Rather than be irked about the stories, he continued to joke about them. Coach Lane Kiffin started calling Russell "Big Boy" when the story first appeared on the CNN-SI website, and Russell, when asked what he weighed at the end of last season, said with a straight face.

"I must have been 300 pounds -- no, I'm just joking, I was 276," Russell said.

Russell was more serious when asked about the importance of staying in shape.

"Just by being a quarterback, you've got to look at it -- everybody on the team gets paid off what I do and the rest of the team does," Russell said. "I hate to say it, but I'm accountable for a lot of guys' families."

--Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, recipient of a seven-year contract with $18.125 million in guaranteed money in a deal which could break $50 million, broke a four-year run of silence with the media.

"(The contract) surprised me, but you know, it kind of makes you feel like you're wanted," Kelly said. "Somebody really wants you as a player and thinks a lot of you and the type of player that you can become for them."

Kelly, who has played at both end and both tackle spots, will settle into the three-technique spot vacated by Warren Sapp.

"Sapp is more of a finesse guy, he danced ... I'm a little more aggressive, try to get into my man," Kelly said.

-- Las Vegas police reports which said wide receiver Javon Walker had suffered a broken orbital (eye socket) bone and a broken jaw appeared to have been greatly exaggerated as the unmarked receiver was at training camp and cleared to practice with no restrictions related to the injury.

Walker was beaten, robbed and left on a Las Vegas side street after a night of partying, with Internet photos showing the receiver spraying champagne at clubs on the strip.

"I haven't even heard it," Walker said when asked about the reports. "You're telling me something for the first time. Everybody (speculates) on what they heard and what they think they know. When I get ready to come out and tell you what really happed I'll clear that out."

Walker declined to go into specifics, but resisted the notion that his reputation has been adversely affected.

"I don't have a record. I don't have a rap sheet," Walker said. "You don't hear about Javon Walker getting arrested. People's (perspective) of me is, 'He just leaves different teams because he's not happy.' Well, like any other American, that's my right if I don't like a job ... outside the field, you talk to people anywhere around this country, they'll tell you I'm the nicest person off the field."

-- One of the worst-tackling defensive backfields in the NFL appears to have gotten an upgrade with the signing of Gibril Wilson, who Kiffin has given the go-ahead to show how its done in practice.

"It borders right now on the safety of our other players but our defense needs to see that, so it's something I don't want him to back off on right now," Kiffin said. "I want to let them feel him so that it grows around the rest of the defense and we become more physical."

Wilson takes his tackling seriously.

"I take a lot of pride in watching myself on film," Wilson said. "I like to be physical. I don't like to have guys get extra yards or anything like that. I'm a very physical guy and the other team knows it."

--LaMont Jordan, buried on the depth chart behind Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, and locked out of camp, was finally cut when the Raiders couldn't find a trade partner.

Jordan was due $4.7 million this season, $5 million next season and the move will save $3.3 million off this year's cap. He was signed by the New England Patriots.

"Out of everything I've experienced in my career so far, it's not surprising," Fargas said of Jordan's fall from feature back to free agent. "The nature of this business, sometimes it isn't nice. All we can do is concentrate on are the guys, who we are, and coming together and improving as a team."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Responsibility only mess you up when you ain't ready for it. I'll be all right," tackle Tommy Kelly on his newfound status as a highly-paid team leader on the Raiders' defense.

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