Spencer Signs With Chargers
Charger wide receiver Trumaine Johnson, who played with running back Tim Spencer for two seasons in the United States Football League, said Spencer can compete “on the same level as Herschel Walker.”
San Diego offensive lineman Jim Lachey, a teammate of Spencer at Ohio State, says Spencer is a “specimen who is built like Superman.”
Those assessments came after Charger owner Alex Spanos announced Friday afternoon that San Diego had agreed to terms with Spencer.
The 6-foot 1-inch, 212-pound running back was the Chargers’ 11th-round draft choice (307th player overall) in the 1983 National Football League draft.
Spanos said General Manager John Sanders negotiated the deal with Richard Bennett, Spencer’s agent, during a four-hour phone conversation Friday morning. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, Spencer did not want to discuss them, and Bennett was not able to be reached.
“There were some incentive clauses,” Sanders said.
As is the Chargers’ customary position, Spanos said the deal is based on Spencer passing a physical. Spencer dislocated his ankle playing basketball before the 1985 USFL season, but he returned to gain 1,047 yards on 267 carries and score 7 touchdowns in 16 games for Memphis this season.
“I am in very good health and am probably 90% in shape,” said the 25-year-old running back.
Spencer is expected to arrive in San Diego late this afternoon.
“He’s a talent,” Spanos said. “He belongs to us, and should have been here the last few years.”
Spanos, who also has signed Johnson, Lachey and linebacker Vernon Maxwell in recent weeks, said he is not finished reshaping the Chargers.
He said the Chargers are trying to obtain Gary Anderson (Tampa Bay) and Mossy Cade (Memphis) of the USFL and an offensive lineman from anywhere.
“We’re getting some of the greatest talent,” Spanos said. “We’ll have a lot of depth.”
Coach Don Coryell is hoping that Spencer will provide depth at running back. Last season, the Chargers were forced to go with a one-back offense for most of the year.
It was Earnest Jackson right and Earnest Jackson left.
“We hope we can run the damn ball more,” a fired up Coryell said at his gathering for the press early Friday evening. “If we run the ball more, we have a better chance of keeping (Dan) Fouts healthy.”
Coryell said he doesn’t know a lot about Spencer, but “we do know he is a fine prospect and athlete.”
Selected second in 1983 USFL draft, Spencer gained 1,157 yards on 300 carries and scored 6 touchdowns the Chicago Blitz in 1983. The following season when the Blitz moved to Tempe and became the Wranglers, he picked up 1,212 yards on 227 carries and scored 17 touchdowns for Arizona, which lost to Philadelphia in the championship game.
Spencer also caught 38 passes in 1983 and 46 passes in 1984.
“I like catching the ball because I love to get out in that open field,” he said.
Spencer will be rejoining Lachey and his good friend Johnson.
“When we were on the same team, my wife used to tell me that I spent more time with Trumaine than with her,” Spencer said.
With the recent signings, there is a sense of optimism at Charger camp.
“They are basically trying to rebuild the ballclub,” Johnson said. “A lot of veteran players are on their way out. In the near future, they could have a Super Bowl team.”
Charger Notes After training for 10 years on the fields at the UC San Diego campus, the Chargers will move to the field at La Jolla Country Day School. Starting Monday, the Chargers will practice on the field the players used during the strike in the fall of 1982. Coach Don Coryell said the move was made because of the terrible condition of the field at UCSD. “Our practice field is so terribles that I’m very fearful we might lose someone permanently,” Coryell said. “Minor injuries are caused by holes. We’re afraid we’re going to lose good players. The field has always been bad, but not this bad. And there is no way we’re going to improve it (the field).” Coryell said the team will still hold its walkthroughs at UCSD. . . . An overflow crowd saw the Chargers scrimmage the Rams at UCSD on Friday afternoon. “Like any other scrimmage, I’m pleased with some things and upset with others,” Coryell said. He singled out Jim Lachey for being on the field for all 40 offensive plays, and praised the play of rookie wide receiver Anthony Steels. The teams will scrimmage again on Tuesday afternoon in either Fullerton or Irvine. . . . Tight end Pete Holohan had arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle Friday, and tight end Eric Sievers did not play in the scrimmage because of a sprained knee.