Oakland

Jack Del Rio Reflects on Raiders Training Camp, Marshawn Lynch

Published

9 years ago

August 18, 2017

On the eve of the Raiders first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was at the Napa Valley Raiders training camp facility, reflecting on his team and the future of the Oakland Raiders.

“I am looking for improvement,” said Del Rio. “I am not focusing on win totals in the preseason, as much as just us getting better as a team.”

With the new NFL collective bargaining agreement taking place, practice habits in the preseason have changed. There are not that many days in pads at practice, hitting is limited and the overall toughness of training camp has disappeared to a large degree.

“In our practices, what we do look for is competition. We make an effort to let our guys compete.”

Del Rio said that first games are games where new players can make names for themselves.

“First games are the biggest opportunities for sleepers to make a name,” continued Del Rio. “This is their chance to standout.”
One player who stood out last season as a rookie was Raider running back Jalen Richard and he said that he has more confidence this year, with a season under this belt than he did last year.

“Last year, I was showing what I could do,” said Richard. “This year, I am focusing on honing my skills and getting better.”
Richard came off of a good first year where he split time with DeAndre Washington and Latavius Murray. Murray is gone as he went to the Minnesota Vikings, but the Raiders added former Seattle Seahawk and Oakland native Marshawn Lynch to their rosters.

“I want to show people my pass-catching ability and my pass-blocking ability,” said Richard. “I want to develop my entire game as a player.”

The Raiders would lose the first game of the preseason 20-10 against the Arizona Cardinals. Most of the starters didn’t play, as Raider quarterback Derek Carr didn’t play and EJ Manuel got the start at quarterback. Other players, such as outside linebacker Khalil Mack and Lynch, didn’t play, but Lynch still over overshadowed the game.

While the national anthem played, Lynch sat on the bench eating a banana, which caused a national commentary on Lynch. Former hockey player Jeremy Roenick took to twitter and called Lynch “disrespectful.” Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker James Harrison said that “anyone on my team that sits for the anthem, better be in a wheelchair.”

While Lynch didn’t talk to the media, his coach Del Rio said that he, “strongly believes in standing for the national anthem, but I’m going to respect you as a man,” said Del Rio in the San Jose Mercury news. “You do your thing. It’s a non-issue for me.”
The next Raiders pre-season game is Saturday August 19, at 7 pm in Oakland against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 22, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC