Given the Chance, Flick Fires Up the Chargers : Quarterback Makes a Strong Impression in a Wild Victory Over the Eagles

San Diego Charger quarterback Tom Flick likened Saturday’s exhibition game against the Philadelphia Eagles to a boxing match. And in his own way, so did Charger Coach Don Coryell.

“It was like being in a boxing match,” said Flick, who brought the Chargers back in the fourth quarter with three touchdown passes in a 45-38 victory. Flick also helped write the Chargers into the unofficial record books with 14 completions in 21 attempts for 287 yards and four touchdowns, all in the second half.

The Chargers totaled 598 yards passing, more than the NFL regular season record. But since it came in an exhibition game, the yards can not be an official record.

Flick may also have written himself onto the Charger roster.

“The best thing I liked about him is he came back after that bad interception and after the fumble,” said Coryell. “He got off the deck and won the ballgame, along with a few other people. He took himself up off the deck.”

Coryell has said that if the Chargers carried a third quarterback to back up Dan Fouts and Mark Herrmann, it would have to be someone who could contribute and come in and win games. Flick proved Saturday he could do that, but Coryell was not ready to make any commitments after a one-night stand.

Saturday looked as if it may have been Flick’s last stand after he took over a 17-13 Charger lead and saw it disappear.

For a while Flick and the Chargers were on the verge of losing after the Eagles scored their second touchdown after turnovers by the San Diego quarterback. An interception by Flick led to a touchdown early in the third quarter to make the score 19-17 in favor of the Eagles. And a fumble on the Eagle 29 led to another Philadelphia score and a 32-24 Eagle lead early in the fourth period.

“The darndest thing is I can’t remember a lot,” said Flick. “When I play good, everything is a reaction and tonight it was all reaction.”

The Chargers are the fourth team Flick has played for in four seasons in the NFL.

Flick was drafted by Washington in the third round in 1980. He was 13 of 27 for 143 yards and no touchdowns as a rookie. But the Redskins traded Flick to New England in 1982 and he played in just one game, spending a large part of the season with an injured elbow.

He was released by the Patriots in 1983 and signed by Cleveland as a free agent in 1984 and played in one game for the Browns. The Chargers signed him as a free agent this year.

Until Saturday, Flick’s pro career has been lackluster, to say the least. He has passed for 145 yards and no touchdowns on 14-of-33 passing in three seasons.

This from a player who led the University of Washington Huskies to the Pacific 10 title in 1980 and was named the Player of the Year that same season. His career statistics in college were an impressive 252 of 418 for 3,171 yards and 24 touchdowns and he set a school record for completion percentage with 60.3.

“I wouldn’t trade the last four years for anything,” said Flick. “It’s been a tough road, but the tough road is usually the best road.” Flick should know. He even had trouble remembering when he had such a spectacular game. After being asked numerous times when was the last time he threw four touchdown passes or more than 287 yards, he paused and said, “I can’t remember.”