Alumni pump up players on Day 1
Marshawn Lynch walked over during practice to say hi to his Beast Mode production crew, as fans chanted the Raiders running back’s moniker. Derek Carr zipped passes to Amari Cooper, the Napa sun was shining and not even his left tackle’s holdout could spoil coach Jack Del Rio’s mood.
“Day 1 of training camp always fires you up,” Del Rio said
Especially when over 100 former players are on hand for alumni weekend. That they’re giddy about this team’s chances to go far in the playoffs means more to Del Rio, Carr and Khalil Mack than what the national experts or fans think.
“Whenever you get the legends here, there is nothing like it,” Carr said. “Brings it all to life, all the tradition that this organization has. … You want to soak it all in. Daryle Lamonica is always joking with me, ‘Don’t break all the records.’ ”
Day 1 wasn’t a smashing success, as Penn didn’t show up and say “just kidding” about his more-money demand. First-round pick Gareon Conley, who finally signed Friday night, started off camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, though Del Rio said he should be back soon from a minor injury. Mario Edwards, such an important piece to the defense but seemingly always hurt, didn’t practice either as he is on the Non-Football Injury list.
But, as in the case with Penn, coaches and teammates focus on who is here and try to get better.
“My thought on that is we love Donald,” Del Rio said. “He’s a good Raider, good player. What’s important for us is to focus on the work here, on the guys that are here. That’s how we’re going to approach it. There’s a business side. There’s a time for pay and a time for play.
“Once we get to camp, my focus has to be, for our team, on just growing and going forward. Obviously, we love Donald and would love to have him and hopefully that gets resolved.”
Penn, 34, is coming off a Pro Bowl season and is due to make $5.8 million in the last year of his contract, but wants another $5 million so that he can be one of the Top 10-paid left tackles.
“I never put my hand in another man’s pocket,” Carr said. “I stay far away from that. Everyone here from top to bottom loves him. He knows that. But we’re focused on who’s here and getting better. He knows how everybody feels about him, but I never step into another man’s situation like that.”
Marshall Newhouse, signed away from the Giants, was the favorite to win the right tackle job, but moved over to the left side to replace Penn on the first day of practice. Second-year player Vadal Alexander was the first-team right tackle Saturday.
As for Edwards and Conley, there were no details on their injuries. (Starting linebacker Bruce Irvin was also on the NFI list, but Mack said he is itching to practice and won’t be out long.)
Conley had an undisclosed injury late in the offseason program.
The absences underscore the work to be done, and the hype to tune out.
“We didn’t even beat Kansas City twice last year,” Carr said. “so I don’t know why everyone’s so excited . ... I understand the excitement of the people we have, but I don’t understand the excitement of how we finished.”
And with that, the players left for more meetings Saturday night, and then a second opportunity to get better on Sunday morning.