Chargers Seek Deal but Won’t Get Simms

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Quarterback John Friesz is out for the year, and now Phil Simms has become unavailable to the Chargers for a lifetime.

Next up on the Chargers’ quarterback wish list--Washington’s Stan Humphries.

“I just heard a report that Phil Simms is on his way to San Diego,” Giants’ President Wellington Mara said after storming into his team’s press room Tuesday. “Let me say this as unequivocally as I can, Phil Simms is not being traded this year, last year or in the 20th century to San Diego or anywhere else. Period. OK?”

The Chargers were banking on Simms’ availability. They looked upon him as the ideal quick fix for a team in need of stability, hope and confidence at the quarterback position after Friesz’s season-ending knee injury.

Mara’s uncharacteristic outburst, however, has stopped the Chargers’ quest for Simms before they had the opportunity to make an offer.

“I’m not surprised at the Giants’ feelings,” Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard said. “I don’t blame them. They are doing what’s in the best interests of the Giants.”

It was in the best interests of the Redskins to hang onto Humphries until starting quarterback Mark Rypien signed a contract for the 1992 season. Rypien signed that contract Tuesday night and then joined his teammates on an exhibition trip to London.

“This whole process really isn’t fair to other teams,” Beathard said. “We’re still evaluating the situation and haven’t made any moves. We had nothing to do with Phil Simms.

“I haven’t heard anything from Washington. I don’t know what their game plan is.”

Washington Coach Joe Gibbs, however, has informed Rypien, and backups Jeff Rutledge and Cary Conklin that Humphries will not be with the team this season.

Gibbs has been at odds with Humphries ever since Humphries ignored Gibbs’ request to remain in the Washington area and work out with the team during the off-season. Humphries also has appeared overweight at times in his first four seasons with the Redskins.

Humphries is no sure answer to what troubles the Chargers, but there are indications the team must do something. Several players have spoken privately of their lack of faith in the Chargers’ present quarterbacks, and since Friesz’s injury, a pall has fallen over this team.

The Chargers’ brass, meanwhile, remains enamored with Humphries’ potential. Beathard, while working as the Redskins’ general manager, selected Humphries in the sixth round of the 1988 draft. In nine NFL appearances, he has completed 96 of 166 passes for 1,106 yards with four touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Humphries missed the 1988 season with a blood disorder and spent time on injured reserve in 1990 with a knee sprain. Since he was residing in Gibbs’ doghouse last season, he did not play a down. He was scheduled to join the Redskins on Tuesday night for their journey to London, but he is not expected to earn any playing time.

The Chargers tried to make a trade for Humphries in late April, but Beathard and Washington General Manager Charley Casserly couldn’t even agree on what they had disagreed. The Chargers reportedly could have had Humphries for a sixth-round pick.

The price is expected to climb because of Friesz’s injury, but if there are no takers, Humphries might be free via the waiver wire.

The Chargers understand that the Redskins will have to trade or release Humphries by the cut to 60 players on Aug. 25, but Washington also knows how desperately the Chargers need a quarterback.

The Vikings also have inquired into Humphries’ availability, but they have yet to make a serious bid.

“Right now,” Beathard said, “we will go about our business the way we are.”

The Chargers went to work against the Patriots at New England’s Bryant College training camp site Tuesday with Bob Gagliano as their starting quarterback. Jeff Graham and Pat O’Hara shared backup duties.

“I’d like to see (Gagliano) in a game,” Coach Bobby Ross said. “That’s the key with all three of them. The bottom line is going to be how they do in the game?”

It will not matter, however, if the Chargers land Humphries.

The Chargers removed defensive tackle George Thornton and cornerback Donald Frank from their starting defensive unit and replaced them with Tony Savage and Tony Blaylock.

When Ross was asked about the changes, he became testy.

“I’m not going to comment on it, OK?” he said. “We made a couple of changes right now, and we’re just looking at some people and trying to get some evaluations and trying to get them some more playing time.”

Ross had spent the past few weeks praising Thornton, but now Thornton has given way to Savage, who has seen limited action in two games the past two seasons with the Chargers.

Ross was asked if Savage’s promotion indicated that Thornton had not played well against Phoenix.

“No, I didn’t say that,” Ross said. “You said that.”

Did he play well?

“He played, ah, he played, ah, kind of an average football game,” Ross said, “like a lot of us did. Like all of us did in many respects.”

The Chargers have practiced since Febuary with Frank as their starting cornerback opposite Gill Byrd, but he shown a tendency to get beat deep. Blaylock played in two games with the Chargers last season after being released by Cleveland.

The Chargers also started Floyd Fields at safety in place of Delton Hall, who has been bothered by a sore knee. Cedric Mack, who has received almost no practice time, started in place of Byrd, who remains hobbled with an ankle sprain.

Safety James Fuller, one of the team’s most impressive rookies, will undergo a medical test today to determine the severity of a knee injury he suffered in a morning workout Tuesday. He is expected to undergo knee surgery and miss up to three weeks of playing time.

Charger Notes

Rain and lightning ended the Chargers’ afternoon practice with the Patriots prematurely. . . . When the Chargers went after a quarterback in Plan B last year they chose Bob Gagliano over Hugh Millen. Millen signed with the Patriots and is now their starting quarterback. . . . Linebacker Billy Ray Smith and wide receiver Nate Lewis have returned to practice. . . . Linebacker Kevin Little, the team’s fifth-round pick, has been moved permanently to defensive end.