The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 95

1 0 I'ait III Thursday, September IWX CosAnfldcs Slimes Townsend Still Candid as Suspension Is Over USC Faces Solid Test in Opener stopped using the drug without difficulty. He isn't in a detox program and claims to feel no physical discomfort. Embarrassment maybe, but no discomfort. "It was just something that I used to do after a hard day's work," he said. "Just like people go in their refrigerator and grab a beer, mix a cocktail.

I went and rolled a joint after practice. That's what I did to unwind. "I grew up in a certain neighborhood Compton and I started off young. That's the way it was. There was no age limit.

It was easier to go up to a guy and buy a bag of weed than go in a store and buy a six-pack or two. "I have stopped. It's a must that I stop. It's no problem that I stopped. It's just something I have to do for my career.

They won't tolerate that anymore from me. "A lot of people that know me said, 'This is the only way you'd take control of the But I never felt the situation had taken control of me. Some people thought I was abusing it. I just felt it was part of my routine." "Do I think this was just a slap on the wrist? To me, that's all I needed. If I get caught again, maybe you can say it was a wrist slap.

To me, it was a lesson well learned." His professional situation remains the same. The left end on the four-man line, he'll be trying to beat tackles to the outside in throwing situations in Sunday's opener against the San Diego Chargers at the Coliseum. Last season, he led the team with 8VS sacks. Without him in the exhibi- By MARK HEISLER, Times Staff Writer The prodigal Raider returned from his suspension for marijuana use Wednesday to find a throng waiting to hear what he'd been doing the last month. "Urine specimens," said Greg Townsend, breaking up the press corps.

"Going to the bathroom a lot." Players often duck such confrontations, or issue prepared statements without taking questions, or swear their real problem is alcohol, which is not addressed by any National Football League program. But this was Townsend, candid as ever, loose as he was the day of his rumble in Kansas City, when he announced, "You can take the guy out of Watts, but you can't take the Watts out of the guy." So what was his story? He smoked marijuana, a joint a day to relax after practice, he said. He has done it as long as he has been a Raider, or at Texas Christian, or even at Dominguez High School. He had tested positive for it once before, without publicity. This time.

"I stopped on June 22, so I thought that by July 21 the veterans' reporting date it'd be all out of the system," he said. But marijuana stays in the bloodstream longer than that. Townsend and eight other players in the NFL were suspended without pay, although all it cost was their camp per diem, since contracts aren't paid until the season starts. Now obliged to undergo random testing weekly under the NFL's drug program, Townsend said he ankle surgery and played in just one exhibition game this summer. "This is really what our struggle has been all about," Upshaw said.

"You can talk about free agency and all those other issues. But no one looks at the human side. "Kellen Winslow has been looked at as a commodity that you can just shove down and replace with another part. I've always had a hard time with that. "I have to take the calls from the players' wives on things like this, and I hear the crying.

These are the real tragedies of the game." Upshaw, who played 16 years with the Raiders, said he hadn't spoken to Winslow yet. But he said he plans to speak to either Winslow or Steiner. He also said he will advise Winslow to immediately seek a second medical opinion on the knee. Winslow injured the knee, against the Raiders in 1984, not long after signing a five-year contract estimated in excess of $3 million. "I can remember when Kellen was holding out and people were accusing him of being greedy," Upshaw said.

"I told him not to let any of that bother him. I told him his career could end any time." It almost did in the Raider game that year. And even though he rehabilitated himself, Winslow was never the same player after the injury. "Kellen Winslow is a dues -paying member of the union and has supported us in the past," Upshaw said. "He will have our full support in this matter." After the suspension, Winslow complained publicly that his "honesty" telling the Chargers he didn't think he could play worked against him.

He said if he had kept his mouth shut, they would have placed him on injured reserve, and he would have collected his money. "Players are honest," Upshaw said. "That's one of the biggest problems. Players are honest." "I just think the whole thing is a tragedy," Byrd said. "I think it's a big misunderstanding.

I hope things get resolved real fast. As far as who's right and who's wrong? I don't know because I don't know the language of Kellen 's contract." WINSLOW Continued from Page 1 through grievance procedures outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. "I don't see how the Chargers have any grounds to suspend him," Upshaw said. The Winslow-Charger dispute centers around Winslow's contention that his surgically repaired right knee has deteriorated to the point that he can't play anymore. He said he informed the Chargers of that conclusion last week, and they responded by offering him half of his guaranteed 1988 salary of $795,000 if he agreed to retire.

