SAN DIEGO – While the team remains cautious with 
It’s likely they’ll be more than just camp bodies given San Diego released Kris Wilson earlier this week. There’s room on the roster behind Gates and McMichael, giving someone in the group of
“We have a number of young guys at the tight end position we have to find out about,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “I think we know Antonio pretty well. When the rest of the guys get here (Aug. 4), we’ll start mixing him in.”
Sperry played in seven games for the Bolts last season, catching four passes for 73 yards. In the least, he got a head start in becoming familiar with the Chargers’ system.
“I’m just trying to understand the offense better and do a little bit of everything. (Antonio) Gates and Randy (McMichael) have been in the league for a very long time and they have a job for a reason,” Sperry said. “Being able to watch them and see what they do is what I think has given me an edge.”
Gates and McMichael built their careers on catching passes. It would make sense for the Chargers to pursue a third tight end that’s capable of blocking and perhaps playing well on special teams.
Miller, a 2010 sixth-round draft choice in Washington, was traded to St. Louis and eventually released. At 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, he describes himself as a fullback/tight end hybrid.
“I’m able to move around and am very athletic and can block so they want me to learn both positions,” Miller said.
Sperry, too, is dedicated to improving his technique.
“Right now I focus on hand placement, footwork and staying low,” Sperry said. “D-linemen are some big boys and it’s all about leverage. So if you have the fundamentals down correct and just try to grind, you end up blocking (well).”
PRAISE FROM GOODELL: Chargers President Dean Spanos, a factor in the labor negotiations, received commendation from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“Dean is somewhat understated in his approach, but he’s very direct,” Goodell told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “He had a huge impact. He doesn’t do a lot of talking. One that stuck out was when an issue was being discussed and a player said, ‘We can’t do it.’ Dean said, ‘Why can’t you do it? What can you do?’ We worked it out and moved on. His timing and directness had a great influence on the negotiations.
“Dean was particularly good on the challenges of getting stadiums built, particularly the challenges in California. This is important to our future, the players and the NFL, and we’re determined to find a solution.”
