Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Bruce Campbell joined former Silver and Black defensive end Jay Richardson and I on this week’s broadcast of the JRich Report radio broadcast.
Like many other players in the NFL, Campbell is ready to get back on the playing field and for the lockout to end. The Raiders should be opening training camp by Aug. 1 according to Jason Campbell.
The second-year player out of Maryland feels good as the offseason is quickly drawing to a close. They say the most improvement an NFL player will ever make is the time between his first and second seasons. Given the lockout, Campbell and his fellow second-year players may have missed that window, but he’s not thinking about that.
Instead, he’s focused more on being in shape to start the season and doing what it takes to sure up the offensive line.
“I actually feel good. I’m anxious to get back on the field just to see if I’ve prepared myself right,” Campbell told Richardson and I. “Everything has been so long to get to a new CBA or whatever . . . I don’t know with my training, if I equipped myself enough to prepare for such a long lockout, but I’m anxious to see.”
Richardson did his best to squash the Maryland product’s concerns, which eased the nerves of the second-year player.
The bigger question for Campbell and the Raiders is how to sure up an offensive line widely described as “suspect” last season. There will be competition for nearly every position on the line once camp opens, but Campbell is ready.
“I’m ready to accept that challenge,” he said. “I got drafted to be in the NFL for a reason. I knew from day one that wasn’t nothing going to be given to be. I was going to have to compete for everything. Whether it was with somebody 10 years older or somebody the same age. So, I’m just ready for the competition.”
