Unrein Is Signed by Chargers : Spanos Hopes to Come to Agreement With First-Rounders Soon
The Chargers have agreed to terms with third-round draft pick Terry Unrein and several lower choices, owner Alex Spanos said Tuesday.
The pace of negotiations had been slow until this week, but Spanos said talks are progressing with first-round selections Leslie O’Neal and James FitzPatrick. He hopes they will be signed in time for the opening of training camp this weekend.
Unrein--a 6-foot 5-inch, 277-pound defensive tackle from Colorado State--will be used primarily as a nose tackle, but also will play defensive end, said Ron Lynn, defensive coordinator.
“We see him as a strong inside player against the run and believe he will be a surprisingly good pass rusher,” Lynn said. “He could line up in a ton of places in our three-man and four-man fronts.
“I think he’s going to push our starters and could become a starter himself, although I wouldn’t want to put that burden on him right now.”
In addition to Unrein, the Chargers signed three lower draft picks: linebacker Fred Smalls, a seventh-round pick from West Virginia; offensive tackle Mike Perrino, an eighth-round pick from Notre Dame, and running back Chuck Sanders, an 11th-round pick from Slippery Rock.
The emphasis now shifts to O’Neal and FitzPatrick, and the Chargers seemed guardedly optimistic about having them signed in time for Saturday afternoon’s opening workout.
“I think everyone will be disappointed if they’re not here,” General Manager Johnny Sanders said. “Leigh (Steinberg, FitzPatrick’s agent) has said he may wait for O’Neal to sign, but I think Leigh knows when enough is enough. He will want to have his player here.”
The Chargers are believed to be offering both O’Neal and FitzPatrick contracts in the range of five years for $1.8 million.
There is less optimism about third-round offensive lineman Jeff Walker, who is being courted by the Memphis Showboats of the USFL, without yet receiving an actual offer. Spanos is not enamored by the prospect of a holdout by Walker.
“I don’t want him if he doesn’t want to come here,” Spanos said. “He should go where he will be most happy. I’m looking for players with drive and dedication, which I can see in the likes of Unrein and O’Neal, who have been here working out.”
Spanos said Walker’s agent, Joe Courege, repeatedly has failed to return the team’s phone calls.
While the Chargers bargain with rookies, they are also looking for a veteran reserve linebacker. They have auditioned former Green Bay Packer Mike Douglas, 31, and will decide today whether to sign him.
They also plan to look at former Atlanta Falcon Fulton Kuykendall, 33.
The Chargers learned Tuesday that defensive end James Lockette has been cleared for workouts. He missed last season with a knee injury.