Haynes Appears in Danger of Being Cut by Raiders

These are the times that fry Raiders’ souls, including the highest and mightiest of them.

Mike Haynes is said to be in danger of being cut.

Haynes, perhaps the finest defensive back to play the game, didn’t start the last exhibition. He won’t start Friday night in Chicago. Rookie Terry McDaniel, considered a rising star, has just been moved to his position.

And the bench may not be much of an option, either. Haynes is 35, earns $750,000 and his teammates don’t think Al Davis is going to pay any backup that much.

“If he doesn’t start (this season), he’s gone,” a Raider player said. “They told him that. That was part of it when he signed.”

Other Raiders are in trouble, too.

Defensive end Bob Buczkowski, who was supposed to succeed Sean Jones, is listed as No. 2 right end, behind Howie Long. Buczkowski is said to need a good game Friday, or he will be cut. Nose tackle Mitch Willis, it is said, had already been traded to the New York Jets when his knee injury scuttled the deal.

If Haynes has slipped in recent seasons, he remained an icon among his peers. As recently as the ’87 Super Bowl, Denver Broncos safety Dennis Smith, asked about his own slump, said, “Even Mike Haynes gets beat.”

Well, even Mike Haynes gets the blues, too.

“They said that?” he asked, informed by reporters that he wouldn’t start Friday.

“No one really said that to me. In our meetings, they said that this is going to be the starting lineup this week, and next week we’ll see what happens.”

“All I can go on is what they tell me--they’re looking at people, they’re giving everybody an opportunity, they feel like they know what I can do.”

Yeah, well, isn’t he a little suspicious?

“I can’t look at it like that,” he said.

Haynes’ struggles began in 1985. He missed three starts with an ankle injury in ’86 and six more with another ankle injury last season.

Last winter, Haynes gave up all his extracurricular activities--his public relations firm, the TV show of which he was co-host, appearances at golf tournaments--and rededicated himself to working out. He came to camp in great shape, but with the tide seemingly running against him. Friday could be his last chance to turn it around.

Raider Notes

The Raiders cut to 60, waiving No. 6 pick Erwin Grabisna from Case Western Reserve, Joe Cormier, the USC tight end they tried to convert to linebacker, and Fresno State halfback James Williams. Suspended Greg Townsend was put on the non-football injury list. Jamie Kimmel was put on injured reserve, along with No. 4 pick Tim Rother, No. 8 pick Mike Alexander and No. 10 pick Newt Harrell.