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Chiefly speaking

Chargers' LB Seau catches touchdown pass as TE

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Posted: Saturday September 04, 1999 03:30 AM

Changing roles: Junior Seau, an All-Pro linebacker turned tight end, caches a 37-yard pass for a touchdown.

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Craig Whelihan's performance in San Diego's final exhibition game may help the Chargers in their decision whether to keep Ryan Leaf on the active roster.

Whelihan threw his fourth interception of the exhibition season and Kansas City rookie linebacker Gary Stills returned it 59 yards for the winning touchdown with 1:47 to play to give the Chiefs a 34-27 win Friday night.

The Chargers must decide by Sunday afternoon whether to save a roster spot for Leaf, who's out at least until October following shoulder surgery, or put him on injured reserve and have him miss the whole season.

Whelihan's exhibition performance, coupled with his 19 interceptions last year, likely will factor into the decision.

General manager Bobby Beathard wouldn't comment after the game, saying the team would discuss the situation Saturday.

"The main thing with Ryan will be his health," coach Mike Riley said. "We would assume that if he's healthy enough to play, relatively soon, that we would assume that he should be one of our top three quarterbacks. When we get the final verdict on that, which would probably be tomorrow, we'll be able to make a decision."

Riley said it's possible to keep four quarterbacks on the roster. If that's the case, when Leaf's healthy enough to play, Whelihan likely would be cut. Jim Harbaugh is the starter and Erik Kramer the backup.

Said Whelihan of the roster possibilities: "It's out of my control."

He said he feels he's done enough to stick. "I feel I belong in the NFL," he said. "If not here, somewhere else."

The highlight for the Chargers was a 37-yard touchdown catch by All-Pro linebacker Junior Seau in his debut as part-time tight end.

The Chiefs rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit, getting three rushing touchdowns in the last quarter and a half and a tying 18-yard field goal by Pete Stoyanovich 29 seconds before Stills' score.

The Chiefs finished the exhibition season 2-2 while the Chargers finished 0-5 under rookie head coach Mike Riley, San Diego's first winless exhibition record in 40 seasons.

Kansas City had only four first downs in the first half before closing the gap.

"There were a bunch of guys we're counting on as backup players who laid their guts on the table," Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham said.

Rashaan Shehee scored on two 5-yard runs 27 seconds apart in the third quarter, the second of which was set up by Mark Word's interception of Kramer. Mike Cloud's 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter pulled the Chiefs to 27-24. Stoyanovich's kick capped a drive that reached the Chargers' 1-yard line.

Stills, a third-round draft pick from West Virginia, stepped in front of rookie tight end Steve Heiden to make the interception. He leaped over Raleigh Roundtree at about the 5-yard line and made it into the end zone.

"He threw the ball right at me and I just started running," Stills said. "It was a play we needed, to score a touchdown and win the game."

Seau's third play of the night at tight end came on second-and-8 from the Chiefs' 37 midway through the second quarter. Lining up on the left side, he broke out to the flat while wide receiver Jeff Graham ran a crossing pattern, drawing cornerback Eric Warfield with him. Seau was uncovered and pulled in Harbaugh's floater at about the 12 to give the Chargers a 21-3 lead.

After running into the end zone, Seau likely inflamed this already bitter rivalry -- and set himself up to be fined by the NFL -- when he threw the ball deep into the stands.

Seau jumped into the arms of wide receiver Mikhael Ricks, then Kansas City cornerback Cris Dishman tried to get in Seau's face. By that time there were five or six Chargers around Seau and Dishman was pushed away.

The teams meet in San Diego again Oct. 3, then in Kansas City on Oct. 31.

Seau played a little bit of tight end in the Pro Bowl, then asked new coach Mike Riley if he could play some for the Chargers, who were awful on offense last year. Riley didn't want to use Seau at tight end during the exhibition season, but Seau lobbied for a few plays in the final exhibition game.

"It was a great feeling," Seau said at halftime. "I'm glad it's over."

Seau sat out the first two plays on the ensuing Chiefs' drive, coming in on third down.

Seau was in for two plays on San Diego's second possession but didn't get open. Tight end Freddie Jones caught a 5-yard TD pass for a 7-3 lead.

Natrone Means had a good night, rushing 11 times for 44 yards, including a 2-yard score, and catching one pass for 12 yards.

San Diego gained 198 yards in the five drives directed by Harbaugh, who completed 11 of 13 passes for 167 yards.

Chargers safety Greg Jackson broke his right thumb and wide receiver Anthony Rodgers broke his left collarbone. Linebacker Eric Hill and receiver-return man Tony Gaiter both sustained concussions.

The Chiefs open the season Sept. 12 at Chicago. The Chargers are idle on the opening weekend and play their first game Oct. 19 at Cincinnati.

 

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