Spanos Says He’ll Wait for Court Decision : Charger Owner Won’t Take Any Action in Green Case Until Then
Linebacker Mike Green’s future with the Chargers remained uncertain Monday when owner Alex Spanos declared he would wait for the courts to rule before taking any action of his own.
Breaking a period of self-imposed silence since the arrest of Green on drug charges last Wednesday, Spanos provided few clues as to how he will handle the matter.
“You know what my stand (on drug abuse) is,” Spanos said as he met briefly with reporters at the team’s UC San Diego training site.
Since purchasing the Chargers last year, Spanos has made no secret of his desire to curtail drug abuse. He recently traded Chuck Muncie after the veteran running back’s drug-related suspension was lifted by National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
“I’m going to sit back and wait for the courts before making a final decision,” Spanos said. Green will be arraigned Wednesday.
“I’ve been giving this matter some real thought, but it’s hard for me to do anything until I know more,” Spanos said.
Spanos said he had not met or talked with Green, but said he had been informed that Green is “very despondent.”
Spanos applauded a recent statement by quarterback Dan Fouts that he would be willing to undergo random drug tests to help combat cocaine abuse.
“That would be a real breakthrough, if the players were willing to accept drug testing,” Spanos said. “It’s marvelous that Dan feels that way. We could do something about drug abuse (if random drug tests were permitted).”
Spanos was asked if he understands what drives players to use cocaine.
“I’ve studied it, but I don’t know if there is such a thing as understanding,” he replied.
Coach Don Coryell has altered his position on Green in the last week, moving to a more lenient attitude. Spanos did not comment directly on Coryell’s position.
“I just want to make the right decision for the players and the fans alike,” he said.
Spanos cheered a group of Charger veterans who met over the weekend to discuss ways of handling drug abuse.
“It’s great that they want to organize themselves to do something about it,” he said.
While the subject of Green’s future received most of the attention, Spanos also commented briefly on No. 1 draft choice Jim Lachey, who remains unsigned.
“It gets better everyday,” Spanos said. “I’m confident he’ll be playing for us.”
Lachey, expected to be a starter at offensive tackle, has been waiting, somewhat impatiently, at a Mission Valley hotel for a break in the negotiations between General Manager John Sanders and his agent, Leigh Steinberg.
Steinberg reported little progress Monday, but seemed hopeful that the signing of offensive lineman Bill Fralic by Atlanta have some bearing on offers to the linemen drafted after him. Fralic was the first of five blockers to go among the top dozen picks, while Lachey was the fifth blocker taken and 12th man overall in the draft.
The Chargers have two other unsigned draftees, defensive back Jeff Dale and punter/placekicker Ralf Mojsiejenko.
Charger Notes The Chargers will travel to Fullerton for a 90-minute scrimmage against the Los Angeles Rams at 1 p.m. today. It will be a friendly scrimmage, according to Coach Don Coryell, with each side running plays and formations as requested by the opposition. “We’ll be trying to help, not embarrass each other,” he said. . . . Coryell announced Monday that second-year lineman Ray Woodard had been shifted from defense to offense. “He has good balance and good body control,” Coryell said. With the reduction in rosters from 49 to 45 players, the Chargers are looking for linemen with the versatility to play either way. . . . There was a lot of excitement when the Chargers obtained receiver Trumaine Johnson from the Arizona Outlaws, but the early receiving stars in camp have been Jesse Bendross and Lionel James. Coryell said he isn’t worried about selecting four pass-catchers from a group that includes Johnson, Bendross, Charlie Joiner, Wes Chandler and Bobby Duckworth. “It will take care of itself,” Coryell said. “Somebody probably will get hurt. You can never have too many pass receivers.” . . . The Chargers have their entire group of defensive line hopefuls in camp, except for veteran Keith Ferguson, who has a pulled hamstring.