Ricky Brown has noticed a big difference in the culture of the Raiders now that they've moved beyond the Lane Kiffin soap opera. "This is great," said Brown. "Having coach Cable here is awesome. I know all the guys on the team really, really respect him a lot. Just the energy with us guys being here for the offseason program, working out every day, it's just building a really nice core. With that, the coaches, almost probably half the staff is completely new, but everyone is jelling together really nice. So, by the time we hit Napa, it should be fun."

JaMarcus Russell is excited for Michael Vick's release from prison and his possible return to the NFL. "It was a good time for him as far as sitting down and his body healing," Russell said. "I know he's in tip-top shape. I'm pretty sure somebody is going to give him a chance. I look forward to seeing him out there real soon." Raiders coach Tom Cable declined to say if the Raiders are interested in acquiring Vick, saying, "I'm not going to go there." Cable was with Vick as a member of the Falcons' staff in 2006. "I hope he gets everything back in order, gets his life straight," Cable said. "Football needs to be secondary for him."

The Patriots have been interested in Derrick Burgess for four weeks, according to a source familiar with the proceedings. But the Patriots are in no rush to make a deal for the Oakland pass rusher. Burgess would move to outside linebacker in New England's 3-4 defense.

The Oakland Raiders yet again are attempting to install an effective vertical game. "I think that is who we want to be," Raiders coach Tom Cable said of the vertical passing offense. "Let's get it implemented right away, because that's a new approach, obviously. "Let's get the mind-set developed as quickly as possible, and when we get to OTAs, we can continue with that."

The Patriots are considering a trade that would land Raiders linebacker Derrick Burgess in exchange for a second- or third-round draft pick, according to multiple reports. Burgess is in the final year of his contract and has stayed away from voluntary workouts in Oakland. He is said to be unhappy with not being able to reach a new deal.

DeAngelo Hall revealed his funniest story about Al Davis from his brief time with the Raiders. ?Probably the funniest thing, I was pretty close to Lane Kiffin?and after they fired Lane and were about to announce who the next coach was - I don?t know if you guys saw this in the media world, but I was actually sitting there live, me and a couple other players there in the back," said Hall. "And [Davis] went through this whole spiel of what happened?and said our next coach is Tom Cable, he?s going to be our interim coach. When everybody paused for Tom to come in, like a breakoff. [Davis] goes to the media guide and not even whispering says ?hey, anyone got any information on this Tom Cable guy, I don?t know where he comes from.? That?s just vintage Al Davis. Making a move, not really knowing why, no real justification for doing it. But just saying, ?hey, I want this guy, let?s get him, I?ll figure everything else out later.? And that?s just how Al Davis is.?

Tight end J.P. Foschi has been signed to a one-year contract by the Oakland Raiders, a source told FOXSports.com. Foschi played with Oakland from 2004 to 2006 after previously spending time with the New York Jets, Denver and Minnesota as an undrafted free agent.

Tim Brown was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame last week, and the former Raiders receiver remembered meeting Al Davis for the first time. "Meeting Al (Davis) was pretty unique. I found out five or ten minutes after my first practice there that he hated African-American athletes from Notre Dame," Brown told WCNN in Atlanta. "And they literally told me that. They literally told me that because we're known for using our education more than our athletic ability that he thought that I would be one of these guys that would basically take the money and run. I don't know if that was a ploy to get me amped up, but it certainly worked."

The Raiders are hoping that JaMarcus Russell grows as a passer and leader this summer, but also that he improves his conditioning. He's a big quarterback, but hasn't been in top shape the last two seasons.

Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker had knee surgery last month, but just told the team about it a few days ago. Oakland coach Tom Cable explained that is why Walker wasn't practicing in the team's minicamp this weekend. Cable admitted it's "uncommon" for players to undergo surgery without informing the team until weeks later.