Saturday, October 14, 2006
(10-14) 13:57 PDT DENVER -- A "chaotic" Raiders practice session on Friday in Alameda - a sloppy, longer-than-usual workout that left many players grumbling, sources said -- resulted in wide receiver Jerry Porter receiving a four-game suspension from coach Art Shell for conduct detrimental to the team when the seventh-year veteran openly complained within earshot of the staff.
Characterized by one Raiders player as "the worst practice we´ve had all season" under Shell, the usual 90-minute Friday session extended well past 2½ hours, several team sources said on the condition of anonymity, and much of the roster was frustrated and angry by the lack of organization.
"People wonder why we´re 0-4 -- that´s why," one player said of the workout. "It was a joke out there. Guys were pissed off."
Numerous players, including veterans such as Moss and defensive tackle Warren Sapp, were grumbling among themselves about the practice session, which one Raiders source described as "completely disorganized and chaotic."
At one point, sources said, Porter -- who was running with the scout team defense -- asked somewhat loudly if the practice "was going to last three hours or what?"
Shell overheard the comment, sources said, and retaliated with the suspension, which would cost Porter $235,000 of his $1 million base salary -- if it were to stick.
