NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Henning Details Shortcomings to Group of Team’s Boosters

Coach Dan Henning delivered a rambling “we will earn your respect” speech Friday to the Charger Backers, and then in a break from tradition, walked out on club members before taking their questions.

“How come the coach didn’t stick around to answer questions?” shouted Jeff Davis, a Charger fan in attendance at the luncheon.

“After the bomb goes off against Kansas City, I’m sure he’ll answer some questions,” replied XTRA radio’s Lee Hamilton, who was working as master of ceremonies.

Davis, who was wearing a Charger baseball cap, said later he has been a fan of the team for 20 years. “I’ve been here before and he’s answered questions,” he said. “I was surprised he left; I think he owes the Backers an explanation.”

Henning said later, “I didn’t have time (to take questions); I was down there late. . . . If I had my way, I think I’d put out a newsletter.”

If Henning doesn’t get his way, he might want to hire a ghostwriter to smooth out his speeches. Henning’s talk to the Backers became repetitious as he tried to explain how the team would regain fans’ good favor.

“I just can’t tell you we really deserve your support until we start winning,” Henning began. “We’re not playing as well as we can at this point in time. I think we’re going to play better. It’s an organizational thing. We’ve made some decisions to do what we’re going to do, but they will play better.”

After Henning discussed his team’s offensive and defensive play, he said, “I told the team if they want the support of the San Diego fans, we have to earn it. And we intend to earn it. That’s where we are. We don’t have an enviable record; it’s 0-4. It’s disappointing to us, I know it’s disappointing to you, but you have my word and you have the players word, because they’re committed to it, that they’re going to continue to get better. And we think they can play better, they think they can play better.

“This is the talk I had with the players this week. The object, ladies and gentleman, is not for us to sit around and have outside sources, whether it be the people to the call-in shows, or the man on the call-in shows, or the media or one another for that matter, determine that:

“The reason we’re not playing defense is because we don’t have any sacks. The object of the game is not sacks.

“The reason that we’re not winning or playing well on defense is because we don’t have a bunch of turnovers. The object of the game is not turnovers.

“The reason that we’re not winning is that we can just run the ball and we cannot pass the ball. The object of the game is to score more points than the opposition has.

“To win football games, it has nothing to do with statistics. And I told the team today there’s been some conversation that sometimes in the past we’ve played a little defense and haven’t played good offense or vice versa or what have you. Last year we were fifth-rated statistically in the league of defense. We were 6-10.

“Offensively, statistically we were better than the New York Giants and they won the Super Bowl. We had more yards per game than they had. So that doesn’t mean anything. We had more sacks than they had. We had more rushing yards, more yards per rush. The object is to keep the other team out of the end zone and get your butt into the end zone.”

Henning then offered an opinion he has expressed several times in the past. He suggested that everyone be paid the same salary, and play “winner-take-all” games each Sunday for a substantial amount of money. He said players should pay more attention to wins and losses rather than individual incentive clauses in their contracts.

“I have one incentive in my contract,” Henning said. “It’s not very high; it’s a few dollars. We’ve got to win the Super Bowl.”

He detailed his winner-take-all plan, then returned to his main theme.

“I told the team if we want the support of those people out there we got to earn it. And you earn it by playing well, and sometimes you’re not going to win even if you play well, but your job is to go out there and play well. And we will play well. And we will earn your respect, and until that time if you wish to hold back, that’s your business. We want it; we got to earn it.”

And then he was gone.

Former 49ers coach Bill Walsh, who will be NBC’s commentator for Sunday’s game with the Chiefs, spoke to the Backers after being summoned by Hamilton.

“The Chargers are making much more progress than you see on the field,” Walsh told the crowd. “My impression is they are just two or three key players away from being a championship team. Until they get those players, you’re going to be frustrated . . .