Lane Kiffin Thinks Javon Walker Will Be Ready for Training Camp

That Lane Kiffin sure is optimistic. Must come from working for the bestest boss in the whole wide world. Or maybe he's in denial; a means of dealing with the fact at Al Davis could drop the hammer without provocation. Whatever, Kiffin is unconcerned about Javon Walker's orbital fracture, his concussion and what it means for his Raiders future:

Kiffin expects No. 1 receiver Javon Walker at training camp after he suffered significant facial injuries Monday after being robbed and beaten in Las Vegas.

Kiffin made it clear Oakland expects Walker, who was signed to a six-year, $55 million this offseason will be ready to resume being Oakland's No. 1 receiver.

Wow. That's ... well, unbelievable. Walker was nursing a knee injury during minicamp and hadn't been able to fully participate. Prior to what happened in Vegas not staying there, he had promised to be on the field for the season-opening matchup against the Broncos, his former team.

That all went out the window as soon as he was found on a Vegas sidewalk sans three grand and enough jewelry to start a store. Apparently, after spending some time in the hospital, doctors have determined that his injuries aren't serious enough to keep him from preparing for the 2008 season.

"We are aware that Javon Walker was the victim of a robbery," Raiders spokesman Mike Taylor said in a statement. "We have been told that he will make a full recovery in the near future and resume his preparation for the 2008 NFL season."

It's hard to begrudge a 29-year-old millionaire for going out and having a good time, but it seems like professional athletes are increasingly targeted when they're in public. Drawing attention to yourself certainly doesn't help, I'd think, but it looks like Walker will escape with a broken bone and a headache. It'll cost him more than $100,000, but if that's the going price for learning a life lesson, it sounds like a bargain.

I was skeptical he could be the Raiders' No. 1 receiver before all this, and I'm even more so now. But, who knows, maybe this will be the turning point in his career.