EARLY TO RISE? : Chargers Picture Impact by Rookie Who’s Also an Artist

SAN DIEGO — Quinn Early’s hands must be very confused.

On the Chargers’ practice field, the rookie receiver treats them shamefully. They get jammed and smashed and twisted while snagging passes and fending off defensive backs.

Then, after practice, he calls on these abused appendages to suddenly switch gears and softly, smoothly put paint to canvas. An NFL wide receiver by day, an aspiring artist by delight. Physical trauma on the one hand, deft dexterity on the other. You have to hand it to his hands, they’re versatile.

This juggling of football and art would seem an odd mix, but Early says it is only his hands that seem to be in conflict. For the rest of him--his body and soul--the two pursuits are mutually beneficial.

“Most people look at an artist and a football player and see opposites,” Early said. “But, really, I don’t. It’s just two things I love to do.

“My art helps me relax when I’m not playing football. It helps me take my mind off things. And I mix my football with my art; I do a lot of sports action art.”

For Early, there has been little time for art or relaxation recently. Since last week, he and other Charger hopefuls have been practicing twice daily, and the Early reviews have been positive.

“He’s come in and impressed from the first day,” said Jerry Rhome, the Chargers’ offensive coordinator. “He’s very coachable, he learns quickly, and he gets better and better.”

The Chargers expect Early, a third-round draft pick from Iowa; Anthony Miller, the team’s first-round selection, and Jamie Holland, a second-year receiver, to form a fleet receiving triumvirate.

In Early, who is 6-feet tall and weighs 188 pounds, the Chargers have a bright, well-spoken man who acts older than his 23 years.

“He doesn’t seem like a rookie, does he?” Rhome said. “He seems very mature and confident. Whatever the situation, it doesn’t bother him.”

That might be partially because of the responsibility he had to carry in his teen-age years.

The youngest of three boys, Early grew up in Great Neck, N.Y. His parents divorced when he was 12, and with his older brothers already in college, home consisted of just Quinn and his mother, Ann. Early did what he could around the house, and his mother tried to make ends meet while beginning work on a college degree of her own. They were far from poor, but times occasionally were tough. Ann Early now has her doctorate in psychology and works as a psychotherapist in New York.

Early began playing football at age 7, but his first love was art.

“When I was little, I used to do everything my brother Derrick did,” Early said. “He started drawing, and so I did, too. I was probably about 4. You know, with crayons and stuff. I just stuck with it. I love it.”

Early drew illustrations of college teammates for last year’s Iowa football media guide. Recently, he was commissioned to paint a montage of the bowl games Iowa has played under Coach Hayden Fry. He said a limited-edition lithograph will be produced and sold to Iowa alumni and fans. He said that after he finishes playing football, he hopes to carve out a career in commercial art.

Early was an all-conference football player in high school but received more interest from college recruiters in track. He went 48-feet 4-inches in the triple jump, 23-11 in the long jump and 6-6 in the high jump.

But football scouts didn’t overlook him. He visited Iowa, Syracuse, Boston College and Penn State. Iowa’s Midwest charm won him over.

“When I went out there, I didn’t know what to expect when I got off the plane,” he said. “I pictured a schoolhouse in a cornfield. But I got there, and the people were great, the facilities were nice, and they have a great art program there. I just decided to go there. I had a great career and made a lot of good friends.”

He redshirted the 1983 season and caught four passes as a freshman in ’84 and 17 more in ’85. His junior season was cut in half by a preseason shoulder injury, but he still finished with 22 receptions and a Big Ten-leading average of 22.8 yards per catch.

As a senior, he caught 61 passes for 978 yards (16.0 average) and 10 touchdowns.

Throughout his college career, Early also long jumped for the Hawkeye track team, and he won the Big Ten indoor and outdoor titles in 1986. At one time, he planned to compete in the 1988 U.S. Olympic track and field trials, which ended Saturday in Indianapolis, but he decided in December to concentrate on pro football.

The Chargers were surprised that he was available in the third round of the draft, and although they already had selected a speed receiver in Miller, they never hesitated in taking Early, too.

“Quinn Early is the kind of guy who you tell one time to do something, and he does it,” said Charlie Joiner, the Chargers’ receivers coach. “And he doesn’t forget.

“He’s got speed, he’s got hands and he runs very good routes. It’s just a matter of learning how to recognize defenses and run routes against the better cornerbacks in the league.”

Early, who is projected as the primary possession receiver at flanker, says he’s satisfied with his progress.

“I’ve been working really hard, just trying to learn the offense,” he said. “Things are coming along. I’m concentrating on catching the ball and doing all the things expected of me. I’m just trying to improve every day.

“I’d like to start; everyone wants to start. But I’m just looking to get better and improve. I just want to contribute to the team.”

That seems likely, as long as the Chargers can get the ball into his hands.