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NAPA, Calif. — When coach Tom Cable arrived at training camp a year ago, he was greeted with an overweight quarterback who needed to be fined.

Along with dealing with the struggles of JaMarcus Russell all training camp, Cable was also dogged by allegations that he assaulted assistant Randy Hanson and could face criminal charges.

The story lines at the beginning of this training camp are much more pleasant for Cable, who starts his second full season as Raiders coach with a new quarterback in Jason Campbell and more optimism than usual around a franchise that has lost at least 11 games for seven straight seasons.

“There’s a lot of excitement but there’s also a lot of caution in that there’s a lot of work to do,” Cable said Wednesday. “I know we’re going to be a good team, and I’m not afraid to say that. We’re going to go after the AFC West. I’m not afraid to say that. I believe that that’s what we’re going to do. It’s not anybody’s. If they picked someone for it already, that’s too bad. It doesn’t work like that. You’ve got to play the games. This team will be ready to do that.”

The Raiders begin practice Thursday and will use a similar format to last year, with a first four days of “intensive learning.” The players will not wear pads for the first eight sessions of practice over four days as the coaches will re-teach everything from the beginning to make sure everybody is up to speed next week.

Cable said he was pleased with how that approach worked a year ago, even if it was hard for outsiders to see the results. He said there will be plenty of time for hitting starting next week.

“There’s a ton of benefits,” he said. “I think the first thing probably is just how our team got into camp and stayed healthy through camp,San Jose Sharks other than probably the loss of Chaz Schilens. You look at the soft-tissue injuries and things like that we didn’t have, that teams typically get in those first week, 10 days, we just didn’t have those issues.”

When practice starts Thursday, offseason acquisition Jason Campbell will be running with the first team at quarterback. When the Raiders acquired Campbell from Washington during the draft for a 2012 fourth-round draft pick, Cable said there would be an open competition at quarterback.

That remained the stance during minicamps and offseason workouts but Cable said Campbell is his starter right now because Bruce Gradkowski missed the past three months with a torn pectoral muscle.

Campbell started 52 games for Washington since being a first-round pick in 2005. He has thrown for 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a passer rating of 82.3 in his career.

He is coming off his best season, completing 64.5 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 86.4. But the Redskins went 4-12 last season. Cable praised Campbell’s professionalism and leadership in the three months since the trade.

“You don’t have to be a boisterous, outgoing, run-your-mouth kind of guy to be a great leader,” Cable said. “He’s even showed some of that already, just this morning in some earlier things that went on, that he’s capable that way. … He loves it. It’s important to him. It was interesting talking to those guys last night after they got checked in, just how that whole group of quarterbacks, they’re so much further ahead and prepared right now than we’ve been. It’s a tribute to all those guys, and it starts with Jason.”

It’s a stark change from a year ago when Russell arrived for his third NFL season out of shape and uninspired. He struggled mightily in camp and when the season started before finally losing his job to Gradkowski midway through the campaign. He completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in 11 years. He was eventually released on May 6, shortly after the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Russell’s release was one of many moves made in hopes of improving the culture around a team that has endured so much losing in past years. The Raiders have placed a priority on adding players who have a history of winning in either college or the pros and Cable said he sees the difference.

“We are very competitive. Now it’s time to take the next step,” he said. “The next step is to not listen to all the negative. People are going to have an opinion. That’s just what it is. But they’re not going to dictate who we are or what we are. All that is back there. What’s in front of us is winning a championship. That’s the goal now. Let’s go for it.”

The only player missing Wednesday was first-round pick Rolando McClain,Milwaukee Bucks who still has not signed his rookie contract. Cable said he hopes the deal is done before practice starts Thursday.

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SEATTLE — Second-round draft choice Golden Tate says he and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a multiyear contract.

The wide receiver from Notre Dame posted on his Twitter page Wednesday morning that he had agreed to terms and conditions on his first NFL deal.

He says “let’s play ball!”

Training camp begins on Saturday.

