New Charger Clay Fails Physical With Bad Back

SAN DIEGO —  Tackle John Clay, traded along with two draft picks from the Raiders to the San Diego Chargers Saturday for Pro Bowl tackle Jim Lachey, failed to pass his physical Sunday morning because of a lower back strain, raising questions in Charger camp that maybe the Raiders had pulled a fast one.

Before Saturday, the Raiders and Chargers, long time AFC Western Division rivals both on and off the field, hadn’t worked a trade since 1976. And when Clay told Charger team doctors Sunday morning that he had injured his back last Wednesday during a Raider scrimmage, it raised a few eyebrows.

“I was not aware of anything until a couple of our trainers came running out on the field (during a morning workout) and told me he (Clay) wouldn’t be able to practice,” Charger Coach Al Saunders said. “I’m disappointed because we were not informed, as far as I know, in any way that he had an injury.”

In another development surrounding Saturday’s trade, the San Diego Union reported Sunday that the two draft picks the Chargers received from the Raiders might be exchanged for a Raider running back, possibly Napolean McCallum, who is trying to get permission from the Navy to resume his football career.

Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations who used to work with the Raiders, denied the rumor.

“There isn’t any running back that I know of coming here,” Ortmayer said. “I don’t know where that came from. Right now, we’re as likely to deal with any team in football as we are with the Raiders.”

Asked what he might do with his new draft picks, Ortmayer said: “We’re looking to improve ourselves for 1988. We got draft picks with John Clay instead of another player because he’s young and we wanted to get him in here.”

Clay, of Missouri, was the Raiders’ first pick in the 1987 National Football League draft. He reported to the Chargers’ camp Saturday night and all indications were that he would practice Sunday.

Ortmayer, who did not mention anything about Clay’s injury to the media Saturday, said Sunday that the Raiders had made it clear to him that Clay was hurt. Clay worked out at Raider camp Thursday and Friday but did not go through any contact drills.

“The young man told me himself that he had strained his back,” Ortmayer said. “But he also indicated that he’s ready to play. He wanted to practice (Sunday) but the doctors held him out as a precautionary measure. I have no concerns about the situation.”