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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 6, 2002
SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers believed they had found a way to keep hordes of rowdy Raiders fans from coming to their stadium.
But the Raider Nation apparently won't be fully denied its biggest road trip of the season when Oakland plays San Diego on Sunday.
At the very least, the Chargers hope the hardest hits are on the field, not in the stands.
Recent Raider games in San Diego have been marred by violence, attributed to heavy drinking and the large number of Raider fans, many of whom developed their allegiance during the team's 13 seasons in Los Angeles.
Two years ago, a Raiders fan stabbed a Chargers fan after the game and later was sentenced to five years in prison. Three years ago, brawling in the stands got so bad the players noticed.
Starting last season, security was tripled, fans were patted down at the turnstiles and beer sales ended at halftime.
In July, the Chargers begged season-ticket holders to keep their tickets to the game. Also, people buying fewer than 25 tickets to the game had to buy an equal number of tickets to two other games.
The Chargers' stated policy was to pump up overall ticket sales.
But if Raider fans want tickets, there are plenty available. Ticket brokers have them. So do scores of sellers on eBay and in newspaper classifieds.
Season-ticket holders are bailing either because of fear or free enterprise.
"The season-ticket holders are the sellers, and the Raider fans are the buyers," said Vince Campise, owner of Atlas Tickets Services in San Diego.
Campise said he has no doubt there will be as many Raider fans at Sunday's game as there have been in recent seasons.
BRONCOS: Kick returner Scottie Montgomery probably won't play Sunday because of sprained neck ligaments. He was hurt Sunday during a kickoff.
Also, guard Steve Herndon was fined one game's pay, $17,647, by the league for an illegal clip on San Diego defensive tackle Jamal Williams. Herndon and coach Mike Shanahan apologized Wednesday, when Williams was put on injured reserve with a dislocated left ankle.
BROWNS: Defensive end Courtney Brown likely will miss Sunday's game because of a sore left knee. Brown bruised the knee when he fell on the artificial turf of the Superdome on Nov.24. Brown played Sunday but did not practice Wednesday and Thursday.
DOLPHINS: Quarterback Ray Lucas (strained shoulder) and defensive end Rob Burnett (shoulder) were held out of practice but are expected to be available Monday. Coach Dave Wannstedt said Lucas likely will practice today and is expected to be the No.2 quarterback.
PACKERS: Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila returned to Green Bay from Los Angeles but skipped another day of practice after the death of his mother. He said he hopes to play Sunday.
RAVENS: Receiver Javin Hunter was suspended for the final four games by the league for violating its policy on anabolic steroids.
REDSKINS: Defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson, on injured reserve with a torn calf muscle, said he expects to be released during the offseason but would leave with no hard feelings.
"This is strictly business," he said. "This is nothing personal, and I have no problem with that. I wish them luck, and maybe it's time for me to move on."
Also, placekicker Brett Conway was released off injured reserve. He tore a quadriceps during the second game of the season. He is ineligible to play for the Redskins this season but said he hopes to get workouts with other teams this month.
TITANS: Defensive end Jevon Kearse is as close to playing as he has been since breaking his left foot during the season opener. He did not practice, but coach Jeff Fisher said Kearse was better after running outside the past two days and will be a game-time decision for Sunday.
OT STUDY: Rulemakers will decide this spring whether to change the sudden-death overtime format, two members of the competition committee said.
The panel, which makes recommendations on rules to the owners, plans to review overtime, Bucs general manager Rich McKay and Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said.
Critics say under the format used since 1974, the team that wins the coin toss usually wins the game.
"We only make changes in reacting to trends, and this is a trend we may have to respond to," McKay said.
"If this requires change, it will probably be of the tweaking nature."