THE MOST EXPENSIVE CHARGERS : Salaries Show Lionel James Was Bargain : Chargers’ Record-Setting Running Back Earned $90,000 Last Season
It cost Charger owner Alex Spanos $9.65 million last year to secure three heavily publicized players from the United States Football League and three top draft choices. His best investment, however, was the $90,000 he paid diminutive running back Lionel James, who led the National Football League in total yardage.
Spanos, who spent more than $40 million to acquire control of the team from Gene Klein in 1984, parted with an additional $6.085 million to procure ex-USFL stars Gary Anderson, Trumaine Johnson and Tim Spencer in 1985.
He needed another $3.57 million to sign first-round draft choice Jim Lachey and second-rounders Jeff Dale and Wayne Davis.
The figures are contained in a salary survey by the NFL Players Assn.
Spanos is going to have to part with more more money this year in order to sign James, who will enter the option year of his contract. James set an NFL record with 2,535 combined net yards in 1985. That figures out to $35.54 per yard.
If James was a bargain, Johnson must be considered among the most overpaid players in the NFL, on the basis of his 1985 contribution.
The former USFL star was lured to the Chargers with a five-year package worth $2.74 million, including $1.765 million in salary and an $850,000 signing bonus.
Johnson, who was injured early in the year, was used strictly as a backup to Charlie Joiner and Wes Chandler, and he caught only 4 passes for 51 yards. Based on his 1985 salary of $290,000, that figures out to $72,500 per catch.
Not surprisingly, James’s agent, George Kickliter, has indicated a desire to see his client receive a raise that would put him in Johnson’s range.
It will shock no one to learn that quarterback Dan Fouts reigns as the most highly-paid Charger. He will receive a guaranteed $750,000 a year through 1988. His backup, Mark Herrmann, who performed beyond expectations, received $150,000 in 1985.
Tight end Kellen Winslow, who signed a lucrative long-term deal not long before suffering a serious knee injury in 1984, trails only Fouts on the San Diego pay chart, averaging $665,000 annually through 1988.
In 1988, Winslow will pass Fouts in base pay with a salary of $795,000.
The team’s most handsomely compensated running back is Anderson, whose four-year package, including a $700,000 signing bonus and a $350,000 loan, averages $600,000 per season.
The Chargers are expecting vast improvement on his 1985 statistics, which included 429 yards rushing and 422 yards receiving.
Among the six young players who cost him nearly $10 million, Spanos received the quickest return on his dollar from Lachey, the 288-pound offensive tackle from Ohio State who was named to several all-rookie teams. His five-year contract, which included a $545,000 signing bonus, averages $380,000 a year.
His paycheck exceeds that of 17-year veteran Ed White, who is signed through 1987 at an average of $310,000 a year. Lachey also makes more than another respected veteran blocker, center Don Macek, who made $290,000 last year and will work for $340,000 this season.
Next to James, perhaps the biggest bargain on the San Diego offense is Chandler, who made $170,000 and the Pro Bowl in 1985. He will receive salaries of $185,000, $205,000 and $225,000 for the next three seasons.
Consistency--which has made him the most prolific receiver in NFL history--earned $425,000 for Joiner in 1986. All of that money was deferred.
It should surprise no one to learn that the Charger offense, which has ranked at or near the top of the league since 1978, is much better paid than the San Diego defense, which has ranked at the bottom for the last four years.
Earl Wilson receives the top paycheck among defensive linemen, an average of $275,000, followed by Lee Williams at $233,000.
Last summer, veteran Linden King signed a four-year deal worth $1.75 million, or $437,000 per season. That puts him ahead of Billy Ray Smith, who earned $300,000 in 1985 and will make $400,000 this year.
It should be noted that Smith received a large signing bonus in 1983, but the precise amount is not detailed in the NFLPA salary survey.
A couple of rookie defensive backs, Wayne Davis and Jeff Dale, are the top wage earners in the secondary. Davis received a four-year contract worth $835,000, plus a $267,000 signing bonus. Dale got the same base pay and a $260,000 signing bonus.
Contributing to this story was Times staff writer Gene Wojociechowski.
CHARGERS SALARIES AND BONUS AMOUNTS
QUARTERBACKS CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Dan Fouts 1985 *$750 *$0 *$0 *$0 *$0 *$0 1986 750 0 0 0 0 0 1987 750 0 0 0 0 0 1988 750 0 0 0 0 0 Mark Herrmann 1985 150 0 10 0 0 0 1986 200 0 0 0 0 0
Comments: All four years are 100% guaranteed to Fouts.
