OAKLAND, Calif. – It was the type of heedless stunt that typified the Oakland Raiders' dysfunction of the past five seasons, a match race to join Donovan Bailey-Michael Johnson and Foolish Pleasure-Ruffian in the "Oops, Bad Idea Hall of Fame."
Following last Wednesday's practice at the Raiders' training facility in Alameda, starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper, still trying to fight his way back from the severe knee injury he suffered two years ago, bragged that he could beat halfback LaMont Jordan in a 100-yard sprint. This wasn't surprising to Culpepper's teammates, some of whom scoff at his penchant for extolling his own abilities in virtually every realm and sarcastically refer to him as "Top Five In the World."
Negotiations between Culpepper and Jordan ultimately broke down, and the quarterback instead ended up racing third-year cornerback Stanford Routt who, during his college days at Houston, finished third in the 200 meters at the 2003 NCAA outdoor meet. Even while starting from midfield and spotting the quarterback five yards, Routt lived up to his surname. "Stanford blew him away," one witness said. "And afterward, Daunte said something didn't feel right. Now, he's on the bench. Doesn't that say it all?"
Whether or not Culpepper's strained quadriceps was a direct result of his insensible sprint isn't 100 percent, the decision to race Routt was a sign that his vocational priorities are a tad skewed. That's a condition that has been all too common in Oakland since the franchise's last Super Bowl appearance following the 2002 season; just ask that great New England Patriots locker room leader, Randy Moss, and he'll tell you all about it.
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Yet here's one unmistakable sign of progress: These Raiders overcame Culpepper's absence, defeating the Denver Broncos 34-20 on Sunday at McAfee Coliseum, and actually may have accelerated their long-term growth as a result. The excess practice snaps afforded No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell and his ascent to No. 2 on the depth chart made it easier for rookie Raiders coach Lane Kiffin to implement his plan to give the former LSU quarterback his first NFL snaps, and it all played out perfectly: Russell provided fans and teammates with a promising vision of the future while reinstated starter Josh McCown stepped up and played his best game as a Raider.
Oh, and Oakland, coming off a post-merger-record 17 consecutive defeats to AFC West opponents, beat a division foe for the second consecutive week to improve to 4-8. Though the Raiders' remaining schedule (at Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, at Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers) suggests that additional victories in '07 may be hard to come by, the 32-year-old Kiffin, in his first season in Al Davis's Wild Kingdom, seems to have helped facilitate an important culture change.
"We still have a chance to win our division," receiver Ronald Curry said hopefully, "but even if we were out of it, guys would still play hard. We're trying to build something for next year and the years beyond. It's a better team with better schemes, and we're not making as many stupid mistakes as we have in the past."
Adds veteran defensive tackle Warren Sapp, now in his fourth season with the Raiders: "Ever since Lane took the job, something about him wasn't going to let us do the same old (expletive) over and over again. His message has been consistent: 'Let's stop (expletive) around and go play.' He has all the confidence in the world, and we feed off that. This was the best we've played since I've been here, easy; we put our foot on them today."
With McCown (14-of-21, 141 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions or sacks) playing efficiently and coolly despite a lacerated left pinky that had to be stitched up to keep the bone from protruding through his skin and halfback Justin Fargas (33 carries, 146 yards) carrying the ball with authority, Oakland's offense was in good hands. And for two series in the second quarter, it was guided by a physically-gifted 22-year-old whose stalled contract negotiations kept him from playing in the preseason.
Finally, with 13:48 remaining before halftime and the score tied at 7-7, Kiffin unwrapped his new toy for the 61,990 energized fans at the Coliseum. On his first NFL play, Russell deftly faked a handoff to Fargas on the left side and turned and rolled to his right as if to run; stopping suddenly, he fired a crisp pass down the sideline to wideout Jerry Porter, who made a sweet, 16-yard catch before falling out of bounds.
"We've seen him do some amazing things in practice," Porter said afterward. "The kid can play."
Russell played 15 more snaps, and there were highlights (a nicely sold screen pass to Fargas that gained 14 yards; a perfectly thrown 20-yard completion to Curry) and lowlights (a botched handoff with Jordan and a fumbled shotgun snap, though Russell ended up with the ball on both occasions). His numbers were solid – 4-of-7, 56 yards – but he failed to produce any points, his drives ending on a missed 58-yard field goal attempt by Sebastian Janikowski and a stuffed fourth-and-1 handoff to Fargas at the Denver 25-yard line.
McCown, who was booed upon his return, knew precisely what was at stake. "If he leads them on two touchdown drives and he's the future, why do you put anyone else back in?" he asked rhetorically.
When McCown got back in he seized his opportunity, leading a touchdown drive on Oakland's next possession and putting up 20 more points in the second half. Expect McCown to remain the starter and Russell to continue to make cameo appearances. Culpepper, even after his quad heals, will likely stand and watch.
Asked if he'd be upset with Culpepper were he to conclude that the race with Routt caused the quarterback's injury, Kiffin said, "Oh, yeah, if that's the case."
