THE 96’S

Keith Baldwin, DE

Dave Ball, DE

Leonardo Carson, DL

Travis Johnson, DT

Don Sasa, DT

Blaise Winter, DT

THE 97’S

Ryon Bingham, DT

George Hinkle, DT

Tony Simmons, DE

THE 98’S

Antwan Barnes, LB

Skip McClendon, DE

Michael Mohring, DT

Derreck Robinson, DE

Gerald Robinson, DE

Jim Skow, DE

Terry Unrein, NT

I promise, I’m not bulking 96, 97 and 98 together simply because I want to get this series over with (although I think there’s a number of us who would share that sentiment if it WERE my intention).

There are two main reasons I bulk these three numbers together:

1. Woeful competition.
2. The three winners – in varying combinations with each other -- formed a fairly formidable interior of a defensive line for a number of years.

The Winners

96 – Norman Hand, DT

97 – John Parrella, DT

98 – Shawn Lee, DT

It started with Shawn Lee, who came to the Chargers in ’92.  But Lee didn’t really blossom until the ’94 season – Parrella’s first year with the team.

By ’97 – after Reuben Davis’ tenure -- Lee and Parrella were starting side by side.  And 1998 began the Parrella-Hand era.

Suffice to say, none of the three had what you’d call an “illustrious” career.  Between them, they played on a total of 12 teams.  But each had their best overall and individual seasons with the Chargers, and they helped clog the middle and occupy blockers so Junior Seau could become one of the top linebackers in the league.

And how convenient for the Golden Jersey committee that they wore consecutive numbers.