Gutierrez: Raiders' Pryor shows moves…after game

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Sept. 2, 2011GUTIERREZ ARCHIVE
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Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.comSEATTLE -- His body language gave some hints. His deed filled in the blanks.Up and at attention for most of the game, Terrelle Pryor looked every part the dutiful student as he had headphones resting atop his baseball cap, a clipboard at his side and listened in attentively on every sideline quarterback meeting.This was going to be the night when he'd get on a football field for any meaningful action for the first time since the Sugar Bowl in January. His last meaningful action before his NFL-mandated five-game suspension kicks in on Saturday, since he cannot practice during his ban.NBC reported on Sunday that Pryor, selected by the Raiders in the league's supplemental draft on Aug. 22 and signed on Aug. 25, would play against Seattle in the exhibition finale. And while Raiders coach Hue Jackson said he told the network Pryor "could" play, he hinted all week it would happen.RECAP: Raiders fall to Seattle, finish preseason winless
No wonder the Blogosphere, the Twitterverse and all of Raider Nation sat in joyful hope of Pryor taking the field for a series or two and showing off his myriad skills against the Seahawks. He looked the part.But when it became apparent Pryor was not going to play, his shoulders slumped. He retreated to the bench late in the fourth quarter and took a seat next to fellow rookie Taiwan Jones.Was he sulking? Or was the realization of his suspension, in which he can attend meetings, hitting him full bore? Did he think he would play and, if so, did he feel misled?Jackson acknowledged after the Raiders' 20-3 defeat he contemplated putting Pryor in the game."I thought about it, but there was so much pressure and having to call plays that he hadn't had a chance to practice," Jackson said. "I didn't want to put him in an uncomfortable situation. I don't think that's fair to the kid."That's not building a bully. Honestly, that's just being smart.Because Oakland's back-up offensive line, many of whom will not be on the roster Saturday afternoon, was brutal in the second half. Kyle Boller took a beating. The same thumping Trent Edwards experienced against New Orleans.Then again, Pryor's strength is in his legs. His running ability and his speed. And it was never more apparent than in the post-game locker room."I've got to go get something," he told me when I asked if he had a minute.Then, when approached by another group of reporters, he said, "I've got to go to the bathroom."And, like that, he was gone. Pryor found a back door and was ghost.With his deft moves on the media, surely he could have avoided the random Seahawks rusher, right?Then again, perhaps Pryor was showing some of that newfound maturity. Maybe he knew he would say something he'd later regret so he chose to say nothing.Check back in Week 6.

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