Townsend Expected to Be Traded : Raiders: Most likely destination for 32-year-old defensive end is Philadelphia.

When the Raider veterans reported to training camp Friday, defensive end Greg Townsend was not among them.

“We asked him not to report,” Coach Art Shell said. “We’re working on a trade. Something will happen, hopefully by Monday.”

The most likely destination for Townsend, 32, is Philadelphia. The Raiders are believed to be asking for draft choices from the Eagles.

Two factors combined to make Townsend expendable:

--His salary. The 11-year veteran is scheduled to make $1.5 million this season. With the Raiders bumping up against the salary cap, they have told Townsend they don’t want to pay him much more than $500,000.

--His competition. The Raiders signed free-agent lineman Jerry Ball in the off-season and re-signed Scott Davis on Thursday, ending a two-year retirement by the Raider lineman.

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Fullback Tom Rathman felt frustrated sitting out half of last season because of a dislocated right shoulder, the first injury of his career.

Rathman, an eight-year veteran of the San Francisco 49ers, felt even more frustrated when he learned that if he stayed with the 49ers, he was going to have to share playing time this season with Marc Logan and rookie William Floyd.

But Friday, Rathman’s frustration turned to elation when he signed a two-year, $1.2-million contract with the Raiders.

Rathman had found a new home, the Raiders a fullback.

“The 49ers have obviously given up on him,” Shell said. “But we feel he can still play.

“We’ve always liked him as a player. He’s a very versatile guy. He can catch the ball, he’s an excellent blocker, he can run and pass-protect. You get a chance to get a guy like that, you have to take the opportunity.”

The 31-year-old Rathman, a 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, rushed, received and returned kickoffs for 4,392 yards and scored 34 touchdowns for San Francisco. He played in two Super Bowls.

“I don’t know if I would have played for the 49ers,” Rathman said. “It was in my best interests to come here--best for the 49ers and best for me.”

It’s also pretty good for the Raiders, who cut fullback Steve Smith in the off-season rather than pay him $1.05 million this season.

If they had not signed Rathman, the Raiders would have had a choice at fullback between Napoleon McCallum, a short-yardage and goal-line specialist with poor speed, and Derrick Gainer, known more for his blocking than his running.

Raider Notes

Veteran guard Max Montoya, who considered retirement, has signed a contract and will return. . . . Offensive lineman Rich Stephens has signed a two-year deal. . . . To get down to the 80-man limit, the Raiders released three free agents Friday, rookie running back James Hill and one-year veterans Craig Ritter, a guard, and Lester Ridley, a safety.