Sound Familiar? Redden Wants Trade Unless He Plays More

Barry Redden, former Ram malcontent, is now a San Diego Charger malcontent.

The running back, who came from the Rams in a summer trade that cost the Chargers two high draft picks and running back Buford McGee, said he has informally requested another trade. He said he will make the request official if his role on the team does not change.

That role is currently Invisible Man. Redden, thought to be starting material, was on the second string by the end of training camp and was out of the Charger picture by December. For the season, he carried the ball 11 times for 36 yards. He used to carry it nearly that much every game for the Rams, and that was when the other running back was Eric Dickerson.

Redden, talking to reporters for the first time since training camp, said this week that he had requested a trade earlier in the season during a discussion with Coach Al Saunders.

“I told them I didn’t want to stay here if I have to sit the bench,” Redden said. “Al asked me to be quiet about it and wait until the end of the season, and if I still didn’t want to be here, he would do everything in his power to move me.”

Last Tuesday, two days after a 24-0 loss to the Denver Broncos ended the Chargers’ season, Redden and Saunders met again. Redden says they will meet once more this winter before anything becomes formal.

“We have discussed things, and I am waiting for a response,” said Redden, a six-year National Football League veteran. “It is like, the ball is in their court.”

Saunders has been unavailable for comment. Steve Ortmayer, Charger director of football operations, said he had no idea what Redden was talking about.

“Redden has not said anything to me,” Ortmayer said. “Anything you ask me about this is a hypothetical question, because I don’t know anything about it.”

But Ortmayer did say that Redden “is another piece in a puzzle of things that all have to be discussed.” He added, “I am highly disappointed in the amount of production gotten in that trade.”

Redden, the team’s seventh-highest-paid player who has one year remaining on a $325,000 contract, prefers other adjectives.

“I’m extremely frustrated, angry,” he said. “It (this past season) was a living nightmare. I should not sit on anyone’s bench, no matter who they are.”

If this sounds familiar, check with the Rams. Weary of playing behind Dickerson, Redden asked to be traded during the 1986 season. On June 9 last year, he landed in San Diego, feeling happy and free.

“It felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted from my shoulders,” he said at the time. “I’m a pretty happy young man. At least now I’ll get an opportunity to do what I always wanted to do, and that’s run the ball.”

Not so fast. He arrived at training camp and found himself in a battle with Tim Spencer, another power fullback who had gained 350 yards in 90 carries (3.5 average) for the Chargers in 1986. They were given equal time during the exhibition season. Redden carried the ball 28 times. Spencer carried it 27.

But Spencer gained 91 yards and had 1 touchdown. Redden gained 51 yards and did not have a touchdown. Spencer clinched the job by catching 12 passes for 102 yards. Redden caught 4 for 50 yards.

Redden said he is not a receiver and did not know the club wanted a receiver. He said, looking back, he didn’t know a lot of things about this team.

“I’m a running back, I don’t come out of the backfield for 60-70 passes a year,” he said. “My speciality is the running game, the power game, that’s what I do best. I hammer people for three or four quarters until they submit. That’s why I thought they traded for me. I thought they were going to that type of game.

“But I get here and find out they aren’t. And I’ve been playing that way for five years. it’s hard to change your offensive philosophy overnight.”

As Redden settled on the bench and watched the Chargers flounder with the NFL’s second-worst rushing offense and the second-fewest attempts, things only became more difficult.

“You do take it personally,” he said. “It is difficult for this team to turn around from 4-12 and win the division without a balanced attack. I thought we’d make the playoffs, but then I knew it would catch up with us. It always catches up with you.”

So Redden is mad. What if the Chargers do not promise him more playing time and do not attempt to trade him?

“It is inconceivable that they would want to keep someone where they are unhappy,” he said. “Hey, L.A. (the Rams) felt that way.”