Spanos Banks on Linebacker Showing Up

Owner Alex Spanos Thursday dismissed speculation that linebacker Chip Banks, obtained in a Tuesday trade with the Cleveland Browns, may not report to the Chargers.

“I am really not concerned at all,” Spanos said in response to a question about the possibility that the All-Pro linebacker may refuse to play for the Chargers.

Banks was acquired by the Chargers as the centerpiece of a trade that involved a swap of first- and second-round draft choices by Cleveland and San Diego.

Banks was quoted in the San Diego Union as saying he didn’t know if he would report to the Chargers. He said he was discussing his plans with his agent, Harold Daniels. Neither player nor agent returned phone calls Thursday.

There is a precedent for Banks refusing to report to a team that obtained him in a trade. Two years ago, he was sent to Buffalo as part of a deal that enabled the Browns to obtain quarterback Bernie Kosar. Banks refused to report and Cleveland had to give up a No. 1 pick to complete the deal.

Spanos, however, seemed unworried, saying, “We understand he’s elated (about the trade). We understand he’s happy to be returning to the West Coast (he played college football at USC). I think he was just shocked to find out he had been traded.”

The Chargers reportedly received a measure of protection--an unspecified 1988 draft pick--in the event that Banks didn’t show up.

Spanos declined to comment, saying it was premature to discuss the compensation issue.