Justin Fargas

Justin Fargas always runs like a man possessed, never worried about taking a big hit.

For that reason, he's been a favorite in Oakland, especially the last three seasons as a starter.

But Fargas' run as a starter appears to be ending with Darren McFadden's emergence, and the Oakland Tribune hints that Fargas could run right off the team.

The Raiders have three quality backs in McFadden, Fargas, and Michael Bush. Jerry McDonald writes that, "Fargas will at some point be de-emphasized in favor of Bush. It's just a matter of when."

Bush broke out last season in Week 17 with 177 yards, a performance that sent Jon Gruden to ESPN and likely warmed Al Davis' heart. He could give Oakland some power near the goal line that the team has lacked.

If the youngsters stay healthy in training camp (which hasn't been easy for them), Fargas could conceivably drop below Bush on the depth chart. He would be due $3.5 million as a third-stringer.

At that point, the Raiders could potentially ask Fargas to take a pay cut or take off.

While the Raiders would take a cap hit to release him, they would save real dollars in the transaction.

No matter what happens, this is the sort of good problem the Raiders haven't often had in recent years. Any step forward in the standings will likely be lead by their running game, which has quietly produced impressive numbers ever since Tom Cable showed up in 2007.

Projected starters: HB Darren McFadden, FB Lorenzo Neal. Backups: RB Justin Fargas, RB Michael Bush, RB-FB Gary Russell, RB Louis Rankin, FB Luke Lawton, FB Oren O’Neal, FB Marcel Reece.

More often than not, it was McFadden taking snaps with the first team during the offseason, although both Fargas and Bush got considerable work as well. Apparently healed after having his season derailed by turf toe, McFadden is Oakland’s most explosive offensive player as a runner/receiver, and his paycheck befits a lead runner. Neal has been a body guard for the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson, Eddie George and Corey Dillon during their biggest seasons and coach Tom Cable says he moves well enough in space to be a zone blocker.

As much as the coaching staff likes Rankin, making the 53-man roster will be tough with three running backs accounted for as well as the arrival of running back/fullback Russell, who got a lot of work upon arrival this offseason.

Lawton could be the odd man out assuming Neal holds up and O’Neal is healthy. We’ll find out in a week if O’Neal can indeed join the contact fray or if he is still rehabbing a severe knee injury.

The key battle: Fargas vs. Bush. Fargas is a favorite of the coaching staff because he runs without fear and no regard for his personal safety. The feeling is it gives the offense a sense of toughness. But he’s largely a between-the-20s player because of limited receiving skills with just six rushing touchdowns and on 618 carries over the past three seasons (he has now receiving touchdowns during that span).

Bush compiled most of his 2009 stats on the strength of games in Week 2 against Kansas City and Week 17 against Tampa Bay, but he is such a force when on a roll it will be hard to justify not significantly increasing his workload.

What I think: Considering the attrition rate at the position, injuries will help determine the rotation. If McFadden, Bush and Fargas are all healthy, attempting to split the load three ways could prevent any of them from getting in a good rhythm.

Ideally, McFadden should get at least 225 carries and 50-plus receptions. Fargas will at some point be de-emphasized in favor of Bush. It’s just a matter of when.

Keep what the Raiders did with Greg Biekert in the back of your mind with regard to Fargas. Biekert was a starter, every bit as respected as Fargas. When it was determined Napoleon Harris would become the starting middle linebacker, Biekert was told he could take a paycut befitting his new role or be released and attempt to be a starter somewhere else. He chose the latter.

If Bush comes up huge in Napa . . .

What could go wrong: McFadden gets hurt again, suddenly making durability an issue after being an extremely durable back in the SEC. Bush isn’t quite the operator on a week-to-week basis that he was in two games last year, meaning the leading rusher is once again Fargas. Not bad, but not what the Raiders have in mind, either.

Raider Career

80 games

3,288 yards from scrimmage and 7 touchdowns.

In the past 2 seasons, Fargas has totaled 440 rushing attempts and 1,862 rushing yards with 5 rushing touchdowns. Fargas also added 33 receptions for 240 yards.

5 games with over 100 yards rushing, 1 in 2008, 4 in 2007.

12 games with over 20 rushing attempts, 4 in 2008, 7 in 2007, 1 in 2006.


12th All-Time on the Raider Rushing List. Fargas is 82 yards behind Hewritt Dixon & 216 behind Harvey Williams.




.....................................................................................

Robert Gallery out 2-weeks

6'7 325

Raiders starting left guard Robert Gallery recently underwent an emergency appendectomy and will miss at least the first two weeks of training camp, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The second overall pick of the 2004 draft awoke one night last week with a 104 degree temperature and pain in his side. He had the procedure performed soon thereafter.

Gallery didn't work out as a left tackle, but he is quietly been shedding the "bust" tag since Tom Cable arrived in Oakland.

He has transformed into a quality run-blocking guard that some believe deserved Pro Bowl consideration last year.

Gallery may be limited when he first returns to practice, but should be recovered with plenty of time before the regular season.

When the Raiders take the field for the first time Thursday, it will be without the services of starting left guard Robert Gallery.

Gallery recently underwent an emergency appendectomy and will miss at least the first two weeks of training camp, according to a team source.

When Gallery does return, his duty will be limited until it is determined the wound has healed to the point where a hernia is not a concern. He awoke one night last week with a 104 degree temperature and a pain in his side, with the procedure performed shortly after arriving at Valley Care Medical Center Hospital in Pleasanton.

Chris Morris was the backup left guard for the Raiders last season and could open camp there with the first team, with other options being Paul McQuistan, Marcus Johnson and Jonathan Compas.

Robert Gallery had the best season of his career in 2008.

Penalties weren't a problem. He looked good blocking defenders beyond the line of scrimmage.

Had Gallery been on a good team, talk of him being a Pro Bowl player wouldn't sound laughable.

Gallery's spot at left guard is one position on the offensive line the Raiders don't have to worry about.

Every other spot ... is anyone's guess at this point.

Center Jake Grove improved under Tom Cable, but can test the open market as a free agent. His backup was John Wade, who made a lot of money to be Grove's insurance policy because Grove was coming off knee surgery.

Right guard Cooper Carlisle can do the same.

