Raiders Sign Fredrickson, Cut Townsend : Pro football: Defensive end is released to make room under salary cap for No. 1 pick.

For Greg Townsend, it’s the end of a long and distinguished career as a Raider.

For Rob Fredrickson, it’s only the beginning.

Two players, one old and one young, one a defensive lineman too expensive to keep on the roster, the other a linebacker too valuable to keep out of camp, traded places Tuesday.

The Raiders released the 32-year-old Townsend, an 11-year veteran, a two-time Pro Bowl pick and the AFC’s all-time sack leader with 107.5, and signed Fredrickson, their No. 1 draft choice out of Michigan State.

Townsend would have received $1.5 million this season and $1.6 million next year.

The Raiders had told him not to report to camp while they continued their efforts to trade him, but there were no takers. Although the Raiders were reportedly willing to settle for a conditional seventh-round draft pick from Philadelphia, Eagle officials chose, instead, to wait out the Raiders, figuring they would be forced to cut Townsend to make room under the salary cap for Fredrickson.

But by waiting, the Eagles now have competition. Three of the Raiders’ rivals in the AFC West--the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks--all are reportedly interested in Townsend.

“Greg Townsend was the best pass rusher I’ve ever seen,” Raider Coach Art Shell said.

“We can’t thank him enough for what he has done for this organization. He was a gentleman and a team player. But it was time for Greg to move on and it was time for us to move on.”

Townsend was not available for comment.

His troubles with the Raiders began two years ago when he held out through all of training camp, reporting overweight and out of shape several days before the season opener.

Townsend never seemed to catch up in that 1992 season. By last year, although he was still a starter and still showed flashes of the player who had overwhelmed opposing lines in the past, Townsend was playing little more than half the time, often giving way to Anthony Smith.

This year, with the return of Scott Davis after two seasons of retirement, and the signing of Jerry Ball, Townsend was deemed expendable because of his advancing age and high salary.

It’s just the opposite for Fredrickson.

With the release of middle linebacker Joe Kelly in the off-season, the Raiders drafted Fredrickson to battle for the job with second-year man Greg Biekert.

That puts an added burden on Fredrickson, who was an outside linebacker at Michigan State and now must not only learn to play with the pros, but learn a new position.

Sitting out training camp wasn’t helping.

“It was time for him (Fredrickson) to be on the field,” said Steve Ortmayer, the Raiders’ director of football operations.

On Tuesday morning, Fredrickson agreed to a five-year deal, monetary terms not disclosed.

“He wanted to play so bad,” said Bruce Allen, Fredrickson’s agent.

Fredrickson has been staying with Allen in Redondo Beach for the last 10 days while negotiations dragged on.

“I’d look at his face every day,” Allen said. “He wanted to get hit.”

Fredrickson will get his chance now.

While he waited for a deal to be struck, he worked out daily.

“I tried to keep my mind off the contract,” Fredrickson said. “It was hard. All football players want to do is play.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said after taking part in his first workout Tuesday afternoon. “It’s a big difference playing inside. Outside, you have more time to react. Inside . . . it’s instinctive.”

But he’s more than happy to learn the difference.

“It’s very exciting,” Fredrickson said. “It’s every kid’s dream to play in the NFL. I don’t really have time to think about who I’m playing with. It really hasn’t sunk in yet.”