OXNARD, Calif. — While the Saints practiced on a postcard-perfect California afternoon, New Orleans owner Tom Benson drove his own golf cart around the practice fields.
"I've just been showing off this ring," Benson said, holding up the gaudy NFL championship ring on his right hand. "I told them, now I need one for the other hand."
The Saints hope a week on the cool West Coast can heat up their preparation for a run at a little more jewelry.
Following a path blazed by the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys in recent years, the Saints have moved five days of their preseason workouts to this Ventura County town best known for strawberries and surfing.
The Saints went through their first practice Monday afternoon in ideal conditions an hour northwest of Los Angeles, avoiding the heat and humidity of Louisiana while isolating themselves from distractions.
"When you're at home, there's always a lot going on," quarterback Drew Brees said. "When we're here, all you have to do is eat, drink, sleep and breathe football, and that's what we need to be doing right now."
The Saints uniformly echoed Brees' praise of coach Sean Payton's plan, which was only revealed to the players a couple of weeks ago. With a preseason game scheduled for Sunday in Oakland, New Orleans is hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 27-14 loss in Houston last weekend in which both first-team units felt they were outplayed.
"We got off the plane, and instantly the weather was good again," said defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, a USC product and Los Angeles-area native.
"It's good to get somewhere away from the hot weather, get away from Louisiana and all the distractions, and just focus on what we need to do."
With two practice fields and an entire residence-style hotel available to visiting teams in Oxnard, the Saints are burrowing in for a strong week of work. Coach Sean Payton, a Cowboys assistant coach from 2003-05, estimates New Orleans can get 25 percent more work done in the 65-degree cool because the players need fewer water breaks.
After morning meetings in the hotel, Payton scheduled a 2½-hour practice for Monday, among his longest workout plans of the preseason — and the Saints still finished 20 minutes early.
Hundreds of fans gathered along a sideline, many wearing Saints jerseys as they cheered Darren Sproles' breakaway runs and Marques Colston's big catches during live drills.
"I thought we covered some things that we really needed to address," Payton said. "(Oxnard) has been battle-tested a little bit. Oakland was here, and Dallas before that. All the people involved in bringing a team here understand what it is you have to do. A lot of the little things have been ironed out through the experience they've got."
Brees spent Sunday watching a surfing competition north of San Diego and taking his offensive linemen to the Del Mar racetrack. The quarterback still spends offseason time in San Diego, his home for his first five NFL seasons before he signed with New Orleans in 2006.
"As hot and humid as it is in New Orleans, you can only go so long outside before you're totally drained," Brees said. "Out here, you can get more reps and stay out longer, and yet still be on grass, unlike going inside like we have to. This is as good as it can get, weather-wise."
2011年8月23日星期二
2011年8月22日星期一
Witnesses sought after 49ers stadium shootings
(AP)
SAN FRANCISCO - The mayors of San Francisco and Oakland and the NFL called for an end to acts of violence at sporting events, after two men were shot and wounded following a San Francisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders preseason game.
Investigators Sunday looked for suspects and interviewed witnesses to the violence the night before in the parking lot at Candlestick Park after the matchup.
Motives for the shootings — including whether they were influenced by emotions surrounding a game involving fiercely rival teams — weren't known.
But the shootings evoked memories of another recent disturbing act of post-game violence involving two rival California pro sports teams — the near-fatal beating this spring of a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium.
In Saturday's attacks, a 24-year-old man, who reportedly was wearing a "F—- the Niners" T-shirt, was shot several times in the stomach. Police said he managed to stumble to stadium security for help despite the severe injuries. He remained hospitalized in serious condition Sunday.
A second victim, a 20-year-old man, was treated for less serious wounds in a separate shooting, also after the game.
Sgt. Mike Andraychak said no arrests have been made and that police are looking for "a person of interest" connected to at least one of the shootings. He would not specify which shooting.
Apart from the shootings, a third victim, a 26-year-old man, was also hospitalized in serious condition Sunday after he was knocked unconscious in a stadium bathroom during the game. That attack appeared unrelated to the other two, police said.
The victims' names have not been released as the violent spree overshadowed the 49ers' 17-3 victory over the Raiders.
The crimes prompted San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan to issue a joint statement saying that violence at stadiums in both cities will not be tolerated.
"The incidents ... are completely unacceptable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," the mayors said. "Fans come to our stadiums to enjoy an afternoon of football, not to be subjected to intimidation or violence. These games are family events and the types of images we witnessed last night have no place in our arenas."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello echoed similar comments, saying "we deplore the activities of a handful of fans at last night's game and pledge our full support to Mayors Lee and Quan and to state and local law enforcement agencies."
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who once was a coach in the Raiders organization, said he was saddened to hear about the violence.
"I didn't know anything was going on during the game. I wasn't aware of that," Harbaugh said. "I feel bad for the people who got injured and the people who had to see that, for those who had to witness it."
The team said that "these kinds of events are disquieting to everyone in the Bay Area community. We are working to assist the San Francisco Police Department in any way possible to understand how and why this happened."
Raiders CEO Amy Trask said in a statement that "the incidents at last night's game are not acceptable to the Raiders or to any National Football League team and our thoughts are with all affected."
Head Coach Hue Jackson also shared his desire for a safe fan-friendly environment "where we wish that people come out and enjoy a game and hopefully that those things don't happen."
On Saturday, Sgt. Frank Harrell said the man shot wearing the T-shirt drove his truck to a gate and stumbled to stadium security. A second man shot before that in the parking lot and had superficial face injuries, Harrell said.
He said the two shootings were being treated separately "but we believe they are related."
The attacks come nearly five months after San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten by two men in Los Angeles Dodgers gear outside Dodger Stadium after the archrivals' season opener in Los Angeles. Two men charged in the beating, Louie Sanchez, 28, and Marvin Norwood, 30, have pleaded not guilty.
Stow, 42, a Santa Cruz paramedic, suffered severe brain injuries and remains hospitalized in serious condition.
That attack drew widespread attention and focusing the spotlight on security at Dodger Stadium, and the intense rivalry among Dodgers and Giants fans.
Christian End, an assistant professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati, who specializes in sports fan behavior, said there are several factors for unruliness at sporting events — including the magnitude of the game, if it is between arch rivals, adrenaline and alcohol. There's also "deindividuation," when fans supporting a particular team adopt a group mentality and may become uncivil.
"The anonymity of large crowds can afford some fans the opportunity to act in a way that they typically wouldn't because there's less accountability and less fear of repercussion," End said.
End said violence between fans of opposing teams can typically begin with light banter, followed by "one-upping" each other with statistics or other chatter that could draw a crowd.
"Then it could be taken up a notch where the fun aspect is gone and it just escalates," End said.
End said he doesn't believe fan violence has increased in the last 10 years but may appear that way partially due to new technology at hand.
"There are more cameras covering games and more fans using their smartphones," End said. "Any acts of aggression have a higher probability of being captured and being shown over the Internet and on television.
"It would give the impression that, `Boy, fans are engaging in all of this aggressive behavior.' But you have to remember that a vast majority of them are not."
SAN FRANCISCO - The mayors of San Francisco and Oakland and the NFL called for an end to acts of violence at sporting events, after two men were shot and wounded following a San Francisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders preseason game.
Investigators Sunday looked for suspects and interviewed witnesses to the violence the night before in the parking lot at Candlestick Park after the matchup.
Motives for the shootings — including whether they were influenced by emotions surrounding a game involving fiercely rival teams — weren't known.
But the shootings evoked memories of another recent disturbing act of post-game violence involving two rival California pro sports teams — the near-fatal beating this spring of a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium.
In Saturday's attacks, a 24-year-old man, who reportedly was wearing a "F—- the Niners" T-shirt, was shot several times in the stomach. Police said he managed to stumble to stadium security for help despite the severe injuries. He remained hospitalized in serious condition Sunday.
A second victim, a 20-year-old man, was treated for less serious wounds in a separate shooting, also after the game.
Sgt. Mike Andraychak said no arrests have been made and that police are looking for "a person of interest" connected to at least one of the shootings. He would not specify which shooting.
Apart from the shootings, a third victim, a 26-year-old man, was also hospitalized in serious condition Sunday after he was knocked unconscious in a stadium bathroom during the game. That attack appeared unrelated to the other two, police said.
The victims' names have not been released as the violent spree overshadowed the 49ers' 17-3 victory over the Raiders.
The crimes prompted San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan to issue a joint statement saying that violence at stadiums in both cities will not be tolerated.
"The incidents ... are completely unacceptable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," the mayors said. "Fans come to our stadiums to enjoy an afternoon of football, not to be subjected to intimidation or violence. These games are family events and the types of images we witnessed last night have no place in our arenas."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello echoed similar comments, saying "we deplore the activities of a handful of fans at last night's game and pledge our full support to Mayors Lee and Quan and to state and local law enforcement agencies."
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who once was a coach in the Raiders organization, said he was saddened to hear about the violence.
"I didn't know anything was going on during the game. I wasn't aware of that," Harbaugh said. "I feel bad for the people who got injured and the people who had to see that, for those who had to witness it."
The team said that "these kinds of events are disquieting to everyone in the Bay Area community. We are working to assist the San Francisco Police Department in any way possible to understand how and why this happened."
Raiders CEO Amy Trask said in a statement that "the incidents at last night's game are not acceptable to the Raiders or to any National Football League team and our thoughts are with all affected."
Head Coach Hue Jackson also shared his desire for a safe fan-friendly environment "where we wish that people come out and enjoy a game and hopefully that those things don't happen."
On Saturday, Sgt. Frank Harrell said the man shot wearing the T-shirt drove his truck to a gate and stumbled to stadium security. A second man shot before that in the parking lot and had superficial face injuries, Harrell said.
He said the two shootings were being treated separately "but we believe they are related."
The attacks come nearly five months after San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten by two men in Los Angeles Dodgers gear outside Dodger Stadium after the archrivals' season opener in Los Angeles. Two men charged in the beating, Louie Sanchez, 28, and Marvin Norwood, 30, have pleaded not guilty.
Stow, 42, a Santa Cruz paramedic, suffered severe brain injuries and remains hospitalized in serious condition.
That attack drew widespread attention and focusing the spotlight on security at Dodger Stadium, and the intense rivalry among Dodgers and Giants fans.
Christian End, an assistant professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati, who specializes in sports fan behavior, said there are several factors for unruliness at sporting events — including the magnitude of the game, if it is between arch rivals, adrenaline and alcohol. There's also "deindividuation," when fans supporting a particular team adopt a group mentality and may become uncivil.
"The anonymity of large crowds can afford some fans the opportunity to act in a way that they typically wouldn't because there's less accountability and less fear of repercussion," End said.
End said violence between fans of opposing teams can typically begin with light banter, followed by "one-upping" each other with statistics or other chatter that could draw a crowd.
"Then it could be taken up a notch where the fun aspect is gone and it just escalates," End said.
End said he doesn't believe fan violence has increased in the last 10 years but may appear that way partially due to new technology at hand.
"There are more cameras covering games and more fans using their smartphones," End said. "Any acts of aggression have a higher probability of being captured and being shown over the Internet and on television.
"It would give the impression that, `Boy, fans are engaging in all of this aggressive behavior.' But you have to remember that a vast majority of them are not."
2011年8月20日星期六
Oakland Raiders receivers hope to make good impression against San Francisco 49ers
Denarius Moore isn't the only Raiders wide receiver playing himself into position for a roster spot and playing time with his performance during training camp.
When the Raiders visit the 49ers on Saturday night at Candlestick Park, five-year veteran Derek Hagan plans on adding to an impressive three weeks and hopes to shake up one of the NFL's least productive corps of wide receivers.
"I didn't come here just to be here," Hagan said. "I came here to help this team win. It doesn't matter if I am starting or the third or fourth receiver."
Early indications are it's a good year to be a wide receiver in Oakland. The Raiders brought in offensive coordinator Al Saunders to upgrade the passing game, and the loss of tight end Zach Miller to free agency removed a security blanket for Raiders quarterbacks.
The last time the Raiders had a wide receiver finish with 1,000 yards and 70-plus catches was 2005, when Randy Moss had 1,005 yards and Jerry Porter had 76 receptions.
Last season, 16 wide receivers gained at least 1,000 receiving yards, and 19 had at least 70 receptions.
Coach Hue Jackson expects things to change this year.
"Somebody will jump out of the pack and have a bang-up season, and I suspect there will be a couple of players who will do that," Jackson said.
Moore, the fifth-round draft pick from Tennessee who has been making both routine and spectacular plays since camp began, was working with the first team Friday along with Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Hagan, whose 85 career receptions split between Miami and the New York Giants are the most of any receiver on the roster, signed the day camp opened Aug. 6 and produced almost instantly, showing himself to be a polished route runner with good hands.
At 26, Hagan is the closest thing the Raiders have to a veteran presence.
"The guys are young, and obviously, that's where I come in, as a veteran trying to help some of these younger guys, showing that work ethic and that habit of coming out and getting better every day," Hagan said. "Hopefully, the guys are learning."
Asked how Hagan could assimilate so quickly to a new offense, Jackson's response surely will be relayed to the rest of the receivers on the roster.
"He understands that instead of going in and playing Xbox at night and trying to figure out how to score on that video game, he goes in, takes his (play)book, opens it and works on it," Jackson said.
Moore and Hagan haven't missed a day of practice and have made the most of the extra work available because of injuries to Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford (broken wrist), Chaz Schilens (knee) and Louis Murphy (undisclosed).
Add Nick Miller to the mix, and that makes seven strong candidates on a team that rarely carries seven receivers and in most seasons keeps five.
"We're going to keep giving guys an opportunity to make plays, and guys that make them will get the most opportunities," Jackson said.
Jackson had not worked out his rotation for the 49ers game but said he probably would play the first team deeper into the game. The first-team defense got only six snaps against Arizona in the exhibition opener last week.
The Raiders went through a brisk 90-minute, no-contact practice heavy on work in the red zone and situations such as third-down conversion.
One difference Jackson has seen since the arrival of Rod Woodson as cornerbacks coach -- more physical play at that position.
"Contact courage is something he talks about all the time," Jackson said. "I do see our guys tackling, or being more involved in the ruckus than they have in the past."
When the Raiders visit the 49ers on Saturday night at Candlestick Park, five-year veteran Derek Hagan plans on adding to an impressive three weeks and hopes to shake up one of the NFL's least productive corps of wide receivers.
"I didn't come here just to be here," Hagan said. "I came here to help this team win. It doesn't matter if I am starting or the third or fourth receiver."
Early indications are it's a good year to be a wide receiver in Oakland. The Raiders brought in offensive coordinator Al Saunders to upgrade the passing game, and the loss of tight end Zach Miller to free agency removed a security blanket for Raiders quarterbacks.
The last time the Raiders had a wide receiver finish with 1,000 yards and 70-plus catches was 2005, when Randy Moss had 1,005 yards and Jerry Porter had 76 receptions.
Last season, 16 wide receivers gained at least 1,000 receiving yards, and 19 had at least 70 receptions.
Coach Hue Jackson expects things to change this year.
"Somebody will jump out of the pack and have a bang-up season, and I suspect there will be a couple of players who will do that," Jackson said.
Moore, the fifth-round draft pick from Tennessee who has been making both routine and spectacular plays since camp began, was working with the first team Friday along with Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Hagan, whose 85 career receptions split between Miami and the New York Giants are the most of any receiver on the roster, signed the day camp opened Aug. 6 and produced almost instantly, showing himself to be a polished route runner with good hands.
At 26, Hagan is the closest thing the Raiders have to a veteran presence.
"The guys are young, and obviously, that's where I come in, as a veteran trying to help some of these younger guys, showing that work ethic and that habit of coming out and getting better every day," Hagan said. "Hopefully, the guys are learning."
Asked how Hagan could assimilate so quickly to a new offense, Jackson's response surely will be relayed to the rest of the receivers on the roster.
"He understands that instead of going in and playing Xbox at night and trying to figure out how to score on that video game, he goes in, takes his (play)book, opens it and works on it," Jackson said.
Moore and Hagan haven't missed a day of practice and have made the most of the extra work available because of injuries to Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford (broken wrist), Chaz Schilens (knee) and Louis Murphy (undisclosed).
Add Nick Miller to the mix, and that makes seven strong candidates on a team that rarely carries seven receivers and in most seasons keeps five.
"We're going to keep giving guys an opportunity to make plays, and guys that make them will get the most opportunities," Jackson said.
Jackson had not worked out his rotation for the 49ers game but said he probably would play the first team deeper into the game. The first-team defense got only six snaps against Arizona in the exhibition opener last week.
The Raiders went through a brisk 90-minute, no-contact practice heavy on work in the red zone and situations such as third-down conversion.
One difference Jackson has seen since the arrival of Rod Woodson as cornerbacks coach -- more physical play at that position.
