Silver and Black Report

The Oakland Raiders are just days away from starting their 2010 training camp in Napa, California. SBReport.net will be there to cover all the action: with images, audio and video from the Raiders training facility. Here are glimpses of the Silver & Black’s OTAs and a sneak peak of what we will see more of in the summer:

Wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal challenging Johnnie Lee Higgins (#15) at the line of scrimmage

Linebacker David Nixon (#56) striking a pose…

Darrius Heyward-Bey (#85) snatching a pass.

Erik Pears (#72) will attempt to grab a starting spot along the offensive line.

Robert Gallery (#76) has become an anchor along the trenches.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Per a press release by the Silver & Black:

Oakland Raiders guard Robert Gallery is using his passion for hot rods and classic cars to give back to the community, in particular to four local military families who have lost a parent fighting to protect our country. The 2nd Annual Cruisin’ For Our Community event took participants on a cruise throughout the Tri-Valley area from Dublin to Livermore. Gallery led the cruise in his customized 1954 Cadillac Coup de Ville. Several of Gallery’s teammates signed autographs in exchange for donations at the end of the cruise. Raiderettes were also on hand.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are some more exclusive images of the Oakland Raiders at work during recent minicamps and Organized Team Activities (OTA), captured by SBReport.net photographer DeMarcus Davis.

Yamon Figurs, who signed a future contract with the Silver & Black in January, has been working with the special teams. Oakland regressed in their return game in 2009, as the likes of Johnnie Lee Higgins and Gary Russell were primarily used during punts and kickoffs. Higgins, who made headlines with his punt return prowess a few years back, has competition this summer in Figurs and Nick Miller.

Robert Gallery may not be the All-Pro left tackle many thought he would become coming out of Iowa. But he has become a very formidable left guard under the tutelage of Tom Cable. There is no coincidence that since Cable’s arrival, Gallery has been a mainstay along the trenches and a reliable interior blocker. Early in his career, Gallery went through various coaching changes at his position, which may have affected him negatively during his developing years. And with his skill set, footwork and ability to work in space, the former 2^nd overall pick in the 2004 draft could gain more notoriety if Oakland’s run game becomes one of the better ones in the AFC.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Phil Barber posted a blog on the Press Democrat web site regarding his conversation with former Oakland Raiders tackle Lincoln Kennedy.

Kennedy, who played 11-seasons in the league, gave some insight on the current losing drought the Raiders are in and the arrival of Warren Sapp to the team in 2004. The three-time Pro Bowler said Sapp’s presence and boisterous nature hurt the team more than helped it during a vulnerable period for the organization.

“And here’s the reason,” Kennedy stated. “Every interview I heard Warren do, he never accepted the silver and black like other castaway veterans. He always played that Buccaneer card. And I was pissed off at that as a veteran player. If they wanted you, they would have kept your ass, you know what I’m saying? If someone else gave you another chance to finish your career strong, accept that.

“He immediate became a figurehead on the team, an icon. And all I ever heard him talk about was his days at Tampa. Go back in the archives and look at any other player who had an impact on the Raiders, and you don’t hear that, especially among the castaways.”

Kennedy also talked about moving away from the game and the direction Oakland took along the trenches after his retirement.

“I remember the year I retired, I told the Raiders I couldn’t do it anymore,” Kennedy comented. “I sat across the table from Mr. Davis and said, ‘Look, you got a player named Langston Walker. He’s making seven figures. I couldn’t say, ‘Let him play my spot, I’ll sit back and watch.’ The competitor in me wouldn’t allow that. But if you want to draft for the future, you need to know where to go. That’s why I told him as early as I could, because there was also this young lineman out of Iowa named Robert Gallery. We were trying to leave the team in good shape.

“What we found out later, those players weren’t capable of stepping in. They didn’t have the talent or whatever to pick up where we left off.”

Barber will have more about the Raiders in an article on Sunday and their streak of ineptitude since 2003.

Best Offensive Player:

Zach Miller, Tight End – 66 rec. 805 yards 3 TD

It amazes me how on a horrendous offense, Miller continues to improve on his numbers on a yearly basis. Raiders don’t have many scary targets on offense. And Miller is not as dynamic as other tight ends around the league, but he sure is productive and a solid blocker.

