Post by TheShadow on Dec 5, 2003 22:36:58 GMT -5
www.sportsline.com
Notes, quotes, anecdotes
--Coach Bill Callahan is up to his neck in muddy water but doesn't want to even speculate about his job status.
"I am going to do the best that I can in this week," he said. "That's all that I can worry about ... all I can focus in on. I'm just worried about finishing well in this stretch run and in these last four games.
"We know where we're at ... at 3-9 it hasn't been a bed of roses. We've been frustrated and mistakes have hurt us, but we learn from it and we'll move on.
"We've got an opportunity to win four games. These guys continue to fight, continue to compete at a very high level. We've been in every game. It would be different if we were getting blown out of the tank and didn't have a chance. But that's not the situation and I'm just working hard to get more out of them."
In the four weeks since he began serving as the team's No. 1 running back ahead of Charlie Garner, Tyrone Wheatley has gained 346 yards and is on a 1,384-yard pace for a full season. Since he hasn't been a regular since Garner arrived in 2001 -- the year after Wheatley rushed for 1,046 yards -- he has emerged from football purgatory.
"A lot of people say I've been reborn or revitalized," he said. "That's funny. It (success) is just a matter of having the opportunity to play. That's about it. This is a deal where you are a professional. A lot of guys ... are `me' guys.
"So I wouldn't say revitalized. If you're a professional, when it's your time to run, you've got to run. You are always an injury or a step away from being the starter. So it isn't one of those deals where you pound your chest and say `Yay, yay ... happy for me.' It's just a day's work and that's about it.
"A lot of media people wanted to know `Why don't you ever go ask (about your status)?' You don't ask. You just do what you are supposed to do and if it was meant for you to be the starter, they you will be the starter.
"Now is my time to run. No revitalization. No rebirth. Just me running the ball. It's as simple as that."
A number of Raiders were standing up for Callahan after Sunday's outburst.
"Coach is entitled to his opinion and that's the way it is," fullback Chris Hetherington said. "He's the boss."
"It's like an angry parent," said tight end Teyo Johnson. "I don't take it personally. He has yelled at me numerous times. I never thought `Oh, he doesn't like me because I'm Teyo Johnson.' He just didn't like Teyo Johnson the player at that particular moment. You have to separate the two."
But what about teammates who DID take it personally?
"I don't know," Johnson said. "I'm just a dumb rookie."
--Playoff possibilities gone, now what do the Raiders play for? Wide receiver Jerry Porter has his own ideas.
"Because you love this game," he said. "We have been mathematically eliminated so you go out there to practice today and say `Hell with it.' You go play football, have fun, compete and possibly get better.
"We used to go out when I was a kid on Monday after school ... in the middle of a field, no coaches, no referees, nothing. Just go play football. We played until the street lights came on or we couldn't see any more.
"Just (being) out there having fun ... that's basically what it is back to right now. I am going to FIND a way to have fun, whether it means I have to go block for Wheat(ley) all day, go cut me a few guys, talk trash at (Steelers linebacker) Joey Porter and tell him to make sure they get our names right, or catch 25 balls.
"It doesn't matter. It's football. It's about having fun."
In addition to fighting the effects of strep throat that resulted in a 104-degree temperature and ultimately in the need for an IV, fullback Chris Hetherington was also sporting a shiner this week.
"Guy stuck his finger right into my eye," he said. "It was a lot worse Sunday. I couldn't really see for about 20 minutes. It (the strep) was a rough session ... not a good way to be on in the injury report, but better than being hurt."
The Raiders brought back tight end David Newman, cut in August, and placed him on the practice squad. A spot opened up when safety Curry Burns was signed by Houston.
The Raiders did not bring any free agents in for a tryout this week, the first time that has happened in nearly a month.
BY THE NUMBERS
84 -- The number of days lost by the team's two defensive tackles -- John Parrella and Dana Stubblefield -- due to injury.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I sure hope so. I'm just waiting for you guys to." -- Right tackle Lincoln Kennedy, surrounded by a horde of reporters demanding to know if the team had "moved on" with regard to Callahan's "dumb" statement.
