Chargers Raid the Raiders : Ortmayer Is Named Team’s Director of Football Operations

Charger owner Alex Spanos ventured into the lair of the archrival Raiders and came away with one of Al Davis’ top aides, hiring Steve Ortmayer as director of football operations Tuesday.

Ortmayer apparently will rank with Coach Al Saunders as Spanos’ most trusted and powerful aides.

“He runs the entire operation,” Spanos said. “He will manage for me and take some pressure off me. He reports to me, of course, but he’s the boss man. He’s been in a position like this for nine years with the Raiders, so he doesn’t come without experience.”

Spanos used very similar words to describe the powers of Saunders, who recently signed a five-year contract. “It’s his responsibility and he has the authority to make the changes he wants,” Spanos had said. “He’s the boss. He’s in charge of the football operation.”

Saunders was traveling and unavailable for comment, but a team source defined the separation of powers this way: “Al has the final word on who plays and coaches. Steve is in charge of scouting, trades and waivers. Alex makes the final decision in the case of any impasse, but I don’t think there is likely to be one. One man can’t overrule the other, let’s put it that way.”

To all appearances, then, it was onward and upward, from the Raiders to the Chargers, for Ortmayer, and so what if his 7-year-old son was confused about which team to root for in 1987.

“It was an emotional change, an overnight change from the silver and black to the blue and gold,” said Ortmayer.

Ortmayer, 42, who had been with the Raiders since 1978, will have the same title here, director of football operations, that he had in Los Angeles.

But there will be differences. He won’t coach special teams, as he had done with the Raiders, and he apparently will have more overall clout with the owner.

It was an unusual move, in that the Raiders and Chargers are not noted for having an amicable relationship.

“With the Raiders, we always felt it was the greatest rivalry in the history of the National Football League,” Ortmayer said. “Particularly when we played in San Diego, it was never a comfortable experience for the Raiders.”

Trying to explain it to his son was challenging.

“His whole life has been oriented to the Raiders,” Ortmayer said. “When he asked me, ‘Who do we want to win?’ I told him, ‘Well, that’s clear. The blue and gold.’ ”

It also was clear that, even if the teams and their fans don’t like each other, there is a muted, but undeniable, respect between the organizations.

Spanos wasn’t going to steal a valued member of the Raiders front office without consulting Davis. Perhaps more than any other owner, Spanos likes and respects Davis, whom he regards as the smartest man in pro football history.

Spanos said he sought and received the permission of Davis before talking to Ortmayer.

“I don’t think Al wanted to lose him, but he was pleased for Steve,” Spanos said.

That view was seconded by Al LoCasale, Raiders executive assistant.

“Steve has the blessing of Al Davis,” he said. “We like to see our people who have earned it move up and grow. It helps you attract quality people when someone you have nurtured moves out on his own and does well. His areas of responsibility (in San Diego) are going to be more expansive and his powers will be broader and more final.”

Ortmayer’s job sounds a lot like a general manager’s--overseeing the scouting operation, handling players’ contracts and negotiating trades. He also will be responsible for equipment, plus the medical and video departments.

Technically, however, he is not a general manager. The football side is separated from the business aspects, according to Ortmayer. A traditional general manager oversees both areas.

Ortmayer will share power with Saunders and scouting director Ron Nay.

Clearly, his job will have a different feel than it did under Davis.

“In the Raider organization, Al Davis is the general manager,” Ortmayer said. “He is a very everyday, hands-on owner. In the draft, for example, Al Davis makes the decisions. He is the owner, general partner and general manager.”

Ortmayer learned a lot from Davis.

“I learned how to win,” he said.

“He better have said that,” LoCasale said. “He wasn’t paid to play; he was paid to win. We shared two world championships, 1980 and 1983. It’s almost being there when your children are born, which is the only feeling I would rank above winning the Super Bowl.”

Ortmayer thinks the Chargers are closer to the Super Bowl than their 4-12 record of 1986 would suggest.

“I never would have given a thought to leaving the Raiders if I didn’t believe in the man at the top of this organization,” Ortmayer said.

He hasn’t had a chance to meet Saunders, but will spend the rest of the week with him in Indianapolis at the National Football League’s annual testing program for college players.

“I think this team is very, very close to winning,” Ortmayer said. “Al got them untracked in the second half of the year and had them headed in a definite direction. He established an impetus on defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got ourselves righted real quickly.”

Although some around the NFL feel there was a country club atmosphere under ex-coach Don Coryell, who resigned at midseason, Ortmayer said: “It’s a natural perception of football people who look at an offensive-oriented team and think it’s not as tough as a defensive-oriented team. But I’m not sure it’s the right perception. It was not the perception of the Raiders organization.”

Ortmayer did his best to dodge the question of whether the Raiders themselves have gone a bit soft, or gone Hollywood, as some have charged.

“They have a number of players who are close to or are the best at their positions, and are paid accordingly,” he said. “But I believe the Raiders are going to remain tough and tough-minded.”

LoCasale said it is undecided whether to hire one or two men to replace Ortmayer.

“We may move some people around,” he said. “It’s kind of exciting when you have changes. You can’t ever let yourself get in the comfort zone.”