Holdout Mack remains absent for camp opener
Khalil Mack’s contract holdout began in earnest Tuesday as the edge rusher was absent for Day 1 of the Raiders’ mandatory three-day minicamp.
Mack, the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, and the Raiders have not been able to reach agreement on a longterm extension. Mack is entering the final year of his rookie contract and set to earn $13.8 million under a fifth-year option.
If Mack misses all three minicamp days, he could face a fine of $84,435 under the collective bargaining agreement. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden doesn’t know whether he’ll see Mack this week.
“I just hope so,” Gruden said. “It’s one of the big reasons I came here is to coach that man. But I don’t want to speculate. There are a lot of guys in the league, several players, that are in the same situation. And we’re just trying to resolve it as soon as possible, and in the meantime, coach the players that are here.”
Mack has been absent for the Raiders’ entire offseason program. Following minicamp, the team will not convene again until training camp begins in mid-July.
Hot minute: Tuesday featured a scuffle when defensive end Fadol Brown and rookie offensive tackle Brandon Parker got tangled during a two-minute drill, went to the ground and had to be separated. Brown was sent off the field and a displeased Gruden assessed a 15-yard penalty on the defense.
“I didn’t like what happened, particularly in the situation,” Gruden said. “We’re in a two-minute drill to win the game, and we got a guy ejected for fighting. That’s a 15-yard penalty, and (kicker) Eddy Pineiro ended (the defense’s) day with a gamewinning field goal. I’d hate to fly back from London or wherever the hell we’ve got to play … losing a game like that.”
Dueling kickers: The Raiders have a competition emerging at kicker between incumbent Giorgio Tavecchio and Pineiro, who was signed as an undrafted free agent from Florida.
Pineiro has taken the fieldgoal reps during the past two practices open to media and showed a strong right leg. But Gruden said Tavecchio, who made 16 of 21 field-goal attempts last season, has “had a heck of a camp” on his kicking days.
New faces: The Raiders officially signed defensive end Frostee Rucker and nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin on Tuesday, and waived quarterback Christian Hackenberg and linebacker Brady Sheldon to make roster room.
Gruden lauded Rucker’s “versatility and leadership,” and said the 12-year veteran lends an experienced voice at a young position for the Raiders. At 6-foot-2, 321 pounds, Rubin is a “mammoth nose tackle” who provides depth to the interior line. Last year’s third-round pick, Eddie Vanderdoes, is returning from ACL surgery and still not practicing, and Mario Edwards Jr. also has “had some injuries,” Gruden said. Injury: Safety Marcus Gilchrist (calf strain) was among several players held out of practice.