Best Defensive Player:

Nnamdi Asomugha, Cornerback

Among the best defenders in the NFL. Asomugha is a complete defensive back and a better citizen.

Best Special Team Player:

Shane Lechler, Punter

The Pro Bowl talent ended with a 51.1 average, short of Sammy Baugh’s 51.4 record set in 1940. But he did break the net average mark with 43.9, topping the 41.2 he set last season.

Best Coach:

Lionel Washington, Defensive Backs

Tyvon Branch matured into a solid starter, Michael Huff had his best season as a pro, rookie Mike Mitchell gave the backfield a jolt and Asomugha is among the best. Washington did a solid job with this group.

Least Valuable Offensive Player:

Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide Receiver

Nine receptions for 124-yards and one score. Two carries for 19-yards. This from the seventh overall pick in the NFL draft with $23.5 million in guarantees coming to him.

Least Valuable Defensive Player:

Chris Johnson, Cornerback

It’s hard to constantly be the target of opponents, especially with Asomugha on the other side. But Johnson gave up too many big plays and was a weak spot in a secondary that was solid to very good at times.

Most Improved Player:

Tyvon Branch, Strong Safety

He was a tackling machine around the line of scrimmage and developed into one of the upcoming SS in the conference.

Least Improved Player:

JaMarcus Russell, Quarterback

The stats were horrendous, his development was non-existent and when you get benched in favor of Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye, you know things are bad. He went from being the first overall pick and possible savior to public enemy number one.

Best Rookie (Offense):

Louis Murphy, Wide Receiver – 34 rec. 521 yards 4 TD

He was fiery, injected life to a dead unit at times and was a gamer. Sure he had his drops, mental lapses and was sometimes the victim of bad calls from officials, but the 4^th round pick has legitimate potential to be a starting caliber receiver at this level.

Best Rookie (Defense):

Matt Shaughnessy, Defensive Lineman

He compiled four-sacks and played well in the interior when tabbed in the second half of the season with more reps.

Player Missed the Most due to Injury:

Robert Gallery, Left Guard

He missed six regular season games with a broken leg before returning to the line-up, but then he injured his lower back in December and Oakland shut him down for the season. By far the best offensive lineman they have.

Most entertaining player when entering the field:

Sebastian Janikowski, Kicker

He enjoyed his best season as a pro. He was 26-of-29, with his only misses coming from long distance.

Deserving of more carries award:

Michael Bush, Running Back

He ended the campaign with a team leading 589 yards rushing. Bush averaged 4.8 a carry and had the best two rushing performances by a raider this season (119 vs. KC and 133 vs. DEN).

Hardest Worker Award:

Justin Fargas, Running Back

Probably the least talented of the trio of rushers but no one runs harder or with more intensity.

The ‘I want out…’ Award:

Javon Walker, Wide Receiver

He signed a six-year $55 million deal with $16 million in guarantees in March of 2008. Since, he has been one of the biggest free-agent busts in league history. Walker has been inactive all season and left in the organizations doghouse.

Best Victories:

1. Week 13 – Raiders 27 – Steelers 24: A 21-point barrage in the 4^th quarter led by Bruce Gradkowski’s 308-yards passing and 3 touchdowns. The 35-point final quarter was exciting and full of big plays, including two Murphy touchdowns: one for 75-yards and the closing score from 11-yards out.
2. Week 15 – Raiders 20 – Broncos 19: Charlie Frye started, J.P Losman got a snap but JaMarcus Russell was the one who put a road block on Denver’s effort to make the playoffs with his game winning touchdown pass at Invesco Field. Michael Bush had 133 yards and a touchdown on 18-carries.
3. Week 11 – Raiders 20 – Bengals 17: The Bruce ‘Almighty’ Gradkowski stint started with a win. Oakland scored 13 second half points in a frantic finish. “As a team, we’re not really known for fighting back, and we came back,” rookie Louis Murphy said.

