Spanos Spars With Fouts; Trade Possible

LA JOLLA — Dan Fouts, one of the most effective quarterbacks in National Football League history and the undisputed leader of the San Diego Chargers for the last 14 seasons, may be leaving the team.

Team owner and president Alex Spanos said Wednesday, in a brief statement, that the Chargers have tried and failed to reach a contract agreement with Fouts and now are seeking to trade the 36-year-old veteran.

Fouts said late Wednesday night that he didn’t know anything about the statement.

“We are not negotiating. We have had discussions about the future,” Fouts said. “I don’t want to be traded. I want to play for the San Diego Chargers and Mr. Spanos, and I intend to. That’s why I’m here.”

Fouts has been rehabilitating a strained back during training camp. He has publicly stated that he has not asked to be traded and has not asked for any changes in the remainder of his contract.

Spanos’ statement said that Fouts had requested “additional compensation” to continue playing. According to the statement, Spanos offered Fouts $1 million to play this year, which was turned down by Fouts and his agent, Howard Slusher.

The final line of the single-paragraph statement read:

“Since the offer was not satisfactory to Dan, I feel our only alternative is to seek a possible trade for Dan to a team that will satisfy his demands.”

Spanos, reached at his hotel in New York, said he made the $1 million offer to Fouts last week when he met with him. He refused to elaborate on the quarterback’s contract requests or on any plans for a trade.

“The statement speaks for itself,” Spanos said. “If you have any questions, you should talk to Dan.”

Spanos said he would be back in California by Friday and hoped to have made progress in the situation by that time. He did say that Fouts would be welcome to play with the team under the terms of his current contract.

Fouts, second only to Fran Tarkenton in career completions, is in the fifth year of a six-year guaranteed contract. He will receive a base pay of $750,000 this year and in 1988.

“I’m here in camp,” Fouts said last night at 10:15 p.m. “I did not walk out. I don’t want to comment on what Mr. Spanos said. That’s what he said. That’s fine with me.”

Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations, who would conduct any trade negotiations on behalf of the team, refused to elaborate on Spanos’ brief statement.

“I think it is very clear,” Ortmayer said. “The implication is that we will pursue the avenues that we need to.”

Slusher could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

On Aug. 1, when he appeared at training camp, Fouts expressed enthusiasm at playing another season with the Chargers. He said he planned to play out the remaining two years of his contract.

The reaction to the statement in training camp, where the team is preparing for the first exhibition game of the season Saturday against Dallas, was one of surprise and concern.

Head coach Al Saunders said he had not been told of the statement before it was released.

“I hope to see Fouts tomorrow at camp,” Saunders said. “I deal with the players. It is not my role to make any statements about contractual situations.”

Ed White, the team’s offensive line coach and one of Fouts’ closest friends on the team, said he had believed Fouts’ problem was a medical one and had never been led to believe there were contractual difficulties.

“It’s hard for a career to end on a positive note in this game,” White said. “But I was hoping his career wouldn’t end on this note.”

Fouts’ retirement has been a matter of speculation for the last few years. Fouts, who has 40,425 career passing yards, has missed 15 games in the past four seasons because of various injuries, including knee, groin and shoulder.

On Oct. 19, 1986, against Kansas City, Fouts suffered a concussion and missed the next three games. His physical condition was cause for concern and rumors during the off-season, and Fouts entered training camp with a strained lower back.

But Wednesday night the general sentiment among players was that the battered quarterback would still be an effective team leader.

“If he were to depart from this ballclub it would be a disaster,” said veteran wide receiver Wes Chandler. “Just his presence alone is an inspiration and a guidance to the young players.”

“I’m sorry I had an opportunity to read that statement,” Chandler said. “It really dampens my spirit.”

Other players, such as Mark Herrmann--the immediate heir apparent to Fouts’ starting position--took a businesslike attitude about the development.

“I can’t concern myself with things I can’t control,” Herrmann said.

“They’ll trade anyone,” said tight end Kellen Winslow. “This is a business. Retirement is always an alternative.”

Fouts joined the Chargers in 1973 as a third-round draft choice out of University of Oregon. In his 14 years with the Chargers, the six-time Pro Bowl player has set 34 club records and eight league records, including a record for 48-300 yard passing games and six-400 yard games.