Gagliano Accepts ‘Realistic’ Situation : Football: Quarterback knows his days as a starter in the NFL are limited. He will play tonight against New England.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Charger quarterback Bob Gagliano accepted the news of the acquisition of Stan Humphries on Thursday calmly as he has handled the many barbs and general lack of respect for his play.

Gagliano will start for the Chargers tonight in their exhibition game with the Patriots in Foxboro Stadium, but he understands the spotlight will turn to Humphries, again leaving Gagliano in the shadows.

“I could go crazy worrying about it, so why bother?” Gagliano said. “When you look at my age and my situation, you say, ‘Bob is a good backup.’ Let’s be realistic.

“Now I know I can play, and I’ve had success. I have a winning record as a starting quarterback, and no matter what anyone says, I know I have done OK. But when you look at me turning 34, you want me to be the starter? For the future? Obviously I’m not the future for this ballclub.

“I’m not bitter about this. It’s part of the business. I learned a long time ago when things get a little confusing and you’re not sure what’s going on, don’t worry about it and just take it day by day.”

Gagliano has a 7-5 record as a starting quarterback in NFL play, but his inability to secure regular employment with any one team has labeled him the perennial backup.

Charger Coach Bobby Ross has told Gagliano that competition for the starting job will be open, but unless Humphries falls flat on his throwing arm, Gagliano expects to be standing on the sideline.

“The only thing I’m upset about is getting woken up at 7 a.m.,” Gagliano said. “This was the one morning I could catch up on some rest, but then I get this knock on my door: ‘Bobby Ross wants to talk to you.’

“I knew exactly what it was. I figured they had to bring somebody in. It doesn’t bother me. Why should it?

“I figured they would get Stan. I heard the talk about Phil Simms, but if they got Phil Simms they would have had two old (guys), and so Stan made more sense. . . . I can accept being known only as a backup begrudgingly because everyone wants to play.

“In past situations when I have had the chance to play and the starter wasn’t winning, I’ve thought maybe it would be fair if I started. But then it’s ‘Bob, you’re just not the guy we want. You’re just not the popular choice for the job even though we’re winning.’ So I found out the bottom line isn’t always winning, so what the heck. I decided, if that’s the way they want to play it, that’s fine.”

While Gagliano probably has lost another opportunity to persuade a team that he has the talent to be a starting quarterback, Jeff Graham and Pat O’Hara have slipped further into the background.

Graham competed with Humphries in Washington--before being released.

“It was no big surprise; everybody had been calling for somebody else,” Graham said. “Now I guess they’ve got their man.”

Charger players have speculated that the team will revert to its Dan Henning style of play and run the ball against the Patriots to get on the winning track.

Ross, however, said he will remain true to his philosophy of throwing the ball to achieve success.

“Our approach in this game is going to be to evaluate these quarterbacks,” Ross said. “It’s not going to be go out and pound in the running game. It’s philosophically where we’re trying to come from. We have to improve our passing attack.”

Patriot Coach Dick MacPherson told reporters the Chargers’ loss of Friesz “may be a blessing in disguise. We expect them to feature their running game, and that’s what we need to work on.”

Charger Notes

Running back Rod Bernstine (quadriceps) will not play tonight against the Patriots. Nor will linebacker Billy Ray Smith (hamstring) and wide receiver Shawn Jefferson (hamstring). Kicker John Carney (groin) is listed as questionable, along with defensive tackle Blaise Winter (neck).

The Chargers made room on their 80-man roster for Humphries by placing safety Anthony Shelton on injured reserve.