Benson, Chargers to Take Things Year at a Time : Linebacker Wanted Long-Term Deal, but Ends Holdout With 1-Year Contract

Linebacker Thomas Benson agreed to sign a Charger contract Tuesday, because he didn’t want to sit out the season.

It was a one-year deal, worth about $230,000. Benson’s agent, Steve Feldman, previously said he wanted a multi-year deal worth much more, but the Chargers didn’t cooperate. Steve Ortmayer, director of football operations, said he thought Benson--who started all 16 games last season--still needed to prove himself.

“I think Benson starts working on next year’s contract today,” Ortmayer said Tuesday.

In other words, the two sides thought it was best that Benson sign now and let his performance dictate what happens next season.

“In order for them to be certain (about a long-term contract), and in order for us to be certain, we need another year,” Feldman said. “I think Thomas Benson is going to show he’s as good as he thinks he is and his teammates think he is. Another solid year can only make a longer term deal easier to arrive at.”

Benson might play in Sunday’s season opener at Kansas City, Coach Al Saunders said. Benson said he has been running and lifting weights on his own and is in good shape. The coaches, meanwhile, want to see how he does in today’s practice.

The Chargers don’t have to activate him right away. Because he missed all of training camp, Benson can get a two-week exemption to get in shape, and the Chargers don’t have to count him among the 45 on their roster.

Saunders has maintained that the team needs all of its inside linebackers. Benson finished fourth on the team with 90 tackles, including five sacks and 52 yards in losses.

The Chargers had moved Andy Hawkins from outside linebacker into Benson’s spot. But asked Tuesday who would start at his old spot, Benson said: “Hopefully me. I’m not trying to discredit the other guys . . . but in my mind, I know I’m better. And in the players’ minds, I think they know also.”

For a while, Benson thought he might have to watch the Chargers on television.

“I just didn’t want to sit out,” he said. “I’m just glad they still want me to play for them.”

In other moves Tuesday, the Chargers traded guard Jeff Walker--a third-round pick in 1986--to the Rams for an undisclosed draft pick; placed tight end Rod Bernstine--this year’s No. 1 pick--on the injured reserve list; re-signed guard/tackle Broderick Thompson, who had been waived the day before, and waived free safety Allan Durden and running back Frank Middleton, both of whom had been on the injured reserve list.

Also, they ruled guard James FitzPatrick out of Sunday’s game because of an infected knee. FitzPatrick, according to a team spokesman, might have the beginnings of a staph infection and is expected to miss two weeks.

Walker has a bad knee that he injured in training camp, but that didn’t stop the Rams from acquiring him and placing him immediately on their injured reserve list. He’s known as a strong run blocker, as well as a competent special teams player. Last year, he blocked three field goals and one extra point.

The Chargers, who had placed him on the injured reserve list Monday, didn’t think he was versatile enough. Players such as Ken Dallafior and Thompson could play two positions, and Walker couldn’t.

To make room on the roster for Thompson, Bernstine went on the injured list, which is not exactly the way he wanted to begin his pro career.

“It’s one of those injuries where I probably could be back in two weeks, but there’s no use rushing it,” Bernstine said. “I have mixed feelings about it, but you’ve got to look at it realistically. I’d rather be out there 100% healthy than cause more damage.”

Thompson, meanwhile, said he was demoralized when he was cut Monday, but he decided to “stick around for a few days.” Then, the Chargers called him back.

“Getting cut was a nightmare,” he said. “I hate even talking about it.”