PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Rule Changes Shown Officially

A crew of NFL officials arrived at the Raiders’ training camp in Oxnard to work with the team until Saturday morning’s controlled scrimmage.

“They are here to go over any new rule changes,” Coach Art Shell said. “They are very beneficial to us because they are here watching our practices and talking to our guys about what they see.”

Each team will have an officials’ crew help it during training camp. The Raiders will practice without pads today before Saturday’s scrimmage. They will get more work with game officials when they travel to Austin, Tex., Sunday to practice against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Shell gave his team a break in the afternoon with a little help from veteran wide receiver James Lofton. The team has customarily run sprints after the second practice, but Shell canceled the running at Lofton’s suggestion.

“The team has really been working hard, so I decided to give them a bone,” Shell said. “I had planned not to make them run anyway, but once James said that, someone said, ‘Lofton for President.’ ”

Lofton, in his 16th season in the league, is making his second run with the Raiders and is competing for a roster spot after signing as a free agent.

“James is a crafty veteran who brings something for the younger guys,” Shell said. “He still has ability and he has a great work ethic.”