No. 1 pick Russell, Raiders are reportedly near a deal

The Oakland Raiders and No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell are nearing completion of a deal, according to reports.

Russell’s uncle, Ray Russell, who is serving as an advisor to the quarterback, told USA Today that talks have been ongoing to end the stalemate.

“They’ve done more talking in the last week and a half than the previous three months. It’s almost done,” Ray Russell said. “It’s just a damn shame it’s taken this long.”

Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin wasn’t so optimistic when contacted by the Contra Costa Times.

“I wouldn’t say closer,” Kiffin said. “It’s just continuing the same thing. Our people are still negotiating with his agents, and they feel progress is being made. But I’ve come out here and said that before and it’s been two months or whatever since the first time I said that.”

Dallas receiver Terrell Owens was in midseason form, sounding off on any and every topic thrown his way.

Prediction for the Cowboys: “I feel very confident in going on record now saying we are going to make the playoffs. We are going to win some playoff games.”

His review of last season: “I really felt like I let this team down.”

His relationship with Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb: “I did what I had to do when I saw Donovan. I apologized.”

How about things with a more recent sparring partner, former coach Bill Parcells: “Anything regarding Bill Parcells is not a non-issue, it’s a dead issue. D-e-a-d, dead.”

Owens even delved into the taboo topic of dogfighting, saying he attended one “when I was younger.”

“Being from the South, that’s something that’s very prevalent in that area,” he said.

Later, he compared dogfighting to hunting deer: “They cut their heads off and they go to mount them on the wall. And they are animals as well. I don’t see a big difference in the situation.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell has no knowledge that any other NFL personnel are involved in an Internet drug operation being investigated by the Albany (N.Y.) District Attorney’s office.

The investigation led to the recent suspensions of New England safety Rodney Harrison and Dallas quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson.

“We have been in touch with them for several months now, working with them, and we have responded, reacted and dealt with all of these issues,” Goodell said.

The New York Giants and New York Jets broke ground in East Rutherford, N.J., on the first stadium to be jointly owned by two NFL teams. The yet unnamed 82,500-seat facility, for which owners are still working on a naming-rights deal, will play host to 20 NFL games each season and is expected to open for the 2010 season.

Odell Thurman can remain on probation for a drunk driving conviction, but a judge warned the Cincinnati linebacker that he must follow the rules if he wants to stay there.

Thurman was put on probation for two years in June after the judge gave him a suspended 90-day jail sentence and ordered him to serve six days in a treatment center.

According to terms of his suspension by the league for multiple drunk-driving arrests, Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen will be allowed to attend team meetings but not practice for the next two weeks.