Chargers Talk to Steve Young
The Chargers announced Friday they have reached agreement on a two-year contract with NFL vagabond and former U.S. International quarterback Bob Gagliano.
Stifle the yawn and pay attention.
Two days ago Chargers’ general manager Bobby Beathard met with a Steve Young, the trade-seeking San Francisco quarterback, in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
Holy playoffs, that’s Steve Young talking with Mr. Wheel and Deal Bobby Beathard. All very hush-hush.
Young, who has been behind Joe Montana for the past four seasons, has expressed an interest in playing elsewhere. The 49ers do not want to part with Young, but have advised Young’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, to test the market.
“Who told you he was here?” Beathard said. “That was Marty (Hurney, coordinator of football operations) dressed to look like Steve Young.
“Yeah, he was here. Leigh called and asked if Steve could come over and talk. I don’t know, maybe Leigh thought this was a way to see if this was a place Steve would like to play.
“Dick Daniels (Charger assistant general manager) drafted him in the USFL and they talked together. I talked with him, too, and he rode with me to the practice field when we went to work out a player. I asked him if he felt frustrated by his situation, and he said he was.”
No reason quite yet, however, for frustrated fans to rush the Charger ticket office.
“Leigh has asked if we’re interested and I’ve told him we don’t have enough to give up to get him,” Beathard said. “We would have to tear our team apart if we ever did, and I don’t seriously believe the 49ers are going to trade him.”
Young, a veteran free agent who earned $1.2 million last season, may presently solicit offers from other NFL teams. To sign Young, it will cost a lot of money and two No. 1 draft choices.
If Young is to join another team, it most likely will come via a trade.
“It will never happen,” Beathard said. “The 49ers need Steve Young, so I don’t think there is anything going on there. There’s nothing to get started if they aren’t going to trade him.”
That brings the Chargers back to Billy Joe Tolliver, John Friesz and Gagliano.
“I thought Gagliano was pretty good coming out of college,” Beathard said. “He’s had an up and down career, but when he’s had the opportunity to play, he’s played well.”
Gagliano, 32, started four games and played in a total of nine games for the run and shoot Lions last season. He completed 87 of 159 passing attempts for 1,190 yards with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He was a 12th-round draft choice of the Chiefs in 1981 after playing at Glendale Junior College, USIU and Utah. He went on to play with Denver in the USFL in 1984 and 1985 and then signed as a free agent with the 49ers in 1986. He was released by the 49ers, resigned as their replacement team quarterback and then released again to join the Lions in 1989.
Gagliano has started 12 NFL games and played in a total of 26 since turning pro in 1981.
Does the name Babe Laufenberg come to mind?
“He’ll compete for the starting position,” Beathard said. “Right now Billy’s our quarterback, but we’ll see.”
Although many draft prognosticators have the Chargers using a top pick in the April NFL draft to select a quarterback, Beathard said that will not happen.
In addition to Gagliano, the Chargers said Friday they have added Plan B free agent cornerback Darren Carrington to the roster. Carrington, 6-1, 189, played in a dozen games for the Lions last season after opening the season with Denver.
The deadline for signing Plan B free agents is April 1.
NFL Notes
The Rams lost their second Plan B free agent Friday, safety Vince Newsome, but also signed two more and were set to sign another, former Ram punter Dale Hatcher. The Rams signed defensive end Gerald Robinson, left exposed by the Chargers; and linebacker Glenell Sanders, unprotected by the Chicago Bears. Robinson, 28, a 1986 first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, probably will be tossed into the competition for the starting job on the right side of the defensive line.