Raiders Sign Craig, Another 49er Relic : NFL: He joins Lott as Plan B signee, bringing one more piece of San Francisco’s championship years. L.A. gets insurance in event Bo Jackson can’t play.

Who’s next, Joe Montana? One week after they lured All-Pro safety Ronnie Lott away from the San Francisco 49ers, the Raiders stole another piece of 49er history Monday night when the team announced the signing of tailback Roger Craig just before the 9 p.m. deadline for signing Plan B free agents.

No terms were announced.

“We all know Roger Craig has been a brilliant performer for the San Francisco 49ers,” the Raiders said in a statement, “and while we’re tremendously pleased with our present backfield talent--Marcus Allen, Greg Bell, Bo Jackson, Steve Smith, Vance Mueller and Napoleon McCallum--Roger Craig’s desire to be here, measured with its worth, forced us to act once again. We could not pass up this opportunity.”

Like the veteran Lott, the 30-year-old Craig joins the Raiders with mixed reviews after an injury-plagued 1990 season in which he rushed for a career-low 439 yards.

Craig was slowed by a knee injury and never regained the form that made him one of the most versatile backs of the past decade.

“Obviously, there are no guarantees of success,” the Raider statement continued. “But we really like our chances.”

The Raiders compared the gamble to recent Plan B acquisitions of guard Max Montoya and nose tackle Bob Golic.

Rookie Dexter Carter ended up leading the 49ers with 460 yards rushing and when Plan B decisions had to be made, Craig was deemed expendable because of age, injuries, and a near million-dollar salary.

Craig also recorded career lows last season for carries, 141, average per rush, 3.1, and touchdowns, one. He suffered a partially torn ligament in his right knee against Houston on Oct. 7, yet Craig, one of the game’s best-conditioned athletes, shunned talk of surgery and returned to the lineup a month later against Green Bay. He was not, however, the same back and was used sparingly the rest of the season.

San Francisco Vice President John McVay was not shocked that Craig signed with the Raiders.

“We expected that to happen,” he said Monday night. “We understood he was flying down this afternoon about 4 o’clock.

Craig, indeed, arrived at Raider headquarters in El Segundo and signed Monday night. He is the third prominent 49er to sign with the Raiders in two seasons, joining Lott and Riki Ellison, who replaced Matt Millen at inside linebacker last season.

Speculation that the Raiders might make a run at Craig emerged after reports that Jackson’s hip injury is probably career-ending. Raider owner Al Davis said at recent NFL meetings in Hawaii that he felt strongly Jackson would recover from the injury and return to the Raiders next season, but the Craig signing must be considered a serious contingency plan.

Craig, in his prime, was a punishing runner, famous for his high knee kick and religious work ethic. He was also one of the game’s all-time best receiving backs, making history in 1985 when he became the first NFL player to record more than 1,000 yards rushing (1,050) and receiving (1,016).

Craig played on three Super Bowl championship teams in San Francisco and was named to the Pro Bowl after the 1985, ‘87, ‘88, and ’89 seasons.

Craig’s signing leaves clouded the status of Bell, a Plan B free agent who was contemplating other offers until Jackson’s injury improved his Raider prospects for the 1991 season.

Bell was believed to be monitoring the situation closely because the 49ers expressed interest in him in the event Craig was lost as a Plan B free agent. Well, Craig was lost, and Bell remains a Raider, no longer an unrestricted free agent.

Bell’s agent, Steve Feldman, could not be reached for comment Monday night.

On Monday, the Raiders also announced the Plan B signings of wide receiver Stephone Adams (Miami Dolphins), linebackers O’Brian Alston (Indianapolis Colts) and Bruce Klostermann (Rams), safety Vencie Glenn (San Diego Chargers) and offensive lineman Joel Patten (Chargers).

The Raiders lost three players to Plan B: Linebackers Alex Gordon (Cincinnati Bengals) and Darin Jordan (San Francisco 49ers) and defensive linemen Bill Pickel (New York Jets).