Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis announced Wednesday that the team will not return to train in Oxnard, as he expects to settle on a Northern California site for a training camp as early as next week. Oxnard officials learned last June that the Raiders planned to return to the Bay Area after 12 years of playing in Los Angeles, so Wednesday's news came as no surprise.

NFL owners have ratified a deal to lift the player lockout but it's unclear what that means for a collective bargaining agreement or when free agency might begin. According to NFL Network, the vote was 31-0 with the Oakland Raiders choosing to abstain, as they often do. While owners have been meeting at an airport hotel in Atlanta, representatives for the players are in Washington working on their next move.

Playing after only four practices, Jeff George completed 17 of 24 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns in the first half Thursday, sparking the Atlanta Falcons to a 27-6 exhibition rout of the Oakland Raiders. George signed a one-year, $3.6-million contract last week. He becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. George connected with Eric Metcalf on an 11-yard scoring and hit Tyrone Brown on a 48-yard scoring play.

A day after trying to trade him to the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders released running back Greg Robinson on Tuesday. Robinson, who led the Raiders in rushing in 1993 before sustaining knee ligament damage, reported to the Packers, then failed their physical and came back to El Segundo. The Raiders also placed center Don Mosebar on injured reserve. He is wearing a patch over his left eye after it was poked by Dallas' Chad Hennings during a practice in Austin, Tex.

Former Oakland Raiders defensive lineman John Matuszak was pronounced dead Saturday night after he was rushed to a hospital for an undetermined ailment, officials said. "He came into the hospital, and he has expired," said Karen Marlin, a nursing supervisor at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. The cause of death would be announced by the Los Angeles County coroner, she said. Ms. Marlin said additional information was being withheld, pending notification of family members.

Larry Todd, a former wide receiver and running back for the Oakland Raiders, died recently of cancer in an Oakland hospital, it was announced. He was 50. Todd was recently diagnosed with myeloidosis, a form of cancer, and died Oct. 17. Todd was troubled by injuries during his six seasons with the Raiders from 1965 to 1970. One of his best games came during his rookie season when he rushed 20 times for 134 yards and one touchdown against the Houston Oilers.

Hewritt Dixon, the No. 8 rusher and No. 10 pass receiver in Raider history, died at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles after a long fight with cancer, a hospital spokesman said Wednesday. He was 52. Dixon was selected in the eighth round of the American Football League draft in 1963 by the Denver Broncos. He spent three years at Denver, then was traded to the Oakland Raiders.

The Oakland Raiders plan to go with Billy Joe Hobert, but are cautiously optimistic that regular starter Jeff Hostetler might be healthy enough to be the backup Sunday against Pittsburgh. Hostetler, who has missed two straight starts and most of a third game with a strained muscle in his left shoulder, was able to throw the ball and worked with the scout team in practice Thursday. It is the first time he has done any significant throwing since he was knocked out of the Dallas game Nov. 19.

Look for the Oakland Raiders to again use a no-huddle offense when they play host to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. They used it several times in the first half of last Sunday's 17-3 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Coach Mike White promises it will be used a lot more. But White said the no-huddle scheme will be used almost exclusively at home because it's too hard to hear signals on the road. * Former Ram Jerome Bettis is off to a strong start with the Pittsburgh Steelers.