Chargers : Corral Will Get a Look Amid Crowd of Kickers
LA JOLLA — Although they already have five kickers in camp, the Chargers Friday signed Frank Corral, who has been out of the NFL since 1982.
Corral, 32, was waived by the Rams before the 1982 season. He played at UCLA and also kicked for the Chicago Blitz (1983), Arizona Wranglers (1984) and Houston Gamblers (1985) of the USFL.
Coach Al Saunders said that Corral was in camp “for a look” and that it did not reflect directly on Rolf Benirschke, Jeff Gaffney, Vince Abbott, Ralf Mojsiejenko and Joe Prokop.
“This does not indicate undue pressure on the other kickers,” Saunders said. “It was a personnel decision to take a look at him. Players appear on the waiver wires that our scouts would like to see. This was one of those situations.”
Said Steve Ortmayer, director of football operations: “He is someone who has been in the league before, and he is someone who is a competent pro. We just want to see where he is in his kicking.”
As a rookie with the Rams in 1978, Corral led the league in field goals attempted (43) and made (29). He also was the Rams’ punter in 1980 and 1981.
He had a tryout last season in front of Ortmayer, who was then with the Raiders. And Corral tried out for the Washington Redskins when Wayne Sevier was their special teams coach. Sevier is now the Chargers’ special teams coach.
“I hope that wasn’t the reason they signed me,” Corral said. “I’m here to compete for a job.”
Since being released from the Gamblers in 1985, Corral has worked as a juvenile counselor for the Riverside County Department of Corrections and given kicking clinics.
“I haven’t kicked under pressure for a while,” he said. “But being a kicker is not like being a receiver. As long as you are in shape, I don’t think you can lose too much. Unless the age catches up with you.”
Charger Notes
Injury update: Tight end Kellen Winslow had fluid drained from his knee Friday and will miss two to three days of practice. Though it was drained from the same knee that kept Winslow from playing for a season and a half, Coach Al Saunders said the procedure was minor. . . . Tackle Gary Kowalski and defensive end Jim Stuckey are out two to three days with abdominal strains. . . . Safety Jeff Dale (back) continues to improve and should practice “in the next couple of days,” Saunders said. Dale did nothing more than jog gingerly around the practice field Friday. . . . Mark Herrmann (bruised thumb) did not practice Friday and is still on a day-to-day basis.
Ortmayer said he did not have anything to report on the Chargers’ five unsigned players: Rod Bernstine, Billy Ray Smith, Dennis McKnight, Thomas Benson and Earl Wilson. Ortmayer said he tried to contact Bernstine’s agent twice Friday, but was unable to reach him.
