PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Shell Gives High Praise to Gossett

Coach Art Shell, once a teammate of one of the greatest punters, Ray Guy, said he was hard-pressed to remember a finer single-game performance than the one Jeff Gossett turned in against Denver.

Gossett punted six times for 300 yards, an average of 50 yards per kick. Gossett increased his NFL-leading net average to 40.5 yards per kick. The league doesn’t keep records for net averages, but special teams coach Steve Ortmayer claims no punter has ever averaged 40 yards for one season.

“I don’t know if a punter can kick better than Gossett did yesterday,” Shell said Monday.

Shell, who doesn’t often grumble about officials, placed a call to Jerry Seeman, the league’s director of officiating, to get further explanations on some questionable calls Sunday, two in particular:

--In the third quarter, a 43-yard touchdown run by Steve Smith was called back because of a holding call on receiver Willie Gault. The flag, however, was thrown in the Raider backfield, nowhere near Gault.

--On the Broncos’ final possession, Denver’s John Elway appeared to throw the ball purposely out of bounds to stop the clock after a nine-yard run, in apparent violation of league rules.

Tailback Roger Craig’s rib popped out of place in the second half Sunday, but he said it isn’t serious. “It’s an old injury,” Craig said. . . . Guard Max Montoya aggravated his groin injury against Denver. Montoya said he could have stayed in the game, but Raider trainers didn’t want to take a chance.