Graham Becomes the Odd Quarterback Out for Chargers : Football: Kicker Huerta also among those cut. Team agrees to trade for Tampa Bay linebacker Kevin Murphy.
Quarterback Jeff Graham and kicker Carlos Huerta got the heave-ho Tuesday, while the Chargers were preparing to say hello to Tampa Bay linebacker Kevin Murphy.
General Manager Bobby Beathard said the Chargers have reached an agreement to acquire Murphy for an eighth-round conditional draft pick if the Bucs can come to contract terms with the outside linebacker.
“We have an agreement on a one-year contract with the Bucs,” Steve Weinberg, Murphy’s agent, said Tuesday night. “I think Kevin will be on his way to San Diego (this) afternoon.”
If Murphy fails to make the Chargers’ roster, the Chargers will not have to surrender a draft choice to Tampa.
“We will apply for a two-week exemption, because he hasn’t been in training camp, and get a two-week free look at him,” Beathard said. “This is something that protects ourselves in case Billy Ray Smith or somebody gets hurt.”
The Chargers have been concerned about the left outside linebacking post, which is manned by Henry Rolling and Smith. Both Rolling and Smith have a history of injury problems, and Murphy started 14 games in the same position last season for Dale Lindsey, who is now on Bobby Ross’ staff here.
Murphy, 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds, is beginning his seventh year in the league. He was drafted in the second round of the 1986 draft and started 53 games for the Bucs.
“We didn’t get a contract offer from Tampa until the first day of training camp,” Weinberg said. “It’s been tough. After some of the things that have happened in Tampa, this is a great deal for Kevin.”
While Murphy gets a fresh start, the end came quickly for Graham.
Two weeks ago, after John Friesz went down with a season-ending knee injury, there was talk in camp that Graham offered the Chargers their best opportunity to win.
The coaching staff and front office dismissed Bob Gagliano as a potential field general and looked to Graham, while also continuing to swing a trade for Phil Simms or Stan Humphries.
“Ten days ago, I was pretty secure,” said Graham, fighting back tears. “A lot can happen, I guess.”
Graham and Huerta were two of 21 roster moves made by the Chargers to meet the league’s required cut to 60 players.
“It makes me a little sick that it had to be this way for Jeff,” said Pat O’Hara, who appears to have won the No. 3 quarterback post. “It’s not a good feeling. I know it’s part of the business, and it could have been me just as easily, but I honestly feel horrible for him.”
Graham appeared to be devastated by the Chargers’ decision.
He had taken Beathard’s advice and had played in the World Football League in 1991, and before signing with the Chargers, he had been sacked 70 times and injured both elbows.
After spending most of last season on the Chargers’ developmental squad, he moved to San Diego to work out full-time at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. He didn’t miss an off-season workout and continued to work in mini-camp and training camp.
“Things were going so good,” Graham said. “I thought I was doing well.”
And then less than a month before the opening of the regular season, the Chargers traded for Humphries. In 1989, the Redskins elected to keep Humphries on their roster and release Graham. History was about to repeat itself.
“Maybe I pressed a little bit (after the trade for Humphries),” Graham said, “but if they are going to base my evaluation on the three days after the trade, I was here every day in off-season and every day since then. I don’t think it’s fair to base it on that.
“I don’t think I went into the tank. I thought I played well.”
In addition to the acquisition of Humphries, something quite extraordinary happened that the Chargers and Graham never expected--Gagliano played well.
“When John got hurt, and everybody was looking toward Bob, Bob came through,” Beathard said. “Had Bob not come through, of course, then I think it would have been a little different.
“Bob came through, and then there was the trade for Stan and we liked the potential of O’Hara.”
When Graham arrived Tuesday morning at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, he thought he had survived the cut. He was in the team’s weight room and on his way to a team meeting when he was told that Coach Bobby Ross wanted to see him.
“I thought everything was all right,” said Graham, who was 12 for 22 for 85 yards in exhibition play. “I talked to coach Ross, but you don’t really listen. He tries to cushion the blow, but you’re thinking of other things. It’s really emotional.
“I’d like to thank the Charger organization for giving me this chance, and now I’ll go home and think about it. And then I’ll probably start working out tomorrow and hope somebody calls.”
Huerta, meanwhile, was long gone by the time Graham received his bad news. Huerta met with Ross before the other players arrived for morning meetings and then jumped on a plane to West Palm Beach, Fla.
“I feel good about John Carney. I do,” said Ross, although he has never seen Carney successfully hit a field goal in competition. “It got down to the kickoffs.”
Carney has hit 76% of his field-goal attempts the past two seasons, and he has shown an ability to kick off and hit the end zone.
“To me you always take the approach the guy (Huerta) has got to beat him out,” Ross said. “I don’t necessarily know if he did that. He made a heck of a competitive charge at it.”
Huerta was two for two in field-goal attempts; Carney was 0-for-2. A similar situation occurred here in 1990. Carney out-kicked Fuad Reveiz in exhibition play, but the Chargers elected to keep Reveiz. After Reveiz continued to struggle, the Chargers resigned Carney and released Reveiz.
“Obviously they had enough confidence in me to make the decision this week,” Carney said, “which makes me feel better. They have two years of film on me and we’ve had two mini-camps and a long training camp, so it’s not like it’s a case of me coming from another league or the college ranks. It’s not like I’m a rookie and they have to see what I can do.”
Charger Notes
Defensive tackle George Thornton returned home because of a stomach virus, and cornerback Marquez Pope was unable to practice because of a sore throat. . . . The Chargers practiced in preparation for Thursday night’s exhibition game with the Rams, but Coach Bobby Ross was not pleased. “I didn’t think it was particularly sharp; in fact, I thought it was even sloppy to tell you the truth,” Ross said. “It needs to be a lot better.” . . . Linebacker Billy Ray Smith continues to practice in a green jersey, indicating that he is not completely healthy, but Ross said he expects Smith to make his exhibition debut against the Rams.
Charger Moves
The Chargers’ moves on the day NFL teams were required to pare their rosters down to 60 players: RELEASED
Pos Player DT Mitchell Benson RB Bob Christian WR Darrell Colbert LB Chris Collins WR Derrick Faison QB Jeff Graham K Carlos Huerta TE Cedric Jackson OT Darryl Jenkins P Rich Jones CB Derrick Kelson WR Keith McDonald S Chris Oldham WR Jimmy Raye LB Galand Thaxton TE Craig McEwen
PLACE ON INJURED RESERVE
Pos Player CB Donnie Elder QB John Friesz OT Mark Nua
PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM
Pos Player WR Ray Ethridge LB David Grayson