Silver and Black Report

Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was on KNBR on Tuesday and spoke openly about his position with the club, wanting to get a fair shot to start in 2010, the return of Tom Cable and other topics. Here’s a transcript of his chat.

About being on the air and disseminating information:

Anything I can do to get to the fans out in this area and a lot of Raider fans, and we’re excited.

Reflections of the Pittsburgh Steelers game – his homecoming:

Oh, it was unbelievable. To go home, be in front of all my family and friends and to get a big win against a good football team like that was unbelievable. Just for my family, in sharing that with me and just the excitement. Just the feeling we had in the locker room and as a team that we were finally coming together.

About his college career, putting up great numbers and surpassing legendary names:

Just to be mentioned in the same sentence with those guys – it’s an honor. But it’s also humbling to know, I have a lot more to do in my career to even be mentioned with those guys. Being out now in the west coast, you saw what Joe Montana did out on the west coast. Hopefully one day I can do that for the Raiders. It’s definitely in my future and my goals and the dreams I have.

That was an awesome game against the Steelers, but it also would make it even more special if that was the AFC Championship game and we are going to the Super Bowl after that win. That’s kind of what I’m thinking about.

About the return of Tom Cable:

Yeah, coach Cable is going to be back. A lot of our coaching staff has stayed the same and we brought in a good coach in Hue Jackson, coming from the Baltimore Ravens, and you know, I’m excited.

Have you’ve been told Cable will be back, specifically?

We are going to work everyday like it’s the same. Coach Cable is in there working and that’s all I care about. I don’t look into details, but I just go in and take care of my own business and whoever is there I’m going to work with and we are going to do just fine.

Last season’s inconsistent play, beating the Steelers and Eagles, but failing against lesser opponents or in back-to-back games:

I think it shows that we are a good football team. And the only thing we have to work on is being consistent. And that’s the number one thing we are going to be focused on coming into this year is knowing and understanding that we are a good football team – the Oakland Raiders can compete with anyone. And we’ve proven that, we’ve showed that and now its just time to be consistent and show week-in and week-out and just prepare like that every week and believe in ourselves and know that we can get the job done just like any other team in the NFL.

What he brought to the table as oppose to JaMarcus Russell and if his leadership and work ethic was what won people over:

I think so. It was the way I’ve been raised.

Your going to get what you deserve. I believe that, so I’m just going to keep on working hard, just like I’ve been and that’s just the way my parents raised me.

I’m not really worried about how other people do their job. I’m just worried about being a professional, taking care of my own business and when the opportunity comes, just take advantage of it. And I was blessed with a good opportunity this past season.

About the situation with Russell, and how his large contract may dictate what occurs on the field:

Well, its tough. A guy like Jeff Garcia whose been in the league for years and he’s been successful, he’s never gotten the big signing bonus, the big contract that he’s deserved. And you know, its crazy how things work out in the NFL. It’s frustrating to a certain point, but you can’t worry about those things.

You just keep on working hard and good things will come. And you’ll get what you deserve. So that’s all I can really focus on.

Whether he’s officially signed?

I haven’t officially signed with them yet. They offered a second round tender. So its still free agency going on, so there are other teams out there, but in my heart, I want to be in Oakland. I believe I’ll be in Oakland and I’ll like to be here for years to come. I just feel a good presence here, especially with the fan-base we have. It’s the best in football and fans that love their team. And we need to give them something to cheer for. So that’s what I’m looking forward to changing this year and going in and having a good season.

Do you want assurance about having an open quarterback competition?

Yeah, I think that’s the way it always has to go. I believe that in any business that you are on, any field of work, competition just makes you better and the best person should be out there for the job. I think that’s the way it should take place. That’s the way it will take place and I’m looking forward to it. I’m just excited for getting this opportunity and like I’ve said, competition makes you better and there’s going to be competition everywhere. It’s just the nature of the game. So I’m looking forward to it this year and I’ll love to get it from the start and see what we can do with it.

About being the underdog year in and year out and communicating with Jeff Garcia:

Yeah, that’s why I think me and Jeff have such a good relationship. I think we are so similar in so many ways. At this point in Jeff’s career, where I’m at, he wasn’t even in the NFL, he was still in Canada, so I still have to stay positive. He reminds me of that. And when the opportunity comes, take advantage of it…

If you can win football games, if you can find a way to win, I think that’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter about how much skill you really have, its about does the team rally around you, do you get the job done, are you smart and the leadership role – I think that’s one of the most important things about being a quarterback.