Cornell Green isn't the long-term solution at right tackle.

And even though he ended the season as the starting left tackle, whether Mario Henderson can hold up over an entire season is unknown.

How the Raiders go about rebuilding the offensive line will have a lot to do with who is the head coach.

Retaining Cable or hiring someone that believes in zone blocking might lead to the team retaining some of the same players or upgrading with younger versions of Carlisle and Green.

The Raiders claimed tackle James Marten off waivers in September, but never used him in a game even as Green struggled. Henderson was given the opportunity to replace Kwame Harris, who struggled in pass protection and with false starts.

There are no young guards on the roster that would appear ready to step up opposite Gallery. Chris Morris (a restricted free agent) might be better suited to play center, not guard.

It was said Paul McQuistan could play guard or tackle in the zone-blocking scheme. So until a new coach is decided up, it's uncertain at to whether he'll be a guard or tackle in 2009.

McQuistan was lost early in the season with a knee injury.

The uncertainty means the Raiders could use multiple draft picks on offensive linemen and will need to look at adding some veteran depth in free agency.

But look for Gallery to be the leader of this group, no matter who the other starters are around him.

High school career

Robert Gallery attended East Buchanan High School in Winthrop, Iowa and starred in football, basketball, and track. In football, Gallery played tight end and linebacker positions in high school, and he also handled punting and kickoff duties. He was an all-conference honorable mention selection as a sophomore before being named first team all-conference as a junior and senior. Gallery helped his high school team to a three-year record of 24-8, including a 19-2 record in district play. He was a Des Moines Register Class 1A All-State first team selection as a senior.

College career

Robert Gallery went to the University of Iowa, where his older brother, Nick Gallery, was an All-Big Ten punter. His younger brother, John Gallery, later also became a punter at Iowa. After redshirting in 1999, Gallery had three catches for 52 yards as a starting tight end as a freshman in 2000 before moving to the tackle position. He started six games at right tackle as a freshman.

As a sophomore, Gallery started every game at left tackle and made vast improvements throughout the year. He helped Iowa lead the Big Ten Conference in scoring in 2001 as Iowa qualified for their first bowl game in four years. As a junior in 2002, Gallery started all 13 games at left tackle and was a first team All-Big Ten selection. He helped lead Iowa to their first Big Ten title in 12 years and their first undefeated conference season in eighty years. He also won the team's Hustle Award.

In 2003, Robert Gallery led Iowa to another ten win season and was voted as Iowa's co-captain and co-MVP for the season. He was a first team All-Big Ten selection for the second straight year and named the Big Ten Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Gallery was a consensus first team All-American in 2003. He was also awarded the 2003 Outland Trophy, making him only the third offensive lineman from Iowa to win the award (Alex Karras and Cal Jones being the other two). He was also a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection at Iowa.

It should be noted that Gallery received a teaching diploma from the University, and as part of his training, taught at two local elementary schools, Lincoln and Weber.

Professional career

Robert Gallery was selected with the second overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, with a perfect 9.0 Draft Prospect Rating, the highest for any offensive lineman, he became the first offensive lineman in University of Iowa history to be drafted in the first round. [2] In 2004, he started 15 games at right tackle and gave up 3 Sacks. In 2005, he started all 16 games at right tackle and gave up 3.5 Sacks. The Raiders moved him to left tackle at the beginning of the 2006 preseason. In the Raiders' first game of the 2006 regular season, Gallery was part of an offensive line that gave up nine sacks (at least 3 charged to him) to the San Diego Chargers. He played 10 games on the season, and gave up 10.5 Sacks on the season, placing him 4th in most sacks given up, despite missing 6 games. In 2007, Oakland coaches moved Gallery to left guard.

Although Gallery has generally been considered a bust at the left tackle position for which he was drafted and also had limited success at the right tackle position, he has resurrected his career at the left guard spot. [3] He is the only player selected in the top 8 picks of the 2004 Draft not to have made it to a pro bowl.

Matt Shaughnessy Signs Rookie Contract

Raiders ink Shaughnessy

6'6 253

Last year, we asked the Raiders to put us on the list of press releases announcing player transactions, which are sent out via email to the media.

We were told that the team uses no such service.

We later learned that the Raiders do have such a program, and we were placed on the list.

We've since learned that they rarely if ever use the service to announce player transactions.

And thus no one knew that the Raiders signed third-round pick Matt Shaughnessy five days ago. We've learned that the defensive end inked a four-year deal, which included a signing bonus of $852,250.

The fourth-year salary escalates to the higher of the $1.308 million or the low restricted free agency tender if Shaughnessy participates in 35 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie, or 45 percent in 2010 or 2011.

Amazingly, no one noticed that the deal was done. Indeed, there was a report that a contract between Shaughnessy and the Raiders was "close" . . . two days after the deal was completed.

We're not sure why the Raiders don't take advantage of these fairly basic opportunities to inject the franchise's brand into the never-ending news cycle. But, then again, some would say that they don't know what the Raiders do many of the things they do.

2009 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report:

Defensive End, Wisconsin

Matt Shaughnessy is the type of player that every coach loves to have on their team.

He's not only the hardest worker, he's also extremely talented. Shaughnessy has been incredibly productive during his career at Wisconsin, after taking over a starting role as a sophomore. He's another one of the new breed of college defensive ends. Shaughnessy is small, quick, and hard for big tackles to block. He seems to always be in the backfield disrupting plays, having recorded 33.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in his first three seasons. Shaughnessy might need to add a little bulk to play every down in the NFL. He plays at 253 pounds right now, and if it doesn't affect his speed, could stand to gain 15 to 20 pounds. He is very alert, and makes all the little plays that make a defense great. Shaughnessy is excellent at using his 6'6" frame to bat balls down at the line of scrimmage. He broke up 9 pass attempts during his career when asked to drop into coverage. Shaughnessy had a slow season in 2008, finishing with only 40 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. The Badger senior is probably a third round prospect at this point in time. However, if Shaughnessy can have a productive off season and run a good time at the NFL Combine, he could go as high as the middle of the second round.

