Raiders, Jets Make a Deal but Allen Is Not Involved

Throwing football speculators for a loop, the Raiders made a trade Monday that did not involve Marcus Allen, Bobby Hebert, the San Francisco 49ers, Steve Beuerlein or Vann McElroy.

Instead, they sent reserve cornerback Dennis Price to the New York Jets for linebacker Alex Gordon in what amounts to a swap of injury reports. Price spent the last two weeks on the team’s practice squad after a four-week stay on injured reserve with a chest injury.

Price, a fifth-round pick from UCLA in 1988, spent most of last season on injured reserve.

In return, the Raiders get an outside linebacker of some repute from the University of Cincinnati. Gordon was a second-round draft choice of the Jets in 1987 and played in 41 games, recording nine sacks.

He suffered a hamstring injury in the Jets’ final exhibition game but has been practicing recently with the Jets.

Raider Coach Art Shell said he thinks Gordon’s hamstring is healed, but Gordon will be re-examined upon arrival.

“We thought a lot of him when he was coming out (of college), and we need some help at the outside backer position,” Shell said. “So he should come in here and fit in pretty good.”

OK, but what about the half-dozen other trades that were supposed to happen before today’s 1 p.m. deadline?

Here’s a handicap of some key Raiders and where they stand:

--Allen. Despite the swirl of rumors and Allen’s somewhat emotional exit from the Coliseum on Sunday, Shell insisted Monday that his tailback isn’t going anywhere this week except to San Diego, where the Raiders will play the Chargers on Sunday.

“Marcus Allen right now is member of the Los Angeles Raiders,” Shell said. “I expect him to be a member of the Los Angeles Raiders tomorrow at this time.”

Trade talk involving Allen might have been tempered by the sprained ankle suffered Sunday by running back Greg Bell. Bell limped badly after the game, but there wasn’t much swelling of the ankle overnight.

“We don’t know whether we’re going to have him this week or not,” Shell said.

Shell wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Bell might end up on injured reserve, which would leave Bo Jackson free to take his spot in Shell’s two-back rotation system with Allen.

“I’m not sure,” Shell said of Bell’s status. “The doctor came in and checked him this morning. Those ankles are strange things. There doesn’t necessarily have to be swelling in them. It could still be a big problem, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Shell said it’s possible that Jackson will play against the Chargers. Jackson, who injured his shoulder this summer diving for a ball while playing left field for the Kansas City Royals, was cleared by Raider doctors Monday morning and will practice Wednesday.

--Quarterback Jay Schroeder. It will be a major shock if the Raiders trade for New Orleans quarterback Bobby Hebert two days after Schroeder’s 19-for-26 passing performance against Seattle.

--McElroy. The veteran safety has been collecting dust since ending his holdout in September. He has been relegated to the punt return team and, if not traded, could be released outright when the Raiders are forced to make room on the roster for Jackson or several others--Howie Long, Mike Dyal, Bruce Wilkerson, Garry Lewis--who will soon return from injured reserve.

--Steve Beuerlein. This trade makes the most sense, considering Beuerlein’s obvious fall from grace. He finished last season as the Raiders’ starting quarterback but now is a distant third behind Schroeder and Vince Evans. Beuerlein hasn’t been in uniform for a game this season.

Asked why Beuerlein has not been activated, Shell said, “Because we’ve got two quarterbacks that are doing quite well.”

Still, Shell said he does not anticipate any more trades before today’s deadline. However, owner Al Davis is expected in Chicago today for an NFL owners’ meeting, so there could be negotiations up to the final minutes.

“You’re not just going to give anybody away, I’ll say that,” Shell said. “We’re not just going to throw people away.”