Raiders Sign Free Agent Guard Gogan to Challenge Montoya

Changing of the guard?

That appears to be the scenario for the Raiders, who Monday signed Dallas Cowboy guard Kevin Gogan to a three-year, $3.6-million contract. Gogan, an unrestricted free agent, will receive $1.85 million this season, the total breaking down to a base salary of $550,000 plus a $1.3 million signing bonus.

The 6-foot-7, 319-pound Gogan has been told he’ll be given an opportunity to win the starting job at right guard held by veteran Max Montoya, 38 next month.

Gogan, 29, a seven-year veteran, thinks things might have turned out differently if Dallas hadn’t recently changed coaches.

“If Jimmy Johnson were still there,” Gogan said, “I would probably still be there. I think he would have been more supportive and would have tried to help me out. New Coach Barry Switzer couldn’t do it because he doesn’t know me.

“The Cowboys wouldn’t pay what other teams pay. Look at what Emmitt Smith had to do to get his money. This is what I had to do to get mine.”

On Monday, the Cowboys signed Gogan’s replacement, New Orleans offensive lineman Derek Kennard, also an unrestricted free agent, to a one-year, $800,000 contract.

Also, the NFL gave Cowboy receiver Alvin Harper an extension of the midnight Monday deadline for signing an offer sheet with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cowboys have made Harper a one-year, $866,000 offer. The Steelers have offered $4.2 million for three years.

NFL Notes

The Green Bay Packers signed Houston Oilerdefensive end Sean Jones to play opposite Reggie White, a free agent acquisition of Green Bay before last season. The team wouldn’t release terms of the deal, but the contract reportedly is worth $7.8 million over three years. . . . . Bobby Hebert, allowed to become an unrestricted free agent by Atlanta, re-signed with the Falcons.. . . . Center Jim Sweeney agreed to a three-year, $3.7 million contract and will return for an 11th season with the New York Jets.. . . . Philadelphia Eagles return specialist Vai Sikahema retired.