Matt Shaughnessy had a solid, but uneventful week at the East-West Shrine Game in January. He made few mistakes during practice, but failed to really wow any coaches either. More than anything, Shaughnessy showed off his non-stop motor to potential employers. During the weekend's game, he recorded 4 tackles, a tackle for loss, and even batted down 2 passes at the line of scrimmage.

Matt Shaughnessy ran slower than expected at the NFL Combine, but because of the unusually slow times all around it may not have hurt his stock too much. He only logged a 4.91 second 40 yard dash time, but coaches will be more interested in his effort and consistency as a pass rusher. He should be drafted in the late third or early fourth round this year.

Overview

Shaughnessy is the kind of player you could envision stepping out on the field in a leather helmet playing for George Halas. He's overcome doubters to prove he can play on the defensive line as a 230-pound freshman, only to start seven games before a late-season knee injury.

As a sophomore, he made a rapid recovery from knee surgery and would start the final 33 games of his career. He continued to battle knee and foot injuries, but when he was counted out, Shaughnessy would just put on his jersey, step on the field and give his coaches more than they could ever ask for from a player.

At Norwich Free Academy, Shaughnessy earned Super Prep All-American honors and was rated one of the top 30 defensive ends in the nation according to Rivals.com. He was rated one of top 35 players in the East by Prep Football Report and named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and New Haven Register All-State teams in 2004. He also earned All-Conference and All-Area accolades in each of his three final seasons, adding three more letters in basketball and two in track.

Shaughnessy enrolled at Wisconsin as a 230-pound true freshman in 2005. He earned Freshman All-American recognition and was named All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention. In his first campaign with the Badgers, he collected 39 tackles (20 solos), 2.5 sacks and 7.5 stops for losses before his season came to an end when he suffered a torn ligament in his left knee vs. Iowa, sitting out the last two contests.

As a sophomore, Shaughnessy garnered All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors. He started all year at right defensive end, delivering 35 tackles (19 solo) and eight stops behind the line of scrimmage, including four sacks. He also caused and recovered a fumble.

Shaughnessy ranked fourth in the league and 19th nationally, as the team MVP and second-team All-Big Ten pick totaled 18 stops for loss. He was second on the team with five sacks and posted a career-high 60 tackles (41 solo) in 13 games as a junior in 2007. His tackle-for-loss total of 84 yards rank eighth on the school season-record list.

In 2008 spring camp, Shaughnessy suffered a right fibula fracture. Even though he started all year, you could see early in the season that he was still not fully recovered. The All-Big Ten honorable mention managed 40 tackles (29 solo), but did more chasing down the opposing quarterback (10 pressures) than "close the deal" on the passer (four sacks).

High School

Attended Norwich (Ct.) Free Academy, playing football for head coach Steve Robichaud...Earned Super Prep All-American honors and was rated one of the top 30 defensive ends in the nation according to Rivals.com...Rated one of top 35 players in the East by Prep Football Report and named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and New Haven Register All-State teams in 2004...Earned All-Conference and All-Area accolades in each of his three final seasons, adding three more letters in basketball and two in track.

Raiders Defensive Ends

Matt Shaughnessy - Jay Richardson - Trevor Scott

Raiders need this trio to rank in the top 14 in the NFL against the run & to achieve a combined minimum of 24 quarterback sacks (with an appropriate ratio of quarterback hurries). It will be recent draft picks such as these three players, who will decide the best case scenario prospects of the Oakland Raiders.

I like the intensity displayed by Trevor Scott in 2008. If Shaughnessy is a comparable player in 2009, then the combo could surprise this year. I expect mighty things.

Stopping the run is a priority, crashing the quarterback is the icing.

In 2009, veteran NFL defensive end Greg Ellis will play alongside these three recent additions.

Winningest Franchise

# 1 58.3% Miami Dolphins (1966)
# 2 57.9% Chicago Bears (1920)
# 3 57.8% Dallas Cowboys (1960)
# 4 55.8% Cleveland Browns (1946)
# 5 55.6% Green Bay Packers (1921)
# 6 55.5% Oakland Raiders (1960)
# 7 55.2% San Francisco 49ers (1946)
# 8 55.1% Minnesota Vikings (1961)
# 9 54.8% New York Giants (1925)

Tom Cable

Last season, Cable replaced the previous Head Coach. Beginning his career as a Head Coach in Week 5 of the 2008 Season.

Game 1 - lost 3-34 to the Saints.
Game 2 - won 16-13 against the Jets.
Game 3 - lost 10-29 to the Ravens.
Game 4 - lost 0-24 to the Falcons.
Game 5 - lost 6-17 to the Panthers.

So, thru the first 5 games, 4 losses. In 5 games, 35 total points scored. A 7 point per game average.

Game 6 - lost 15-17 to the Dolphins.
Game 7 - won 31-10 against the Broncos.
Game 8 - lost 13-20 to the Chiefs.
Game 9 - lost 7-34 to the Chargers.
Game 10 - lost 26-49 to the Patriots.

So, thru the first 10 games, 8 losses. In 10 games, 127 total points scored. A 13 point per game average.

Game 11 - won 27-16 against the Texans.
Game 12 - won 31-24 against the Buccaneers.

Full Coaching History

Year	Age	NFL, college, high school, etc.')" align="center">Level	Where the individual was coaching during that season')" align="center">Employer	Title')" align="center">Role
1987	23	College	Idaho	Graduate Assistant
1988	24	College	Idaho	Graduate Assistant
1989	25	College	San Diego State	Graduate Assistant
1990	26	College	Cal State Fullerton	Defensive Line
1991	27	College	UNLV	Offensive Line
1992	28	College	University of California	Offensive Line
1993	29	College	University of California	Offensive Line
1994	30	College	University of California	Offensive Line
1995	31	College	University of California	Offensive Line
1996	32	College	University of California	Offensive Line
1997	33	College	University of California	Offensive Line
1998	34	College	Colorado	Offensive Line
1999	35	College	Colorado	Offensive Coordinator
2000	36	College	Idaho	Head Coach
2001	37	College	Idaho	Head Coach
2002	38	College	Idaho	Head Coach
2003	39	College	Idaho	Head Coach
2004	40	College	UCLA	Offensive Coordinator
2005	41	College	UCLA	Offensive Coordinator
2006	42	NFL	Atlanta Falcons	Offensive Line
2007	43	NFL	Oakland Raiders	Offensive Line
2008	44	NFL	Oakland Raiders	Offensive Line/Interim Head Coach

2009, the 45-year old Tom Cable leads the Oakland Raiders into a new season.

