Chargers Continue to Show Their Remorse
The Chargers admitted they are guilty as charged and continued their seemingly never ending string of apologies Monday.
For the second consecutive day, Coach Bobby Ross apologized to the fans, management and anybody else who would listen.
Receiver Shawn Jefferson apologized for a comment he made after Sunday’s 23-6 loss to Pittsburgh. Quarterback Stan Humphries apologized to reporters for not talking to them after Sunday’s game.
Jefferson’s did talk and this is what he had to say about Charger fans: “It seemed like the fans were cheering for Pittsburgh. If they’re going to do that, they might as well stay the hell home. A college crowd’s better than this stuff. I can’t believe it. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
Jefferson said Monday: “I would like to apologize to the fans for making that remark. I reacted without thinking.”
Jefferson said his remarks were prompted by fans’ insults to him and his teammates as he left the field Sunday.
“I overreacted like they did,” Jefferson said. “It was wrong.”
Jefferson was scolded by Ross for his comments, but was not fined.
“It was a very serious tone,” Jefferson said. “I’m not apologizing because he got on me about it. I’m apologizing because I realize it was wrong.”
Said Ross, “I think he’s wrong there, . It’s us. It isn’t them. It isn’t their fault that we lost. It’s our fault.”
Humphries said frustration caused him to shun reporters.
“I felt like last week was our week to turn it around,” he said. “It takes a little time to get over it, to be by yourself, to see if you could have done anything more to prevent it or to help you win the game.”
Owner Alex Spanos did not say whether he accepted any of the apologies. He could not be reached at his Stockton office.
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Humphries’ sprained left ankle is fine. He practiced Monday and expects to play Sunday in Houston. But Humphries said he didn’t feel fine Sunday when he went down with 1:55 left in the first half.
“The first 15-20 minutes after it happened, I felt a tingling sensation going up the leg,” Humphries said. “I thought I felt a pop, but the brace I was wearing saved me.”
Humphries, who completed only 13 of 29 passes for 151 yards, said his injury did not affect his performance.
“I thought everything was going well and then it just seemed like it fell apart and whatever bad could go wrong went wrong,” Humphries said.
Ross said part of Humphries’ problem was that he held the ball too long, especially on a throw to Shawn Jefferson in the back of the end zone. Jefferson was unable to keep his feet inbounds.
“I don’t think I saw him too late,” Humphries said. “I was trying to look to Anthony (Miller) short and hit Shawn behind him. Maybe I could have thrown it just a little earlier, but it’s just something that comes with playing out there.”
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The Chargers are likely to put receiver Nate Lewis on injured reserve today with a strained hamstring and sign Charles Wilson, who was waived by Green Bay. Wilson has been brought into town and will be signed today. If Lewis does not go on injured reserve, General Manager Bobby Beathard said he is considering another move to make way on the roster for Lewis, but he did not indicate what that might be.
Punter John Kidd had surgery on his nose after breaking it in several places. He will play Sunday.
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Beathard said he will not bring in another kicker despite John Carney’s miss of a 25-yard field-goal attempt Sunday. Ross said he has confidence in Carney, for now.
“I won’t be expecting another miss like that,” Ross said.
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Ross said he spoke with Beathard after Sunday’s game but it wasn’t about his job.
“He’s been very supportive,” Ross said of Beathard. “I can’t imagine people wanting to get rid of me yet.”
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The Charger defense is ranked first along with Kansas City in the AFC. They are tied for second with Kansas City in the NFL. Philadephia is ranked first. Last year, the Charger defense ranked 19th in the NFL after being fifth in 1990.