Worst Losses:

1. Week 7 – Jets 38 – Raiders 0: New York came in reeling; losing three in a row, missing Kris Jenkins after his injury a week earlier, a struggling rookie passer, a coach beleaguered by the media that had to travel to the west coast. Oakland allowed 316 rushing yards, led by rookie Shonn Greene, this after beating the Eagles a week earlier in the midst of back-to-back home games.
2. Week 3 – Broncos 23 – Raiders 3: Denver went 3-0 with a road victory in the Black Hole. Oakland was held to 137 yards of offense, and at the time, it was only the third time since 1993 that they had offensive outputs of less than 200-yards in ensuing weeks. Russell had only one passing yard in the second half and thus began the weekly booing’s in Oakland.
3. Week 14 – Redskins 34 – Raiders 13: Russell came in for an injured Gradkowski and sucked the life out of the offense. An offense that tallied nearly 200-yards of offense against the Redskins went to hibernation when Russell took over.

Best Moments of the Season:

1. Zach Miller’s 86-yard touchdown romp versus the Philadelphia Eagles that was aided by two stellar blocks by rookie Louis Murphy.
2. Bruce Gradkowski’s 29-yard game tying touchdown pass to Murphy with 33 seconds left versus the Cincinnati Bengals. On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Myers forced a fumble which set-up Janikowski for a game winning 33-yard field goal. “He caused the fumble,” linebacker Sam Williams said. “That was unbelievable.”
3. Louis Murphy’s 11-yard touchdown catch with nine seconds left at Pittsburgh.
4. JaMarcus Russell’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens with 35 seconds remaining to beat the Broncos at Denver, “They’re all special, but this one’s pretty high,” said Russell.
5. Janikowski nailing a 61-yard field goal in cold Cleveland.

Worst Moments of the Season:

1. Darrius Heyward-Bey’s bobbled pass deep in Kansas City territory that fell into the hands of a Chiefs defender. That turnover sealed the victory for the visiting rivals as Oakland drove late in the contest.
2. Russell being pulled after going 6-for-11 for 61 yards with 2 interceptions and a lost fumble against the Jets.
3. Johnnie Lee Higgins and Louis Murphy bumping into each other as they came off the line of scrimmage, and taking themselves out of the play against the Chargers.
4. Russell entering the game against the Redskins after Gradkowski was injured and then getting sacked six of the eight times Washington tallied sacks. “We had heard that Russell’s just had a tough time, and you could tell when he stepped on the field and the crowd started booing,” Washington defensive end Andre Carter said.
5. All of the Tom Cable off the field distractions.
6. Hiram Eugene getting pushed aside by Willis McGahee during his 77-yard scamper in the season finale.

Unit that was lackluster:

Punt and Kickoff returns

Whether it was Gary Russell, Jonathan Holland, Justin Miller briefly or Louis Rankin, the return units were non-threats to opponents. Even Johnnie Lee Higgins, who made a name for himself as an explosive punt returner in 2008 was quiet in 2009.

Hey look, I’m a starter award:

Michael Huff, Safety

Turned himself into a reliable player in the secondary after years of the Raiders waiting on this first round talent to turn the corner.

Hey look, I should not be a starter:

Cornell Green, Right Tackle

The penalty machine was at it again this season. Green may be the best option for the Raiders at right tackle, which demonstrates the need for them to upgrade that side of the offensive line.

Best Off-season Move:

Greg Ellis, Defensive End

Tied with Trevor Scott for the team lead with sacks (7).

‘We are waiting…,’ Award:

Darren McFadden, Running Back – 104 car. 357 yards 1 TD, 21 rec. 245 yards

Is it the lack of creativity on this offense? Do the Raiders need a better mind running the offense? Are the quarterback issues impacting him? Regardless of the excuses, McFadden has not been the explosive talent they had hoped for and certainly not the multi-dimensional weapon he can potentially be. Plus, he had 4 fumbles this season (3 lost) while missing four games due to injury.

Best Quote(s):

• “I don’t think we could have beaten an Oakland high school team today,” said Richard Seymour after the 38-0 loss to the Jets. Ironically, he stated earlier that week that Oakland would make the playoffs.
• “If you really want to look at it, you can go 8-0 and you might end up 10-6,” stated Chris Johnson. “There’s a possible way you can actually do it.”

