Marinovich Signs With the Raiders : Pro football: Former USC quarterback gets three-year deal worth a reported $2.25 million as first-round draft choice.

Todd Marinovich, the Raider quarterback of tomorrow, didn’t want to miss another today. So, on Sunday morning, in the quiet of the team’s temporary executive office, he signed a three-year contract reportedly worth $2.25 million.

Marinovich, the 24th selection in the NFL draft, hurried to the morning walk-through session and, afterward, was greeted by a few childhood heroes.

“Hi, I’m Greg Townsend,” the Pro Bowl defensive end said.

Linebacker Jerry Robinson, a 13-year veteran, offered his congratulations.

“A lot of these guys I was watching last year on TV,” Marinovich said, a bit awed. “Now they’re my teammates. It’s a good feeling.”

The Raiders have signed all of their draft choices except fourth-round pick Raghib (Rocket) Ismail, who has begun a four-year, $18-million stint with Toronto in the Canadian Football League.

Marinovich left USC after his sophomore season amid controversy. He was arrested for drug possession Jan. 20 in Newport Beach, but cleaned up his act before the draft with the help of professional handlers. Now, he figures to take his place in line quietly.

For how long is anyone’s guess. But Marinovich, groomed to be a Raider almost from birth, didn’t want to miss another minute.

It didn’t matter that few first-round selections had signed before him, costing him a better feel for this year’s market. There would be no protracted holdout for Marinovich.

“I didn’t want that to happen at all,” he said. “I wanted to be here when the vets got here, so I wouldn’t fall too far behind. Being a quarterback, it’s almost impossible to miss two weeks of practice. It will kill you.”

Marinovich is a week behind in drills, but he received a crash course on the Raider offense during extensive personal workouts in June.

“It was three weeks, going three hours a day,” Marinovich said. “That’s definitely a plus.”

According to sources familiar with the deal, Marinovich’s contract includes a provision by which the quarterback can earn incentives if he passes an annual drug test.

No doubt Marinovich will be monitored closely, on and off the field.

The Newport Beach arrest involved possession of less than a half of a gram of cocaine, a misdemeanor.

The charge will be dropped upon completion of a one-year drug-abuse counseling program. Marinovich will be required to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings when traveling on the road with the Raiders this season.

But Sunday was a day of celebration. Marinovich’s father, Marv, is a former Raider player and assistant coach. Twenty-one years after Todd’s birth, his son officially became a Raider.

“The whole family is excited,” Todd said. “They were all as excited as I was.”

Raider Notes

Reserve defensive end Mike Wise was expected back in camp late Sunday night after leaving Saturday without permission. Jeffery Moorad, Wise’s agent, said Wise had some personal business to attend to and would soon rejoin the team.

Todd Marinovich’s first practice was not impressive. Most of his passes floated and fluttered. He seemed confused on coverages. “He’ll pick things up,” Coach Art Shell said.

Tight end Mike Dyal, hampered most of 1990 by a hamstring injury, has been placed on the physically unable to perform list after failing his physical because of a knee injury. . . . Marinovich is wearing uniform No. 12, the same number as that of his boyhood idol, Ken Stabler. The number Marinovich wore at USC, 13, was taken by quarterback Jay Schroeder. . . . Other uniform switches: Reserve tailback Vance Mueller has given up No. 42 for newcomer Ronnie Lott. Mueller is wearing No. 31. Tailback Roger Craig, who wore No. 33 in San Francisco, wears No. 22 now.