Notes, quotes, anecdotes
--Coach Bill Callahan is up to his neck in muddy water but doesn't want to even speculate about his job status.
"I am going to do the best that I can in this week," he said. "That's all that I can worry about ... all I can focus in on. I'm just worried about finishing well in this stretch run and in these last four games.
"We know where we're at ... at 3-9 it hasn't been a bed of roses. We've been frustrated and mistakes have hurt us, but we learn from it and we'll move on.
"We've got an opportunity to win four games. These guys continue to fight, continue to compete at a very high level. We've been in every game. It would be different if we were getting blown out of the tank and didn't have a chance. But that's not the situation and I'm just working hard to get more out of them."
In the four weeks since he began serving as the team's No. 1 running back ahead of Charlie Garner, Tyrone Wheatley has gained 346 yards and is on a 1,384-yard pace for a full season. Since he hasn't been a regular since Garner arrived in 2001 -- the year after Wheatley rushed for 1,046 yards -- he has emerged from football purgatory.
"A lot of people say I've been reborn or revitalized," he said. "That's funny. It (success) is just a matter of having the opportunity to play. That's about it. This is a deal where you are a professional. A lot of guys ... are `me' guys.
"So I wouldn't say revitalized. If you're a professional, when it's your time to run, you've got to run. You are always an injury or a step away from being the starter. So it isn't one of those deals where you pound your chest and say `Yay, yay ... happy for me.' It's just a day's work and that's about it.
"A lot of media people wanted to know `Why don't you ever go ask (about your status)?' You don't ask. You just do what you are supposed to do and if it was meant for you to be the starter, they you will be the starter.
"Now is my time to run. No revitalization. No rebirth. Just me running the ball. It's as simple as that."
A number of Raiders were standing up for Callahan after Sunday's outburst.
"Coach is entitled to his opinion and that's the way it is," fullback Chris Hetherington said. "He's the boss."
"It's like an angry parent," said tight end Teyo Johnson. "I don't take it personally. He has yelled at me numerous times. I never thought `Oh, he doesn't like me because I'm Teyo Johnson.' He just didn't like Teyo Johnson the player at that particular moment. You have to separate the two."
But what about teammates who DID take it personally?
"I don't know," Johnson said. "I'm just a dumb rookie."
--Playoff possibilities gone, now what do the Raiders play for? Wide receiver Jerry Porter has his own ideas.
"Because you love this game," he said. "We have been mathematically eliminated so you go out there to practice today and say `Hell with it.' You go play football, have fun, compete and possibly get better.
"We used to go out when I was a kid on Monday after school ... in the middle of a field, no coaches, no referees, nothing. Just go play football. We played until the street lights came on or we couldn't see any more.
"Just (being) out there having fun ... that's basically what it is back to right now. I am going to FIND a way to have fun, whether it means I have to go block for Wheat(ley) all day, go cut me a few guys, talk trash at (Steelers linebacker) Joey Porter and tell him to make sure they get our names right, or catch 25 balls.
"It doesn't matter. It's football. It's about having fun."
In addition to fighting the effects of strep throat that resulted in a 104-degree temperature and ultimately in the need for an IV, fullback Chris Hetherington was also sporting a shiner this week.
"Guy stuck his finger right into my eye," he said. "It was a lot worse Sunday. I couldn't really see for about 20 minutes. It (the strep) was a rough session ... not a good way to be on in the injury report, but better than being hurt."
The Raiders brought back tight end David Newman, cut in August, and placed him on the practice squad. A spot opened up when safety Curry Burns was signed by Houston.
The Raiders did not bring any free agents in for a tryout this week, the first time that has happened in nearly a month.
BY THE NUMBERS
84 -- The number of days lost by the team's two defensive tackles -- John Parrella and Dana Stubblefield -- due to injury.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I sure hope so. I'm just waiting for you guys to." -- Right tackle Lincoln Kennedy, surrounded by a horde of reporters demanding to know if the team had "moved on" with regard to Callahan's "dumb" statement.