Raiders' Russell has some weight on belt but mostly on shoulders

NAPA, CALIF. — As left tackle for the Oakland Raiders, Mario Henderson is responsible for protecting the blind side of quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Henderson also has Russell's back.

"When people criticize him, it really upsets me," the hulking tackle said as he came off the field at training camp after the last practice of the weekend. "Some people say he looks fat. He wears baggy clothes; I wear baggy clothes. Sometimes, of course, he's going to look big.

"They haven't stood next to him and seen him on a scale to see how much he weighs, what he needs to weigh, or whatever. With his height, of course he's not going to be 200 pounds. He's not 6-1 or 6-2, he's 6-6 or 6-7. It's all negative, man."

The chorus of critics will get louder if Russell, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007, doesn't get off to a good start this year. He's in his third season, the time when NFL quarterbacks are expected to start hitting their stride, and his body of work so far hasn't bowled anyone over.

After practice Monday evening, Raiders Coach Tom Cable said he's simply looking for consistency from Russell.

"All that's been written and all that's been said, you just want to see him consistently get better from day to day, not have steps back," Cable said. "That lets his confidence grow."

When camp opened at the Napa Valley Marriott on Thursday, Russell spoke to reporters after the first practice. Listed at 6-6, 260 pounds, he made the somewhat surprising concession that he's a bit bigger than he'd like to be.

"Right now, I'd say I'm a little heavier," he said, then drawing a laugh from the reporters crowded around him with: "But I'm not 300 pounds like y'all said the last time."

Russell, who turns 24 on Sunday, ended the 2008 season on a positive note, as did his team, which closed out the schedule with victories over Houston and Tampa Bay with nothing but pride at stake. But for every good outing, he had a corresponding horrendous one, accounting for passer ratings both lofty (149.1, 128.1) and lousy (40.1, 19.0).

In the first round of this spring's draft, the Raiders turned their attention to the passing game, using the No. 7 pick on Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. He looked raw in an afternoon practice Sunday, dropping three passes in the same offensive drill. Watching from a nearby golf cart was Raiders owner Al Davis, who spoke to the rookie for several minutes after practice.