Post by TheShadow on Dec 12, 2003 22:38:51 GMT -5
www.bayarea.com
ROBBINS, COLLINS WILL MISS GAME AGAINST RAVENS
By Craig Lancaster
Mercury News
For the second consecutive game, injuries to center Barret Robbins and right
guard Mo Collins will force the Raiders to shuffle the offensive line.
Robbins, bothered by a right knee that was surgically repaired in the
off-season, and Collins (left knee) were downgraded to ``out'' on the team's
injury report Thursday. Collins said his knee will require surgery in the
near future.
To fill the holes Sunday against Baltimore, the Raiders will go with the
lineup they had last weekend in Pittsburgh. Left guard Brad Badger will move
to the right side, with Frank Middleton filling in behind him, and Adam Treu
will play center.
Coach Bill Callahan has described the injuries to Robbins and Collins as
``degenerative,'' although in the Raiders' world of limited medical
disclosure, what that means precisely is unclear.
Collins laughed when asked about his coach's description.
``Everybody in the NFL has degenerative, arthritic conditions in every part
of their body,'' the sixth-year player said. ``It's a nice way of saying a
veteran. You tell me anybody who's got new knees, and I'll buy them right
now.''
The Raiders have used seven starting combinations on the offensive line.
Badger, a seventh-year player who joined the Raiders in 2002, has been the
most versatile fill-in. He started at right guard for Collins in two games
earlier this season, then jumped to the left side for five games after
injuries to Middleton and Matt Stinchcomb. Now he's the right guard. Again.
``I'm pretty good at going back and forth and figuring out I disagreeignments
and working both sides footwork-wise,'' said Badger, who played at Stanford.
``There is a difference, and if you don't do it, you don't get used to it.''
Another blackout
A Raiders spokesman said Thursday afternoon that ``several thousand''
tickets remained available for Sunday's game, which means another television
blackout in the Bay Area. It's the sixth in seven home games; only the Oct.
20 Monday night game against Kansas City was televised locally.
Since the Raiders returned to Oakland for the 1995 season, only 23 of 71
games at Network Associates Coliseum have sold out.
One other home game remains this season -- a Monday night date with Green
Bay on Dec. 22. As of Thursday evening, a group of 10 upper-level tickets
could still be had on Tickets.com. If the Green Bay game isn't televised, it
would be the first Monday night blackout since the Raiders returned.
. Right tackle Lincoln Kennedy, who suffered a concussion against
Pittsburgh, returned to practice, Callahan said. Despite the concussion,
Kennedy is expected to be available Sunday. He has fought off an assortment
of ailments this season, including injuries to both legs.
. Quarterbacks coach Jim Harbaugh is one of four finalists to become head
coach at Division I-AA San Diego, the Associated Press reported.
ROBBINS, COLLINS WILL MISS GAME AGAINST RAVENS
By Craig Lancaster
Mercury News
For the second consecutive game, injuries to center Barret Robbins and right
guard Mo Collins will force the Raiders to shuffle the offensive line.
Robbins, bothered by a right knee that was surgically repaired in the
off-season, and Collins (left knee) were downgraded to ``out'' on the team's
injury report Thursday. Collins said his knee will require surgery in the
near future.
To fill the holes Sunday against Baltimore, the Raiders will go with the
lineup they had last weekend in Pittsburgh. Left guard Brad Badger will move
to the right side, with Frank Middleton filling in behind him, and Adam Treu
will play center.
Coach Bill Callahan has described the injuries to Robbins and Collins as
``degenerative,'' although in the Raiders' world of limited medical
disclosure, what that means precisely is unclear.
Collins laughed when asked about his coach's description.
``Everybody in the NFL has degenerative, arthritic conditions in every part
of their body,'' the sixth-year player said. ``It's a nice way of saying a
veteran. You tell me anybody who's got new knees, and I'll buy them right
now.''
The Raiders have used seven starting combinations on the offensive line.
Badger, a seventh-year player who joined the Raiders in 2002, has been the
most versatile fill-in. He started at right guard for Collins in two games
earlier this season, then jumped to the left side for five games after
injuries to Middleton and Matt Stinchcomb. Now he's the right guard. Again.
``I'm pretty good at going back and forth and figuring out I disagreeignments
and working both sides footwork-wise,'' said Badger, who played at Stanford.
``There is a difference, and if you don't do it, you don't get used to it.''
Another blackout
A Raiders spokesman said Thursday afternoon that ``several thousand''
tickets remained available for Sunday's game, which means another television
blackout in the Bay Area. It's the sixth in seven home games; only the Oct.
20 Monday night game against Kansas City was televised locally.
Since the Raiders returned to Oakland for the 1995 season, only 23 of 71
games at Network Associates Coliseum have sold out.
One other home game remains this season -- a Monday night date with Green
Bay on Dec. 22. As of Thursday evening, a group of 10 upper-level tickets
could still be had on Tickets.com. If the Green Bay game isn't televised, it
would be the first Monday night blackout since the Raiders returned.
. Right tackle Lincoln Kennedy, who suffered a concussion against
Pittsburgh, returned to practice, Callahan said. Despite the concussion,
Kennedy is expected to be available Sunday. He has fought off an assortment
of ailments this season, including injuries to both legs.
. Quarterbacks coach Jim Harbaugh is one of four finalists to become head
coach at Division I-AA San Diego, the Associated Press reported.