Contact Author:  Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders (4-8) will host the Washington Redskins (3-9). It will be the 11^th regular season meeting between both clubs with the Silver & Black holding a 8-3 edge including their victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Oakland has won four of the last five meetings including their last match-up during week-eleven of the 2005 season when Kerry Collins passed for 289-yards and the Raiders won 16-13.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

In three-games as a started, Bruce Gradkowski has elevated the Oakland aerial attack, which has tallied an average of 217 yards per game in that span. With Robert Gallery out for the season and the Raiders not running the ball all that well, rookie Louis Murphy emerging as a legitimate talent, Chaz Schilens back in the mix and a competent quarterback under center, its safe to say that the Oakland passing game is at its peak. They’ll get a formidable challenge from the Redskins this week who have the 5^th best pass defense in the league (190.2 per game), but in recent weeks against Dallas, Philadelphia and New Orleans – all teams in the top-10 in passing yards per game – they have allowed 819 aerial yards.

Last week in Pittsburgh, Johnnie Lee Higgins had his best game as a target in some time after Darrius Heyward-Bey was inactive due to injury. “Yeah, it was rough. You know me, I’m a fighter, I just hate sitting back and watching, I want to be out there, but I just do as I’m told,” Higgins told reporters on Friday. “I go out there and when my number is called, I go out there and I perform. Complaining won’t get you anywhere. When it’s my time to shine, I go out there and try and do it.”

What to Expect:

Samson Satele is expected to start at center with Chris Morris taking Gallery’s spot at left guard. Oakland has to have some cohesion along the trenches if they don’t want Gradkowski scrambling against a Washington defense that has tallied 28-sacks (12^th in the NFL). Short down and distances will be a key as well as other running situations in the red-zone. If Gradkowski can rally this team to another win, it will be a huge indictment on JaMarcus Russell as the Raiders usually struggle after wins and have rarely put together solid back-to-back performances during his time as a starter.

On Defense:

Greg Ellis’ knee has hindered him all week, limited his action in practice on Friday and is listed as questionable for the game. Oakland will need a lively pass rush on Sunday due to the recent activity of Jason Campbell. Yes he has four interceptions in the last three contests. But he has also tallied 284 yards passing per game during that span.

Oakland has to bring the heat as they did versus the Eagles and Bengals in order to come away with a victory at home.

One player that helps in that aspect is Richard Seymour. And this week, he stated to the Boston Herald, “I still have an impact,” when talking about his play and the decision the Patriots made to deal him before the season. “Maybe I don’t get the glory all the time, but I free up somebody else and our team gets the success. I know what I bring to the table. They wish it was that easy to replace me, but it’s not.”

Trevor Scott could be freed up this weekend, and in two games at linebacker, he has three sacks, four quarterback pressures and five tackles for losses.

“Originally when they first said it, I was kind of shocked just because I’ve never really played it before,” Scott said. “But I just took it in stride and ran with it. It was one of those things where you’re thrown into the fire, and sometimes that’s the best way to learn.”

What to Expect:

Oakland is still susceptible to big plays against the run and pass, and can allow big chunks of yardage on the ground. But they have been stout in holding teams to field goals instead of touchdowns when they get the red-zone, forcing a key turnover or getting a vital sack to push the opponents place kicker out of field goal range. If John Marshall is able to get his pass rush going, Oakland’s secondary will be able to pick some errant throws and give their upstart offense a chance at some short drives.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

On Offense:

“We could have been 6-6 and fighting for something,” Jason Campbell stated on the team’s official Web site after throwing for a career high 367 yards and three touchdowns. “Instead we’re 3-9.”

Clinton Portis was place on injured reserve this week, so Quinton Ganther and Rock Cartwright will carry the load the rest of the way. The second year rusher out of Utah has been more productive than Cartwright in recent weeks and now will be the fourth rusher to start in the backfield for Washington in 2009.

“I’m getting the opportunity that I haven’t had to show people what I can do,” Ganther said. “I just worked harder than anybody. The longer you keep you feet in the door, the better opportunity you have.”

What to Expect:

Oakland’s secondary will be tested by Santana Moss (49 rec. 642-yards 3 TD), Antwaan Randle El (40 rec. 458-yards), Fred Davis (32 rec. 319 yards 3 TD) and Devin Thomas (23 rec. 287 yards 3 TD). Chris Johnson has been picked on playing opposite Nnamdi Asomugha and far too often, second year pro Tyvon Branch and the rest of the Raiders secondary have been caught out of position on big plays. Many times, Oakland’s rush defense has allowed unknowns to have big games at running back starting for injured starters. If Ganther is given his shot consistently, he could have a career day.