"Contact courage is something he talks about all the time," Jackson said. "I do see our guys tackling, or being more involved in the ruckus than they have in the past."
2011年8月19日星期五
49ers' Harbaugh began NFL coaching life with Raiders
During Jim Harbaugh's first season as the Raiders' quarterback coach, Rich Gannon won the league's MVP award and led the team to the Super Bowl.
But it wasn't until the next season -- a wretched string of defeats and mounting internal hostility -- that Gannon recognized he was in the presence of a future NFL head coach.
The realization came during a tense team meeting in 2003, when a veteran Raiders player rose from his seat to launch a verbal assault on head coach Bill Callahan. "It began as a discussion," Gannon recounted, "and it kind of escalated."
The meeting room fell silent. Gannon thought punches might be thrown.
And then Harbaugh got up.
"Now, keep in mind that Jim was the youngest person on the staff. You had people in that room with more than 30 years of coaching experience," the quarterback recalled. "But it was Jim who stood up and confronted the player.
"He said, 'You're wrong. And you don't talk to coaches like that. You need to sit down.'
"And Jim was right. The player was way out of line."
The player backed off. Order was restored. The meeting resumed. "I think the situation speaks a little to the staff we had at the time," Gannon said, "but it also spoke volumes about Jim Harbaugh."
Within a year, Harbaugh was the head coach at the University of San Diego, which led him to Stanford, which led him to Saturday night, when Harbaugh will lead the 49ers against Raiders in an exhibition game at Candlestick Park.
The only surprise about Harbaugh's home debut as an NFL coach is the sideline he'll be roaming: Al Davis never wanted him to leave the Silver and Black.
Harbaugh this week recalled breaking the news to the Raiders owner in late 2003 that he planned on taking the head coaching job at the University of San Diego.
"He wanted me to stay," Harbaugh recalled this week. "At the time he thought I really wanted to be a pro coach."
Upon hearing Harbaugh's plans to head back to school, Davis advised him against leaving the NFL. Harbaugh respectfully pointed out to his employer -- whom he still calls "Mr. Davis" -- that he was emulating his career path. Davis worked his way up as a college coach.
"Yeah," Davis responded, "but that was at U-S-C, not U-S-D."
Harbaugh laughed as he recounted the story. He went to USD anyway, guiding the Toreros to a 29-6 record from 2004-2006 and then replicating that success at Stanford. But Harbaugh said this week that wherever he goes, he carries with him his two seasons' worth of lessons from Oakland.
The Raiders job was Harbaugh's first real coaching experience. He served as a "volunteer assistant coach" for his father, Jack Harbaugh, at Western Kentucky from 1994-2001, but that mainly involved helping his dad as a scout and recruiter and making the occasional game-day appearance. Harbaugh's gig with the Raiders, though, was the real-deal -- hands-on grunt work complete with 20-hour workdays and a $50,000 salary.
Gannon said it was a tad awkward at first, considering that they had both broken into the league in 1987, "and here he was coaching me." But the awkwardness vanished when it became clear that Harbaugh wasn't just clinging to the NFL life -- he was embracing his next adventure.
"He had been a very good player, but he didn't assume anything. He knew that he was earning his stripes," Gannon recalled. "He didn't need the money. But I remember him dragging himself into the office, looking like he hadn't slept, after working till 3 a.m. the night before. That was the great thing about Jim -- he respected the profession."
Harbaugh made his assistant coaching debut with a team that was loaded with offensive talent. Under offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, Gannon threw for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns, and receivers Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Jerry Porter enjoyed big seasons.
Asked this week about what he learned from that Oakland experience, Harbaugh said: "How to coach.
"I'd never coached before full time. I learned how to be detailed. So many things," he continued. "(I sat) in on personnel meetings with the best -- Mr. Davis and Bill Callahan, a tremendous football coach. And I was exposed to great players like Rich Gannon. There were so many things, a thousand things really, that I learned over there."
The question now, of course, is whether Harbaugh can save the team on the other side of the bay. He inherits a 49ers team that hasn't reached the playoffs since the 2002 season. The former quarterback coach's biggest challenge is extracting a breakthrough performance from Alex Smith, the perennially disappointing former No. 1 pick.
Can Harbaugh fix him?
"I think he can," Gannon said. "Alex wants to be great. He wants to do the work. I'm not trying to make excuses for him, but if you look at what he's gone through -- all those coaches, all those coordinators, different systems -- that would have ruined Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and anybody .?.?.
"There are enough good things I see in Alex Smith that I haven't given up on him yet."
Former Raiders backup quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo said Harbaugh had a knack for getting the most out of his quarterbacks, in part because there was no such thing as downtime. "He never let us rest a second," he said. After the final snap of practice, for example, Harbaugh might spring a pop quiz on his passers about short-yardage situations and goal-line plays.
And if they got one wrong?
"He'd just look at you and say, 'Come on, you can't play quarterback if you don't know these things,'?" Tuiasosopo said.
Tuiasasopo, 32, is now a fledgling coach himself. He's in his first year as an offensive assistant at UCLA. Like Gannon, he's not surprised to see Harbaugh in charge of a Bay Area team -- albeit the one across the bridge from where his coaching career began.
"We would talk every now and then about his desire to be a head coach," Tuiasosopo said. "And there was just so much passion. I knew it was just a matter of time."
But it wasn't until the next season -- a wretched string of defeats and mounting internal hostility -- that Gannon recognized he was in the presence of a future NFL head coach.
The realization came during a tense team meeting in 2003, when a veteran Raiders player rose from his seat to launch a verbal assault on head coach Bill Callahan. "It began as a discussion," Gannon recounted, "and it kind of escalated."
The meeting room fell silent. Gannon thought punches might be thrown.
And then Harbaugh got up.
"Now, keep in mind that Jim was the youngest person on the staff. You had people in that room with more than 30 years of coaching experience," the quarterback recalled. "But it was Jim who stood up and confronted the player.
"He said, 'You're wrong. And you don't talk to coaches like that. You need to sit down.'
"And Jim was right. The player was way out of line."
The player backed off. Order was restored. The meeting resumed. "I think the situation speaks a little to the staff we had at the time," Gannon said, "but it also spoke volumes about Jim Harbaugh."
Within a year, Harbaugh was the head coach at the University of San Diego, which led him to Stanford, which led him to Saturday night, when Harbaugh will lead the 49ers against Raiders in an exhibition game at Candlestick Park.
The only surprise about Harbaugh's home debut as an NFL coach is the sideline he'll be roaming: Al Davis never wanted him to leave the Silver and Black.
Harbaugh this week recalled breaking the news to the Raiders owner in late 2003 that he planned on taking the head coaching job at the University of San Diego.
"He wanted me to stay," Harbaugh recalled this week. "At the time he thought I really wanted to be a pro coach."
Upon hearing Harbaugh's plans to head back to school, Davis advised him against leaving the NFL. Harbaugh respectfully pointed out to his employer -- whom he still calls "Mr. Davis" -- that he was emulating his career path. Davis worked his way up as a college coach.
"Yeah," Davis responded, "but that was at U-S-C, not U-S-D."
Harbaugh laughed as he recounted the story. He went to USD anyway, guiding the Toreros to a 29-6 record from 2004-2006 and then replicating that success at Stanford. But Harbaugh said this week that wherever he goes, he carries with him his two seasons' worth of lessons from Oakland.
The Raiders job was Harbaugh's first real coaching experience. He served as a "volunteer assistant coach" for his father, Jack Harbaugh, at Western Kentucky from 1994-2001, but that mainly involved helping his dad as a scout and recruiter and making the occasional game-day appearance. Harbaugh's gig with the Raiders, though, was the real-deal -- hands-on grunt work complete with 20-hour workdays and a $50,000 salary.
Gannon said it was a tad awkward at first, considering that they had both broken into the league in 1987, "and here he was coaching me." But the awkwardness vanished when it became clear that Harbaugh wasn't just clinging to the NFL life -- he was embracing his next adventure.
"He had been a very good player, but he didn't assume anything. He knew that he was earning his stripes," Gannon recalled. "He didn't need the money. But I remember him dragging himself into the office, looking like he hadn't slept, after working till 3 a.m. the night before. That was the great thing about Jim -- he respected the profession."
Harbaugh made his assistant coaching debut with a team that was loaded with offensive talent. Under offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, Gannon threw for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns, and receivers Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Jerry Porter enjoyed big seasons.
Asked this week about what he learned from that Oakland experience, Harbaugh said: "How to coach.
"I'd never coached before full time. I learned how to be detailed. So many things," he continued. "(I sat) in on personnel meetings with the best -- Mr. Davis and Bill Callahan, a tremendous football coach. And I was exposed to great players like Rich Gannon. There were so many things, a thousand things really, that I learned over there."
The question now, of course, is whether Harbaugh can save the team on the other side of the bay. He inherits a 49ers team that hasn't reached the playoffs since the 2002 season. The former quarterback coach's biggest challenge is extracting a breakthrough performance from Alex Smith, the perennially disappointing former No. 1 pick.
Can Harbaugh fix him?
"I think he can," Gannon said. "Alex wants to be great. He wants to do the work. I'm not trying to make excuses for him, but if you look at what he's gone through -- all those coaches, all those coordinators, different systems -- that would have ruined Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and anybody .?.?.
"There are enough good things I see in Alex Smith that I haven't given up on him yet."
Former Raiders backup quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo said Harbaugh had a knack for getting the most out of his quarterbacks, in part because there was no such thing as downtime. "He never let us rest a second," he said. After the final snap of practice, for example, Harbaugh might spring a pop quiz on his passers about short-yardage situations and goal-line plays.
And if they got one wrong?
"He'd just look at you and say, 'Come on, you can't play quarterback if you don't know these things,'?" Tuiasosopo said.
Tuiasasopo, 32, is now a fledgling coach himself. He's in his first year as an offensive assistant at UCLA. Like Gannon, he's not surprised to see Harbaugh in charge of a Bay Area team -- albeit the one across the bridge from where his coaching career began.
"We would talk every now and then about his desire to be a head coach," Tuiasosopo said. "And there was just so much passion. I knew it was just a matter of time."
2011年8月18日星期四
Warriors' owner pursues perfect fan experience
Walking into Peter Guber's Mandalay Entertainment Group office is like walking into a posh sports-memorabilia gallery.
Stepping off bustling Wilshire Boulevard in Hollywood and into a quiet haven filled with photos, athletic equipment and jerseys can be a little jarring, so the powerful film producer and executive is quick to direct guests toward the most important pieces.
The Warriors' co-owner beams as he shows off his Boston Bruins sweater from the 2011 Stanley Cup, his signed jersey from the Boston Celtics' 2008 championship and a Tom Brady offering from the 2004 Super Bowl.
That these three keepsakes are the ones closest to Guber's heart exemplify the approach he's taking to building the Warriors' fan base.
"I'm a legacy fan," Guber said late last month. "I grew up (in Newton, Mass.) cheering for those teams. The Patriots weren't even around when I was in Boston, but I'm a fan."
Legacy fans, ones who cheer their teams through ups and downs without hesitation, are few and far between in this era of free agency, franchise relocation and fantasy games. Guber aims to change that.
He has seen some devastating failures and equally overwhelming successes in minor-league sports, and Guber wants to bring that experience to the major-league level.
He owned a minor-league hockey team in Las Vegas that failed, because "fans didn't give a puck." He has had triumphs in minor-league baseball, including the ultimate success story in Dayton, Ohio.
The Dayton Dragons, a Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, set the professional sports record for consecutive sellouts at 815 games last month. A city that has gone through two recessions and lost about 80,000 jobs has purchased almost 8,000 tickets a game for the past decade.
Despite a 24-game home losing streak last season, the seats were always full and the outfield berm was, too. A waiting list for season tickets has grown to more than 9,000 people.
"No one could have guessed we'd have this success in that market, but there was an attention to detail from the beginning." Guber said. "We decided to build the integrity of authenticity and let that shine through."
Because the Dayton team is run by the big-league club, Guber, and his partners, Magic Johnson and Archie Griffin, have little control over the roster or coaching staff. Everything else has their fingerprints.
Everything.
They built a state-of-the-art stadium. They train for friendly customer service from ticket sellers to parking attendants and ushers to vendors. They have been acclaimed by local media for their food, merchandise, uniforms, mascot and in-game entertainment.
"You're putting on a performance every day," Guber said. "Doing it exactly the same in another market, wouldn't work, but the secret sauce anywhere is being interested in the audience, not just be interesting to the audience."
Guber wants to bring that method to the Bay Area, where he and Joe Lacob are less than a year into their ownership of the Warriors. They've already made major changes in the business and basketball operations, and they're completely renovating the team's headquarters and practice facilities in downtown Oakland.
More is coming.
A dazzling orator and storyteller, Guber managed to talk about the Warriors for nearly an hour without ever mentioning the NBA, basketball, the Warriors or any of their players. All the while, the topic was abundantly obvious.
"Every touch point from the time a fan decides to buy a ticket to the time they leave the arena is important. If it's difficult to get out of the parking lot, we've just ruined the dessert of their dinner," Guber said. "Music really counts. It sets the emotional tone of the audience. It's like an IV to your heart.
"Introductions will be different. We can't just turn off the lights, have a disco ball spinning and an announcer you can't hear. That's not show biz. That's not good enough."
The Warriors' new ownership team has little control of the arena, which it leases. The parking attendants are controlled by the city and could be getting a different company message from the Raiders or A's, who share their services.
That hasn't stopped Guber's marketing vision from developing Technicolor dreams. He wants to add more health-food options, find better ways to entertain the 1,500 or so fans who show up 1 1/2 hours before tip-off, and polish every crevice of Oracle Arena.
"We need constant and never-ending improvement," Guber said. "I mean, we've got no (spot)light at center court. That's simple drama. ... Our music sometimes sounds like it was chosen by a passing truck.
"No detail is small, but we can't fix every detail all at once. I ain't the master of the universe, but I'll take my shot."
Guber rarely has taken an out-front role with the Warriors. More often, he sits in the owner's suite instead of sitting courtside with Lacob, whom Guber calls "a visionary who has the audience at heart and deeply cares about the product he's fielding."
Guber is trying to figure out a way to make that product available to all - a tough sell when the Warriors' proposed schedule includes no Sunday home games and all home tip-offs at 7:30 p.m.
"I'd like to draw heavily on a diverse family experience," Guber said. "If you make all of the games during the week at 7:30 p.m., when does a 9-year-old come to the game? How does a family bring its 9- and 11-year-old to the game? How do you develop legacy fans?
"The Warriors have a great legacy, but we've got to honor that and find ways to continue it."
Stepping off bustling Wilshire Boulevard in Hollywood and into a quiet haven filled with photos, athletic equipment and jerseys can be a little jarring, so the powerful film producer and executive is quick to direct guests toward the most important pieces.
The Warriors' co-owner beams as he shows off his Boston Bruins sweater from the 2011 Stanley Cup, his signed jersey from the Boston Celtics' 2008 championship and a Tom Brady offering from the 2004 Super Bowl.
That these three keepsakes are the ones closest to Guber's heart exemplify the approach he's taking to building the Warriors' fan base.
"I'm a legacy fan," Guber said late last month. "I grew up (in Newton, Mass.) cheering for those teams. The Patriots weren't even around when I was in Boston, but I'm a fan."
Legacy fans, ones who cheer their teams through ups and downs without hesitation, are few and far between in this era of free agency, franchise relocation and fantasy games. Guber aims to change that.
He has seen some devastating failures and equally overwhelming successes in minor-league sports, and Guber wants to bring that experience to the major-league level.
He owned a minor-league hockey team in Las Vegas that failed, because "fans didn't give a puck." He has had triumphs in minor-league baseball, including the ultimate success story in Dayton, Ohio.
The Dayton Dragons, a Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, set the professional sports record for consecutive sellouts at 815 games last month. A city that has gone through two recessions and lost about 80,000 jobs has purchased almost 8,000 tickets a game for the past decade.
Despite a 24-game home losing streak last season, the seats were always full and the outfield berm was, too. A waiting list for season tickets has grown to more than 9,000 people.
"No one could have guessed we'd have this success in that market, but there was an attention to detail from the beginning." Guber said. "We decided to build the integrity of authenticity and let that shine through."
Because the Dayton team is run by the big-league club, Guber, and his partners, Magic Johnson and Archie Griffin, have little control over the roster or coaching staff. Everything else has their fingerprints.
Everything.
They built a state-of-the-art stadium. They train for friendly customer service from ticket sellers to parking attendants and ushers to vendors. They have been acclaimed by local media for their food, merchandise, uniforms, mascot and in-game entertainment.
"You're putting on a performance every day," Guber said. "Doing it exactly the same in another market, wouldn't work, but the secret sauce anywhere is being interested in the audience, not just be interesting to the audience."
Guber wants to bring that method to the Bay Area, where he and Joe Lacob are less than a year into their ownership of the Warriors. They've already made major changes in the business and basketball operations, and they're completely renovating the team's headquarters and practice facilities in downtown Oakland.