RUNNING BACKS CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Curtis Adams 1985 75 0 25 0 5 0 1986 95 0 0 0 5 0 1987 115 0 0 0 5 0 Gary Anderson 1985 275 0 700 0 0 350 1986 325 0 0 0 0 0 1987 350 0 0 0 0 0 1988 400 0 0 0 0 0 Lionel James 1985 90 0 0 0 5 0 Buford McGee 1985 90 0 0 0 10 0 Mark Schellen 1985 110 0 5 0 12 0 1986 145 0 0 0 5 0 1987 159 0 0 0 5 0 Tim Spencer 1985 250 125 300 0 0 0 1986 325 0 0 0 0 0 1987 370 0 0 0 0 0
Comments: Most of Anderson’s signing bonus went to pay off his USFL contract.
Comments: 1986 is an option year for James.
Comments: 1986 is an option year for McGee.
Comments: 1987 is an option year for Schellen. He was on injured reserve in 1985.
Comments: $125,000 of the base salary was deferred to 1986 and the signing bonus was deferred to 1986 through 1988.
WIDE RECEIVERS CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Jesse Bendross 1985 90 0 0 0 15 0 1986 112 0 0 0 15 0 Wes Chandler 1985 170 0 0 0 0 0 1986 185 0 0 0 0 0 1987 205 0 0 0 0 0 1988 225 0 0 0 0 0 Trumaine Johnson 1985 290 0 850 0 0 200 1986 325 125 0 0 0 0 1987 350 150 0 0 0 0 1988 375 175 0 50 0 0 1989 425 225 0 75 0 0 Charlie Joiner 1985 425 425 0 0 0 0
Comments: All four years are 50% guaranteed. Chandler has a $1 million disability policy.
Comments: $500,000 of signing bonus bought Johnson out of his USFL contract. The 1985 loan will be repaid between 1986 and 1989. Deferred payments will be made through 1998.
Comments: Joiner is signed for 1986, but details are unknown. His 1985 salary was deferred for payment between 1987 and 1996.
TIGHT ENDS CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Chris Faulkner 1985 80 0 0 0 10 0 1986 100 0 0 0 0 0 1987 110 0 0 0 0 0 Pete Holohan 1985 130 0 0 0 0 0 1986 150 0 0 0 0 0 Bob Micho 1985 75 0 0 0 5 0 1986 100 0 0 0 0 0 Bret Pearson 1985 70 0 11 0 15 0 1986 90 0 0 0 15 0 Eric Sievers 1985 140 0 0 0 0 0 1986 154 0 0 0 0 0 Kellen Winslow 1985 535 150 0 0 0 0 1986 585 150 0 0 0 0 1987 745 150 0 0 0 0 1988 795 150 0 0 0 0
Comments: Micho was on injured reserve in 1985.
Comments: Pearson was on injured reserve in 1985.
Comments: Deferred money will be paid between 1989 and 1994. Base salary includes guaranteed incentives.
OFF. LINEMEN CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Sam Claphan 1985 125 0 0 0 0 0 Jerry Doerger 1985 150 0 0 0 10 0 1986 175 0 0 0 0 0 1987 200 0 0 0 0 0 Drew Gissinger 1985 135 0 0 0 0 0 1986 165 0 0 0 0 0 Gary Kowalsky 1985 80 0 0 0 0 0 Jim Lachey 1985 175 0 545 0 0 0 1986 210 0 0 0 25 0 1987 270 0 0 0 25 0 1988 325 0 0 0 25 0 1989 375 0 0 0 25 0 Jim Leonard 1985 125 0 0 0 15 0 1986 140 0 0 0 15 0 Don Macek 1985 290 90 0 0 0 0 1986 340 90 0 0 0 0 Dennis McKnight 1985 122 0 0 0 0 0 1986 150 0 0 0 0 0 Bill Searcy 1985 60 0 2 0 15 0 1986 66 0 0 0 15 0 Rich Umphrey 1985 100 0 2 0 0 0 1986 115 0 0 0 0 0 1987 145 0 0 0 0 0 Ed White 1985 200 100 100 0 0 0 1986 300 130 0 40 10 0 1987 330 0 0 0 0 0
Comments: $145,000 of signing bonus deferred until 1987. Contract includes $50,000 injury policy.
Comments: Macek will receive his deferred base salary in 1987 through 1989.
Comments: Searcy spent most of 1985 on the injured reserve list.
Comments: The deferred salary from 1985 will be paid in 1987, the deferred money from 1986 in 1989-90.
KICKERS CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Rolf Benirschke 1985 210 0 0 0 0 0 1986 240 0 0 0 0 0 Ralf Mojsiejenko 1985 82 0 88 0 10 0 1986 105 0 0 0 5 0 1987 130 0 0 0 5 0 1988 150 0 0 0 0 0 1989 175 0 0 0 0 0 Bob Thomas 1985 150 0 0 0 0 0
Comments: Benirschke spent 1985 on injured reserve.
