training camp Archive

RAIDERS HEAD COACH SUCKER PUNCHED ASSISTANT

theOCD

Published: 17 August 2009 8:00 PM EDTPosted in: NFL

The Raiders opened training camp with non-contact drills only and many people called them soft. The team began full-contact drills on August 3rd, but Tom Cable got into the action a two days later. According to FanHouse, the Raiders head coach allegedly sucker punched defensive assistant Randy Hanson. FanHouse also reports that “Hanson never saw it coming” and that one source indicated Hanson may have a broken jaw. Maybe Hanson reminded him that he coached the Raiders — I’m sure that would piss off a lot of people. Too bad facepunches won’t make JaMarcus Russell less fat or give DHB the ability to catch balls.

Via FanHouse:

The always volatile Oakland Raiders are now fighting amongst themselves — in the coaching ranks, no less.

According to a report Monday on the Web site National Football Post, Raiders defensive assistant Randy Hanson was punched in the jaw by another member of the team’s coaching staff during an Aug. 5 altercation at Oakland’s training camp headquarters at the Napa Valley Marriott.

Multiple NFL and Raiders sources have confirmed the victim of the alleged assault was Hanson, a third-year assistant who is in his first season with the team under the title “assistant coach-defense.” Two NFL sources have told FanHouse the attacker was Raiders’ first-year head coach Tom Cable, and “that Hanson never saw it coming.”

Neither Hanson nor the coach who threw the punch were identified in a Napa, Calif., police report taken Aug. 6 at Queen of the Valley Hospital. But one well-placed NFL source told FanHouse of the attacker: “It’s a well-known coach. Very well-known.”

Pressed to confirm the identity of the attacker, the source said, “It was Cable who hit him.”

According to Napa Police Lt. Brian McGovern, police followed procedure in responding to the downtown Napa hospital when Hanson arrived to receive treatment for what was described as an injured jaw.

X-rays were taken. The results are not known, although one NFL source told FanHouse Hanson sustained a fractured jaw as a result of the punch.

Tags: crime, football, NFL, oakland raiders, randy hanson, tom cable, training camp

JETS OFFER LITTLE LEON LOTS OF MONEY

theOCD

Published: 12 August 2009 5:09 PM EDTPosted in: NFL

The Jets have increased their offer to Leon Washington to $4.5 million per year according to sources. It’s rumored that Washington and agent Alvin Keels are seeking around $6 million per year — in the range Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren Sproles received. I’m inclined to believe that this is the Jets’ take-it-or-leave-it offer. Leon is under contract for this season and he will be a restricted free agent next year… so he doesn’t have very much leverage.

Via New York Daily News:

CORTLAND, N.Y. – When the Jets made their initial contract proposal to RB Leon Washington, believed to be around $2 million per year, he found it so insulting that he skipped some of the offseason workouts.

They’ve increased their offer considerably. According to sources, the Jets have an offer on the table that averages $4.5 million a year. Washington is believed to be seeking $6 million per year. Thing is, if the Jets go higher than $5million, they’d be paying him more than Thomas Jones, the starting tailback.

Washington is due to make $535,000 this season. The two sides continue to talk, although nothing appears imminent.

Tags: football, leon washington, NFL, training camp

DALLAS COWBOYS THROW DOWN IN PRACTICE

theOCD

Published: 07 August 2009 7:32 PM EDTPosted in: NFL

Boys will be… Cowboys. Two Cowboys players came to blows in practice this week after a big hit. Jay Ratliff ended up getting in a scuffle with offensive lineman Marc Colombo. You can see the video on Shutdown Corner.

Via DallasNews:

SAN ANTONIO – If you had nose tackle Jay Ratliff or right tackle Marc Colombo in your pool of who would be involved in the first fight of training camp, you won.

The two went at each other Tuesday afternoon after Bobby Carpenter intercepted a pass and Ratliff drilled Colombo into the turf on the return. Colombo took exception and came up swinging.

Tags: dallas cowboys, fight, football, jay ratliff, marc colombo, NFL, training camp

SNOOP DOGG IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR THE RAVENS

theOCD

Published: 06 August 2009 9:16 PM EDTPosted in: MLB

Snoop showed up at Ravens camp today. Apparently, he was invited by his buddy Ray Lewis. I’m not really sure why any NFL coach would allow some random dude to show up at training camp. It’s not like Snoop is Barack Obama. In any case, his umbrella holding posse member is hilarious. Also, why do all those guys have to wear suits when Snoop looks like he’s going to do some gardening?

Via Baltimore Sun:

It was a nice change of pace for rapper Snoop Dogg to attend Ravens practice this morning. You need a little fun to lighten up training camp because it can become quite boring.

snooop.jpg

Snoop looked like he was still asleep when he first walked down the steps onto the field, but he started getting into the practice.

He had a four- or five-person entourage, and these were some well-dressed guys. I loved the guy whose main job was to hold Snoop’s umbrella as he walked around under it.

According to both Snoop and Ray Lewis, they are close friends and Lewis invited him to training camp. The players responded well to Snoop’s appearance, and they seemed to have some fun.

When asked if Snoop had provided him with any new dance moves for the pre-game introduction, Lewis just laughed and said, “Nah, nobody messes with that.”

It was good stuff.