More is coming.
A dazzling orator and storyteller, Guber managed to talk about the Warriors for nearly an hour without ever mentioning the NBA, basketball, the Warriors or any of their players. All the while, the topic was abundantly obvious.
"Every touch point from the time a fan decides to buy a ticket to the time they leave the arena is important. If it's difficult to get out of the parking lot, we've just ruined the dessert of their dinner," Guber said. "Music really counts. It sets the emotional tone of the audience. It's like an IV to your heart.
"Introductions will be different. We can't just turn off the lights, have a disco ball spinning and an announcer you can't hear. That's not show biz. That's not good enough."
The Warriors' new ownership team has little control of the arena, which it leases. The parking attendants are controlled by the city and could be getting a different company message from the Raiders or A's, who share their services.
That hasn't stopped Guber's marketing vision from developing Technicolor dreams. He wants to add more health-food options, find better ways to entertain the 1,500 or so fans who show up 1 1/2 hours before tip-off, and polish every crevice of Oracle Arena.
"We need constant and never-ending improvement," Guber said. "I mean, we've got no (spot)light at center court. That's simple drama. ... Our music sometimes sounds like it was chosen by a passing truck.
"No detail is small, but we can't fix every detail all at once. I ain't the master of the universe, but I'll take my shot."
Guber rarely has taken an out-front role with the Warriors. More often, he sits in the owner's suite instead of sitting courtside with Lacob, whom Guber calls "a visionary who has the audience at heart and deeply cares about the product he's fielding."
Guber is trying to figure out a way to make that product available to all - a tough sell when the Warriors' proposed schedule includes no Sunday home games and all home tip-offs at 7:30 p.m.
"I'd like to draw heavily on a diverse family experience," Guber said. "If you make all of the games during the week at 7:30 p.m., when does a 9-year-old come to the game? How does a family bring its 9- and 11-year-old to the game? How do you develop legacy fans?
"The Warriors have a great legacy, but we've got to honor that and find ways to continue it."
2011年8月17日星期三
Smith making strides in 49ers' quarterback battle
SANTA CLARA -- Two superb practices and Alex Smith has taken a step forward in the competition with rookie Colin Kaepernick for San Francisco's starting quarterback job.
"If you were going by today, yesterday, there's some separation there, and Alex has done a fine job," coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday night after practice. "But Kaep is doing a phenomenal job. He is going to be one heck of a talent and one heck of a player."
Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah, has been sharp this week -- connecting with a handful of different receivers on deep balls while making good decisions in the pocket. All along, he has been the front-runner to begin the year as the starter in Harbaugh's first season as coach.
"It felt better the last few days, kind of getting back in the groove of things, throwing it well, just seeing things well," Smith said. "Still a lot ahead of me but, yeah, I feel I've put a few days together that are pretty decent."
While Harbaugh on Tuesday didn't rule out signing veteran Daunte Culpepper to be a third QB, he said the 49ers would first give some others a look before any decision is made.
Harbaugh said some other quarterbacks also would come in for workouts.
"We're looking. But no differently than we're looking at the waiver wire every day," Harbaugh said. "The right guy, if it's the right fit for our situation here. We worked a guy out and had a good workout. We'll evaluate some other guys and see what the best fit for us is. ... A third quarterback is something we'd like to have. I think if you don't you're rolling the dice a little bit."
On Saturday, Harbaugh said the competition was still open for the QB job -- though the incumbent Smith always has been considered the favorite.
Smith is still treating it like the job is open. He knows it's his gig to lose.
He was slightly behind after missing the initial six practices of training camp per the new labor rules for when free agents could start workouts.
"I've been so dug in, I really haven't (noticed separation from Kaepernick)," Smith said. "I've just been focused on me and playing better, stringing together some good plays and good practices. I feel like I've done that."
The 27-year-old Smith threw for 2,370 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games and 10 starts last season, but he also threw 10 interceptions and was sacked 25 times. He shared the starting role with Troy Smith.
Smith's return to the 49ers as a free agent surprised many considering he wasn't expected to be back when last season ended with a 6-10 record and an eighth straight year out of the playoffs and without a winning record.
Smith has been getting the majority of reps with the No. 1 offense. Neither he nor Kaepernick were particularly effective in a 24-3 loss at New Orleans in the Niners' exhibition opener last Friday night.
The Niners host the Oakland Raiders on Saturday night at Candlestick Park.
Smith has made pretty deep throws recently to tight end Vernon Davis, newcomer Braylon Edwards and veteran wideouts Joshua Morgan and Ted Ginn Jr.
"I feel great about how the offense is set up," Smith said. "We're together. Everybody's on the same page. There's really one voice."
Kaepernick understands his role for now: the franchise's quarterback of the future waiting his turn.
"Right now, he's the veteran, I'm just buying my time trying to get better and work into that spot," said Kaepernick, a second-round draft pick out of Nevada. "He has seven years of experience so you expect him to have a little more knowledge of defenses and checks, things like that than a rookie coming in. Right now I'm just trying to get up to speed and make sure I know all those things so I can really make this a competition."
"If you were going by today, yesterday, there's some separation there, and Alex has done a fine job," coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday night after practice. "But Kaep is doing a phenomenal job. He is going to be one heck of a talent and one heck of a player."
Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah, has been sharp this week -- connecting with a handful of different receivers on deep balls while making good decisions in the pocket. All along, he has been the front-runner to begin the year as the starter in Harbaugh's first season as coach.
"It felt better the last few days, kind of getting back in the groove of things, throwing it well, just seeing things well," Smith said. "Still a lot ahead of me but, yeah, I feel I've put a few days together that are pretty decent."
While Harbaugh on Tuesday didn't rule out signing veteran Daunte Culpepper to be a third QB, he said the 49ers would first give some others a look before any decision is made.
Harbaugh said some other quarterbacks also would come in for workouts.
"We're looking. But no differently than we're looking at the waiver wire every day," Harbaugh said. "The right guy, if it's the right fit for our situation here. We worked a guy out and had a good workout. We'll evaluate some other guys and see what the best fit for us is. ... A third quarterback is something we'd like to have. I think if you don't you're rolling the dice a little bit."
On Saturday, Harbaugh said the competition was still open for the QB job -- though the incumbent Smith always has been considered the favorite.
Smith is still treating it like the job is open. He knows it's his gig to lose.
He was slightly behind after missing the initial six practices of training camp per the new labor rules for when free agents could start workouts.
"I've been so dug in, I really haven't (noticed separation from Kaepernick)," Smith said. "I've just been focused on me and playing better, stringing together some good plays and good practices. I feel like I've done that."
The 27-year-old Smith threw for 2,370 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games and 10 starts last season, but he also threw 10 interceptions and was sacked 25 times. He shared the starting role with Troy Smith.
Smith's return to the 49ers as a free agent surprised many considering he wasn't expected to be back when last season ended with a 6-10 record and an eighth straight year out of the playoffs and without a winning record.
Smith has been getting the majority of reps with the No. 1 offense. Neither he nor Kaepernick were particularly effective in a 24-3 loss at New Orleans in the Niners' exhibition opener last Friday night.
The Niners host the Oakland Raiders on Saturday night at Candlestick Park.
Smith has made pretty deep throws recently to tight end Vernon Davis, newcomer Braylon Edwards and veteran wideouts Joshua Morgan and Ted Ginn Jr.
"I feel great about how the offense is set up," Smith said. "We're together. Everybody's on the same page. There's really one voice."
Kaepernick understands his role for now: the franchise's quarterback of the future waiting his turn.
"Right now, he's the veteran, I'm just buying my time trying to get better and work into that spot," said Kaepernick, a second-round draft pick out of Nevada. "He has seven years of experience so you expect him to have a little more knowledge of defenses and checks, things like that than a rookie coming in. Right now I'm just trying to get up to speed and make sure I know all those things so I can really make this a competition."
2011年8月16日星期二
Culpepper auditions with 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Daunte Culpepper threw passes to tight end Nate Lawrie once again, on a little bigger stage this time than during their stint together last year with the United Football League's Sacramento Mountain Lions.
Culpepper worked out for some 30 minutes Monday in front of the San Francisco 49ers brass -- and Lawrie called it a crisp, impressive session.
"I was catching balls for him during the workout, and he was throwing it around pretty good. He's spinning it well," said Lawrie, who signed a one-year deal with San Francisco on Sunday. "Daunte's got a ton of experience. He's got a lot of success in this league. And the guy can play, he can throw the ball. That's what it all boils down to."
The Niners apparently believe Culpepper can still bring it despite a year in the minors.
They were considering adding Culpepper to their quarterback mix after coach Jim Harbaugh said Saturday there's a need for a veteran backup behind projected starter Alex Smith and rookie Colin Kaepernick. Harbaugh's offense was ineffective in a 24-3 exhibition loss at New Orleans on Friday night -- and he is determined to be better come Saturday's home preseason game with the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick Park.
Tight end Delanie Walker made it sound like Culpepper had already joined the team. The 49ers had not made any kind of announcement other than Harbaugh acknowledging Sunday that Culpepper would get a tryout. Culpepper wasn't on the field when practice began.
"I'm just happy that we got him. He can help the team out with his expertise and give the quarterbacks some pointers on what he's seen, and help Alex and Colin out," Walker said before Monday afternoon's practice. "I think it's going to be a good look for us and I'm glad to have him out here."
The 34-year-old Culpepper, who was still at team headquarters for lunch, last played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions in 2009. He started five games and played in eight total. In 11 NFL seasons, he has passed for 24,153 yards and 149 touchdowns.
A three-time Pro Bowler, he spent his first seven seasons with the Vikings, then one year each with Miami and Oakland before two years in Motown.
"Just experience, knowing the game and having been in it," receiver Ted Ginn Jr. said of Culpepper's potential positive influence. "It's something that we can't worry about. Whoever steps in there, you should be right for him."
Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah, is still the front-runner to win the starting job -- though Harbaugh hasn't named him the top guy yet. In recent days, Harbaugh has called it a competition between Smith and second-round draft pick Kaepernick.
Culpepper could provide guidance to both QBs -- and some insurance to a franchise eager to finally turn around its fortunes. San Francisco hasn't had a winning season or reached the playoffs in eight years.
Lawrie appreciated Culpepper's veteran presence and humility in the UFL last season. They ran what Lawrie referred to as a "hybrid" version of the West Coast offense, so he sees Culpepper having no problems picking up Harbaugh's playbook in a hurry.
"He'll fit right in," Lawrie said. "He's friendly, outgoing and connects well with players, which is a great asset for a quarterback. He has played for years and done a lot of great things. He knows football and that's pretty clear. It comes from taking a lot of snaps."
Notes: WR Michael Crabtree, missing his third straight training camp, was all smiles and said he is "encouraged" by the progress of his injured left foot. Crabtree -- on the physically unable to perform list -- was moving around without his walking boot Monday.
Culpepper worked out for some 30 minutes Monday in front of the San Francisco 49ers brass -- and Lawrie called it a crisp, impressive session.
"I was catching balls for him during the workout, and he was throwing it around pretty good. He's spinning it well," said Lawrie, who signed a one-year deal with San Francisco on Sunday. "Daunte's got a ton of experience. He's got a lot of success in this league. And the guy can play, he can throw the ball. That's what it all boils down to."
The Niners apparently believe Culpepper can still bring it despite a year in the minors.
They were considering adding Culpepper to their quarterback mix after coach Jim Harbaugh said Saturday there's a need for a veteran backup behind projected starter Alex Smith and rookie Colin Kaepernick. Harbaugh's offense was ineffective in a 24-3 exhibition loss at New Orleans on Friday night -- and he is determined to be better come Saturday's home preseason game with the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick Park.
Tight end Delanie Walker made it sound like Culpepper had already joined the team. The 49ers had not made any kind of announcement other than Harbaugh acknowledging Sunday that Culpepper would get a tryout. Culpepper wasn't on the field when practice began.
"I'm just happy that we got him. He can help the team out with his expertise and give the quarterbacks some pointers on what he's seen, and help Alex and Colin out," Walker said before Monday afternoon's practice. "I think it's going to be a good look for us and I'm glad to have him out here."
The 34-year-old Culpepper, who was still at team headquarters for lunch, last played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions in 2009. He started five games and played in eight total. In 11 NFL seasons, he has passed for 24,153 yards and 149 touchdowns.
A three-time Pro Bowler, he spent his first seven seasons with the Vikings, then one year each with Miami and Oakland before two years in Motown.
"Just experience, knowing the game and having been in it," receiver Ted Ginn Jr. said of Culpepper's potential positive influence. "It's something that we can't worry about. Whoever steps in there, you should be right for him."
Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah, is still the front-runner to win the starting job -- though Harbaugh hasn't named him the top guy yet. In recent days, Harbaugh has called it a competition between Smith and second-round draft pick Kaepernick.
Culpepper could provide guidance to both QBs -- and some insurance to a franchise eager to finally turn around its fortunes. San Francisco hasn't had a winning season or reached the playoffs in eight years.
Lawrie appreciated Culpepper's veteran presence and humility in the UFL last season. They ran what Lawrie referred to as a "hybrid" version of the West Coast offense, so he sees Culpepper having no problems picking up Harbaugh's playbook in a hurry.
"He'll fit right in," Lawrie said. "He's friendly, outgoing and connects well with players, which is a great asset for a quarterback. He has played for years and done a lot of great things. He knows football and that's pretty clear. It comes from taking a lot of snaps."
Notes: WR Michael Crabtree, missing his third straight training camp, was all smiles and said he is "encouraged" by the progress of his injured left foot. Crabtree -- on the physically unable to perform list -- was moving around without his walking boot Monday.
2011年8月15日星期一
Merced College Matters: AD working on athletes' stories
Steve Cassady likes a good story.
Even better, he likes to tell a good story. The longtime Blue Devils coach and athletic director has begun writing a book with a subject he says hasn't been examined much, and with a story he believes is ripe for the telling.
"Some time ago I was sitting in a state athletics meeting, frankly feeling very bored," he said with a small laugh. "Everyone was worried about budget cuts, and I kept thinking, 'Hey, we've got a great product here. We just don't sell ourselves too well.' "
That meeting not only frustrated him, but it got him to thinking about the kind of stories that make community colleges unique places of opportunity.
"I thought we were underselling our product, which is our students. I realized that we have a lot of great stories out there. For example, Jackie Robinson is a product of community colleges. If it weren't for Pasadena City College, there'd be no Jackie Robinson and no integration of baseball the way it happened. But it started for him at a community college."
Cassady's proposal for his untitled book is to interview notable athletes who began their careers at community colleges and to make a case for how community college athletic programs should be celebrated and supported.
"There's a sitcom on TV called 'Community College,' and it's really a joke," he said. "Community colleges are treated pejoratively. I think we have a history of community college athletics that hasn't been told."
By the time the book is complete, Cassady says, he'll have spoken to at least 50 former community college athletes with references to about 100 more. The book will be organized into themes with "stories that say something." He estimates the final product will be 350 pages, of which he has written 125 pages with the rest of the book in outline form.
"I wrote the epilogue first, then started working toward the end. It's going a little slower than I had wanted as I'm waiting to hear from some of the athletes I've contacted. Hopefully, I'll get it wrapped up by the end of the year."
Some of Merced College's most successful student athletes will likely be profiled, including Oakland A's all-star pitcher Brian Fuentes and Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister. Former Blue Devils running back Reuben Droughns, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants, is another likely subject.
Originally from Salinas, Cassady was first hired at Merced College as an English instructor. In those days, he says, English faculty taught everything from remedial English to Shakespeare.
He began coaching women's softball in 1988. That year, his team lost its first six games. "I thought I was going to be the only coach in the universe not to win a game." After that initial season, Cassady's teams would rack up 20 consecutive winning seasons with five conference championships. He took three teams to the state finals and produced numerous all-conference and all-state players and all-Americans. Dozens of his players would go on to earn full scholarships to four-year programs. Cassady would also achieve a milestone in community college athletics, becoming one of a select group of coaches to rack up more than 600 wins in his career.
"The best stories are unknown," he said. "For example, many people don't realize that Brian
Fuentes was cut from his high school team. Merced College gave him his chance, and now he's in his 11th season as a major league pitcher.
"A lot of people come here from nowhere, and they end up going somewhere. Like Tom Flores. Here's a guy from Sanger who got a start at community college, and now he's got four Super Bowl Rings."
If anyone can tell this story, Cassady can. His first book, "Spanning the Gate," published in 1978, has gone through three editions and is still in print. It is widely considered to be one of the best books documenting the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. He has written all or part of seven books on professional football, including one on the Oakland Raiders. He worked as a freelance writer for Pro Magazine and many of his stories have been anthologized.
"I learned a lot in those days hanging around pro football, and almost everything I learned I used in my coaching. I learned how teams won and how coaches got the best out of their athletes. I learned how to organize winning teams. And I learned about the impact JC sports had on these professionals."
