All for One, One for All

Here’s a sign that the San Diego Chargers are truly in the post-Ryan Leaf era: They have a quarterback controversy that does not involve questions of malingering or attitudinal deficiencies.

Indeed, it is hard to even call the issue of Doug Flutie versus Drew Brees a controversy. A competition, perhaps, but given their ages, it is not a matter of if but when the 23-year-old Brees will replace the 39-year-old Flutie.

New Coach Marty Schottenheimer says he wants to give each a chance in the exhibition season to earn the starter’s role. Beyond that, he’s noncommittal.

“Doug played well and so did Drew,” allowed Schottenheimer after Saturday’s 24-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Flutie, the starter, completed six of nine passes for 46 yards.

“I barely broke a sweat,” he said.

Brees, entering the game to significant cheers, completed eight of 13 for 60 yards, although he threw an interception that Cardinal cornerback David Barrett returned 38 yards for a touchdown.

“It felt great just to be able to get the opportunity [to play],” Brees said.

Last season Brees got only one such opportunity during the regular season. When Flutie suffered a concussion in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brees made his pro debut, completing 15 of 27 passes for 221 yards, one a 20-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Jones.

Trailing, 19-0, when Brees entered, the Chargers took the lead, and only a last-minute touchdown gave the Chiefs a 25-20 victory.

The next game, Flutie was recovered and the rookie from Purdue was, in effect, finished for the season. After a 5-2 start, the Chargers stumbled to 5-11 and Coach Mike Riley was dismissed on New Year’s Eve.

Under Riley, Flutie was promised the starter’s job--the kind of assurance he had never had during three seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

But Schottenheimer does not believe in entitlements and announced soon after he was hired that he wanted Flutie and Brees to compete during the exhibition season.

He also used the Cardinal game to look at Dave Dickenson, last year’s third-stringer, and rookie Seth Burford from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

One factor that seems to undercut the idea of a controversy is that Brees and Flutie get along fine. They play golf on days off and during the Cardinal game stood on the sidelines, comparing notes. Even the radio sports talkers have not been able to construct much of a rivalry.

“I try not to think about it--and I know Doug does the same,” Brees said. “The goal here is just for both of us to get better.”

On and off the field, they are a study in contrasts. Flutie is a scrambler, Brees the more traditional drop-back passer. Flutie is poised, articulate, analytical. Brees has a youthful grin and sometimes during interviews, his words take the field without a clear game plan.

After eight years in the Canadian Football League and nine in the NFL, Flutie has no need of false modesty.

“It was solid,” he said of his Saturday performance. “I made good reads and made good decisions with the ball.”

Brees, still largely unknown to the San Diego public, is careful not to promise too much.

“I never rate performances,” he said. “You’ll never hear me say, ‘I did really good.’ ”

Fans with long memories are reminded of the John Unitas-Dan Fouts competition of 1973. The aging veteran had joined the Chargers after a stellar career at Baltimore but after four games, the rookie from Oregon took over the job as first-string quarterback, which he held through 1987.

Even as he considers his quarterback situation, Schottenheimer has other concerns. Minor injuries kept linebacker Junior Seau, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, free safety Rogers Beckett, defensive tackle Jamal Williams, cornerback Tay Cody and kick returner Ronny Jenkins out of the Cardinal game. And the Chargers have yet to sign top draft pick Quentin Jammer, the cornerback from the University of Texas.

Against the Cardinals, the Charger offensive line had trouble lining up properly, leading to penalties.

“We committed six fouls offensively before the ball was snapped,” Schottenheimer said. “We can’t do that to win in this league.”

Safety Rodney Harrison was even less forgiving, saying, “You can’t have excuses for those kind of penalties. We have to show more discipline, a little maturity.”

Brees will start Friday against the Seattle Seahawks at Qualcomm Stadium, with Flutie getting a turn. After that, the future lies with the man with the straw hat and the take-charge demeanor.

“I have no idea,” Brees said. “You’ll have to ask Marty.”