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| ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders entered contract talks with one major goal in mind: avoid a training camp holdout. The two sides accomplished that after only two days of negotiations, finalizing a $60 million, six-year contract that ensures McFadden will be in training camp on time and not repeat the protracted holdout that derailed JaMarcus Russell's rookie year in Oakland. "I'm very happy to have it out of the way," McFadden said at a news conference Friday. "Because like coach said, I want to be in training camp. I want to be out there practicing and learning plays. Missing a day of training camp is like missing a week of college practices. It would be a major setback for me." That's exactly what happened to Russell and the Raiders a year ago, when the No. 1 overall pick did not sign his $61 million contract until after the regular season started and ended up starting only one game at quarterback. McFadden made avoiding a holdout a priority when he picked Ian Greengross as his agent and talks with the Raiders started earlier and went smoother than they did with Russell a year ago. Greengross and McFadden sat down Tuesday night to go over his priorities in a contract and talks with the Raiders began the following day. Greengross stayed in town when preliminary talks showed signs of progress and finalized the deal Thursday night. McFadden came back to the Raiders facility to sign the contract that will guarantee him $26 million and accept congratulations from owner Al Davis. "I think given their experience last year certainly helped us out in terms of making smoother progress," Greengross said. "But it was still make progress, hit a wall, just like any other team. I wouldn't say it was any better, I wouldn't say it was any worse." |