Though he's not coaching these days, Cassady remains the Blue Devils' athletic director. He has no plans to retire anytime soon.
"I still feel young in my job and I feel good about what I'm doing," he said. "I'm not temperamentally wired for retirement.
"I understand the mission of community colleges, I was born into it. I'm proud of the part I've played in the delivery of that mission.
"My desire now is to tell our story and to showcase the success our athletes have achieved."
Merced College Public Information Office.
Even better, he likes to tell a good story. The longtime Blue Devils coach and athletic director has begun writing a book with a subject he says hasn't been examined much, and with a story he believes is ripe for the telling.
"Some time ago I was sitting in a state athletics meeting, frankly feeling very bored," he said with a small laugh. "Everyone was worried about budget cuts, and I kept thinking, 'Hey, we've got a great product here. We just don't sell ourselves too well.' "
That meeting not only frustrated him, but it got him to thinking about the kind of stories that make community colleges unique places of opportunity.
"I thought we were underselling our product, which is our students. I realized that we have a lot of great stories out there. For example, Jackie Robinson is a product of community colleges. If it weren't for Pasadena City College, there'd be no Jackie Robinson and no integration of baseball the way it happened. But it started for him at a community college."
Cassady's proposal for his untitled book is to interview notable athletes who began their careers at community colleges and to make a case for how community college athletic programs should be celebrated and supported.
"There's a sitcom on TV called 'Community College,' and it's really a joke," he said. "Community colleges are treated pejoratively. I think we have a history of community college athletics that hasn't been told."
By the time the book is complete, Cassady says, he'll have spoken to at least 50 former community college athletes with references to about 100 more. The book will be organized into themes with "stories that say something." He estimates the final product will be 350 pages, of which he has written 125 pages with the rest of the book in outline form.
"I wrote the epilogue first, then started working toward the end. It's going a little slower than I had wanted as I'm waiting to hear from some of the athletes I've contacted. Hopefully, I'll get it wrapped up by the end of the year."
Some of Merced College's most successful student athletes will likely be profiled, including Oakland A's all-star pitcher Brian Fuentes and Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister. Former Blue Devils running back Reuben Droughns, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants, is another likely subject.
Originally from Salinas, Cassady was first hired at Merced College as an English instructor. In those days, he says, English faculty taught everything from remedial English to Shakespeare.
He began coaching women's softball in 1988. That year, his team lost its first six games. "I thought I was going to be the only coach in the universe not to win a game." After that initial season, Cassady's teams would rack up 20 consecutive winning seasons with five conference championships. He took three teams to the state finals and produced numerous all-conference and all-state players and all-Americans. Dozens of his players would go on to earn full scholarships to four-year programs. Cassady would also achieve a milestone in community college athletics, becoming one of a select group of coaches to rack up more than 600 wins in his career.
"The best stories are unknown," he said. "For example, many people don't realize that Brian
Fuentes was cut from his high school team. Merced College gave him his chance, and now he's in his 11th season as a major league pitcher.
"A lot of people come here from nowhere, and they end up going somewhere. Like Tom Flores. Here's a guy from Sanger who got a start at community college, and now he's got four Super Bowl Rings."
If anyone can tell this story, Cassady can. His first book, "Spanning the Gate," published in 1978, has gone through three editions and is still in print. It is widely considered to be one of the best books documenting the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. He has written all or part of seven books on professional football, including one on the Oakland Raiders. He worked as a freelance writer for Pro Magazine and many of his stories have been anthologized.
"I learned a lot in those days hanging around pro football, and almost everything I learned I used in my coaching. I learned how teams won and how coaches got the best out of their athletes. I learned how to organize winning teams. And I learned about the impact JC sports had on these professionals."
Though he's not coaching these days, Cassady remains the Blue Devils' athletic director. He has no plans to retire anytime soon.
"I still feel young in my job and I feel good about what I'm doing," he said. "I'm not temperamentally wired for retirement.
"I understand the mission of community colleges, I was born into it. I'm proud of the part I've played in the delivery of that mission.
"My desire now is to tell our story and to showcase the success our athletes have achieved."
Merced College Public Information Office.
2011年8月12日星期五
Vick shines as Eagles slam Ravens
Pats rout Jaguars
PHILADELPHIA, Aug 12, (AP): Michael Vick spent most of his night chatting and joking on the sideline - safe from harm. Vick threw for 74 yards and a touchdown pass in his only series and the new-look Philadelphia Eagles beat the Baltimore Ravens 13-6 Thursday night in their preseason opener. Nnamdi Asomugha, Vince Young and several other big-name acquisitions made their debuts for the Eagles, who’ve signed a slew of free agents with impressive resumes in the past two weeks. Joe Flacco played two series and led the Ravens to a field goal on the opening possession. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 60 yards. Ricky Williams, who signed with Baltimore on Monday, was inactive. Vick, the runner-up to Tom Brady for NFL MVP, completed 4 of 6 passes, including a 3-yard TD toss to Brent Celek. He drove the Eagles down the field against Ray Lewis and Baltimore’s vaunted defense. Vick threw a 20-yard pass to Jason Avant on his first play. He later connected with Riley Cooper on a 42-yard pass over Ed Reed to the Ravens 2. An almost identical pass to Cooper in the final minute of last year’s wild-card playoff game against Green Bay was intercepted by Tramon Williams in the end zone to seal the Packers’ 21-16 win.
Two plays later, Vick hit Celek to give Philadelphia a 7-3 lead. Cooper and Avant started in place of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Jackson just joined the Eagles after a 12-day holdout and Maclin remains sidelined by an undisclosed illness. Tyrod Taylor, a rookie from Virginia Tech, took over for Flacco. He drove the Ravens to the Eagles 5 in the final minute before throwing an incompletion on fourth-and-8 from the 10. Taylor led the Ravens to the Eagles 8 late in the third quarter before throwing an interception to Jarrad Page. He finished 19 of 28 for 179 yards and two picks. The defending NFC East champion Eagles have been one of the most aggressive teams since the lockout ended. They’ve signed 14 free agents, including six players who’ve been to Pro Bowls.
Patriots 47, Jaguars 12
In Foxborough, Massachusetts, third-round draft pick Ryan Mallett played the whole second half and drove New England to touchdowns on his first four series, helping turn a 19-9 halftime lead into a 35-point rout. The former Arkansas star was 12 of 19 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Stevan Ridley, a third-round choice from LSU, scored three touchdowns on two one-yard runs and a 16-yard pass from Mallett. Richard Medlin, a rookie free agent from Fayetteville, had two two-yard touchdown runs.
Blaine Gabbert, the former Missouri quarterback drafted 10th overall, completed 9 of 16 passes for 85 yards for Jacksonville. Playing against mostly backups as top players for both teams sat out the game, the Jaguars scored three field goals on Gabbert’s six possessions. He played the entire first half with starting quarterback David Garrard unavailable because of a back injury.
Cowboys 24, Broncos 23
In Arlington, Texas, Tim Tebow’s failed scramble just before halftime stood as the play of the game, until Stephen McGee - another option quarterback in college - ran around to throw a 13-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion with 15 seconds left, giving Dallas a victory over Denver. Tebow led the Broncos to two field goals in four drives. His first scoring series started at Denver’s 10 and included a 43-yard pass perfectly lofted into double coverage. The other drive, however, started seven yards from the end zone and wound up moving backward. That series began with Tebow running it into the end zone on first down, but a holding penalty wiped it out, shoving the Broncos back to the 17. On third down, Tebow ran almost to the left sideline, back to the middle of the field, then tossed the ball to a waiting receiver for a short gain. However, Tebow crossed the line of scrimmage before ever cutting back, a lineman illegally went up the field to block and another teammate clobbered one of the Cowboys in the back. Dallas declined them all, forcing the Broncos to kick a field goal. Tebow was 6 of 7 for 91 yards and ran twice for 15 yards. McGee threw three TD passes.
Seahawks 24, Chargers 17
In San Diego, Thomas Clayton scored on a 25-yard run with 3:05 left to lift Seattle past San Diego.
Tarvaris Jackson passed for 13 yards over two moderately successful series in his debut as Matt Hasselbeck’s replacement with the Seahawks. San Diego’s Phillip Rivers went 5 for 6 while leading an 89-yard scoring in his only series. Cornell graduate Bryan Walters returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter for the Chargers, and Mike Tolbert caught an eight-yard scoring pass to cap the only drive by Rivers. Leon Washington rushed for a one-yard score on the Seahawks’ opening drive of the second half, and Josh Portis Portis hit Anthony McCoy with a tying six-yard TD pass with 4:02 left. San Diego rookie Scott Tolzien’s fumble set up Clayton’s go-ahead score, but the former Wisconsin quarterback drove the Chargers to the Seattle five-yard line in the final minute before his final pass pinballed among several players and fell incomplete in the end zone.
Cardinals 24, Raiders 18
In Oakland, California, Kevin Kolb found new favourite target Larry Fitzgerald twice in his Arizona debut but was unable to get his offense on the scoreboard in two drives before the Cardinals rallied to beat the Raiders. Arizona’s other three quarterbacks all threw touchdown passes, including a 28-yarder from Max Hall to Isaiah Williams with 39 seconds left for the win. Raiders third-stringer Trent Edwards threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to rookie David Ausberry, and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals, including a go-ahead 57-yarder with 2:32 to play, but the Raiders lost in Hue Jackson’s head coaching debut. After a year of poor quarterback play following Kurt Warner’s retirement, Arizona made the big move to acquire Kolb from Philadelphia after the lockout ended last month. The Cardinals sent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick to the Eagles and gave Kolb a five-year, US$63 million contract, with $21 million guaranteed.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug 12, (AP): Michael Vick spent most of his night chatting and joking on the sideline - safe from harm. Vick threw for 74 yards and a touchdown pass in his only series and the new-look Philadelphia Eagles beat the Baltimore Ravens 13-6 Thursday night in their preseason opener. Nnamdi Asomugha, Vince Young and several other big-name acquisitions made their debuts for the Eagles, who’ve signed a slew of free agents with impressive resumes in the past two weeks. Joe Flacco played two series and led the Ravens to a field goal on the opening possession. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 60 yards. Ricky Williams, who signed with Baltimore on Monday, was inactive. Vick, the runner-up to Tom Brady for NFL MVP, completed 4 of 6 passes, including a 3-yard TD toss to Brent Celek. He drove the Eagles down the field against Ray Lewis and Baltimore’s vaunted defense. Vick threw a 20-yard pass to Jason Avant on his first play. He later connected with Riley Cooper on a 42-yard pass over Ed Reed to the Ravens 2. An almost identical pass to Cooper in the final minute of last year’s wild-card playoff game against Green Bay was intercepted by Tramon Williams in the end zone to seal the Packers’ 21-16 win.
Two plays later, Vick hit Celek to give Philadelphia a 7-3 lead. Cooper and Avant started in place of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Jackson just joined the Eagles after a 12-day holdout and Maclin remains sidelined by an undisclosed illness. Tyrod Taylor, a rookie from Virginia Tech, took over for Flacco. He drove the Ravens to the Eagles 5 in the final minute before throwing an incompletion on fourth-and-8 from the 10. Taylor led the Ravens to the Eagles 8 late in the third quarter before throwing an interception to Jarrad Page. He finished 19 of 28 for 179 yards and two picks. The defending NFC East champion Eagles have been one of the most aggressive teams since the lockout ended. They’ve signed 14 free agents, including six players who’ve been to Pro Bowls.
Patriots 47, Jaguars 12
In Foxborough, Massachusetts, third-round draft pick Ryan Mallett played the whole second half and drove New England to touchdowns on his first four series, helping turn a 19-9 halftime lead into a 35-point rout. The former Arkansas star was 12 of 19 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Stevan Ridley, a third-round choice from LSU, scored three touchdowns on two one-yard runs and a 16-yard pass from Mallett. Richard Medlin, a rookie free agent from Fayetteville, had two two-yard touchdown runs.
Blaine Gabbert, the former Missouri quarterback drafted 10th overall, completed 9 of 16 passes for 85 yards for Jacksonville. Playing against mostly backups as top players for both teams sat out the game, the Jaguars scored three field goals on Gabbert’s six possessions. He played the entire first half with starting quarterback David Garrard unavailable because of a back injury.
Cowboys 24, Broncos 23
In Arlington, Texas, Tim Tebow’s failed scramble just before halftime stood as the play of the game, until Stephen McGee - another option quarterback in college - ran around to throw a 13-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion with 15 seconds left, giving Dallas a victory over Denver. Tebow led the Broncos to two field goals in four drives. His first scoring series started at Denver’s 10 and included a 43-yard pass perfectly lofted into double coverage. The other drive, however, started seven yards from the end zone and wound up moving backward. That series began with Tebow running it into the end zone on first down, but a holding penalty wiped it out, shoving the Broncos back to the 17. On third down, Tebow ran almost to the left sideline, back to the middle of the field, then tossed the ball to a waiting receiver for a short gain. However, Tebow crossed the line of scrimmage before ever cutting back, a lineman illegally went up the field to block and another teammate clobbered one of the Cowboys in the back. Dallas declined them all, forcing the Broncos to kick a field goal. Tebow was 6 of 7 for 91 yards and ran twice for 15 yards. McGee threw three TD passes.
Seahawks 24, Chargers 17
In San Diego, Thomas Clayton scored on a 25-yard run with 3:05 left to lift Seattle past San Diego.
Tarvaris Jackson passed for 13 yards over two moderately successful series in his debut as Matt Hasselbeck’s replacement with the Seahawks. San Diego’s Phillip Rivers went 5 for 6 while leading an 89-yard scoring in his only series. Cornell graduate Bryan Walters returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter for the Chargers, and Mike Tolbert caught an eight-yard scoring pass to cap the only drive by Rivers. Leon Washington rushed for a one-yard score on the Seahawks’ opening drive of the second half, and Josh Portis Portis hit Anthony McCoy with a tying six-yard TD pass with 4:02 left. San Diego rookie Scott Tolzien’s fumble set up Clayton’s go-ahead score, but the former Wisconsin quarterback drove the Chargers to the Seattle five-yard line in the final minute before his final pass pinballed among several players and fell incomplete in the end zone.
Cardinals 24, Raiders 18
In Oakland, California, Kevin Kolb found new favourite target Larry Fitzgerald twice in his Arizona debut but was unable to get his offense on the scoreboard in two drives before the Cardinals rallied to beat the Raiders. Arizona’s other three quarterbacks all threw touchdown passes, including a 28-yarder from Max Hall to Isaiah Williams with 39 seconds left for the win. Raiders third-stringer Trent Edwards threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to rookie David Ausberry, and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals, including a go-ahead 57-yarder with 2:32 to play, but the Raiders lost in Hue Jackson’s head coaching debut. After a year of poor quarterback play following Kurt Warner’s retirement, Arizona made the big move to acquire Kolb from Philadelphia after the lockout ended last month. The Cardinals sent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick to the Eagles and gave Kolb a five-year, US$63 million contract, with $21 million guaranteed.
Raiders need to prove they are contenders to fill up empty seats
OAKLAND, Calif OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Raiders, in a strictly preliminary form, reintroduced themselves to the East Bay on Thursday night. The action was sloppy, the weather comfortable, the atmosphere festive.
Or about as festive as could be mustered by the 15,000 or so devoted souls who showed up for an evening of NFL exhibition football at the O.co Coliseum.
Those in attendance for this down-to-the-wire, 24-18 loss to Arizona witnessed two possessions from Oakland's starting units. They received tantalizing glimpses of rookie wideout Denarius Moore, the fifth-round pick who has been a training-camp sensation. They watched young Raiders cornerbacks get schooled by the Cardinals passing game.
They also saw plenty of penalty flags from the ugly play that was expected in the wake of a lockout that denied NFL teams the ritual of offseason meetings and workouts.
"We'll figure out the things we've got to continue to work on, the things we've got to continue to improve," Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell said. "That's what the preseason is for."
As for the 45,000 or so who failed to show for Hue Jackson's preseason debut as Oakland coach - resulting in a depressing turnout under any circumstances - at least five distinct possibilities exist.
One, it is an exhibition game and therefore a desultory sham of an event not worth the time or money.
Two, household cash flow has diminished to a trickle that dries up after barely covering food, rent and utilities.
Three, they're still displeased with the NFL over the offseason lockout mess.
Four, they're boycotting in support of Tom Cable, the coach fired by owner Al Davis after last season.
Five, they're not budging until the Raiders earn a portion of the monthly budget.
While all these factors likely are part of the equation, the Raiders can directly influence only one. They can't unilaterally abolish exhibition football, aren't in reasonable position to reduce ticket prices, can't do anything to instantly eradicate any lingering bitterness over the old labor beef and won't be rehiring Cable.
They can, however, do something to seduce the fan.
To have a chance at turning most of those empty seats into warm bodies eager to support them, the Raiders will have to prove themselves to be a legitimate contender.