Tate is the highest of Seattle’s nine draft picks to reach an agreement with the team.

The Seahawks’ first-round picks — sixth-overall pick and left tackle Russell Okung and safety Earl Thomas — are the only two from Seattle’s 2010 draft class to remain unsigned.

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FOXBOROUGH,Marseille football club Mass. (AP) -First-round draft choice Devin McCourty signed a five-year deal with the New England Patriots on Wednesday as the team reached its goal of having all 12 picks under contract by the start of training camp.

The contract for the cornerback from Rutgers is worth $13.2 million with $7.825 million guaranteed, according to his agent, Andy Simms.

Rookies were due to report on Sunday, but the first full-squad workout is set for Thursday morning. McCourty, taken with the 27th overall pick,Netherlands 2010 World Cup Jerse is the second first-round choice to sign. Dez Bryant, the Oklahoma State wide receiver chosen 24th by the Dallas Cowboys, is the other.

McCourty, who is expected to compete for a starting job, was eager to report by Wednesday, when veterans were due at 7 a.m. Simms said McCourty signed his contract at about 7 a.m.

“We worked pretty late (Tuesday) to get to this point,” Simms said. “We know what’s important in New England and that’s to get to camp on time.”

The deal signed by last year’s 27th pick, running back Donald Brown of Connecticut who was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts, was a factor in the McCourty talks, Simms said. Brown signed a five-year, $12.835 contract with $6.845 million guaranteed.

The negotiations took place with the possibility of a lockout in 2011 if management and the players’ union can’t agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.

“The pending labor situation is something we had to consider. We worked with the Patriots on some of the issues,” Simms said.

McCourty is expected to challenge Darius Butler, the 41st overall draft pick last year, for a starting spot. Butler started five of the 14 games he played in with three interceptions. In four seasons at Rutgers, McCourty had six interceptions and started the last 39 games at cornerback. He also blocked six punts and a field goal attempt.

Leigh Bodden, going into his eighth season and second with the Patriots, is the other starting cornerback.

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) -First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham remains unsigned as the Cincinnati Bengals open training camp.

The Bengals signed second-round pick Carlos Dunlap, a defensive end from Florida, and receiver Jordan Shipley, a third-round choice from Texas, shortly after the rest of the team reported Wednesday.

That left Gresham, a tight end from Oklahoma, as the Bengals’ only unsigned pick.

Last year, the Bengals got into an impasse with first-round pick Andre Smith. The offensive tackle didn’t sign until Aug. 30, missing the first three preseason games. He broke his left foot two days later. Smith ended up playing in six games,Italy 2010 World Cup Jerseys starting one of them.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) -Mike Holmgren is excited about the Cleveland Browns – even if he is starting his first season as team president with his right leg in a cast.

“I’m as excited as I have ever been,” Holmgren said Wednesday.

He entered the media room with his right leg propped up on a cart with wheels that enabled him to move around.

“Don’t ask,” said Holmgren, who had surgery on his right foot to correct a condition that had been “bugging” him for a few years. As he recovers, he will violate one of the rules he had during training camp over 17 seasons as a pro coach: Nobody sits.

Holmgren won’t be content to sit and watch another 5-11 season as the Browns endured in 2009, either. He’s already made significant roster changes since joining the organization in December – though embattled coach Eric Mangini remains.

Holmgren expressed confidence that Mangini, in his second year in Cleveland, will show progress to impatient fans. He also vowed to try and stay out of the way, though he’s not completely sure of not getting the urge to prowl the sidelines himself.

“Will it be difficult for me?” Holmgren said. “We’ll see. I suspect I’ll be a little antsy.

“Just flip the situation. When I was coach, I didn’t like it (being second-guessed by management).

“If I thought (Mangini) couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t have come here in this role. We have some new talent and Eric is going to put it together.”

Among many new players are quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, added in the offseason when the Browns traded Brady Quinn and released Derek Anderson.

“The quarterback play should me more consistent,” Holmgren said. “That alone means this season should be better.

“This team needed leadership there as much as anything.”

