Harris, at Raiders’ Mini-Camp, Runs Option With His Career

He may have been Major Harris in college, but he refuses to be anything less than a general in the pros.

Although he is attending the Raiders’ mini-camp this week in El Segundo, Harris, the club’s 12th-round draft choice but still unsigned, insists his top priority is playing time. So, he’s leaning toward scrambling north to play for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

“It would be kind of stupid to go somewhere and sit on the bench for three years when you can go somewhere and start for three years,” Harris said.

Then what’s he doing at the Raiders’ three-day training session? “I just came to meet some players, get some autographs and see what happens,” he said.

What figures to happen is the Raiders will stick with quarterbacks Steve Beuerlein, who has exceeded expectations, and Jay Schroeder, who is still trying to live up to them, leaving Harris to battle Jeff Francis for the No. 3 position.

The picture is brighter with the Lions, who traded with the Toronto Argonauts for the negotiating rights to Harris. Any lingering doubts about where he stood with the Lions should have been dispelled when the club traded starting quarterback Matt Dunigan.

Harris bristled at the suggestion he has to prove himself in the NFL.

“I have nothing to prove after throwing for 5,000 yards, running for 2,000 and playing for a national championship,” said Harris, who left school after his junior year. “That speaks for itself.”