Like most professional athletes, Tyler Brayton tries to keep away from newspapers and sports talk shows during the season.
Brayton says it’s an especially good idea to go in a bunker during seasons like this. The defensive end’s Oakland Raiders are 0-4 heading into tonight’s game against the Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High. Listening to the pundits isn’t a great idea.
However, Brayton heard about a national show that compared his Raiders to the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The expansion team went winless.
“That stings,” the former University of Colorado star said. “You don’t want to hear that type of stuff.”
The Raiders have major issues on both sides of the ball. Still, Brayton said the effort has been there all season and it will be again tonight against the Broncos.
“We’re going to go out and try to turn it around,” Brayton said. “It would be a great start for the rest of the season to go out and beat a great Denver team. The season is not over. Guys are working hard. We all want it so bad. Losing like this sucks the life out of you for a day or two. It’s like being punched in the stomach. It’s sickening and it hurts. But we’re trying.”
That feeling has become a habit for Brayton in the NFL. When he entered the league, Brayton had high hopes and was thrilled to be taken by the Raiders in the first round of the 2003 draft. Oakland was coming off a Super Bowl appearance as the top team in the AFC.
Ever since then, the Raiders have had it rough in the Bay Area. They are a league-worst 13-39 since Brayton’s arrival and are on their third head coach.
Brayton, one of Oakland’s most effective defensive players, says he is not going to change his usual preparation and hard work.
“I feel like I’ve worked hard in the offseason and during the season, but I haven’t seen the fruits,” Brayton said. “I’m a team player and want to win more than anything. So I take this personally. I’ve had such high hopes. It’s been tough, but I’m not giving up. No one on this team is going to give up.”
Shine off Saban
Miami: No one is saying coach Nick Saban’s job is in jeopardy, but the shine is coming off. Saban was an NFL hit last season, his first with the Dolphins, after having great success at Michigan State and Louisiana State. Saban took an undermanned Miami team and made it competitive. He led the Dolphins to six consecutive victories to end last season.
With leftover good vibes and the addition of quarterback Daunte Cul- pepper, there were high expectations for Saban and the Dolphins.
However, the team has been awful and Saban has made some questionable decisions. Saban, never accused of having a perky personality, has been testy. Add a reported practice- field squabble between Saban and Culpepper, who no longer is playing, and things are getting ugly in Miami. Stay tuned.
Moss could be moved
Oakland: Word is the Raiders have explored dealing wide receiver Randy Moss. He has been spouting off lately about the team’s woes, and his production hasn’t been what Oakland expected when it traded for him in March 2005.
Still, with the NFL trading deadline Tuesday, dealing Moss is unlikely. The Raiders would take an enormous salary cap hit, and there isn’t much interest at Oakland’s asking price.
The Raiders will continue to shop wide receiver Jerry Porter, who hasn’t played all season after landing in coach Art Shell’s doghouse. Miami and New England reportedly have shown interest in Porter. Oakland also could part with reserve quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, who might attract interest from Tampa Bay.
Tough time for Rhodes
Seattle: Ray Rhodes’ recent health scare is another indication the coaching career of the defensive assistant could be near an end. After the Seahawks lost at Chicago on Oct. 1, their plane had to make an emergency stop in Rapid City, S.D., because Rhodes wasn’t feeling well. He has recovered, but he suffered two strokes last year.
The workload of the former Broncos defensive coordinator has been reduced, but his strength is his intensity and work ethic. Rhodes loves football and it is hard for him to tone it down, but with another scare he will need to scale back his work even more.
Fisher’s future
Tennessee: Some University of Miami boosters have Titans coach Jeff Fisher on their radar. The natives are restless and some deep-pocket folks want coach Larry Coker out. They want a big name as his replacement.
Fisher would fill that bill with the Hurricanes, and there is a strong chance he will leave the Titans after this season. The Titans are winless, and he is not getting along with general manager Floyd Reese.
Fisher also would be popular in the NFL if he is free. With potential openings at Washington and Dallas and with the Giants, Fisher may want to see what the pros have to offer.
Around the league
If rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski continues to improve for Tampa Bay, Chris Simms won’t have a job next year. … Trade proposal before Tuesday’s deadline: Broncos send running back Cedric Cobbs to Philadelphia for tailback Ryan Moats. The Eagles need a bigger back, and the Broncos loved Moats in the draft. … Don’t be surprised if the Broncos pull off a minor trade by the deadline. Nothing serious appears in the mix, but the Broncos have been the league’s most active trading team the past two years. General manager Ted Sundquist loves working the phones. … A boneheaded play last week by Raiders tailback LaMont Jordan was replayed in teams’ classrooms. Jordan made a terrible effort on a swing pass, then failed to go after the live ball in the backfield. It turned into a San Francisco touchdown and a lesson on giving full effort. … Some were chuckling at the sight of Dallas kicker Mike Vanderjagt trying to calm a heated Terrell Owens on the sideline at Philadelphia last week. Vanderjagt never has been known as a calming, leader type.
Broncos mailbag: Bill Williamson posts a new installment each Tuesday on DenverPost.com. Previous mailbags also are available on the website.
Staff writer Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
Brayton’s twist of fate
Former Colorado star Tyler Brayton was excited to be selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2003 draft after the Raiders had appeared in the Super Bowl. Since that time, the Raiders have a league-worst 13-39 record. The Brayton file:
Position: Defensive end
Age: 26
Hometown: Pasco, Wash.
Style: Known as a hard-nosed, high-motor player who plays to the whistle. In a better position now that Oakland is back in the 4-3 defense. Was playing as a stand-up linebacker last season, not his natural position.
Off the field: Big into drag racing and will pursue it after his career. Had an internship on the reality show “American Hot Rod.”
