Raiders sign Joseph; Seymour still not here

Four days before the season opener, defensive tackle Richard Seymour remained a no-show amid reports the Raiders have sent him a letter giving him five days to report to town.

Seymour, who was acquired in a trade from New England on Sunday in exchange for Oakland’s first-round draft pick, was not at the team’s facilities for a fourth straight day, raising even more doubt as to whether he ever will play for the Raiders.

As a precaution, Oakland signed defensive tackle William Joseph, who was the player cut to make room for Seymour. The Raiders were given a roster exemption by the NFL and didn’t have to cut anyone to make room for Joseph.

“I have nothing new to report on (Seymour) but in the meantime, this was granted to us so we could get ready,” head coach Tom Cable said following the team’s night practice Thursday.

Reports circulated on the internet that the Raiders had sent Seymour a letter demanding he report to Oakland within five days or he could face a potential suspension by the club. But Cable said he was unaware of any letter being sent, and the website that first reported the letter later took the story down.

“I don’t have any knowledge of that right now,” Cable said. “I’ve heard something about that. But I have no knowledge of that right now. It has been nothing more than just trying to get some of these details worked out, that’s it.”

Joseph was basically signed as insurance in case Seymour doesn’t show up in time to play in the San Diego game on Monday night.

“The day they let me go, they released me, coach Cable said, ‘Don’t go nowhere.’^” Joseph said prior to the Raiders’ night practice at the Coliseum. “I was just around, sticking around, seeing what was going to happen.”

Seymour has not spoken publicly since the Raiders and Patriots agreed to the deal and the five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s agent, Eugene Parker, has also kept mum on the subject.