Differences between Cable and Jon Gruden:

I think every coach is different. And that is what makes every coach unique. There is no really right way to do it – it’s your own way. And I think coach Gruden, coach Gruden wanted his hands in everything. He was the offensive coordinator, the QBs coach, he kind of did everything.

Coach Cable is more of a overseer. A discipline guy. He’s a player’s type coach. The players want to play for a coach like coach Cable. He’s easy to communicate with and he wants the best for his players. So you like playing for a coach like that. Gruden and Cable, they each have their own way and its all about how to get the job done. And I think coach Cable did a great job with us last year and so, I’m exciting in moving forward with him this year and I think there are good things in store for us.

About the Randy Hanson incident:

I think the players, we just kind of have to worry about our job.

Just coming to work everyday and letting that stuff be handle by the people that handle that situation.

It’s unusual but, I think Mr. [Al] Davis, he just wants to win. And I think he really just wants to win and he wants the best for his players.

I’m hoping our fans back us from day one, ‘cause we can use them and we need them to be a part of this year and to be a part of this thing when we turn it around.

The Oakland Raiders announced on their official web site the addition of Kevin Ross to the coaching staff.

Ross will be assigned to the defensive backs. He has spent five campaigns coaching with the Minnesota Vikings and the San Diego Chargers.

“We are incredibly excited to add Kevin to our coaching staff,” commented Tom Cable. “He had a long and successful playing career and earned the respect of every team he joined along the way and we are fortunate to have him here”.

Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable divulged to The Boston Globe his happiness with Richard Seymour and how glad he is to have him in Silver & Black.

“Look at what he brought to our team — the ability of opponents or lack thereof to run at him on that side of the line of scrimmage,” Cable commented.

Oakland tagged Seymour their exclusive rights franchise player, ensuring he stays at least one more season as a Raider.

“He was everything that I thought he would be,” Cable said.

Cable sees Seymour as a leader; a mentor for many of the young players and a successful talent that knows what it takes to win after coming from New England – a team that consistently performed at a high level and knew what it took to stay atop as a perennial winner.

“The thing that I was probably most excited about was how much he impacted our young players on our football team,” Cable said. “He’s been in the NFL for quite some time and knows how to prepare, how to get himself ready, how to take notes, the time it takes day to day, week to week as you go through the season and ultimately how to take care of your body.

“I think there was a lot of good lessons learned there for a bunch of young football players.”

Cable, while in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, was asked about wide receiver Javon Walker.

“Will he be there next year?” Cable questioned. “We’ll see.”

There is no denying that the Raiders need to improve on their play at the line of scrimmage – on both sides of the ball.

And cable addressed that stating, “I think both. You always have to look at it and see where you want to be in those two areas.”

He also continued about the importance of leadership on this club and how some veterans impacted the roster.

“Both [Seymour] and Greg Ellis brought a lot of that to our football team. And guys like Charlie Frye and Bruce Gradkowski I thought brought some of that to the other side of the ball. I don’t think you can ever have a team that can turn it around and start building something without that type of leadership in the locker room.”

What about Darren McFadden?

“Every time he’s gotten himself going and had pretty good production something has happened to either take him out of that game or not let him be as big a part in the next one. He’s a fine player and as he’s able to stay healthy for longer periods of time you’ll see more for what we all hope.”

Cable stated he never felt concern about his job after the season and operated as he would knowing he would be the head coach in 2010.

“No, it wasn’t. We went through the evaluation process. As I was told, ‘You’re under contract and we need to talk about everything.’ That’s what we did. There was a lot of speculation but the whole time I went to work every day and did what I knew I needed to do to get ready for the evaluation, get ready for the Senior Bowl,
ready for all those things that were coming up.”

He continued: “I was never told I wasn’t. . . . That’s the one misnomer. There was a lot of speculation. But every day I went to work and every day I got ready for the routine, the self-scout and all the things you’d normally do. So for me sitting back, I wondered what all the fuss was about. I just going to work every day.”

As for the development of Michael Huff: “I’ve always felt Michael was on the cusp of his breakthrough. He had it this year. Lionel Washington and those guys on defense really got him ready to go, and I thought he was outstanding the whole year from the first game all the way through the last one. It was definitely a breakthrough for Michael, and hopefully that’s just the sign of where he’s at as a player now and we can get a lot of big play from him.”

Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable talked at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this weekend. He shot down the notion that the Silver & Black draft based on attributes only – how Oakland focuses on speedy prospects – “How about the best player? Let’s talk that way,” Cable said. “… We need to get better in some areas, and so at this thing (the combine), find who you think the best players are, whether they jump the highest or run the fastest. That shouldn’t make a damn difference. He has to be able to play football good enough for us to become a championship team.”

