CHARGERS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Two More Chargers Go Silent
The list of Charger players boycotting reporters grew from one to 3 1/2 Thursday.
Defensive end Leslie O’Neal was the charter member of the club. O’Neal said he would not talk to reporters at the beginning of training camp and has kept his promise.
Receiver Shawn Jefferson had been one of more chatty Chargers, but his mouth has gotten him in trouble for two consecutive weeks. So he has zipped it shut.
Two Sundays ago after a home loss to Pittsburgh, Jefferson chastised San Diego fans for their lack of support. A day later, he apologized to the fans after Coach Bobby Ross scolded him for his comments.
Then, last week before the Houston game, Jefferson guaranteed a Charger victory.
Jefferson’s response Thursday to a question about whether he was starting Sunday was, “I don’t feel like talking.”
When he was asked why, Jefferson said: “I just don’t feel like talking.”
Jefferson said he won’t feel like talking the rest of the year.
Ross said he is not the reason for Jefferson’s new attitude toward reporters.
“All I told Shawn about last week is, to say what you did, you have to be ready to back it up,” Ross said.
Strong safety Delton Hall, who hasn’t made a tackle this season on defense or special teams, was not commenting on his lack of playing time or any other subject.
“I’m not talking,” said Hall, a Plan B acquisition from Pittsburgh. “I don’t have anything to say.”
Running back Eric Bieniemy is apparently speaking to reporters when the mood strikes him. Bieniemy told one reporter he didn’t feel like talking because he had a cold, then minutes later he spoke at length to another reporter.
Ross said he was unaware so many of his players had stopped talking to reporters.
“I’ll say something to them about it because it’s not my rule,” Ross said.
Ross has apparently been listening to too many Dan Quayle speeches. While briefing reporters on the state of his roster, Ross said:
“No roster updates. Everything is as was and the status is the same as everything.”
Ross called Thursday’s practice one of the season’s best.
“We were pretty focused,” he said. “The intensity was good, it wasn’t always sharp.”
But it was always loud, although Ross said he wasn’t sure why.
“I have no idea, other than they worked and they came out and they seemed enthusiastic,” he said.
Cornerback Gill Byrd practiced with a hard cast on his injured right thumb. He said he expects to play Sunday against Seattle. Byrd had surgery Monday to repair torn ligaments in the thumb that he injured during the third quarter of the Houston game.
“I thought it was a sprain,” Byrd said.
How does Byrd expect to catch the ball with a cast on his hand and halfway up his arm?
“Concentrate,” Byrd said.
Ross said Nate Lewis would start at receiver and kickoff returner if his sore hamstring is better by Sunday.
Seattle starting tight end Paul Green injured a shoulder in practice this week and will not play. He will be replaced by Ron Heller. Three other Seahawks are doubtful for Sunday: receiver Tommy Kane (knee), cornerback Brian Davis (thigh) and safety Robert Blackmon (hip).
