Fusina Gets Call, and Ferragamo Gets Waived

Chuck Fusina’s phone finally rang, and it was the Green Bay Packers calling.

The same call may have ended Vince Ferragamo’s football career.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pretty excited about it,” Fusina said after signing a quick contract and going through his first practice with the Packers Thursday, while Ferragamo was sent packing.

For now, the Fusinas will ignore the Packers’ 0-4 record and try to take advantage of the job opportunity. Fusina will be Randy Wright’s backup for this week’s home game against Cincinnati--Vince Ferragamo was waived Thursday--but it seems only a matter of time before Fusina takes over.

He has been out of work since the United States Football League went under last summer and left him with three years remaining on a worthless contract with the Baltimore Stars.

Many people thought that a little strange, since Fusina led the Stars to three USFL title games, winning two. But even Fusina’s old Star coach, Jim Mora, did not summon him to his new team in New Orleans despite quarterback woes of his own.

Fusina, 29, tried out Tuesday, flew home to pick up some clothes then returned Wednesday night. The Packers also tried out former Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie on Tuesday, but Fusina was in and out of town before Flutie arrived.

The Packers would have to acquire Flutie’s rights from the Rams before they could sign him.

Fusina told reporters in Green Bay Thursday: “(The Packers) must have some confidence in me, and I appreciate that. I wanted the opportunity to play somewhere, and if I didn’t it would have been OK. But, truthfully, my ego was a little hurt.”

Coach Forrest Gregg said: “We liked what we saw (in the tryout). He’s a veteran. He’s been there. He’s done the job. He knows what he’s doing.”

The Packers probably will look to Fusina to salvage their season, but there are more immediate concerns, the quarterback said.

“The pressure I feel is to learn as much as possible in a short time,” he said. “Sure, I’ll be nervous if I get out there, but that’s only natural.”

Meanwhile, Ferragamo, 32, is a free agent again. A product of Banning High School in Wilmington, he previously played for Cal, Nebraska, the Rams, the Montreal Alouettes in Canada, the Rams again and Buffalo.

Ferragamo told Jim Egle of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. You’re 32 years old, you just get released, so it’s probably time to think about doing something else.

“I’ll probably just do something in the business field back in California.”