Oakland has been scrutinized for years about their draft strategies and in 2009, the received criticism for selecting wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey 7^th overall – who ended his rookie campaign with 9 receptions, 124-yards and 1 score.

Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt were chosen in the first round after Heyward-Bey – all out-performed the Raiders rookie and showed to have more potential in their initial seasons.

Cable also hinted to an open competition at quarterback after the abysmal season JaMarcus Russell had and the way the team looked when other passers where inserted into the line-up.

“We’re getting ready to start offseason and get to OTAs and minicamp and let the (quarterback) job be competed for,” he said. “I think that’s where we’re at in terms of our starting quarterback.

“I don’t think you would discount (using a pick on) that or any other position.”

When Cable catapulted Bruce Gradkowski atop the depth chart, the team had their best offensive outputs and scored victories at home versus playoff bound Cincinnati and on the road against Pittsburgh.

Players stated that the attack was far more dynamic and that there was a jolt of confidence when Gradkowski was in there, as oppose to Russell.

Third stringer Charlie Frye even had his chances to show what he could do, as Cable elected to go with the journeyman instead of Russell prior to a game against the Broncos when Gradkowski went down with knee injuries.

Could Charlie Frye have a chance to start in Oakland?

“(JaMarcus and I) have talked a couple of times,” Cable stated this weekend. “I know he’s working. I’m anxious for the off-season program to get started where you get a chance to see him all the time.”

Cable also addressed the rumors regarding the team’s intentions with their roster.

“We get a ton of calls about a lot of players on our football team all the time,” he said. “In fact, before I came in here I was on the phone about something. To me, that stuff happens in the NFL and it’s going to happen and it’s going to happen all the time. People call you and you listen and see if anything interests you or doesn’t interest you. Sometimes it’s crazier than you think. … You really just take the call and listen.”

Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush was able to give SBReport.net a question and answer session, where he talked about Tom Cable, his new offensive coordinator, the off-season and his daily life. In his career, Bush has rushed for 1,010 yards, with 6 touchdowns at an average of 4.6 yards per carry.

SBReport: You led the Raiders last year with 589-yards rushing, but it felt like you didn’t get enough carries at times. What’s it like not knowing how many reps your going to get and being in a three-running back system?

Michael Bush: Its tough not knowing, but that’s how the cookie crumbles when your the third back on the depth chart and but I just have to stay ready and when my number is called make the best of my opportunity. It kind of leaves me on edge, anxious and ready to play to help the team the best I can.

SBReport: Do you expect to get more carries next season and do you feel like you should be the primary ball carrier?

Michael Bush:  Well growing up I was told by my family not to expect anything from anyone because nothing in life is free so with that being said, I must work hard in off-season workouts, OTAs (Organized Team Activities), mini camps and training camp if I want to get more carries and as far as being the primary back we have other talented guys and we let the coaches have certain packages and plays that should let us all use our talents to the best of our abilities.

SBReport: How do you approach the off-season; in terms of balancing your time off and recovering from the season, and working-out and trying to get better as a player?

Michael Bush: It’s hard balancing your time because there is so much you want to do. Spend time with family travel see different place things like that. But for the most part I get bored when I’m not doing something sports related whether is playing basketball or doing cardio something active its very hard being a couch potato after about a week.

SBReport: Do you have any knowledge of Hue Jackson (new offensive coordinator) and how he will approach the handling of the offense?

Michael Bush: I know a little bit about Coach Jackson about how he has helped the [Baltimore] Ravens offense as a whole. But I will reach out to Ray Rice and ask him a couple questions when I get the chance.

SBReport: How do you feel personally about Tom Cable coming back for at least one more season as the head coach?

Michael Bush: It feels good knowing that we the players don’t have to get use to another coach, different system and another personality so bringing coach cable back is a positive for us. He’s a great motivator.

SBReport: When Michael Bush is not playing football or training, what’s his day like during the off-season?

Michael Bush:  Wake up watch some TV, browse Raiderfans.net to see what the fans are talking about. Skype and check on my lil’ brother make sure he is taking care of is schoolwork while he is in college. Play a little Xbox Live to catch up with some teammates. Call and mess with friends and family and when it starts to get dark, you can catch me in someone’s bowling alley. I love bowling. Something I want to do after football. My career high is 289 and I would say for the most part I average around the 205 area.

