Schroeder Refuses to Hold Out, Signs and Joins Right In

Saying that he couldn’t hold out after playing poorly last season, quarterback Jay Schroeder signed with the Raiders Wednesday and reported to training camp. No terms were disclosed, but it’s believed that Schroeder, who earned $1 million last season, got a mandatory 10% raise to $1.1 million.

“I didn’t want to be out (of training camp),” Schroeder said. “I think I knew that, and they knew that. I wasn’t happy with the way I played and I didn’t see that there was any possible way I could be sitting out on the street because they had the films. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.

“I had to be here to prove that I can play the game, and that’s what I plan on doing. There’s no question that I’m not very happy about what I did the last couple of years. And I told them that. But I expect to play the way I’m capable of playing.”

Steve Beuerlein, who beat out Schroeder last season, remains unsigned. Beuerlein, who earned a reported $140,000 last season, reportedly wants a substantial raise.

Does Schroeder think that Beuerlein’s absence will help him?

“Steve’s got to do what Steve thinks is right,” Schroeder said. “Whether Steve’s here or not is no concern of mine. I’ll just have to do the things I’m capable of doing and just play football.”

The Raiders put Schroeder to work immediately, running drills. “I thought I was going to play a little golf today; so much for that,” Schroeder said as he gazed at a golf course adjacent to the practice field. “I’m out here working.”

“He looked like he’s in good shape,” Raider Coach Art Shell said. “You could see that his arm’s still strong as ever.”

Schroeder, who threw 13 interceptions and eight touchdown passes last season despite a partially separated left shoulder, said he has healed after surgery.

“There’s no question that it affected the way I played, but I got it fixed and it feels great,” he said. “I haven’t had one day of soreness.”

Raider Notes

Tight end Ethan Horton also reported to camp. . . . Defensive end Lyle Alzado, who sustained a strained left calf muscle, said he’s not hurt. “I’m not injured. If I was injured, I’d be in the hospital.”