ALAMEDA – To many Raiders fans, Mike Shanahan symbolizes all things evil. And there isn't anything the former Raiders coach could say to change that.

But Shanahan, now in his 13th season as Denver Broncos head coach, is sweet on Nnamdi Asomugha.

The Raiders cornerback has been avoided by opposing offenses most of the season. But Shanahan would love to meet Asomugha after the Raiders play Sunday in Denver.

It's almost enough to make Shanahan's own elite cornerback, Champ Bailey, jealous.

That Asomugha consistently is mentioned with Bailey as one of the NFL's best cornerbacks is strange to Shanahan.

"He's the most underrated top player in the game," Shanahan said on a conference call with Northern California reporters Wednesday. "I can't say the history of the game because I haven't been around here that long, but I can say in my 25 years, he is by far the most underrated player."

Shanahan didn't stop gushing over Asomugha with that. It sounds as if Shanahan might even bring a football for Asomugha to sign and try not to faint in his presence.

"I've never met him, but I'm going to shake his hand after (Sunday's) game," Shanahan said. "I keep on looking for him, but I never get a chance to talk to him.

"He's one of my favorite players, even though he is with the Raiders. That shows you how much I like him."

Asomugha, however, isn't biting.

When Shanahan's outpouring of love was relayed to him, Asomugha smiled.

"He's lying," Asomugha said. "He's coming after me."

In the regular-season opener, the Broncos basically avoided Asomugha in their 41-14 beating of the Raiders on "Monday Night Football." The Broncos targeted DeAngelo Hall almost exclusively with rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal catching nine passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.

Denver's top receiver, Brandon Marshall, missed that game because of an NFL suspension for repeated run-ins with the law.

Raiders interim head coach Tom Cable expects with Marshall and Royal together, Denver won't shy away from Asomugha.

"When you only have one, you might find a way to get him on whatever you think is the weakest link," Cable said. "But now they've got both, and they throw the ball to both of them an extreme amount of times.

"I think (Asomugha's) going to get challenged; he's going to be ready for it, and it should be fun to watch."

Bush switches – Michael Bush practiced at fullback Wednesday, two days after Cable said he needed to be open to playing there instead of tailback.

The team has asked Bush to play fullback since Oren O'Neal was lost for the season with a knee injury in August.

The pressure increased when starter Justin Griffith went down with a knee injury Oct. 26 in Baltimore.

"I told (Cable) no the first time," Bush said. "I guess it's either, I do something or I don't. I don't know. It is what it is. Do I like it? Do I want to play there? Do I think I'm a fullback? No."

After the Raiders cut backup Jason Davis on Tuesday, Luke Lawton is the only player on the roster who is exclusively a fullback.

Injury report – Defensive end Derrick Burgess (triceps) returned to practice and was not limited. He practiced once last week and has missed the last six games.

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell (ankle) and wide receiver Chaz Schilens (ankle) were limited.

Center Jake Grove (calf) and linebacker Ricky Brown (groin) did not practice.

Read Jason Jones' Raiders blog at www.sacbee.com/raidersblog.