Leaf Needs Surgery, Could Miss Season

Ryan Leaf’s already rocky NFL career took another hit Friday when the San Diego Chargers said the second-year quarterback needs surgery on his throwing shoulder and could miss the season.

Leaf was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, an injury more common in baseball than in football. Team officials said Leaf could be out three to four months, or all season, depending on the extent of the damage.

Leaf, who had a disastrous rookie season on and off the field, was near tears as he met with reporters two hours after he got the news.

“It’s tough,” Leaf said. “I was just getting back to what I love to do. I was shocked. I didn’t know it was that bad. I just thought it was a sprain or something.”

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Lawrence Phillips is about to get another shot at the NFL and barring a last-minute hitch, it appears he’ll be playing for the San Francisco 49ers.

General Manager Bill Walsh said after lengthy talks with Phillips’ agent, Mitch Frankel, that the two sides neared a contract agreement.

Walsh said he planned to finalize the deal with Phillips by Monday, when the 49ers open training camp.

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In the latest shake-up under new owner Daniel Snyder, Charley Casserly was forced out as general manager of the Washington Redskins and given a new title as “consultant to the owner.”

Vinny Cerrato, formerly of the 49ers, was given Casserly’s job under the title of director of player personnel.

When he was wooing NFL owners to approve his $800-million purchase of the Redskins, Snyder vowed to retain Casserly as general manager. However, after his first meeting with Casserly and Coach Norv Turner, Snyder recognized the soured relationship between the two and decided he had to renege on his promise.

Meanwhile, the Redskins signed four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ken Harvey, whom they cut last week, to a one-year contract.

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The Chicago Bears had enough confidence in quarterback Shane Matthews to let Erik Kramer go before they had a deal with top draft pick Cade McNown.

“Shane can win games for us,” said quarterbacks coach John Shoop, who worked with Matthews the last two years at Carolina.

That’s a good thing being the Bears began two-a-days Friday with McNown still nowhere to be found.

“I think it’ll be several days before anything gets worked out,” said Ted Phillips, the Bears’ president and chief executive officer.

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Running back Marshall Faulk was the lone no-show as the St. Louis Rams held their first two practices in 102-degree heat at Western Illinois University.

The Rams added potential defensive help, acquiring linebacker Mike Morton from the Green Bay Packers for future considerations.

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Running back Edgerrin James, the fourth pick in the draft, and the Indianapolis Colts are “very far apart” on a contract, according to President Bill Polian. . . . Quarterback Neil O’Donnell signed with the Tennessee Titans, his third team in as many years. O’Donnell, 33, agreed on a multiyear deal as a backup to Steve McNair. . . . The Baltimore Ravens agreed to a four-year deal with top draft pick Chris McAllister, a cornerback from Arizona.