PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Ismail to Stay in CFL for Time Being

A source close to Raghib (Rocket) Ismail said that the Toronto Argonaut star probably will play at least one more season in the Canadian Football League before joining the Raiders, who got the NFL rights to Ismail by drafting him during the fourth round last April.

Ismail, who signed a four-year contract with Toronto worth $18.2 million guaranteed, led the Argonauts to the Grey Cup championship last Sunday.

Ismail plans to return to Notre Dame this winter to complete work for his degree, the source said.

Bruce McNall, who owns the Argonauts, has said he would not stand in Ismail’s way should the star wish to leave Toronto and join the Raiders. McNall also owns the Kings.

Safety Ronnie Lott pulled out all of his old tricks to deceive rookie quarterback Don Hollas in the Raiders’ 38-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

“He’s a wily old vet,” Coach Art Shell said of Lott. “That comes with experience. He showed (Hollas) one thing, and did another.”