NAPA — Defensive lineman Richard Seymour led a parade of rookies and inexperienced players off an early-arriving bus Tuesday at Raiders training camp.
Seymour's appearance marked his first time with the Raiders in a team setting since last season ended, and it came a little more than one month after he signed a $12.398 million, one-year contract as Oakland's exclusive franchise tag player.
"It's a time of year that you come and you lay the foundation for the season," he said. "It's something that I've always done."
Seymour wasn't allowed to participate in Oakland's mandatory minicamp in May because he hadn't signed a contract. The Raiders attempted to hammer out a long-term deal with the four-time Pro Bowler in the interim and before the league-mandated deadline.
Ultimately, Seymour signed the one-year tender and isn't allowed to negotiate a long-term contract until this season ends.
Recently acquired defensive tackle John Henderson was among the players who arrived early, and he spoke about getting a fresh start with a new team.
He spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he started at least 13 games each year. He was released during the offseason and weighed several offers before signing with the Raiders on June 15.
"They were more interested," Henderson said of the Raiders. "I just wanted to go to somebody interested in the way I played. I love the team.
It has a lot of potential. I want to go where it's competitive."
Trevor Scott is listed as a defensive end on the Raiders website. However, he figures to play both end and outside linebacker during training camp.
Either position is fine, Scott said, as long as he makes the 53-man roster and gets playing time.
Scott began 2009 as a defensive end, but he converted to outside linebacker by midseason and played well enough to warrant consideration for a starting job this year.
Former Raiders middle linebacker Greg Biekert was hired as a defensive assistant. He played for the Raiders from 1993-2001, then finished his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2003.
The Raiders and the agent for first-round draft pick Rolando McClain still are working on getting a contract finished before practice begins Thursday morning.
The Raiders already have signed their eight other draft picks. McClain, a linebacker from Alabama, has said he intends to get a deal done on time.
Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour eager to get early start - ContraCostaTimes.com
