USA Today - Inside Slant (Faders)
With negotiations usually flying well under the radar of both the local and national media, the Raiders manage virtually every year to come into training camp with all their picks ready to play.
The first-round holdouts which happen elsewhere, simply don't happen in Oakland, and the silence surrounding No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is no different than negotiations that went on between high picks such as Darrell Russell (No. 2 overall in 1997), Charles Woodson (No. 4 overall in 1998) and Robert Gallery (No. 2 overall in 2004).
The last Raiders first-round pick to hold out more than a couple of days was linebacker Rob Fredrickson in 1994.
While no one in the organization would admit or even consider the notion, it could prove beneficial for the Raiders if Russell is the first holdout since Fredrickson.
If Russell were to be a late arrival, it gives the Raiders a built-in reason to stick with what most believe is a commitment to free agent Josh McCown to begin the season as the starter.
McCown's ability to move set him apart from Russell and Andrew Walter in minicamps and OTAs. (Walter later had arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.)
He is also considerably more experienced and game-ready. McCown fully understands Russell is the Raiders' future, but in the final year of a two-year contract, he can get his resume' ready as an Oakland starter this season.
For the sake of Kiffin, McCown, and even Russell, the Raiders might be better off having the quarterback position settled in public early in training camp — and the best way for that to happen is for Russell to come in a little late...
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