History Speaks

Oakland rookie Mike Mitchell remembers well his first peek behind the eye patch at Raiders headquarters. The Lombardi Trophies shined, the team slogans resounded, the black-and-white pictures reminded of a more glorious time.

"Just seeing that tradition, the pictures of Fred Biletnikoff, Willie Brown, Bo Jackson and all those guys," Mitchell said in wide-eyed wonder. "I was overwhelmed. This is a rich tradition."

As Mitchell studied each legend's hallway photo, he had no idea those ghosts of Raiders' past were staring back at him and the rest of the 2009 team, studying their every move and dissecting their every play.

Yesteryear's players are wearied by six straight losing seasons. They see hope in a young roster that could start nine players with two or fewer years of experience.

They want to tell the next generation of Raiders how to grow up to be just like them. So, turn off the iPods and listen: After all, these are the guys who have been there and won that.

Advice for Russell

Daryle Lamonica doesn't care how strong Russell's arm is, and that's coming from arguably the strongest-armed quarterback in franchise history.

Throwing hard and far might be enough in college, but the NFL is all about learning the nuances of screen passes and short routes that set up the go-deep section of the playbook.

"I don't care who you are or what we all thought coming out of college, you've got to do your time," Lamonica said. "The defensive backs in college, you can pretty much beat most of them. You find at this level, the defensive backs are just as quick, if not quicker, than your receivers.

"It becomes a game of angles. The hooks, the outs, the comebacks. When you can complete your 12-15-yard passes, that opens up the deep game."

For Lamonica, it didn't happen until Year 5, when he was traded to the Raiders and became the Mad Bomber with a 3,200-yard season.

Jim Plunkett said Russell, who is entering his third year, must progress sooner than that. Teams these days don't have the patience for slow-developing No. 1 overall draft picks, not at mega-contract prices.

"You're the guy getting the big bucks to do the job," said Plunkett, the No. 1 overall pick in 1971 who got bounced from the Patriots and 49ers before winning two Super Bowls for the Raiders. "When you're the quarterback, everybody relies on you to come up with a big play or put together a winning drive.

"They say he's a young guy but you pay him a lot of money. He's got to carry this team every now and then. Not every week, but he's got to be confident he can do that."

Draft status doesn't make that happen, Plunkett said. Working double-time does.

"Any young guy, you've got to put your time in, you've got to study film, you've got to read reports and all the computerized printouts you're given. You've got to spend time on the field working with your guys day in and day out.

"They're going to depend on you."

Advice for Heyward-Bey

Tim Brown doesn't care how fast rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey runs, and that's coming from the last speed-racer to make it big as a Raiders wide receiver.

Brown is more interested in how quickly the No. 7 overall draft pick can learn. There is so much more to the position than 40 times in shorts. There are routes to memorize, precise cuts to make, catches to properly secure.

"I think it's always important to know what to expect," said Brown, the sixth overall pick in 1988. "The only way you're going to do that is to talk to guys who have been there, whether it's guys playing now who are older or it's guys who played years ago."

Brown's early years were molded by players such as Mervyn Fernandez, James Lofton, Willie Gault and Jessie Hester. Brown took bits and pieces from each player and parlayed that into nine Pro Bowls, 100 touchdowns and nearly 15,000 receiving yards.

Heyward-Bey has Javon Walker, who remembers what it's like to have Heyward-Bey's size and speed. Lofton still works in the building, last anyone heard. Johnnie Lee Higgins knows a 4.3-thing or two about turning speed into touchdowns.

"I had guys who just taught me everything I needed to know about the game," Brown said. "After that, you just have to delve yourself into your craft and make yourself the best receiver you can possibly be.

"No matter what people say, you know what you're capable of doing."

Advice for Mitchell

Jack Tatum doesn't care how hard Mitchell can hit ... OK, he does care, but The Assassin knows the game has changed since he roamed the field in the '70s.

"Coming to the league, you've just got to bring it," Tatum said. "You've got to bring all of it. They make it a lot harder now because they changed a lot of the rules. You can't lay the wood on guys over the middle like you could in the good old days. It costs you $25,000 bucks.

"Good thing I'm not playing today. I'd probably owe them money by the end of the game. But you've still got to bring it."

Like Tatum, Mitchell comes to the Raiders as a hard-hitting safety from an Ohio college who is known for knockout blows. But, NFL players don't go down so easily, Tatum said. They're built stronger, run faster and hear footsteps better. Launch off both feet against LaDainian Tomlinson, and you're a flying airball.

In other words, don't always try to demolish a ball carrier when a sure tackle will do just fine in most cases.

"The main thing is getting them on the ground, tackling them to the ground," Tatum said. "It doesn't matter how hard you hit them, just get them on the ground."

Just then, Tatum smiled, as if imaging what he'd do if he were Mitchell's age again.

"Then you can take your shots when they present themselves. That's what the Raiders are known for and that's what you got to do."

What former Raiders are telling today's Raiders:

Tight end

Raymond Chester, four-time Pro Bowler, to Zach Miller:

"I challenge Zach to take over the leadership role like all the Raiders' tight ends did before him."

Running back

Bo Jackson, 1990 Pro Bowler, to Darren McFadden:

"He ain't no young kid. He's a grown man. Go out and do what you're paid to do and run that ball. Just run that ball."

Punt returner

George Atkinson two-time AFL All-Star, to Johnnie Lee Higgins:

"You can't have any fear, you know? You can't ever second guess yourself. You have to have confidence. You wouldn't have got this far if you didn't know what you were doing. No fear."

Quarterback

Daryle Lamonica, who played for Oakland from 1967 through '74, and Jim Plunkett, a two-time Super Bowl winner, to JaMarcus Russell:

"It becomes a game of angles. The hooks, the outs, the comebacks. When you can complete your 12-15-yard passes, that opens up the deep game." - Daryle Lamonica

"Any young guy, you've got to put your time in, you've got to study film, you've got to read reports and all the computerized printouts you're given. You've got to spend time on the field working with your guys day in and day out. They're going to depend on you." - Jim Plunkett

Ray Guy, Ken Stabler, Cliff Branch

Which former Raider has the best chance of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Ray Guy, Kenny Stabler or Cliff Branch?

