist,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle, to keep the team’s salary-cap books in order. The Raiders went over the cap briefly last weekend after dealing away cornerback Fabian Washington to Baltimore, showing just how close the team is to crossing the $116 million limit.

Attribute that to an extremely busy offseason -- one that’s seen plenty of players go and even more come. Oakland’s Week 1 roster for 2008 will look much different from that of Week 1 a year ago, with new starters at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, center, safety and cornerback, just to name a few.

With the free-agency flurry over and the 2008 NFL draft in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a look at the Raiders’ pre-camp 53-man projected depth chart.

Offense:

QB: JaMarcus Russell, Veteran yet to be signed, Andrew Walter
HB: Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden, Michael Bush
FB: Justin Griffith, Oren O’Neal
WR1: Javon Walker, Drew Carter, Arman Shields
WR 2: Ronald Curry, Johnnie Lee Higgins
TE: Zach Miller, John Madsen, Tony Stewart
LT: Kwame Harris, Mario Henderson, Seth Wand
LG: Robert Gallery, Paul McQuistan
C: John Wade, Jake Grove, Chris Morris
RG: Cooper Carlisle, Paul McQuistan
RT: Cornell Green, Mark Wilson

Defense:

LDE: Derrick Burgess, Trevor Scott
DT1: Terdell Sands, William Joseph
DT2: Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren
RDE: Jay Richardson, Kalimba Edwards
LOLB: Thomas Howard, Isaiah Ekejiuba
MLB: Kirk Morrison, Ricky Brown
ROLB: Robert Thomas, Sam Williams
CB1: Nnamdi Asomugha, Stanford Routt, John Bowie
CB2: DeAngelo Hall, Tyvon Branch
FS: Michael Huff, Stuart Schweigert
SS: Gibril Wilson, Hiram Eugene

Special Teams:

KOS: Sebastian Janikowski
K: Sebastian Janikowski
P: Shane Lechler
LS: Jon Condo
KR: Tyvon Branch, Johnnie Lee Higgins
PR: Johnnie Lee Higgins, DeAngelo Hall, Tyvon Branch

2008 Season - Day 8 - McFadden the Blog Back

McFadden: blogger extraordinaire

New Raiders running back Darren McFadden isn't just a superstar scoring machine, but he's tech savvy as well.

The former Arkansas star has an ongoing blog that, in recent months covered everything from his predraft visits to Memphis basketball and his tattoo collection.

Yesterday, he updated his blog with a post about last weekend's visit to Oakland. He sounds real humble and genuine, and very well could be the first Raider to say on the record that the local reporters "cool."

Here's what he had to type:

"I gotta tell you Yardbarkers, it was a relief to finally get picked by the Raiders. It was such a long process and you're constantly wondering where you're going to be and who your teammates are and who is going to be your coach. I can tell you this I don't get asked where you going 5,000 times a day anymore. Now it's just congratulations. I like that much better."

"I was thrilled to hear my name called. I had such a good visit to Oakland and really liked the coaching staff. When they picked me I was just so happy. What really made it special to me is that i was able to share all of it with my family. My mom and dad and stepmom were there and they flew with me to Oakland after I was picked. They were all very excited and being able to share that experience with them was a great honor for me."

"After doing all the interviews in New York we hopped on a flight to Oakland. It was the longest flight I've ever taken. I watched two movies, one of them was Juno and the other I can't remember. Juno was pretty good but I started to dose a little at the end. I tried to get some sleep but I just couldn't sleep. Too excited I guess and hoping everyone in Oakland was going to embrace me. We got in around 12:30, went to the hotel and I went straight to bed. The next day we went to the facility and met the coaching staff. Then I did a press conference and met the media. They were all pretty cool. It was my first day with my new team."

Us media guys get to see McFadden hit the field in his No. 20 jersey at next weekend's rookie minicamp (May 9-11). However, the Raiders sent out an email saying Saturday is the only time for media availbility -- so that blows up the round-the-clock coverage.

2008 Season - Day 7 - Edgerton Hartwell

Raiders sign former Ravens phenom

The Raiders signed veteran middle linebacker Edgerton Hartwell on Friday, a league source confirmed, in a move designed to bolster their run defense.

They're hoping he can be that former Ravens standout who had 191 tackles in 2002 and averaged 157.3 tackles from 2002-04.

That would be preferred to the player who was out of the league last year after rupturing his Achilles' heel in 2005 and missing half of 2006 because of preseason arthroscopic surgery on both knees.

If Hartwell is healthy, it's a risk worth taking. The Raiders' linebacker corps, though excellent at dropping into pass coverage, have done little to help against the run the past two seasons.

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.

He signed with the Bengals last season, got cut after training camp and wasn't signed by anyone else. His previous two seasons in Atlanta were cut short by an injured Achilles' heel and arthroscopic surgery on both knees.

The Raiders, ever willing to salvage fallen talents, hope Hartwell, who turns 30 this month, can return to the form that made him one of the league's better run stoppers from 2002-04.

A fourth-round draft pick in 2001, he was credited with 191 tackles during his second season while filling in for Ray Lewis. He averaged 157.3 tackles from 2002-04 before landing a six year, $26.5 million free-agent deal from the Falcons.

