CHARGER REVIEW : NOTEBOOK : Lynn Experiences Emotional Reunion

After the Chargers’ 27-10 victory Sunday over the Bengals, a group of Chargers immediately went to the Cincinnati locker room to present their former defensive coordinator, Ron Lynn, a game ball.

There wasn’t a word spoken, as Billy Ray Smith, Gill Byrd, Gary Plummer and Blaise Winter took turns hugging Lynn. Lynn was visibly shaken by the experience, and wiped tears from his face as he retreated into the locker room.

Lynn’s 11-month old son, Alec, has been battling leukemia, and this past week he suffered a setback in his recovery.

“It was tough because I know what he’s going through,” said Byrd, whose son was seriously ill before recovering two years ago. “I know what he’s feeling, having a son and being in the situation of being a father where there’s nothing you can do.

“That’s very humbling, and it hurts. I feel for him. I’m happy we won, but right now I don’t feel good because of Ron’s situation.”

Lynn, who was a favorite of both the players and reporters here during his six-year stint, was dismissed along with Coach Dan Henning last year.

“I’ve said on many occasions he’s like family,” Plummer said. “I love him. It hurts to see him suffering like he is, and all you can do is try and be there and support him. He’s always in our thoughts.”

After the game, Byrd told Prime Ticket that he might retire if the Chargers go into the playoffs and finish on a strong note.

He said his desire is to play two or three more years, but he said this year has been tough on him physically. He said if the physical woes took their toll he might consider calling it quits.

“But if only the circumstances are right,” he said.

When the Chargers took the field for pregame warm-ups they looked up on DiamondVision and watched the Patriots beat up on the Chiefs.

“It look good for a while,” guard David Richards said.

But the Chiefs rallied and took the lead, and the game came off DiamondVision. The Patriots came back, and at game time, a note was flashed to the fans and players on the field: Kansas City 27, New England 20 with the Patriots having the ball on the Chiefs’ 25-yard line and two minutes to play.

Moments later the bubble burst, the Patriots fumbled, the Chiefs held onto win and maintained a the tiebreaker edge on the Chargers in the race for the AFC West title.

Signs on the wall:

- Chargers energized, Leitner criticizes, stay off the bandwagon, Ted

- Beathard, Ross, Arnsparger--The Three Wise Men.

Starting safety Stanley Richard injured a quadriceps muscle in Friday’s practice, and Coach Bobby Ross dismissed it as being anything serious.

Richard, however, was not in uniform for Sunday’s game and Darren Carrington replaced him.

“It was my decision,” Ross said. “He might have been able to play, but I didn’t want anything to happen to make it something that might linger.”

On the Bengals’ first offensive play of the game Cincinnati went after Carrington. Quarterback David Klingler faked a handoff, froze Carrington and then went deep to wide receiver Jeff Query for an 83-yard touchdown.

“We designed the play on Wednesday,” Cincinnati Coach David Shula said. “We thought it would be a good first play, and it was.”

Carrington made a diving tackle for Query five yards shy of the goal line, and it appeared his face mask clipped Query on the heel. Query suffered a sprained ankle and was unable to return to the game.

When Lynn was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator, his players were instructed to go after the quarterback after an interception and block him hard on the return.

Lynn’s Bengals apparently have been taught the same thing. In the first quarter, Bengal defensive back Darryl Williams picked off a pass intended for Anthony Miller, and Cincinnati defensive lineman Alfred Williams immediately went after Charger quarterback Stan Humphries.

Humphries took exception to Williams’ tough-guy routine and took a poke at him. Up in the press box, no doubt, there was a smile on Lynn’s face.

Just how valuable is Ronnie Harmon?

In the third quarter Humphries rolled left to pass and didn’t notice a hard-charging Daniel Stubbs.

Harmon, however, did. He peeled back from the line of scrimmage and stopped Stubbs, allowing Humphries to complete a seven-yard pass to Anthony Miller to the Cincinnati one-yard line. Two plays later Humphries ran the ball right for the touchdown to push the Chargers ahead, 17-10.

Running back Marion Butts thundered for 47 yards on six carries in the first quarter until he re-injured his knee.

Butts injured his knee in the season-opener against Kansas City, hurt it again against Seattle and has struggled all season to run with authority.

“He wanted to go back in, but Keoki (Kamau, Charger trainer) pulled him out,” Ross said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious, but we’ll have to see.”

Defensive lineman Chris Mims also hurt his knee, but returned to the game. Defensive lineman Burt Grossman, who has been bothered by a sore ankle, played without a problem and recorded 1 1/2 sacks.

Defensive end Leslie O’Neal picked up 1 1/2 sacks for a season-total of 15, and he needs one more to become the team’s all-time leader.

The Charger defensive backs had their heads shaved this week in a sign of unity. Carrington had his barber, however, leave his number--No. 29--and a lightning bolt on the back of his bald head.

“I think I look pretty good,” Carrington said. “I’ll hook you up (with my barber) if you want me to.”