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Oakland Raiders

8-8, 3-3 AFC West (3rd)
Team RankingOverallRushingPassing
Offense9th131.9 (7th)247.6 (11th)
Defense28th136.1 (27th)251.4 (27th)
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Raiders report: Notes, quotes

 
Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel · Inside slant
 

--The Raiders had two delay of game penalties, two false starts and three offsides penalties, accounting for seven of their nine whistles in a 16-13 win over Minnesota.

"I hate to go back to last year, and I know people hate talking about the past, but that's what we did last year," running back LaMont Jordan said. "Pretty much the same things have been preached, but what we have to do is actually go out there and get the job done."

--Wide receiver Randy Moss caught one pass for 16 yards against Minnesota, then created a mini-controversy that probably didn't deserve the attention it got when he complained about being taken out in the middle of a series.

Moss never raised his voice, but the comments were construed in some outlets as Moss having "ripped" the coach.

Shell didn't seem to mind.

"Randy is no different than any other ballplayer," Shell said. "Fred Biletnikoff used to be frustrated. Young Cliff Branch used to be frustrated. All those guys were frustrated. They all wanted the ball and I understand that. That's good. That means he's competitive and he wants to do well."

--Undrafted free agent tight end John Madsen, a converted wide receiver, is impressing the Raiders with his overall athletic skill. That comes as no surprise to 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, who played with Madsen at Utah and remembers watching him at 4-on-4 basketball tournaments.

"At the end there would be a slam-dunk contest," Smith said. "Here's this guy from Utah up there doing these 360 degree windmills, throwing them down, putting on a show. To see him do that was amazing."

--Sebastian Janikowski, having gone from 265 pounds to 249, hit his first six kicks of the pre-season, including dead-center efforts from 55, 51 and 50 yards.

There was talk after last season, when Janikowski missed a third of his 30 field goal attempts and missed eight of 15 from 40 yards and beyond, that he could be looking for a new team.

Instead, Shell did the opposite.

"I told him when I first met him, `I'm going to count on you,' " Shell said. "I expect you to be a Pro Bowl kicker this year. You have the talent to do that, and I expect that will happen."

Janikowski maintains he struck the ball well for the most part last season, but simply had little or no luck.

"I thought I hit the ball good, it just didn't happen," Janikowski said. "It's like a golf swing -- you hit the ball good but it goes left and right."

Speaking of golf, Raiders punter Shane Lechler thinks Janikowski's hot start could lead to something big.

"He plays golf the same way," Lechler said. "If he birdies one, look out. It's going to be a long day."

--Jerry Porter remained on the roster and was making the occasional practice, although he has stopped talking to the media since making his trade demands public at the beginning of training camp.

Safety Jarrod Cooper, when asked if Porter's problems were a business issue as opposed to a team issue, minced no words regarding the unhappy wide receiver.

"I've been in this league six years. I've been the third safety, the second safety, the first safety," Cooper said. "If you have someone who is upset because he's running at three, but he's still contributing to the team, you really don't want that person. You want someone who's contribute any way they're asked, no matter where it's at. That's what you want. If they're not like that, they can get out of here. It's about winning as a team, it's not what you're doing."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I don't see it. Hell no, I don't see it. It seems that way in practice, but when we get into the games, it doesn't seem like we're moving in the right direction." -- Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss when asked if the team's offense is making progress following a win over Minnesota.

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