Imagine that: A Raiders coach not named Madden, Flores or Gruden who holds his players accountable for their foolishness.
Doesn't that say it all?
Following last Wednesday's practice at the Raiders' training facility in Alameda, starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper, still trying to fight his way back from the severe knee injury he suffered two years ago, bragged that he could beat halfback LaMont Jordan in a 100-yard sprint. This wasn't surprising to Culpepper's teammates, some of whom scoff at his penchant for extolling his own abilities in virtually every realm and sarcastically refer to him as "Top Five In the World."
Negotiations between Culpepper and Jordan ultimately broke down, and the quarterback instead ended up racing third-year cornerback Stanford Routt who, during his college days at Houston, finished third in the 200 meters at the 2003 NCAA outdoor meet. Even while starting from midfield and spotting the quarterback five yards, Routt lived up to his surname. "Stanford blew him away," one witness said. "And afterward, Daunte said something didn't feel right. Now, he's on the bench. Doesn't that say it all?"
Whether or not Culpepper's strained quadriceps was a direct result of his insensible sprint isn't 100 percent, the decision to race Routt was a sign that his vocational priorities are a tad skewed. That's a condition that has been all too common in Oakland since the franchise's last Super Bowl appearance following the 2002 season; just ask that great New England Patriots locker room leader, Randy Moss, and he'll tell you all about it.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yet here's one unmistakable sign of progress: These Raiders overcame Culpepper's absence, defeating the Denver Broncos 34-20 on Sunday at McAfee Coliseum, and actually may have accelerated their long-term growth as a result. The excess practice snaps afforded No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell and his ascent to No. 2 on the depth chart made it easier for rookie Raiders coach Lane Kiffin to implement his plan to give the former LSU quarterback his first NFL snaps, and it all played out perfectly: Russell provided fans and teammates with a promising vision of the future while reinstated starter Josh McCown stepped up and played his best game as a Raider.
Oh, and Oakland, coming off a post-merger-record 17 consecutive defeats to AFC West opponents, beat a division foe for the second consecutive week to improve to 4-8. Though the Raiders' remaining schedule (at Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, at Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers) suggests that additional victories in '07 may be hard to come by, the 32-year-old Kiffin, in his first season in Al Davis's Wild Kingdom, seems to have helped facilitate an important culture change.
"We still have a chance to win our division," receiver Ronald Curry said hopefully, "but even if we were out of it, guys would still play hard. We're trying to build something for next year and the years beyond. It's a better team with better schemes, and we're not making as many stupid mistakes as we have in the past."
Adds veteran defensive tackle Warren Sapp, now in his fourth season with the Raiders: "Ever since Lane took the job, something about him wasn't going to let us do the same old (expletive) over and over again. His message has been consistent: 'Let's stop (expletive) around and go play.' He has all the confidence in the world, and we feed off that. This was the best we've played since I've been here, easy; we put our foot on them today."
With McCown (14-of-21, 141 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions or sacks) playing efficiently and coolly despite a lacerated left pinky that had to be stitched up to keep the bone from protruding through his skin and halfback Justin Fargas (33 carries, 146 yards) carrying the ball with authority, Oakland's offense was in good hands. And for two series in the second quarter, it was guided by a physically-gifted 22-year-old whose stalled contract negotiations kept him from playing in the preseason.
Finally, with 13:48 remaining before halftime and the score tied at 7-7, Kiffin unwrapped his new toy for the 61,990 energized fans at the Coliseum. On his first NFL play, Russell deftly faked a handoff to Fargas on the left side and turned and rolled to his right as if to run; stopping suddenly, he fired a crisp pass down the sideline to wideout Jerry Porter, who made a sweet, 16-yard catch before falling out of bounds.
"We've seen him do some amazing things in practice," Porter said afterward. "The kid can play."
Russell played 15 more snaps, and there were highlights (a nicely sold screen pass to Fargas that gained 14 yards; a perfectly thrown 20-yard completion to Curry) and lowlights (a botched handoff with Jordan and a fumbled shotgun snap, though Russell ended up with the ball on both occasions). His numbers were solid – 4-of-7, 56 yards – but he failed to produce any points, his drives ending on a missed 58-yard field goal attempt by Sebastian Janikowski and a stuffed fourth-and-1 handoff to Fargas at the Denver 25-yard line.
McCown, who was booed upon his return, knew precisely what was at stake. "If he leads them on two touchdown drives and he's the future, why do you put anyone else back in?" he asked rhetorically.
When McCown got back in he seized his opportunity, leading a touchdown drive on Oakland's next possession and putting up 20 more points in the second half. Expect McCown to remain the starter and Russell to continue to make cameo appearances. Culpepper, even after his quad heals, will likely stand and watch.
Asked if he'd be upset with Culpepper were he to conclude that the race with Routt caused the quarterback's injury, Kiffin said, "Oh, yeah, if that's the case."
Imagine that: A Raiders coach not named Madden, Flores or Gruden who holds his players accountable for their foolishness.
Doesn't that say it all?
