Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie is guardedly optimistic about long-term contract talks with SS Tyvon Branch. Branch signed his one-year, $6.212 million franchise tender two months ago, so he was never going to play serious hardball, at least not about the 2012 season. "It's been good communication," McKenzie said of extension talks with Branch's agent. "Nobody's slamming the phone on each other so that's positive."