Shell tells Raider players to get out of his sight
 

Five hours later, Shell was so disgusted by what he saw, he called the team together in the middle of the field and told them to get out of his sight.




Shell boots team from practice early
By Bill Soliday, STAFF WRITER

NAPA — In the morning, coach Art Shell gushed over his team's practice energy, intensity and said "they met the challenge."

Five hours later, Shell was so disgusted by what he saw, he called the team together in the middle of the field and told them to get out of his sight.

Thus did a scheduled two-hour practice end 50 minutes early.

It was a sobering sight as the team traipsed off the field in subdued silence after the first and most damning chewing out of the year by its new coach.

Although the practice didn't look particularly shoddy, Shell clearly saw something disturbing.

"You've got to work out there," he told the media.

Players still appeared chastised after showering and leaving the clubhouse.

"I apologize for that (stuff) that happened today," quarterback Aaron Brooks said.

Asked what Shell said during his diatribe, defensive tackle Warren Sapp said, "It was a statement that was pretty well felt throughout the whole team I would expect. And if it wasn't, then we're in trouble."

Sapp said that to a man, player and coach, everybody "got the message."

While Sapp said he had never seen a coach call practice to a halt because he didn't like what he was seeing, quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo said he had experienced it in high school.

"We were messing around," he said. "A couple of guys got in a fight, and coach kicked us off the field.

"I don't think it was a particular play (that led to Shell's blowup), probably just the overall tone of the practice. Guys weren't going hard. They were going through the motions.

"It probably wasn't the best practice we've had. We have to practice better if we want to be better. Better (it happen) now than later, I guess."

FIGHTING MAD? Whether the tone of Thursday's afternoon practice was up to snuff or not, one thing has definitely been missing from this year's drills — fights.

There have been a few random scuffles, but no knock-down, drag out donnybrooks like the Raiders of Shell's day used to have.

Shell may not have liked Thursday's practice, but he's pleased about the lack of fisticuffs.

"That's wasted energy," Shell said. "Back then you never saw me fight, did you? There was no need to be fighting. You fight, you wrestle on the ground, and then you have to get back out there and go practice, and you're blowing like a doggone horse.

"I used to tell (guard Gene) Upshaw, who used to get into fights all the time, 'You're crazy. Why are you wasting all that energy?' I don't believe in wasting energy."

Linebacker Matt Millen, now general manager of the Detroit Lions, has owned up to actually arranging fights to get teammates fired up.

"He'd tell you guys that, (but) that was him," Shell said. "He was like that anyway. Matt liked to fight. That was his thing. Even getting ready for the Super Bowl, he said 'I'm going to pick a fight.'

"I said 'So be it. Just don't pick it with me.'"

LOL I still smell a sweep.

I hate Matt Millen. And did I mention that he's stupid?

He has a thing for Johnny Morton too.

Isn't Upshaw the one who polices these kinds of policies for the league now? Is this a case of the fox watching the hen house or is it more of it takes a thief to catch a thief?

Herm needs to say the same to his team

Seeing that we play each other week 1 in that yahoo league I figured when I saw your name on the reply that you'd be giving me grief for having Jordan. :D

I agree. They need a swift kick in the ass. :mad:

Good! This team has needed that speech ever since Gruden left....

Damnit, the last thing that team needs is discipline.

ROFL

Art Shell is one of the very few guys I respect in that organization. Hell, he might be the only one.

I think his battle is too great to win. He wont have the backing over the long run IMO and wont be given enough time.


Jon Gruden, is the only guy I have seen to be able to turn it around. He actually got the Raiders to not be the Raiders for a few seasons.

I still dont like that Son of a Bitch for what he did.

Agreed. It damn near broke my heart that he needed a job so bad he went back to that shithole organization. The man is class.

I think Callahan gave them that speech, but he ended it by calling them a bunch of dummies.

Speeches don't really matter at this point. The Raiders have one of the least-talented rosters in the league.

ROFL