Curry Returns from Foot Injury

Ronald Curry has dealt with so many injuries in his NFL career that he wasn’t about to let a bone spur in his foot sideline him last season.

Curry played through that pain to be Oakland’s leading receiver last year until it finally became too tough to handle this off-season. After undergoing surgery on his left foot that forced him to miss six weeks of off-season practices, Curry returned to his usual spot at receiver this week for the Raiders.

“Just coming off the Achilles’ I didn’t feel like it was the right time to go in and take it out, because you know you were going to miss another four to six weeks,” Curry said Thursday. “So basically just deal with it. I took a shot probably every two weeks just to calm it down a little bit. But it feels great, man. Feels like a new foot, actually.”

Curry said he had trouble planting on the foot before the operation, but says he is now running pain free with six weeks before training camp starts.

Curry had his seasons shortened by injuries to his Achilles’ tendons in both 2005 and 2006, hindering his development as an NFL receiver after playing quarterback in college.

But he led the team with 55 catches for 717 yards and five touchdowns last season and is being counted on again heavily this season.

“Ronald is very important to us as far as a veteran receiver who knows our system really well,” coach Lane Kiffin said. “Last year he made some plays for us. Going into the off-season I had a number of meetings with him about where he can get better where he improve in this system, the second year in the system. Physically he’s looking to improve his body as well.”

Kiffin wanted Curry to be stronger this season after he was limited to 11 catches in the final five games of the 2007 season. Curry said he was skeptical at first, because weightlifting was never a priority when he played quarterback or basketball when he was younger.

But he already sees some benefits for this season from the work he put in with strength and conditioning coach Brad Roll.

“I never took the weight room too seriously,” Curry said. “I would do just enough. But Kiffin wanted me to get in there and really hit the weights, and coach Roll was really a blessing for me, and I’m sure others, just to really stay on me. He got me on my own little plan as far as upper body, lower body, and it’s really helped me out. I can feel the difference in my legs, and when I go to block somebody.”

Curry has spent most of his career playing behind stars like Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Randy Moss. He emerged as Oakland’s leading receiver last season but does not consider himself a No. 1 after the Raiders signed Javon Walker to a six-year, $55 million contract this off-season.

Curry, joins Walker and free-agent acquisition Drew Carter as the only proven receivers on the roster.

“Regardless of who was here, I felt like I always been productive, whatever they ask me to do. And it’s not going to change this year,” Curry said. “You know, Javon, he’s going to be the guy, and I’m just going to be out there making the plays when they go to me.”

In other news, the Raiders signed linebacker Grant Irons and waived undrafted free agent Shane Simmons. Irons has not played in the NFL since 2006, his fourth season with Oakland.

Irons finished that season on injured reserve with a back injury. Irons will compete with Sam Williams and Robert Thomas for the strong-side linebacker spot.

“He’s worked extremely hard, really basically worked for two years to come back and to have an opportunity,” Kiffin said. “We worked him out yesterday. He’s in really phenomenal shape for a guy who has not been in an NFL program so we’ll give him a chance.”

Field Makes Curry Classic

A local holiday basketball tournament staple has emerged this Christmas season with a famous name.

The first Ronald Curry Christmas Classic begins at 2 p.m. today, with games to follow at 4, 6 and 8 for three days.

The tournament features 16 boys teams, almost all from the Peninsula and Southside, competing at the Hampton University Convocation Center and Holland Hall. If the brackets hold true to form, the fireworks will culminate Friday when two of the best from the Peninsula and Southside — Bethel and Booker T. Washington — should meet in the final at 8 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

This event is an expanded version of the Bethel-Hampton Christmas Classic, which has been held in high school gyms. Ronald Curry’s entertainment company came on board this year to give the event a boost, as Curry has begun to do more events in the community in which he grew up.

Full Story: Field makes Curry classic - [DailyPress.com]

GLineTV: Curry Catch Against Vikings

Curry spices up day with memorable catch

They call them circus catches in the NFL, those mind-blowing, gravity-defying receptions that exceptional players often make and use to define their careers.

