Stenstrom to Start for Bears

Quarterback Steve Stenstrom will make his first NFL start Sunday after mostly sitting on the Chicago Bear bench for more than three years.

Coach Dave Wannstedt said Friday that Stenstrom would go against the St. Louis Rams (2-6) because starter Eric Kramer’s shoulder was still bothering him.

“I’m confident with him, our players are confident, we’ll be fine,” Wannstedt said of Stenstrom.

Although he has played during the exhibition season, Stenstrom has completed only 11 passes during the regular season since he was claimed off waivers by the Bears (3-5) in 1995.

Kramer, who has taken all of the team’s snaps this season, has a strained rotator cuff and some tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.

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Quarterback Steve Young, still sore from last week’s pounding by the Green Bay Packers, was downgraded from probable to questionable for San Francisco’s game against Carolina.

Young, suffering from what the 49ers described as an abdominal muscle strain, took a limited amount of snaps Friday, his third abbreviated workout in as many days.

Ty Detmer, an off-season free agent acquisition and a former starter for Philadelphia, would start against the Panthers (1-7) if Young is unable to go for San Francisco (6-2).

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San Diego Charger interim head coach June Jones said he has spoken with rookie quarterback Ryan Leaf about reports that he acted boorishly on a visit to his alma mater last weekend.

The purpose of Leaf’s visit to Washington State during the Chargers’ bye weekend was to donate $200,000. Half the money went toward a scholarship fund in honor of the late Andrew Rypien, the 3-year-old son of former Cougar quarterback Mark Rypien. Andrew died of cancer this fall. The other half went toward a new field house on campus.

Several newspapers reported that the rest of Leaf’s visit to Pullman wasn’t as benevolent. Reports said Leaf threw beer on two students, made obscene gestures at others, was thrown out of two establishments and banned from a convenience store, and was generally condescending.

Jones declined to say what he told Leaf.

“But I can say this, that he’s going to live and learn through these experiences, and if he doesn’t, then you pay down the road,” Jones said.

The Chargers (3-5) travel to face the Denver Broncos (8-0) on Sunday.

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Oakland Coach Jon Gruden faces a Nov. 30 pretrial hearing on a charge of driving under the influence on his way home from a party celebrating the Raiders’ victory over San Diego on Oct. 11.

Gruden pleaded not guilty Thursday, a day before he had been scheduled for arraignment. A lawyer entered the plea, and Gruden did not attend the court hearing.

The district attorney’s office said Friday it was not notified beforehand of the decision to enter the plea a day early. If convicted, he could face up to six months in jail, three to five years probation, a six-month driver’s license suspension and a $1,400 fine.

A blood test taken at the time of his arrest showed Gruden had a blood-alcohol level of .10. The legal limit is .08.

A highway patrol officer’s report said Gruden was going about 51 mph in a 35-mph zone and was weaving across lanes.

The report said Gruden had an uncooperative demeanor, thick and slurred speech and that he was unable to perform a series of field sobriety tests. Gruden also could not remember his home zip code.