Chargers Announce Signing of Defensive Back : Pro football: Delton Hall, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, could be importnat addition to the secondary.
The Chargers began reconstructing their secondary Monday with a defensive back who can’t run yet, but can certainly hide.
The Chargers announced that cornerback Delton Hall, a 6-foot-1, 204-pound Plan B free agent from Pittsburgh who is still recovering from knee surgery after playing in five games last season, agreed to a two-year contract.
Hall, meanwhile, told the media in Pittsburgh Monday that he was waiting on an offer from Cleveland. And then he disappeared.
“I don’t know where he is,” said Shelley, Hall’s wife. “And I don’t know anything about an agreement. Coach (John) Fox called wondering about the same thing, but we haven’t heard from Delton’s agent.”
Fox, a former Steelers’ defensive backs coach who joined Coach Bobby Ross’ staff recently, said, “To be honest, I’m not sure (he’s reached an agreement). Until I talk to Delton, I won’t know.”
Hall’s agent, Jim Steiner, reacted with surprise to the Chargers’ announcement Monday night when contacted in San Francisco, but he said, “Yeah, it’s basically true.”
If it’s true, and Hall signs with the Chargers, the team will give him every opportunity to become their starting strong safety.
“It’s a fabulous opportunity for Delton,” Steiner said. “The Chargers feel, as Delton feels, that he has been playing out of position since coming into the league. He should be at strong safety, where the Chargers are going to play him, rather than at corner. He’s a ferocious hitter.”
Hall, 27, was due to earn $288,800 this season with the Steelers. Terms of his new deal were not released, but sources indicate the Chargers’ risk in signing a recovering Hall is a signing bonus estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.
“It’s a gamble, but the guy is a helluva player when he’s healthy,” said Billy Devaney, the Chargers’ director of player personnel. “He didn’t dress out for us, but he said he worked out for Cleveland in the past few days and ran well and his knee felt fine.
“The whole decision came down to what (Charger physician) Dr. Gary Losse had to say about his knee since he couldn’t run for us in a workout. Gary knows the doctor in Pittsburgh who did the operation and he has tremendous respect for him and says he did a good job. The uncertainty is that it will take another three months before the doctors know for sure that it’s structurally sound.”
Steiner agreed the Chargers were at some risk to sign Hall, but said, “They are obviously comfortable with his playing condition or they wouldn’t do it.”
The Chargers believe Hall will add stability to their secondary, and will be a good example for free safety Stanley Richard, who was criticized by some teammates last year for not playing hurt.
“Delton’s the kind of guy who will be out there even if his knee isn’t just right,” Devaney said. “As long as Delton suffers no setbacks with his knee he’ll be ready to go all out in training camp. He’s such a mentally tough guy and has such great character that it makes you feel better about the risk.”
The Chargers left starting strong safety Martin Bayless and starting cornerback Sam Seale unprotected in Plan B free agency. They do not expect Seale to return, but they remain interested in retaining Bayless.
“If Martin was teetering, we hope this doesn’t push him over the edge to leave,” Devaney said. “We think Martin and Delton are the two toughest safeties in the league and we want them together.”
The Steelers selected Hall in the second round of the 1987 draft--a short time before the Chargers wasted a selection on cornerback Lou Brock--and Hall earned all-rookie recognition from several football publications.
Hall started in the first 26 games he played in the NFL, but he has worked primarily as a reserve the past three seasons. The past two years he has been stopped by knee and wrist injuries.
“If there’s a negative it’s that he’s too reckless with himself,” Devaney said. “He needs to pick his spots better. He’s had nagging injuries; the doctors are just as concerned about his wrists as they are his knee.
“But if it wasn’t for his knee, Pittsburgh would probably have protected him. He was the key guy for us in Plan B. We still have to upgrade ourselves in the secondary, but this is a step in the right direction.”
After Hall visited San Diego recently, the Chargers had his name placed on the back of jersey No. 36 and arranged a game-day uniform--complete with shoes and socks--in a locker with his nameplate above.
They videotaped the scene and then delivered it to Hall. Hall was understandably impressed, but he said he wanted No. 35. He was told somebody else had No. 35.
“Who?” he wanted to know. “I’ll whip his butt for it.”
Hall was told that 250-pound running back Marion Butts was the proud owner of No. 35.
“He decided No. 36 wasn’t so bad,” Devaney said. “That was quick thinking on Delton’s part.”
The Chargers anticipate adding four to five Plan B players to their roster prior to the April 1 signing deadline. They have given a physical examination to Pittsburgh wide receiver Chris Calloway and will make a financial pitch to Detroit running back Cedric Jackson.
They also have a Plan B interest in Detroit defensive lineman Darryl Milburn and Cleveland defensive back Ray Irvin.
The Chargers also announced the signing of free agent defensive back Kenny Jones and offensive tackle Jimmy Laister.