Humphries Gets in Bowl Spirit : Football: Charger quarterback would enjoy a spot in the Pro Bowl. His teammates support his bid.

SAN DIEGO â€”  Four months ago, Stan Humphries was the fourth string quarterback for Joe Gibbs. Three months ago, he was the second string quarterback for Bobby Ross. Two months ago, he had the worst quarterback rating (44.5) in the NFL on a team tied for the NFL’s worst record.

Now he is being mentioned as a Pro Bowl candidate?

“No question, he deserves recognition,� said quarterback Bob Gagliano who began the season as the starter. “The turnaround has been remarkable. He’s been a pivotal part of that. I would think that he would definitely be in the running.�

But Humphries, whose quarterback rating has risen to 74.2, isn’t so sure.

“I don’t know,� Humphries said. “You’ve got (John) Elway, (Jim) Kelly, (Dan) Marino, (Warren) Moon. he names are what you go on. If you go on years, I think I’m having a pretty good year. But I’m not worried about it. If I get this team to the playoffs, that’s a pretty good goal for me.�

If Humphries won’t campaign for himself, his teammates will.

“I don’t think anyone has been playing better than Stan has the last two months, in either conference,� Gagliano said.

“Stan’s done a hell of a job,� said Charger tight end Duane Young. “I mean really a hell of a job. He’s implemented a lot of his own thinking. The way he has come in and turned this thing around is incredible.

“He’s definitely a Pro Bowl candidate. If he’s not, somebody’s gravely mistaken.�

Players will cast their Pro Bowl ballots Monday and the selections will be announced late next week. Although Humphries’ rating is sixth best among AFC quarterbacks, only Marino and Kelly have thrown for more yards in the AFC. In October, Humphries’ rating was 107.4 and he was named AFC offensive player of the month.

After four games, Humphries had thrown only one touchdown pass with eight interceptions. With two games remaining, he has 14 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions.

“Because of his slow start, he probably won’t get many votes,� linebacker Gary Plummer said. “Because, most of the time, they just look at the rating. But Stan would be one of our MVPs. Right now, I think he’s playing as well as any quarterback in the AFC.�

Kicker John Carney said numbers don’t tell the whole story of Humphries, who played only nine games in three years with the Redskins.

“He’s really done everything the Chargers have asked him to do,� Carney said. “He brings a lot of intangibles because he comes from a winning program. So he brings that winning attitude with him.�

That attitude and a rifle right arm could lead to Humphries to the Pro Bowl, even if he doesn’t think its possible.

“If I somehow get it, that would just be another accomplishment for this team if it got to the playoffs,� Humphries said.

Charger Coach Bobby Ross lists safety Stanley Richard as “very questionable� for Sunday’s game in Los Angeles. Richard, who strained a hip muscle in practice Friday and did not suit up for Sunday’s game, was held out of workouts Monday. Ross said Darren Carrington will start if Richard can’t play Sunday.

Running back Marion Butts, who banged his knee during Sunday’s game, said he felt fine and will play Sunday against the Raiders.

The Charger ticket office sent out about 13,000 playoff ticket bills to season ticket holders. Joe Scott, director of ticket operations, said more than half of the bills have been paid.

“We had a lobby full of people making payments all day (Monday),� Scott said. “The phone was ringing off the hook.�

Season-ticket holders have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to pay for playoff tickets.

The general public will not be able to purchase playoff tickets until probably the Monday after the Chargers would clinch a home playoff game. The earliest that could occur is Dec. 27, when the Chargers play their final regular-season game in Seattle.

The Chargers signed running back Howard Griffith and receiver Robert Claiborne to their developmental squad. Griffith and Claiborne were recently waived by the Chargers, but they cleared waivers.