Aging Armstrong relishes upgraded role with Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Trace Armstrong began to believe the Oakland Raiders didn't think he had it anymore, especially as a 37-year-old defensive end recovering from major injury.

His reps in practice were at a minimum, he was in the background as a member of Oakland's revamped defense, and he couldn't keep up with the rest of the Raiders' talented group of old guys.

Still, he showed up for practice each day with the same approach that has kept him in this league for so long -- ready to work, even in pain and frustration.

And all of a sudden, Armstrong is right in the middle of the defensive mix again, in an upgraded role.

Because the Raiders are so banged up, Armstrong has gone from being used in spot situations as a pass-rushing specialist to starter in a matter of weeks. He's still working to get his timing back after missing most of last season with a ruptured right Achilles' tendon.

"Let's face it. I'm 37, I'm not 27. You get an injury like this and it's not like they're going to say, 'Well, it's a two-year rehab and we know he'll be better next year,"' said Armstrong, a Pro Bowler in 2000. "It's all about what can you do for me now. I was beginning to think they'd lost faith in me, or faith in what I could do.

"The only way I know to approach any of those situations is work."

And Armstrong is working out just fine.

He's playing with energy and emotion. Oakland's much-improved defensive unit has allowed only one touchdown in its past two games, and the Raiders have won two straight to get back in the playoff chase following a four-game slide. The defensive line is finally starting to shine on a team known more for its high-powered offense.

Just a couple weeks ago, Armstrong was participating in only five or six snaps each practice. It wasn't enough for him to feel ready on Sundays. So he spoke to coach Bill Callahan about increasing his practice time.

"That goes back to that old saying, 'Be careful what you wish for,'" defensive tackle Sam Adams said with a chuckle. "He's getting it all now. He's a veteran. Most people don't come in the league as specialists, they come in having to play, and he's shown he can do that."

Callahan anticipated using Armstrong more as the season progressed.

"We thought there was going to be a point in time where he got healthier and got stronger and we felt 100 percent assured of where he was at physically," Callahan said. "I think we see his ability to get back to his double moves, his inside move. I think it's pretty evident in his play. Not only making those moves, but creating the big play and creating the sack off it."

Leader of the sack

Armstrong led the AFC in sacks two years ago for Miami, where he played six seasons. He recorded his 100th sack in a win Nov. 11 at Denver -- in his second start of the year and first since the opener against Seattle.

He nearly got another sack against New England, but after his hit on Tom Brady, the referee ruled the play an incomplete pass. Armstrong also recovered a fumble and batted down a pass against the Super Bowl champs.

"At times, I feel like I used to feel," he said. "It's gratifying because it's the result of a lot of work, a lot of anguish."

It's been a slow process for Armstrong, a 14-year NFL veteran who joined the Raiders as a free agent in March 2001 after six seasons with the Dolphins. He went down in Week 3 last year, and went on injured reserve.

Armstrong was limited most of training camp to individual work, and it wasn't until the end of camp that he even participated in contact drills.

"My practice time had been so limited going all the way back to training camp," Armstrong said. "It's just awfully hard to show up on Sunday and play this game and expect to be effective. I've been getting more snaps in practices, which is what I needed."

Armstrong became increasingly important to the Raiders when defensive end Tony Bryant hurt his neck against the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 3. Bryant is out indefinitely.

"He's basically like a coach I'm playing with," Bryant said. "He's an inspiration to me, after coming back from injury, now that I'm injured. I'm thinking, this guy's older and he went through that and came back and is playing hard for us."