PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS

Cold-Weather Players Cite Elements, Too

Every time a Southern California football team heads back East in winter and loses on a cold, snowy day, people blame the weather.

Such was the case Sunday when the Raiders dropped half a dozen passes on a miserably cold day at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium and lost to the previously winless Bengals, 16-10.

Wait a minute.

Just because the Raiders play for a Los Angeles team doesn’t mean they are from here. Tim Brown played his college football at Notre Dame, where they’ve been known to have a snowstorm or two. So did Rocket Ismail. James Jett played at West Virginia. All were guilty of dropping balls Sunday.

Brown, who let a pass sail out of his hands into the arms of Cincinnati linebacker James Francis for a crucial interception, said the weather was a factor. Because of it, he wore gloves, a decision he regrets. “The ground was wet and the ball was wet,” Brown said. “It was impossible to squeeze the ball on a high pass.”

But the gloves hampered his chances on that critical, fourth-quarter throw by Jeff Hostetler. “I never got a handle on it,” Brown said. “I will never (wear gloves) again. I went with what I thought was best. It was not the best thing to do, but you learn from your mistakes.”

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Defensive lineman Anthony Smith, kicker Jeff Jaeger and tight end Ethan Horton are the Raider nominees for the NFL Man of the Year award. In all, 84 players are considered for the honor, based on community service and excellence of play. Last year’s winner was the Denver Broncos’ John Elway. The only Raider to win since the award was established in 1970 was quarterback George Blanda in 1974.