Beathard Goes to Work for Chargers

Bobby Beathard took the lectern Wednesday looking like a man relieved to be back wheeling and dealing with football players rather than football rumors. Then the former Washington Redskins executive, who will complete one year with NBC on Jan. 14, was formally and finally introduced as the new general manager of the Chargers.

Owner Alex Spanos was brief as he introduced Beathard, who will immediately take over the post left open when Steve Ortmayer was fired Dec. 18. The announcement confirmed what has been the worst-kept secret in the NFL for several weeks.

“There’s nothing much to say,” Spanos said at the press conference at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, “outside of the fact that Bobby Beathard represents an outstanding addition to our organization. He is one of the best in football at evaluating and acquiring talent, and he will also be able to do whatever he feels necessary for us to have a winning ballclub.”

Beathard, who will turn 53 his month, wouldn’t pinpoint the areas that require immediate attention or change for the Chargers, whose last winning year was 1987 (8-7). But he said their potential is real.

“I don’t like to get into predictions about how many years (it will take),” said Beathard, who has spent this past season as one of NBC’s “Insiders,” reporting NFL news and rumors. “I got into that with the Redskins. I don’t want to do that again. But I do think we’re a lot farther ahead now than the Redskins were when we took over there. That’s the only comparison I can make.”

Comparisons and evaluations are precisely what make Beathard so good. He hunts and hounds talent, finding the most unlikely achievers from the most unlikely places. His ability to spot talent and reputation as one of the league’s hardest working personnel men were reasons Sports Illustrated once recognized him as “the smartest man in the NFL.”

Beathard’s credentials reek of success. He was a driving force behind Washington winning two of the past seven Super Bowls--it went to three during his tenure--and he was director of player personnel in Miami when the Dolphins won Super Bowls in 1973 and 1974.

“I will do everything I can to bring in a winner,” Beathard said. “I think we’ll get the guys in here, the right people, and I think we’re going to have a winner.”

While back-to-back 6-10 records are no imminent reason to believe the Chargers can turn around and immediately win the AFC West, Beathard said there were clues toward the end of the season that there might be hope.

“I was impressed by the way they played coming down the stretch,” Beathard said of the Chargers’ final games, when they won at Kansas City, 20-13, and at home against division winner Denver, 19-16.

“I thought it was important that they played hard when there was nothing at stake,” he said. “I was excited to see (rookie quarterback Billy Joe) Tolliver play. I thought Dan Henning made an excellent choice in getting Billy Joe back into the games at the end.

“Just playing at home and beating three of the good teams, the Raiders (14-12 on Nov. 12), Kansas City (21-6 on Sept. 24) and Denver . . . that has to go a long way in helping our players think they can compete in this division.”

Beathard and Spanos met early Wednesday morning to discuss details of his contract. One report said it was a three-year deal, but neither would provide any details.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Beathard said. “I want this to be my last football job. I want to be here as long as I can. I love it here. I don’t want to make another move.”

Beathard grew up in Los Angeles. It has been his dream to return to work in California, a desire he cited when he left his post with the Redskins in May. His new permanent residence in Leucadia--he still has a home is Virginia--is 13 miles from his parents’ home in Oceanside.

“The close proximity is nice,” he said.

But Beathard also said he is encouraged by what he perceives as San Diego’s potential to rally behind a football team. Citing the Don Coryell years, both at San Diego State and with the Chargers, Beathard said he has always had a good feeling about the city.

“I never thought this wasn’t a good football town,” he said. “We just have to hold up our end of the bargain and give them something to be excited about.”

Although he said he enjoyed his year at NBC, Beathard said he feels more involved now that he’s back in day-to-day dealings.

“In football,” he said, “you’re working at it every day. You feel more involved. (At NBC), I guess you get that feeling, but it’s one or two days a week. There’s a little difference.”

Besides, he said with a laugh, “my feeling was that if I stayed away any longer, no one would want me.”

Beathard said a financial commitment from the owner was never a problem with Jack Kent Cooke in Washington, and he didn’t think it would be here.

“With the Redskins, we were never told we couldn’t get someone for lack of money,” Beathard said. “That’s the same commitment we have here. If we lose, it’s not because of money, it’s my fault. I don’t want to blame the owner.”

Beathard said he wasn’t worried that Spanos is regarded by many as one of the league’s more impulsive and impatient owners.

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought it would be the wrong situation. I would have gone somewhere else or stayed with NBC,” Beathard said. “I came here because I was convinced the Spanoses (Spanos’ son, Dean, is the club’s vice chairman) were going to give us the support that we need to take this team in the right direction.”

Alex Spanos said criticism that he is meddlesome was unfair. Beathard is the third general manager and Dan Henning, who just completed his first season, the third coach in Spanos’ six years of ownership.

“I have to laugh when I hear people call me a ‘meddlesome owner,’ ” Spanos said. “I am an owner, but I have to hire people to do the job for me, and I have to trust their judgment.”

Beathard said his priorities, after his gets back from a hectic two weeks of travel both in his work for NBC and to scout talent, will be to concentrate on Plan B free agency, both which players might interest the Chargers and which 37 players they will protect.

“I’m not so worried about the (April) draft as much as Plan B,” he said, “or protecting the right players at our club and being aware of the players left unprotected at other clubs. After that period, we’ll be concentrating on college players.”