Burgess, Heyward-Bey absent as Raiders open camp

NAPA, Calif. (AP) - Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess and first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey were no-shows Wednesday as the Oakland Raiders opened training camp.

The Raiders don't start practice until Thursday but had mandatory meetings Wednesday, making Burgess and Heyward-Bey officially holdouts. Coach Tom Cable said that Heyward-Bey is in the Bay Area and was optimistic a deal could be finalized soon.

"There's progress being made," Cable said. "It's good, it's positive. But it's very important, starting tomorrow, that we get him here and he's able to get all this. He's had it in minicamp and the OTAs but certainly this is valuable. This is real now."

Burgess' situation doesn't look as though it will be resolved as quickly. Burgess, who has a base salary of $2 million in the final year of his contract, is subject to a fine for each day of training camp he misses.

"He is not here by his choice," Cable said. "We really haven't talked about a reason and that's really all I'm going to say about it."

Burgess' agent, Jimmy Sexton, did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. Burgess has been unhappy in Oakland and was seeking a trade in the offseason. The Raiders and Patriots had talks around the draft, but those did not lead anywhere.

Burgess then skipped all the optional workouts this offseason and did not take the field during the mandatory minicamp in May because of an upset stomach.

The Raiders signed Greg Ellis last month to bolster their defensive line. Cable said Ellis opens camp as the starter at Burgess' old left defensive end.

Burgess has felt underpaid for most of his time in Oakland. He signed a five-year, $18 million deal before the 2005 season and made the Pro Bowl his first two seasons with the Raiders. But after getting 27 sacks in two years, Burgess has just 11.5 the past two seasons, including 3.5 in an injury-plagued 2008.

"Everybody has their own situation," linebacker Kirk Morrison said. "I can't really comment on that. I feel like he is a great asset on our team and I'd love for him to be here."

Heyward-Bey was the seventh overall pick in April's draft, a controversial move by the Raiders who passed over more highly touted receivers like Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin to take the fastest one in the draft.

The Raiders are counting on a big contribution from the rookie this season. They need plenty of help at wide receiver after getting just 82 catches from the position last season, led by Johnnie Lee Higgins' 22.

Heyward-Bey caught just 13 touchdown passes in three seasons at Maryland, never reaching 800 yards receiving in a season. He had career lows last season with 42 catches for 609 yards to go with his five TD catches.

Heyward-Bey struggled with hamstring injuries during offseason workouts but Cable said he is healthy and will be ready to practice as soon as his contract is signed.

"We need to have him here, and the quarterback needs to be throwing to him and he's got to know how he fits," Cable said. "He's got a lot of those things to learn, and it was kind of hit and miss in OTAs because of the hamstring." Notes: The Raiders waived QB Danny Southwick and WR Arman Shields to get down to the 80-man roster limit. ... Cable said the team would decide by Thursday whether OL Robert Gallery (appendectomy), FB Oren O'Neal (knee), and WR Javon Walker (knee) would begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. ... Cable said QB Andrew Walter's status would be worked up in the next day or two. Walter is looking for a fresh start after the team signed backup Jeff Garcia in the offseason.