Ronald Curry made one of those grabs amid a Denver snowstorm on Nov. 28, 2004, a leaping one-handed touchdown catch in a 25-24 upset victory over the Broncos that showcased his skills as a former North Carolina basketball and football player, a great athlete who at one time was considered better than Michael Vick as a prep player in their home state of Virginia.

Until Sunday, that was Curry’s signature catch.

Then he did one better at a sold-out Metrodome. Early in the second quarter, Curry raced downfield with Vikings defensive backs Darren Sharper and Antoine Winfield smothering him. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper let the ball fly anyway.

It landed in Sharper’s hands - until Curry wrestled it away from Minnesota’s strong safety for a 49-yard reception. Curry’s eyes didn’t leave the ball as he fell to the turf with such force that it knocked off his helmet.

Full Story: Curry spices up day with memorable catch - [San Francisco Chronicle]

GLineTV: Curry Hangs On

Curry Spices Up Raiders Offense

Fine, Randy Moss made the Raiders look bad with his monster-number debut in New England. Yes, Lions rookie Calvin Johnson did more than the Raiders’ No. 1 draft pick simply by showing up.

Hand it to Ronald Curry, though, for proving the Raiders have a big-play receiver to call their own.

Curry had 10 catches for 133 yards with a shutout-breaking 4-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, doing all he could to avoid responsibility for Sunday’s 36-21 loss to the Lions at the Coliseum.

“He was wrecking havoc,” running back LaMont Jordan said.

Full Story: Curry spices up Oakland’s offense - [San Francisco Chronicle]

Curry completes circle

Sometimes it’s interesting and ironic how things turn out. Michael Vick wasn’t the only acclaimed high school superstar to come out of the Norfolk, Va., area. One year ahead of him was a guy named Ronald Curry, who isn’t nearly as well-known now. Considering the present circumstances, that’s a good thing.

Curry rates as one of the greatest high school athletes to ever come out of Virginia and Vick, who is from Newport News, was almost in awe of him. He led his high school football team to three consecutive state championships. His 1996 team went 14-0 and outscored opponents 768-83, including a 51-0 rout over a previously unbeaten team in the title game.

Full Story: Curry completes circle, overtakes Vick once again in football world - [The Dispatch]

Curry: Toys for Tots Sponsor

Each time the Raiders and 49ers take the ball into the end zone during the upcoming season Bay Area kids win! Thanks to the WaMu Touchdowns for Tots program, which returns again for the 2007 season, two Bay Area schools will be rooting hard for a lot of scoring because it means a lot of money to support students and teachers.

Each time the 49ers and Raiders score a touchdown during the regular season, WaMu will donate $500 to the respective elementary school beneficiary for each of the teams. Glen Park Elementary School in San Francisco is recipient of WaMu’s donation for 49ers touchdowns, while Emerson Elementary School in Oakland will receive the money for each Raiders TD.

WaMu is also pleased to welcome two new player-spokesmen for this year’s Touchdown for Tots program: Vernon Davis, tight end, for the San Francisco 49ers; and Ronald Curry, wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders.

Full Story: WaMu Teams up with 49ers and Raiders to Score Touchdowns for Tots - [Business Wire]

Curry Quite a Catch

Rookie coach Lane Kiffin is challenging Ronald Curry to take his game to another level of consistency.

The Oakland Raiders’ flanker is taking the boss’ request to heart.

“I think he’s a great coach. He doesn’t take slouching from anybody,” said Curry. “He holds everybody accountable the same way, regardless of who you are. I think he brings what we’ve been needing here for the last four years.”

Full Story: Curry Quite a Catch - [Napa Valley Register]

A Little College Reunion

Ronald Curry got some help from his friends on Saturday.

Julius Peppers and Dré Bly, Curry’s buds from back in their North Carolina Tar Heel days, were among the players who participated in Curry’s football clinic at Darling Stadium that was informal and free.

“I knew Ronald back in high school,” said Bly, who attended Western Branch in Chesapeake, while Curry led Hampton High to three consecutive state championships from 1995-1997. “I was a big fan of his in high school, an admirer of a guy that was so talented. I brag on him all the time, about how as a high school athlete, he was a celebrity around here.”

Full Story: A little college reunion - [DailyPress.com]

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