Surprised Fouts Takes the Offensive : He Denies Negotiating, Says He Wants to Play for Chargers

Charger quarterback Dan Fouts says that he wants to play for the Chargers for $750,000 this season, that he is not trying to renegotiate his contract and that it was the Chargers who recently approached him about discussing his future, rather than vice versa.

Fouts’ comments on Thursday contradicted what Charger owner Alex Spanos said in a statement released Wednesday. In the statement, Spanos said Fouts and his representative indicated that Fouts would need additional compensation if he were to continue his playing career with the Chargers, and that Fouts turned down a $1 million offer for this season.

Spanos said in the statement that “since the offer was not satisfactory to Dan, I feel our only alternative is to seek a possible trade for Dan to a team that will satisfy his demands.”

Fouts said the content and timing of the statement caught him by surprise.

“I don’t know what their motivation is,” Fouts said. “You’ll have to talk to Mr. Spanos about that.

“The club called me over to their office (Wednesday of last week) to discuss the future,” Fouts said Thursday. “I don’t want to get into details, but I can tell you we were not negotiating. I was there with Mr. Spanos and Mr. (Steve) Ortmayer, without my agent. I’d be a fool not to have an agent with me if I was going to negotiate. Especially a guy like Howard (Slusher). He’s the best in the field, and I’ve been with Howard for 15 years.”

Fouts, who has been the quarterback of the Chargers for the last 14 years, made it clear how he felt about a possible trade.

“I have the greatest job in the world being quarterback of this team,” Fouts said. “And that’s what I want to do.

“I’ve been working for two weeks now to get my health to the point where I can play quarterback,” said Fouts, who has been rehabilitating a strained back during training camp.

As for his next move, Fouts said: “I don’t think I can indicate to them any more than I already have. I’m following orders, I’m receiving treatment, I’m in training and I’m stepping up my practice regimen every day. I’m throwing more and throwing more types of simulated pass routes and getting ready for the season.”

When asked if the Chargers called in Fouts to talk about his future, Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations did not reply.

Moments later, when asked if the Chargers initiated the conversation by approaching Fouts, Ortmayer said, “No.”

Did the Chargers possibly suggest retirement to Fouts when the parties met? “Absolutely not,” Ortmayer said.

“What is accurate,” Ortmayer continued, “is Mr. Spanos’ statement. . . . I think that statement is self-explanatory.”

Ortmayer was told that Fouts had said he would play for the amount stipulated in his current six-year guaranteed contract, which calls for base pay of $750,000 in 1987 and 1988, the final year.

Said Ortmayer: “I guess when he says that to Mr. Spanos . . .” He ended his sentence there.

Spanos was flying back to San Diego from New York Thursday and could not be reached for comment.

Ortmayer said the Chargers are waiting to find out if Fouts’ back is sound and if he is physically ready to play.

Fouts has thrown on the sidelines for the last six days. He has not been cleared to practice by the team’s medical staff.

“I’m getting better every day,” Fouts said, “but it’s really a long, slow process. They’re (the medical staff) pleased with my progress, and as long as they see the light at the end of the tunnel, that gives me hope.”

Amid the controversy, the Chargers have been preparing for their first exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday night at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Mark Herrmann will start at quarterback and play a good portion of the first half, according to Coach Al Saunders. Free agent Rick Neuheisel will be the second quarterback in the game. Saunders said the amount of work rookie Mark Vlasic gets will depend on how the game is going.

Saunders said he has no indication that Fouts will not be available.

“I will proceed with Dan Fouts as a player on this football team until such time as someone tells me differently,” Saunders said.

But Saunders said the Chargers came into camp determined to prepare themselves to play without Fouts, if need be.

“We felt that one of the concerns of our team was the health of Dan Fouts,” Saunders said. “He has missed several games in the past four years. The direction we were going was to prepare ourself for a situation which would occur if Dan would get injured the year.

“So we had to strengthen the defense, we had to strengthen special teams, and had to be more effective running the football if we are to be successful without the services of the one of the finest quarterbacks to play the game.

“Dan is well documented as a great leader and has done amazing things for this football team. My hope is that everything will be resolved and he will continue to do that. If it isn’t, then we go on with life and we continue to make progress.”

Herrmann has served as Fouts’ backup for the past two seasons, but from what has taken place so far in training camp, Herrmann said he senses this year might be different.

“They’re preparing me for what might be ahead,” Herrmann said. “They might be giving me more repetitions in practice, maybe foreseeing that I will be the guy,” Herrmann said.

Charger Notes Offensive lineman James FitzPatrick underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Wednesday and is expected to miss only one to two weeks instead of three to four weeks, as was originally diagnosed.