Allen Accepts Fate, Grudgingly Reports : Raiders: Team’s all-time leading rusher checks into camp, resigned to the fact that he won’t receive a pay increase--as has been the case since 1987.

Much to the surprise of teammates and coaches, tailback Marcus Allen checked into Raider camp early Saturday morning, about three weeks ahead of estimated arrival.

The reluctant Raider joined afternoon workouts, resigned to his fate and his contract. Allen didn’t necessarily want to report on time, but felt a holdout similar to those of the past two summers would have provoked more trouble.

“That wouldn’t have done any good,” Allen said. “The situation hasn’t been good in years and there’s no sense in, obviously, making it worse. I don’t know if it can get any worse, but holding out hasn’t done any good.”

There were no negotiations, Allen said. He was offered the same one-year, $1.1-million contract that he played for in 1990, when he gained 682 yards in platoon duty and helped his team to the AFC championship game.

Allen accepted the deal, realizing there were no other options short of retirement.

Since the collective bargaining agreement with players expired in 1987, NFL teams are not even required to offer players a standard 10% contract increase.

Long noted as one of the league’s top-paying franchises, the Raiders haven’t increased the salary of the club’s all-time leading rusher since 1987.

“I’ve really felt they haven’t negotiated in good faith since 1985, but what can I do?” Allen asks.

Allen can do little until the courts rule conclusively--as they might soon do--that Allen no longer is bound to the restraints of football’s restrictive free agency.

Although technically a free agent after the 1990 season, Allen received no offers because of the high compensation--two first-round picks--any team would have to give up in return for signing him. Only two players in history have changed teams under the present system.

“There are two types of laws here,” Allen said, “one that all other businesses adhere to, and then there’s football law.”

Allen is thus bound to the Raiders for the remainder of his career, a fact he and the NFLPA contends is a violation of antitrust laws. The issue is slowly winding its way through the court system, where judges are beginning to rule in the players’ favor.

Allen wouldn’t say whether he is considering a lawsuit of his own, but he is closely watching court proceedings in the Freeman McNeil case. McNeil, a tailback for the New York Jets, and seven other NFL veterans have sued the league. They claim that since the NFLPA has decertified as a union, the NFL should no longer receive its antitrust exemption.

On May 28, Minneapolis Federal Judge David Doty ruled in favor of the players.

On June 4, the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals backed Doty’s decision. The case is scheduled to go to trial in February.

Allen, 31, probably won’t play long enough to the reap the benefits of free agency, should it come to pass. But he remains optimistic.

“I feel like every dog has his day,” Allen said, “and hopefully, mine will come.”

Meanwhile, Allen can argue that he is one of the few productive Raiders in recent years that has not received a pay increase. Teammate Bo Jackson’s five-year contract averages $1.48 million, and he is a part-time player.

Allen, of course, is still a millionaire.

“That’s a sensitive subject,” he said. “Obviously people will have no sympathy. They’re totally apathetic when they hear what you’re making, and you’re bitching about a raise.”

Still, Allen contends, that doesn’t make the system just. But he chooses to make the best of it.

“I have no other choice,” he said. “What can I do? Can I go to another league? Do I have any other options? No.”