The Raiders' first practice of the 2011 regular season Sunday was a low-key, get-acquainted session designed to affirm that preparations begin immediately for what Hue Jackson is pointing to as a championship season.
An 0-4 exhibition season, concluded Friday night with a 20-3 loss to Seattle, was ancient history.
Players were off Saturday when the Raiders pared 26 names from the roster.
"I welcomed 'em," Jackson said after practice. "Congratulations. But now it's time to do what we do. Obviously a smaller group, less guys. Now the focus is on winning. Everything we do now is about winning football games."
The Raiders practiced a little more than an hour, getting in some warm-ups, drills and special teams work.
"I just wanted to get the guys back, get them running around, let them meet their teammates," Jackson said. "This is the 2011 Raiders having an opportunity to spend a little time with each other, do a little weight room work, do a little running and then come out and do a little football."
After practice Monday and a day off Tuesday, the Raiders should pick up their intensity considerably Wednesday, when they have the first of three practices at 7:15 p.m. The idea is to get their body clocks used to a 7:15 kickoff (8:15 in Denver) in the season opener on Sept. 12.
Portable lights will be brought to the practice facility.
"I don't know if it's going to light up like Christmas, but I know we'll be able to
Cornerback Stanford Routt wasn't sure if the body-clock theory has any merit but was willing to go along with the program.
"You can make it out to be an advantage, you can make it out to be a disadvantage," Routt said. "If that's what they've got us scheduled for, we've just got to go out there and do it, no matter what."
Brown was cut by the New England Patriots on Friday and got the call from his agent at the airport while leaving town. Offensive tackle Seth Wand was released to make room.
It was notification of a drug test, a routine part of NFL life and official acknowledgment to Porter that he had made the 53-man roster.
Porter had a breakup of a Seahawks pass that running back Leon Washington turned into a fluke 33-yard gain and also blocked a 53-yard field goal attempt by Jeff Reed.
Tight end Richard Gordon said he slept just fine after catching two passes for a team-high 41 yards.
"I'm not going to say it forced our hand, but obviously it opened our eyes that these guys were working," Jackson said of Porter and Gordon. "It's about giving guys opportunities to make plays in the game, and they did that."
If Pryor were to win an appeal, he would be placed on the 53-man roster.




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