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ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Raiders cornerback David Amerson wont take it personally if Saints quarterback Drew Brees targets him frequently in Sundays season opener.If anything, Amerson wants it that way and is preparing for it to go down just like that. It might be, he said, the only way to stop New Orleans nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback.As a corner every play you have to go out there like the balls coming your way, Amerson said Wednesday. You cant worry about whats going on on the other side of the field. You have to think every play (my receiver is) going to get the ball. I just lock in on my guy.The Raiders secondary definitely has its hands full facing Brees and the Saints after undergoing a serious makeover in the offseason.In 10 games between the two teams, Brees has passed for 19 touchdowns with only four interceptions, a small chapter in the future Hall of Famers career.Drew is a great quarterback, a Hall of Fame quarterback, Oakland safety Reggie Nelson. He just does a great job of leading his group and hes been doing that for a while now.Nelson is in his first year with the Raiders after spending the previous six seasons with Cincinnati. The veteran safety led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2015 and has squared off against the Saints three times previously. Nelson has picked off Brees once, in 2010.I just have to be patient, Nelson said. Communication is the number one key. When I got here that was my main thing, communicate with me. Guys have been doing that. As long as were on the same page nobody can stop us.On paper it seems like a complete mismatch in the Saints favor.Brees led the NFL with 4,870 passing yards last year and was tied for seventh with 32 touchdowns despite a down year for New Orleans, while Oakland ranked 26th in pass defense in Ken Norton Jr.s first season as defensive coordinator.Brees will be facing a much different pass defense than the Raiders had last year and one that is vastly changed from the one he faced in 2012 when the two teams last played. Not a single starter in Oaklands secondary was on the team then, and one -- Amerson -- wasnt even in the league at the time.Amerson, signed early last year after being abruptly dumped by the Washington Redskins two weeks into the regular season, entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2013 and has never faced Brees. Facing a quarterback of Brees unquestioned caliber, Amerson said, is an ideal litmus test for the new-look Raiders.As a secondary if you want to test yourself and see how good you are right now and how good you could be, its the perfect game to go out there and go after it, Amerson said.Oakland first-round draft pick Karl Joseph wont be in the starting lineup against Brees but figures to get playing time against the Saints multiple-receiver looks. Joseph had been taking a majority of reps with the first-team defense in the preseason and during training camp before the change was made to go with veteran Nate Allen.For us, its all about competition, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. Guys competing and then you basically get what you earn. We like the way Karl is working.Note: Right tackle Austin Howard sprained his ankle in the final preseason game and was held out of practice.---Online: AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Marble Water Bottle Cheap . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Cheap Swell Traveler . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.swellbottlesale.com/ . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Swell Traveler Sale .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. sWell Water Bottle Marble . