JaMarcus Russell held a "passing camp" in his native Alabama this summer in which youngsters Will Franklin, Jonathan Holland, Louis Murphy and Todd Watkins attended.
Second-year receiver Chaz Schillens played catch this offseason with Jeff Garcia.
And now, first-rounder Darrius Heyward-Bey, owner of the most watched hands in camp, has taken part in Danny Southwick's Passing School. Well, not really, but it was something to behold during Sunday's lone practice in oppressive heat.
While the Raiders went at it in group drills, seven-on-seven, nine-on-nine and 11-on-11 scrimmages in full pads, DHB was off on a side field, taking passes while standing still - 10-yard bullets, 20-yard floaters - from the recently cut quarterback who has taken an internship with the Raiders.
Raiders coach Tom Cable, though, said DHB was not being punished; he was actually nursing a sore toe.
"No it's not...serious at all," Cable said. "Just, let's be smart and not do something that may prolong anything."
- Charlie Frye, who has won as many games at the Coliseum as a starting quarterback as JaMarcus Russell, appears to have finally overtaken journeyman Bruce Gradkowski for third-string, behind Russell and Jeff Garcia.
Frye looked impressive in practice with his touch passing while taking more snaps than usual.
- A scary moment came in live drills when Chris Johnson broke up a pass and rolled up Nnamdi Asomugha's legs. Asomugha shook it off, though, and shimmied his shoulders as Raider Nation exhaled.
- So who says it doesn't get hot in wine country? It was sweltering - had to be near triple digits on the field for guys in full pads - and Cable loved every sweaty moment of it.
"We needed a little bit warmer weather, we got it, did a nice job today of pushing through and dealing with that so it was good to see that happening," he said. "Now, with the weather the way it's going to be in the next few days, that should really help us. So, I'm happy that it's going on."
The heat seemed to contribute to 6-feet-4, 330-pound defensive tackle Gerard Warren looking out of sorts early and the quick skirmish between receiver Nick Miller and cornerback Stanford Routt late, which included Miller punching Routt in the helmet.
- The Raiders also piped in crowd noise for the first time to give the scrimmages more of a game-time feel.
- Heyward-Bey, Garcia, Javon Walker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Barnes, Robert Gallery, and Mark Wilson did not practice Justin Fargas and John Bowie were limited or did not finish.
- This week's schedule - the Raiders will practice in full pads Monday at 3:30, have two practices on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m., hold a walk-thru on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m., play host to the Dallas Cowboys at the Coliseum on Thursday in both teams' exhibition opener at 7 p.m., take Friday off, have an 8:30 a.m. and a 4:20 p.m. practice on Saturday and a 3:30 p.m. practice on Sunday.
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