Fouts Is Cleared to Play Football : Quarterback Hand-Delivers Doctor’s Approval to Chargers

Six doctor visits later, Charger quarterback Dan Fouts was cleared Wednesday to play football.

The sixth and final visit came Wednesday when Fouts drove to Torrance and saw Dr. Don Borden, a back specialist and close friend of Fouts’ agent, Howard Slusher.

Borden wrote a letter to the Chargers, saying Fouts was fit. Fouts drove back, hand-delivered the letter to Steve Ortmayer, director of football operations, and said he’d be willing to play for his current $750,000 contract.

Ortmayer relayed this to owner Alex Spanos, who later said: “Everything has just worked out beautiful.”

Fouts practiced Wednesday for the first time this season and showed a lot of rust, according to Coach Al Saunders. But, apparently, he is no longer trade bait.

“He’s our QB,” Ortmayer said.

One week ago, it wasn’t so clear. Spanos said that Fouts wanted to renegotiate his contract and that Fouts had turned down a $1-million offer for 1987. Spanos then said he had no other choice but to trade the 36-year-old Fouts, who had played 13 seasons in San Diego.

And later, Spanos said the only way Fouts could return was if he agreed to play for his original 1987 contract worth $750,000.

The Chargers also were claiming that Fouts had failed his physical because of his sore lower back. Fouts thought he had passed the physical--taken July 31--and said he has had six separate doctor visits in the last two weeks to identify the back problem.

One of those visits was to Charger physician E. Lee Rice Tuesday. And after Borden gave him a clean bill of health, all Fouts had to do was tell Spanos or Ortmayer he would play under his current contract. When he did that, he could practice.

“(Fouts) had his meeting with Steve (Ortmayer), and he has passed his physicals and he’s on the field where he belongs,” Spanos said. “I’m real pleased he’s there (practicing). And, listen, he’s going to play for his contract, and I can’t tell you how happy I am. Listen, our ballclub is put together, and that’s all I’ve been waiting for.”

Fouts said: “The important thing to me is that I’m physically able to play and able to prepare again for the season. The biggest thing in my mind was getting healthy. And with all the doctors I’ve seen, I feel I’m healthy.”

On the outside, everything appears fine, but it may not be. Spanos was in town to watch Wednesday’s practice, but he and Fouts did not speak to each other.

And when told Spanos thought everything was rosy again, Fouts said: “Amazing.”

Spanos, though, refused to believe there was lingering bitterness.

“Hey, that’s history,” he said. “This is today. You’re talking about something that happened in the last two weeks. That’s behind us. Dan’s happy. I’m more than pleased the man’s on the field. Hey, we agreed everything’s just fine. Let’s go watch him practice.”

Spanos also said he didn’t expect to hear again from Slusher, Fouts’ agent.

“There should be none,” Spanos said when asked if contract negotiations might continue. “I’ve been assured that there won’t be.”

Fouts--working second behind quarterback Mark Herrmann during practice--participated in 7-on-7 passing drills Wednesday, but did not do any of the 11-on-11 contact drills. Saunders said he still didn’t know when Fouts would be ready to play in a game.

“(Fouts) still has a back situation we’re concerned about,” Saunders said. “And the thing has been to bring him along gradually. I don’t know if we can anticipate him playing a game yet.”

Of the entire ordeal, Saunders said: “I think this whole thing would have been a distraction for anybody. Anytime a player’s not on the field, it’s a distraction.”