CHARGER NOTES : Mr. Quotable Scalds Some Steelers

SAN DIEGO —  Life with Burt Grossman is never dull.

The defensive end from Pittsburgh has been the Chargers’ most quotable player since they made him their No. 1 draft choice last spring, and he outdid himself Wednesday in a conference call with the Pittsburgh media. He hurled verbal darts at fellow rookies Tim Worley and Tom Ricketts of the Steelers, who will play host to the Chargers Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Worley, a running back from Georgia, and Ricketts, an offensive tackle who was one of Grossman’s teammates at Pitt, were also drafted in the first round. When they heard what Grossman said, they responded in kind. And when their insults were relayed to Grossman, he got in the last licks of the day.

It all started when Grossman blasted Worley, who was the seventh player drafted (just ahead of him) but has averaged only 3.3 yards per carry with 300 yards in 91 attempts. Grossman resents Worley, particularly because Worley signed for $3.05 million for five years, limiting him to a mere $2.885 million for five years under the unofficial sliding scale used in the National Football League.

“The way he’s playing, he made a steal,” Grossman said of Worley. “He’s been (worth) $3.05. He has the talent to do much, but he hasn’t done anything.”

Of Ricketts, who was the 24th pick in the draft but is only a backup, Grossman said, “I didn’t know the guy was still alive. I thought they might shoot him after the way he’s been playing.

“I’ve been hearing all year about the matchup between me and him, but it doesn’t look like that will happen unless they get in a short-yardage situation, and Tom earns that $2 million. He’s like every other draft choice they had in the ‘80s.”

Grossman also made a crack, obviously tongue-in-cheek, about a former roommate at Pitt, linebacker Jerry Olsavsky. Despite not being drafted until the 10th round, Olsavsky is a starting inside linebacker for the Steelers.

Noting that Olsavsky has an exceptionally large neck, Grossman said, “I heard they bred Jerry with a German shepherd and came up with a new kind of dog--a big neck and no brains.”

Olsavsky just laughed when word of Grossman’s comments reached the Steeler locker room, but Worley and Ricketts reacted with predictable anger.

Worley said, “To hell with Grossman. I don’t know him and never heard of him. I’m not letting anybody like that intimidate me. We’ll see how he does this Sunday.”

Ricketts, who apparently was not one of Grossman’s closest friends at Pitt, uttered an obscenity, then said, “He likes to be the center of attention. He likes to play games other than reality. I guess it gets him excited. He’s always been full of it.”

Even quarterback Bubby Brister--who, Grossman merely said, would be in for a rough day Sunday--was upset. Said Brister as he stormed into a quarterback meeting: “His team’s 4-6. He means nothing to me. Who is this guy?”

After that, the battle scene shifted back to Grossman.

Told that Worley said he didn’t know him, Grossman remarked, “That’s because he can’t read. If he could, he’d know who I am.”

Asked what he would say to Worley Sunday, Grossman said, “I don’t know. I don’t know if he speaks English.”

Grossman kiddingly said of Olsavsky, “I’ll freshen him up when we get there. He doesn’t have a degree, and I make $600,000 a year more than he does.”

Asked if he had a degree, Grossman said, “No, I’m a term short, but Ricketts went five years and still doesn’t have one.”

Asked if he might regret any of his statements, Grossman said, “I’ve known Ricketts four years, and Worley is having a bad year, so I’m safe in that area. Their scouting department is all about 60, so I’m on safe ground all-around so far.”

Charger Notes

Kicker Chris Bahr probably won’t practice all week because of the cracked rib he suffered in the Raider game Sunday night but expects to be ready for the Steelers. Bahr said, “I still have as much discomfort as I did at first, but I could kick today if I had to.” He was listed as probable along with quarterback Jim McMahon (knee) and wide receiver Anthony Miller (heel). . . . H-back Rod Bernstine (knee) was listed as questionable but said he would miss his sixth game in a row. He started began jogging Wednesday. Told that Coach Dan Henning was growing impatient for his return, Bernstine said, “I read the stuff about it, but I just have to go on with my life. I’m not going to argue back and forth with the head coach.” . . . Tight end Chris Gannon, who had been the Chargers’ deep snapper, is out with a knee injury, and Henning said they probably would sign tight end Mark Walczak, who had a tryout Wednesday. Walczak, 27, from Arizona, is 6-feet-6 and 246 pounds. He is a third-year man who was with the Chargers in mini-camp last year and was recently cut by the Phoenix Cardinals. . . . The Steelers issued a brief injury report. Running back Warren Williams (foot) is questionable and cornerback David Arnold (neck) is probable. . . . The Chargers rank 27th and the Steelers 28th and last in the NFL on offense. The Steelers have been the victims of three of the league’s four shutouts this season.