Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
A few tidbits from the first day of the Raiders' minicamp:
Rookie tailback Darren McFadden was used in several formations, including as a receiver. He caught a long pass from quarterback JaMarcus Russell at one point. McFadden looks like the real deal. He is fast and appears to be a playmaker.
Russell looked shaky at times. He had some deflected passes and still looks out of playing shape.
No. 1 receiver Javon Walker had difficulty getting separation at times. At the previous camp, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said Walker, who signed a $55 million deal despite having bad knees, still has a long way to go in his conditioning.
Drew Carter was working as the other starting receiver with Ronald Curry out until training camp with a foot problem. Carter, a free agent from Carolina, made a few nice catches during the early session.
Andrew Walter was working as the No. 2 quarterback and Marques Tuiasosopo was getting some reps as the No. 3 quarterback. Tuiasosopo was a longtime Oakland backup who played for the Jets last year. He'll compete with Walter to be Russell's backup.
Coach Lane Kiffin lauded the play of new safety Gibril Wilson after the morning session. Kiffin suggested that Wilson was playing with more vigor than the former Giants safety did in previous camps.
And we leave with the best quote of the day. Oakland defensive end Derrick Burgess was asked about the new haircut of Oakland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who recently shed his wild, long mane for a much shorter 'do for charity.
"He looks like a cockatoo," Burgess deadpanned.
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