SBReport: What are your recollections of the 27 carry, 177-yard performance you had against Tampa Bay at the end of 2008?

Michael Bush: I think that was an awesome game as a whole team. The line did a great job of getting me some lanes to run in and JaMarcus [Russell] did great job of getting the ball to open wide receivers. The [defense] did a great job as well.

NOTES

• Bush was the only Raiders running back to top 100-yards in a game last season. He did it twice: 119-yards against Kansas City and 133-yards versus Denver in the Silver & Black’s 20-19 victory on the road.
• The former Louisville Cardinal was drafted in the 4^th round (100^th overall) of the 2007 draft.

The Randy Hanson and Tom Cable saga continues…

The former Oakland Raiders defensive assistant reportedly filed a lawsuit against Cable and the team, as it contains three causes of action – assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In August, Hanson alleged that the head coach assaulted him which led to his fractured jaw and broken teeth.

The suit filed in Alameda County also states that Cable threatened Hanson by saying, “I’ll…kill you.”

The Raiders did not disseminate a comment in response today.

Late in 2009, Napa County district attorneys stated that they would not pursue any charges against Cable. Gary Lieberstein cleared Cable citing inconsistencies in Hanson’s story that were not substantiated by any of the witnesses in the room at the time of the alleged altercation.

If I were Bruce Gradkowski, why wouldn’t I want to stick around in Oakland?

Yes, all signs point to the Silver & Black giving JaMarcus Russell another shot to fulfill their destiny for him – to become the organization’s franchise passer. Yes, as long as Al Davis feels that his prized strong-armed passer can develop until a competent player, he’ll give him as many opportunities to do so.

And even if Tom Cable has other plans for Russell, the facts are that Davis will have ultimate say on whether or not the former LSU star will be in the huddle or on the sideline, not the coach.

With all that said, Gradkowski coming back to Oakland for another year could give him the best shot for getting back on the field than any other option that may be out there.

Russell has not shown the maturity level or the work ethic to grab that starting position and make his own. He lacks many fundamentals and is lacking throughout his football repertoire enough to make you wonder if he can ever bounce back from this horrid start to his career.

And that is why Gradkowski should sit tight and realize that he may be the next in line.

Most of the players got an energy and vibe from Gradkowski that was not present with Russell. They were far more productive on offense with Gradkowski and at this point, its safe to say that the coaches that remain on staff realize that the journeyman is more of a sparkplug and provides more intangibles than the multi-millionaire.

When Gradkowski limped off the field against the Washington Redskins and Russell took over, the team was deflated. “You could kind of see it emotionally a little bit, the wind left our sails, so to speak, just a little bit, when that happened,” defensive end Jay Richardson said.

Langston Walker praised the passer after the victory in Pittsburgh, stating, “Bruce is fiery. He’s yelling at us, screaming at us, running around like a banshee, but it’s all controlled. That’s how he gets it done. You saw the result.”

And Oakland’s most productive player on offense – Zach Miller – and Russell’s security blanket on the field commented this season, “A love for the game that he shows in the way he plays, the way he calls plays. The way he works on details of plays with players, in between. He’s just uh, I think that’s the main thing I’m seeing with him. It’s just, he’s a get-after-it type of guy.

“He’s obviously a pretty smart guy, reads things well, throws a real good ball. He’s a pro quarterback, so they’re all good. We feel like we’ll be able to throw it around better now.”

All signs of a team that feels more confident with one signal caller, than the other.

An unhappy fan showing his displeasure with JaMarcus Russell

And this is why Gradkowski should stick around and Oakland should try to do everything within reason to keep him in Silver & Black.

If Gradkowski overvalues himself and tries to break the bank – which is highly unlikely – then he isn’t worth keeping around.

But Oakland needs to realize that his presence is a safety net they need just in case Russell continues his horrid play.

“I plan to be back with the Raiders,” Gradkowski stated to The Toledo Blade “I think everything will work out, and I’m looking forward to it. We did a lot of good things this year and I’m looking forward to next season.”

Gradkowski also mentioned his roaming NFL lifestyle, “I’m all over the place, and hopefully I can settle down soon.”

And as for his outlook for the Raiders, it seems like he has a good grasp of the situation he may be presented.

“I think at this point, hopefully, they’ll just pick the best guy to be out there on the field,” he replied. “Money’s not an issue, but I know in this business it kind of is when you invest a lot of money in someone. All I ask for is an opportunity to compete.”

It may not be a fair one to begin if the Raiders force Russell onto the field. But unless he changes drastically, Gradkowski will get his shot to compete, and rightfully so.

