Raiders Try to Get Cardinal Defender

Raider officials huddled in a pool-side coffee shop with their St. Louis Cardinal counterparts Monday, trying to land Lionel Washington, a 27-year-old cornerback who had 18 interceptions in his 36 starts before losing his job last season under new Coach Gene Stallings.

The Cardinals are asking for a middle-round draft choice. The deal would be contingent on getting Washington to sign a contract.

Washington is a left cornerback, the position that Lester Hayes plays. A Raider source says the team isn’t thinking in terms of his beating Hayes out, but of becoming his heir apparent. The Raiders are not happy with the young backups they have.