Raiders coach Dennis Allen answered questions from the media after the selection of D.J. Hayden with the 12th pick of the draft:
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The Raiders selected Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden Thursday night with their first choice in the NFL draft, No. 12 overall.

Hayden nearly lost his life in a freak injury during practice last Nov. 6. Kneed in the chest, Hayden, sustained a tear of his inferior vena cava, the large vein that carries blood from the lower half of the body to the heart.

“I’m looking around and I’m getting real sleepy,’’ Hayden told reporters at the NFL scouting combine. “My left eye goes pitch black. I can’t see out of it . . . I’m praying, `Lord, help me get out of this one.’ ‘’

“The doctor said he was going to have to cut me open. I said, ‘Okay, just don’t mess my abs up.’ . . . they saw the vein was torn. They stitched it back together and here I am today.’’

Surgeons at the Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Center saved Hayden’s life. The injury is said to have a 95 percent fatality rate.

Hayden didn’t work out at the scouting combine, but was able to work out for scouts, get cleared medically and clock a 4.33 time in the 40-yard dash.

Before the injury, Hayden was considered the top cornerback in the country. His performance in offseason workouts caused his stock to steadily grow, and CBSSports.com reported the Raiders were even considering Hayden at No. 3.

Hayden was the Conference USA Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2011. He had six interceptions in 23 games for Houston, returning two for touchdowns.

One of the weakest units on the Raiders last season, the Raiders now have Hayden and free agent acquisitions Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins at cornerback.

The Raiders traded the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft Thursday night to the Miami Dolphins.
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History suggests that the Raiders have a tough act to follow when it comes to scoring a direct hit at No. 3 in the first round of the NFL draft tonight. Then again, it also suggests that they are more than likely to land an impact player for years to come. Here’s a look at the players selected at No. 3 from 2003-12: Read the rest of this entry »

The Raiders announced a few minutes ago that they have partnered with 95.7 The GAME (KGMZ-FM) to be the team’s flagship radio station. They signed a multi-year agreement.
“We are delighted to begin this exciting new relationship with 95.7 The GAME and we look forward to working with
Compass Media to establish a broad affiliate network throughout California and beyond,” Raiders
chief executive Amy Trask said.
As for the station:
“The best NFL coverage in the Bay Area just got even better,” said Dwight Walker, Vice President/General
Manager of Entercom San Francisco. “We welcome the Raider Nation, one of the most passionate and engaged
fan bases in the NFL, to 95.7 The GAME.”

Raiders coach Dennis Allen took a couple of minutes to take questions on the NFL Network hours before the Raiders are scheduled to make their first pick Thursday:
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Several reports mention the Raiders as the team being targeted by other teams interested in moving up in the first round of the NFL draft’s first round today so that they can get their hands on Oakand’s No. 3 pick. Read the rest of this entry »

Follow the Raiders’ moves during the first round of the 2013 NFL draft with a chat with NFL writer Steve Corkran.

Veteran Raiders defensive end Andre Carter took a break from his offseason workout program Monday to make a phone call. At the other end of the line, Martinez 11-year-old Aaron Hern, from a hospital bed in Boston. Read the rest of this entry »

The popular perception is that the Raiders are akin to an expansion team with all the purging of veteran, high-priced players the past two offseasons. Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said he has a different slant on his team clearly in the midst of a major overhaul. Read the rest of this entry »