Hut 1, Hut 2 . . . Oxygen!

By DAVE McKIBBEN

July 11, 1998 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Steve DeBerg will be twice as old as most of the rookies reporting to NFL training camps next week. DeBerg, 44, hasn’t played professionally in five years and will be the second oldest player in NFL history if he makes the Atlanta Falcons’ roster.

George Blanda was 49 when he last suited up for the Oakland Raiders in 1975.

But DeBerg isn’t worried about the old-man jokes. He simply wants to play football.

“I just believe as a backup quarterback I can offer a lot,” DeBerg said from Atlanta. “I think with my experience as a player and as a coach, I can communicate a lot to the younger quarterbacks.”

DeBerg said the reaction to his comeback attempt has been mixed.

“Some of my friends and family think I’m crazy,” he said. “The other half of them are excited and proud that I would still have the guts to do this at my age.”

Although some in the NFL might question DeBerg’s signing, others see the value of adding his experience to a team.

Chet Franklin, assistant general manager of the New Orleans Saints, said he was a little surprised when he read that DeBerg was coming back. But he refused to criticize Dan Reeves, Atlanta’s coach and general manager.

“Forty-four is certainly old for any position in the NFL, but I’m sure Dan likes the guy as a coach,” Franklin said. “Dan Reeves is not a dumb guy, so I’m sure he has a plan.”

DeBerg said he never really planned a return to the NFL when he began working out last year.

“I started out just trying to get back into really good shape,” said DeBerg, who lives in Tampa, Fla. “Some people play golf or tennis to get into shape. I like to throw the football. When I started working solely on football skills, I was surprised at the level I was at. I never did stop throwing, so my arm was in good shape.”

A few months ago, DeBerg got the word out that he was interested in playing again by sending letters to NFL general managers, many of whom he personally knew, having played for San Francisco, Denver, Tampa Bay (twice), Kansas City and Miami.

He followed the letters with phone calls. He tried Tampa Bay first. He then called Reeves, who coached him in Denver for three years and employed him as a quarterback coach with the New York Giants in 1995 and ’96.

“I actually called Dan to get advice and find out what he thought about [a comeback],” DeBerg said. “By chance the Falcons were in a little bit of predicament because of the Mark Rypien situation, so they asked me if I would work out.”

Rypien, who had been the Falcons’ backup to Chris Chandler, might not play football this season because of concerns about his family’s health. Rypien’s 2-year-old son, Andrew, has undergone two operations for brain cancer and his wife, Annette, has also experienced some health problems recently.

After a solid workout, the Falcons signed DeBerg to a one-year contract last week. DeBerg said there are no guarantees, but he is confident he will make the team. He will be competing with former Oregon quarterback Tony Graziano for the backup job.

“I believe I could have played anywhere,” DeBerg said, “But Dan’s situation in Atlanta is probably the best for me, especially this late in the summer. I feel like I’m an expert in his system.”

With DeBerg’s signing, the four oldest players in the NFL are quarterbacks. Seattle’s Warren Moon is 41 and Tennessee’s Dave Krieg and Oakland’s Wade Wilson are 39.

“I think there’s a good reason for that,” said DeBerg, who retired in 1993 after 17 seasons with the 13th most passing yards in NFL history and a league-record 18 consecutive completed passes.

“The quarterback position is a little more about doing the right thing, [rather] than running a 4.4 [-second] 40 or jumping out of the building. It’s more about knowledge and experience and being able to throw the ball fairly well. . . . I feel like I’m the most knowledgeable player in the NFL.”

Reeves could not be reached for comment, but Franklin speculated Reeves will try to tap into some of DeBerg’s knowledge.

“DeBerg is a special case because of his experience,” Franklin said. “I think with DeBerg it’s more security than anything. And he’s not a bad guy to have around on your team. He’ll help the younger guys.”

But while helping the younger guys, will the older guy get injured?

“Some of the people really close to me are concerned,” DeBerg said. “I have no injuries. I’m in perfect shape. A lot of people would like me to stay that way. I hope I do too.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Old Hat

Oldest players entering NFL training camps:

Steve DeBerg: 44 (Atlanta Falcons)

Warren Moon: 41 (Seattle Seahawks)

Dave Krieg: 39 (Tennessee Oilers)

Wade Wilson: 39 (Oakland Raiders)

Gary Anderson: 38 (Minnesota Vikings)

Darrell Green: 38 (Washington Redskins)

John Elway: 38 (Denver Broncos)

Age of the NFL

Steve DeBerg, who has switched NFL cities seven times, heads into training camp with the Atlanta Falcons as potentially the oldest active NFL player. Former Oakland Raider kicker/quarterback George Blanda is the record holder, having played until he was 49 years 109 days old:

OLDEST PLAYERS HEADING INTO CAMP

*--*

P Player Team Birth date QB Steve DeBerg Atlanta Jan. 19, 1954 QB Warren Moon Seattle Nov. 18, 1956 QB Dave Krieg Tennessee Oct. 20, 1958 QB Wade Wilson Oakland Feb. 1, 1959 K Gary Anderson Minnesota July 16, 1959 CB Darrell Green Washington Feb. 15, 1960 QB John Elway Denver June 28, 1960 K Morten Andersen Atlanta Aug. 19, 1960 CB Albert Lewis Oakland Oct. 6, 1960

*--*

DeBERG’S NFL TRAVELS

YEAR: TEAM

1978: San Francisco

1979: San Francisco

1980: San Francisco

1981: Denver

1982: Denver

1983: Denver

1984: Tampa Bay

1985: Tampa Bay

1986: Tampa Bay