And, will all three one day make it to Canton?

The best chance of the three probably belongs to Ray Guy, and even then it would probably be with the veteran's committee deciding to let in the sport's all-time best punter.

14 years. 7 Pro Bowls. 3 All Pros. 1,049 punts at 42.4 yard average. Longest punt was 77 yards.

If any Punter ever (Ever!) is to make the Hall of Fame....Then, Ray Guy must be in the Hall of Fame.

Stabler's problem is that he had several mediocre years and a short time as a premier quarterback.

15 years, 10 with Oakland. Career: 96 wins, 49 losses. One stinking tie. With Oakland, 69 wins, 26 losses, 1 tie. 60% completion rate. 4 Pro Bowls. 1 All Pro. The short time as a premier quarterback was from the years 1974 thru 1977. Four seasons of excellence. Starting every game, Stabler led the Raiders to a 42-9 regular season record & 6-3 playoff record with one Super Bowl win. Three AFC Conference Championship Game losses, two to Pittsburgh & one to Denver. Adding the '73 AFC Conference Championship Game loss to Miami makes 4 near misses in 5 years. Oh so close to 5 consecutive Super Bowls.

Let's recap the Stabler Years further.

1972 - division loss to Steelers.

1973 - conference championship loss to Dolphins, but they beat the Steelers.

1974 - conference championship loss to the Steelers, but they beat the Dolphins.

1975 - conference championship loss to the Steelers, but they beat the Bengals.

1976 - It all came together!!! They beat the Patriots, Steelers and Vikings to win the Super Bowl!!!

1977 - conference championship loss to the Broncos, but they beat the Browns.

Never experienced another playoff game as an Oakland Raider.

In 1976 Stabler led the NFL in passing touchdowns 27, and passing completion rate 67%, passer rating 103.4, passing yards per attempt 9.4, and passing yards per game 228.

Branch's numbers have been devalued by the inflated numbers of today's wide receivers because of strict rules regarding pass defense.

14 years. 4 Pro Bowls. 3 All Pros. 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, 67 touchdowns.

Led the NFL in receiving yards per game in 1974 & 1976. In 1976 Branch had 1,111 receiving yards on only 46 catches, a 24.2 yard average and 12 touchdowns. In 1974, Cliff tallied 1,092 receiving yards on 60 receptions with 13 touchdowns. In 1983, at the age of 35, Cliff Branch scored a 99 yard touchdown reception. He would score 2 more touchdowns before retiring.

In his final game as an Oakland Raider, Cliff Branch at the age of 36, caught 6 passes for 94 yards in a 38-9 Super Bowl Victory. In 19 career post season games, Branch totaled 1,294 receiving yards.

Oakland Raiders

Regular Season Record (all-time) : 405-324-11

Playoff Record (all-time) : 25-18 (Last appearance after 2002 season)

Super Bowls Won: 3 out of 5 appearances

Championships Won: 3

Passing Leader (all-time): Ken Stabler - 19,078 yards
14th JaMarcus Russell 2,796 yards
15th Andrew Walter 1,919 yards

Rushing Leader (all-time): Marcus Allen - 8,545 yards
*Marcus Allen 617 yards versus Raiders as a KC Chief.
12th Justin Fargas 2,878 yards
36th Darren McFadden 499 yards

Receiving Leader (all-time): Tim Brown - 14,734 yards
35th Zach Miller 1,222 yards
78th Johnnie Lee Higgins 413 yards

Winningest Coach (all-time): John Madden - 103 wins
Tom Cable 4 wins

RUSSELL FOLLOWS THROUGH

While ESPN was pretending to “break” the news about Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell missing the final Organized Team Activities session, NFL Network was busy uncovering some real news.

NFL Network reported Wednesday that Russell followed through on his promise of assembling some of the Raiders wide receivers for a week of extra practice away from the team’s year-round facility in Alameda, Calif.

The NFL Network reported that Russell paid for his receivers to fly to Alabama for the private workout, which still is in progress.

Funny how ESPN left out that little tidbit, or didn’t even bother to check into it, because it would have undermined its ability to rip Russell once again. And the “news” of Russell missing the OTA session broke a week or more ago.

Give us a week of Russell and his receivers working together away from the distractions of a full-team practice and the prying eyes of the media over one two-hour OTA session any day.

The NFL Network report said rookie Louis Murphy, Will Franklin and Todd Watkins are among the receivers who took up Russell on his offer for the opportunity to bond and improve their on-field chemistry.

This, indeed, is good news for the Raiders and Raider Nation, as well as a sign that Russell is serious about doing whatever it takes to be more than just a rich NFL player, one who wants also to be a successful NFL quarterback and team leader.

The next test comes in training camp, when Russell gets pushed by veteran Jeff Garcia, either in practice, during exhibition games or through more of Garcia’s lobbying for playing time.

The news that he has matured into more of a take-charge guy tells us that he is well equipped to handle that challenge and the others certain to confront him on his way to stardom.

NEW LEAGUE DOESN’T TUCK ITS TAIL

The upstart new football league made a bit of news Wednesday by revealing some of the ways it will differ from the big kid on the block, the NFL.

The biggest differences are some of the rules changes involved with the UFL. Not surprisingly, there’s a Raiders twist involved.

The UFL won’t recognize the so-called “Tuck Rule,” the obscure rule about what constitutes an attempted pass that cost the Raiders a playoff victory over the New England Patriots in the 2001 season.

Other rules of notes include overtime. Each team will get one possession before sudden death kicks in. In the NFL, it’s possible for a team to lose in overtime without running an offensive play.

All instant-replay rulings will be made by a designated replay official as opposed to the NFL’s policy of relying upon the on-field referee.

Quarterbacks are permitted to ground the ball without penalty, even if they are outside of the pocket.

Celebrations are permitted in the end zone and bench area, whereas the NFL has earned the moniker of the No Fun League for a reason.

