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Article clipped from The Press Democrat

PRESS Sunday, July 8, 1979 Ralph Leef, Sports Editor Mike Nott in Raider camp IT WAS FOUR years ago when Mike Nott, a 1969 graduate of L Analy High School, found Kansas City Chiefs' teammate Andy Hamilton on a 50-yard touchdown pass in an exhibition game against Detroit. Three years ago Nott dropped back on second down at Candlestick Park and saw MacArthur Lane get a step on 49er defender Mike Holmes. Nott lofted a high spiral that Lane caught without breaking stride and only a desperation diving tackle kept Lane from scoring. Two years ago, after being released by the Chiefs, Nott signed on with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. A separated shoulder in the final game of the season ruled out playing football last year, although he hoped for awhile he might end up with the Washington Redskins. Mike Nott is a member of the Oakland Raiders these days. How long is anybody's guess. That's up to Kenny Stabler, who has said he wants to be traded, and head coach Tom Flores, who doubles as the quarterback coach. Nott signed as a free agent and realizes his chances of landing a job with the Raiders are slim. "But I'm optimistic," said the handsome 27-year-old son of Wes and Bonnie Nott of Sebastopol. Before Stabler requested he be traded, and even before No. 2 quarterback David Humm had surgery on his shoulder, Nott had been refused the chance to work out with the Raiders. Special teams coach Steve Ortmeyer, who coached at Kansas City before coming to the Raiders, told Mike there wasn't any room for him with Stabler, Humm, Plunkett and Hedberg all on the roster. Things have changed. So Nott lined up right along Plunkett, Hedberg (Tampa Bay), Randy Roeszler (San Diego State) and Bob North (Michigan State) in Friday's passing drills. And it was obvious that Nott still has a mighty strong arm. It was while Nott was with the Chiefs that one NFL coach claimed he had the "strongest arm in the NFL." Nott was still throwing bullets Friday, but admits he has learned to throw with finesse when it is called for. That is especially the case when throwing to running backs coming out of the backfield. You have to lay it in very easy or chances are the ball will be dropped. "I learned the finesse part last year when I had the sore shoulder," said Nott. "I developed a touch. I didn't have much choice." Nott has been at all three camps Flores has held since being named head coach. He comes into the rookie camp at the Rancho Motel training center a veteran, "not having to worry about being self-conscious or being afraid of looking like a fool." "I worried about those things as a rookie, but not anymore," said Nott. "I can't think about what the coaches are thinking about if I make a mistake. You just have to go on from that point. If you don't, you just stick there." Obviously, Plunkett and Hedberg have a real head start on Nott, Roeszler and North. Plunkett and Hedberg know what Flores has in mind for the new offense. "But that is what we'll be doing for the first few days," said Nott. "Learning the system. In another two weeks we'll get into the game-plan stuff and then the really important time is in the pre-season." Nott, who has been married three years and has an 18-monthold son, didn't quarterback his high school team (Analy) until his senior year. And he only played in five games in his final two years at the University of Santa Clara. But the professional experience he's had, and the strong arm, make Nott a bona fide candidate for a spot with the Raiders and if not with the Silver and Black, he may get other offers if he performs well during the exhibition season. -Chris Dawson Raider hopeful Mike Nott works out at camp here CAMP notes: The Raiders expect 113 players in RAIDER the time the veterans report next Friday…the first player cuts will be made August 14 (down to 60 players). Other cuts come on August 21 (50 players) and the final cut on August 27 (45 players) just prior to the Monday league opener in Los Angeles... The Raiders may be establishing a new NFL record for assistant coaches - all part of head coach Tom Flores' plan for better organization and a more structured approach to football…the Raiders have a real heavyweight trying to beat out Errol Mann for the placekicking duties. He is Ricky Palmer from Southern Mississippi (same school as Ray Guy). Palmer reported to his first Raider mini-camp weighing in at 285 pounds. He's been eating nothing but lettuce salads ever since and is down to 260. Kicks 'em straight and long. Pretty good punter, too...the kicker with the best chance of knocking Mann into retirement is Jim Breech, a 5-6, 155-pound sidewinder who was kicking from 50 yards out in the first practice session... Flores insists the kicking competition won't turn into a carnival...head coaches present at the NFL meetings in Honolulu took an informal press poll and named the AFC Western Division as the most competitive division in the league for the 1979 campaign...San Diego is picked to win the AFC West... "fine," said Raider assistant Tom Grimes, "'let everyone talk up San Diego. It'll just put more pressure on them." THIS WEEK, 17 years ago: The Giants signed Bob Garibaldi from Santa Clara to the highest bonus in the club's history - $125,000. Giants were 55-20 at the time but only (believeit-or-not) in second place behind the Dodgers, who sported 56-20 record. THE SONOMA County Fairgrounds, the second oldest race track California, but one of the most up-to-date along the so-called "leaky-roof" circuit - will come alive with 10 days of racing when the annual Sonoma County Fair opens Monday. Fearless Fred Schwartz and Bob Wuerth will be back in the handicapping saddle again.

Article from 08 Jul 1979The Press Democrat(Santa Rosa, CA)

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