Chargers’ Benirschke Has Plenty of Competition

With three exhibition games before the season begins, Charger Coach Al Saunders said he is undecided on a placekicker.

In Saturday’s 29-0 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, veteran Rolf Benirschke kicked extra points (2 for 3); Vince Abbott (2 for 2) and Jeff Gaffney (1 for 2) handled the field goal duties.

Gaffney missed his first attempt, a 28-yarder with three minutes to play in the second period, but hit a 47-yarder on the Chargers’ next possession. Abbott hit a 44-yarder and a 39-yarder.

Benirschke, who struggled last season, is the club’s leading career scorer with 766 points. Saunders said Benirschke remains the leading candidate.

“It’s my feeling that the incumbent in any situation is the incumbent and he has to be beaten out significantly,” Saunders said.

“I don’t think that one game would indicate a necessity for a change. But it shows that Abbott has some ability to kick the ball in pressure situations. We will continue to monitor that in the next three games and see what happens.”

Saturday night, quarterback Dan Fouts said he was surprised that he had not passed the team physical.

But Steve Ortmayer, Charger director of football operations, said Sunday, “How can he think he passed the physical when he’s the guy who said he couldn’t go out on the field?”

Ortmayer also said there has been no progress with Fouts’ situation concerning his two-year, $750,000 contract. Saturday night, Fouts said he had sent the phone number of his agent, Howard Slusher, to Ortmayer Saturday by messenger.

Sunday, Ortmayer declined to comment on whether he has contacted Slusher.

Charger Notes

Charger running back Gary Anderson is expected to return to practice by the end of the week, Coach Al Saunders said. Anderson, however, will not play in Sunday’s game against the Rams and is not expected to play Aug. 27 in San Francisco.

“He’s like fine china,” Saunders said. “You don’t want to drop him on the floor.”