Samson Satele

He's an epic figure who combats enemies and performs heroic feats unachievable by ordinary humans, and he does so by finding tremendous strength in his long hair.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

After two seasons as the Miami Dolphins' starting center, Samson Satele was traded this offseason to the Oakland Raiders.

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Sound familiar?

The description of the biblical Samson is eerily similar to that of Samson Satele, one of the most recognizable football players in the history of the University of Hawaii. At 6-feet-3 and 300 pounds, big bush flowing out of the back of his helmet, he marched to the beat of an Aretha Franklin classic.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me.

"Sam's mentality was old school. Winning was important to him, but at the end of the day the only thing that really mattered was that whoever you went up against, respected you," said Satele's quarterback for two seasons, Colt Brennan.

From the first time Satele strapped up, wearing the blue and white of the Kalakaua Monarchs as a second-grader, to the silver and black he dons today as an Oakland Raider, his game has been the same.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me.

"Didn't matter how big or how strong you were," Satele said. "Respect was earned, and if I deserved it but the other guy didn't give it, I took it."

Satele's mission of earning respect was widespread, going both up and down the team's schedule, as well as up and down the Warriors roster.

New players who didn't realize Samson was "King" (it was even taped on his helmet at practice) discovered so quickly. The Warriors under June Jones rarely endured punishment drills, but one morning in fall camp the team paid the price for the overnight tomfoolery of some rookies. At one point, Satele -- normally quiet -- let out a loud growl that sent a message that required no repeating. The young UH players knew there'd be more than a warning next time, and there was no next time.

SIR NAME Five relatives named Satele have played football for UH, or are on the current Warriors roster » Alvis, LB, 1981-84 » Brashton, LB-DE, 2006- » Hercules OL, 2004-07 » Liko, DL, 2008- » Samson, OL, 2003-06

TWENTY-ONE DAYS before Satele was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and four months after he played his final game for UH, redshirt junior Ray Hisatake opened his locker on the first day of spring camp, and the number 64 jersey that Satele wore stared him right in the eye.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me.

"I thought there's no way I'm wearing this. I have to call Samson and get his permission," Hisatake said.

Ray did call and, according to Satele, he handed off advice that was once handed off to him.

"When I replaced Vince Manuwai he told me not to worry about filling his shoes, but wear my own. I told Ray the same thing," Satele said.

Samson indeed earned respect as a Warrior. His legacy reads 53 starts in 53 games played, four-time All-WAC (at guard and center), and captain of arguably the best offense in school history.

From the outside looking in it would be easy to assume that Brennan was the team's front man. However, Hawaii's silver-tongued, golden-armed gunslinger, who threw a record 58 touchdown passes as a junior that 2006 season, says otherwise.

"When I came in as a sophomore, there was no question who the leader of the team was," Brennan said. "Sam led this team in every way until the day he left us."

Oh, and Samson took his duties seriously. He wasn't just the guy who snapped the ball to the guy who threw it. To him, it was in his job description to be the self-titled "Personal Protector" to the team's trigger-man.

"It was the Samson-type players that allowed us to have an attitude and be physical and gave us an identity in the O-line that we were just not passive pass protectors," said Jones, Satele's head coach his entire career at UH.

Brennan agreed. "With Sam at center, I've never felt safer on a football field."

Plus, there was extra motivation.

"Papa John's," said a laughing Satele. "If we kept him clean Colt bought us pizza every week. He helped us keep our weight up."

SAMSON IS THE nephew of former UH standout linebacker Alvis Satele. If choosing to play for the same college as a successful relative isn't pressure enough, the all-state offensive lineman out of Kailua High School willingly added the weight of the state on his shoulders.

"I wanted to be the next Manuwai, the next Jesse Sapolu, the next Joe Onosai," Satele said. "I played with pride. For friends, for family, for my people, for Hawaii. I wanted be the next local boy, next island boy to represent."

In two NFL seasons, Samson has represented well, making 32 starts in 32 games for the Dolphins. (That's 85 in a row dating to UH). It's a direct result of good health, he says, making good use of cold-tubs and whirlpools.

"By the eighth game of my rookie season the old timers made sure I learned a simple lesson," Satele said. "Take care of your body, because your body is your money."

In 2009, after surprisingly being traded during the offseason, Samson will make his money in Oakland, competing for playing time with 12-year veteran John Wade.

In 12 days, Satele kicks off his first training camp with the Raiders, and he's told the silver and black that his "Commitment to Excellence" will come with the same nasty mean-streak that he's always played with.

"I'm going in with a big chip on my shoulder, Satele said.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me.

"When I put my helmet on, when the lights go on, I will be a Warrior."

Asomugha Interview

Highlights of an interview with Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on the “Petros and Money” show on KLAC (570-AM) in Los Angeles:

Q: How much does the coaching fluctuation play into the team’s poor record over the past six years?

Asomugha: A huge part. It plays a huge part. We can leave football and go to any company in the world. When your head person, the head guy in charge, is leaving every single year, that’s tough for the employees, it’s tough for the focus of the company to move in the right direction, and that’s been one of the problems with us. One of the things that has hurt us has been the coaching changes throughout the year, so it’s great to have Cable back, maybe that will help us a lot more.

Q: What changed when Cable took over? What did he do that caused the powers that be to bring him back?

Asomugha: He didn’t change too much. We were in the middle of the season and he didn’t want it to be like this big shock factor where everything changes and we’re trying to start all over. He was just trying to continue with what he had, and tried to build on it. But what we were able to do in those last two games, what shocked a lot of people, in getting those victories against teams that were essentially playoff teams, so that was one thing that led to the rehiring or bringing him back for this year and guys believe him, guys want to play for him.

Q: Does Al Davis text you up in the offseason, what’s it like working for him?

Asomugha: I don’ even know if he’s even into Twitter and all that stuff. It’s great working for him. First of all, he doesn’t come out all the time. People always want to know if he’s always at practice. He’ll come out every now and then, maybe once a week, just to see how the team is playing, or see how the team is preparing, but Al is a guy who wants to win, and I think that’s what gets guys going. You’re looking for a guy who wants to win so badly, and he’ll go whatever lengths he has to get that job done.

Q: Regarding the AFC West is Jay Cutler worth two first-round draft picks and mortgaging the future as Chicago did?

