Things heat up as Raiders set to open camp
Top four draft picks sign, but Gallery and Curry are put on PUP list
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Tue, Jul. 25, 2006
NAPA - Wide receiver Randy Moss pulled up in his pickup truck, checked in with team officials, received his hotel room cardkey, complained about the heat and then scolded the media for requesting an interview.
In other words, it was business as usual as more than 80 players reported to the Raiders training camp at the Napa Valley Marriott on time and ready to put behind them last season's 4-12 campaign. Even the team's top four draft picks showed up only hours after signing contracts Monday afternoon.
Then came sobering news that Robert Gallery and Ronald Curry were placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list and won't participate in the team's first practice this morning.
That's not the way first-year coach Art Shell envisioned his first training camp in 12 years unfolding. Yet, the hope is that a little precaution is worth a ton of production down the road, Shell said.
"I take my lead from the trainer," Shell said. "If the trainer says we're going to take it easy initially, that's what we're going to do."
Shell has good reason to be cautious. Gallery is the team's starting left tackle, Curry a wide receiver rebounding from a second straight season in which he sustained a torn left Achilles tendon.
Shell knows the importance of having a healthy roster once the regular season begins Sept. 11. Also, the Raiders benefit from playing an extra exhibition game and getting an extra week of practice time this year in exchange for their playing in the Hall of Fame game Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.
Therefore, Gallery and Curry have plenty of time to jump into the fray and make their presence felt.
Both players are prohibited from practicing with the team as long as they are on the PUP list. Neither player should be out of action for too long, by all accounts.
Curry said Monday that he has been at 100 percent for more than a month and that he's ready to go "full-bore."
"My goal was to start camp at 100 percent, which is good," Curry said. That was before he learned of the Raiders' shutting him down for a while.
The Raiders remember all too well how Curry, the team's No. 3 receiver, came back from a similar injury last year and lasted only into the second regular-season game.
Shell characterized Gallery's injury as a strained quadriceps and didn't sound too concerned.
Gallery is entering his first season at left tackle and figures to benefit from whatever practice time he can get. He played left tackle at Iowa but moved to right tackle upon joining the Raiders as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
Players and coaches spent far more time talking about the heat wave that has gripped Northern California and transformed Napa from a relaxing spot for an NFL team to conduct training camp into a furnace-like setting.
"This is nice and warm for Napa," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "The first two years here it was like overcast, 80 (degrees) ... just a joyous time."
Shell spent part of Sunday working on an alternate schedule in case the high temperatures persist. Again, he said, he will take his cue from team trainer Rod Martin.
"If Rod says, 'Coach, hey, we need to back off because of this and that,' then I'll listen to him," Shell said.
Shell also laid down the law as far as penalties and undisciplined play are concerned, defensive end Derrick Burgess said. For instance, players who jump offsides during practice will be told to run a 100-yard sprint as punishment.
"You don't want to run gassers after all this practicing in this heat," Burgess said, "so you'll think about that before you jump offsides."
Notes: Texas safety Michael Huff, the Raiders' No. 1 draft pick, signed along with second-rounder Thomas Howard, a linebacker from UTEP, guard Paul McQuistan, a third-round choice from Weber State; and fourth-rounder Darnell Bing, a safety at USC who's been moved to outside linebacker. Huff signed a five-year deal that included $15 million in guaranteed money. .. Running back LaMont Jordan was excused from reporting on time, Shell said, so he had enough time to make it here after attending a funeral. He is expected at practice this morning. ... The Raiders cut running backs J.R. Lemon and Walter Williams, guard Shaun Rose and defensive end Javon Nanton before camp started.
Top four draft picks sign, but Gallery and Curry are put on PUP list
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Tue, Jul. 25, 2006
NAPA - Wide receiver Randy Moss pulled up in his pickup truck, checked in with team officials, received his hotel room cardkey, complained about the heat and then scolded the media for requesting an interview.
In other words, it was business as usual as more than 80 players reported to the Raiders training camp at the Napa Valley Marriott on time and ready to put behind them last season's 4-12 campaign. Even the team's top four draft picks showed up only hours after signing contracts Monday afternoon.
Then came sobering news that Robert Gallery and Ronald Curry were placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list and won't participate in the team's first practice this morning.
That's not the way first-year coach Art Shell envisioned his first training camp in 12 years unfolding. Yet, the hope is that a little precaution is worth a ton of production down the road, Shell said.
"I take my lead from the trainer," Shell said. "If the trainer says we're going to take it easy initially, that's what we're going to do."
Shell has good reason to be cautious. Gallery is the team's starting left tackle, Curry a wide receiver rebounding from a second straight season in which he sustained a torn left Achilles tendon.
Shell knows the importance of having a healthy roster once the regular season begins Sept. 11. Also, the Raiders benefit from playing an extra exhibition game and getting an extra week of practice time this year in exchange for their playing in the Hall of Fame game Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.
Therefore, Gallery and Curry have plenty of time to jump into the fray and make their presence felt.
Both players are prohibited from practicing with the team as long as they are on the PUP list. Neither player should be out of action for too long, by all accounts.
Curry said Monday that he has been at 100 percent for more than a month and that he's ready to go "full-bore."
"My goal was to start camp at 100 percent, which is good," Curry said. That was before he learned of the Raiders' shutting him down for a while.
The Raiders remember all too well how Curry, the team's No. 3 receiver, came back from a similar injury last year and lasted only into the second regular-season game.
Shell characterized Gallery's injury as a strained quadriceps and didn't sound too concerned.
Gallery is entering his first season at left tackle and figures to benefit from whatever practice time he can get. He played left tackle at Iowa but moved to right tackle upon joining the Raiders as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
Players and coaches spent far more time talking about the heat wave that has gripped Northern California and transformed Napa from a relaxing spot for an NFL team to conduct training camp into a furnace-like setting.
"This is nice and warm for Napa," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "The first two years here it was like overcast, 80 (degrees) ... just a joyous time."
Shell spent part of Sunday working on an alternate schedule in case the high temperatures persist. Again, he said, he will take his cue from team trainer Rod Martin.
"If Rod says, 'Coach, hey, we need to back off because of this and that,' then I'll listen to him," Shell said.
Shell also laid down the law as far as penalties and undisciplined play are concerned, defensive end Derrick Burgess said. For instance, players who jump offsides during practice will be told to run a 100-yard sprint as punishment.
"You don't want to run gassers after all this practicing in this heat," Burgess said, "so you'll think about that before you jump offsides."
Notes: Texas safety Michael Huff, the Raiders' No. 1 draft pick, signed along with second-rounder Thomas Howard, a linebacker from UTEP, guard Paul McQuistan, a third-round choice from Weber State; and fourth-rounder Darnell Bing, a safety at USC who's been moved to outside linebacker. Huff signed a five-year deal that included $15 million in guaranteed money. .. Running back LaMont Jordan was excused from reporting on time, Shell said, so he had enough time to make it here after attending a funeral. He is expected at practice this morning. ... The Raiders cut running backs J.R. Lemon and Walter Williams, guard Shaun Rose and defensive end Javon Nanton before camp started.