Chargers report: Notes, quotes
 

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Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel · Inside slant
 

--The club announced that Fred Dean will be inducted into its Hall of Fame this season. Dean, 56, who played for the Chargers from 1975-81, is the 34th player to be so honored. Dean will also go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer -- his career really took off when later playing for the 49ers. "Fred could be off the wall sometimes," said former teammate Louie Kelcher said, "But he always gave you 180 percent."

--President Dean Spanos announced that A.G. Spanos, his 30-year-old son and the team's director of marketing programs and business development for the past five years, has been elevated to executive vice president -- executive officer.

--The Chargers signed their fifth- and seventh-round draft picks, running back Marcus Thomas and tackle Corey Clark, both to four-year contracts.

--LT Marcus McNeill has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons. But last year he didn't have the consistency he had his rookie year. The Chargers did see encouraging signs from McNeill in the offseason. Coach Norv Turner said he was among the players showing the most progress in the offseason.

--The team is halting its season-ticket sales for the second straight year to save some individual game tickets for fans. It marks the second straight year the Chargers have started a season-ticket waiting list.

--Nothing new to report on the team's quest to build a stadium in Chula Vista, about 15 miles south of Qualcomm Stadium. There continues to be rumblings the team could consider moving to Los Angeles if Ed Roski follows through with his proposal to build a complex not far from Los Angeles.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Shawne Merriman has had an outstanding offseason and I think he is going to start real fast this year. He didn't start as fast as we would have liked last year." -- Coach Norv Turner on his Pro Bowl outside linebacker.

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