Asomugha: I don’t know. I think that might say a lot about the quarterback they had before Jay, more than it says about Jay, actually. Jay is definitely a great player and, you throw great around a lot, but he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the league. In my opinion, in our division, he was always one of the guys that was tough to prepare for, because he had the confidence to throw anywhere and to do anything he wanted to do. I think it’s going to be a great fit for Chicago. I didn’t understand Denver’s reasoning for letting him go because I felt he was going to help them out a lot.

Q: Talk about how difficult it is to play cornerback, how you go about handling the position . . .you’ve got to be kind of a cocky, A-hole to play that position . . .

Asomugha: It’s got to be in you It’s got to be in you somewhere. Not necessarily an A-hole but you have to have this air, you have to have this confidence inside of you, because once you lose it, the moment you lose it, you’ve lost the battle. You have to go into every play saying, I’m going to dominate this receiver that’s across from me . . . in the scheme we play in Oakland, it’s man-to-man, 95 percent of the time, and you just don’t see that anywhere else in the league, so it’s a very difficult position to play especially against the athletes that we’re going up against.

Q: Ever feel like you’re on your own out there like a lone gunman, on your own . . .

Asomugha: All the time. There’s time in the middle of the game where you’re thinking, `is anyone going to talk to me?’ The rest of the defense is taking care of business, you’re by yourself. You always feel by yourself. It’s not like a defensive lineman, where you’ve got a guy to the left and the right of him. We’re out there, 10 yards from everybody else.

Q: How important is that defensive line?

Asomugha: Rod Woodson always used to tell me, show me a great cornerback and I’ll show you a great pass rusher on that same team, and I think it works both ways. No one can cover for five, six seconds, four seconds, at that, so any time you’ve got a guy on the defensive line or a couple of guys, as we have now, as we’ve brought Greg Ellis from the Cowboys, a couple of guys that can get that pass rush, you’re going to make life much easier on the corners on the island.

Q: One guy that just is tough, harder than anyone else?

Asomugha: I would say Randy Moss. I’ve said it a few times now, any time I get the question, that’s going to be the answer. There are several receivers in the league that are above everyone else and you’re going to have to always bring you’re A-game for them, but Moss is a guy who always seems to be in his prime. Even as he ages, you wonder when he’s going to slow down, when he’s going to stop with all the tricks on the field. When I say tricks I mean, the mental games that he plays with his guys in terms of changing his routes, changing up his stance and things like that. He’s a guy you’ve got to be prepared for each and every snap. And I played with him for two years, but still couldn’t figure him out the way that I would have liked to. I would say Moss.

JaMarcus working out with wideouts

Posted by Mike Florio on July 9, 2009 12:13 PM ET

The report that Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell ditched the final day of the offseason program suggested to us that the first overall pick in the 2007 draft still doesn't understand the level of commitment necessary to become a true franchise quarterback.

But here's some evidence that maybe he's starting to figure it out.

Jason La Canfora of NFL Network recently reported that Russell has made good on a vow to spend some of the actual out-of-season down time working out with the team's receivers away from the practice facility.

Per La Canfora (via RaiderBeat.com), Russell paid for the teammates to fly to Alabama for the extra run/throw/catch sessions.

While it doesn't mean that Russell finally has acquired the kind of uncompromising passion to succeed that often helps a quarterback lead his team to the top of the NFL's version of Mt. Rainier, it's a step in the right direction.

And now he's only got about 14,410 to go.

Al Davis Interview

Four score and four days ago, Al Davis was born. And to commemorate the Raiders owner's 80th birthday on the 4th of July, Greg Papa, the voice of the Raiders, showed some seven minutes of a two-hour interview he conducted with Davis in his office on "Chronicle Live" last Thursday. Yours truly was a guest on that night's show and Papa asked me a few questions after the interview about Davis' legacy.

In today's microwave society, it's hard to look past how far the franchise has fallen - it was recently ranked No. 116 out of 122 pro sports franchises in a poll by ESPN - since Oakland beat the Tennessee Titans in the AFC title game on Jan. 19, 2003, going a combined 24-73 since, including the 48-21 shellacking at the hands of Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But to fairly and truly answer Papa's question, you have to peel back the layers. Davis is as big a figure in NFL history as any other, going back to George Halas through Pete Rozelle to Vince Lombardi to Monday Night Football. Many see Joe Namath as the impetus for the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 but the real force behind the fusion was Davis.

Plus, Davis has done more for minorities and females in football than anyone else in the game's history. He hired the first Latino head coach in Tom Flores, who won a pair of Super Bowls; he also hired the first African-American head coach in Art Shell, though Davis probably fired him too soon and Shell's second tour was an unmitigated disaster; and Raiders CEO Amy Trask is the highest-ranking woman in the NFL. No wonder there are so many fans out there that want to see the Raiders' ship righted before Davis' legacy is irreversibly tarnished.

Following, thanks to Jay De La Cruz of Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area and Cam Inman of the Contra Costa Times, is a transcript of the Papa interview with Davis that aired on "Chronicle Live." A one-hour special on Davis to air on Comcast is in the works, with the airdate to be announced.

Greg Papa: Let me be one of the first to wish you Happy Birthday.
Al Davis: Well, it will be happy when we win. But it's a milestone, obviously, 80, and usually at this time of the year, every fifth, from 75, 80, I've held a nice party in Las Vegas but I felt this year, predicated on the economy, that we would just whittle it down to a few friends for dinner, and hold off because we didn't want to flaunt when everyone else is having trouble financially and I thought it was best to do it that way. But in any event, thank you very much.

GP: My wife and I were thrilled to be at your 75th, and it was a tremendous function and you showed a lot of generosity to us and to those closest to you. Let's start at the beginning, we're going to tell the story of one of the most fascinating lives not only in the history of professional football but all of American sport, July 4, 1929, Brockton, Mass., the home of Rocky Mariciano, the great champion, and you, sir. How old were you when you moved from Brockton, to Brooklyn?
AD: We came to Brooklyn, New York, when, when I was 5 years old, and my dad was a manufacturer. He was an entrepreneur, he manufactured raincoats, and he was in real estate, and he was moving the raincoat business, in those days, to the south, because of the course of labor, and things like that. Some of the factories stopped in Baltimore, some stopped in North Carolina. But, my mother felt that we ought to stop a little further north, so we chose Brooklyn, New York. The memories are great, I lived there until I was about 16. My dad had a home in Long Beach, Long Island, and we were moving from Brooklyn to Long Beach, to Brooklyn, to Long Beach, but by the time I was ready to go to college, which I was about 17 years old. I had already committed to move to Long Beach, and so I went on to college.

