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June 9, 2008

Kid games

ALAMEDA - Random notes as I go into hiding (vacation) for the week...

I stopped by the Raiders Youth Skills Camp over the weekend and saw 250 youngsters enjoy themselves at team headquarters.

Fifteen players (mostly rookies), six coaches and 60 volunteers took part in the event.

Among the highlights for me was watching JaMarcus Russell (who wasn't required to, but showed up) throw soft passes to youngsters.

For one shy girl, Russell called her to the front of the line and asked her what route she wanted to run. Obviously nervous, she really didn't have an answer. So he told her to run and he tossed an underhand flip in an attempt to get the ball over the boy defending her.

She didn't catch the ball, but it was fun to watch, nonetheless.

*Darren McFadden also looked comfortable working with the campers, and even cracked a smile when one confident youngster declared he was faster than McFadden.

Keep dreaming, kid.

*It was also fun hearing rookie CB Darrick Brown brag about the move he put on someone that was probably under the age of 10.

*QB Quinn Gray, a target of the team in free agency before signing with Houston, has been cut by the Texans. The Raiders put in a waiver claim on former Tampa Bay QB Brad Gradkowski, so it's not unreasonable to think they'll take another look at Gray, which could mean bad news for Andrew Walter, who is probably isn't as good a fit as Marques Tuiasosopo.

--Jason Jones

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 2:01 PM | Comments |