Dealing with computer connectivity issues here in Napa, but a quick recap of this morning's practice.
-Khalif Barnes, locked in a battle for left tackle with Mario Henderson, injured his left ankle and knee when the scrum landed on him.
"It's part of ball and stuff like this happens but oit's frustrating," Barnes said as he was leaving the practice field to have an MRI taken. "The good part about it, I guess, is that it is isearly and if it's something that can be corrected in a few weeks, then I have a little time toget ready for (the season) so I won't miss much time."
-Defensive end Greg Ellis sat out most of the morning practice.
"Just being smart with the veterans," coach Tom Cable said.
-Ricky Brown was at middle linebacker with the first-team defense, relegating Kirk Morris, who has led the Raiders in tackles the past three seasons, to the second-team.
"We want to push Kirk and we want to push Ricky," Cable said. "And we want to get the right combination in there...we just want to give everyone the opportunity when it fits and when they've earned it to do that.
"They're very similar players. It's just trying to press the competition as coaches."
With Brown considered a better run stopper at MLB than Morrison, and stopping the run better this season is a point of emphasis, it makes you scratch your head.
"It's just a competitive environment out there," Brown said. "Kirk was with the ones yesterday, I was with the ones today. I'm also playing a little bit of SAM."
-The first skirmish of camp broke out AFTER the morning practice was done. About five minutes later when linebacker Jon Alston and tight end Tony Stewart had to be separated.
"Actually," Cable said with a sly grin, "I think that may have been a practical joke. No big deal there."
Didn't look like a practical joke.
-Nnamdi Asomugha came out of practice with a tight hip flexor.
"It's fine, nothing," he said. "I just need to stretch a little more."
-No news on holdout Derrick Burgess, which is strange, considering he has no leverage to demand a new contract. He's coming off his two worst seasons for the Raiders.
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