Raiders chime in: Team executive John Herrera responded to a Chronicle story linking the Raiders to Rams executive Samir Suleiman as a potential salary cap expert.

"I spoke with Al Davis and he's never heard of him," Herrera said. "We've got a guy who's doing a good job in that area. As far as a 'capologist,' we've got one and we don't know this guy."

Suleiman said he hadn't been contacted by the Raiders but expressed an interest if there's an opening. Two independent sources - including one within the Rams organization - confirmed his candidacy.

Tom Delaney is Oakland's salary cap manager. Marc Badain and Mark Jackson continue to handle contract matters.

Briefly: The Raiders will hold a rookie minicamp Friday-May 11. In addition to their drafted and undrafted class of new players, they will bring in several unsigned rookies for a weekend tryout. ... Their mandatory minicamp is set for June 3-5. The Raiders hope to sign a veteran defensive end and backup quarterback before then.

2008 Season - Day 7 - #20 Darren McFadden

McFadden will wear No. 20, according to the team Web site. He wore No. 5 at Arkansas, but in the NFL, running backs must be assigned a number between 20 and 49.

2008 Season - Day 7 - Executive: Samir Suleiman

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.

Suleiman said he hasn't been contacted by the Raiders and was unaware of any opening. Asked if he'd be interested, he sounded very much so.

"It's a great organization, so anybody would be lucky to work for them," Suleiman said in a phone interview. "And, black is my favorite color."

Suleiman, 32, was a finalist for a similar position in Green Bay earlier this year.

His expertise lies in salary-cap management and player negotiations. He was also involved in Rams' trades, pro personnel and player procurement.

Suleiman served on the NFL Management Council in 1997, monitoring the league-wide cap and analyzing player contracts. He then spent two years with the Jaguars as manager of contract information.

He was involved in controversy in 2005 when the Rams reprimanded him for leaving a threatening phone message with a newspaper columnist.

For the past year, finance executive Marc Badain and director of football operations Mark Jackson shared the Raiders' salary-cap and contract duties, though Davis became increasingly hands-on during the recent free-agent period.

The job was previously held by Michael Lombardi, who was let go after the 2007 draft.

If Suleiman is hired, his priority will be keeping the salary-cap books in order. One reason the Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes this week was to offset the cap hit from the Fabian Washington trade, which threatened to push them over the limit.

The move showed how close the Raiders sit to the $116 million cap threshold, which is no surprise after their free-spending offseason. Huge deals went to DeAngelo Hall (seven years, $70 million), Javon Walker (six years, $55 million), Tommy Kelly (seven years, $50.5 million), Gibril Wilson (six years, $39 million), Kwame Harris (three years, $16.3 million) and Justin Fargas (three years, $12 million).

Suleiman would also assume a lead role in pending contract talks with No. 4 overall draft pick Darren McFadden, who will command a contract in the $50 million range with at least $20 million guaranteed.

The Raiders hope to avoid a repeat of last season's holdout by No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, who was not signed until after the season started.

2008 Season - Day 6 - O'Neal of Stuttgart

Oakland Raiders FB Oren O’Neal recently donated $1,000 to the athletic department of the high school in his hometown of Stuttgart, Arkansas. Having played for the Stuttgart Ricebirds himself, the funds contributed by O’Neal will help the athletic department as a whole, whether it is improvement for the equipment, facilities or activities.

This past season, O’Neal was selected by the Raiders to be the team’s candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. The NFL donates $1,000 on behalf of each team’s candidate to their charity of choice.

For O’Neal, there were many important reasons to give back to the community he came from, chiefly ensuring the continuity of the program that gave him a chance. “From what I’ve seen, the participation levels have been down. It wasn’t like how it used to be when I was there, kids were losing interest,” said O’Neal.

By donating money to the program, O’Neal hopes not only to create greater awareness surrounding the football program but also teach children about the benefits associated with participating in sports. “I feel that by giving back, other kids in the community can see how sports can help you get to a better place in life, help you get an education, or get you in the NFL,” said the Raiders second-year fullback.

O’Neal recognizes the responsibility that comes with his success and has concentrated his efforts into being an ambassador for his hometown of Stuttgart. “The kids can see someone from their hometown that made it to the NFL and gave back. Hopefully, that will prompt them to do the same.”

Since moving to California, O’Neal has wasted no time in getting involved with the Bay Area community, offering any help at all where he can make a difference in the lives of children. He has visited elementary schools and read stories to young children, visited high schools to speak to students and paid tribute to successful elementary school students.

“I love working with kids and I love being a part of their development and helping to steer them in the right direction,” remarked O’Neal. He views his own role as an example to students of what can be accomplished by making the right decisions. “I just want them to see that it can be done and help them get to better places…to help them make the right decisions and think further than tomorrow.”

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of O’Neal’s story is that he has made all of these contributions in only one year. During his sophomore campaign with the Raiders, O’Neal will be looking to make as much of an impact on the field as possible. As a role model to the youth of the Bay Area and his hometown, O’Neal will continue to help guide their lives in a positive direction. In football terms, O’Neal fits the definition of a versatile player.