PRO FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : CHARGERS : Raiders at Chargers Already a Sellout

The Chargers may appear dead to some, but the rivalry lives on.

The team announced Thursday that the Oct. 21 game with the Raiders in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium has sold out. It is the 15th consecutive sellout for the Chargers’ home game with the Raiders.

The team has distributed more than 60,000 tickets for the 1 p.m. game, and it will be shown locally on Channel 39.

The team has not had a regular-season home game televised locally since it played the Raiders last Nov. 12. The TV blackout has been lifted only four times in the past three seasons, three times for the Raiders-Chargers game.

Several hundred single tickets remain for the game, plus tickets for some 1,500 bleacher seats that have been added. But those do not keep the team from considering the game a sellout.

“It’s the earliest announced sellout in quite a while,” said Jack Teele, assistant to the president. “I think it’s because there was a big advance sale on the game and because of the rivalry.”

The team said 46,000 to 47,000 tickets have been distributed for the Oct. 28 home game with Tampa Bay.

Defensive lineman Leslie O’Neal has taken to wearing Martin Bayless’ number 44 in practice as his tribute to the team’s leading tackler.

“He’s done a great job this year, as he did last year, and yet nobody has noticed. And that’s a travesty,” O’Neal said. “That’s why I wear his number--out of respect for him.”

Safety Vencie Glenn was obviously favoring a sprained ankle in practice but said, “I will be there Sunday with no excuses.”

Cornerback Gill Byrd couldn’t believe it. He was arguing with defensive lineman George Hinkle when a reporter interrupted.

“It isn’t true, is it, that Burt Grossman is on the cover of Sports Illustrated?” Byrd said.

Told that it was indeed true, he shook his head and muttered, “Unbelievable. Unbelievable.”

Linebacker Gary Plummer agreed.

“Burt and his girlfriend are coming over for dinner tonight, but my wife has to fix dinner for eight even though there will be only four of us there,” Plummer said. “Just to fill up his big head.”

Asked if he had run out to purchase the article, Plummer said, “Hell no. Rush out and buy that? I’ve heard that trash for two years, you want me to go read it now?”

It couldn’t be confirmed, but word was that Grossman has offered to autograph the cover for each of his teammates . . . who go out and buy the magazine.

After Thursday’s practice, Coach Dan Henning met on the field with players who have been in the league since 1988 or longer.

“That’s their business,” Henning said. “I’m not going to discuss it. They asked me not to discuss it, and one another not to discuss it.”

No truth to the rumor that the players were trying to decide if they want to make the trip to New York Sunday for the game with the Jets.

In the past three games, wide receiver Anthony Miller has caught eight passes for 123 yards with three touchdowns.

After a standout start in exhibition play, which included 15 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns in the last two exhibition games, Miller opened the season with 13 catches for 181 yards in the first two games of the regular season.

“It’s double coverage, but they’re playing someone underneath and another guy on top,” Miller said. “It’s not too much one-on-one. It’s a guy to keep you from going deep and another guy to stop you short.

“If I hadn’t had such a good preseason, maybe they wouldn’t be checking me out as much as they have. It’s frustrating; I wanted to try and build off last year. When I have deep routes, they’re playing off me and taking it away. I’ve been out there battling and haven’t really had a chance to show what I can do.”

Rookie Leo Goeas worked in practice as the team’s starting left tackle. Goeas earned his first NFL start Sunday against Pittsburgh and shared duty as the game went on with free agent Eric Floyd.

Henning said wide receiver Quinn Early will replace the injured Walter Wilson (ankle) in the starting lineup.

“Wilson may be able to play, but I’m not sure we’ll play him, because he hasn’t practiced to any great degree,” Henning said.

The Jets have inserted Plan B free agent Trevor Matich into the starting lineup at right guard in place of Dave Cadigan, who will undergo season-ending knee surgery Monday.

Starting left guard Mike Haight returned to practice after being forced from Sunday’s game in Miami because of high blood pressure.

Linebacker Junior Seau, the team’s first-round draft pick, has been criticized for poor play but will remain in the starting lineup.

Cedric Figaro, who started 19 of 22 games before being replaced by Seau in the second game of the year, waits on the sideline for his opportunity.

“I have no idea what’s going on,” Figaro said. “Whenever they call, you have to be ready.”

Figaro has not taken the field on defense since the season opener with Dallas.

“It’s hard,” Figaro said. “I’m playing a little special teams, and whatever they give me, I’ll just go out and do what I can. I guess it’s all waiting.”

Figaro was sporting a new haircut Thursday, and when asked to describe it, he said, “Frustration.”