Raiders notebook

Raiders think Ravens defense eclipses Bucs

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- The Raiders are willing to say the Bucs' top-ranked defense is good, but their courtesy has its limits.

Tim Brown said Thursday that the Bucs don't compare to Baltimore's defense two seasons ago and that Derrick Brooks isn't anywhere near as intimidating as Ray Lewis was. Then, Frank Middleton said Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice is soft.

"I don't see (massive defensive lineman Tony) Siragusa, I don't see (equally large) Sam Adams, I don't see a Ray Lewis-type," Brown said. "They obviously have the best player, the best linebacker in the league this year in Derrick Brooks. You certainly have to give him respect. But he doesn't play the game like Ray Lewis. Ray Lewis is the kind of guy who is going to come in and try to intimidate you. Derrick Brooks is just a great football player. He's using his quickness and speed to make plays.

"They don't play defense like Baltimore. They don't play smash-mouth football or have guys who are 350-360 pounds up there. They have guys who are 300 pounds at the most, who rely on their quickness to get to the quarterback to make plays. So from that standpoint they're different. But they're a great defensive squad."

Middleton, a former Buc, has been sparring with Warren Sapp. Now he turned his trash talk toward Rice, the NFC's sack leader.

"Rice does not scare me," Middleton said. "The last time I played him, when he was with the Cardinals, he was not good. When I played him at Illinois (in college), he shut it down. You can make him shut it down. ... We are going to hit Simeon. I do not think he has been hit like we are going to hit him. If you hit Simeon hard enough, and enough times, he will quit."

DOUBLEHEADER: Brown's wife is on the verge of delivering twins, but he's hoping for a delay of game. If she goes into labor today or Saturday, he plans to go home for the birth. But if it happens Sunday, he'll stay and play in his first Super Bowl.

"It's a beautiful thing the way I'm looking at it -- win a championship, have a couple of babies," Brown said. "I don't know too many people who can say they've done that."

THE GOOD GUEST: Chargers players might be surprised to discover random notes scattered about their locker room next season.

Middleton has written several thank-you notes to Oakland's AFC West rival to remind them the Raiders made it to the Super Bowl in their stadium.

"I just told them that I appreciate all the good things for us," he said. "They have a great locker room. I'm enjoying their pool and their hot tub while they're at home.

"It's fun. The one team that didn't want us to go to the Super Bowl in San Diego. Now we're here and actually on their football field, dressing in their locker room. It's like the greatest thing on earth. We love making everybody mad."

LETTING IT ALL HANG OUT: Having spent the previous four seasons as the Raiders' offensive coordinator, Bill Callahan used his anonymity advantageously after Oakland hired him to replace Jon Gruden as coach.

"When I took the position I said, "I have nothing to lose. I'm going to let it all go. I don't care what happens,"' Callahan said. "I felt in my own heart that I had nothing to lose. I think when your players see that, sense it and feel that you're fearless in what you want to accomplish, I think you can lead anybody."

KNOWING HIM: These aren't the same Raiders Gruden coached before taking the Tampa Bay job, but Oakland coaches are sure Gruden has busied himself searching for weaknesses.

"Jon's preparation is phenomenal," defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said. "He's a workaholic. He's up all night.

"I guarantee he's gone back through all 16 regular-season games, four preseason games, any game the past two years looking for teams that hurt us with anything, and he's got that on a separate reel."

GREATNESS OF THE RAIDERS: The NFL fined the team $50,000 because at least a dozen players and coaches missed Wednesday's mandatory media session or left early. ... All 53 players practiced Thursday as the team went through a nearly 21/2-hour workout, focusing mainly on short-yardage offense and nickel defense.