Delhomme, a 12-year veteran, had some productive seasons before a poor 2009 campaign with the Carolina Panthers. Holmgren pointed out that Delhomme is “only” 35 years old, drawing a comparison to an even older quarterback.

“I had another quarterback,Dallas Stars ” Holmgren said. “He’s 46 and still playing.”

Brett Favre, now actually 41, led the Holmgren-coached Green Bay Packers to victory in the Super Bowl in 1997.

Holmgren thinks No. 1 draft choice cornerback Joe Haden could be signed by the time camp opens Saturday.

“I’m not discouraged,” Holmgren said of negotiations. “We’re making progress.”

Holmgren believes that as soon as one NFL team signs a top pick, others will get deals done, too.

“We need a domino, and then it starts to happen,” he said.

Holmgren’s theory of things falling into place could apply to second-year receiver Brian Robiskie, who caught only seven passes as a rookie. Holmgren believes the struggles of Quinn and Anderson to find consistency hindered Robiskie’s development.

“Receivers like to catch the football, but rookies often find it is a different world,” Holmgren said. “Then in the second year – bang. They get it. It happens all the time. Brian can be like that.”

Holmgren won’t quite subscribe to the Browns producing a big bang in 2010, though there is no doubt he expects improvement as soon as the squad adjusts to the changes. That includes a new offensive scheme, which he insisted Mangini accept.

“I think we’ll be improved,” Holmgren said. “It’s a very healthy situation.”

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) -A flamboyant Cincinnati Bengals receiver has the whole team talking,Boca soccer club and this time it’s not Chad Ochocinco.

He’s overshadowed by a player who has yet to arrive.

Terrell Owens was headed to the area Wednesday while his teammates-to-be tucked pillows and sound systems under their arms, unpacking for the start of training camp at Georgetown College. Owens wasn’t expected to arrive until a day later.

The anticipation was already there.

“This just shows that we are building this team to go all the way this year,” offensive guard Bobbie Williams said. “That’s all you can ask an organization to do. So bring on TO! I’m excited.”

Adding the 36-year-old receiver who has a history of clashing with quarterbacks came as a surprise. The Bengals had a chance to sign him after a tryout in March, but gave Antonio Bryant a four-year deal instead to line up opposite Ochocinco.

With Owens still available on the eve of training camp, the Bengals made a move that will affect them in a lot of ways. One receiver will lose a job; other receivers will get fewer passes thrown their way; Ochocinco and Owens will be challenged to keep their egos in check.

It has the feel of a reality-TV show.

“Everybody’s telling me I need to start one,” receivers coach Mike Sheppard joked.

They have enough of those already.

Ochocinco’s dating show on VH1 is winding down. His show is followed on the cable channel by “The T.O. Show.” When they get together in the locker room, the two friends will have to figure out how to turn their look-at-me style into a look-at-us season.

Nothing new for an organization that isn’t afraid to give troublemakers another chance.

“We’ve been through a lot here,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “A lot of ups and downs, a lot of personalities,Buffalo Sabres a lot of egos. He definitely is another personality. I had a chance to work with him. He’s been very easy to work with, very coachable.”

Palmer worked out with Owens in California over the last month and told coach Marvin Lewis that he looked really good. The scouting report helped persuade the Bengals to make an offer. Owens gets a $2 million salary and a chance to make another $2 million in bonuses.

It will be a bargain if Owens can help revive a passing game that finished 26th in the NFL last season – and do it without causing problems in the locker room.

“I don’t think he’s coming with no nonsense, no idiotacy – how about that one?” Williams said, inventing a new term for something the Bengals know so well.

Bengals players are fully aware of Owens’ run-ins with previous quarterbacks, but aren’t too worried about the possibility he could divide the team.

“Chad – if he can’t do it, I don’t think nobody else can do it,” receiver Andre Caldwell said. “Chad’s enough. If Chad can’t disrupt this team, I don’t think TO can.”

There are more immediate issues to settle.

