Tolliver to Be Dealt To Falcons : Chargers: Trade expected to be completed today. Quarterback disappointed he didn’t excel in San Diego but relishes fresh start.
SAN DIEGO — Quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver said he was told Tuesday night by a Charger official that he will be traded to the Atlanta Falcons today.
“That’s the direction they’re going in, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” Tolliver said. “I just hope for the guys on the football team that they get some of the just rewards they’ve worked for.”
General Manager Bobby Beathard confirmed that the Chargers and Falcons have agreed upon the terms for a Tolliver trade, but he said the deal has not been formally completed.
“Atlanta wanted to wait until after their practice (today),” Beathard said. “I just hope (news of the deal) doesn’t put the trade in jeopardy.”
Beathard said if the trade is finalized as agreed upon, the Chargers will receive “a set draft pick.”
Beathard also said the Chargers will sign former Redskins and World League of American Football quarterback Jeff Graham to their developmental team.
Graham, 6-feet-4 and 205 pounds, was a fourth-round pick for the Redskins out of Cal State Long Beach last year. After being released last exhibition season, he joined the Browns’ developmental team.
The Chargers, meanwhile, informed Bob Gagliano on Monday that he would be placed on injured reserve, although it came as news to everyone--including a smiling Gagliano--that he was hurt.
The team changed its plans on Tuesday, and Gagliano’s ailing knee now apparently will allow him to work as a healthy backup to John Friesz for Sunday’s opener with Pittsburgh.
Beathard said the team has no intention of adding a third quarterback to its active roster.
“I think what happened here with Billy made him tough to be accepted,” Beathard said. “A change of scenery may be best for him.”
Friesz, who has the benefit of one NFL start under his shoulder pads, beat out Tolliver for the starting job on the basis of his strong showing in the final exhibition game, when he completed 17 of 19 passes for 210 yards.
“I’m surprised this happened so quickly,” said Vic Vines, Tolliver’s agent. “You got Billy Joe as the starting quarterback last week, and then they make the quick move after last game and make Friesz the starter, and now a couple of days later it’s, ‘Billy Joe, you’re going to be traded.’ That’s not your normal course of circumstances.”
Tolliver was 8-11 in two years as starting quarterback for the Chargers, but after a sensational exhibition season showing his rookie year, the hometown fans took a boisterous dislike to him. In his exhibition start against the Raiders last Friday, he was loudly booed for simply taking the field.
“It’s no secret what Beathard and Mr. (Alex) Spanos think about me,” Tolliver said. “For the (fans) here, I’d have to play perfect football to make it happen. I’m willing to try, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to get that opportunity.”
Ted Tollner, the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, said he talked with Tolliver shortly after the announced switch in changing quarterbacks, and he was impressed by Tolliver’s attitude.
“He’s a real man about things; he makes no excuses,” Tollner said earlier Tuesday, while unaware of the impending trade. “He thought about his emotions, and he told me, ‘When you need me, I’m going to be ready.’ ”
Tolliver, who steadfastly refused to pass the blame around for his poor showing, has been silently carrying the burden the past few weeks that his mother is seriously ill.
“He’s a strong character, good person,” Tollner said. “I hope everything works out for Billy.”
The Chargers traded third-, fourth- and seventh-round picks to the New York Giants in 1989 to obtain a second-round choice and the chance to select Tolliver out of Texas Tech.
“You know, this (trade) kinda sucks, but then it doesn’t,” Tolliver said. “I didn’t fulfill some goals I had here, so it’s disappointing in that sense.
“But you get another opportunity, and that’s part of the business and you just go do it. I don’t know much about Atlanta, but I know (Coach Jerry) Glanville is there and he’s an Elvis fan, so he can’t be that bad.”
The Falcons feature Chris Miller at quarterback in their run-and-shoot attack, and have Brett Favre (Mississippi), the 33rd player taken in the 1991 draft, as his backup.
The Falcons released quarterbacks Scott Campbell and Gilbert Renfroe on Monday.
“I’m just shoot-and-shoot; I’m not going to run,” Tolliver said. “I think it goes back to college and Mouse Davis really liked me. Mouse seemed to think I was Mr. Run-and-shoot for some reason, probably because I got a strong arm and am tough and can take a beating.”
Tolliver will return with the Falcons to San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium on Sept. 15 when the Chargers play their regular-season home opener.
“I was willing to do whatever I could to help out the Chargers, but I don’t know if I’ve got the backup mentality,” Tolliver said. “I’m a very impatient guy, which could be part of my downfall here in San Diego.”
Tolliver’s Statistics
Quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver’s statistics in two seasons with the Chargers:
YR G-S ATT COM YDS PCT INT TD ’89 5-5 185 89 1097 48.1 5 8 ’90 15-14 410 216 2574 52.7 16 16 Tot 20-19 595 305 3671 51.3 21 24
Notes: Had three 300-yard passing games, two in 1989 and one in 1990. . . . Attempted 140 consecutive passes without an interception during Weeks 6-11 last season. . . . Had an 8-11 record as a starter.
