PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Dickerson Takes Shot at Raiders

Eric Dickerson, traded to the Atlanta Falcons after a one-year stay with the Raiders, couldn’t resist a parting shot Tuesday.

In a conference call with reporters, Dickerson said that on separate occasions last season, opponents remarked that the Raiders’ offense was childish.

“Now I didn’t say this, but . . . in games against Dallas and Buffalo, their players would be making all kinds of cracks,” Dickerson said. “They would say, ‘This offense is first-grade stuff. These plays are too easy to read.’ ”

Dickerson added, “It was like the other players always knew what the next play would be. They always figured it out. But that was them saying that, not me.”

Dickerson, apparently, still feels somewhat indebted to Raider owner Al Davis for complying with his trade request.

“He didn’t have to trade me to where I could play more, but he did, and I am thankful for that,” said Dickerson, who was traded for a conditional draft pick.

During a meeting a week before the trade, Dickerson said Davis even apologized for last season.

Dickerson carried the ball only 187 times, less than 12 times per game even though he led the team in carries. Dickerson gained 729 yards as the team’s leading rusher, but said he was rarely allowed to achieve his rhythm.

“Al apologized to me for the situation I was in,” Dickerson said. “We went through a period last year when we were alternating four backs . . . and that doesn’t work. It’s impossible. You never get into a groove.”

Maybe Dickerson will be interested to know about Tony Smith, the player with the most carries on the run-and-shoot Falcons last year. Smith was given the ball only 87 times.