For those fans whose loyalties and collective will have been beaten down by years of dreadful-to-mediocre football, submitted by five dramatically different coaches, these Raiders will have to show they are appreciably better, or at least more distinctive, than the previous eight versions.
Jackson has been consistent in saying this team will be different, that it will improve on last season's 8-8 record that was Oakland's best since 2002. So confident is the coach in vowing improvement that he's practically assuring a turnaround.
There were signs he might be onto something. Rookie tight end David Ausberry made a nice catch and toe-drag to stay inbounds on a 18-yard touchdown pass from Trent Edwards, the Stanford product battling Cal product Kyle Boller for the No. 2 quarterback spot. Oakland's starting pass rushers, impressive last season, appear to have lost nothing.
"We still have ways to go," defensive tackle Richard Seymour said. "But I felt it was a pretty good start for us."
But a few scattered signs of encouragement now might not be enough to reignite the passion of those fans not yet feeling it - or unable to afford the feeling. They've seen it before.
Art Shell's 2006 Raiders went 4-1 in the preseason, convincing some the Raiders were back. They sold out the season opener against San Diego, lost 27-0 and - even despite drawing five consecutive home crowds above 60,000 - finished the regular season with a Davis-era worst 2-14 record. Such bitter memories have a way of staying in the gut.
That's the kind of history Jackson is trying to buck. What he has for now is a work in the early stages of progress. The Raiders have a perceptible level of talent and requisite desire, but they are long on youth and short on field leadership, particularly on offense.
The lockout did them no favors, but that applies to every team in the league.
This game was more of a scrimmage, something to evaluate in the process of shaping the roster.
"I was kind of hoping we would be out there a little longer," cornerback Stanford Routt said. "But it was the coaches' call, so we had to go ahead and sit it down.
"But I can't wait until next week for the Battle of the Bay."
Maybe that'll get the fans to dig around the seat cushions and coffee cans for enough green to buy tickets. Meanwhile, a good many are in full-blown show-me mode.
Or about as festive as could be mustered by the 15,000 or so devoted souls who showed up for an evening of NFL exhibition football at the O.co Coliseum.
Those in attendance for this down-to-the-wire, 24-18 loss to Arizona witnessed two possessions from Oakland's starting units. They received tantalizing glimpses of rookie wideout Denarius Moore, the fifth-round pick who has been a training-camp sensation. They watched young Raiders cornerbacks get schooled by the Cardinals passing game.
They also saw plenty of penalty flags from the ugly play that was expected in the wake of a lockout that denied NFL teams the ritual of offseason meetings and workouts.
"We'll figure out the things we've got to continue to work on, the things we've got to continue to improve," Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell said. "That's what the preseason is for."
As for the 45,000 or so who failed to show for Hue Jackson's preseason debut as Oakland coach - resulting in a depressing turnout under any circumstances - at least five distinct possibilities exist.
One, it is an exhibition game and therefore a desultory sham of an event not worth the time or money.
Two, household cash flow has diminished to a trickle that dries up after barely covering food, rent and utilities.
Three, they're still displeased with the NFL over the offseason lockout mess.
Four, they're boycotting in support of Tom Cable, the coach fired by owner Al Davis after last season.
Five, they're not budging until the Raiders earn a portion of the monthly budget.
While all these factors likely are part of the equation, the Raiders can directly influence only one. They can't unilaterally abolish exhibition football, aren't in reasonable position to reduce ticket prices, can't do anything to instantly eradicate any lingering bitterness over the old labor beef and won't be rehiring Cable.
They can, however, do something to seduce the fan.
To have a chance at turning most of those empty seats into warm bodies eager to support them, the Raiders will have to prove themselves to be a legitimate contender.
For those fans whose loyalties and collective will have been beaten down by years of dreadful-to-mediocre football, submitted by five dramatically different coaches, these Raiders will have to show they are appreciably better, or at least more distinctive, than the previous eight versions.
Jackson has been consistent in saying this team will be different, that it will improve on last season's 8-8 record that was Oakland's best since 2002. So confident is the coach in vowing improvement that he's practically assuring a turnaround.
There were signs he might be onto something. Rookie tight end David Ausberry made a nice catch and toe-drag to stay inbounds on a 18-yard touchdown pass from Trent Edwards, the Stanford product battling Cal product Kyle Boller for the No. 2 quarterback spot. Oakland's starting pass rushers, impressive last season, appear to have lost nothing.
"We still have ways to go," defensive tackle Richard Seymour said. "But I felt it was a pretty good start for us."
But a few scattered signs of encouragement now might not be enough to reignite the passion of those fans not yet feeling it - or unable to afford the feeling. They've seen it before.
Art Shell's 2006 Raiders went 4-1 in the preseason, convincing some the Raiders were back. They sold out the season opener against San Diego, lost 27-0 and - even despite drawing five consecutive home crowds above 60,000 - finished the regular season with a Davis-era worst 2-14 record. Such bitter memories have a way of staying in the gut.
That's the kind of history Jackson is trying to buck. What he has for now is a work in the early stages of progress. The Raiders have a perceptible level of talent and requisite desire, but they are long on youth and short on field leadership, particularly on offense.
The lockout did them no favors, but that applies to every team in the league.
This game was more of a scrimmage, something to evaluate in the process of shaping the roster.
"I was kind of hoping we would be out there a little longer," cornerback Stanford Routt said. "But it was the coaches' call, so we had to go ahead and sit it down.
"But I can't wait until next week for the Battle of the Bay."
Maybe that'll get the fans to dig around the seat cushions and coffee cans for enough green to buy tickets. Meanwhile, a good many are in full-blown show-me mode.
2011年8月11日星期四
Raiders coach Jackson prepares for preseason debut
NAPA -- Hue Jackson has waited a long time for his first chance to be a head coach.
So it comes as no surprise that he's going into his debut in the exhibition opener for the Oakland Raiders with the same sort of verve he brings each day to the practice field.
"If they're keeping score I like to win," Jackson said. "That's the way it is. Our team is going to go out there and play the way we're supposed to play as Raiders and keep building on that."
Oakland opens the preseason Thursday night at home against the Arizona Cardinals and their newly acquired quarterback, Kevin Kolb. It will also be the first chance for Raiders fans to see how the team has changed under Jackson's leadership.
After spending a decade in the NFL as an offensive assistant, Jackson got the chance to run his own team when owner Al Davis hired him last January. So instead of just worrying about the offense or his position group, Jackson must spend the night before the game deciding how much to play his starters, thinking about click management and other strategy issues that fall on the head coach's shoulders.,
The Raiders will go into the preseason opener without many of their key offensive players. Star running back Darren McFadden is out with a broken orbital bone in his face, receiver Jacoby Ford is sidelined with a broken hand and receiver Louis Murphy has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
"We're missing a lot of people right now, obviously," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "But at the same time, other guys are getting an opportunity to show what they can do and a chance to step up and make plays. The preseason is really big for a lot of guys. We also have to take it serious because everyone's out there playing for jobs. This is our livelihood. We want to help whoever's in there to perform to the best of their ability."
That will give some younger players a chance to shine, including rookie receiver Denarius Moore, who has been the training camp star so far this summer.
Moore has been part of what has looked like a vastly improved passing offense in training camp. Now the key is to see if that can carry over into a game
"You go to practice and you make these plays and guys run and look pretty and you do all this good stuff. That's all good, but you've got to do it when you're playing against an opponent," Jackson said. "It's all about performance on game day when you're playing against somebody else. That's what I'm looking for."
With 10 starters returning on defense and Kevin Boss coming in to replace the departed Zach Miller at tight end, the biggest questions on the Raiders this summer are on the offensive line.
Last year's starting left guard, Robert Gallery, left in free agency and the Raiders did not bring back last season's starting right tackle, Langston Walker. Oakland then used two of its first three draft picks on offensive linemen, taking Stefen Wisniewski in the second round and Joe Barksdale in the third.
Wisniewski has been seeing time at center and left guard in practice, mixing in with last year's starter at center Samson Satele and left guard Daniel Loper. Wisniewski is slated to play as a reserve Thursday with Satele and Loper listed as starters.
The most stable position on the line is at left tackle, where Jared Veldheer looks to start again after taking over the position as a rookie last year. Cooper Carlisle, who has started at right guard the past four seasons, is back again this year.
He was expected to be pushed for time by second-year player Bruce Campbell, but Campbell has not practiced yet because of an offseason knee injury, making it a longshot that he could win the job for the season opener Sept. 12 in Denver.
Khalif Barnes, who has been a backup the past two seasons, will start at right tackle.
"Whatever happens Thursday night doesn't mean that that's the way it goes," Jackson said. "It just means that's the way we're starting. We all know we got to start someplace with a football team. When we get ready to play Denver that's when I'm concerned about putting the best football team out there. Now we need to get five guys as we move forward to play together and to be together so they can learn to work with each other. Thursday night is our first dress rehearsal. However we start that game doesn't mean that's the way we go for the regular season."
So it comes as no surprise that he's going into his debut in the exhibition opener for the Oakland Raiders with the same sort of verve he brings each day to the practice field.
"If they're keeping score I like to win," Jackson said. "That's the way it is. Our team is going to go out there and play the way we're supposed to play as Raiders and keep building on that."
Oakland opens the preseason Thursday night at home against the Arizona Cardinals and their newly acquired quarterback, Kevin Kolb. It will also be the first chance for Raiders fans to see how the team has changed under Jackson's leadership.
After spending a decade in the NFL as an offensive assistant, Jackson got the chance to run his own team when owner Al Davis hired him last January. So instead of just worrying about the offense or his position group, Jackson must spend the night before the game deciding how much to play his starters, thinking about click management and other strategy issues that fall on the head coach's shoulders.,
The Raiders will go into the preseason opener without many of their key offensive players. Star running back Darren McFadden is out with a broken orbital bone in his face, receiver Jacoby Ford is sidelined with a broken hand and receiver Louis Murphy has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
"We're missing a lot of people right now, obviously," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "But at the same time, other guys are getting an opportunity to show what they can do and a chance to step up and make plays. The preseason is really big for a lot of guys. We also have to take it serious because everyone's out there playing for jobs. This is our livelihood. We want to help whoever's in there to perform to the best of their ability."
That will give some younger players a chance to shine, including rookie receiver Denarius Moore, who has been the training camp star so far this summer.
Moore has been part of what has looked like a vastly improved passing offense in training camp. Now the key is to see if that can carry over into a game
"You go to practice and you make these plays and guys run and look pretty and you do all this good stuff. That's all good, but you've got to do it when you're playing against an opponent," Jackson said. "It's all about performance on game day when you're playing against somebody else. That's what I'm looking for."
With 10 starters returning on defense and Kevin Boss coming in to replace the departed Zach Miller at tight end, the biggest questions on the Raiders this summer are on the offensive line.
Last year's starting left guard, Robert Gallery, left in free agency and the Raiders did not bring back last season's starting right tackle, Langston Walker. Oakland then used two of its first three draft picks on offensive linemen, taking Stefen Wisniewski in the second round and Joe Barksdale in the third.
Wisniewski has been seeing time at center and left guard in practice, mixing in with last year's starter at center Samson Satele and left guard Daniel Loper. Wisniewski is slated to play as a reserve Thursday with Satele and Loper listed as starters.
The most stable position on the line is at left tackle, where Jared Veldheer looks to start again after taking over the position as a rookie last year. Cooper Carlisle, who has started at right guard the past four seasons, is back again this year.
He was expected to be pushed for time by second-year player Bruce Campbell, but Campbell has not practiced yet because of an offseason knee injury, making it a longshot that he could win the job for the season opener Sept. 12 in Denver.
Khalif Barnes, who has been a backup the past two seasons, will start at right tackle.
"Whatever happens Thursday night doesn't mean that that's the way it goes," Jackson said. "It just means that's the way we're starting. We all know we got to start someplace with a football team. When we get ready to play Denver that's when I'm concerned about putting the best football team out there. Now we need to get five guys as we move forward to play together and to be together so they can learn to work with each other. Thursday night is our first dress rehearsal. However we start that game doesn't mean that's the way we go for the regular season."
2011年8月10日星期三
Trent Edwards' road to Raiders a bumpy one
-- If Trent Edwards' family members wanted to see his first exhibition game of any of the past four seasons, they would have found their options to be limited.
There are no direct flights from San Francisco to Buffalo, and one all-too-convenient itinerary suggested on a travel website was to use three different airlines and visit both Charlotte and Detroit before landing in Buffalo. All that, for the cool rate of $673 a person.
Now, they can jump on Interstate 880 from their Los Gatos home. Forty-five minutes later, they'll be sitting in the Coliseum and watching Edwards in his new No. 5 Raiders jersey.
"The lockout and becoming a free agent kind of came at the same time, so I got asked a lot where I wanted to play and what team I wanted to play for," said Edwards, who played 3 1/2 seasons in Buffalo before being claimed off waivers by Jacksonville last season. "All I said is that I wanted to be back on the West Coast.
"I got what I wanted, and I'm in a good spot."
The home cooking is coming with some costly reservations for the 27-year-old. After earning a starting role for at least some portion of each of his first four seasons in the NFL, Edwards is in Oakland's training camp as a backup.
Maybe a backup. Right now, he's competing with Kyle Boller for the No. 2 job behind incumbent starter Jason Campbell.
"As far as playing time, there's not going to be much," Edwards said. "The backup-quarterback job is difficult. It's kind of a hurry-up-and-wait mentality."
Edwards is good at the waiting game. He's had to play it all too often.
A highly rated prospect from Los Gatos High, for which he led back-to-back teams to undefeated, Central Coast Section Division III titles, Edwards was recruited by Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee. He chose Stanford.
He started four games as a redshirt freshman, but missed much of the season because of shoulder and thigh injuries. The thigh bruise required three surgeries and five days in the intensive-care unit.
In 2004, he started nine games, but he missed two and was knocked out of two others because of injuries. He was at his best as a junior, when he started all 11 games and had a streak of 113 attempts without an interception. Even then, he missed parts of three games because of injuries.
Edwards started the first seven games of his senior season, but endured a season-ending broken foot against Arizona. He was winless in his final nine college starts, playing behind an offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 84 times during his career.
"Everyone has their stories and their bumps in the road," Edwards said. "I guess I was just raised to get back up if I get knocked down."
Shortly after Buffalo tabbed Edwards in the third round of the 2007 draft, Bill Walsh called Bills general manager Marv Levy to tout Edwards' ability. The quarterback got his first start in Week 4, completed 22 of 28 passes for 234 yards in Buffalo's victory over the Jets and would earn All-Rookie honors.
But more hits were coming.
In Week 5 of the 2008 season, Edwards got a concussion. In Week 13, he strained his groin.
Edwards' 2009 season was further plagued by inconsistency and injuries. Edwards was sacked 18 times in the first five games. He was accused of hesitating to make the deep throws and was saddled with the nickname "Captain Checkdown."
On Oct. 18 of that season, Edwards got his second professional concussion. When he returned three games later, he was lousy and got benched. He didn't play the rest of the season, save for a fourth-quarter mop-up appearance in Week 15, when he was carted off the field after injuring his right knee.
Edwards lost his starting position to Ryan Fitzpatrick for good after two games last season. Edwards was waived the following week by Buffalo. Jacksonville claimed Edwards as David Garrard's backup, and Edwards played two games with a quarterback rating of 40.3.
"I think you're judged on how you react to adversity," Edwards said. "I'm wired that way. I'm not going to lie down. As long as someone gives me an opportunity, I'm going to keep getting back and trying to prove myself.
"That's what keeps me going everyday."
That, and the thought of having a few more family and friends in the stands on game days.
There are no direct flights from San Francisco to Buffalo, and one all-too-convenient itinerary suggested on a travel website was to use three different airlines and visit both Charlotte and Detroit before landing in Buffalo. All that, for the cool rate of $673 a person.
Now, they can jump on Interstate 880 from their Los Gatos home. Forty-five minutes later, they'll be sitting in the Coliseum and watching Edwards in his new No. 5 Raiders jersey.
"The lockout and becoming a free agent kind of came at the same time, so I got asked a lot where I wanted to play and what team I wanted to play for," said Edwards, who played 3 1/2 seasons in Buffalo before being claimed off waivers by Jacksonville last season. "All I said is that I wanted to be back on the West Coast.
"I got what I wanted, and I'm in a good spot."
The home cooking is coming with some costly reservations for the 27-year-old. After earning a starting role for at least some portion of each of his first four seasons in the NFL, Edwards is in Oakland's training camp as a backup.
Maybe a backup. Right now, he's competing with Kyle Boller for the No. 2 job behind incumbent starter Jason Campbell.
"As far as playing time, there's not going to be much," Edwards said. "The backup-quarterback job is difficult. It's kind of a hurry-up-and-wait mentality."
Edwards is good at the waiting game. He's had to play it all too often.
