The Lions plan to have a finalized contract, or at least an agreement, in place with whomever they select with the first overall pick. Only the team with the first pick can negotiate with prospects before the draft. Oakland botched their negotiations with JaMarcus Russell two years ago and he held out, which caused him to join the team late. "We saw how much that set back [Russell] a couple years ago," new coach Jim Schwartz said. "That's a tool we have in drafting No. 1. We need to take advantage of every advantage that we have."

Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is in Alameda for voluntary workouts. Tom Cable has put some pressure on his young quarterback to put in the extra time.

The Dolphins have traded center Samson Satele to the Raiders for an undisclosed draft pick. The move confirms that Miami wants to transition newly signed center Jake Grove into the starting job.

Raiders tackle Cornell Green has been arrested on a domestic violence charge in Florida, according to an Associated Press report. Tampa police say Green became violent Saturday during an argument at his home there with the mother of his two children. Police say Green slammed Teriyonal Ebony Flowers into a wall, then struck her right arm with an aluminum mop handle. Green was arrested at Tampa International Airport before a flight he had planned to take to Oakland, Calif. The tackle was being held Sunday at the Hillsborough County jail on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders is the NFL's best cornerback and has also accomplished great things off the field. He will lead a recruiting trip of 10 disadvantaged East Oakland high school students to Bill Clinton's Harlem offices next month. He raised his profile Feb. 14-15 when he was the lone professional athlete invited to the second annual Clinton Global Initiative at the University of Texas in Austin. Asomugha spoke on a panel with Clinton, actor Matthew McConaughey and Marie Tillman, widow of late Army Ranger and former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, that addressed 1,200 international students and university presidents. "I am delighted that Nnamdi participated in our Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting in Austin, where he joined more than 1,000 students and nearly 70 university presidents to take action on the pressing issues facing our local and global communities," Clinton said in an e-mail. "Nnamdi is an outstanding young man whose exceptional talents on the football field are outshone only by his efforts to make a difference in the lives of others."

The Raiders have signed left tackle Khalif Barnes to a one-year deal. Barnes, who spent last season with the Jaguars, had been in talks with the Buccaneers late last week, but opted to go with the Raiders, who could use him as a starter. "I think this is a great opportunity and place for me to start fresh," Barnes said. "I'm excited to be part of helping this franchise get back on top and I will have a shot to be the starter at left tackle and that's all I can ask for. I have a lot to prove and I'm betting on myself by agreeing to a one-year contract. [Raiders owner] Mr. [Al] Davis has a track record of taking care of his own guys and he promised me the same, if I take care of my business on and off the field."

Lane Kiffin's lawyer fired back at the Raiders on Friday night after a letter that owner Al Davis sent to the University of Tennessee became public. Kiffin was fired by Oakland in September after what Davis described as acts of insubordination and lying. Kiffin filed a grievance and is seeking two months pay for the time he was unemployed before being hired at Tennessee. "Starting with Al Davis' nationally televised press conference publicizing the firing the head coach Lane Kiffin last fall, the Raiders have continued to attack coach Kiffin in the media," Kiffin's lawyer, Alan Loewinsohn said in a statement. "That assault continued today, long after he left the Raiders, when the Raiders issued a statement and 'leaked' a letter, a letter they wrote months ago to coach Kiffin's new employer, the University of Tennessee, in which the Raiders again attacked coach Kiffin's character. "Starting next Tuesday at a hotel in Oakland, the Raiders will no longer be able to rely on unsupported allegations made in the media, as a key Raiders personnel, starting with Al Davis, will finally have to answer questions under oath at their depositions, a process that coach Kiffin is confident will demonstrate that he was fired by the Raiders without cause and show that the continuing assault of allegations being made against him are false." The letter was reportedly dated January, 22, 2009.

Oakland running back Darren McFadden is fully recovered from shoulder surgery and is ready to hit the ground running when voluntary workouts kick off next week. "Oh yeah, I'm fine, ready to go," McFadden said. "I'm ready to get back on the field and get going again. People say (the offseason) is short but if you've just been chilling at home, it feels like it's been forever." McFadden had his left shoulder scoped by his personal doctor in Arkansas shortly after the season ended. "I'm healthy again. It's a great thing and I'm very happy about it," he said.

The Raiders reportedly entertained the idea of signing Terrell Owens, but decided against it because they believe Michael Crabtree will be available with the seventh overall pick. Owens ended up signing with the Buffalo Bills.

Perhaps a year ago the Raiders would be all over Terrell Owens, but the philosophy of the organization has changed. "It's like a complete 180 from last year," one team source said, adding, "There is no way T.O. is coming here.'"