Last Cut Is Deepest for 17 Raiders

For some, there is a chance to return to the Raiders. For others, there is the hope of catching on elsewhere. But, for a few, there is nothing except broken dreams and the stark reality that a career is over.

Seventeen players, including running back Napoleon McCallum, quarterback Vince Evans, receiver-kickoff returner Ron Brown and defensive lineman Doug Reed, were cut by the Raiders Monday to get down to the mandatory roster limit of 47.

Brown, who has an injured knee, and Reed, who has a calf injury, reached injury settlements before being waived.

The others put on waivers: quarterback Anthony Dilweg, running back Kevin Smith, receivers Daryl Hobbs and Ty Montgomery, defensive backs Curtis Cotton and Robert McWright, defensive linemen A.J. Jimerson and Ferric Collons, linebacker Tom Benson, and offensive linemen Joel Patten, Rory Graves, Josh Taotoai and Rich Stephens.

Monday’s 47 survivors are not necessarily Sunday’s 47 players, however. The NFL’s intricate roster rules often require a weeklong game of musical chairs from one list to another.

For example, if a player is put on the injured-reserve list before the final cut, he is sidelined for the season. By waiting until today, a team will lose that player for only four weeks.

So, with defensive lineman Chester McGlockton, the team’s No. 1 draft choice, sidelined for nearly a month already because of an injured foot, and tight end Andrew Glover hampered by a sore hamstring, the Raiders might put one, and possibly both, on injured reserve and perhaps bring back players who have cleared waivers.

Running back Marcus Allen, sidelined because of a bruised foot, might also be put on injured reserve, depending on how the foot responds to treatment this week.

The most likely candidate to be brought back is Evans, the 37-year-old veteran.

Leaving Evans behind has become as much a Raider summer tradition as leaving their Oxnard training camp. But in each of the last few years, the Raiders have re-signed Evans after he cleared waivers.

What would a waiver wire be without Vince Evans?

“I don’t know if I like the sound of that,” Evans said with a smile. “I guess the best way to deal with it is in a humorous manner. I hope I’ll be back (by Wednesday). This (waiver routine) has been going on for four years, but I still don’t like it. It cuts at your ego.

“Nobody likes this day. Everyone dreads it. It definitely hurts.”

While Evans forced himself to smile, nothing of the sort was evident on the face of McCallum, who was a surprise cut.

McCallum is a versatile back who has done a little of everything for the Raiders in two tours of duty since originally joining the club as a fourth-round draft choice in 1986. McCallum, who went to the San Diego Chargers but came back in a 1990 trade, has been a running back, receiver and special-teams player, returning both punts and kickoffs, for the Raiders.

That last category would seem to be particularly valuable; the Raiders find themselves dangerously low on kick returners. The only one certain to be back there at this point is Sam Graddy.

“I’ll always find something to do,” McCallum said as he left the Raiders’ El Segundo headquarters.

In the end, he lost his job to Derrick Gainer, a two-year veteran who has impressed the coaching staff at fullback.

Two weeks ago, with starting fullback Steve Smith only recently back from an injury, Gainer played the first half of an exhibition against the Washington Redskins. Gainer’s blocking proved a key factor as Eric Dickerson gained 93 yards during the half.

Last week against the Houston Oilers, Gainer threw the block that sprang Nick Bell on a 71-yard touchdown run.

And Gainer also turned some coaching heads during the winning drive with both his blocking and rushing.

“He worked very hard and he has done some good things,” Raider Coach Art Shell said of Gainer. “It’s a tough situation. We can only keep so many people. It’s a game of numbers.”