Tuesday Hodge Podge

Let’s check in on the ex-Hogs who have recently joined the work force:

Raiders.com/Tony Gonzales" alt="Raiders.com/Tony Gonzales" align="left" height="387" width="300" />* The Raiders held their rookie minicamp last weekend, and naturally D-Mac was the star of the show. Initial reviews were very positive, and the Bay Area media is getting their first taste of his versatility: “McFadden does too much, too well to stick him in an I-formation box. In two days of practice, he has sprinted around the edge, powered inside the middle, run routes as a wideout and caught passes out of the backfield. He even lined up at quarterback.”

* What did Mr. McFadden think about his first taste of life in the NFL? Be sure to read the full transcript of his press conference, but here’s a sample quote on one of the differences between college and the pros: “They hand you a playbook with pens and highlighters with a notebook to take notes, that’s something you don’t get in college, if you want to take notes you have to come with your own stuff, so I knew it was serious once they handed the playbook like that.”

* Raiders’ coach Lane Kiffin gives McFadden a very positive initial review.

* On the flip side, here’s an example of the disfunction I was referring to when I was ranting about why I didn’t want D-Mac to be a Raider. Expect plenty more stories like this one.

* Jerry Jones likes Felix Jones’ “bubble butt”. No further comment needed.

* In Dallas, the debate still rages as to whether or not Felix was the right choice. Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning-News weighs in with the opinion that he “should be the ideal complement to Marion Barber”. So that’s good…

* The Cowboys’ training camp will be looked at, up close and personal, on this year’s edition of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” reality show. Of course, don’t expect to see much of Felix on there…not only will he be overshadowed by notorious camera hogs like Terrell Owens (and Jessica Simpson?), he’s only the third most famous Jones on the team (behind Jerry and Pacman).

* The Huddle Report predicts that Peyton Hillis is going to be “a big-time RB” for the Broncos.

* A breakdown of the Chicago Bears’ draft that wound up with Marcuses Harrison and Monk.

* Speaking of Monk, it’s tough to make the team as a 7th rounder, but Chris Bahn of Arkansas Sports 360 reports that he’s making the most of his opportunity.

* The Chicago Sun-Times looks at the Marcus Harrison draft pick, and notes that although there are character-related concerns over his arrest last fall, he was “too good to pass up.”