Gradkowski revels in winner's afterglow

<p>ALAMEDA — It was a night that Bruce Gradkowski must have wanted to last forever.</p><p>“It was really hectic after the game because I had to do all the interviews, and then I had 50 family members waiting outside I had to go talk to ... ,” Gradkowski said. “Kind of wish I could’ve stayed home in Pittsburgh to enjoy it with ’em, but I might’ve got kicked out of Pittsburgh.”</p><p>About 23 hours, 3,000 miles and a surprisingly few degrees of temperature increase later, Gradkowski was still reveling in the joy of beating the team he grew up rooting for. Welcomed three weeks ago as the gutty overachiever who was replacing JaMarcus Russell in the huddle, he is starting to look less like a temporary fix and more like a possible long-term solution at quarterback.</p><p>Raiders coach Tom Cable acknowledged that Gradkowski will keep the job until he screws it up, though he wasn’t willing to address anything past Jan.3.</p><p>“That’s not for me to even think about right now,” Cable said. “Right now I have to be focused on what’s at hand this season and all that. That’s for after the season.”</p><p>On the streets of Raider Nation, there is little dissent. After watching Russell plod through nine starts this season, people are ready to see Gradkowski finish the season, and many would like him to get a real shot at keeping the job in 2010. That’s what happens when you become the first NFL quarterback since 1991 to throw three go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter of one game, as Gradkowski did Sunday (according to STATS LLC).</p><p>It’s an amazing turnaround for a quarterback who was out of football for most of last season, and who had previously been cut or waived by the Buccaneers, Rams and Browns.</p><p>“I’ve seen each end of it, the starting quarterback side and then the side when you’re on the street for a while,” Gradkowski said. “It’s just a matter of staying confident in yourself and knowing this happens sometimes. Look at Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme and guys that have been on the streets, Jeff Garcia coming from Canada. ... I think the main thing in this league is you have to persevere.”</p><p>Gradkowski perseveres in his career, and within individual games. Sunday, his offense scored six points over the first three quarters, before the game got crazy and the QB came alive.</p><p>Gradkowski seems to be at his best in uncontrolled settings. Tight end Zach Miller said he believes Gradkowski plays better than he practices. And he has shown his grit in the 2-minute drill in two of his three starts — especially at Pittsburgh, where he led the Raiders on a 10-play, 88-yard drive to win the game.</p><p>He does it with a combination of energetic enthusiasm and burning intensity.</p><p>“I like him, just because he’s so in tune with the game and because he prepares so well,” running back Justin Fargas said. “He can be emotional, he can get riled up, but he doesn’t lose composure. Especially when the pressure’s on and the game’s on the line, he seems like he’s right where he wants to be.”</p><p>The night before playing the Bengals on Nov. 22, Gradkowski phoned Miller to ask about a certain pass route, and how the tight end might adjust it against certain coverages. “He was watching film, and he wanted to make sure we were on the same page on it,” Miller said.</p><p>Last week, rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey told how Gradkowski will approach a receiver at practice, or even occasionally in games, if he feels a route isn’t being run correctly. After Sunday’s win, left tackle Mario Henderson said the quarterback snapped at offensive linemen in the huddle when he spotted them gazing at the Heinz Field video board.</p><p>“I’m pretty competitive when I’m out there on the field ... ,” Gradkowski said with a broad smile. “They know it was no disrespect to them. We’re just trying to win a football game, we’re just getting after it. I love those guys up front. ... I’m just trying to get them fired up sometimes and get their heads on straight.”</p><p>Of course, Gradkowski would like to get a chance beyond this season, but he knows better than to assume it will happen. He’ll always be a sixth-round draft choice from Toledo, with a quirky delivery and less than JaMarcus-like arm strength. He also is sure he can prove himself worthy if given a real chance.</p><p>“I believe I’m a starting quarterback in the NFL,” Gradkowski said. “I mean, you have to have that confidence. And hopefully I’m showing it. But I really don’t care what other people think. I’m just worried about taking it one week at a time, winning football games and the rest will fall into place.”</p><p>Staff Writer Phil Barber blogs about the Raiders at raiders.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach him at 521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.</p>