Ron Brown Cut; Robinson, Evans Gone for Now, but Not Forgotten : Raiders: Crudup, Alexander also dropped. And for the moment, Marinovich is the No. 2 quarterback.

The Raiders’ roster cut to 47 players Monday took with it some famous names--linebacker Jerry Robinson, quarterback Vince Evans and kick returner Ron Brown.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

“What you see is not always what you get,” Coach Art Shell said.

In the annual rite of NFL roster juggling, veteran players are routinely released on final cutdown day to protect younger talent, injured players or both on the final roster.

The Raiders, for example, want to put rookie tailback Nick Bell on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Had they done that Monday, Bell would have been ineligible for the entire season. If they do it today, as expected, Bell can return in four weeks.

Should Robinson and Evans clear waivers, which is always a tricky business, the team will probably re-sign both players. Although the 34-year-old Robinson has lost his starting linebacker position, he remains a key member of the team’s pass defense. The Raiders think they can gamble on Robinson because of his age and the improbability of another team wanting to assume his 1991 salary of $710,000.

Evans, 36, has been down this waiver road before and not been claimed. Both Evans and Robinson were exposed as Plan B free agents in the off-season and found no takers.

Should Evans be claimed, though, it would leave untested rookie Todd Marinovich as the team’s No. 2 quarterback behind Jay Schroeder.

“You take chances,” Shell said. “Hopefully they work out for you. We wouldn’t have done what we did if we didn’t feel comfortable with the situation.”

If it’s any clue, Robinson and Evans attended team meetings after Monday’s cuts were announced.

The Ron Brown experiment, though, appears to have finally run its course. The Raiders signed the former receiver and kick returner as a Plan B agent from the Rams in 1990 and tried to convert him to defensive back. As any opposing receiver might attest, Brown couldn’t cover.

“We, at this time, feel the people we have are a little bit ahead of him,” Shell said.

Brown, 30, has also lost his once-considerable value as a kick returner. Although still one of the NFL’s fastest players, his average has decreased every year since his 1985 Pro Bowl season, when he averaged 32.8 yards a return and scored three touchdowns.

In 1990, Brown’s average dropped to 19.2 yards a return, meaning the team would have been better served having Brown kneeling in the end zone and accepting the ball at the 20.

The Raiders also released linebacker Brian Jones, defensive backs Derrick Crudup and Dennis Johnson, defensive tackle Mike Charles, tight end Greg Harrell, offensive linemen Rich Stephens and Josh Taotoai, and receiver Mike Alexander.

Alexander might have been the toughest Raider cut. He led all receivers in the exhibition season with nine catches for 16 yards, but the Raiders are loaded with depth at the position.

“Mike is an outstanding receiver,” Shell said. “Somebody’s going to get a good receiver.”

The other surprise name on the cut list was Crudup, who has been backing up Ronnie Lott at strong safety. If he clears waivers, look for Crudup to return to the roster. To make room, the team will probably put another player on four-week injured reserve.

Shell hinted that some of Monday’s cuts could also return to the five-man developmental squad that was approved last week by NFL owners.