On Defense:

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will miss his third game with a sprained right ankle.

Also, cornerback DeAngelo Hall will be out with a sprained right knee, as he will miss out on a opportunity to play against his former teammates During his eight-game stint by the Bay Area, Hall was torched and tormented by double moves and was a whipping boy of the fans after being traded and signed to an extension prior to the 2008 campaign.

“Al Davis told me it salary cap issues,” Hall said. “Coach Cable actually made the statement that they had somebody better behind me. So I kind of took a little offense to that, but I don’t have any hard feelings toward Coach Cable, the organization. It was a great, great, great time for me there, the short period of time that I was there.”

“DeAngelo’s a play-maker,” ex-corner mate Asomugha stated. “He wants to be free to go out and make plays and do what he does best. When you come here, you have to understand that you’re going to be in man-to-man 90 percent of the game. It was definitely something he wasn’t used to. It took some adjusting for him, and he never really got that full chance to adjust to that change.”

GAME NOTES

• In Washington’s first seven contest, they allowed an average of 17.6 points and 283 yards per game. In the past five, foes have amassed 23 points and 352 yards of offense per outing.
• Andre Carter has eight sacks in his last eight contests.
• Gallery’s spot on the roster could be occupied by Roy Schuening, who is able to play center and is currently on the practice squad.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Can the Raiders passing attack continue to move it downfield?

The 4^th quarter versus the Steelers was explosive. If they can continue that output, they’ll be able to make life easier for a running game that has been disappointing and could use a boost from Darren McFadden.

Will the Raiders’ run defense get plowed?

This is the type of game where the Shonn Greene’s, the Jamaal Charles’ and Bernard Scott’s go wild on Oakland’s run defense. Campbell has been throwing it for big yards, the Raiders can allow big yards via the pass, and if Ganther rolls, there will be a lot of booing in the Black Hole.

PREDICTION

Raiders 26 – Redskins 19

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on FOX with Dick Stockton providing play-by-play and Charles Davis handling color analysis. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KTVU Channel 2 and in Sacramento on KXTV Channel 40. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black’s Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 12th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information was cited from the Official Oakland Raiders Web Site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, December 13, 2009, 4:05 p.m. ET | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, OAK, CA

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (4-8) Home: 2-4 Road: 2-4

Road Team: Washington Redskins (3-9) Home: 3-3 Road: 0-6

LINE: Raiders are a 1-point underdog

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Starting left guard Robert Gallery is out for the remainder of the season with a lower back strain injury sustained against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday.  Gallery hurt his back blocking on the trick hand-off to Darren McFadden and lateral to Bruce Gradkowski that loss 16-yards.

Tom Cable said after practice that the injury would require surgery. “He’s a very good player, was playing very well before he got hurt in Kansas City, so he comes back and gets back in the groove,” Cable stated. “It’s disappointing for him and our team. He’s not had these types of things that have kept him out of games in the past. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s the game, and it does it to a lot of people.”

The former number two overall pick in the 2004 draft has been Oakland’s best lineman since being moved to guard in 2007.

So far in 2009, Gallery has missed time in camp due to an appendectomy and six-regular season games with a broken leg suffered during a week-two contest. If Samson Satele is healthy and ready to start at center, Chris Morris will take Gallery’s position in the line-up. If Satele cannot see action due to his strained calf, recently acquired Langston Walker will start at left guard for the first time in his career and Morris will man the center spot.

In the six-games Gallery has played in, the Raiders are averaging 120.3 rushing yards per game. During the six-games he was out, the team ran for an average of 89 yards per contest.

OTHER NEWS

• Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and defensive end Greg Ellis did not practice today. Both are not looking to be ready for Sunday’s game.
• The game will be blacked out for the sixth time this season. Against Cincinnati, the recorded attendance was 34,112.

ANALYSIS

He may not be the dominant all-pro tackle many predicted he would become prior to the 2004 draft, but Gallery’s presence will be sorely missed along the Raider trenches. The 29-year old is the best offensive lineman on the Raiders and one of the better run blocking interior lineman in the AFC. His mobility and ability to pave lanes on counters, sweeps and trap plays will effect the production on the ground. And that will directly effect what plays Tom Cable is able to call as the season winds down. With Bruce Gradkowski at the helm, Oakland has not relied upon the vitality of their rushers, as oppose to when JaMarcus Russell was in the line-up. So leaning more on the passing game, their fiery quarterback and the development of their young targets is in order for the Silver & Black. The Raiders are not a physical bunch along the offensive line. When they have short down and distances or goal line situations, it will be interesting to see how they handle their play-calling.

