PRO FOOTBALL ’87 : Raiders : Lofton Hoping for First of Many Happy Returns

In addition to football, the upcoming Raider season offers additional dramas such as:

Nov. 1--Brian Holloway returns to New England.

Dec. 13--Bo Jackson returns to Kansas City.

Sept. 20--Al Davis returns to the Coliseum.

But first we have:

Sunday--James Lofton returns to Green Bay.

The seven-time Pro Bowler returns to the community where he stood trial and was acquitted on a rape charge last spring.

How does he think that will feel?

“It’s the opening of the season which is always exciting,” said a low-key Lofton Wednesday. “It’ll be a familiar place to play. The circumstances have been turned around a little bit but I’m looking forward to it.

“Realistically, I’m the opponent now. I would assume they’d be behind their team, try to root them on.”

Does he expect to be booed?

“I don’t think so,” he said.

Does he think the Packers may know something about how to defense him?

“I wouldn’t think they’d come up with a whole scheme for me,” he said, smiling, “based on what I did in pre-season.”

Although he was moved to first string, Lofton had a quiet Raider exhibition season (six catches, a 13.0 average, no touchdowns), prompting some Raider-types to wonder when the real $835,000 man will show up. However, Lofton also had a history of quiet exhibition seasons in Green Bay, to go with his seven Pro Bowls.

Ironically, the first game he played at Lambeau Field was against the Raiders, 9 years 4 days ago.

“We were 2-0 going into the game and they beat us,” Lofton said. “I caught some passes but they pretty well dominated the game.

“I made some great catches. I basically wore Lester (Hayes) out. (Laughing). Now it’s just catching up to him. It’s funny, nobody had really heard of him then. When you were playing against them you were playing Willie Brown, Jack Tatum and those other guys.

“The first regular-season game I ever played in Green Bay was against the Raiders and probably the last regular-season game I’ll ever play there will be for the Raiders against Green Bay.

“A twist of fate.”

Notes The Raiders made several moves, one of them an old pre-opening day favorite, waiving Mark Pattison, the wide receiver who looks so good in camp each year. Moved to non-football injury reserve was defensive end Bob Buczkowski, who contracted hepatitis during camp and whose stamina is still deemed short. The Raiders re-signed guard Dean Miraldi and safety James Davis. . . . The Raiders have closed their locker room to writers.