Thornton returns to Sharks practice
SAN JOSE – Joe Thornton returned to practice Tuesday and suggested that he could be in the Sharks lineup when the team returns to action at SAP Center Thursday.
Head coach Pete Deboer offered a different take, chuckled and called Thornton “doubtful” for the Sharks game against the Buffalo Sabres.
After participating in the Sharks entire hour-long practice Tuesday, Thornton said he’s awaiting the results of blood tests to find out whether the infection in his right knee has cleared. He also needs to see how his knee responds to his first practice since he left the team’s road trip on Oct. 6 to fly back to San Jose and get it checked out by doctors.
Still, Thornton refused to rule himself out for Thursday’s game.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be on the antibiotics,” Thornton said. “But I feel good. I felt good today. There’s no swelling. It’s just day to day right now.”
Deboer provided a more measured assessment on the likelihood of Thornton’s return this week.
“He’s never going to put himself out,” the Sharks coach said. “The reality of this is that the antibiotics have to do their job. We can’t risk a second infection. I would put it as doubtful. I would never (bet) against him, but bottom line is, we have to let the antibiotics do their job and their job doesn’t happen overnight.” San Jose Sharks’ Joe Thornton skates on the ice during a break in action against the Anaheim Ducks in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose on Oct. 3.
going to continue to try to develop our young players. We’re going to stay on the gas pedal and go as hard as we can.” ‘What do you say to that, America?’ Gruden has received plenty heat in the media, including right here in this publication, about signing a plethora of 30-plus-year-olds this offseason.
The Raiders are the oldest team in the NFL, and despite releasing their oldest player in 35-year-old Derrick Johnson on Tuesday, still have 12 players 30 years or older on the roster.
He was asked Tuesday about the growth of his young defensive linemen, namely rookies Mo Hurst, Arden Key and P.J. Hall, after Hurst batted yet another pass against the Seahawks, Key recorded his first NFL sack and Hall logged another game under his belt since returning from an ankle sprain.
“I thought Hurst did a good job of recognizing the traps. I thought he got off blocks. I saw Key get his first sack. I thought P.J. Hall was finally flying around again like he was in training camp,” Gruden said. “I think they’ll continue to get better. I know they have to prove that. I’m excited about the rookie class.”
Then, because he couldn’t resist, Gruden brought up the often-used critique he relies too much on veterans.
“I’ve been accused my whole life of hating rookies and liking old players and now I’m playing 10 rookies,” Gruden said. “What do you say to that, America?”
Melvin played only seven defensive snaps against the Seahawks, as the former Raiders starting corner has now found himself in Gruden’s doghouse.
After Melvin played in a meaningless fourth preseason game against the Seahawks, Gruden said he played the then-starter because he had some technique-related things to work on. Asked Tuesday about Melvin’s public frustration, Gruden offered a fascinating take.
“I haven’t talked to him yet, no. I’m sure I will. I know Paul Guenther did. I heard there was a Twitter report out there,” Gruden said. “Melvin is on his seventh team, I think. He’s had different techniques. Maybe he’s confused. I don’t know. I’ll talk to him. But he has to play better. He’s in a competitive situation. Perhaps he’s frustrated, and I can’t blame him.”
Don’t tell Gruden the Raiders are tanking At 1-5, the Raiders obviously aren’t a good football team. Maybe the worst in the NFL.
The popular phrase to throw around is “tanking” when a team is on such a precipitous slide, but don’t dare mention that word to Gruden. The head coach was asked what message he left his players with as they head to their respective parts of the country, and it sounds like he used some press clippings to fuel his team entering the time off.
“Well, I left them with a pretty clear message. I don’t want to really get any further into it with anybody else. I’ll say this, we aren’t tanking anything,” Gruden said. “I hear the hatred out there, some of the rumors that we are tanking it to get a first-round pick or a higher pick. We are not getting up at 4 o’clock in the morning to tank it. Ain’t nobody tanking it.
If you watched Sunday’s game in London, you probably know the Raiders aren’t exactly set at kicker and punter.
Rookie kicker Matt Mccrane has made only 5-of-9 field goals in his three games with the Raiders, including a miss from 48 yards early against Seattle. After Seahawks kicker and 18-year Raider Sebastian Janikowski made both of his field goals, all three of his extra points and all five of his kickoffs went for touchbacks, Gruden talked to the kicker who he declined to resign in free agency this offseason after the game.
“Our kicker, we need better kickoffs. We need to get some touchbacks. I talked to Janikowski after the game. The damn guy is still getting touchbacks,” Gruden said. “We need touchbacks. We’ve got to improve. We’re working hard at it and that’s all I can say.”
We’ve got to win the field position battle, I’m tired of saying it. You get the football at your own 20, your own 12 every possession. It’s ridiculous. We’ve got to do a better job of not only creating field position, but I think Townsend can be a more explosive weapon for us.” Jon Gruden gave a loaded bye week press conference on Tuesday.