Alex Smith threatening Tom Brady’s NFL record

Alex Smith threatening Tom Brady’s NFL record

Coaches have a lot on their plates, and one thing Kansas City’s Andy Reid can scrape off his is talking to Alex Smith about turnovers.

The former 49ers quarterback, whom the Raiders face Sunday, has thrown 283 passes since his last interception, the fourth-longest streak in NFL history.

Smith, often criticized for not taking chances downfield, was asked if not throwing interceptions is a skill.

“You’re touching the football every play as a quarterback, and that comes with a lot of responsibility in executing the offense,” Smith said.

In the past eight games, Smith has completed 164 of 256 passes (64.1 percent) for 1,957 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.

[...] the time that he spends working on execution and studying tape and doing those things I think adds up into limited turnovers.

“I feel like we go out there to make plays and score points and that’s the mind-set,” he said.

The former Eagles receiver has 57 catches for 772 yards and three touchdowns.

Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck, out for the season with a torn pectoral, was nominated for the NFL’s Walter Payton Award, for excellence on and off the field.

Through his and his wife Lauran’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy program, the Tucks provide Alliance Academy in Oakland books and reading materials.

Center Rodney Hudson (ankle) and linebacker Neiron Ball (knee) didn’t practice Wednesday, but there were some whispers that Hudson would return Thursday in hopes of playing against his former team on Sunday.