There was one
less Oakland Raider in training camp for the Sunday morning practice in Napa,
CA.
That scenario normally can be attributed to injury or a player getting
released but neither took place. Backup tight end Marcus Williams left the team
for personal reasons, head coach Bill Callahan said.
Callahan said he would comment more on the matter when he received more
information. Williams missed Saturday’s afternoon practice because he was ill.
Williams, who was entering his second season, played 14 games last season,
mostly on special teams.
Drop and give me 10
The Raiders continued their
“10 for the team” proposition Sunday morning on two occasions. The first came
when defensive tackle John Parrella had to do 10 pushups after jumping offsides.
At one stage, Callahan requested the No. 1 defense to line up against the
No. 1 offense for one play. The defense pleased him more on that play and he
made the entire offensive unit do 10 pushups.
There was one Raider, however, that did not do the deed – starting left
guard Frank Middleton.
“My shoulder hurts. I was trying to save my shoulder for more important
things,” Middleton said. “I got a bad knee too. If I got down there I couldn’t
get up, man. The shoulder stopped me from doing the pushups and the knee
wouldn’t let me get down there if I wanted to.”
Quote of the Day
Speaking of Middleton, who is never at a loss for words: “I’m fat as
ever. I gotta drop a lot of weight. I gotta drop a house. I’m pulling a trailer
park around now. I’m a long way from being where I need to be. I’m a double wide
right now. I need to drop at least one wide off of that.”
T-Shaw on the spot
Conventional wisdom suggests that Phillip Buchanon will start at one
cornerback opposite Charles Woodson if healthy. Buchanon played in only six
games before landing on injured reserve because of a broken wrist.
Terrence Shaw, who started seven games, is showing that he is not going
to give up the job without a fight. Shaw intercepted quarterback Rich Gannon on
one play in the morning practice and knocked down a pass on the subsequent play,
getting a nice break on the ball in the process.
Nnamdi getting closer
Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha continued to make progress one day after his
MRI exam revealed no damage Saturday after colliding with wide receiver Doug
Gabriel.
“It’s bothering me a little bit,” Asomugha said. “I’m getting treatment
but it’s going to be all right. On film, it looked like his body went straight
into my shoulder.
It was probably more serious pain yesterday. Now it’s more like a nagging pain.
This morning I’m getting a lot more motion back.”
Briefly
Wide receiver Scottie Montgomery (ankle), offensive lineman Joe Wong
(back), cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (shoulder), cornerback Phillip Buchanon
(hamstring), cornerback Clarence Love (ankle), cemter Barret Robbins (knee),
tight end Mondriel Fulcher (abdomen), tight end Roland Williams (knee), and
linebacker Travian Smith (ankle) missed Sunday’s practice.
Vince D’Adamo can be reached via e-mail at vdad7@yahoo.com