Fans Welcome Charger Williams
Standing in the tunnel waiting for his name to be announced, Lee Williams wondered what kind of reception he was about to receive. There was a crowd of about 5,000 in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium for “Family Day” with the Chargers.
A starter at defensive end in the past two Pro Bowls, Williams left camp in a huff a week ago after the Chargers told him they would not renegotiate his contract, which has three of five years remaining and, according to sources, will pay him about $700,000 this season.
For a week, Williams has expressed his displeasure with the way he has been treated, saying that Steve Ortmayer, the team’s former director of football operations, had promised him a contract renegotiation if he had two good seasons. Two Pro Bowls later, Ortmayer is gone and the Chargers aren’t budging. General Manager Bobby Beathard reiterated Sunday that the Chargers don’t plan to discuss changes in Williams’ contract.
Figuring that it wouldn’t do him any good to skip more training time, Williams returned to San Diego from his home in Plantation, Fla. on Saturday and showed up for Sunday’s event. And that’s when the thought crossed his mind that he might hear a few boos.
It didn’t happen.
When “and big 99 . . . Lee Williams,” boomed over the loudspeaker there was a cheer usually reserved for quarterbacks and selected running backs. Nothing could have sounded better to Williams, who was soon signing autographs and hoisting little kids in his arms for snapshots.
“I didn’t think that I would receive such a warm reception,” he said. “It made me feel good.”
Which is more than he can say for the Chargers, who he thinks could make their VIP players a bit more welcome.
“I felt something could be worked out,” he said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way. I didn’t think it would come to this.”
Williams doesn’t regret his walkout, which the Chargers opted to let pass without a fine. If nothing else, he feels he made a statement. It didn’t pay monetary dividends, but it let everybody know where he stands on this issue.
“I wouldn’t say it was all for naught,” he said. “I did it because I felt like I had a position and my position was valid. What effect it had or will have at this point I’m not sure. If they’re taking the stance that they won’t renegotiate it then we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Now that he’s back, Williams said he plans to work diligently to get ready for the season.
One other thing. While Williams was away, defensive end Burt Grossman located a new roommate.
You see, Grossman and Williams were roommates before Williams took off, but Grossman spent a few nights on the couch because Williams’ snoring kept him awake. Grossman even tried the wet-toilet-paper-in-the-ears routine but it didn’t work. So Grossman is now rooming with third-year defensive end Gerald Robinson and slumbering in peace.
Ever the team comedian, Grossman had this to say about Williams’ week-long holdout.
“He had to give it a try,” he said. “What’s going to happen? He gets to leave camp and not get fined. That’s what happened. If I thought it was going to happen that way with me I’d walk out today, miss five days and come back and say “Hey, I’m sorry.”
Cornerback Sam Seale has agreed to a two-year contract and will be available for practice today, Beathard said.
Seale, a seven-year veteran from Western State in Colorado, started all 13 games he played last season and finished second on the team with four interceptions. Charger Coach Dan Henning said Seale will return as a starter.
Because Williams and Seale are back in camp the Chargers are required to cut two players today to keep their roster at the 80-man limit.
The Chargers survived their three-day trip to Phoenix for workouts with the Cardinals with only a few minor injuries. Running back Ronnie Harmon suffered a dislocated finger, guard Chris Goetz strained his elbow and tackle Joey Howard strained his knee, which Henning said may require arthroscopic surgery.
Henning said tackle Joel Patten, who hasn’t practiced yet in training camp since arthroscopic knee surgery after mini-camp, is expected to be back in the near future.
“I’m not concerned,” Henning said. “I talked to Joel about it and Joel feels like he would like to play at least two preseason games. He thinks he needs about six or seven workouts before he plays the first one, which would put him into the middle of next week to start. And that’s when I’d like to start him.”