Raiders : Beuerlein Might Start; Christensen, Lofton Might Be Cut

There are rumbles of a shakeup in silver and blackdom, where the 0-3 Raiders are preparing to cut their squad to 60 by Tuesday. They involve several of the team’s biggest names, who could be benched or waived.

Starting from the top:

--The Raiders might start Steve Beuerlein in Saturday’s exhibition finale against the Chicago Bears and bench Jay Schroeder.

Beuerlein has completed 59.5% of his passes and has looked sharp and aggressive. Schroeder is at 43.4% and described by some team officials as “tentative.”

Coach Mike Shanahan, Schroeder’s leading supporter and wary of starting a quarterback controversy, was noncommittal Sunday, praising Beuerlein but expressing confidence in Schroeder.

Schroeder has had the burden of trying to establish the Marcus Allen-less running game, which has failed miserably. Beuerlein has had the advantage of coming in second, by which time he knows it isn’t working and can go for broke. However, a growing number of Raider officials want to see what would happen if Beuerlein starts.

--Todd Christensen and James Lofton could go in this, the first cut.

Neither played Saturday, although both were healthy.

Shanahan used Mike Dyal, Trey Junkin, Ethan Horton and Charles Henry at tight end ahead of Christensen. Shanahan prefers bigger, blocker-type tight ends. Christensen is 33, makes $750,000 and probably won’t be retained if he doesn’t figure as a starter, which he doesn’t. A five-time All-Pro, he is the team’s all-time leader at the position in receptions.

Lofton is 33, has been running third string in camp, has one catch in exhibitions and has been eclipsed by second-year player Mike Alexander, a tall, rangy receiver like himself. The Raiders have already paid Lofton a $400,000 reporting bonus, but remain on the hook for his $325,000 salary if he makes the club. He is a seven-time All-Pro and a Hall of Fame candidate.

--Matt Millen is on his way out.

It could be today or next week, but he wasn’t benched Saturday merely because someone was curious about Jackie Shipp.

Shipp was unimpressive (the Oilers rushed for 198 yards, so who wasn’t?), but he was only a stand-in for the real candidate to take Millen’s strong-side inside linebacker spot, Jerry Robinson. Robinson, previously the weak-side inside linebacker, has been sidelined because of a groin pull but is expected back this week.

Millen has told friends that the coaches have already informed him that they are trying to trade him.

--Mike Haynes is still up to his neck in competition.

Lionel Washington has performed well in exhibitions and might start on the right side, with Mike Richardson or Terry McDaniel on the left side when the season begins.

Haynes has veteran’s disease: he is 36 and would make $825,000 this season. If he doesn’t start, the Raiders aren’t likely to pay him that much to come off the bench.

And which of the younger players are in trouble?

--All of the running backs. Vance Mueller, who wanted a chance to show what he could do, has failed. Last week’s boomlets for Derrick Gaynor and Kerry Porter are over.

The coaching staff desperately wants Allen to return. Allen has said he yearns to return. Until all this yearning is requited, the Raider running game (2.7 yards per carry) exists in theory only.