Raiders Notes

By MARTY JAMES
Executive Sports Editor

The 2009 Raider Nation Celebration is set for Saturday, Aug. 8, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

This free event will feature current Raiders players and coaches, Raider legends and the Raiderettes, the organization’s cheerleading squad, as well as chances to win prizes.

It also includes a Raiders practice session, interactive Kids Zone, select autograph and photo opportunities with the Raiderettes and Raiders legends, Lockers of the Decades, the Super Bowl trophies on display and live interviews with legends and current players.

Parking is also free.

• Raiders return to Napa

Training camp for the Silver and Black starts on July 28 when players arrive at the Napa Valley Marriott. The first practice is scheduled for July 30 at the adjacent Redwood Middle School complex, which has 21⁄2 fields and a fieldhouse.

This marks the Raiders’ 14th year in Napa. No date has been announced as to when the team will break camp and return to Alameda.

Training camps around the NFL open in late July. The first preseason weekend is Aug. 13-17. Kickoff 2009 Weekend, the start of the league’s regular season, is set for Sept. 10-14. The regular season ends Jan. 3.

• OTAs summer staple

The Raiders have had organized team activities in May and June at the team’s permanent facility in Alameda.

Addressing the media following an OTA last week, Raiders head coach Tom Cable offered his overall assessment on the last couple of weeks on the team’s Web site:

“I mentioned the plan when we first started. We wanted to get everything taught, get the players used to the new coaches, particularly the new and some of the changes on offense. I think we’ve done that.

“So I think it’s been very productive and can’t wait for camp.”

• 49ers to visit Napa?

A Raiders spokesman Monday would not confirm it, but the San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that the 49ers will spend a day in Napa for a joint training camp practice with the Raiders. No date has been set.

The two teams practiced here last August. It was the first time in the Raiders’ 13 years of coming to Napa for summer camp that they’ve practiced against another team. One practice went from 9-11 a.m., followed by an evening session from 7-9 p.m. at the Raiders’ Napa Valley complex at Redwood Middle School.

• Gruden on SIRIUS NFL Radio

Former Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden was the guest of SIRIUS NFL Radio’s “The SIRIUS Blitz” earlier this month. Gruden, who will be the newest member of the Monday Night Football broadcast team this fall, was asked about the addition of quarterback Jeff Garcia and what type of impact will he have.

Said Gruden: “... He’s a premier competitor and I think that’s the No. 1 criteria that you have to have to survive in the NFL at that position. You have to be a premier competitor. Garcia is that. And if you look at Jeff’s career in the history of this game, he protects the ball as good or better than anybody that’s ever played. He’s one of the top four or five all-time in not turning the football over. And I think that’s one thing that Jeff Garcia always brings to you, is a guy that will protect the football.

“It might frustrate you at times. You might want to take a little bit more risk, but Jeff Garcia will take care of the football. He’ll be a premier competitor and I think that will help JaMarcus Russell as much as anything. And Oakland does have a fine supporting cast.”

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