Buczkowski Is Back, Perhaps With Answers

It’s back to rookie camp for Bob Buczkowski, the Raiders’ mystery pick of 1986 who disappeared onto the injured-reserve list before he could answer any of the questions resulting from his first-round selection.

Such as:

--Who is he?

--Can he play?

--Why did they take a defensive end when so many of their offensive linemen were showing their age?

--How do you pronounce that name?

Before everyone could even learn it’s Buck-KOW-ski, he zigged when he should have zagged in a drill, hurt his back and was lost for the season.

When the second pick, Brad Cochran, hurt his back and was lost, there went the class of ’86.

It’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow someone good. The Raider orthopedist got a free trip to Indianapolis for last January’s scouting combine workout, Al Davis having decided he was never going to be surprised by a rookie’s bad back again.

Buczkowski took a little tour of his own. Into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Out of Cedars. To New Brunswick, N.J., to see the doctor who did Bill Pickel’s back. To San Francisco, to see the doctor who did Joe Montana’s.

A layman with a bad back can expect to be treated conservatively, but a No. 1 pick with a million-dollar contract will be treated conservatively as long as he makes instant progress.

“I had some little operations, to fix a muscle or something like that,” Buczkowski said. “I went to the doctor in New Jersey. He said my disk was enlarged, that it was one of those things, if I could stand it. If I could play with it, I could play with it. If I couldn’t, I couldn’t.

“But once I hurt it, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t walk, so I had to do something. I was getting a shot every day and it wasn’t working. That got old quick.

“They finally decided that two disks had ruptured. Dr. (Arthur) White operated on me Dec. 31 in San Francisco.

“Right after the operation was the low point. My back stayed at a standstill for a long time. It wasn’t until May or June that it started getting better every day. . . . It still wasn’t 100% in the mini-camps (in May). So, they said it’s best not to go out there and risk it.

“I guess doubt was a little bit on my mind, I’d have to admit. . . . I tried not to think about it. Everybody told me, ‘Never doubt yourself. Always think positive.’ That’s what I tried to do.

“People don’t realize how hard it really was. I wasn’t doing anything. I had a lot to prove to a lot of people and I never got to do that. That’s why this is a big year for me.

“I’ve got things to prove to myself but I’m trying to put myself last. I have to prove it to Mr. Davis, the Raiders, the coaches and my family, then to myself. I’ve got to make sure everybody else is satisfied.

“I feel really good right now. I’m just excited--it’s been so long. I’m not thinking of my back, at all. I feel good; I feel healthy. There’s no sense in bringing it on the field and worrying about it. I’ve told myself that already.”

A lot of other members of the class of ’86 bombed in their debuts, too, including Brian Jozwiak, the offensive line prospect at Kansas City, and Mike Schad, the Rams’ unpolished gem, so ’87 is a big year, all around. The Raiders, who considered Buczkowski the latest comer in the Earl Leggett line--Howie Long, Bill Pickel, Sean Jones, Greg Townsend--remain high on him.

Well, so far, he’s ahead of last season.

“It’s a matter of whether it’s going to hold up the first few weeks,” Buczkowski said. “I know tomorrow getting out of bed isn’t going to be the funnest thing. But stiffness, I can deal with. Pain was something else.”

When was he finally able to put his back, uh, behind him?

“Last night,” he said, laughing.

In the other celebrated back case, Cochran, the Michigan cornerback who also underwent back surgery and sat out his rookie season, hasn’t reported as scheduled.

Coach Tom Flores said his understanding is that Cochran is experiencing no new discomfort, but wants to make sure his back can take the pounding.

“Brad is down in El Segundo,” Flores said. “He just wants to make sure. Obviously, you can’t force someone to do something. He wanted time to consult some other doctors.

“It was a little surprise, since he had done everything in our mini-camps.”

Quarterback Steve Beuerlein, the No. 4 pick from Notre Dame and Anaheim Servite High School, signed a three-year contract and joined Friday afternoon’s practice.

“We had pretty much decided we didn’t want to hold out for more than one or two practices,” Beuerlein said. “I wanted to get in and get ready for the scrimmage Sunday.

“I was getting antsy Thursday. My agent told me to hold out one more day. It turned out pretty good.

“My No. 1 goal is obviously to make the football team, learn from guys like Rusty Hilger and Ed Luther, to the point where I pick things up as fast as they do. I don’t think there’s any problem physically.”

Raider Notes

The contract for No. 3 pick Steve Smith: $160,000 signing bonus, salaries of $115,000, $147,000 and $167,000. . . . Bruce Wilkerson, the No. 2 pick, is reportedly asking for a $1.2 million four-year package, with the Raiders offering $1 million. They haven’t met since Tuesday.