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. NEW YORK -- The 158 free agents (q-has until Monday to accept $17.2 million qualfiying offer):AMERICAN LEAGUE=BALTIMORE (10) -- Pedro Alvarez, dh; Michael Bourn, of; Brian Duensing, lhp; Tommy Hunter, rhp; Logan Ondrusek, rhp; Steve Pearce, 1b; Nolan Reimold, of; Drew Stubbs, of; q-Mark Trumbo, of; Matt Wieters, c.BOSTON (5) -- Ryan Hanigan, c; Aaron Hill, 3b; Junichi Tazawa, rhp; Koji Uehara, rhp; Brad Ziegler, rhp.CHICAGO (4) -- Matt Albers, rhp; Alex Avila, c; Austin Jackson, of; Justin Morneau, dh.CLEVELAND (4) -- Marlon Byrd, of; Coco Crisp, of; Rajai Davis, of; Mike Napoli, 1b.DETROIT (3) -- Erick Aybar, ss; Casey McGehee, 3b; Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c.HOUSTON (4) -- Jason Castro, c; Doug Fister, rhp; Colby Rasmus, of; Luis Valbuena, 3b.KANSAS CITY (6) -- Drew Butera, c; Luke Hochevar, rhp; Kris Medlen, rhp; Kendrys Morales, dh; Peter Moylan, rhp; Edinson Volquez, rhp.LOS ANGELES (6) -- Andrew Bailey, rhp; Jhoulys Chacin, rhp; Tim Lincecum, rhp; Geovany Soto, c; Jered Weaver, rhp; Chris Wilson, lhp.MINNESOTA (1) -- Kurt Suzuki, c.NEW YORK (2) -- Billy Butler, of; Mark Teixeira, 1b.OAKLAND (2) -- Ross Detwiler, lhp; Sam Fuld, of.SEATTLE (5) -- Franklin Gutierrez, of; Chris Iannetta, c; Dae-ho Lee, 1b; Adam Lind, 1b; Drew Storen, rhp.TAMPA BAY (3) -- Kevin Jepsen, rhp; Logan Morisson, 1b; Alexei Ramirez, ss.TEXAS (6) -- Carlos Beltran, of; q-Ian Desmond, of; Carlos Gomez, of; Derek Holland, lhp; Colby Lewis, rhp; Mitch Moreland, 1b.TORONTO (9) -- q-Jose Bautista, of; Joaquin Benoit, rhp; Brett Cecil, lhp; R.A. Dickey, rhp; q-Edwin Encarnacion, dh; Scott Feldman, rhp; Gavin Floyd, rhp; Dioner Navarro, c; Michael Saunders, of.---NATIONAL LEAGUE=ARIZONA (2) -- Daniel Hudson, rhp; Rickie Weeks, of.ATLANTA (3) -- Emilio Bonifacio, of; Eric OFlaherty, lhp; A.J. Pierzynski, c.CHICAGO (9) -- Trevor Cahill, rhp; Aroldis Chapman, lhp; Chris Coghlan, of; q-Dexteer Fowler, of; Jason Hammel, rhp; Munenori Kawasaki, 2b-3b; David Ross, c; Joe Smith, rhp; Travis Wood, lhp.ddddddddddddCINCINNATI (2) -- Ross Ohlendorf, rhp; Alfredo Simon, rhp.COLORADO (6) -- Jorge De La Rosa, lhp; Daniel Descalso, inf; Nick Hundley, c; Boone Logan, lhp; Ryan Raburn, of; Mark Reynolds, 1b.LOS ANGELES (9) -- Brett Anderson, lhp; Joe Blanton, rhp; Jesse Chavez, rhp; Rich Hill, lhp; J.P. Howell, lhp; q-Kenley Jansen, rhp; Josh Reddick, of; q-Justin Turner, 3b; Chase Utley, 2b.MIAMI (7) -- Andrew Cashner, rhp; Mike Dunn, lhp; Jeff Francoeur, of; Chris Johnson, 1b-3b; Jeff Mathis, c; Dustin McGowan, rhp; Fernando Rodney, rhp.MILWAUKEE (2) -- Blaine Boyer, rhp; Chris Capuano, lhp.NEW YORK (9) -- Jerry Blevins, lhp; q-Yoenis Cespedes, of; Bartolo Colon, rhp; Alejandro De Aza, of; Kelly Johnson, 2b-3b; James Loney, 1b; Jon Niese, lhp; Fernando Salas, rhp; q-Neil Walker, 2b.PHILADELPHIA (7) -- Andres Blanco, 3b; Peter Bourjos, of; A.J. Ellis, c; q-Jeremy Hellickson, rhp; David Hernandez, rhp; Ryan Howard, 1b; Charlie Morton, rhp.PITTSBURGH (5) -- Neftali Feliz, rhp; Matt Joyce, of; Ivan Nova, rhp; Sean Rodriguez, inf; Ryan Vogelsong, rhp.ST. LOUIS (4) -- Matt Holliday, of; Brandon Moss, 1b-of; Jordan Walden, rhp; Jerome Williams, rhp.SAN DIEGO (6) -- Edwin Jackson, rhp; Jon Jay, of; Brandon Morrow, rhp; Clayton Richard, lhp; Adam Rosales, 3b; Carlos Villanueva, rhp.SAN FRANCISCO (8) -- Gordon Beckham, 2b; Gregor Blanco, of; Santiago Casilla, rhp; Javier Lopez, lhp; Joe Nathan, rhp; Angel Pagan, of; Jake Peavy, rhp; Sergio Romo, rhp.WASHINGTON (9) -- Matt Belisle, rhp; Sean Burnett, lhp; Stephen Drew, 2b; Chris Heisey, of; Mat Latos, rhp; Mark Melancon, rhp; Yusmeiro Petit, rhp; Wilson Ramos, c; Marc Rzepczynski, lhp. ' ' '