Instead of being picked in the first round, as projected before the injury, Michael Bush slipped to the fourth round. And should Bush progress well in his return, the Raiders will have landed one of the nation's best runners for a middle-round draft choice. Yet, there's no rush to get Bush on the field. Holding him out most of the season is a realistic option. Bush is also prepared not to practice every day once training camp opens if the leg bothers him. Just don't tell Bush he should accept not playing as a rookie. "I'm looking to play," Bush said. "It's just a bone injury. Those heal. It's already been about nine months, so it's about time for me to get going."

Safety Donovin Darius, a veteran of 119 games over six seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, visited with the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday but said he was leaving town without signing a contract. Darius, 31, has played in just 12 games over the past two seasons. He missed the final 14 games of the 2005 season with a torn ACL, andh a broken bone in his lower left leg sidelined him for the last six games of 2006. The Raiders were the first team Darius visited, and likely won't be the last.

The Oakland Raiders canceled the final week of their offseason training program after complaints from the NFL players' union about the intensity of the practices. In a brief statement, coach Lane Kiffin said the players' union believes the Raiders' offseason program violated league rules on practice standards. "The union has complained about the high level of intensity, player aggressiveness and fast pace of our practices and, as a result, has taken away the final week of our offseason program," said Kiffin, the NFL's youngest and least experienced head coach. The Raiders won't hold offseason activities scheduled for next week, which were expected to be mostly weightlifting sessions.

The Raiders will be without Andrew Walter for four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, according to the Oakland Tribune's web site on Thursday. Walter threw for 1,677 yards and three touchdown with 13 interceptions in 12 games last season. The signal-caller is expected to be back by the time training camp opens late next month.