Advertisement

PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Tollner Is Fired by the Chargers

Share
<i> Associated Press</i>

Offensive coordinator Ted Tollner, who was promoted from quarterback coach during the off-season, was fired Tuesday by the San Diego Chargers.

Coach Dan Henning said he will take over as the team’s offensive coordinator and will call plays from the sideline. Henning said he made the decision to fire Tollner, former USC coach.

“It’s something that is very difficult to do when you have somebody who has worked hard for you and is a fine person,” Henning said. “In this particular case, I had given the responsibility over to Ted this year for the offense and the offensive production. The bottom line at this time is that I’m not happy or comfortable with it.”

Advertisement

During the past off-season, the Dallas Cowboys sought Tollner as their offensive coordinator. The Chargers gave Tollner the increased responsibility to keep him from leaving.

“Here it is September and opportunities have gone by,” Tollner told radio station XTRA-AM. “Hopefully there will be something, but at this late date I don’t know how realistic it is.”

The Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Pat Ryan, formerly of the New York Jets, to a one-year contract to back up Jim McMahon.

McMahon stepped into the No. 1 quarterback spot when Randall Cunningham suffered an injury to his left knee Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Cunningham will need surgery and is out for the season.

Ryan, who will be 37 Sept. 16, played with the Jets from 1978 to 1989. He has been out of football since the Cleveland Browns cut him last year.

The Miami Dolphins traded wide receiver Randal Hill, their first-round draft pick, to Phoenix in exchange for the Cardinals’ No. 1 selection in next year’s college draft.

Advertisement

The trade was made because the Dolphins had “an abundance of wide receivers and it would have been a luxury to carry six through the year,” Coach Don Shula said.

“By getting Phoenix’s first-round draft choice, this will put us in a better position to obtain defensive help, which is a more pressing need, either this year through a trade or next year in the draft.”

Advertisement