The Chargers - A Look Back And Forward

What a ride the 2008 San Diego Chargers gave their fans.  You can simply scroll down and read my entries regarding the Chargers...where almost weekly, I would rail on the pathetic Charger defense and that they were basically out of the playoff picture ... which they were.

But then there was the ray of hope this season...maybe it was the miracle win in Kansas City to keep the AFC West crown attainable, which was then followed by improbable wins by Buffalo in Denver and San Diego's win in Tampa which set up the season finale where the Chargers absouletly destroyed the Broncos ... but what was once a season that looked as if it would be another wasted year and wasted talent for the Chargers, instead ended with another AFC West championship and a playoff win.  The flaws in the Chargers were too glaring to not be exposed by other teams.

And with the conclusion of the season for the Chargers means the beginning of the offseason and offseason news ... First off the press is Antonio Cromartie, a pure stud in 2007 looked nothing of the sort in 2008, said he played the entire season with a hip fracture and that he looks forward to a better season next year.  Well, I hope so because Cromartie went from being a great shut-down corner to being toast on a regular basis.

Norv dumped four coaches, secondary and offensive line the primary targets of the firings, not really a surprise considering the play of those units.

Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera is interviewing for the head coaching job in Detroit, so he is likely gone, if not to Detroit probably somewhere else.

And of course the biggest offseason question for the Chargers will be that of future Hall Of Fame runningback, LaDainian Tomlinson.  Already sports-talk radio hosts have fueled the speculation that the Chargers are beginning to 'shop' Tomlinson around ... the Chargers quickly deny doing anything of the sort.  Tomlinson has 3 years left on his contract and many think that the time is now to trade Tomlinson and go with Sproles.

There is nothing that makes me more sad then to think LaDainian Tomlinson play for a different team ... I think every effort should be made to keep LT a Charger until he retires ... but I understand the economics of the game and unfortunately great players like Tomlinson often end their careers in this fashion ... it still doesn't make me any happier or content in the resolution.