Smith, Chargers Plan Ahead : NFL: Linebacker signs contract, allows team to leave him unprotected.

By striking a last-minute deal with Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard, linebacker Billy Ray Smith struck a blow against Plan B free agency.

Smith signed a one-year contract and told Beathard to put his name on the unprotected list Saturday--vowing to stay with the Chargers. The deal allowed one less player, backup quarterback Bob Gagliano, the opportunity to negotiate with another team.

“The whole concept of Plan B is ridiculous,” Smith said. “It’s intended by the league to make it look like they have free agency. But what you get is the bottom guys on the roster going out and making their own deals, and they wind up making more money than the top players.”

Smith said the Chargers are not gambling by leaving him unprotected.

“I think I have a good deal in San Diego,” he said. “It would take giving me all of Northern California for me to go somewhere. It would have to be an astronomical deal. I have a wife, a child and a home here. I just like this place.”

Smith said that signing a one-year contract doesn’t mean he would like to leave after next season.

“I want to come back from my injuries and have a good, healthy season,” he said. “Then, I will be in a better position to sign a two- or three-year deal.”

Smith wasn’t the only player who gave the Chargers the freedom to protect Gagliano. Beathard said H-back Steve Hendrickson signed, then volunteered to go on the Plan B list.

Although Gagliano expressed an interest in returning to the Chargers, Beathard said he couldn’t take the chance of losing him.

“There had been interest expressed in (Gagliano) before we signed him last year,” Beathard said. “We thought it would be hard to come up with that position in Plan B. He gave us the indication that we could leave him unprotected, but we felt better doing it this way.”

As expected, starting defensive backs Sam Seale and Martin Bayless were left unprotected. Seale, the Chargers’ starting cornerback for four seasons, said he knew he would be left unprotected but he still took the news hard.

“Maybe they don’t think I can do certain things,” an emotional Seale said. “But I still think I can play.”

Cornerback Tony Blaylock, who was acquired on waivers from Cleveland late in the season and barely played, was protected instead of Seale.

“We think (Blaylock) is pretty good,” Beathard said. “He’s a talented kid. He made several big plays when he was with Cleveland. Just watching him the last part of the year, he did some things that caught everybody’s eye.”

The Chargers also left three other cornerbacks unprotected: Cedric Mack, Derrick Kelson and Donnie Elder.

Beathard said he hopes to strengthen that position through the draft.

Last year, 11 players that the Chargers left unprotected signed with other teams, but Beathard said he doesn’t expect the number to be that high this season.

Of the 24 unprotected players, Beathard said center Frank Cornish is the only one he is certain will leave. Cornish, a backup to Courtney Hall, told Beathard earlier that he would like the chance to start for another team.

“Our approach was a little different this year,” Beathard said. “A lot of the guys last year we didn’t want back. This year, we want everybody back.”

In addition to signing Smith and Hendrickson, Beathard also announced the signings of five more unprotected players: H-back Craig McEwen, guard Eric Floyd, long snapper Mark Rodenhauser, linebacker David Grayson and cornerback Donnie Elder.

Unprotected Chargers

The 24 Chargers left unprotected by Plan B Free Agency:

Name Position Martin Bayless Strong Safety Terry Beauford Guard Chris Samuels Running Back George Hinkle Defensive End Donnie Elder Cornerback Greg Clark Linebacker Eric Floyd Guard-Tackle Frank Cornish Center David Grayson Linebacker Steve Hendrickson Halfback Darryl Jenkins Tackle David Jones Wide Receiver Derrick Kelson Cornerback Randy Kirk Linebacker Cedric Mack Cornerback Mark May Guard-Tackle Skip McClendon Defensive End Craig McEwen Halfback Mark Rodenhauser Center Tony Savage Nose Tackle Sam Seale Cornerback Kitrick Taylor Wide Receiver Billy Ray Smith Outside Linebacker Galand Thaxton Linebacker