CHARGERS NOTES: Hart eager for reunion with father

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 4, 2008 6:21 PM PDT ∞

Chargers safety Clinton Hart is eager for a reunion with his father on Sunday. Photo by Jamie Scott Lytle - Staff photographer.

SAN DIEGO ---- Clinton Hart grew up in Central Florida, some 250 miles north of Dolphin Stadium. He was a diehard Miami fan and is eagerly anticipating Sunday's game between the Chargers and Dolphins.

He also says there will be a special person rooting in his cheering section in the lower stands: his father.

"He's been in prison for half the time I've been in the league," said Hart, a six-year veteran safety. "He's never seen me play in person.

"It's exciting that I get to go home and give (my family) something to enjoy."

Hart didn't want to disclose why his father was incarcerated. He indicated that all is well now.

"Everybody has a situation come up and he had one and he overcame it and we're happy for him," Hart said. "He's a great family man, a Christian guy, and we leave all of it behind. He's one of my biggest fans."

Hart will play in Dolphin Stadium for the first time in his career. He hasn't forgotten his days of cheering on the Dolphins.

"The Dolphins were my team," Hart said. "Dan Marino, Mark Duper, Mark Clayton. I loved watching them play."

Jive talking

Few NFL players talk as openly or as freely as Joey Porter, Miami's boisterous outside linebacker.

Porter, though, is also highly productive. He has five sacks in three games and was a one-man wrecking crew in the Dolphins' rout of New England on Sept. 21, when he recorded four sacks.

"He's their main weapon over there, the guy that is going to get them all riled up before the game," said Chargers receiver Chris Chambers, a teammate of Porter's in Miami before being traded to the Chargers last October. "He's a guy that's going to talk trash in pregame.

"I've got to give the guy credit for that because he's going to sit there and talk. That's what he'll be doing. He's an intimidating factor. Sometimes he shows up and actually makes plays on the field. He's having a good season so far."

Porter's five sacks are tied for third most in the NFL. Five NFL teams have fewer sacks than Porter's individual total.

Chargers notes

OLB Jyles Tucker (hamstring) didn't practice again on Friday and is doubtful for Sunday's game against Miami. Coach Norv Turner said FB Mike Tolbert, DT Jamal Williams, TE Antonio Gates and G Mike Goff all practiced Friday and all are probable. ... Turner said he hasn't decided if ILB Derek Smith or Stephen Cooper will start after the latter had a good week of practice.

Staff writer Dan Hayes contributed to this report.