ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Ron Stone spent much of last season on
the sidelines nursing an injured left knee, largely considered a
free-agent bust in his first year with the Oakland Raiders.
He's finally healthy, and eager to be part of an Oakland offense
expected to be high-powered and exciting with Randy Moss and Jerry
Porter as the top two targets for Kerry Collins.
But, for now, Stone won't be a starter.
Stone, a three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman beginning his
13th NFL season, has been rotating in at right guard behind Brad
Badger. With Langston Walker playing a new position at left guard,
Stone could potentially slide in at right guard and Badger could
move to the left side if Walker struggles.
Stone started only five games for the Raiders last season while
being slowed by his troublesome knee.
"Injuries happen," Stone said. "It's not anybody's fault they
happen. It was difficult because it was my first time being hurt in
a long time. Hopefully I'll stay injury-free this year. You've just
got to deal with it and try to get better."
Stone had a difficult time watching as his teammates went 5-11
in coach Norv Turner's first season, getting only one more win than
Bill Callahan had in 2003 before being fired only a year after
leading the Raiders to the Super Bowl.
The team is 9-23 over the past two seasons for the worst
two-year record since Al Davis arrived in 1963 to coach and
eventually own the Raiders.
"It's hard because you want to be back out there and you
can't," Stone said. "You're still hurt and you don't want to
re-injure yourself. It's hard being out there and watching the guys
go out and fight and you can't do anything about it. The injury bug
caught up to me."
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Stone used the offseason to get healthy
again, then work himself back into football shape. The Raiders
re-signed him in March just a week after waiving him in a salary
cap move.
"Ron's been playing great," center Jake Grove said. "He was
playing well last year until he got hurt. I think he's ready to
have a great year. He's playing a lot faster than he did last year.
He looks good out there right now."
Stone originally signed as a free agent in March 2004, receiving
an $8.35 million, three-year contract.
He has played in 157 games for Oakland, San Francisco, the New
York Giants and Dallas, playing every position on the offensive
line. He made the Pro Bowl from 2000-02. He also played in two
Super Bowls, winning it in 1996 with Dallas and losing in 2001 with
the Giants.
He hopes to experience that winning feeling again -- and knows
the raucous Raiders fans have high expectations.
"It's on all of us," he said. "This is the whole unit put
together, an offense I hope the Raiders fans will be excited to
see. I can't wait to see. We'll see what happens. It's very nice
because we've got a lot of weapons."
Game notes
The Raiders placed WR John Stone on injured reserve Tuesday
because of a shoulder injury. The team also cut P Gary Cook, S
Kevin Curtis and LB Maurice Washington. ... WR Carlos Francis will
play in Thursday's exhibition finale against New Orleans, his first
game back since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left
knee last Oct. 24 against the Saints. ... Porter said he won't play
Thursday as he continues to heal his pulled hamstring with the plan
of playing in the season-opener next Thursday at New England.