Pro FootballThe San Diego Chargers’ big gamble...

Pro Football

The San Diego Chargers’ big gamble paid off when they acquired defensive end Marco Coleman after the Miami Dolphins failed to match an offer for $9.6 million over three years.

The acquisition, which wraps up the Chargers’ free agent defensive needs, came one week after the stunning release of star running back Natrone Means to clear room under the salary cap.

“We were sweating it out,” General Manager Bobby Beathard said.

Lineman Shahriar Pourdanesh, who played at University High, has signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins. Pourdanesh, 25, played the past two seasons for the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League, where he was lineman of the year his rookie season. He was a three-year starter at Nevada.

The Dallas Cowboys decided not to match the New York Giants’ five-year, $10-million offer to reserve offensive lineman Ron Stone. . . . Linebacker Michael Brooks, the leading tackler for the New York Giants the past two seasons, signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. . . . The Buffalo Bills took a major step in filling the absence created by the departure of Cornelius Bennett by signing linebacker Chris Spielman, a former Lion.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Chargers, the last two AFC champions, will meet in Tokyo on July 28 to begin the second decade of “American Bowl” exhibition games.

Golf

Without much wind, TPC Eagle Trace wasn’t much of a match for Tim Herron, who tied the course record with a 10-under-par 62 and took a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Honda Classic at Coral Springs, Fla.

The PGA Tour rookie missed only one green all day, and atoned for it by holing a 20-foot chip on No. 18 to tie the record first set by Dan Pohl in the second round of the 1989 tournament.

Lee Rinker, who played in the afternoon when the wind picked up slightly, was two strokes back at 64. He could have caught Herron with a birdie on the last hole, but pulled his drive into the rough and wound up missing a six-foot par putt.

Jurisprudence

Lamar Smith of the Seattle Seahawks will face another trial stemming from an accident that left a teammate paralyzed, prosecutors said Thursday.

In addition, the trial judge will be asked to reconsider a ruling that barred the introduction of blood tests on Smith as evidence in the first trial, which ended in a mistrial.

Miscellany

Beginning next month, pro boxers will have to take an AIDS test to fight in New Jersey. Larry Hazard, commissioner of the State Athletic Control Board, said that anyone who tests positive will be banned from boxing in the state.

Former Philadelphia Eagle owner Leonard Tose, who squandered his fortune on drink and gambling, was evicted from his French-style mansion on Philadelphia’s Main Line on his 81st birthday.