CHARGER REVIEW : NOTEBOOK : Plummer Rips but Doesn’t Name Names

Linebacker Gary Plummer was angry after the Chargers’ 9-7 loss to the Raiders, and he refused to bite his tongue.

“I’m a little distressed at the fact there’s some guys that don’t know what it takes to play in this league in terms of knowing the difference between pain and injury,” said Plummer. “There are guys in this locker room that lay it on the line and play with two or three injuries. There are other guys, who have a nick, and can’t play.

“I’m just (ticked) off becaused it’s just not right. There are some guys who need to take a look in the mirror and say, ‘Do I know what it takes to play in this league?’ In my opinion, the answer is no. That’s something that angers me more than the loss. That’s part of the reason for this loss.”

Plummer gave credit to linebackers Billy Ray Smith, Henry Rolling and Junior Seau for playing in pain, but without naming others, he offered a harsh look to other teammates in the locker room.

Jay Schroeder’s commitment to making the Chargers look good:

Interception No. 1: On the first play from scrimmage Schroeder attempted to go deep to wide receiver Willie Gault. Gault had gotten behind the coverage of Sam Seale, but Schroeder’s overthrown pass was intercepted by safety Darren Carrington, who was making his first start of the season in place of Stanley Richard.

It was Carrington’s second career interception, and his first since 1989 when he intercepted a pass while playing against the Chargers for the Denver Broncos.

Interception No. 2: Safety Martin Bayless, who suffered the indignity of losing his job to Anthony Shelton when the season began, picked off a Schroeder pass in the end zone in the second quarter. Bayless, who returned to the starting lineup after Shelton proved to be a bust, now has six career interceptions.

Interception No. 3: Linebacker Rolling has been replaced in the starting lineup by Smith, but too bad for Schroeder, Rolling continues to draw time in passing situations.

Rolling stepped in front of a misguided Schroeder missle at the Chargers’ 14 and returned it to the Los Angeles 39-yard line.

The Chargers’ point production after collecting three turnovers: 0.

Who needs training camp? Marion Butts.

Butts missed training camp because he wanted more money, but as a result, he simply hasn’t been the same. Butts carried the ball 265 times last season without fumbling; he had two fumbles in his first 435 professional carries.

But he dropped the ball in the first quarter against the Raiders Sunday night for his third fumble of the season.

Sign on the wall: “Let Eric Run.”

No, General Manager Bobby Beathard was not responsible for hanging it.

Running back Eric Bieniemy, selected in the second round of the draft, has played 13 games with the Chargers, but has yet to carry the ball.

Charger special teams coach Larry Pasquale had a simple explanation of why John Carney’s 44-yard field goal was blocked by the Raiders’ Scott Davis.

“The kick was low,” he said. “The kickier has to lift the ball over the line of scrimmage. I’ve got to give them credit because they were in the right position on a low kick and they blocked it.”

But Pasqual said the low kick was a rarity for Carney.

“If John does anything well he lifts the ball,” he said. “He works on it every week. You’re talking about a quarter or an eighth of an inch where you get underneath the ball.”

The Chargers got the best of two pass interference calls in the third quarter. Officials reversed a pass-interference call on Sam Seale because Schroeder’s pass to Ethan Horton was ruled uncatchable. If the officials had stayed with their original decision, the Raiders would have had a first down on the Charger 30. Instead, they were forced to punt.

Four plays later, Raiders’ cornerback Lionel Washington was flagged for pass interference on John Friesz’s overthrown pass to Kitrick Taylor. After conferring, officials stuck with their call that resulted in a 37-yard gain to the Raider 38.

Charger free safety Stanley Richard appeared in his first game since pinching a nerve in his neck Nov. 17 against New Orleans. Richard did not start, but played much of the second half.

Wide reciever Nate Lewis took a knockout blow from Raider safety Eddie Anderson on the second to last play of the game and had to be helped off.

“I was out for a couple seconds,” he said. “The last thing I remember was reaching for the ball.”

Lewis, who dropped the ball before the hit, suffered a mild concussion.

Raider defensive end Howie Long will have a magnetic resonance imaging test today to determine the extent of the injury suffered to his left knee in the first quarter of Sunday’s game. “Right now my fingers are crossed,” Long said after the game. “I’m hoping it’s a sprained knee and not a medial collateral tear.” A Raider official said afterward the team didn’t think Long’s injury was as serious as first thought. Nothing official, though, will be determined until further testing is done.

Schroeder threw 20 passes in the first half, only eight in the second. In all, he completed 12 of 28 attempts for 122 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns.

The Raiders spread the rushing load around with good results. Nick Bell, making his first appearance since cracking ribs against Kansas City on Oct. 28, led all rushers with 58 yards in 10 carries. Marcus Allen rushed for 45 yards in nine carries, while starter Roger Craig gained 36 yards in eight attempts.

Ronnie Lott intercepted his seventh pass of the season on the game’s last play.