GP: Tell me about Brooklyn in those days. You mentioned some of the names to me, the great Don McMahon, who later pitched in the major leagues, with the Atlanta Braves, was a childhood friend of yours, and the Torre family, I think you were closer to Frank than Joe, and some of the people, before you got to Erasmus Hall, even that you knew growing up in Brooklyn.
AD: Well, let me make a point to you. Brooklyn was a very diverse place. We had all the ethnic groups that you could possibly think of. It was great street learning. And right next to my house, there was a park called Lincoln Terrace Park. And it was a tough park. It really was. Whoever played in that park, you had to be a survivor. I can only tell you the story, and I did the eulogy of Sugar Ray Robinson, when he died, in Los Angeles, and one of the other eulogists, one of the other persons who spoke, was Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson and Don King were there. And we talking. And I told Mike, who was about 20 years younger than I am, `Mike, I played in Lincoln Terrace Park, and I tell you what, it was tough.' And he said, `What do you mean you played in Lincoln Terrace?' And I said, `I used to play there, every day and night, unless I went to practice . . . '

GP: Baseball? Basketball? Football?
AD: Baseball, basketball and football, and I said, `I owned that park, Mike.' And he turned to Don King and said, `This guy is an S-O-B, he's a tough S-O-B.' If he can come out alive out of that park, he must be a tough S-O-B. I remember it so vividly, my public school, my junior high school was called Winthrop Junior High School. We had to march when we were in school to our classes. We had to wear a white shirt and a red tie. And anyone who went to Winthrop will remember that. And then, we were being recruited to go to high schools, and I went to Erasmus Hall High School, with the idea of playing basketball. That was the dream, to play for Al Badain, at Erasmus Hall High School. And the memories are great, I made a lot of friends. Yes, as you mentioned, a guy, McMahon, was on the baseball team, I wish he were alive today. We used to laugh like all heck. The Torre brothers were big, they played for Madison, and Joe, I think, played for Brooklyn Prep. And there are so many great ones who went to Erasmus. Let me start with Bob Tisch, who owned the Giants. Jerry Reinsdorf, who owned the White Sox and the Chicago Bulls. Sam Rutigliano, who coached the Cleveland Browns. Sid Luckman, the Hall of Fame quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Barbra Streisand, you have to fill Barbara in because she probably is the No. 1 celebrity from that school. And Lanie Kazan, we just had a litany of great performers, great people.

GP: You mentioned you played for the great Al Badain, on the basketball team, and you played all the sports, but football, was the one, and you stated when you were 18, you felt you had a deep understanding of the game of football. Why do you feel that you saw football better than the other sports.
AD: Well, I really don't know that I saw it better. It interested me more. When I was 18, I was already in college. I went to college when I was 17 years old. At Erasmus, we ran a single wing. At Syracuse we ran a single wing and then Ben Schwartzwalder came and we ran a single wing, unbalanced line, and I just understand that there was more to it than running the football. There was a passing game. And I saw it, and I believed it, and a lot of people, I can remember Luke LaPorte, was one of our teammates, we were taking a class in football in the summer, and Luke came over to me after the class and looked at some passes that I had put up on the blackboard for coach Schwartzwalder's assistant coaches, who were coaching the class to see, and he said, `Can you run that in high school?' And I said, `High school? You can run this in pro football.'

GP: Al Davis got a chance to prove that on Sid Gilman's staff in the early 60's and he joined the Raiders in '63 and took a one-win team to 10 wins.

- Rookie linebacker Slade Norris, the team's fourth-round draft choice out of Oregon State, won the Ultimate Rookie Challenge at the NFL's Rookie Symposium by correctly answering more questions than any other rookie in attendance. The questions were based on presentations on lifestyle made during the symposium, along with NFL trivia, and they voted on electronic keypads in a gameshow format. The New England Patriots rookies won the team competition while Norris, as the individual winner, won a Samsung flatscreen TV.

- The Raiders also announced they have entered a sponsorship with AirAsia, purportedly the largest low-fare airline in Asia. The airline has launched an A340 airliner named "Xcellence" that is painted silver and black and is adorned with the team's logo on the tail fin. According to a release sent out by the team, "AirAsia will host a '1,000 Seats Courtesy of AirAsia' web-based contest in which students will be chosen at random for the opportunity to win free tickets to Raiders home games...(with) program and contest details...made available on Raiders.com and AirAsia.com."

- And lastly, according to former Raiders personnel chief Michael Lombardi, Shell's "fox in the henhouse," quarterback JaMarcus Russell "disappeared and was AWOL on the last day" of OTA workouts. Lombardi wrote so in his column on nationalfootballpost.com. And while it might be hard to be absent without leave from something that is voluntary, if true, it just doesn't sit right. Not when Russell told reporters the day before that he was planning some special bonding retreat with the wide receivers before camp, seemingly taking the leadership and responsibility mantle by the reigns. Indeed, since the end of last season, Russell had been a constant around Raiders headquarters with the exception of when his uncle Ray passed away.

A source confirmed Russell was not at the last workout but did not think it was a big deal. True, Russell would only be joining the likes of Derrick Burgess, who blew off the whole thing, Nnamdi Asomugha, whose brief appearance was lauded in this corner, and Jeff Garcia, who took time off for the birth of his son, in skipping an OTA or two. No big deal, right? But while Russell's work ethic has been questioned and Garcia will be biting at his ankles to get snaps, the unquestioned No. 1 QB can answer all questions with his performance in camp. Following is what Lombardi wrote: "The work ethic of quarterback JaMarcus Russell is still being questioned by many who have worked with him in the past and are working with him now. After he issued a call to his teammates to practice and finish the OTA days strong, he then disappeared and was AWOL on the last day. Russell must learn that talent alone is not going to make him successful. Dedication to becoming a better player is what he needs."