Two Charger Draft Choices Have Second Thoughts as Their Fathers Intervene

The Chargers might have been chasing phantoms Saturday as they unsuccessfully pursued a blocker and a linebacker who changed their minds after agreeing to contracts in recent days.

As training camp got under way at UC San Diego, the Chargers reported little headway with first-round draft choices Leslie O’Neal and James FitzPatrick, and they appeared to be losing ground with Jeff Walker and Ty Allert, both of whom had agreed to terms earlier.

The deals with Walker and Allert came undone in part because the players’ fathers intervened, seeking to get more money. And, in the case of Walker, the Chargers’ old nemesis, the United States Football League, also figured.

There was one positive development as wide receiver Curt Pardridge, a sixth-round draft choice, signed a contract. His agent, Leigh Steinberg, had reached an accord Friday night, only to see a temporary snag develop Saturday morning.

Steinberg, who also represents FitzPatrick, talked with Charger General Manager Johnny Sanders Saturday night, but no deal was reached. FitzPatrick is believed to want a five-year deal worth $2 million, about $200,000 more than the Chargers’ offer.

Sanders also was attempting to negotiate with O’Neal’s agent, Marvin Demoff, but was having trouble contacting him. The club reportedly is attempting to sign O’Neal for five years, also for about $2 million, but his agent is pushing for a four-year deal.

O’Neal, who has been staying at a local hotel, said he will go to Los Angeles today to confer with Demoff. If nothing develops in a day or two, he said he will return to his home in Little Rock, Ark.

Sanders said he could not recall a year in which only five of the top 12 draft choices had signed by the start of camp.

When O’Neal and FitzPatrick will show up is unclear--but no more so than Walker and Allert.

Walker, an offensive guard from Memphis State drafted on the third round, failed to make a flight arranged by the Chargers after reaching a contractual agreement Thursday night.

Walker was packed and ready to fly to San Diego when he received an offer from the USFL Memphis Showboats Friday, said his agent, Joe Courrege.

“They made him a better offer than he had from the Chargers,” Courrege said. “Jeff’s father felt things were happening too fast, and they wanted time to evaluate.

“We had ultimatums from Mr. (Alex) Spanos (the Charger owner) this week, and now the Memphis people are putting pressure on him to stay home, so Jeff is just going to step back and think it over. It’s sort of overwhelming.”

Courrege said he thought the USFL was dead, but the Showboats convinced Walker that the league would play this fall.

“The decision is up to Jeff and his father,” the agent said. “What if I told them to take San Diego’s offer, and then the USFL won its lawsuit against the NFL and started throwing money around? I’d be in a pretty bad light (with Walker).”

Courrege said the ultimatums from Spanos had produced a measure of discomfort in Walker, especially when contrasted to the aggressive courtship of the Memphis management. “The Memphis people have showed him more respect,” Courrege said.

The agent referred to “ultimatums” by Spanos, who had given Walker a 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline for accepting his offer. Spanos consented to a 24-hour extension, which led ultimately to Thursday’s agreement.

“I can’t believe they won’t hold to our agreement,” Spanos said Saturday afternoon. “I haven’t decided what we are going to do, but I don’t have any ultimatums today.”

The situation with Allert, a linebacker from Texas, was similar. The player and his agent, Travis Roach, had agreed to the Chargers’ offer Thursday night, but then Roach called Sanders Friday and said the deal was off.

Sanders, who said the team’s original offer stands, said the deal was sidetracked by Allert’s father. “The agent called me and said the father wouldn’t accept the terms,” Sanders said. “I told him (Roach) that I thought I was dealing with him.”

Said Spanos: “It’s a shock. We had an agreement, then the agent called and said sorry. I don’t have the answers, but you don’t tell someone you’ll do something and then back off--at least, not with me, you don’t.”

Also missing from training camp Saturday were linebacker Tommy Taylor, a fourth-rounder, and defensive back Don Brown, a fifth-round selection.

Taylor has returned to his home in Tennessee and Brown indicated he planned to go home to Maryland.

The Chargers’ pursuit of veteran linebacker Mike Douglass also is stalemated. Douglass has turned down the team’s offer of $150,000. “That ended it as far as I was concerned,” said Tank Younger, assistant general manager.

And still waiting to be resolved were contracts for Lionel James and Buford McGee, two veteran running backs entering their option years.

James, who earned $90,000 while leading the American Football Conference in receptions in 1985, wants a two-year package worth $325,000 annually--the same money being paid San Diego running backs Tim Spencer and Gary Anderson.

The Chargers reportedly have proposed a salary of $225,000 for this year and $250,000 for 1987. George Kickliter, James’ said he is considering a holdout only as a last resort if no deal is struck by next Friday’s reporting date for veterans.

Spanos doesn’t think it will come to that. “I’m surprised at any conversation about a holdout,” he said. “Lionel doesn’t seem like that type of person.”

McGee, who also made $90,000 last year, will report to camp on time, even if no new contract is agreed upon, said his agent, Frank Bauer.

Charger Notes After waiving three players, Steve Collier, Fred Crutcher and Kevin Lilly, the Chargers were left with 71 in camp as they prepare to put on pads today.