Chargers : Byrd May Switch Positions if Mossy Cade Is Signed
If the Chargers sign cornerback Mossy Cade, they will have a position waiting for him.
Starting cornerback Gill Byrd is practicing this week at strong safety, where he’ll likely play should the Chargers reach agreement with Cade.
“We feel like by the time we get through, we’ll keep six corners and two safeties,” said Jim Wagstaff, the defensive backfield coach. “In order to do that, we have to train some of our corners to play safety. Eventually, if we do get Mossy Cade, there is a possibility Gill would be our strong safety.”
Cade, the Chargers’ No. 1 draft choice in 1984, signed a four-year contract with the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League. However, Cade has an escape clause in that contract making it possible for him to sign with the Chargers.
The hang-up? Money, of course.
Tank Younger, the Chargers’ assistant general manager, said San Diego has given Cade a contract proposal. Cade’s agent is Perry Deering of Dallas.
“There’s nothing to report at this time,” Younger said Monday afternoon. “I’m waiting to hear from his representative.”
Deering said he would “probably” be getting in touch with the Chargers in the near future. Otherwise, he said that he is taking a no-comment policy toward the negotiations.
“Just tell the people we’re looking into the situation,” Deering said.
Coach Don Coryell said he would not comment about a player until he was on the team. However, he said that moving Byrd between cornerback and free safety has been discussed for a long time. Byrd was a first-round draft choice in 1983.
“We’ve talked about this since he was drafted,” Coryell said. “He graded out the best of any of our defensive backs in agility and speed tests. We felt we had to leave him at cornerback until we found out how the others would do there. Now, we want to see him at strong safety.”
The Chargers open exhibition play against Cleveland at 6 p.m. Saturday in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Tight end Pete Holohan (arthroscopic ankle surgery) and linebacker Mike Guendling (recovering from 1984 knee surgery and practicing once a day) will not play.
Among the ailing expected to play are running back Buford McGee (hamstring), linebacker Mike Green (knee) and defensive linemen Lee Williams (knee) and Chuck Ehin (sprained ankle).
According to Coryell, the healthy players will participate in varying degrees.
“Defensively, we’ll substitute individuals now and then,” he said. “We want three veterans with one rookie rather than all rookies. Offensively, we’ll play Dan Fouts and established veterans for, I’d guess, at least one quarter and into the second quarter. From then on, we’ll play other individuals.
“The offensive linemen will play quite a bit. We have difficult decisions to make there. Our wide receivers are young, and we need to see them. (Quarterback) Bruce Mathison will play a lot. We want him to have extended time and see how he does.”
Coryell said he was pleased with running back Tim Spencer and linebacker Vernon Maxwell in practice. Spencer, Cade’s teammate at Memphis, signed with the Chargers last week. Maxwell was obtained from the Indianapolis Colts last week for a fifth-round draft choice in 1986.