NFL PLAYERS STRIKE: DAY 10 : Chargers : Neuheisel Is a Bit Rusty but Will Start on Sunday

Quarterback Rick Neuheisel didn’t have to cross a picket line Thursday because there wasn’t one.

Striking Chargers were off taping a rap video, so Neuheisel, who signed a contract Thursday morning, was spared the expected abuse.

“I was kind of looking around, waiting for (the name-calling) to come,” Neuheisel said. “Listen, I’m not going to shy away from it. I’m here to play football.”

Coach Al Saunders said Neuheisel looked rusty in practice but should start Sunday’s game in Cincinnati.

Saunders also announced the signing of 6-foot 5-inch defensive end Jim Stuckey, who was released during training camp. The Chargers waived six players Thursday: wide receiver Paul Day of Arizona State, tight ends Cecil Williams of Sacramento State and Curt Arons of Arizona State, guard/tackle Doug Gandy of Northern Arizona, cornerback Todd Avery of Illinois and quarterback Eric Thomson of Arizona.

Thomson, a law student at the University of San Diego, became expendable when Neuheisel, a law student at USC, arrived. In fact, Neuheisel said he is probably giving up altogether on this semester of school. He said he already paid the semester’s tuition, $6,800, but the Chargers have agreed to reimburse part of that.

Charger Notes

Steve Ortmayer, director of football operations, said he is staying in touch with quarterback Tom Flick, who was cut by the Chargers during training camp. Even though Rick Neuheisel signed a Charger contract Thursday, Flick says he is thinking about joining the team. . . . Wes Chandler, Charger players’ representative, said a rally is planned at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium parking lot Saturday morning. He invited the public to join the players.