ALAMEDA - It's the time of the year when the Raiders distribute their team photo.
This year's photo was funny.
It was taken while Lane Kiffin was still the head coach. So using some computer manipulation, Tom Cable's head is on what appears to be Kiffin's body.
Matt Capurro, assistant to the head coach, is in the spot Cable should have had in the photo.
Cappuro was originally on the back row with the rest of the administrative staff, but was cut out of that part of the photo.
The only problem with that was it took a part of Jay Richardson's face off, giving him a very narrow head in the photo.
*Speaking of Kiffin, former Raiders coach Jon Gruden said on this morning's conference call that he didn't speak to Kiffin much as he and Raiders owner Al Davis engaged in their battle of wills.
As for Gruden's defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin, Gruden wouldn't speak for him.
"You'd have to interview Monte," Gruden said. "That was obviously sudden and traumatic, I guess, from a football standpoint of what occurred. But I can't comment for Coach Kiff."
Gruden said his time in Oakland was good and seemed miffed as to why there would be reports his time wasn't good in Oakland.
*CB Nnamdi Asomugha (sore neck) did not practice. Cable said all tests were negative and Asomugha should practice tomorrow.
WR Ronald Curry (turf toe) and LB Ricky Brown (groin) did not practice. Cable did not rule out putting one of them on injured reserve and promoting a player from the practice squad.
FB Marcel Reece would be a logical candidate to be promoted.
*Center Jake Grove was named the recipient of the Raiders 2008 Ed Block Courage Award.
Grove came back from microfracture knee surgery to beat out John Wade for the starting job.
Grove lost the job to Jeremy Newberry in 2007.
*Finally, some holiday fun.
Some of the players were playing a game of who could name all of Santa's reindeer.
One player - who will remain nameless - was caught up one name.
He thought one of Santa's reindeer was named Vixen.
He meant Blitzen.
So of course, he was clowned and reminded that Vixen might have been a woman he met, but a reindeer with Rudolph and Co.
--Jason Jones
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.