PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AFC : Walsh Will Give Raiders Some Help

The Oakland Raiders can expect some help from former San Francisco 49er coach Bill Walsh this season because of his longtime friendship with Raider Coach Mike White.

Walsh, who won three Super Bowls in his 10 years with the 49ers, told the Contra Costa Times that he plans to visit White and the Raiders regularly during the season.

Walsh’s first visit will likely be after the team’s opening exhibition game Saturday at Texas Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys. Walsh plans to visit the Raiders at their Oxnard training camp, then make regular visits to their in-season workout base at El Segundo.

“My affiliation will always be with the 49ers, but in Mike’s case, I can root 100 percent for Mike and the Raiders and not feel a hint of conflict between the two organizations,” Walsh said.

White and Walsh are longtime friends and coaching associates, dating to when they were collegiate assistants together at California and Stanford, and White was Walsh’s administrative assistant and line coach with the 49ers in 1979-80.

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Craig Powell finally put on the uniform he promised to wear as a first-round draft pick this spring: No. 59 for the Cleveland Browns.

The Ohio State linebacker agreed to a four-year contract and then took part in two training camp practices.

“I’m behind a little,” Powell said. “I’ve got to catch up a little bit. But I think I’ll do all right. “

Powell, the 30th overall draft choice, had been one of a handful of first-round picks left unsigned. The list also included Michael Westbrook of Washington (No. 4), Derrick Alexander of Minnesota (No. 11), Tyrone Wheatley of the New York Giants (No. 17), Rashaan Salaam of Chicago (No. 21) and Devin Bush of Atlanta (No. 26).

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Cornerback Ray Buchanan and defensive tackle Tony Siragusa ended their holdouts and returned to the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp. Neither, however, promised they would stay through the rest of camp.

Buchanan, who started every game last season and finished with a team-high eight interceptions, is scheduled to earn the league minimum of $178,000 for a third-year player. Siragusa, who also started every game and had 108 tackles and five sacks, will earn $925,000.

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Kansas City Chief backup linebacker Jaime Fields will be sidelined at least a month following surgery to reattach the triceps tendon in his right arm.

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New England Patriot inside linebacker Vincent Brown underwent minor left knee surgery.

“He has a degenerative condition in his knee, and right now, it’s a little hot,” Coach Bill Parcells said. “He may have a little debris in there causing the irritation. There are many players who play with this kind of thing.”

It was not clear how long Brown would be absent from practice.

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Bruce Kozerski, who has played every other position in the Cincinnati Bengal offensive line, has been moved to left tackle because Kevin Sargent was performing poorly in camp. Kozerski’s spot at right guard will go to Trent Pollard, a second-year pro who hasn’t started a game.