Chargers : Chargers and Bernstine Deal Close, Team Says

LA JOLLA — It’s likely that the Chargers and first-round draft pick Rod Bernstine will reach an agreement today, Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers director of football operations, said Monday.

Bernstine’s agent, Ralph Cindrich, said he was prepared to fly from Pittsburgh to San Diego Monday evening to sign an agreement. Cindrich said he’d been waiting for a call from Ortmayer.

“It’s just the craziest darn thing,” Cindrich said. “There was an eight o’clock flight and I waited for his call and he never got back to me. (The deal) could have been closed in a conversation, but it wasn’t because a call wasn’t made back to me.”

Ortmayer denied that the deal hinged on a returned phone call and said: “We have talked back and forth all day and we are still trying to arrive at a financial figure and a financial structure.”

Cindrich, who remained in Pittsburgh Monday night, said that the Chargers’ financial offer is “awfully close dollar-wise” to what he is asking, but the agreement has been snarled because of “structuring problems.”

Cindrich would not be specific about these “structuring” difficulties.

Still, both sides seem eager to reach an agreement even though team owner Alex Spanos said last week the Chargers would trade the No. 1 draft choice if a deal wasn’t struck by last Sunday.

Cindrich said that he would like to bring the “matter to a head” today.

Bernstine continues to work out on his own and is eager to begin practicing with the team, Cindrich said.

“Yeah, he wants to be out on the field and playing,” Cindrich said. “He is working out now, but it’s not the same as being at camp.”

Guard James FitzPatrick injured his knee in Monday morning’s practice, and Charger Coach Al Saunders said there is a possibility of cartilage damage that may sideline FitzPatrick two to three weeks.

“It’s a disappointment for us a little bit because James was making great strides,” Saunders said. “He is probably the most improved player from last year.

“Nobody has ever questioned James’ physical potential in terms of his size and his ability to run and his athletic ability. But the thing that was missing was the intensity and the consistency and the level of ambition that you need to be successful in this league. He has made a total 360-degree turnaround in that area.”

There are three other players still holding out: defensive end Earl Wilson, and veteran linebackers Billy Ray Smith and Thomas Benson.

Saunders said it is time to move on without them.

“I think we have to, we can only work with the people we have,” Saunders said. “The way we prepare on a day-to-day basis is to prepare as though we are playing with those we do have.”

For players like Benson, the time away from camp could be costly, Saunders said.

“It is unfortunate because Tom, we feel, has a real chance to make a contribution to this football team,” he said. “But he certainly has to be here in order to do that.

“There are a lot of players out there who are working extremely hard and some may not have the raw talent that Benson has, but certainly someone who knows where to go and knows how to do it has a better chance of helping us than somebody who doesn’t. We may have to soon make some plans without Thomas.

“We would hope that doesn’t happen and that he comes (to camp), but we have to move on as we get closer to the season.”

Charger Notes Quarterback Dan Fouts threw on the sidelines Monday and appeared strong. “To me, it looks like he will be ready to go soon,” Coach Al Saunders said. . . . Darryl Haley, who was waived by New England and Tampa Bay this summer, signed with the Chargers Monday. Haley practiced Monday and Saunders said he will continue to scan the waiver wire. “You can never be too strong in any area,” he said. “You can’t always be satisfied with what you have.” . . . Kicker Frank Corral was waived Monday. “We felt the three kickers we had in camp (Rolf Benirschke, Vince Abbott and Jeff Gaffney) were a little farther ahead (of Corral) at this time,” Saunders said. . . . Free agent Tom Hensley, a defensive end, left camp on his own Sunday. “He decided that he was not going to pursue a career in the National Football League,” Saunders said. . . . Heading into Saturday’s preseason opener with the Dallas Cowboys, Saunders said the team is right on schedule. “We feel like we are right on track in terms of what we are doing,” he said. “The only disappointment is that we don’t have some of the players in who we would like working.” . . . Dallas running back Herschel Walker will not play Saturday because of strained ligaments in his right knee, the Cowboys reported Monday.