The Oakland Raiders are on their bye this week, but the team facility will be anything but empty during the NFL-mandated four-day break this weekend.
Instead of relaxing at home -- or taking a trip to the Bahamas as certain signal-callers are wont to do -- new Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer will meet with his receiving corps in an attempt to establish the chemistry that clearly was lacking during Sunday's 28-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy and Derek Hagan all told the Contra Costa Times on Monday that they didn't intend to go out of town during the scheduled time off.
"We're going to have to work hard and get good with (Palmer), just to get the timing down and be here with him," Ford said. "That's on my mind right now."
Palmer, who went 8-of-21 passing for 116 yards with three interceptions in relief of starter Kyle Boller, told the Times the Raiders need to use this time to develop a cohesive offensive unit if they're going to make the playoff run that many in the Bay Area expect.
"I understand that it's bye week for these young receivers, and it's time to get away a little bit and let your mind go somewhere else, because hopefully there's a long road ahead of us," said Palmer, who joined the Raiders last week in a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals. "But it's also time to get some work done, get that timing and rhythm and get going."
