Making the rounds
Former Seattle QB visits Chargers, talks with Browns
Posted: Tuesday February 16, 1999 09:06 AM
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Moon threw for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season before losing his starting job in mid-season. Otto Greule Jr./Allsport |
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Two years older and out of work again, Warren Moon made another
offseason visit to the San Diego Chargers. This
time, he thinks he might fit in.
The free agent quarterback, who lost his starting job in Seattle last
season and then was released by new coach-general manager Mike Holmgren,
visited with new Chargers head coach Mike Riley and his staff on
Monday.
Moon also spoke with Browns coach Chris Palmer on Monday night. The Browns
are also seeking a veteran quarterback, and Moon played with Palmer when he
was an assistant coach with the Houston Oilers.
"He's interested in what's being done in Cleveland," Palmer said. "The
thing that I have to guard against is because I'm so close with him that I
become prejudiced and say, 'Hey, that's the guy I want.' That would be the
easiest thing for me to do, because I know him, and I'm comfortable with
him."
Palmer said he isn't concerned about whether Moon can still play
effectively.
"He had some pretty good games last year in Seattle, and I feel he still
has some pretty good football left in him," Palmer said.
In San Diego, Riley is still deciding on an offensive philosophy, and Moon
said the reason he's visiting is to see how he might fit in.
General manager Bobby Beathard said late Monday that negotiations hadn't
begun yet, but that Moon "is certainly a guy that we think would solve a
big problem."
The Chargers' 5-11 record in 1998 was largely due to brutal play by rookie
quarterback Ryan Leaf
and Craig Whelihan, who
started the last seven games after Leaf was benched. At the end of the
season, star linebacker Junior Seau publicly
called for the Chargers to sign a veteran, and mentioned Moon by name.
Moon, who at 42 is nearly twice as old as Leaf, said he's spoken with both
Seau and safety Mike
Dumas.
"They'd like to have me," Moon said.
Moon said he'd like to get something done quickly, and said he's also
interested in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The Chargers have made signing a
veteran quarterback a priority.
Brian Billick, Baltimore's new coach, was offensive coordinator when Moon
played in Minnesota, and Kevin Gilbride, Moon's former offensive
coordinator in Houston, was recently hired in the same capacity with
Pittsburgh.
Gilbride, who was fired as Chargers head coach in October, had just been
hired in 1997 when Moon came through looking for work, having been released
by Minnesota.
Moon settled on the Seahawks, saying he felt they were a better team.
"I think my chance for success is probably a little bit better here now
than it was a couple years ago," Moon said, citing San Diego's top-ranked
defense, rebuilt offensive line and the presence of running back Natrone Means.
He even went as far as saying that with him as quarterback, the Chargers
would have a chance of being a playoff team next year, providing the
defense plays tough again.
"There's not a lot that this team needs to field to be a good football
team, and at this point in my career, I'm looking for a team that I can
have success with," said Moon, who was raised in Los Angeles. "There are a
lot of positives about me being a San Diego Charger."
Moon said he thinks he can help with Leaf's development, but made it clear
that he doesn't want to come in just to be a baby sitter.
"I'm a guy that's very competitive," he said. "I'm not a guy that wants to
come in with a backup role. I want to go to a situation where I know I can
play or think I have a good chance of playing, and I think I have a good
chance of playing here."
Moon has played 15 years in the NFL, throwing for 49,097 yards.
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