SAN DIEGO – Frank Hartley comes from a long line of big guys, and he's always had natural strength.

It's hard to dwarf an NFL tight end, but at family reunions the 6-foot-2, 258-pound Hartley is the peewee. Dad checks in at 6-5 and 290 pounds. One of his uncles is 6-7, 310.

"Mom used to always say 'Boy, you don't understand how strong you are,' " the 1990 UI graduate said. "My strength came from my dad's side of the family. It's that country strength."

Going into his second year with the San Diego Chargers and his fifth NFL season overall, Hartley's been using the strength well. Hartley will start at either tight end or H-back, and he's not out there to catch the ball.

With Freddie Jones – who led the AFC in preseason receiving – returning, Hartley is the designated blocking tight end. That's fine with him.

"I love blocking, and that's something most tight ends don't like to do," Hartley said. "I'm a strong guy, and I like mixing it up. Anybody can run a route, but only men can block."

He can back up the tough talk.

Strength in numbers

The Chicago native has bench-pressed 460 pounds, putting him in the top 10 on the team.

"He's a powerful guy," veteran tight ends coach Bill Macdermott said. "As long as he keeps his fundamentals intact, he can really knock someone off the football."

Macdermott said Hartley does have soft hands, and his career-high 19 catches and 246 yards in 1997 were no fluke. But his job is to open holes for Natrone Means and help protect the franchise's future, rookie quarterback Ryan Leaf.

Leaf has been good enough to remind Hartley of his days at Illinois. That's where Jeff George helped Hartley become a second-team All-Big Ten performer in 1989.

"Oh man, he's something else," Hartley said of Leaf. "He's shown us a lot. He's doing more than what we expected coming in. Most young quarterback sit back and learn the system. We threw him right in and he plays.

"He's just like Jeff George, but he's taller and he's more physical, too."

Friendly folks

Hartley keeps in touch with some former UI teammates like Henry Jones and Howard Griffith. Jones' Buffalo Bills come to town for today's opener, and Hartley wants a crack at the former Pro Bowl safety.

"He don't want to see me out there," Hartley said with a laugh.

There are some bad memories that go with his school days. Hartley tore up his left knee and missed his sophomore year. Seven years ago, he injured his right knee.

But he came to camp healthy.

"I've got a lot of mileage on my knees," Hartley said. "I've been through seven straight camps healthy, and that's great."

Those camps have been in Cleveland, Baltimore and San Diego. Macdermott said the knee injuries have slowed him down over the years, but he's still in good shape.

And Hartley doesn't need blazing speed to do his job. He'll trade the glory for a chance to "bust heads." That might be the key to his NFL longevity.

"You can play roles in football," Hartley said. "Everybody can't catch all the balls like Ben Coates. You need tough-nosed players to mix it up."

Brian Dietz is a News-Gazette staff writer. His column on the NFL appears Sundays throughout the season.