ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The sample size is small and the preseason offers nothing more than a glimpse at real-game experience for evaluation purposes. But the Oakland Raiders' Mighty Mites, 5-foot-8 dynamos DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, are already setting hearts aflutter in the streets of Silver and Blackdom.
"Those are my li'l dogs," offered fullback Marcel Reece.
Indeed, Washington, a fifth-round draft pick from Texas Tech, and Richard, an undrafted rookie free agent from Southern Miss, are already drawing comparisons to successful diminutive running backs.
"They're both exciting young men," Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said.