A highly rated prospect from Los Gatos High, for which he led back-to-back teams to undefeated, Central Coast Section Division III titles, Edwards was recruited by Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee. He chose Stanford.
He started four games as a redshirt freshman, but missed much of the season because of shoulder and thigh injuries. The thigh bruise required three surgeries and five days in the intensive-care unit.
In 2004, he started nine games, but he missed two and was knocked out of two others because of injuries. He was at his best as a junior, when he started all 11 games and had a streak of 113 attempts without an interception. Even then, he missed parts of three games because of injuries.
Edwards started the first seven games of his senior season, but endured a season-ending broken foot against Arizona. He was winless in his final nine college starts, playing behind an offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 84 times during his career.
"Everyone has their stories and their bumps in the road," Edwards said. "I guess I was just raised to get back up if I get knocked down."
Shortly after Buffalo tabbed Edwards in the third round of the 2007 draft, Bill Walsh called Bills general manager Marv Levy to tout Edwards' ability. The quarterback got his first start in Week 4, completed 22 of 28 passes for 234 yards in Buffalo's victory over the Jets and would earn All-Rookie honors.
But more hits were coming.
In Week 5 of the 2008 season, Edwards got a concussion. In Week 13, he strained his groin.
Edwards' 2009 season was further plagued by inconsistency and injuries. Edwards was sacked 18 times in the first five games. He was accused of hesitating to make the deep throws and was saddled with the nickname "Captain Checkdown."
On Oct. 18 of that season, Edwards got his second professional concussion. When he returned three games later, he was lousy and got benched. He didn't play the rest of the season, save for a fourth-quarter mop-up appearance in Week 15, when he was carted off the field after injuring his right knee.
Edwards lost his starting position to Ryan Fitzpatrick for good after two games last season. Edwards was waived the following week by Buffalo. Jacksonville claimed Edwards as David Garrard's backup, and Edwards played two games with a quarterback rating of 40.3.
"I think you're judged on how you react to adversity," Edwards said. "I'm wired that way. I'm not going to lie down. As long as someone gives me an opportunity, I'm going to keep getting back and trying to prove myself.
"That's what keeps me going everyday."
That, and the thought of having a few more family and friends in the stands on game days.
2011年8月9日星期二
Help Wanted: Raiders Need a Veteran Cornerback ASAP
Before there were any padlocks plastered on gates leading to NFL facilities nationwide it was a well known fact that this was going to be a much different offseason for the Oakland Raiders. It seemed as if every player of any importance to Oakland’s success was going to be a free agent. In addition there wasn’t much wiggle room near the cap ceiling thanks to an allotment of dead money.
All in all this was going to be an offseason of difficult decisions for Al Davis.
One decision that was a no-brainer was to retain the services of Stanford Routt. This was a given since the only thing more certain than Nnamdi Asomugha’s departure was Tim Tebow’s benching.
While Routt may not be comparable to Nnamdi he has more than proven himself capable playing opposite Asomugha. The same cannot be said for any other cornerback currently on the roster.
You could actually argue that replacing Routt’s role is more difficult than filling Nnamdi’s shoes. Just ask DeAngelo Hall how difficult it is to be on the other side of a shutdown stud like Asomugha. While Routt is no Nnamdi, whoever starts opposite Stanford is sure to be seen as the better bet to throw on.
As it stands Chris Johnson is the candidate most likely to be starting opposite Routt. However that is mainly by default. Johnson tends to play like a faucet in an old apartment building – he runs hot and cold. Since Johnson has the most game experience and has proven himself capable of playing in Oakland’s man scheme he has all the necessary traits to be a full time starter.
But beyond Johnson there is a great void. The Raiders are banking on the youth movement to go from patience to performance. Jeremy Ware and Walter McFadden should have the advantage after one year in the NFL. Problem is neither showed much as a rookie and neither looks likely to push Johnson for the starting gig.
DeMarcus Van Dyke has grabbed the eye of Rod Woodson in camp. However practice is much different than the real deal. If DVD is going to make a giant leap in his first pro season then he’s going to have to show a lot of promise and soon. Chimdi Chekwa is coming off an early injury setback so there’s no telling where he is in the evaluation process.
No matter who emerges from the camp battles as the nickel back or possibly starter the real problems going forward are injuries.
Last season both McFadden and Ware were forced into action thanks to injury. Neither impressed and both got schooled in the NFL’s classroom of hard knocks.
This season will be an even bigger challenge should the lone vets succumb to injury. There is no insurance policy except maybe Michael Huff making the fulltime conversion to corner. Otherwise the Raiders are as thin at corner as a room full of super models on the eve of the pageant.
The Raiders need a veteran corner and they need one yesterday.
There was a brief flirtation with Antonio Cromartie but the cap restraints assured there was no way he’d be in Silver and Black. Re-signing Nnamdi was never on the docket. Otherwise the free agent market is pretty thin.
So that leaves either a trade or an overnight miracle. Again the problem with a trade is the cap issue related to taking on a new contract. The overnight miracle requires one or two of the young DBs to blossom into a legit cover corner.
Both scenarios are very possible. You never know what Al Davis is working on behind those closed doors. Who expected Richard Seymour to be a Raider? And truth be told you never know when you’re going to catch lightning in a bottle. How many people just knew Nnamdi Asomugha, a safety at Cal, was going to be shutdown corner in the NFL?
With Asomugha the Raiders had time. They were rebuilding so it was only natural to let Nnamdi develop.
Time is not an option now.
Right now the Raiders are very much in the AFC West hunt. Those playoff hopes don’t allow for young corners to learn by taking their lumps.
So here we stand. Asomugha is in the past. Routt is the present. And the future is…
We’ll just have to wait and see who emerges as the future of the Oakland Raiders at corner. It’s a proud heritage of Raider DBs after all. Somebody’s got to be the next in line.
All in all this was going to be an offseason of difficult decisions for Al Davis.
One decision that was a no-brainer was to retain the services of Stanford Routt. This was a given since the only thing more certain than Nnamdi Asomugha’s departure was Tim Tebow’s benching.
While Routt may not be comparable to Nnamdi he has more than proven himself capable playing opposite Asomugha. The same cannot be said for any other cornerback currently on the roster.
You could actually argue that replacing Routt’s role is more difficult than filling Nnamdi’s shoes. Just ask DeAngelo Hall how difficult it is to be on the other side of a shutdown stud like Asomugha. While Routt is no Nnamdi, whoever starts opposite Stanford is sure to be seen as the better bet to throw on.
As it stands Chris Johnson is the candidate most likely to be starting opposite Routt. However that is mainly by default. Johnson tends to play like a faucet in an old apartment building – he runs hot and cold. Since Johnson has the most game experience and has proven himself capable of playing in Oakland’s man scheme he has all the necessary traits to be a full time starter.
But beyond Johnson there is a great void. The Raiders are banking on the youth movement to go from patience to performance. Jeremy Ware and Walter McFadden should have the advantage after one year in the NFL. Problem is neither showed much as a rookie and neither looks likely to push Johnson for the starting gig.
DeMarcus Van Dyke has grabbed the eye of Rod Woodson in camp. However practice is much different than the real deal. If DVD is going to make a giant leap in his first pro season then he’s going to have to show a lot of promise and soon. Chimdi Chekwa is coming off an early injury setback so there’s no telling where he is in the evaluation process.
No matter who emerges from the camp battles as the nickel back or possibly starter the real problems going forward are injuries.
Last season both McFadden and Ware were forced into action thanks to injury. Neither impressed and both got schooled in the NFL’s classroom of hard knocks.
This season will be an even bigger challenge should the lone vets succumb to injury. There is no insurance policy except maybe Michael Huff making the fulltime conversion to corner. Otherwise the Raiders are as thin at corner as a room full of super models on the eve of the pageant.
The Raiders need a veteran corner and they need one yesterday.
There was a brief flirtation with Antonio Cromartie but the cap restraints assured there was no way he’d be in Silver and Black. Re-signing Nnamdi was never on the docket. Otherwise the free agent market is pretty thin.
So that leaves either a trade or an overnight miracle. Again the problem with a trade is the cap issue related to taking on a new contract. The overnight miracle requires one or two of the young DBs to blossom into a legit cover corner.
Both scenarios are very possible. You never know what Al Davis is working on behind those closed doors. Who expected Richard Seymour to be a Raider? And truth be told you never know when you’re going to catch lightning in a bottle. How many people just knew Nnamdi Asomugha, a safety at Cal, was going to be shutdown corner in the NFL?
With Asomugha the Raiders had time. They were rebuilding so it was only natural to let Nnamdi develop.
Time is not an option now.
Right now the Raiders are very much in the AFC West hunt. Those playoff hopes don’t allow for young corners to learn by taking their lumps.
So here we stand. Asomugha is in the past. Routt is the present. And the future is…
We’ll just have to wait and see who emerges as the future of the Oakland Raiders at corner. It’s a proud heritage of Raider DBs after all. Somebody’s got to be the next in line.
2011年8月8日星期一
Transformers of Merced: On the cutting edge of industry
On three acres just off south Highway 59 sits a business that hires locally, competes globally and is all set to explode. Its giant machines are welded and molded by 55 workers any Japanese company would be proud to put on its own assembly line. Slabs and plates and bars of steel become dynamic engines in the ag food chain.
Laird Manufacturing has been around since 1937, founded as a welding and repair shop. In 1989, with new blood in its ranks, it began making, selling and distributing equipment for the cattle feeding industry -- beef and dairy.
Today, Laird has become one of the major players in its field -- not just in the United States, but worldwide. Aside from a hiccup in 2009, sales have grown 15 percent to 20 percent a year for the company now owned by Isaac Isakow and Lee Cansler.
Isakow, a transplanted South African who still looks like the rugby player he once was, handles marketing. Cansler, who with three others bought in 1989 what was called Laird Welding and Manufacturing Works, handles the production side.
The energy that courses through the sales and parts office and the factory behind it sparks like the ice-blue flame of the welding torches wielded by dozens of craftsmen at work. What they make has wound up in Mexico, Canada, Japan, Holland, South Africa and all across the American West.
With neighbor and rival Kirby Mfg. Inc., founded in 1946, also performing well, Merced benefits from two strong manufacturing firms within city limits.
And the best part? Laird is expanding. The company has acquired 30-plus acres just down the highway and hopes to break ground on a 36,000-square-foot factory within a year or so. "It will give us even more efficiencies to give us greater control of our costs," Isakow said.
He and Cansler thought about other sites out of state but decided to stay in Merced. "This is home," said Isakow, who met his wife here; they have three children.
For a company that caters to mankind's oldest industry -- agriculture -- Laird operates on principles straight out of 21st century Nagoya. Take kanban, the fabled just-in-time inventory system that Toyota popularized and exported along with millions of vehicles. The theory is that the less space and time taken up by your stockpile, the faster you can make widgets without paying as much to store the parts.
At Laird, the widgets form the steel frames of vehicles that resemble huge Conestoga wagons from frontier days. These boxes -- some on trucks, some as trailers -- will be filled with cattle feed for ranchers and dairymen. It's no coincidence that as both beef ranches and dairy farms have grown fewer and larger, Laird has pivoted to provide more efficient vehicles to feed all those cows.
In recent years, Laird has turned upside down -- to about 90 percent vertical feed mixers and 10 percent horizontal -- from just the opposite a decade ago. That's because feed is the single-most expensive part of raising a cow. And the closer eye the rancher or dairyman can keep on the feed supply, the better it is for his bottom line. Unlike manure spreaders or combines, feed mixers must work 24/7 because that's when cows eat. A cattleman can use a feeder up to 7,000 hours a year.
As with Al Davis' Oakland Raiders in the '70s, vertical dominates. The name of the game today is vertical augers with cutting knives bolted to them to dice silage, hay and other feed -- up to 50,000 pounds in one load. The augers, which resemble giant screws with razor edges, used to lie parallel to the ground as they sliced up feed. Now, they stand upright in the rig.
Today, many of Laird's mixers contain an electronic probe that lets the driver know how much feed is left in the huge box. The inside of one of Laird's feed mixers looks like a jet cockpit, but all the bells and whistles simplify the operator's job.
"It gives you a very accurate feeling," said Isakow. "Now it's a state-of-the-art joystick."
Laird's customers include Harris Feeding Co., with 100,000 head in its lots west of here; Cargill, the giant food producer; and JBS' operations in Arizona (JBS, based in Brazil, is the world's largest meat company). Valley customers include cattlemen with 4,000 to 5,000 head and some of the largest family-owned dairy operations.
Turmoil in global currency markets has given Laird a distinct cost advantage against foreign competitors, whose products are denominated in euros or other appreciating currencies. That gives an American company an export advantage and makes it tougher for them to compete in the United States. "We're now pursuing export markets because the exchange rate has turned in our favor," Isakow said.
As impressive as the machines may be, what's more so are the men making them -- on two shifts. Laird has also imported Japan's obsession for quality control, and an individual worker is encouraged to submit his ideas. "One guy from the line asked, 'Why don't we just engineer these holes in the (steel-plated) floor?'" Isakow recalled. So they started doing that and saved a step in the process. Their computer-aided designer used to be a welder.
"Everything is labor-saving," said Cansler. "Everything has its own time allowance. It's all a matter of working together and doing things right the first time."
Laird features two mottos on its website (www.tradephiladelphiajerseys.com): "Your Cows Deserve the Best." "We Will Feed Your Cows."
Both fit Laird.
Laird Manufacturing has been around since 1937, founded as a welding and repair shop. In 1989, with new blood in its ranks, it began making, selling and distributing equipment for the cattle feeding industry -- beef and dairy.
Today, Laird has become one of the major players in its field -- not just in the United States, but worldwide. Aside from a hiccup in 2009, sales have grown 15 percent to 20 percent a year for the company now owned by Isaac Isakow and Lee Cansler.
Isakow, a transplanted South African who still looks like the rugby player he once was, handles marketing. Cansler, who with three others bought in 1989 what was called Laird Welding and Manufacturing Works, handles the production side.
The energy that courses through the sales and parts office and the factory behind it sparks like the ice-blue flame of the welding torches wielded by dozens of craftsmen at work. What they make has wound up in Mexico, Canada, Japan, Holland, South Africa and all across the American West.
With neighbor and rival Kirby Mfg. Inc., founded in 1946, also performing well, Merced benefits from two strong manufacturing firms within city limits.
And the best part? Laird is expanding. The company has acquired 30-plus acres just down the highway and hopes to break ground on a 36,000-square-foot factory within a year or so. "It will give us even more efficiencies to give us greater control of our costs," Isakow said.
He and Cansler thought about other sites out of state but decided to stay in Merced. "This is home," said Isakow, who met his wife here; they have three children.
For a company that caters to mankind's oldest industry -- agriculture -- Laird operates on principles straight out of 21st century Nagoya. Take kanban, the fabled just-in-time inventory system that Toyota popularized and exported along with millions of vehicles. The theory is that the less space and time taken up by your stockpile, the faster you can make widgets without paying as much to store the parts.
At Laird, the widgets form the steel frames of vehicles that resemble huge Conestoga wagons from frontier days. These boxes -- some on trucks, some as trailers -- will be filled with cattle feed for ranchers and dairymen. It's no coincidence that as both beef ranches and dairy farms have grown fewer and larger, Laird has pivoted to provide more efficient vehicles to feed all those cows.
In recent years, Laird has turned upside down -- to about 90 percent vertical feed mixers and 10 percent horizontal -- from just the opposite a decade ago. That's because feed is the single-most expensive part of raising a cow. And the closer eye the rancher or dairyman can keep on the feed supply, the better it is for his bottom line. Unlike manure spreaders or combines, feed mixers must work 24/7 because that's when cows eat. A cattleman can use a feeder up to 7,000 hours a year.
As with Al Davis' Oakland Raiders in the '70s, vertical dominates. The name of the game today is vertical augers with cutting knives bolted to them to dice silage, hay and other feed -- up to 50,000 pounds in one load. The augers, which resemble giant screws with razor edges, used to lie parallel to the ground as they sliced up feed. Now, they stand upright in the rig.
Today, many of Laird's mixers contain an electronic probe that lets the driver know how much feed is left in the huge box. The inside of one of Laird's feed mixers looks like a jet cockpit, but all the bells and whistles simplify the operator's job.
"It gives you a very accurate feeling," said Isakow. "Now it's a state-of-the-art joystick."
Laird's customers include Harris Feeding Co., with 100,000 head in its lots west of here; Cargill, the giant food producer; and JBS' operations in Arizona (JBS, based in Brazil, is the world's largest meat company). Valley customers include cattlemen with 4,000 to 5,000 head and some of the largest family-owned dairy operations.
Turmoil in global currency markets has given Laird a distinct cost advantage against foreign competitors, whose products are denominated in euros or other appreciating currencies. That gives an American company an export advantage and makes it tougher for them to compete in the United States. "We're now pursuing export markets because the exchange rate has turned in our favor," Isakow said.
