Marinovich Demoted to Third String : Raiders: Shell says he has moved Evans into the backup role behind Schroeder because of the experience factor.

Two weeks ago, Raider quarterback Todd Marinovich was ahead of Jay Schroeder on the depth chart.

Now, he is behind Vince Evans.

Coach Art Shell made it official Monday: Marinovich has been demoted to the third spot among Raider quarterbacks behind Schroeder, the starter, and Evans, the newly appointed backup.

Why?

What happened to transform the 23-year-old Marinovich from the Wunderkind who was good enough to lead the team in only his second full season to a sideline spectator stuck behind the 37-year-old Evans?

Shell cited Evans’ age and longevity (he was first drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1977) as a plus in explaining the move.

“It’s the experience factor,” the Raider coach said.

Others cited other factors. One Raider source said Marinovich has recently been late to a practice. Another said he missed a curfew.

Not so, according to Shell.

“He hasn’t been a problem,” the coach said. “He goes out to practice and enjoys his teammates.”

Marinovich didn’t seem to be enjoying himself Monday when he discussed his latest slide down the depth chart.

“I’m disappointed,” he said. “It’s something I’ve got to live with.”

What did Marinovich think was the reason for his sudden loss of favor?

“Don’t ask me,” he said.

The change actually began last week when Marinovich missed some practice time because of a bad cold.

Evans became the backup for the Denver Bronco game with Marinovich moved to third. That figured because of Marinovich’s ill health earlier in the week and his lack of practice time.

But Shell said the roots of the switch stretch back much farther.

“I had been thinking about it and decided last week to go ahead and do it,” Shell said. “It was just a gut feeling on my part.”

When the season began, Evans wasn’t a factor in the battle for a quarterback job. As a matter of fact, Evans wasn’t even a Raider.

He was put on waivers before the season opener.

Schroeder began the season as the starter, but lost his job to Marinovich after the Raiders lost their first two games.

In the meantime, Evans kept bouncing on and off the waiver list to accommodate other Raider personnel moves. This is his third time on the roster this season.

With Marinovich as the starter, the Raiders went 3-4.

Marinovich’s final game in a starting role didn’t last long. After throwing three interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was yanked during the second quarter and replaced by Schroeder.

Marinovich hasn’t been seen in a game since. He has completed 49.1% of his passes this season, throwing six touchdown passes, but nine interceptions.

Does Evans know why the switch was made?

“The only thing I can think of is that I’ve been working my butt off,” Evans said. “Maybe the last half of the season, he (Shell) wants all of his guns to bring to the gun fight.”

A lesser spirit might have long ago given up the struggle to win a job on this team, a struggle that seemed all the more hopeless as the years went on. But not Evans, in his sixth season as a Raider.

“I’m a warrior, a survivor,” he said. “When you’re a backup, you operate under the conditions you are dealt. I’m a guy who is relentless, who doesn’t quit until it’s over. And I don’t let other people dictate to me when it’s over. I march to a different drummer.”

He will be marching onto the sideline at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium on Sunday as Schroeder’s backup when the Raiders face the Chargers.

How will it feel to Marinovich to be on that sideline as only the third option?

“When you’re not in there, you’re not in there,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re ninth string or second string.”

After a spectacular first season at USC, Marinovich had his problems with Coach Larry Smith in his second year. He left USC after that season to turn pro. In light of his current struggles, did he ever wish he’d stayed in school?

“I haven’t looked back since I left SC,” he said.