Raider Camp : Hayes Keeps His Shirt On as NFL Fashions New Policy

They took away Lester Hayes’ right to commit mayhem upon receivers all over the field in 1978, and his stickum after his 13 interceptions in 1980, but this time they may have gone too far.

The National Football League has decided to start enforcing its on-field dress code. Anyone who has ever seen Hayes in a game knows that whatever the code might be, it isn’t his. His entire professional wardrobe is null and void.

Art McNally, the supervisor of officials, broke the news Monday night to Hayes and other Raiders such as Greg Townsend, who this year is featuring a new look--a shaved head and an earring. If McNally was looking for a team that was going to cry at the news, or mutiny, he had come to the right den.

On Tuesday, Hayes, dressed in his standard practice rags, wondered why it is that society always comes down on the avant-garde.

“It seems like the NFL is going GQ,” he said. “It seems like it’s become a distinct fashion show. It’s unreal. It’s unreal.

“I have a long-jersey phobia. I always cut my jersey in half (about waist high with the jersey then worn outside the pants, for you little aspiring fashion rebels out there). I’m an ex-linebacker so I’ve got to be comfortable, so I cut the back of my pants leg six inches up the back. It’s a Judge-ism.

“Sunday is like a war day. You go to war, it’s not like you’re going to the Beverly Hilton for a function. You don’t want to wear a tuxedo and look all neat and clean. you want to look nasty and vicious. Like the Oakland Raiders.

“The Oakland Raiders used to have slits, half jerseys, slobbering, spitting, scratching, fighting. That was silver and black foot ball. This team is definitely going L.A. now.”

But the law is the law and Hayes says he will follow it. A fine of $500 is too much for a little individuality, although of course, the real loser is the cause of freedom.

“It’s so sad it’s come this,” he said.

Raider Notes Guard Mickey Marvin underwent tests for a swollen knee and missed drills Tuesday. . . . The Raiders activated tight end Trey Junkin and cut free-agent halfback Wayne Wilson.