Ex-Raider QB Wilson Signs With Green Bay

Quarterback Marc Wilson spared himself another season of boos at the Coliseum when he signed with the Green Bay Packers Saturday.

Terms of the contract were not announced, but it was reported last month that the Packers offered Wilson a 1-year, $400,000 contract after he was released by the Raiders and became a free agent.

There was speculation that the Raiders released Wilson, who earned $1 million last season at the end of a four-year contract, because they would have been required by National Football League rules to pay him a minimum of $1.1 million for the coming season if they had signed him to a new contract before he became a free agent.

Wilson had indicated that he might be willing to re-sign with the Raiders for a smaller figure, and new Coach Mike Shanahan reportedly wanted Wilson as his No. 1 quarterback. The sticking point apparently was the guaranteed contract Wilson and his agent, Howard Slusher, were seeking.

Sources said the Raiders and Wilson agreed on a contract calling for $650,000, but the Raiders weren’t willing to guarantee it, and talks broke down.

“None of that speculation was made by the Raiders,” Raider executive Al LoCasale said Saturday.

“Marc played a lot of big games for the Raiders and won his share,” LoCasale added. “We wish him well.”

The Raiders will head into training camp Thursday with the quarterback job apparently up for grabs among Rusty Hilger, Vince Evans and Steve Beuerlein.

Hilger was given the No. 1 job last season but lost it back to Wilson after five games. Evans showed some flashes when he took over during the players’ strike, and Beuerlein has shown promise but is only in his second pro season.

LoCasale wouldn’t speculate on whether Wilson’s departure might thrust 40-year-old Jim Plunkett, who quarterbacked the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories, back into the picture.

“My thoughts on our quarterback situation have not changed,” Shanahan said in a statement Saturday. “We will continue to evaluate our quarterbacks throughout the summer camp and preseason games.

“I’m very positive about this football team and the direction we’re headed,” Shanahan added. “This organization has had like periods in the past and yet (its) greatness continued.”

LoCasale said: “The quarterbacks have been listed alphabetically all spring. Wilson was not penciled in anywhere because Wilson was not a Raider. He hadn’t had any work in the new system.

“Coach Shanahan has said he is taking those quarterbacks to training camp and that it might be the last exhibition game before we have a starting quarterback. (Shanahan) feels there is talent there. That’s what we’ll work with.”

Wilson, 31, was the Raiders’ No. 1 draft choice in 1980 out of Brigham Young University. In his eight seasons with the club, he completed 871 of 1,666 passes for 11,760 yards and 77 touchdowns, but Raider fans remember more clearly his 86 interceptions.

The 6-foot 6-inch, 205-pound Wilson will join five other quarterbacks trying to take the Packers’ job away from incumbent Randy Wright. The others are Blair Kiel, Robbie Bosco, Don Majkowski, Dave Walter and rookie Bud Keyes.

The Packers quoted Wilson as saying that the offensive background of new Coach Lindy Infante “is what primarily prompted my interest in Green Bay. I know a little bit about what he’s done in the past, and he runs a very exciting offense.

“I’m very excited about coming to Green Bay.”

Wilson reportedly told a Green Bay radio station that his Packer contract is for two years and is not guaranteed.