Raiders owner Mark Davis and two of his key lieutenants, team president Marc Badain and StadCo construction subsidiary chief operating officer Don Webb, threw an onsite barbecue for Las Vegas Stadium workers, thanking them for staying on time, on budget and, above all, safe.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden called Thursday’s minicamp practice a “final examination.” At times, it more aptly resembled a symphony.
Eddy Pineiro is competing with incumbent Giorgio Tavecchio for the Raiders’ kicking job. He laughed Wednesday at a reporter’s suggestion that he might ask Johnny Townsend to manipulate their competition.
Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack officially began a holdout Tuesday, skipping the start of a mandatory three-day minicamp. The 27-year-old has missed a firsthand look at the team’s draft class.
Derrick Johnson is someone in whom the Raiders can trust to mentor young players. He can lead a film-room breakdown of an opponent. In the huddle, he is comfortable with a speaker inside his helmet.
