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McFadden: First round pick

The time I talked to the Raiders coaching staff, they told me they're missing a playmaker from their offense.

Darren McFadden
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Darren McFadden is itching to prove himself in the NFL after the Oakland Raiders selected him with the fourth choice in the 2008 draft.

The talented tailback was a double Heisman Trophy runner-up during his time at Arkansas but there had been doubts over his value.

Off-the-field issues had been flagged up by some teams, who now look into player temperaments and lifestyles just as much as their on-field ability.

McFadden has insisted though he will not stray on the wrong side of the law again, something that clearly convinced the Raiders to snap him up.

Gruelling

"It's a long, gruelling process," said McFadden on the draft. "It's something that you're ready to be done with.

"You're just waiting to get somewhere and play football."

McFadden and former Georgia All-American Herschel Walker are the only players in the Southeastern Conference to rush for over 1,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore and junior.

Oakland has plenty of options at running back but Raiders coaches have told McFadden they expect him to provide some big plays to improve on their record of 4-12 in 2007.

"The time I talked to the Raiders coaching staff, they told me they're missing a playmaker from their offense," he said.

"I feel I can add that with my big-play ability."

Young guns

McFadden believes he can combine with last year's number one pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, to drive a new young Raiders offence.

"Two young guys in the backfield, a guy like JaMarcus Russell and me, it will be a great thing back there," he said.

"Both of us, coming out of the SEC (Southeastern Conference), we've played against good teams.

"And it's something that we want to carry over to the NFL so I feel we can be a great asset for them."

Rhodes released

With McFadden heading for their roster once a contract is agreed, Oakland have announced that running back Dominic Rhodes has been released.

The 29-year-old joined the franchise last off-season after helping the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl XLI.

He rushed for 302 yards rushing in 10 games last year after being suspended for the first four weeks for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Despite Rhodes' release, the Raiders still have tailbacks LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush on their books, as well as the impending arrival of McFadden.