Raiders Saying That Wilson Has Earned Letter

The Raiders are rallying around Marc Wilson, though in their own inimitable style. While doing it, they’re disclosing what things were like when they weren’t rallied around him.

Last week, linebacker Rod Martin said he thought Wilson had “kinda sat back and accepted” life as Jim Plunkett’s backup, and that pressure exerted by rookie Rusty Hilger was responsible for Wilson’s turnaround.

Sunday, after Wilson’s fourth-down pass with 29 seconds left brought the Raiders back in Cleveland, Howie Long said that before this, he hadn’t previously considered Wilson “a physically or mentally tough kind of guy.”

And Coach Tom Flores said Monday: “That is something you earn. You earn their respect. You earn their admiration. Marc is a very quiet guy who doesn’t say much. He’s very soft-spoken. You don’t get the feeling that he’s a rough, tough, aggressive-type guy. But he is. He’s a silent-type guy but he is tough. Otherwise he wouldn’t be competing the way he’s competing.

“He goes down against New England with a bad ankle sprain. There’s a question if he can play the following week, but he does play. The following week, he hurts his shoulder but he comes back and finishes the game. He plays this week.

“If you have a quarterback who is quiet, he has to win the respect of his teammates and coaches with his performance. We’ve always thought Marc had talent. Obviously we did, or we wouldn’t have drafted him where we did (No. 1 in 1980). We always felt he could throw the ball and he had scrambling ability. But one thing kept happening to him. Whenever he got the chance to play, he got hurt.”

Does Flores concede that Wilson needed to show him something, too?

Almost.

“You don’t know what burns inside a quarterback until you experience it with him,” Flores said. “Sometimes a quarterback doesn’t even know until he experiences it, until he’s faced with the situation.

“Sunday, Marc knew Rusty was really hurting (with flu). Rusty was weak. He couldn’t even take part in pregame warmups. He threw a couple of balls and that was it. Talk about pressure on you,” he said, laughing. “Talk about pressure on us.”

How sick were the Raiders Sunday?

Wilson threw up Sunday morning, and Flores said kicker Chris Bahr and defensive end Greg Townsend were the sickest. Marcus Allen was ill earlier in the week.

“I had a little bit,” Flores said. “Maybe it was just in sympathy.”

Ray Guy, who is listed as the No. 3 quarterback and who does quarterback scout teams in practice, but who has never played quarterback as a pro, was all the way up to No. 2 Sunday.

“I looked up once and Marcus was reversing himself, and there was Marc, leading the blocking,” Flores said. “I said, ‘Oh, no.’ Marc realized it and he just kind of flopped down.”

And then there was Wilson’s tackle on Brown safety Al Gross, who had just intercepted Wilson’s pass, at the Raider 15. Wilson was the last man with a chance. The defense subsequently held and the Browns were held to a field goal.

“That was a big play,” Flores said. “The guy (Gross) cut back and Marc had to use his (separated) left shoulder, too.”

With Jim Smith on injured reserve for at least three games with a hamstring pull, the Raiders are down to three wide receivers. Two are rookies, and one, Tim Moffett, has never caught a pass in the NFL.

Activate Cliff Branch? They wouldn’t mind, but they’d have to get him through waivers and they’re afraid someone might claim him.

Flores said they’re also thinking about picking up another quarterback. Jim Plunkett’s right shoulder is healing and he’s throwing, but he’s about three weeks away from rejoining practice.

They tried out Mike Moroski and Babe Laufenberg last week. They also discussed the New Orleans Saints’ Richard Todd, but backed off after a look at his contract.

Whatever happened to the AFC West?

The best division in the NFL last season with a 31-9 record against outsiders is down to 13-8 this season.

The Raiders are 4-1 against outsiders, Denver 4-2, Seattle 2-1, San Diego 2-2 and Kansas City 1-2.

One reason is the Rams, who have beaten the Seahawks, Chiefs and Broncos, the first two on the road.

AFC note: The Seahawks, who had a turnover ratio of plus-24 last season are minus-1 now. The last one was the interception Dave Krieg threw in overtime Sunday in Denver that cost them that game.

Raider Notes Rookie Jessie Hester, who dropped the potential winning touchdown pass in Cleveland and several others this season, asked if pressure was a factor: “There are a couple adjustments I have to make. In certain situations, I have to be more relaxed, calm.” . . . The two sacks the Raiders got on Bernie Kosar were the first two against the Browns’ rookie. The Raiders are second in the NFL with 31, to the Giants’ 37. . . . The Raiders are tied for fifth worst in allowing sacks, 26, with the New York Jets, Seahawks and St. Louis Cardinals, and are better only than the Houston Oilers, 33; Philadelphia Eagles, 31; Atlanta Falcons, 28, and Detroit Lions, 26. . . . Given the quality of the Browns’ defense, No. 1 in the NFL last season in yards allowed, the Raider offensive line had a good day. Raider backs averaged four yards a carry and Marc Wilson was sacked only once while throwing 36 passes. . . . The defense held the Cleveland rushing attack, No. 2 in the NFL, to 2.8 yards a rush.