Raiders : Ray Guy Is Being Kept Within Reach--Just in Case He’s Needed

Are you sure the Raider search for the next Ray Guy isn’t leading to . . .

The last Ray Guy?

Guy has retired, but the Raiders Thursday, paring their roster, put him on the did-not-report-to-camp list. Why that one rather than the retired list?

“It’s an easier list to get guys back on the squad, if you want to,” Coach Tom Flores said.

Have the Raiders thought of bringing Guy back?

“Not right now,” Flores said. “Not at this point.”

But perhaps sometime?

“You never know,” Flores said.

With Guy gone, free agents Stan Talley, the USFL record-holder in punting average, and Ray Criswell, an ex-Philadelphia Eagle, have been battling for the position. Talley is the front-runner but has been less impressive here and in exhibitions than he was in off-season workouts at El Segundo.

Also put on the did-not-report list were Brad Cochran, the cornerback with the bad back who has gone home (the Raiders say he still hasn’t told them anything); Napoleon McCallum, who is in the Navy unless there’s an upset; Bo Jackson, who is in baseball for another five weeks or so, and Odis McKinney. McKinney lives locally and has been brought back twice since he was cut in 1985.

Going onto injured reserve were veteran guards Mickey Marvin and Curt Marsh.