Chargers Trade Banks, Aquire Darrin Nelson

SAN DIEGO —  The Chargers lanced what had become a public relations boil and added a versatile running back in two transactions Tuesday. Both deals beat the NFL trade deadline by less than a half hour.

First, the Chargers sent drug-plagued linebacker Chip Banks, 30, to the Indianapolis Colts in a conditional deal that will probably bring them a fourth-round selection in 1990. The terms depend on how well the former USC linebacker performs in Indianapolis and whether he remains drug free.

Moments later, the Chargers acquired veteran Viking running back Darrin Nelson from Dallas for a fifth-round pick that the Cowboys immediately shipped to the Vikings as a condition of the multi-player deal that sent running back Herschel Walker to the Vikings last week.

Banks recently completed a 90-day drug treatment program in the San Diego area after twice pleading guilty to cocaine and marijuana possession this year.

Charger owner Alex Spanos had agonized for weeks over whether to give Banks another chance with his team after he had publicly stated the five-time Pro Bowler would never again play for the Chargers.

“I’ve never had this kind of pressure put on me,” Spanos said Tuesday. “It was very, very difficult.”

Spanos finally relented with the stipulation that he would allow Banks to return to the Chargers next year. “I didn’t want to disrupt anything this year,” Spanos explained.

But that wasn’t good enough for Banks, who informed the Chargers he wanted to play in 1989. They accommodated by making the trade.

In the case of Nelson, the Chargers were desperate for a third-down back--someone who could run the ball and catch passes out of the backfield. Their current third-down backs--Rod Bernstine (knee) and rookie Dana Brinson (neck and shoulder) probably won’t play this week against the Giants.

Nelson, 30, refused to report to Dallas last week after the Walker trade and threatened to retire. But he told his agent, Tony Agnone, there were certain teams he would play for if a trade could be arranged.

The Chargers (2-4) were one.

“I think the Chargers have a good football team,” Nelson said. “I think they’ve had a few bad breaks lately. I hope I can help out.”

So does Charger Coach Dan Henning. “I think Darrin’s done some outstanding things in the past,” he said.

Nelson became the the NCAA’s all-time all-purpose yardage leader at Stanford University and in 1977 was the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 50 passes in the same season.

He was the seventh player selected in the 1982 college draft (ahead of Raider Marcus Allen and Redskin Gerald Riggs). And he was the Vikings’ leading rusher in each of the past four years. But he is small by NFL standards--5-feet-9, 185 pounds--and missed three games with injuries last season.

Henning welcomed the Nelson deal and said he expects him to start practicing with the team today. But he was not without reservations about how much Nelson will contribute immediately.

One problem is the lack of similarity between the Viking and Charger offensive systems. Henning also wondered out loud why Minnesota traded Nelson.

“There’s always a reason when a team wants to get rid of a player that has been productive for them in the past,” he said. “And then he goes down there, and Dallas doesn’t fight to keep him.”

But, Henning added, “to me, if you (Dallas) are going to take Darrin Nelson in that trade, of all those guys, I thought maybe Darrin Nelson was someone who could help Dallas out.”

Nelson said he refused to report to the Cowboys because, “I wanted to go to a place that if it wasn’t winning right away, they’d have potential to win. I told Dallas that if I was 24 or 25, I’d be glad to stay in Dallas.”

The Cowboys will still get a sixth-round pick in the 1990 draft and a second-round pick in the 1991 draft from Vikings. But Viking General Manager Mike Lynn protected himself against Dallas double-dipping by insisting he get any pick Dallas would acquire if it traded Nelson. That’s why the pick the Chargers spent on Nelson goes to the Vikings.

“Darrin’s in excellent shape, and he’s an intelligent guy,” said Minnesota Coach Jerry Burns. “It won’t take long at all for him to pick up San Diego’s offense.”

It didn’t take Banks long to change his mind about his continued rehabilitation. Monday he said he wanted to stay in San Diego for at least a year to continue treatment with drug counselor David Katz of the Rancho L’Abri center in Dulzura.

“I’ve learned a lot,” Banks told the media in Indianapolis. “I feel like I’m a complete person.”

Katz was unavailable for comment. Spanos said it was his understanding Banks will continue to receive counseling in Indianapolis.

To make room for Nelson on their active roster, the Chargers waived rookie running back Victor Floyd. Henning said if Floyd clears waivers, the Chargers will probably place him on their developmental squad.

The contract Banks signed with the Chargers is believed to be for two years at $250,000 per year.

The Chargers had high hopes for Banks when they acquired him on draft day in 1987. But he played just one year with the team before becoming embroiled in a contract dispute that caused him to sit out the 1988 season. During that period, his involvement in drugs spun out of control.

“He just got lost in life,” said Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations. “That was a big disappointment because we were very, very happy when we got him.”

Henning said he agreed with Spanos’ pre-trade decision to keep Banks off the Chargers this year. “Mr. Spanos wanted to send a message to the football team that you don’t start in the middle of the season,” Henning said.

Charger Notes

Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations, said he received no calls Tuesday regarding unsigned running back Gary Anderson. Anderson’s rights remain with the Chargers. Anderson himself remains at home in Tampa, Fla. DARRIN NELSONHeight: 5-9; Weight: 185; Age: 30;

NFL Experience: Eighth year.

RUSHING

Year No. Yds. Avg. TD 1982 44 136 3.1 0 1983 154 642 4.2 1 1984 80 406 3.1 3 1985 200 893 4.5 5 1986 191 793 4.2 4 1987 131 642 4.9 2 1988 112 380 3.4 1 1989 31 124 4.0 0 Totals 1043 4016 3.8 16

RECEIVING

Year No. Yds. Avg. TD 1982 9 100 11.1 0 1983 51 618 12.1 0 1984 27 162 6.0 1 1985 43 301 7.0 1 1986 53 593 11.2 3 1987 26 129 5.0 0 1988 16 105 6.6 0 1989 7 52 7.4 0 Totals 232 2060 8.9 5

Also: Returned 99 kickoffs for 2,315 yards, a 23.4-yard average with a long of 50 yards, and 39 punts for 313 yards, an 8.0-yard average with a long of 21 yards.