Seeking and Freeing Personnel Keeps Ortmayer’s Days Filled

Steve Ortmayer is up to his elbows in alligators.

The Chargers’ director of football operations was reportedly on his way to Indianapolis Thursday to scout college seniors at the national combine workouts. This was one day after he had left 25 players off a list of 37 he had to submit to the league office. The lists of protected players were an attempt by the NFL to appease a federal judge in a lawsuit filed by the players’ association over free agency, among other things.

And, oh yes, Ortmayer hopes to pick a head coach by early next week.

He spoke with leading candidate Mike White Thursday and told White his busy schedule will probably prohibit him from reaching a decision until Monday, the day after he returns from Indianapolis.

“I guess you’ve just got to be patient,” White said. “But he (Ortmayer) has been very straightforward on this. I really don’t have a gut feeling how it’s going to go.”

The other top candidates are Redskin assistant Dan Henning, Charger defensive coordinator Ron Lynn and Johnny Roland, Chicago’s running backs coach. All three are also in Indianapolis evaluating college talent for their teams. White is waiting at home in Newport Beach.

The players Ortmayer left unprotected included 16 who started at least one game in 1988. The list also included kicker Vince Abbott, who missed the last five games with a leg injury, and long snapper Randy Kirk, perhaps the best special teams player on the squad.

Four of the unprotected players--tackle Ken Dalliafor, H-back Anthony Jones, defensive back Pat Miller and center Dan Rosado--were starters at the end of the season.

Ortmayer said preparing the lists was hardest for young teams and talented teams. The Chargers are the former.

Other unprotected Charger players included center Don Macek, quarterback Babe Laufenberg, running back Tim Spencer, linebacker Chuck Faucette and running back Curtis Adams, who led the team in rushing 2 years ago.

Unprotected players have until April 2 to negotiate as free agents with other teams. After that, their contracts revert back to the team they were with in 1988.

Ortmayer also must assess players left unprotected by other teams to see if they might help the Chargers next season.

And, of course, he must choose a coach.