DEF. LINEMEN CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Chuck Ehin 1985 130 0 15 0 10 0 1986 160 0 0 0 10 0 Ron Faurot 1985 225 0 0 0 25 0 1986 325 0 0 0 25 0 1987 425 0 0 0 25 0 Scott Garnett 1985 80 0 0 0 0 0 1986 100 0 0 0 0 0 Keith Guthrie 1985 100 0 0 0 0 0 1986 140 0 0 0 0 0 James Lockette 1985 155 0 0 0 10 0 1986 185 0 0 0 0 0 1987 215 0 0 0 0 0 Fred Robinson 1985 75 0 0 0 0 0 1986 100 0 0 0 0 0 Tony Simmons 1985 70 0 10 0 15 0 1986 90 0 0 0 15 0 1987 115 0 0 0 0 0 Lee Williams 1985 200 0 0 0 0 0 1986 225 0 0 0 0 0 1987 275 0 0 0 0 0 Earl Wilson 1985 150 0 125 25 25 0 1986 200 0 0 0 25 0
Comments: Faurot was on injured reserve in 1985.
Comments: Lockette spent 1985 on injured reserve.
LINEBACKERS CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Craig Bingham 1985 115 0 0 0 0 0 1986 126 0 0 0 0 0 Carlos Bradley 1985 110 0 0 0 0 0 Mark Fellows 1985 75 0 37 0 10 0 1986 95 0 0 0 10 0 1987 120 0 0 0 10 0 Mike Green 1985 175 0 0 0 0 0 1986 225 0 0 0 0 0 1987 275 0 0 0 0 0 1988 325 0 0 0 0 0 1989 357 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Guendling 1985 200 100 0 0 0 0 1986 225 75 0 0 0 0 1987 275 50 0 0 0 0 Linden King 1985 300 150 0 0 0 200 1986 350 200 0 0 0 0 1987 350 200 0 0 0 0 1988 400 250 0 0 0 0 Woodrow Lowe 1985 210 0 0 0 0 0 1986 225 0 0 0 0 0 Derrie Nelson 1985 100 0 0 0 7 0 Shane Nelson 1985 100 0 0 0 40 0 1986 110 0 0 0 50 0 Vince Osby 1985 50 0 0 0 0 0 1986 55 0 0 0 0 0 Billy Ray Smith 1985 175 0 0 125 0 0 1986 400 0 0 0 0 0
Comments: Bingham’s option year is 1986.
Comments: Bradley’s option year is 1986.
Comments: Fellows was on injured reserve in 1985.
Comments: Green’s option year is 1989.
Comments: Deferred money will be paid between 1988 and 1991.
Comments: Deferred salary will pay off the 1985 loan and then extend to 1994.
Comments: Lowe’s option year will be 1987.
Comments: Nelson was on injured reserve in 1985. He has an option year in 1987.
Comments: Smith’s contract contains a $1 million disability policy.
DEF. BACKS CY BS BSD SB ReB RoB L Gill Byrd 1985 225 0 0 0 0 0 1986 250 0 0 0 0 0 Jeffery Dale 1985 150 0 260 0 10 0 1986 175 0 0 0 0 0 1987 225 0 0 0 0 0 1988 285 0 0 0 0 0 Wayne Davis 1985 150 0 267 0 0 0 1986 175 0 0 0 0 0 1987 225 0 0 0 0 0 1988 285 0 0 0 0 0 John Hendy 1985 115 0 150 0 10 0 1986 150 0 0 0 0 0 1987 190 0 0 0 10 0 David King 1985 70 0 15 0 10 0 1986 85 0 0 0 15 0 1987 93 0 0 0 15 0 Terry Lewis 1985 75 0 50 0 10 0 1986 95 0 0 0 0 0 1987 110 0 0 0 0 0 Miles McPherson 1985 145 0 5 0 0 0 1986 165 0 0 0 0 0 1987 181 0 0 0 0 0 Ronnie O’Bard 1985 65 0 1 0 0 0 1986 70 0 0 0 5 0 1987 77 0 0 0 5 0 Lucious Smith 1985 121 0 0 0 0 0 Danny Walters 1985 100 0 0 0 0 0
Comments: King was on injured reserve in 1985.
Comments: Lewis was on injured reserve in 1985.
Comments: 1987 is an option year for McPherson.
Comments: 1987 is an option year for O’Bard.
Comments: 1985 was an option year for Smith.
Keys: CY--contract year, BS--base salary, BSD--base salary deferred, SB--signing bonus, ReB--reporting bonus, RoB--roster bonus, L--Loan.
*All dollar amounts are in thousands of dollars.
Figures do not include incentive and performance clauses; Option years aren’t always acknowledged on NFLPA list.