PRO FOOTBALL / RAIDERS CAMP : Training Ritual: Allen Still Without Contract

What’s a Raider training camp without Marcus Allen? Just another year.

The star tailback, who maneuvers around camp premieres as if they were oncoming tacklers, headed a group of seven Raiders who were still without contracts when veterans reported Friday night.

Allen, on the heels of last year’s late arrival, joined unsigned veteran defensive linemen Scott Davis and Bob Golic, punter Jeff Gossett, kicker Jeff Jaeger, center Don Mosebar and tackle Bruce Wilkerson.

Considering some NFL training camps don’t open for another week, the Raiders are in decent shape in player negotiations.

First-round draft choice, Todd Marinovich, remains unsigned, but the Raiders did their share of negotiating Friday, signing such important cogs as receiver Mervyn Fernandez and quarterback Jay Schroeder.

Schroeder, remember, offered to take a $200,000 pay cut before last season because he didn’t feel worthy of being a $1-million quarterback. He ended up splitting the difference with owner Al Davis and settled on $900,000.

Schroeder responded with the best season of his seven-year career and was rewarded with another one-year deal Friday, believed to be worth in excess of $1 million.

He had the power, perhaps, to hold out for a larger contract, but said he never considered it an option.

“I wouldn’t call it a significant deal,” he said. “I think I look at it a lot differently than a lot of people. I still remember when I was making $600 a month in minor league baseball and thought I was doing good. I’m not going to argue with what they’re paying me. . . . I’ve made more money so far doing this than I ever thought I’d make in my life. So I’m just fortunate enough, and if they want me around I’m not going to argue with it.”

Raider Coach Art Shell had no comment on specific players who remained unsigned but seemed pleased with the relatively low number of no-shows.

“It’s not bad,” Shell said. “We had a lot of guys to get signed. That’s not a bad group. Most of the guys will be here in a short period of time, hopefully.”

A quick look at the other unsigned veterans:

--Allen. He earned $1.1 million in 1990 and keeps himself in great shape. His late arrival seems more a ritual than a problem. Allen doesn’t figure to get much camp work early, so what’s the rush? The Raiders wait until October for some tailbacks.

--Golic. He made $650,000 last season. He loves the Raiders, who saved him from football’s scrap heap. Hard to imagine Golic holding out of camp longer than 10 or 15 minutes.

--Mosebar. He’s coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he earned $585,000, so he has some leverage. He is also represented by Howard Slusher, who has a history of orchestrating player holdouts.

--Jaeger/Gossett. The Raiders don’t have a game until July 27. No one is losing sleep.

--Davis. He had a coming-out season in 1990, finishing with a career-high 10 sacks. Davis earned $250,000, so he can make a case for a raise.

--Wilkerson. His stock fell some when he lost his starting right tackle spot to Steve Wright after a training camp injury. Wilkerson’s 1990 salary: $241,000.