A pair of Raiders wide receivers are the subject of much debate these days.The first wideout taken in the draft, Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey at No. 7, dropped a few passes and missed the last two days of minicamp this past weekend with health issues related to cramps and hamstring problems.
Another wide receiver in Raiders camp, Javon Walker, said he should be ready in time for training camp after a mysterious right knee surgery a month ago.
Many think the Raiders made a mistake in picking Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin in the draft. The Raiders contend Heyward-Bey's speed was a determining factor in making their decision. Plus, Crabtree didn't want to play for the Raiders and who knows what Al Davis thought of Maclin.
But Raiders coach Tom Cable is pleased with his first-round choice.
"He needs to get it all thrown at him as quickly as possible," Cable said to the Contra Costa Times, "so we can get though some of those hurdles that you know are coming to a rookie. But he's a brilliant young man, so he's going to handle this rather quickly."
As for Walker, Cable didn't really know anything about his surgery until recently. (Davis probably knew, but this is just us thinking out loud here). Walker told the Contra Costa Times he played last year at 65 percent and that his knee is now pain free, the first time that's happened since he tore his ACL in 2005.
The Raiders need Walker.
They signed him to a six-year, $55 million contract last year, and he can receive $27 million in the first three years of the deal. But Walker was inactive the opening week of the season and missed the last seven weeks with injuries. He was placed on IR in late November.
Walker caught only 15 passes for 196 yards with one touchdown last season. The Raider receivers as a group were just bad. They caught 13 touchdowns and Johnnie Lee Higgins caught four of those.
If Walker is healthy and Heyward-Bey learns the NFL game, maybe, just maybe things might be OK in Oakland.
Maybe.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-12-2009 @ 1:51AM
reikilight said...
How funny that people are already dogging Bey. Just like the league officiating year after year ... it's all negative when you talk Raiders.
The Raiders are inching back to greatness ... the big question is CAN Russell run this team? He is being paid a ton of money and so far he hasn't been worth much of that money ... but that's OK if he can come thru now ... This is the year that Russell either shows he has what it takes or if he was all hype. Bey best be talking to Fred Biletnikoff on how to catch the ball and run a good route ... the speed is only part of the equation so work on the other things now that he is gimping along!
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5-12-2009 @ 2:39AM
mcjesus666 said...
As a radiers fan, I root for any player on the roster, but until Davis dies there is no hope. I'll still be watching and hell, 8-8 won the division last year
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5-12-2009 @ 9:54AM
Michael said...
why is everyone so down on Russell? he's started in about 18 or 19 games. it usually takes a qb a year or more to get comfortable in a system. just because Matt Ryan had success his 1st year doesn't mean it's gonna happen for everyone. remember, he didn't sign his rookie contract until the regular season had already started, so he missed a lot of time that would have been used to learn. he wasn't getting many (if any) reps during his rookie season, until he started the last few games.
if he's still struggling come November this year, then folks should start complainin. he played pretty well down the stretch last year, with the NE game a total washout for the whole team.
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5-15-2009 @ 5:53AM
chie-lee said...
if you are a d/b you are not going to cover a player you didnt see fly by you.
dont knock the hustle.
raider fans we know there is a method to the madness.
speed kills.
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