ALAMEDA — During a typical training camp day in 2012, a virtual unknown named Marquette King was drawing oohs and ahhs with skyscraping punts.
After each thunderous kick, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly would shout, “Reggie Roby!” as an homage to the late and best-known African-American punter in NFL history.
Kelly’s last one-liner on King was “Lookin’ for a job . . . . just not here!”
Shane Lechler, the perennial Pro Bowl punter, indeed retained his job. But the Raiders liked King enough to stash him on injured reserve. The following season, Lechler left as a free agent to the Houston Texans and King became the Raider punter.