Posts tagged AlDavis at FanHouse

This year, he had the Vikings in full pads four times out of the first 26 sessions, but he feels it's been anything but soft. Childress was perturbed enough to challenge any media member to take part in one of his practices, making reference to author George Plimpton spending time in Lions training camp in the 1960s and writing about it in his book "Paper Lion." No one took Childress up on the offer to sign an injury waiver and join running back Adrian Peterson in the huddle.

Kiffin didn't think the Raiders got their money's worth from Walker in Friday's 17-16 exhibition-game loss at Tennessee. He had a drop on the third play of the game, just as he did in the first exhibition game against the 49ers.

"There's a couple of balls there that we would have liked him to come up with," Kiffin said during the opening statement of his teleconference Saturday. "That's discouraging because he was paid an awful lot of money, paid like one of the top five receivers in the NFL. We need him to make those plays."

"I want people to know why I thought about it, but I also want it to go away, too," Walker said. "But people need to know I am fully committed to this team. I will not leave. I am very excited about the season."

"I had had a lot of things going on internally," Walker said. "That's why I offered to write that check. I did not want the team to suffer. ... However, I have cleared my head and the people here have been great to me. I will be fine."

"It caught me off guard because he's 29 years old," Kiffin said. "I'd had a couple of conversations with him, and it seemed like there might be something going on, so he came in, and sure, it was a surprise." ...

"For someone to discuss retirement, and then to come back and change his mind a day later – I'm worried a lot about it," Kiffin said. "I'm worried about where he's at mentally, because these things happen sometimes and they come back up again, because maybe they come back and maybe it isn't necessarily for the right reasons, so we're going to continue to communicate with him and push him out there on the field and get him better."

There's a good chance the three teams that passed on McFadden are going to be sorry they did. I was skeptical when Lane Kiffin said the Raiders would have traded up to get him. Now I believe it.

Not only does McFadden's speed bring to mind Bo Jackson and Napoleon Kaufman, but he's got better hands than either, is a quick study and does everything with a smile on his face. He is even better than they thought he was.

Interesting story from Raiders camp: WR Javon Walker was set to retire last Thursday but owner Al Davis talked him out of it.

Walker was so unhappy about his performance during training camp that he stated he was willing to give the Raiders back his $11 million signing bonus.

This comes a few months after Walker was allegedly abducted, assaulted and robbed in Las Vegas. He suffered "significant injuries" to his face, was concussed and left for dead in the street. He was also in the car that teammate Darrent Williams was shot and killed in last year.

I can see why Walker has a lot on his mind and you can see why he may be under-performing during camp. Oakland did sign him to a six-year deal worth $55 million ... so they are expecting him to be a big part of the team. And, while it it is always easy to be critical of Al Davis, it is quite commendable that he reached out to Walker to keep him on the football field.

When he showed up at Thursday's camp christening, you'll be happy to know he more resembled a full-functioning franchise savior than a 300-pound whale. Then again, "I kind of felt like I was 1,000 pounds out there," said Russell, attributing the extra weight to his long-lost shoulder pads.

Actually, Russell is 269 pounds. He baited a reporter into thinking he indeed hit the rumored 300-pound mark this offseason, then claimed he topped off at 276.

Q: How would you describe your experience with the Raiders?

A: As dark as a black hole. Stuff went on in that organization that shouldn't go on in sports. I don't think there's one person who knows who or what is making the call. Let's just say the Oakland experience is unique. The phone rings quite a bit on that sideline. Insubordination is grounds for termination in any company.

"Oakland and Kansas City expressed some interest in Robinson ... there isn't exactly a clamoring for his services. Still, a receiver such as Robinson is too talented to overlook. Any team that needs some depth at the position -– Dallas, Cleveland, -- would consider Robinson."

Rarely does someone seem to overcome their issues and their off-the-field problems entirely. ... That's one of the main reasons that the Chiefs got rid of fan favorite Jared Allen - he of the two-time DUI conviction. Allen appeared to have rid himself of his demons...and then promptly opened up a bar in Kansas City.