--Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, having gone through the Bobby Petrino fiasco in Atlanta, said he wasn't concerned about the reports of coach Lane Kiffin's job security when the Raiders started talking trade.

"I had a chance to talk to Lane. I know him and I know his dad real well," Hall said. "I had a chance to talk to some of the players here and they never gave me the feeling as though there was something bad going on.

"You can ask anybody who last year was a part of (the Atlanta) organization, everybody knew what was going on. Here there's a lot of speculation, but it's behind closed doors. I don't see a problem at all."

--Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp likes what he sees of wide receiver Javon Walker, on whom the Raiders have gambled $16 million in guaranteed money on despite playing in 25 of 48 games over the past three years due to injury.

Walker is coming off knee surgery but is expected to be ready for the mandatory June minicamp.

"His progress has been excellent," Knapp said. "What I've found is that guys who have reached a certain status -- and I was with (Walker) back at the Pro Bowl in '04 when he was with Green Bay -- have gone something to prove.

They've got a little hunger and a little fire. He wants to show everybody, `Hey, I wasn't done. Here I am again.' "

--Top draft pick Darren McFadden cited his pre-draft meeting with running backs coach Tom Rathman as one of the reasons he was excited to be selected by the Raiders, noting that the coach was enthused by his willingness to be physical and block.

Coach Lane Kiffin believes Rathman will be key component in McFadden's development as an all-around running back.

"(Rathman) has been in the league, a guy who has been great with players," Kiffin said. "He has players that went to the top and then went right back down to the bottom, or guys that never got to the top because of how they acted or how they went about things."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Certainly, you hear it. You can't not hear it. You use it as inspiration or motivation, but fans can be so temperamental it would be insane to base your entire inspiration on them." -- Raiders left tackle Kwame Harris, a lightning rod for criticism as a first-round pick across the Bay with the 49ers.

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