CHARGER REVIEW : NOTEBOOK : ‘Sheriff’ Polishes His Star for Cameras

Charger safety Stanley Richard has been waiting to become famous, and once he had the nation’s attention, he produced.

“I’ll tell you what, when you can get up or the big games with everybody watching, the lights are on and a lot of people can remember your name,” said Richard, who now has three interceptions. “I was able to make some tackles and get an interception and a lot of people are going to think about Stanley Richard now.”

In the first quarter Richard, who likes to be called the “Sheriff,” blasted wide receiver Tim Brown, after Brown caught a short pass, and kept him from gaining a first down.

Later in the quarter, he picked a tipped pass off his shoelaces for an interception and returned it 20 yards to the Chargers’ 45.

Richard came that close from breaking the return for a touchdown before being stopped. The Chargers went on to score their first touchdown of the game moments later.

“I need to take some lessons from Ronnie Harmon,” Richard said. “I went to the sideline and the guys were telling me I should have cut this way and I was gone.

“This was exciting. People have read about the Chargers, but they didn’t know about them. This was a chance in a national game to show people what we are all about.”

Signs on The wall: “Boss Ross, We Believe”

“Raiders, Just Lose Baby”

“Move The Raiders To Idaho”

“Playoffs”

“Raiders Can’t Surf”

Cornerback Gill Byrd pointed it out: The Chargers were able to win without Burt Grossman in uniform.

“I was surprised,” Grossman admitted.

Grossman was unable to play because of a pair of sprained ankles. The team is concerned that he may have suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle, and he will undergo a bone scan today.

As for the Chargers’ 27-3 victory over the Raiders, “It was easier that I thought,” Grossman said.

Charger running back Marion Butts fumbled five times in his first 628 NFL carries, and four times in 174 attempts this season.

A fantasy football dream/nightmare: Butts plowed through the Raiders’ defense for 18 yards and was one yard away from scoring a touchdown when he fumbled. Wide receiver Anthony Miller, however, picked up the ball and fell into the end zone. For those scoring at home, credit Miller with a rushing touchdown.

“That’s the difference in this team from last year,” guard David Richards said. “Anthony was running down field to make a block and so he was in position to recover the ball. That’s making your own good luck.”

An example of the ups and downs of life in the NFL: Running back Eric Bieniemy dashed 18 yards for the longest run in his short NFL career. On the following play, Raider defensive lineman Howie Long threw Bieniemy down for a three-yard loss.

Bieniemy finished the game with 10 carries for 49 yards.

What do the Chargers have against Steve Wisniewski?

Three years ago Wisniewski became Junior Seau’s punching bag, and Seau was ejected from his first professional football game.

On Sunday night, easygoing George Thornton went after Wisniewski, pulled his helmet from his head and then tried to send Wisniewski into the stands.

The referee called offsetting penalties.

Rookie defensive lineman Chris Mims has piled up nine sacks in the last eight games.

“We decided as a team that we could play with these guys and guys worked hard all week to make sure we were prepared,” Mims said. “It showed on the practice field and it showed today.”

Seau explained why he pitched the ball to cornerback Sean Vanhorse after recovering and running with a fumble.

“Remember, I was a quarterback,” Seau said. “That was the option.”

Seau said the Chargers have played tough all season and nothing has changed now that they are winning.

“I hear guys saying we got to be more aggressive now because it’s the Raiders,” Seau said. “I say, ‘What are you saying? You’ve been holding back the last seven weeks?’ You know we have been physical as we can be all along. We shouldn’t have to change for anyone. You stick to what is working.”

The Raiders have their commitment to excellence, the silver and black and all that, but tackle Harry Swayne said, “We overcame that mystique, and we’ve gotten over that hump.”

Confusion reigned on the Chargers’ failed fourth and one play with 10:08 left in the third quarter. Miller and three players came on the field with the clock running down. Miller finally called time out when the play clock showed just one second.

Once order was restored, Ronnie Lott stopped Butts short of the first down, and the Raiders took over at their 33.