Yesterday; one reception for 22-yards. For the season six catches for 96-yards. Oh, lets not forget his two-carries for 19-yards. Darrius Heyward-Bey has been in over his head in his rookie campaign.

The controversial seventh overall pick in April’s draft has done very little as a member of the Silver & Black. His route running has been critiqued; Heyward-Bey’s one virtue – his speed – has been a non-factor. Fellow rookie Louis Murphy has fared better, but until yesterday’s loss at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, Heyward-Bey has not been in the mix or been looked at to make plays when it counted most.

And when he had a shot to give the Oakland Raider fan base some glimmer of hope – he failed.

Heyward-Bey had a ball sail out of his hands and into the mitts of a Kansas City defender, sealing the Chiefs seventh straight victory in Oakland.

Oakland will stick to their guns that the product out of Maryland was who they wanted in the draft. They claimed to like his abilities as a pass catcher, but at this point there is no reason to believe that the one man calling the shots selected him based on one thing only – speed.

Far more polished targets such as Michael Crabtree (18 rec. for 215 yds.) and Jeremy Maclin (31 rec. 413 yds. 4 TD) were selected three and twelve picks later respectively. Percy Harvin (31 rec. 422 3 TD) went at the 22^nd slot to Minnesota. And Hakeem Nicks (23 rec. 407 yds. 4 TD) and Kenny Britt (22 rec. 351 yds.) were taken back-to-back at the end of the first round. But none has struggled or has been as dormant as DHB.

“I know Darrius works every day catching the ball,” said Chaz Schilens. “I’m out there with him. I don’t know what to say other than at game time, you’ve just got to make the play.

“That’s all there is to it.”

The rookie had an opportunity to do what Oakland drafted him for in the second quarter. And on one of the few times JaMarcus Russell was able to hit his target accurately, DHB let a 50-yard bomb near the goal line go right through his arms.

It’s too early to say he’s a bust. Yet its hard to bypass the fact that: a) Oakland could have taken far better targets at their slot in the draft, or b) could’ve had him a lot lower, paid less money and not be as scrutinized for it if someone was willing to move to their spot.

Matt Shaughnessy started in place of the mending Greg Ellis at defensive end. He recorded a sack and had 4 tackles (including one behind the line of scrimmage). The rookie was one of the bright spots during a 1^st quarter in which Oakland beat up the Chiefs offensive line and held their rushers to -4 yards and a measly 57-yards at the half. Oakland’s run defense was swarming at times and ended the contest allowing 112 yards on the ground. Their one blip was Jamaal Charles 44-yard touchdown scamper (KC first TD on the ground in 2009).

NOTES FROM SUNDAY

• Chris Johnson tallied his third interception of the season.
• Robert Gallery came back from his injury and started at LG. He had a costly penalty in the 2^nd quarter when Russell connected with Murphy for a 52-yard gain. The play was negated due to a tripping infraction. “It was one of those things, I’m not going to let the quarterback get hit,’’ Gallery stated after the game. “I can’t put myself in that situation. It is what it is. It cost us pretty big, so it’s a hard one to swallow.’
• Sebastian Janikowski’s streak is over. The hefty kicker connected from 50-yards, but missed a 45-yarder in the 3^rd quarter. The 20-consecutive converted field goals were the longest streak of his career.

OAKLAND – Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Robert Gallery spoke to the media today regarding his injury layoff and the status of the team.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Today’s inactive players for the Oakland Raiders include; running back Darren McFadden, wide receivers Nick Miller, Chaz Schilens, and Javon Walker, Charlie Frye, tackle Cornell Green guard Robert Gallery and fullback Oren O’Neal.

For the New York Giants; wide receiver Ramses Barden, running back Danny Ware, cornerback Aaron Ross, linebacker Michael Boley, tackle Adam koets, linebacker Bryan Kehl, tight end Kevin Boss and defensive lineman Chris Canty.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report.net Columnist