Lionel Washington

Some days it doesn't pay to get up. Raider cornerback Lionel Washington awoke last Jan. 20 in Buffalo, wrapped a very sore hamstring, pretended it didn't hurt, then set out to cover former teammate James Lofton in the AFC Championship game. At Rich Stadium, the wily Lofton was already sniffing for clues. In pregame warm-ups, he picked up Washington's scent and circled his wounded prey. "I don't like to say that I was hurt," Washington said, "but I was, and he knew it.

Cornerback Lionel Washington, an unrestricted free agent and a Raider for the last eight seasons, has signed a three-year contract with the Denver Broncos, worth about $2.5 million. Washington will receive a $625,000 signing bonus and $625,000 in base salary this season. Washington, 34, lost his starting job with the Raiders last season to Albert Lewis. He is expected to be a starter for the Broncos.

The Forum boxing card scheduled for tonight has been postponed because of complications involving the Lakers' playoff schedule. The card, which featured a heavyweight bout between Mike Weaver and Lionel Washington, has been rescheduled for May 1.

The Raiders are the most injury-free of the playoff contenders in the AFC West Division. The only players with physical problems are safety Eddie Anderson, who has a slight groin pull, and cornerback Lionel Washington, who has a calf bruise. Anderson is expected to play Sunday against the Seahawks in Seattle. Washington is day to day. Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos was a rarity for quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who had a chance to go home rather than go in for medical treatment.

Cornerback Lionel Washington, an unrestricted free agent and a Raider for the last eight seasons, has signed a three-year contract with the Denver Broncos, worth about $2.5 million. Washington will receive a $625,000 signing bonus and $625,000 in base salary this season. Washington, 34, lost his starting job with the Raiders last season to Albert Lewis. He is expected to be a starter for the Broncos.

The Raiders announced their lineup for Saturday's exhibition game against the Chicago Bears at the Coliseum. Cornerback Mike Haynes was demoted as Lionel Washington moved up. And inside linebacker Matt Millen will stay on the bench while Jackie Shipp gets another start in place of the injured Jerry Robinson. That sounds bad for Haynes and Millen, both already considered possibilities to miss Monday's cut to the final 47.

Raider officials huddled in a pool-side coffee shop with their St. Louis Cardinal counterparts Monday, trying to land Lionel Washington, a 27-year-old cornerback who had 18 interceptions in his 36 starts before losing his job last season under new Coach Gene Stallings. The Cardinals are asking for a middle-round draft choice. The deal would be contingent on getting Washington to sign a contract. Washington is a left cornerback, the position that Lester Hayes plays.

Coach Art Shell expects cornerback Lionel Washington to recover fully from his pulled hamstring before the Raiders' first-round playoff game Jan. 13 at the Coliseum. Washington missed most of the Minnesota game two weeks ago and did not play in last Sunday's 17-12 victory over San Diego. Washington said he could have played against the Chargers but was held out at the last minute. "Sometimes you've got to make the decisions for the players," Shell said. "All players want to give it a go."

The Raiders are the most injury-free of the playoff contenders in the AFC West Division. The only players with physical problems are safety Eddie Anderson, who has a slight groin pull, and cornerback Lionel Washington, who has a calf bruise. Anderson is expected to play Sunday against the Seahawks in Seattle. Washington is day to day. Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos was a rarity for quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who had a chance to go home rather than go in for medical treatment.

Challenger Lionel Washington won the California state heavyweight boxing championship with an eighth-round technical knockout of Levi Billups Monday night at the Country Club in Reseda. Washington, who earlier knocked Billups down twice, ended it with a flurry of lefts and overhand rights that sent the former champion sprawling against the ropes.

Raider cornerbacks Lionel Washington and Terry McDaniel don't often get beat deep for touchdowns, and they don't talk trash. They also haven't gained a lot of attention around the NFL, even though they have been a consistent cornerback tandem the last five years. "We just like to go about our work quietly and get the job done," said Washington, an 11-year NFL veteran from Tulane. "Terry and I both don't like to be beat at any time. Not in practice, not in games, not ever."

Some days it doesn't pay to get up. Raider cornerback Lionel Washington awoke last Jan. 20 in Buffalo, wrapped a very sore hamstring, pretended it didn't hurt, then set out to cover former teammate James Lofton in the AFC Championship game. At Rich Stadium, the wily Lofton was already sniffing for clues. In pregame warm-ups, he picked up Washington's scent and circled his wounded prey. "I don't like to say that I was hurt," Washington said, "but I was, and he knew it.

Lionel Washington, home alone, wore out his video machine last winter. He is a cornerback by trade, not a masochist, but it was difficult to tell sometimes as he forced himself to sit through the Raiders' 51-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game. "I watched the game film over and over again," Washington said. Nothing ever changed. Buffalo won every replay. On tape, Bills' receiver James Lofton tormented Washington in January, February and March.

Coach Art Shell expects cornerback Lionel Washington to recover fully from his pulled hamstring before the Raiders' first-round playoff game Jan. 13 at the Coliseum. Washington missed most of the Minnesota game two weeks ago and did not play in last Sunday's 17-12 victory over San Diego. Washington said he could have played against the Chargers but was held out at the last minute. "Sometimes you've got to make the decisions for the players," Shell said. "All players want to give it a go."

In the fighter's locker room, a world class heavyweight, about 25 pounds overweight, sits slumped on his stool, bleeding from two deep cuts over his right eye and looking embarrassed. Michael Dokes had just pulled a victory out of a fight some thought he might be on the way to losing Monday night at the Forum. Being embarrassed by a guy everyone expected him to flatten, Lionell Washington, was bad enough. But for Dokes, the worst was yet to come.

The Raiders announced their lineup for Saturday's exhibition game against the Chicago Bears at the Coliseum. Cornerback Mike Haynes was demoted as Lionel Washington moved up. And inside linebacker Matt Millen will stay on the bench while Jackie Shipp gets another start in place of the injured Jerry Robinson. That sounds bad for Haynes and Millen, both already considered possibilities to miss Monday's cut to the final 47.

Lester Hayes' comeback with the Raiders has pulled up a little short. He didn't play last week and he's just learned he won't go against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. So Hayes has announced his own plans: He's seceding from the Raiders. "I'm history," he said Tuesday. "You won't see me on the sideline Sunday. I'm not going to El Segundo any more. It's my destiny to get on my horse and ride east. "I want to challenge Jerry Holmes for his job with the New York Jets in 1988.

The Forum boxing card scheduled for tonight has been postponed because of complications involving the Lakers' playoff schedule. The card, which featured a heavyweight bout between Mike Weaver and Lionel Washington, has been rescheduled for May 1.