Raiders notebook: McFadden, Seymour “gametime”

Dec. 31, 2010GUTIERREZ ARCHIVERAIDERS PAGERAIDERS VIDEOPaul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.com

ALAMEDANeither running back Darren McFadden (turf toe) nor defensive tackle Richard Seymour (hamstring) practiced today and both will be gametime decisions, according to coach Tom Cable.Asked if one was more likely to play than the other, Cable said, Darren more than Richard right now.McFadden has missed two games but enjoyed a breakout season, rushing for 1,157 yards, the fifth-highest single-season total in franchise history. Only Marcus Allen (1,759 yards in 1985), Napoleon Kaufman (1,294 in 1997), Mark van Eeghen (1,273 in 1977) and Allen again (1,168 in 1984) have had higher total rushing campaigns.I feel like it was a pretty good season, some ups and downs, McFadden, who was named a Pro Bowl alternate, said earlier this week. But at the same time, I feel like it was a success this year.Seymour, meanwhile, was tabbed for his sixth Pro Bowl, his first with the Raiders. He has 5sacks in 13 games.Right tackle Langston Walker (concussion) appears ready to play after sitting out last week.He seems to be O.K., Cable said of Walker.Cable fancies himself a Raiders historian but said he did not recall the specifics of Oaklands 1999 season finale, its ramifications and similarities.Namely, that coach Jon Gruden was finishing his second full season (same as Cable). That his coaching future was in question and seemingly needed a good showing in the season finale on Jan. 2 (same as this season) in Kansas City (again, same) to save his job (seeminglytheres the word againsame as Cable). That the Raiders entered that game 7-8 (yup, same).But when told the Raiders players from that era said that victory served as a spring board for the next few seasonsthe Raiders improved to 12-4 in 2000 and played in the AFC title game, lost in the Tuck Rule game following the 2001 season and went to the Super Bowl after the 2002 seasonCable perked up.Can this game this weekend serve a similar purpose?Oh, absolutely, Cable said. I just feel like winning this game, first of all, it gets that losing thing away from usmeaning we dont finish 7-9, we finish 8-8. We sweep the division, which is a tough thing to do in any division in this league.And then I think it just sends everybody to the next step, meaning the offseason, feeling like, Hey, were right there and now weve got to finish the deal and make it all the way next year.The rest of the Raiders injury report: Practiced limited, questionableWRPRs Johnnie Lee Higgins (ankle) Nick Miller (ankle).Practiced full, probableOT Mario Henderson (ankle), TE Zach Miller (foot), CBs Nnamdi Asomugha (ankle) and Chris Johnson (groin), S Mike Mitchell (shoulder).