Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown has reportedly filed a grievance with the NFL over a league rule that prevents him from wearing his 10-year-old helmet. ESPN reported that Brown had a two-hour conference call with an independent arbitrator to state his case for why he should be able to use a helmet that is no longer certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff made several strong throws against the Raiders defense during joint practices at Oakland’s training facility in Napa. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, meanwhile, said he was pleased to go against an opponent after spending the previous nine practices going against Oakland’s own defense. He says the joint practices are better than a preseason game because of all the work the players get to do.

Cliff Branch, one of the Raiders’ career-leading wide receivers who won three Super Bowls in 14 seasons with the franchise, has died. He was 71.

Richie Incognito didn’t know if he’d ever get another chance to play in the NFL because of several suspensions, accusations of racism and bullying, and run-ins with police off the field. It took until this spring for the Oakland Raiders finally to give him that chance to ‘rewrite the ending’ to his career.

Antonio Brown celebrated his first day of training camp with the Oakland Raiders by taking a hot air balloon ride over the Napa Valley. Coach Jon Gruden thought it was tame by the flamboyant wide receiver’s standards. Gruden joked that he thought Brown might jump out of a plane and parachute in.

Oakland Raiders guard Richie Incognito has been suspended without pay by the NFL for the first two games of the regular season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Incognito pleaded guilty in April to disorderly conduct in Arizona after being accused of threatening employees at a funeral home where his father’s body was being held. He is eligible to participate in offseason and preseason practices and games. Incognito may return to the Raiders’ active roster on Sept. 16.

Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden will be a TV star once again. HBO announced that the Raiders will be featured on the network’s “Hard Knocks” show in training camp this summer that gives a behind-the-scenes look at an NFL team.

The 2018 Oakland Raiders never were able to fill the void left by the trade of Khalil Mack. They ranked last in the NFL in points allowed and sacks. This year’s group looks to change that story and establish a new identity with the maturation of last year’s rookies, the additions of key draft picks, and the signing of veterans like Vontaze Burfict and Lamarcus Joyner.

Derek Carr has acknowledged that speculation about whether the Oakland Raiders would draft a quarterback this offseason was annoying, even if he was confident it wouldn’t happen. Coach Jon Gruden, general manager Mike Mayock and owner Mark Davis assured Carr he was their guy and then went out and added key pieces to help him. That includes receivers Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, running back Josh Jacobs and tackle Trent Brown.

Former Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks kicker Sebastian Janikowski is set to retire after an 18-year career. Janikowski spent 17 seasons with Oakland before kicking last season with Seattle after signing a one-year deal. Janikowski converted 80.4% of his field goal attempts during his career, including a career long of 63 yards during the 2011 season.

Former Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks kicker Sebastian Janikowski is set to retire after an 18-year career.

Marshawn Lynch is calling it a career – again – as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday morning that Beast Mode doesn’t plan to play football again.

The Oakland Raiders have signed unrestricted free agent defensive end Benson Mayowa. The deal brings Mayowa back for a second stint with the Raiders. He previously played in Oakland in 2014-15 when he had two sacks in 28 games.

The Oakland Raiders have signed free-agent running back Isaiah Crowell to a one-year contract. Crowell is expected to compete for playing time at an open position for the Raiders. Doug Martin and Marshawn Lynch were Oakland’s top two rushers last year and remain free agents.

The Raiders have gotten final approval for their lease to remain in Oakland for at least one more season. The Oakland City Council voted to approve the lease for 2019 with an option for 2020. The Alameda Board of Supervisors had voted earlier in the week in favor of the lease. The Raiders are scheduled to move to Las Vegas for the 2020 season.

The Oakland Raiders’ rebuilding plan sped up with the availability of star receiver Antonio Brown. The team has handed out more than $200 million in contracts this week in the hopes of fielding a more competitive team for the final year in Oakland and building a contender for the arrival in Las Vegas in 2020.

The Coliseum Authority has approved a lease agreement to keep the Raiders in Oakland for at least one more season. The deal for 2019 with an option for 2020 still must be approved by the Oakland City Council and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, but no hang-ups are expected.

Couch Slouch: The Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders are looking for a temporary home for the 2019 NFL season. At this point, a pop-up stadium in Dubai might be in play. The Raiders – often called “America’s Team” because over the last half-century they have contacted every American municipality seeking a housing deal – are scheduled to move to a new, expensive, almost-paid-for dome in Las Vegas in 2020.

After the final seconds ticked off, Derek Carr ran straight to the Black Hole with several teammates before taking a victory lap around the Coliseum to celebrate with his fans.