Chargers : McMahon Draws Crowd at Practice
The crowd at the Chargers’ UC San Diego practice field Monday was twice, maybe three times as large as it has been all training camp. Everyone wanted a glimpse of quarterback Jim McMahon, acquired Friday in a trade with the Chicago Bears.
For a guy who has been in town less than 48 hours, McMahon didn’t do half bad.
“Pretty good,” Charger Coach Dan Henning said. “He’s still got to pick up on some of the signals. Each receiver has a little different wrinkle the way they run and the way they do things. So he’s got to pick out some of that. But all in all, it was pretty good.”
Henning said he would like to get at least a quarter and possibly a half from McMahon Wednesday night against the 49ers in San Francisco. But he isn’t sure how long McMahon will be able to play.
“I know he can go four plays,” said Henning, smiling. “He’s already done that.”
Rookie Billy Joe Tolliver, who threw touchdown passes of 39 and 70 yards in Saturday’s 24-7 victory over the Chicago Bears, will back up McMahon. David Archer, already familiar with Henning’s system, probably will not play.
Ted Tollner, Charger quarterbacks coach who worked with McMahon at Brigham Young, said McMahon didn’t foul up anything in Monday’s practice but wasn’t as sharp as he will be.
“He’s always been a fast learner,” Tollner said. “He has a very quick mind for football. He visualizes things well and comprehends well.”
Negotiations with holdout Burt Grossman, the Chargers’ top draft pick (eighth overall), are warming up but are still unresolved, said Steve Ortmayer, director of football operations.
Ortmayer said he talked with Robert Jackson, Grossman’s agent, several times Monday. He also talked twice with Steve Feldman, agent for holdout defensive end Joe Phillips.
“We haven’t made enough progress to have a deal done in either case,” Ortmayer said.
Because Tim Worley, a running back from Georgia who was the seventh overall pick, signed with the Steelers Friday, negotiations for Grossman’s contract are likely to speed up.
Ortmayer also said he will resume talks today with Gary Anderson’s agent, Peter Johnson.
Running back Timmy Smith, sidelined for the first two exhibition games with an ankle injury, will play against the 49ers, Henning said.
“He’s still favoring (the ankle) a little bit, but he’s got to get in there and work,” Henning said.
Also scheduled to receive significant playing time at running back are Marion Butts, Victor Floyd and Tim Spencer. Henning said Courtney Hall, a rookie center, will play at least half the game.
Rookie wide receiver Wayne Walker is doubtful for Wednesday with a strained knee.
Jack Teele, Charger director of administration, said more than 500 season tickets have been sold since the announcement of the McMahon trade.