The Spanos Roundup of Escapees Continues : Owner May Buy Out Anderson’s USFL Contract
With all the rookies signed and in camp, Charger owner Alex Spanos is going after a prominent escapee from an earlier draft.
Gary Anderson, one of three No. 1 picks in 1983, is being sought as the running back/receiver Chuck Muncie once represented. Although Spanos declined to comment on the pursuit of United States Football League players, sources said he is willing to spend $1 million to buy out the contract and provide a signing bonus for the Tampa Bay Bandit star.
“He would be worth a couple of wins to us,” said a team source, who requested anonymity. “He would make the offense a lot more effective.”
Beyond Anderson, the Chargers are again looking toward the USFL, from which they recently plucked receiver Trumaine Johnson.
Spanos is attempting to round up the various players the Chargers drafted but were unable to sign in the last few years.
Anderson is known to be priority No. 1, but the Chargers also have an eye on cornerback Mossy Cade and running back Tim Spencer, both of the Memphis Showboats.
Also of interest is offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman of the Los Angeles Express, whose NFL rights are owned by the New York Giants but who has filed a suit challenging the legality of the supplemental draft.
Because of the complexity of his case, it isn’t known if the Chargers can obtain Zimmerman before the start of the regular season, but they are confident of signing Anderson, and perhaps one or two others.
Getting Anderson for $1 million would be slightly more than the Chargers had to spend to get Johnson, who received a $600,000 signing bonus and $250,000 to buy out his contract. The figures don’t include annual salaries for Johnson or Anderson.
Spanos has said he would spend what was required to rebuild the team, and he hasn’t stopped yet, as indicated by Sunday’s signing of offensive tackle Jim Lachey to a five-year package valued at $2 million.
While Lachey figures to be the cornerstone of the Charger offensive line for the next decade, Anderson could be equally valuable in the overall offensive scheme.
“Gary is the most important player by far of all the players we’re interested in,” a team source said. “He may be the most dominant player at his position in the USFL, and he happens to be dominant in something we like to do: throwing to a back.
“Gary is a legitimate 4.5 sprinter and is a better runner than anyone we have on the team. But, beyond that, he has tremendous hands and acceleration and is just a magnificent athlete.”
The Chargers got a good look at Anderson in mini-camp after drafting him in the first round of the 1983 draft, which also brought Billy Ray Smith and Gill Byrd.
Although his exploits in the USFL don’t guarantee him a place in the Hall of Fame, Anderson has impressed upon the Chargers their wisdom in drafting him.
At 6-feet and 180 pounds, Anderson lacks bulk, but he has avoided serious injury in three pro seasons.
Spencer (6-1, 212) has more weight and blocking skill, which would enable the Chargers to employ more two-back sets.
There is a shortage of quality depth to supplement Earnest Jackson, who set a team rushing record last year when he gained 1,179 yards.
Jackson is not a great blocker and doesn’t have the receiving ability that made Muncie such a valuable commodity.
“Spencer is in the same mold as Earnest, but probably runs slightly better routes and catches a little better,” a source said. “The thing we like is Spencer’s blocking ability. If we could use more two-back sets, we could have more flexibility in the use of our tight ends.”
It is believed that Spencer ranks significantly lower than Anderson in priority, but the addition of both would give the Chargers more weapons than they have had in several years.
Kellen Winslow probably isn’t going to play before midseason, so the Chargers can use all the depth and skill they can get.
There is optimism that the presence of Johnson will spur several veteran receivers, particularly Wes Chandler, to further energize the offense.
The defense, which is undergoing a massive turnover, will be younger and faster than any Coach Don Coryell has fielded.
Cade, who eluded the Chargers last year, would join a group of promising young defensive backs, including holdovers Byrd and Danny Walters plus newcomers Jeff Dale, Wayne Davis, John Hendy and Terry Lewis.
“This looks like it will be the fastest defense I’ve had since I’ve been in pro football,” Coryell said. “We know our faults, and we’ve worked hard to get more speed.
“We’ve come a long way in that area, but it’s still a little hard for us to know how well these guys tackle and cover. And we have to see how fast these guys come together as a defensive unit.”
Charger Notes “It’s a great relief to have all our rookies signed,” Coach Don Coryell said. “It fires up the team and the coaches. Now it’s our job to make the young guys come through. Al Davis said it takes four or five years to rebuild a team, but we plan to do it a bunch faster.” . . . Coryell said one of the valuable things about two-a-day workouts is the insight into players’ mental endurance. “We want guys who can stand up to the demands of 16 games,” he said. “We want to know who can concentrate and who will goof off.” . . . Defensive back Terry Lewis suffered a strained knee and will be out for several days. . . . Veteran running back Wayne Morris remains a holdout. There is no indication of urgency about signing him.