Gradkowski has to climb depth chart again

NAPA, Calif. (AP) - Bruce Gradkowski dropped back to throw, launched a deep completion down the right sideline and ran to bump chests with offensive lineman Khalif Barnes. Then he sought out wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and did a leaping hip-bump.

The Oakland Raiders' journeyman quarterback is having fun, even if he's buried on the depth chart again.

It's not where Gradkowski expected to be, not after coming off the bench in 2009 and leading the Raiders to a pair of late-season wins while infusing the offense with a much-needed spark. At the very least Gradkowski assumed he'd enter training camp with a legitimate shot at the starting job.

Instead, Oakland traded for Jason Campbell during the NFL draft in April and head coach Tom Cable named Campbell the starter the day before training camp began.

"From what I've been through through my career, why get handed something now?" Gradkowski said with a grin Thursday. "I'm never going to get handed anything. That's just the way I was brought up. You have to work for it and you have to earn it. I've never expected anything to come easy."

Gradkowski started 13 games as a rookie for Tampa Bay in 2006 then quickly fell off the map and into backup territory. Over the next two years, he started just six games for the Bucs and Cleveland Browns, then signed on as the Raiders' fourth quarterback before last season.

In Oakland, Gradkowski was behind former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, Jeff Garcia and Andrew Walter when camp began. By midseason, he had vaulted to the top of the depth chart and was a big hit at the Oakland Coliseum, where fans had grown tired of Russell's ineffectiveness and attitude.

Gradkowski started four games for the Raiders, including a 27-24 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 6. Gradkowski grew up less than 10 minutes from the Steelers' stadium and the emotional return home, coupled with the victory, seemed to enhance Gradkowski's stock.

He compiled a 91.4 rating in his four starts but missed the final three games due to a knee injury. He hurt himself again this offseason when he tore a pectoral muscle while lifting weights. The injury required surgery that forced Gradkowski to miss all the team's OTAs and minicamps.

That's one of the reasons the Raiders traded for Campbell. The team also severed ties with Russell after three disappointing seasons.

Asked Thursday what hurt worse, the torn pectoral muscle or being informed Campbell was the starter on the eve of training camp, Gradkowski chuckled.

"Well I think definitely ... definitely the pec," he said. "Those (other) situations, I can't control, so no need to worry about them. At least now I'm back and I can compete and do my thing and let things fall into place."

Through the first week of training camp Gradkowski has worked almost exclusively with the second-team offense while Campbell has taken the majority of reps with the starters.

Oakland also has Kyle Boller and journeyman Charlie Frye on the roster, though not even Campbell has asserted himself as vocally as Gradkowski.

During a 7-on-7 goal line drill Thursday, Gradkowski stepped to the line of scrimmage to scan the defense and noticed defensive back Stanford Routt lingering on the field when he should have been on the sideline.

"Hey Stan, you in or out?" Gradkowski barked. "Get off."

That leadership and his willingness to accept a backup role without complaining has made Gradkowski a hit with the coaching staff.

"Bruce is a pro, (he) is not about what Bruce wants," Cable said. "Everyone wants to be a starter, but he's about the team and he'll have himself ready to go, and his approach is fine. He understands this game at this level. He's just a play away from being the starter again."

Notes: WR Jonathon Holland was carted off the field with an undisclosed injury during the morning practice. Holland went down and appeared to be clutching his left ankle after running a pass route. ... Defensive tackle Richard Seymour was given the morning off. ... WRs Louis Murphy (foot), Darrius Heyward-Bey (general soreness) and Jacoby Ford (quad) also did not practice. ... Eight NFL referees attended Thursday's practice and will continue to work with the team for the next few days.