Tags: baltimore ravens, football, NFL, ray lewis, snoop dogg, training camp

JETS’ CLEMENS SHARP AT CAMP, SANCHEZ WATCHES FROM SIDELINES

John

Published: 03 August 2009 10:26 PM EDTPosted in: NFL

The NY Jets’ training camp QB competition is one of the biggest stories in Big Apple sports right now. Just a few days into camp, Kellen Clemens has shown that he will not go down without a fight (if you can call it a fight). Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer told reporters Sanchez has “got to earn those reps.” Sounds about right. For now though, Clemens had a nearly perfect practice session save for an endzone pick by Darrelle Revis on his last play. You may think about taking that throw with a grain of salt though, with Clemens learning what I’m sure many other opposing QBs will soon find out about throwing in his direction. Check out the Post’s coverage after the jump for more on a fiery Jets training camp.

Eventual 2nd stringer Kellen Clemens throws alongside eventual starter Mark Sanchez

Via the NY Post:

August 3, 2009

By MARK CANNIZZARO

CORTLAND _ Amidst the fireworks on the field during the spirited morning practice, the battle for the starting quarterback job continued with Kellen Clemens having his sharpest session yet … until he threw an interception on his final throw.

Clemens finished the day 8-of-9 but the stain on the canvas was a pick he threw to CB Darrelle Revis in the red zone after he’d engineered a terrific hurry-up drive.

It was Clemens’ sixth INT in six practices.

“Yeah, that is frustrating,” REx Ryan said of the Clemens’ INT. “Those are things that get you beat.”

“I’m going to give Kellen this advice _ if No. 24 (Revis) is on the right, throw it to the left,” Ryan added.

Clemens lamented the Revis as “bad luck,” adding, “Obviously, the last drive for us offensively showed our potential and what we’re able to do against this defense.”

Clemens continues to get virtually all the snaps with the starters, with rookie Mark Sanchez having gotten only a handful on Sunday but none yesterday.

Sanchez was 1-of-4 yesterday with one dropped pass and he’s pining for more reps with the first team.

“That means the world to me,” Sanchez said. “That’s where you can make your move. You want it to happen as much as possible. I’m right in Schotty’s (offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) hip pocket and right next to Kellen as he’s calling the plays in the huddle and getting as close to taking those first team reps as possible.

“As soon as they come my way, that’s when you really need to make a move in this whole thing.”

Schottenheimer said yesterday getting Sanchez more reps with the first team is “something we definitely want to do, but you’ve got to earn those reps.”

READ THE FULL POST »

Tags: kellen clemens, mark sanchez, NFL, nfl football, NY Jets, training camp

THE JAMARCUS RUSSELL WEIGHT LOSS PLAN

theOCD

Published: 02 August 2009 11:49 PM EDTPosted in: NFL

JaMarcus Russell showed up at training camp last year pushing three bills. Who can blame him? He has $29 million in the bank. In 2009, JaMarcus has attempted to show new commitment to football. He held a “receivers camp” in his off-season home of Alabama. It was attended by Louis Murphy and a handful of guy I’ve never heard of. So much for that idea. Russell even came to camp this year closer to his listed weight of 270.

However, seeing pictures of JaMarcus in training camp makes me doubt his conditioning. He seems to be practicing with a nylon pullover under his jersey and socks pulled up all the way. It almost seems like he’s trying to sweat off his extra pounds. He also looks like a fool. It’s not THAT cold in Napa, where the Raiders are holding pre-season camp. In May, JaMarcus had similarly ridiculous get-up. He wore a long sleeve shirt with a t-shirt over it — both underneath his jersey. I’m not exactly sure why JaMarcus chooses to suit up in such random attire. It’s probably has something to do with UnderArmour not wanting a fat guy to wear their gear. There are pictures of JaMarcus from training camp and mini camp after the jump.

Via NBC Bay Area:

The problem now that the Raiders have opened training camp is that we’re really seeing more of JaMarcus Russell.

The Oakland Trib’s Jerry McDonald quoted Russell Thursday on his Twitter feed admitting that he’s reporting to training camp a little heftier than he ought to be. “I’m probably a little heavy,” JaMarcus reportedly said. “But I’m not 300 pounds like you all said last year.”

Whoa, did we really say he was 300 pounds last year? It turns out that we in the predominantly Raider-hating sports media did, in fact, peddle that very rumor prior to the 2008 season. Don Banks wrote in his Sports Illustrated column in March of 2008 that, “there are rumors that (Russell is) close to 300 pounds and not exactly prepared for his close-up.”

David White tries to guess JaMarcus current weight, carnival-booth style, in his San Francisco Chronicle blog. “Someone suggested he looks about 278 pounds,” White remarks. “I’d take the under on that by 2-3 pounds.” White also notes that Russell’s playing weight is listed as 270.

READ THE FULL POST »

Tags: football, jamarcus russell, mini camp, NFL, oakland raiders, training camp, weight

TERRELL OWENS: MAN IN TIGHTS

theOCD

Published: 26 July 2009 3:09 AM EDTPosted in: NFL

Terrell Owens showed up to training camp today and even managed to generate excitement without pissing anybody off. The newly obedient Terrell Owens wowed fans with his receiving skills… and his attire. Terrell decided that the shorts common among players in training camp were not for him. T.O. opted for an outfit comprised of tights only. The reality star was not fazed by his form-fitting clothes and gave interviews in the tights as well. I know it’s not that different than wearing a football uniform. However, I still find it excessive.

Via ESPN:

Fans began chanting “T.O.! T.O.!” the second Owens was spotted emerging from the locker room to take the field five minutes before the start of practice. They cheered Owens every time he made a catch — and even the time he didn’t after bobbling a ball out of bounds. And the loudest applause came when quarterback Trent Edwards hit Owens for what would’ve been a 60-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the afternoon session.

Owens returned the love by flashing an occasional smile as well as peace signs toward the stands. And he couldn’t stop laughing when one fan, 32-year-old Steven Lasek, held up a box of ‘T.O’s’ and began yelling, “This cereal is delicious.”