PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Lott: Hostetler Will Help Raiders

Forgive Ronnie Lott for not missing the Raiders, but he said Thursday that they are no longer the Raiders.

“I remember talking to Matt Millen about that great Raider spirit. . . . I didn’t see any of that,” said Lott, the all-pro safety who spent two years with the Raiders before signing with the New York Jets this spring.

“The problem we had is that there were so many different people coming in and out, we never really got that spirit. The people who were there did not understand the Raiders’ philosophy.”

Lott said the team needs more veterans to pass that attitude along.

“I’m not sure young guys understand it, and you need a lot of veterans to make them understand it,” he said. “That was always their strong suit--having somebody there to put you in that mold.”

Lott said the Raiders can regain that edge under new quarterback Jeff Hostetler.

“They can get competitive again with that guy holding the football leading them,” Lott said. “He wants to win and, in terms of makeup, he gives you more than what Jay (Schroeder) did.”