In an item published on Pro Football Weekly’s web site, Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable commented on what could be around the corner in free agency.

Kirk Morrison, who was drafted by the Silver & Black in the 3^rd round of the 2005 draft, will become a restricted free agent in March. Cable stated during the Senior Bowl, “He’s proven that he can (get the job done), and the question is: ‘Are you where you want to be with all of these guys?’ Not just Kirk.”

“To single anyone out right now, it’s probably way, way too early to do that. It’s still a matter of seeing where we’re at as a team and what’s available to us as we try to get better.”

In January, Morrison, who resides in San Diego, stated in a radio interview:

Time is going to tell.

I’ve spent a lot of good time in Oakland. I played my heart out for that football team.

This is the NFL. This is a business. And people don’t see that side of it.

Archive: Warren Sapp chasing down New England Patriots QB Tom Brady

The NFL Network has pulled former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Warren Sapp from their Super Bowl XLIV coverage because he is being questioned by Miami authorities regarding a domestic violence case according to a NFL source.

Sapp, 37, was reportedly seen by detectives and questioned on Saturday afternoon, and news circulated late Saturday about his arrest.

Per reports, the former sack-master was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic battery and is expected to appear before a Miami-Dade County judge Sunday, Miami Beach police spokesman Juan Sanchez said.

In recent weeks, Sapp has ripped Raiders head coach Tom Cable.

“For me to say something about the man right now, would be a little, you know, disingenuous,” Sapp told the Dan Patrick show.

“Tom Cable don’t even know that the defensive lineman knows his protection when he goes into a ballgame,” Sapp said. “I was standing in front of the man, he tells me to rush his offensive line. I said, ‘Okay, what set are you coming out in?’ He looks at me and says, ‘What? No, I just want you to rush.’”

He continued: “I said, ‘Let me understand this. You’re gonna break the huddle, you come out into a formation. It’ll be two receivers, three receivers, whatever you want to do. But there’s some way you have to protect. And I would know that, 90% of the time. He looked at me like I was speaking Chinese.”

Sapp piled on by saying, “He’s not qualified to be an offensive line coach in my book.

“Because he doesn’t know I know which way his center’s going 90% of the time. He blew my mind with that one. I said, ‘Son, you think I got all these sacks ’cause I’m guessing which way the center’s going?’”

In a statement released on Saturday, “We have been made aware of the arrest of Warren Sapp by the Miami Beach Police Department,” a NFL network statement said. “In light of these circumstances, Warren Sapp will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter.”

Tom Cable 'absolutely' thinks he'll continue to work with Oakland

Tom Cable was on KHTK – 1140am – and talked about his current status with the Oakland Raiders while at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Here are some excerpts of his conversation with the host.

At the Senior Bowl:

Well, you’re really looking at these kids and trying to familiarize yourself with them as you prepare for the next step, which will be the combine. So, you get a chance to look at, basically, 70-some players, you get a chance to go back now and look at all the juniors that are coming out and just kind of start comparing this whole thing and then it gets you ready for the combine. Because that group that was here in Mobile, they’ll be at the combine, as well as all those juniors that came out. So, it gives you a great opportunity to kind of get a jump on it and familiarize yourself with the whole group.

Talking to Al Davis:

Well, we’ve had a lot of conversations. You’re right, there’s been a lot of speculation. But the whole time, we’ve talked about where we’re at as a football team. And that’s everything. That’s the organization, that’s the coaches, that’s the roster, our free agents, who we need to get signed back, just everything that goes into it. We really never have had discussions about what would or wouldn’t happen. It’s just always been about evaluating the Oakland Raiders. I don’t know that at anytime he’s ever said he was going to change or he wasn’t going to change. It’s just an evaluation process that every team goes through. We did great diligence in terms of an organization, the coaches, and here we are getting ready for the 2010 season and starting the scouting routine with the Senior Bowl.

About being the head coach of the Silver & Black:

Well, absolutely. I don’t think there was ever any question. That, really, was more speculation than anything else. It’s never been a thought in my mind. We went at this thing every day, whether it was discussions with the owner or discussions with the staff, that we were moving forward and getting ready for 2010. So, it’s never really been an issue for us.

On Jamarcus Russell:

He’s just one man on this football team. He knows he’s got to get better. We know we’ve got to get him better. But everyone on this team, coaching staff, players alike, has to get better, and that starts with me. So, obviously, people want to single someone out or whatever that is but right now, it’s about all of us getting better.