Ex-Charger Neal Testifies In Foley Civil Trial

SAN DIEGO -- Ex-Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal, testifying Tuesday in the trial of Steve Foley's lawsuit against an off-duty officer who shot him at the end of a chase, said his former teammate was a physically gifted athlete who worked hard and had other players looking up to him.

Neal said Foley was willing to put in the work to become one of the best linebackers in the National Football League.

"Steven was definitely a hard-working guy," Neal testified. "He was a guy who guys looked up to."

Neal, who was released by the Chargers last year and is now a free agent, said he and Foley became teammates in 2001, when they played for the Cincinnati Bengals, and started building a relationship.

He said the Bengals were not having a lot of success, and Foley came to him and asked a question.

"He said, 'Lo (Lorenzo), how do we get this thing turned around?'" Neal testified. "He said, 'I'm tired of losing.'"

Neal said Foley was willing to get up early and work out, watch video footage and lift weights to help himself get better prepared to play.

Neal was on the San Diego Chargers roster when that team's coaches asked him about Foley, who was playing for the Houston Texans.

"I said, 'This is a guy who wants to work. I think he'll make our team better,'" Neal testified.

Once on the Chargers, Foley helped younger players learn the right way to play the game, Neal said.

Foley -- who may testify Wednesday in the case he filed against Coronado police Officer Aaron Mansker and the city of Coronado -- is seeking damages for past and future lost earnings.

Mansker testified last week that he fired twice at Foley at the end of a DUI pursuit in front of the athlete's home in Poway, when he was sure Foley was reaching into his waistband for a gun.

The officer, then a 23-year-old rookie, said he shot the former linebacker behind the left knee and hip when he got to within 15 feet of him at about 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2006.

Asked if he thought Foley -- who was not carrying a weapon that day -- might have been reaching for a cell phone, Mansker said no. But he conceded that his plan to follow and try to get the football star to pull over was dangerous.

Mansker testified last week that he spotted Foley's car being driven erratically and swerving on northbound state Route 163 about 3:15 a.m. and began following the car. He did not know the identity of the driver, who he suspected of being under the influence.

Mansker, in street clothes and driving his personal vehicle, said he got close to Foley's sedan and flashed his headlights in an effort to get him to pull over on the freeway. Mansker said he did so even though he told a dispatcher that he couldn't stop the vehicle because he was in his own personal car.

Mansker followed Foley north on the freeway for 13 miles, and both vehicles exited on Pomerado Road.

Foley told Mansker's attorney in a deposition that he had no idea somebody was following him on the freeway that night.

The officer said he pulled up next to Foley at Pomerado Road and Spring Canyon Road, rolled down the window, identified himself as a policeman without showing his badge, then yelled at Foley to pull to the curb, but Foley drove off.

Mansker said he decided to try to get Foley to pull over on Pomerado when he saw sparks coming from the back wheel area of Foley's car.

At another point during the pursuit, Mansker said Foley got out of his car and walked toward Mansker, who identified himself as a police officer and ordered Foley back to his car, which Foley said never happened, according to Mansker's attorney, Norm Watkins.

Foley had a blood-alcohol level of .21 percent or higher -- nearly three times the legal limit for driving -- when he left downtown after a night of partying, Watkins said.