Oakland Raiders

Raiders notebook: New linebacker long ago gathered the Moss
By Steve Corkran
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 08/24/2009 09:46:15 PM PDT
Updated: 08/24/2009 10:34:48 PM PDT

Related

* Aug 24:
* Singletary names Hill the 49ers starting QB
* Inman: Hill is back on top -- for now
* Chargers roll on with Rivers
* New Raiders assistant is living the dream

The Raiders signed middle linebacker Napoleon Harris on Monday in response to projected starter Kirk Morrison sustaining a dislocated left elbow Saturday night against the 49ers.

Harris was the second of Oakland's two first-round selections in the 2002 NFL draft, and he started 13 games for a team that played in the Super Bowl his rookie season.

Harris, 30, played for the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs the past four seasons, including two stints with the Vikings.

He gained almost as much notoriety in Raiders lore as being part of the package the team used in a trade with the Vikings for wide receiver Randy Moss in 2005. The Raiders sent Harris to the Vikings, along with first- and seventh-round draft picks. The trade didn't work out as well as hoped for either team.

# Wide receiver Javon Walker participated in a full-team practice for the first time since training camp opened July 30. He spent the first 25 days rehabilitating the right knee he had surgically repaired in April. The Raiders activated him from the physically-unable-to-perform list so that he could practice with the rest of the team.

Walker missed eight games in 2008 because of a hamstring injury and a left ankle injury he sustained against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 9. He also had surgery to repair that damage.

"The rehab part is the hard part," Walker said. "The easy part is being out there practicing and catching balls now."

Walker said
Advertisement
he intends to play Saturday against the New Orleans Saints.

# The Raiders released veteran cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. to make room for Harris on the 80-man roster. Manning Jr. was signed Aug. 15 and played Saturday.

# Punter Shane Lechler (groin), safety Mike Mitchell (hamstring), running back Justin Fargas (hamstring) and safety Hiram Eugene (flu) were among those who missed practice.

# Raiders coach Tom Cable said Monday he has not been contacted by the Napa Police Dept. or the NFL regarding defensive assistant Randy Hanson's telling police that he was assaulted by another member of the Raiders coaching staff.

The Napa police issued a release Friday saying that it has reopened the investigation. Numerous media outlets have identified Cable as the attacker in the alleged assault that took place Aug. 5 at the Napa Valley Marriott.

Hanson could not be reached for comment. He was treated for a jaw injury at Queen of the Valley Hospital on Aug. 6 and removed from his coaching duties.