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CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Chargers Confirm Announcer Covered Her Friendly Wager

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You had to be there.

After Thursday’s practice, KRMX-radio disc jockey Erin Garrett met with running back Marion Butts and Coach Dan Henning and displayed the Chargers helmet and lightening bolt that she had tattooed on her derriere.

“I didn’t look down,” Butts said. “OK, I’ll be honest, I looked down. I had to confirm it, so I looked.”

Butts had his picture taken with Garrett because he scored a touchdown against the Raiders. Garrett had promised listeners that she would get a tattoo if the Chargers defeated the Raiders.

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“I made this bet where you had to win three in a row and I would tattoo the helmet on my butt,” Garrett told Henning. “Then I changed my bet because I thought there was no way they’ll go 3-0. So if they could beat the Raiders . . .”

Garrett received the tattoo Thursday morning with Channel 10 filming the event. She said the yellow lightening bolt was tattooed to her derriere, but the accompanying blue helmet was painted on.

“Oh, my gosh,” Henning said, after being given a glimpse.

What’s the chances of the Chargers tattooing the Rams Sunday?

“I believe the Rams are laying in the weeds,” Henning said. “They’ve had two weeks to get ready . . . they’ll have a plan and they’re playing defense differently.

“I give that guy (defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher) credit. He’s gone in there and taken a group of players, who have been completely opposite schematically and philosophy wise, and changed there techniques and they’re playing it pretty good. He’s got to be a pretty good coach.”

Fisher, who was Buddy Ryan’s defensive coordinator with the Eagles, has changed the Rams from a passive defensive unit into an aggressive group that blitzes and blitzes some more.

“I thought maybe when he got on his own he might have a little schism from Buddy,” Henning said. “But based on the way they play and attack you, it’s just like Buddy. I’ve always thought Buddy was a helluva football coach with a helluva an idea and concept that he believed in.

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“When he first started in ’78 and ’79 everybody kind of hee-hawed about it because it was different and some people were left open. But once he got people at Chicago (in ‘85) to run that thing, they were as good as there has ever been.”

The Rams presently rank 12th on defense, 18th against the run and 12 against the pass. They are allowing an average of almost 22 points a game this season.

“He has to have certain types of people,” Henning said. “Right now Fisher doesn’t have exactly all the type of people he wants, but he’s taken a group and revamped it. Once they get big, strong people up front, they’re going to be a bitch. And they’re pretty good right now.”

Henning said defensive end Burt Grossman was given Thursday off for personal reasons.

Tight end Arthur Cox, who has been listed as questionable, attempted to practice, but had to leave early when his sore foot required medical attention.

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