As impressive as the machines may be, what's more so are the men making them -- on two shifts. Laird has also imported Japan's obsession for quality control, and an individual worker is encouraged to submit his ideas. "One guy from the line asked, 'Why don't we just engineer these holes in the (steel-plated) floor?'" Isakow recalled. So they started doing that and saved a step in the process. Their computer-aided designer used to be a welder.
"Everything is labor-saving," said Cansler. "Everything has its own time allowance. It's all a matter of working together and doing things right the first time."
Laird features two mottos on its website (www.tradephiladelphiajerseys.com): "Your Cows Deserve the Best." "We Will Feed Your Cows."
Both fit Laird.
2011年8月6日星期六
Syracuse football to start year without two key players
SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Orange have some big expectations for their football team this season.
However, in order to reach those expectations they might have to go without one of their key players from last season.
At the start of his press conference at Syracuse media day on Friday head coach Doug Marrone announced that wide receiver Marcus Sales and backup quarterback Johnny Miller were suspended from the team indefinitely.
Sales, who caught 26 passes for 414 yards and four scores a year ago, was charged with felony drug charges, while Miller was arrested on charges of assault.
"We have to learn from this," Marrone said. "We can't let this be a distraction. We have to keep our focus move on from this."
The Orange know that without Sales they need some other players to step up and make players down the field.
"We have receivers that can get down the field and get vertical," Marrone said. "We have a quarterback that can get the ball down the field. What we can also do is we can get the ball downfield to our tight ends. And, we have a running back (Antwon Bailey) that is pretty special at catching the ball."
Also this summer backup running back Prince-Tyson Gulley was injured after being stabbed. He will miss 7-10 days of practices.
While Marrone said there is competition for all jobs, he doesn't see Gulley losing the backup tailback job due to an injury. "We expect that if people lose the jobs it will be because they were beaten out for them, not because they were injured," Marrone said.
Marrone also believes that Gulley is coming in improved from his freshman year. "When you look at him, you can see the physical changes in him from a year ago," Marrone said.
RAUPERS IN FOR A BATTLE
Athens graduate Shane Raupers has a big challenge on his hands as he will battle freshman Jonathan Fisher for the starting punting job.
Marrone singled the position out as perhaps the most important battle for a starting job on the team.
While Raupers was a scholarship player when he arrived at Syracuse three years ago, he left the team before playing a game and is now a walk-on.
"It's the first time I have had to go in and compete for a job," Raupers said. "It's a lot different. But, this is what I like, the competition. I've never had to compete for a job, but I love to compete. I feel like I have been working hard than I ever have and we will see what happens."
NFL IN HARRIS FUTURE?
Syracuse running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley knows an awful lot about playing the game of football at a high level.
Wheatley was a former All-American at Michigan who went on to play for a decade in the NFL with the N.Y. Giants and Oakland Raiders.
In Towanda graduate Adam Harris, Wheatley sees a player who has a chance to one day make the move to the NFL.
"My opinion, I think he does," Wheatley says of playing in the pros. "I really do think he can, but it's all up to the scouts. It's up to what the scouts see. In my career I saw a lot of great fullbacks, and Adam is right up there with any of them."
OWING A LOT TO COACH
Chandler Jones, a former Section 4 player at Union-Endicott, might be one of the biggest, most intimidating players on the Syracuse defense.
At 6-foot, 5-inches and 265 pounds, opposing players don't want to see Jones lined up against him and fans might see him as a big, scary figure.
But, off the field he has a completely different image and that's thanks to Marrone.
"A lot of our success is because of what coach Marrone does, not only on the field, but the stuff he does off the field that people don't see," Jones said. "We went 8-5 last year and a lot of that is because of coach Marrone. A lot of people see us on the field as these big, bad players. But, off the field coach really emphasizes charity work."
And, for Jones that charity work allows him to give back, and allows people to see the big, imposing, defensive end in a different light.
"We go out, go to the nursing homes and do a lot of stuff in the community," Jones said. "A lot of the people in the nursing homes see our games, and they see who we are off the field."
ONE GOAL FOR THE ORANGE
The Syracuse football team has one big goal for this upcoming season.
"Our number one goal is to compete for the conference championship," Jones said.
It's a goal that Marrone has made clear to his players and a goal that everyone believes the team is capable of.
"Our goal as a football team, and make no doubt about it, is being able to compete for a Big East Championship," Marrone said.
After an 8-5 season last year the Orange believe this is the year they are capable of winning the league and getting to an even bigger game.
"We have high expectations," Harris said. "We expect to go out, do our best and have a good season."
A NEW DUTY FOR MARRONE
Marrone announced that offensive line coach Greg Adkins is out indefinitely while he deals with a health problem.
Marrone didn't say what the health issue was, only that it is not life threatening. With Adkins out, Marrone will take over the offensive line coaching duties himself. SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Orange have some big expectations for their football team this season.
However, in order to reach those expectations they might have to go without one of their key players from last season.
At the start of his press conference at Syracuse media day on Friday head coach Doug Marrone announced that wide receiver Marcus Sales and backup quarterback Johnny Miller were suspended from the team indefinitely.
Sales, who caught 26 passes for 414 yards and four scores a year ago, was charged with felony drug charges, while Miller was arrested on charges of assault.
"We have to learn from this," Marrone said. "We can't let this be a distraction. We have to keep our focus move on from this."
The Orange know that without Sales they need some other players to step up and make players down the field.
"We have receivers that can get down the field and get vertical," Marrone said. "We have a quarterback that can get the ball down the field. What we can also do is we can get the ball downfield to our tight ends. And, we have a running back (Antwon Bailey) that is pretty special at catching the ball."
Also this summer backup running back Prince-Tyson Gulley was injured after being stabbed. He will miss 7-10 days of practices.
While Marrone said there is competition for all jobs, he doesn't see Gulley losing the backup tailback job due to an injury. "We expect that if people lose the jobs it will be because they were beaten out for them, not because they were injured," Marrone said.
Marrone also believes that Gulley is coming in improved from his freshman year. "When you look at him, you can see the physical changes in him from a year ago," Marrone said.
RAUPERS IN FOR A BATTLE
Athens graduate Shane Raupers has a big challenge on his hands as he will battle freshman Jonathan Fisher for the starting punting job.
Marrone singled the position out as perhaps the most important battle for a starting job on the team.
While Raupers was a scholarship player when he arrived at Syracuse three years ago, he left the team before playing a game and is now a walk-on.
"It's the first time I have had to go in and compete for a job," Raupers said. "It's a lot different. But, this is what I like, the competition. I've never had to compete for a job, but I love to compete. I feel like I have been working hard than I ever have and we will see what happens."
NFL IN HARRIS FUTURE?
Syracuse running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley knows an awful lot about playing the game of football at a high level.
Wheatley was a former All-American at Michigan who went on to play for a decade in the NFL with the N.Y. Giants and Oakland Raiders.
In Towanda graduate Adam Harris, Wheatley sees a player who has a chance to one day make the move to the NFL.
"My opinion, I think he does," Wheatley says of playing in the pros. "I really do think he can, but it's all up to the scouts. It's up to what the scouts see. In my career I saw a lot of great fullbacks, and Adam is right up there with any of them."
OWING A LOT TO COACH
Chandler Jones, a former Section 4 player at Union-Endicott, might be one of the biggest, most intimidating players on the Syracuse defense.
At 6-foot, 5-inches and 265 pounds, opposing players don't want to see Jones lined up against him and fans might see him as a big, scary figure.
But, off the field he has a completely different image and that's thanks to Marrone.
"A lot of our success is because of what coach Marrone does, not only on the field, but the stuff he does off the field that people don't see," Jones said. "We went 8-5 last year and a lot of that is because of coach Marrone. A lot of people see us on the field as these big, bad players. But, off the field coach really emphasizes charity work."
And, for Jones that charity work allows him to give back, and allows people to see the big, imposing, defensive end in a different light.
"We go out, go to the nursing homes and do a lot of stuff in the community," Jones said. "A lot of the people in the nursing homes see our games, and they see who we are off the field."
ONE GOAL FOR THE ORANGE
The Syracuse football team has one big goal for this upcoming season.
"Our number one goal is to compete for the conference championship," Jones said.
It's a goal that Marrone has made clear to his players and a goal that everyone believes the team is capable of.
"Our goal as a football team, and make no doubt about it, is being able to compete for a Big East Championship," Marrone said.
After an 8-5 season last year the Orange believe this is the year they are capable of winning the league and getting to an even bigger game.
"We have high expectations," Harris said. "We expect to go out, do our best and have a good season."
A NEW DUTY FOR MARRONE
Marrone announced that offensive line coach Greg Adkins is out indefinitely while he deals with a health problem.
Marrone didn't say what the health issue was, only that it is not life threatening. With Adkins out, Marrone will take over the offensive line coaching duties himself.
However, in order to reach those expectations they might have to go without one of their key players from last season.
At the start of his press conference at Syracuse media day on Friday head coach Doug Marrone announced that wide receiver Marcus Sales and backup quarterback Johnny Miller were suspended from the team indefinitely.
Sales, who caught 26 passes for 414 yards and four scores a year ago, was charged with felony drug charges, while Miller was arrested on charges of assault.
"We have to learn from this," Marrone said. "We can't let this be a distraction. We have to keep our focus move on from this."
The Orange know that without Sales they need some other players to step up and make players down the field.
"We have receivers that can get down the field and get vertical," Marrone said. "We have a quarterback that can get the ball down the field. What we can also do is we can get the ball downfield to our tight ends. And, we have a running back (Antwon Bailey) that is pretty special at catching the ball."
Also this summer backup running back Prince-Tyson Gulley was injured after being stabbed. He will miss 7-10 days of practices.
While Marrone said there is competition for all jobs, he doesn't see Gulley losing the backup tailback job due to an injury. "We expect that if people lose the jobs it will be because they were beaten out for them, not because they were injured," Marrone said.
Marrone also believes that Gulley is coming in improved from his freshman year. "When you look at him, you can see the physical changes in him from a year ago," Marrone said.
RAUPERS IN FOR A BATTLE
Athens graduate Shane Raupers has a big challenge on his hands as he will battle freshman Jonathan Fisher for the starting punting job.
Marrone singled the position out as perhaps the most important battle for a starting job on the team.
While Raupers was a scholarship player when he arrived at Syracuse three years ago, he left the team before playing a game and is now a walk-on.
"It's the first time I have had to go in and compete for a job," Raupers said. "It's a lot different. But, this is what I like, the competition. I've never had to compete for a job, but I love to compete. I feel like I have been working hard than I ever have and we will see what happens."
NFL IN HARRIS FUTURE?
Syracuse running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley knows an awful lot about playing the game of football at a high level.
Wheatley was a former All-American at Michigan who went on to play for a decade in the NFL with the N.Y. Giants and Oakland Raiders.
In Towanda graduate Adam Harris, Wheatley sees a player who has a chance to one day make the move to the NFL.
"My opinion, I think he does," Wheatley says of playing in the pros. "I really do think he can, but it's all up to the scouts. It's up to what the scouts see. In my career I saw a lot of great fullbacks, and Adam is right up there with any of them."
OWING A LOT TO COACH
Chandler Jones, a former Section 4 player at Union-Endicott, might be one of the biggest, most intimidating players on the Syracuse defense.
At 6-foot, 5-inches and 265 pounds, opposing players don't want to see Jones lined up against him and fans might see him as a big, scary figure.
But, off the field he has a completely different image and that's thanks to Marrone.
"A lot of our success is because of what coach Marrone does, not only on the field, but the stuff he does off the field that people don't see," Jones said. "We went 8-5 last year and a lot of that is because of coach Marrone. A lot of people see us on the field as these big, bad players. But, off the field coach really emphasizes charity work."
And, for Jones that charity work allows him to give back, and allows people to see the big, imposing, defensive end in a different light.
"We go out, go to the nursing homes and do a lot of stuff in the community," Jones said. "A lot of the people in the nursing homes see our games, and they see who we are off the field."
ONE GOAL FOR THE ORANGE
The Syracuse football team has one big goal for this upcoming season.
"Our number one goal is to compete for the conference championship," Jones said.
It's a goal that Marrone has made clear to his players and a goal that everyone believes the team is capable of.
"Our goal as a football team, and make no doubt about it, is being able to compete for a Big East Championship," Marrone said.
After an 8-5 season last year the Orange believe this is the year they are capable of winning the league and getting to an even bigger game.
"We have high expectations," Harris said. "We expect to go out, do our best and have a good season."
A NEW DUTY FOR MARRONE
Marrone announced that offensive line coach Greg Adkins is out indefinitely while he deals with a health problem.
Marrone didn't say what the health issue was, only that it is not life threatening. With Adkins out, Marrone will take over the offensive line coaching duties himself. SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Orange have some big expectations for their football team this season.
However, in order to reach those expectations they might have to go without one of their key players from last season.
At the start of his press conference at Syracuse media day on Friday head coach Doug Marrone announced that wide receiver Marcus Sales and backup quarterback Johnny Miller were suspended from the team indefinitely.
Sales, who caught 26 passes for 414 yards and four scores a year ago, was charged with felony drug charges, while Miller was arrested on charges of assault.
"We have to learn from this," Marrone said. "We can't let this be a distraction. We have to keep our focus move on from this."
The Orange know that without Sales they need some other players to step up and make players down the field.
"We have receivers that can get down the field and get vertical," Marrone said. "We have a quarterback that can get the ball down the field. What we can also do is we can get the ball downfield to our tight ends. And, we have a running back (Antwon Bailey) that is pretty special at catching the ball."
Also this summer backup running back Prince-Tyson Gulley was injured after being stabbed. He will miss 7-10 days of practices.
While Marrone said there is competition for all jobs, he doesn't see Gulley losing the backup tailback job due to an injury. "We expect that if people lose the jobs it will be because they were beaten out for them, not because they were injured," Marrone said.
Marrone also believes that Gulley is coming in improved from his freshman year. "When you look at him, you can see the physical changes in him from a year ago," Marrone said.
RAUPERS IN FOR A BATTLE
Athens graduate Shane Raupers has a big challenge on his hands as he will battle freshman Jonathan Fisher for the starting punting job.
Marrone singled the position out as perhaps the most important battle for a starting job on the team.
While Raupers was a scholarship player when he arrived at Syracuse three years ago, he left the team before playing a game and is now a walk-on.
"It's the first time I have had to go in and compete for a job," Raupers said. "It's a lot different. But, this is what I like, the competition. I've never had to compete for a job, but I love to compete. I feel like I have been working hard than I ever have and we will see what happens."
NFL IN HARRIS FUTURE?
Syracuse running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley knows an awful lot about playing the game of football at a high level.
Wheatley was a former All-American at Michigan who went on to play for a decade in the NFL with the N.Y. Giants and Oakland Raiders.
In Towanda graduate Adam Harris, Wheatley sees a player who has a chance to one day make the move to the NFL.
"My opinion, I think he does," Wheatley says of playing in the pros. "I really do think he can, but it's all up to the scouts. It's up to what the scouts see. In my career I saw a lot of great fullbacks, and Adam is right up there with any of them."
OWING A LOT TO COACH
Chandler Jones, a former Section 4 player at Union-Endicott, might be one of the biggest, most intimidating players on the Syracuse defense.
At 6-foot, 5-inches and 265 pounds, opposing players don't want to see Jones lined up against him and fans might see him as a big, scary figure.
But, off the field he has a completely different image and that's thanks to Marrone.
"A lot of our success is because of what coach Marrone does, not only on the field, but the stuff he does off the field that people don't see," Jones said. "We went 8-5 last year and a lot of that is because of coach Marrone. A lot of people see us on the field as these big, bad players. But, off the field coach really emphasizes charity work."
And, for Jones that charity work allows him to give back, and allows people to see the big, imposing, defensive end in a different light.
"We go out, go to the nursing homes and do a lot of stuff in the community," Jones said. "A lot of the people in the nursing homes see our games, and they see who we are off the field."
ONE GOAL FOR THE ORANGE
The Syracuse football team has one big goal for this upcoming season.
"Our number one goal is to compete for the conference championship," Jones said.
It's a goal that Marrone has made clear to his players and a goal that everyone believes the team is capable of.
"Our goal as a football team, and make no doubt about it, is being able to compete for a Big East Championship," Marrone said.
After an 8-5 season last year the Orange believe this is the year they are capable of winning the league and getting to an even bigger game.
"We have high expectations," Harris said. "We expect to go out, do our best and have a good season."
A NEW DUTY FOR MARRONE
Marrone announced that offensive line coach Greg Adkins is out indefinitely while he deals with a health problem.
Marrone didn't say what the health issue was, only that it is not life threatening. With Adkins out, Marrone will take over the offensive line coaching duties himself.
2011年8月5日星期五
McFadden out with broken orbital bone
NAPA — On the day the Oakland Raiders were supposed to be able to see their whole team practice for the first time this training camp, they were missing one of their most important players.
