Chargers Sign 2, Will Talk With FitzPatrick’s Agent

The Chargers hope to sign first-round draft choice James FitzPatrick today after coming to terms Thursday night with third-round pick Jeff Walker and fourth-round selection Ty Allert.

FitzPatrick’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, is expected to confer with Charger General Manager Johnny Sanders. Steinberg is believed to be seeking a five-year deal worth about $1.8 million for FitzPatrick, an offensive tackle from USC.

Steinberg said he also hopes to reach an agreement on behalf of wide receiver Curtis Pardridge, a sixth-round pick from Northern Illinois.

The negotiating process gathered momentum late Thursday when Assistant General Manager Tank Younger received a last-minute call from Walker’s agent, Joe Courrege, accepting the team’s offer, believed to be $700,000 for four years.

Charger owner Alex Spanos had threatened a day earlier to withdraw his offer if Walker didn’t accept by 5 p.m. Wednesday. However, Spanos granted a 24-hour extension when Courrege said he was unable to contact his client and needed more time to discuss the proposed deal.

Spanos had grown increasingly angry with Courrege, whom he said was not conducting matters in a businesslike fashion and had failed to return 15 or 20 phone calls from the team.

However, Courrege telephoned Younger at about 5 p.m. Thursday, just as the Spanos deadline was about to elapse.

“I can’t say what effect the ultimatum from Mr. Spanos had,” Younger said, “but these things have a way of working themselves out. When I talked to Mr. Spanos tonight, he was upbeat. Jeff will be here for the start of training camp.”

Walker, 6-feet 4-inches, 295 pounds, is expected to be a candidate for a starting guard position.

The attention focused on the Walker negotiations nearly overshadowed the pursuit of Allert, a 6-2, 233-pound linebacker from Texas who also is given a chance of making the starting lineup.

While the focus today will be on FitzPatrick, the Chargers also will be bargaining with Marv Demoff, who represents their other first-round choice, defensive end Leslie O’Neal of Oklahoma State. Spanos said he doesn’t anticipate any serious problems in signing O’Neal, who is thought to be seeking a contract similar to that of FitzPatrick.