Winslow declined, saying he deserved the full $795,000 because the contract was guaranteed. The Chargers responded Monday by issuing a brief statement announcing the suspension. "I've never heard of anyone being suspended for not playing," Upshaw said. Charger owner Alex Spanos was unavailable for comment. Winslow and Steiner have also avoided public comment since Monday.

But Steiner jetted from St. Louis to San Diego Wednesday to meet with the Chargers. Acting Charger player-representative Gill Byrd said he was surprised by Upshaw's statement that the NFLPA no longer considered the Collective Bargaining Agreement to be in effect. Byrd said Ortmayer met with the Charger players earlier this summer and explained to them the Chargers would honor the provisions of the agreement even though it has expired. Said Byrd: "If Gene says, 'No, we're not living under the basic Then what are we living under? "I think what Gene's doing and what management does at times-is to make things conducive to them by saying what they want to say at the right time.

In other words, 'I'm honoring the agreement now and not when it doesn't benefit But Upshaw was clear about his intentions to support Winslow, 30, who underwent offseason knee and Greg Townsend tion season, the team totaled 5, so he didn't have a lot of trouble getting his job back. What else comes with it, he'll learn soon. Tm concerned about how people will accept me," Townsend said. "People might take me as a druggie, or whatever. "I was thinking of that on the way here.

I just know people are going to be saying little things to me. When I hear that, I've just got to walk with tunnel vision, just keep on going to where I'm supposed to be. That's on the sidelines, helping my team out." Raider Notei Lineup changes, or non-changes: Linden King returns to his left outside linebacker spot, replacing Reffie McKenzie. Stacejr Torin, who has only been back for two days, will start at strong safety over Zeph Lee. Mike Hiynei remains at right cornerback, with Lionel Wuhinfton still questionable for Sunday's game with a groin pull.

The Raider-Schroeder front: Redskin officials told Washington reporters that Al DvU called Redskin Coach Joe Glbbs last Saturday to talk about backup quarterback Jay Schroeder but hasn't called since. The Redskins are reportedly asking for Jim Lathe? plus a No. 1 pick, with the Raiders disinclined to give up Lachey. Lachey was so concerned, he asked a club official if it was safe to rent a house here for the season, and was told it was. Zampese's passing game.

The two were together at San Diego in 1985 and 1986. Herrmann enjoyed his best season in 1985 when he played in nine game and completed 132 of 201 pass attempts (65.7 for 1,537 yards. The Rams placed punter Dale Hatcher (knee) and running back Tim Tyrrell (hamstring) on the injured reserve list. Rams Sign Ex-Colt Herrmann to Two-Year Contract The Rams signed former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Mark Herrmann to a two-year contract, Wednesday. Herrmann, who signed for a reported $250,000 the first season and $270,000 the second, set nine NCAA records while at Purdue but has had a far less prolific professional career.

Herrmann, in his eighth professional season, was with the Colts ere, there and Convenient Times home delivery is available in most areas of Southern California. Call: (714) 641-1595 Orange County (213) 626-2323 Los Angeles County We're there for you, every djy. Dos Anodes mms By MAL FLORENCE, Times Staff Writer CHESTNUT HILL, in the fourth quarter of last season's game against USC at the Coliseum, Boston College quarterback Mike Power decided to run, rather than pass, on fourth and -1 from the USC 33-yard line. It was the.wrong decision. Power was thrown for a 1-yard loss by linebacker Delmar Chesley.

The Trojans had dodged a bullet with three minutes left and went on to win, 23-17. "He had some people open, but he scrambled," Boston College Coach Jack Bicknell said. "Still, I shouldn't have put him in that position." Power was inexperienced at the time, but he's a veteran now, as are most of his teammates. That's reason enough for USC Coach Larry Smith to be concerned as his team opens the season here tonight against Boston College at Alumni Stadium in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN, starting at 4:30 p.m., PDT. Bicknell concedes that he has a mature team at most positions, adding, "We had a pretty good team last year." The Eagles had a 5-6 record, breaking down in an 11 -game schedule without an idle weekend.

Boston College, an independent, played some of the nation's better teams, such as USC, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Syra-Please see USC, Page 12 everywhere. (1-800) 252-4000 San Diego County MICHBLIN MCAUSf SO MUCH BONO on root throughout the exhibition season but was not used in any of their games. He becomes the Rams only backup to Jim Everett. The team waived backups Hugh Millen and Steve Dils Monday, and both were taken by the Atlanta Falcons. Though he's had little work in the preseason, Herrmann does bring with him a working knowledge of offensive coordinator Ernie Variable Compliance Groove at shoulders for maximum adhesion in hard cornering.

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