Chargers : Italian Lineman, Six Others Cut
It’s back to the Milano Rhinos.
Francesco Guizzetti, the Italian defensive lineman who spent five days at the Charger training camp, had his National Football League visa revoked Thursday.
Before Thursday’s scrimmage against the Los Angeles Rams, the Chargers released Guizzetti and six other players.
Four offensive players were released: Eddie Goodlow, a running back from Central Oklahoma; Stephon Scriber, a fullback from Maryland; Tony Champion, a wide receiver from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and Leonard Charlton, a tight end from Grambling.
Defensively, in addition to Guizzetti, two inside linebackers, Rick Spielman from Southern Illinois and James Hall from Northwestern Louisiana, were released.
Coach Al Saunders wished Guizzetti well and said he thought the Italian player had learned something from his brief stint in the NFL.
“He was (Italy’s) star player before,” Saunders said. “When he goes back there, they’ll think they’ve got Howie Long.”
Both Saunders and his Ram counterpart John Robinson called Thursday’s scrimmage at UC San Diego a good exercise for their young players.
“The best thing for a young team to do is play the game of football,” Saunders said. “People are put in situations and we see how they perform.”
The scrimmage alternated between 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 matchups. In the latter situation, the Chargers stayed on offense because the Rams were short of healthy offensive linemen.
Four of the six quarterbacks on the roster were given a chance to throw the ball. Starter Dan Fouts is expected to make his first appearance at camp tomorrow, and No. 2 man Mark Herrmann apparently doesn’t need to prove himself. Of the rest of the pack, former UCLA and USFL quarterback Rick Neuheisel out-performed Tom Flick, Mike Moroski and fourth-round draft choice Mark Vlasic from Iowa. Neuheisel completed 10 of 13 pass attempts for 124 yards total in both scrimmages.
“He never had a third-down situation,” Saunders said of Neuheisel. “He showed he has the spark to lead a team.”
Another offensive standout was running back Todd Spencer, a former Pittsburgh Steeler out of USC. “He showed more than he’s shown us before,” Saunders said.
Of Jamie Holland, the wide receiver from Ohio State chosen in the seventh round, Saunders said: “We know he has speed. Today he showed an aggressive feel for the ball.”
On the defense, Saunders praised the play of Nelson Jones, the team’s fifth-round draft choice. The cornerback out of North Carolina State had the team’s only interception. Saunders also noted the play of defensive back Ted Watts, formerly with the Raiders and the Giants.
The only serious injury of the day was to Ram nose tackle James Byrne, who went down with a knee injury.
A few hundred fans showed up to watch the scrimmage, causing a minor traffic jam.
Thursday morning’s cuts bring the total number of players on the Chargers’ roster to 111, including the six players still unsigned.
Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations, said he had “put to bed” negotiations with center Don Macek and center/guard Dennis McKnight for the evening, but would work Thursday night on signing first-round draft choice Rod Bernstine, inside linebacker Thomas Benson and outside linebacker Billy Ray Smith.
“And if you can find Earl (Wilson), I’ll work on him tonight,” Ortmayer said.
Nose tackle Chuck Ehin is still technically unsigned, but negotiations are complete and Ortmayer expects Ehin to report to camp tomorrow.
Of the other negotiations, Ortmayer said that late signings are “part of life these days. Sometimes negotiations can’t take place until the 11th hour.” Ortmayer indicated that tomorrow, the day veterans are to report to camp, is the 11th hour.
Leslie O’Neal, last year’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, watched the scrimmage from the sidelines. Below the edge of his shorts stretched a long, straight scar from the surgery he underwent last December. But O’Neal said he isn’t pushing his rehabilitation.
“I’m not waiting around setting dates,” the defensive end said. “It takes time. It’s useless to try to predict (when he’ll play again). All it is is depressing.”
But O’Neal, who will go on the team’s physically-unable-to-perform list after Saturday morning’s physicals, said the prognosis after last week’s minor surgery is relatively optimistic. “The doctor said it feels like a knee again,” he said. “It didn’t for a while.”
Charger Notes
Unsigned veteran Billy Ray Smith also watched Thursday’s practice and seemed unconcerned about his contract. “It’s just a timing deal,” he said. “They got a late start so they’re late getting (the contract) resolved.” . . . Steve Ortmayer said the Chargers have no plans to institute voluntary testing for AIDS, unlike several other NFL teams. . . . The Chargers will not practice today but all players are expected to show up by 4:30 p.m. for picture day.