Chargers Deny Report on Ross’ Future

San Diego Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard strongly denied a report that the team is attempting to work out a settlement that would result in the departure of Coach Bobby Ross.

Ross wasn’t as forthright, saying, “I can’t address that.”

“I met with Bobby once, and I intend to meet with him again. That’s all I can say on the matter,” Ross said.

However, Ross has made every indication that he wants to fulfill his contract, which runs through 1999. His future won’t be known until a meeting with Beathard scheduled for Thursday.

On Sunday, NBC reported that the Chargers and Ross were trying to reach a financial settlement on Ross’ contract.

“We aren’t doing that,” Beathard said. “That’s ridiculous.”

Beathard refused to speak further on the situation, but a former NFL assistant coach said he had heard that a settlement between Ross and the Chargers was being discussed after Ross had been told to make some changes involving assistant coaches.

Apparently, the former assistant said, the issue for Ross was loyalty. Ross has fired only one assistant in 20 years as a head coach in the college and pro ranks.

There has been speculation for weeks that Beathard wants Ross to fire offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen, who has worked under Ross throughout those 20 years, and defensive coordinator Dave Adolph, who has been on Ross’ staff two years.

Friedgen understands that loyalty works both ways. If Ross’ job depended on it, Friedgen said he would step down.

“I wouldn’t stand in Ross’ way,” Friedgen said.