Star running back Darren McFadden was sidelined a day after breaking an orbital bone in his face and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, according to coach Hue Jackson.
McFadden left practice early Wednesday with the injury. He delivered a hard block on linebacker Quentin Groves in one drill, but Jackson did not say if that caused the injury.
"He'll be fine," Jackson said. "We'll get him back out here and keep on rolling."
After struggling his first two seasons, McFadden had a breakout year in 2010. He led the team in rushing with 1,157 yards, added 507 yards receiving and scored 10 touchdowns last season.
He finally delivered the big-play threat the Raiders had been waiting for since picking him fourth overall in the 2008 draft, leading the NFL with 14 carries of at least 20 yards.
The Raiders are short-handed at running back with rookie Taiwan Jones and veteran Michael Bennett also hurt, and Michael Bush waiting to sign his restricted free agent tender.
While McFadden was Oakland's biggest playmaker on offense last season, that role early in training camp is being filled by rookie receiver Denarius Moore. The fifth-round pick out of Tennessee has been making highlight-reel catches almost every practice, with his best coming Thursday on a pass from Jason Campbell.
Moore leaped over Stevie Brown and Demarcus Van Dyke in the back of the end zone and did a good job getting his toes down inbounds for a touchdown catch that left teammates gasping and led to a celebration usually reserved for more meaningful scores in the regular season.
Star running back Darren McFadden was sidelined a day after breaking an orbital bone in his face and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, according to coach Hue Jackson.
McFadden left practice early Wednesday with the injury. He delivered a hard block on linebacker Quentin Groves in one drill, but Jackson did not say if that caused the injury.
"He'll be fine," Jackson said. "We'll get him back out here and keep on rolling."
After struggling his first two seasons, McFadden had a breakout year in 2010. He led the team in rushing with 1,157 yards, added 507 yards receiving and scored 10 touchdowns last season.
He finally delivered the big-play threat the Raiders had been waiting for since picking him fourth overall in the 2008 draft, leading the NFL with 14 carries of at least 20 yards.
The Raiders are short-handed at running back with rookie Taiwan Jones and veteran Michael Bennett also hurt, and Michael Bush waiting to sign his restricted free agent tender.
While McFadden was Oakland's biggest playmaker on offense last season, that role early in training camp is being filled by rookie receiver Denarius Moore. The fifth-round pick out of Tennessee has been making highlight-reel catches almost every practice, with his best coming Thursday on a pass from Jason Campbell.
Moore leaped over Stevie Brown and Demarcus Van Dyke in the back of the end zone and did a good job getting his toes down inbounds for a touchdown catch that left teammates gasping and led to a celebration usually reserved for more meaningful scores in the regular season.
2011年8月4日星期四
Bubba Smith, aka High Tower from Police Academy, dies aged 66
Former Super Bowl winner ubba Smith, better known to you and I as High Tower from Police Academy, has passed away at the age of 66.
He was found dead at his Baldwin Hills home in LA on Wednesday by a caretaker. It is believed he died of natural causes.
Bubba played for the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers before going to become the much-loved character of Moses Hightower in six Police Academy films.
Towering at 6” 7’ and tipping the scales at 20-stone, Bubba was the No. 1 draft pick from Michigan State in 1967 and went to win Super Bowl V with the Colts.
After injury put paid to his football career, Bubba turned his attentions to acting and quickly secured a number of lucrative TV commercial deals.
Bubba's talents in front of the camera came to light in the Police Academy series. One ofour fondest memories of High Tower came in Police Academy 2, when Bubba gets a chance to beat the bad guys with a football.
He was found dead at his Baldwin Hills home in LA on Wednesday by a caretaker. It is believed he died of natural causes.
Bubba played for the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers before going to become the much-loved character of Moses Hightower in six Police Academy films.
Towering at 6” 7’ and tipping the scales at 20-stone, Bubba was the No. 1 draft pick from Michigan State in 1967 and went to win Super Bowl V with the Colts.
After injury put paid to his football career, Bubba turned his attentions to acting and quickly secured a number of lucrative TV commercial deals.
Bubba's talents in front of the camera came to light in the Police Academy series. One ofour fondest memories of High Tower came in Police Academy 2, when Bubba gets a chance to beat the bad guys with a football.
2011年8月3日星期三
A new Flurry involving Strikes Alters our Eagles
Having an individual gigantic continue to another around pair of extravagant hours, the exact Philly Silver eagles established itself as powerful favorites to arrive at their Ultra Pan.
Investment Kevin Kolb came to be desired. Filling out the Informed Dish protective side Jerr Babin was no great shock. Possibly even having the two-time Professional player Run qb Vince Little for simpler Michael vick scarcely started to be lovers.
Although, the primary stunner got here when Eagles, the actual counselling D.Fahrenheit.Chemical. Eastern winners, seemed to come present in as a result of thin air and then found Nnamdi Asomugha, the actual largest winning prize with a M.P.R.erinarians free-agent marketplace.
Asomugha, a fabulous two-time All-Pro cornerback, was probably outwardly went some place else ahead of the Silver eagles noiselessly traveled located in not to mention settled him on a five-year, $60 zillion bargain within Fri.
Which certainly not a counted upon report the minute General Manager Howie Roseman plus Tutor Andy Reid required any podium shortly after categories are actually allowed to mention free-agent signings within 5 p.n.
It has recently been efficient together with livid, though positive things came from the jawhorse, Reid reported. I said for your previous to which i assumed Howie endured a perfect take into account freely available agencies , together with swaps, making this whatever you get on this site now this a pretty good selection.
Babin, individuals who had gotten 17 ? bags just last year for that Tennessee Titans, increases the actual excrete hasten. Budding, who had previously been 30-17 as being a nice for a number of weather conditions utilizing the Titans, offers you insurance plans in the case Vick goes down. Asomugha and then the two-time Qualified Container cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who had been purchased by Scottsdale within your Kolb swap, subscribe to Asante Samuel to build also the very best discuss this inside the And.F.H.
Very last time of the year, that Silver eagles enabled the franchise-record 30 landing sends inside the continual month or year, together with 3 considerably more inside a 21-16 deficit to assist you to Environmentally friendly These kinds of in their own homes from your number one past of one's 2009-2010 season.
It is usually also been a priority alignment now, Roseman described, having: Your own private wardrobe plenty of protection base. That ones cross buzz and as you've got an chance add in the members most of us supplied, we merely suspected we'd to be able to those people fellows.
Asomugha spent your partner's before anything else nine years old times utilizing the Oakland Raiders. He previously an actual career-high important interceptions through 2006, and he along to all of the Informed Dish as a result of every one of the old days three years.
And even though he has certainly three interceptions historically 3 years probably seeing that organizations it's best not to discard to assist you to his / her component in the field of study Asomugha is readily viewed as a good top cornerback for the North.P oker.T. and additionally was basically courted by several groupings, for example Planes additionally, the Texas Boys.
Ben has the very best if no longer a great cornerback from the Nfl, Reid stated. A nightmare manifest as a terrific extension to cornerback corps.
Investment Kevin Kolb came to be desired. Filling out the Informed Dish protective side Jerr Babin was no great shock. Possibly even having the two-time Professional player Run qb Vince Little for simpler Michael vick scarcely started to be lovers.
Although, the primary stunner got here when Eagles, the actual counselling D.Fahrenheit.Chemical. Eastern winners, seemed to come present in as a result of thin air and then found Nnamdi Asomugha, the actual largest winning prize with a M.P.R.erinarians free-agent marketplace.
Asomugha, a fabulous two-time All-Pro cornerback, was probably outwardly went some place else ahead of the Silver eagles noiselessly traveled located in not to mention settled him on a five-year, $60 zillion bargain within Fri.
Which certainly not a counted upon report the minute General Manager Howie Roseman plus Tutor Andy Reid required any podium shortly after categories are actually allowed to mention free-agent signings within 5 p.n.
It has recently been efficient together with livid, though positive things came from the jawhorse, Reid reported. I said for your previous to which i assumed Howie endured a perfect take into account freely available agencies , together with swaps, making this whatever you get on this site now this a pretty good selection.
Babin, individuals who had gotten 17 ? bags just last year for that Tennessee Titans, increases the actual excrete hasten. Budding, who had previously been 30-17 as being a nice for a number of weather conditions utilizing the Titans, offers you insurance plans in the case Vick goes down. Asomugha and then the two-time Qualified Container cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who had been purchased by Scottsdale within your Kolb swap, subscribe to Asante Samuel to build also the very best discuss this inside the And.F.H.
Very last time of the year, that Silver eagles enabled the franchise-record 30 landing sends inside the continual month or year, together with 3 considerably more inside a 21-16 deficit to assist you to Environmentally friendly These kinds of in their own homes from your number one past of one's 2009-2010 season.
It is usually also been a priority alignment now, Roseman described, having: Your own private wardrobe plenty of protection base. That ones cross buzz and as you've got an chance add in the members most of us supplied, we merely suspected we'd to be able to those people fellows.
Asomugha spent your partner's before anything else nine years old times utilizing the Oakland Raiders. He previously an actual career-high important interceptions through 2006, and he along to all of the Informed Dish as a result of every one of the old days three years.
And even though he has certainly three interceptions historically 3 years probably seeing that organizations it's best not to discard to assist you to his / her component in the field of study Asomugha is readily viewed as a good top cornerback for the North.P oker.T. and additionally was basically courted by several groupings, for example Planes additionally, the Texas Boys.
Ben has the very best if no longer a great cornerback from the Nfl, Reid stated. A nightmare manifest as a terrific extension to cornerback corps.
2011年8月2日星期二
Kamerion Wimbley signs big extension with the Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have re-signed defensive end/linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.
Earlier in the year, Wimbley signed a one-year $11.3 million franchise tender to remain with the team. In addition to that one year, he has gained an extension of four years, in which he will make an additional $36.7 million and $17.7 million in guaranteed money.
Overal,l between the extension and franchise tender, Wimbley essentially has a five-year deal worth $48 million with $29 million in guaranteed money.
He was the first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2006 and came to the Raiders prior to last season via a trade which sent a third-round pick in the 2010 draft to Cleveland. The defensive end/linebacker hybrid is coming off of a nine sack season for the Raiders. The nine sacks are the second best totals for his career, and he has 35.5 total sacks throughout the course of his five seasons in the league.
Wimbley has been a solid starter in all five of his NFL seasons, only missing one game in five years and starting in 78 of a possible 79 games.
Earlier in the year, Wimbley signed a one-year $11.3 million franchise tender to remain with the team. In addition to that one year, he has gained an extension of four years, in which he will make an additional $36.7 million and $17.7 million in guaranteed money.
Overal,l between the extension and franchise tender, Wimbley essentially has a five-year deal worth $48 million with $29 million in guaranteed money.
He was the first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2006 and came to the Raiders prior to last season via a trade which sent a third-round pick in the 2010 draft to Cleveland. The defensive end/linebacker hybrid is coming off of a nine sack season for the Raiders. The nine sacks are the second best totals for his career, and he has 35.5 total sacks throughout the course of his five seasons in the league.
Wimbley has been a solid starter in all five of his NFL seasons, only missing one game in five years and starting in 78 of a possible 79 games.
2011年8月1日星期一
2011 Oakland Raiders Free Agents: Zach Miller is Close to Re-Signing
Zach Miller is about to continue his run with the Oakland Raiders and officially put to end his stint as a 2011 NFL free agent. Jerry McDonald reported that a team source told him the two sides were working out the final details of a contract. So, breathe deeply, Raider Nation—the Zach attack is coming back.
I still wouldn't be surprised to see this signing a few days to become official. As I mentioned earlier, I am guessing that some of these final details involve how Zach is going to receive his millions. Will it be in a signing bonus that in the eyes of the cap is stretched out over a long term, or will it be in a big first or second year guaranteed salary? I imagine they are going to do everything they can to clear cap room for this season.
Obviously, until the deal is official anything could happen, but it's not going to. Zach is going to be a Raider. He was always going to be a Raider. Jump over for some tasty highlights....
I still wouldn't be surprised to see this signing a few days to become official. As I mentioned earlier, I am guessing that some of these final details involve how Zach is going to receive his millions. Will it be in a signing bonus that in the eyes of the cap is stretched out over a long term, or will it be in a big first or second year guaranteed salary? I imagine they are going to do everything they can to clear cap room for this season.
Obviously, until the deal is official anything could happen, but it's not going to. Zach is going to be a Raider. He was always going to be a Raider. Jump over for some tasty highlights....
2011年7月30日星期六
Raiders wish Asomugha well
NAPA — Free agency officially opened Friday for the NFL, and the Oakland Raiders are already 0-for-1. They lost their top free agent in All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to the Philadelphia Eagles, who gave Asomugha a $60 million contract that includes $25 million in guaranteed money.
But the Radiers aren't standing still. They hope to close a deal for offensive tackle Jared Gaither — who was watching the Raiders practice. Coach Hue Jackson said nothing would be finalized until the Raiders are assured Gaither is healthy.
The departure of Asomugha was expected after the Raiders gave a big contract to cornerback Stanford Routt.
"We wish him well, but, as I've always said, it's next man up for us," Jackson said. "We have some very good players here and ... I've got to really concentrate on this football team and try to get this team to be the best that it can be."
Asomugha was Oakland's best player in recent years, consistently locking up one side of the field in a key aspect of the Raiders man-to-man defense. He allowed 52 receptions and one TD the past three seasons, the essence of a "shutdown" corner.
The Raiders gave their other starting CB, Routt, a three-year, $31.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed in the offseason.
"I know you as the media, you all are going to go ahead and put a media target on my back, but as far as like anything else, it's football," Routt said. "You guard the guy that you're lined up against. It is what it is."
The 6-foot-9, 340-pound Gaither is a proven commodity at tackle, where the Raiders have second-year player Jared Veldheer on the left and rookies competing on the right.
Jackson knows Gaither from his days in Baltimore.
"He's a tremendous player," Jackson said. "When he's healthy, he's one of the better left tackles in the league. He has extremely long arms, very tall, very long. He's a good football player."
• EAGLES — Signing Asomugha was just the latest coup for Philadelphia, which acquired Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Arizona the day before. The Eagles also announced a one-year deal for QB Vince Young, a 2006 first-round pick of Tennessee. Young, who went 30-2 as a starter at Texas in college, will back up starter Michael Vick. The Eagles have three Pro Bowl cornerbacks on their roster: Asomugha, Rodgers-Cromartie and fourt-me Pro Bowler Asante Samuel, who has 42 interceptions in eight years.
• PATRIOTS — Chad Ochocinco was wearing his usual number 85 at practice, a day after being traded by Cincinnati. The former owner of the number was rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez, who hasn't practiced following hip surgery in February.
• PANTHERS — Top draft pick Cam Newton of Auburn signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers, and his agent tweeted the deal was for four years and "$22 million-plus."
But the Radiers aren't standing still. They hope to close a deal for offensive tackle Jared Gaither — who was watching the Raiders practice. Coach Hue Jackson said nothing would be finalized until the Raiders are assured Gaither is healthy.
The departure of Asomugha was expected after the Raiders gave a big contract to cornerback Stanford Routt.
"We wish him well, but, as I've always said, it's next man up for us," Jackson said. "We have some very good players here and ... I've got to really concentrate on this football team and try to get this team to be the best that it can be."
Asomugha was Oakland's best player in recent years, consistently locking up one side of the field in a key aspect of the Raiders man-to-man defense. He allowed 52 receptions and one TD the past three seasons, the essence of a "shutdown" corner.
The Raiders gave their other starting CB, Routt, a three-year, $31.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed in the offseason.
"I know you as the media, you all are going to go ahead and put a media target on my back, but as far as like anything else, it's football," Routt said. "You guard the guy that you're lined up against. It is what it is."
The 6-foot-9, 340-pound Gaither is a proven commodity at tackle, where the Raiders have second-year player Jared Veldheer on the left and rookies competing on the right.
Jackson knows Gaither from his days in Baltimore.
"He's a tremendous player," Jackson said. "When he's healthy, he's one of the better left tackles in the league. He has extremely long arms, very tall, very long. He's a good football player."
• EAGLES — Signing Asomugha was just the latest coup for Philadelphia, which acquired Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Arizona the day before. The Eagles also announced a one-year deal for QB Vince Young, a 2006 first-round pick of Tennessee. Young, who went 30-2 as a starter at Texas in college, will back up starter Michael Vick. The Eagles have three Pro Bowl cornerbacks on their roster: Asomugha, Rodgers-Cromartie and fourt-me Pro Bowler Asante Samuel, who has 42 interceptions in eight years.
• PATRIOTS — Chad Ochocinco was wearing his usual number 85 at practice, a day after being traded by Cincinnati. The former owner of the number was rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez, who hasn't practiced following hip surgery in February.
• PANTHERS — Top draft pick Cam Newton of Auburn signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers, and his agent tweeted the deal was for four years and "$22 million-plus."
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