Williams’ Deal Easy on Raiders : Pro football: Starting running back fires two agents, then negotiates a one-year, $550,000 contract.

Running back Harvey Williams desperately wanted to remain a Raider.

Enough to fire agent Steve Feldman a month ago when negotiations weren’t proceeding to Williams’ satisfaction.

Enough to fire a second agent, Jordan Woy, Thursday night when negotiations again bogged down.

Enough to walk in and negotiate his own deal Thursday with Bruce Allen, the Raiders’ director of football operations. But Williams might have sold himself short, agreeing to a one-year, $550,000 deal after gaining 983 yards last season.

By way of comparison, another running back, former New York Giant Dave Meggett, signed with the New England Patriots on Friday for $12 million over five years. Meggett, a third-down specialist, rushed for 298 yards last season.

Williams was the bargain of the free-agent market last season. Paid a salary of $250,000, he averaged $254 a yard. Now, it appears he will again be a bargain.

After failing to secure a steady starting job in Kansas City in his three years with the Chiefs, Williams, 27, finally proved himself last season. He surpassed his previous career rushing total in a single season, averaged 3.5 yards per carry, ran for four touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 391 yards and three more touchdowns.

“We are really happy that he is committed to the Raiders,” Coach Mike White said. “I’m glad it worked out.”

The signing of Williams appears to end the Raiders’ brief flirtation with the Pittsburgh Steelers over running back Barry Foster. The two teams had talked when it appeared that Williams was going to prove difficult to sign.

White announced Friday that he has given another title to Joe Bugel, the former Arizona Cardinal coach who now leads the league in titles. When he was hired by the Raiders in early January, Bugel was named special assistant and offensive line coach.

He is now assistant head coach-offense. White said he, Bugel and new quarterback coach Jim Fassel will all be involved in running the offense. White said Friday that it hasn’t been determined who will call the plays, although a source said earlier that Fassel had been promised that role.

The offense was the center of controversy last season when former coach Art Shell, offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, quarterback Jeff Hostetler and top receiver Tim Brown all clashed over the play-calling.

Walsh has since been relieved of any coaching responsibilities. White flew to Hostetler’s home in West Virginia last month to meet with him and met earlier this week with Brown, who publicly criticized the Raiders after Shell was dismissed.