Bryant got No. 81 – Owens’ number – when he signed with the Bengals. He could give the number to the newcomer, or keep it for himself.

“Usually when a player comes from another team, he offers money to that player to have that jersey number,” Ochocinco said. “I’m not sure how that’s going to work. TO and Antonio will work that situation out. The number doesn’t make the man, the man makes the number. This is a fresh start for TO. Maybe he’ll want to go for something new.”

The coaches have to figure out how they’re going to use Owens, who has been an outside receiver throughout his career. Bryant was expected to start opposite Ochocinco on the outside before Owens was signed. Bryant lined up at an inside slot position during offseason workouts, something he’d never done.

“I think he’s adjusting,” Sheppard said. “It’s new to him. He’s anxious to do it because he knows in our structure, a lot of catches come there. His being familiar with the inside is going to be helpful for us.”

Ochocinco thinks that’s all secondary stuff.

“Y’all don’t even understand what’s going to happen this year,” Ochocinco said, wearing a gray shirt that had “Hollywood” written across the front in bright green letters. “I think to myself: When’s the last time you had two receivers on the same field of this caliber on the same team at the same time?

“This is going to be scary.”

BEREA, Ohio (AP) -Defensive linemen Shaun Rogers and C.J. Mosley will start training camp on the Cleveland Browns’ physically unable to perform list.

Second-year cornerback Coye Francies also is on the list with an undisclosed injury.

Rogers missed the final five games of the 2009 season with a broken leg and Mosley sat out the final four with an injured ankle.

Rogers still faces a possible NFL suspension, but has avoided trial on a felony gun charge that will be dismissed if the 31-year-old completes 40 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours in a gun class. Police said Rogers had the semiautomatic handgun in a carry-on bag at Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport in April.

Neither Rogers nor Mosley participated in spring drills. Francies, who played briefly in six games as a rookie,2009 NHL ALL Star practiced in minicamp and had two interceptions.

The trio does not count against the Browns’ 80-man training camp roster and cannot practice.

HOUSTON (AP) -The Houston Texans have signed fourth-round pick Garrett Graham, a tight end out of Wisconsin.

The 6-foot-3,Real Madrid Football Club 241-pound Graham was selected with the 118th overall pick. Graham’s 16 touchdown receptions for the Badgers were a school record for a tight end. He finished his college career with 121 catches for 1,492 yards and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a junior and senior.

Graham is the seventh of the Texans’ nine draft picks to sign, joining receivers Dorin Dickerson and Trindon Holliday, cornerback Sherrick McManis, defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, linebacker Darryl Sharpton and guard Shelley Smith.

Cornerback Kareem Jackson, the Texans’ first-round selection, and running back Ben Tate are the only draft picks still unsigned. Houston opens training camp on Friday.

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ST. LOUIS (AP) -The St. Louis Rams announced Wednesday that they have come to terms with second-round draft choice Rodger Saffold.

The 6-foot-5, 323-pound Saffold, who started 41 of 42 games at Indiana University,2010 World Cup Jerseys is expected to move into the Rams’ starting lineup at right tackle.

The Rams also said that they have signed sixth-round pick Fendi Onobun, a tight end from the University of Houston. Onobun played one season of college football after a four-year basketball career at the University of Arizona.

Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Wednesday’s signings mean only No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford is left unsigned for the Rams.

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) -The New Orleans Saints have signed third-round draft pick Jimmy Graham.

The team announced the four-year deal on Wednesday, but did not release any terms.

Graham, a tight end who played one season of football at the University of Miami, is the fifth of the Saints 2010 draft picks to sign with the team.

New Orleans also agreed to terms with free agent quarterback Patrick Ramsey on a one-year contract.

Ramsey, who is entering his ninth NFL season, is a former first-round selection of the Washington Redskins in 2002. Ramsey has played in 37 career games with 24 starts in stints with Washington (2002-05),2010 World Cup,long sleeve the New York Jets (2006), Denver Broncos (2007-08), Tennessee Titans (2009) and Detroit Lions (2009).