Sproles To Be Free Agent

And then there were none...in the Charger backfield...

Darren Sproles will be a unrestricted free agent next season.

So looks like the Chargers will have a fresh face in their backfield...or will they?

Stranger things have happened...maybe LT somehow finds his way back to San Diego...the offseason is long...or at least it seems that way!

FavreWatch: 2010

The first reports has hit the wire... oh sure there were some minor, speculative stories that were printed immediately after the NFC Championship game but I do believe this article does officially mean I can begin the FavreWatch 2010 portion of my blog!

I, of course, have been railing on Brett Favre for several years now about his crybaby, selfish antics...of course, one of a few bloggers when I started several years ago, now one of many as the rest of the pack has caught up to me.

But this article is hilarious... The Vikings are now "Ok waiting for Favre's decision...". What made me laugh about this was...well duh! If you are the Vikings you better be ok with waiting for Favre's decision because if you recall, last season, the Vikes at one point tried to impose a "deadline" for Favre in which he had to announce his intentions...of course he didn't and still ended up with the Vikes...

All the Vikes have done with this press release is get the press off their back...it's all up to Brett now... just as Brett would want it.

Knowing how Favre works I'm thinking he is biding his time right now... with Tiger in the news and the Olympics underway, March Madness is next month and then baseball fires up... I'm thinking maybe a week after the first pitch of baseball is when Favre will reveal that he doesn't know if he will return or not but he most certainly won't commit to either retirement or to playing...

He will be playing again next year (2010) as a Minnesota Viking.... yes, I said it, now all we have to do is sit through all the Favre drama that both Favre and ESPN so desperately love...

LT Says Farewell: Won't Play For Raiders

I have yet to see the video...but according to the report...

LT held a press conference in which he said goodbye to the Chargers and their fans...

No mention of LT saying anything positive about the Charger organization...almost a slight on the way out the door saying that he wasn't given a reason why he was released...yet acknowledging that there probably wasn't a need for one...

The one bright spot to this entire episode might be that LT said he wouldn't become a Raider...hopefully he doesn't end up anywhere in the AFC West because it just wouldn't seem right to see him in a division rival's uniform...and although the Raiders have often been associated with being the Chargers' worst nemesis... I still loathe the Broncos with every fiber of my being so I would hate it even more if LT ended up as a ...cough... gag... as a Bronco more than anything else... I'm hoping some NFC team has a need for him and he can finish up in the other conference but that all has yet to be seen...

Tomlinson Released

The day was today, a day every Charger fan knew was coming this offseason...

Today was the day the San Diego Chargers released the greatest player in their franchise, LaDainian Tomlinson.

2006 was the Chargers best shot at winning a Super Bowl and LT was the fuel that propelled that team. I won't dredge up the obvious past that is now the trademark of the San Diego Chargers of being chokers because this is not the time for that...

LT will go down as one of the greatest rushers in NFL history and most, if not all, of his career was with the Chargers. I'ver heard that there are some teams that might be interested in signing him and with an uncapped season next year, who knows what will happen...but for all intent purposes, I think LT's 'salad days' are over and that his production is about what it has been the past two seasons. If a team wants to give LT a bag of money to put up mediocre numbers (mediocre is a stretch) more power to him and he certainly deserves it...but the Chargers need to do something to make this team more then a regular season sensation every year and at least take the next step to become a playoff factor.

Tiger Woods Apology Speech

Just watched the Tiger Woods apology speech and I think it was about what everyone expected...

A couple of things I am taking away from this is first, it is quite clear who is the dominate one in that relationship and it ain't Tiger Woods. I can understand Tiger's anger at the paparazzi for following his mom and kids but when Tiger specifically came out to address the allegations that his wife, Elin, hit him on that fateful Thanksgiving night, I got the impression that when he (or whoever) wrote his apology speech got word from Elin that someone better 'set the record straight'...of course I don't believe that part and am still in belief that there was a fight and this apology was to deflect the 'impression' people have of their relationship...that is Elin beat the shit out of Tiger. I also then think, that Tiger is doing 'rehab' for two reasons, one to stay clear of Elin until she cools off...who knows how long that will be, and secondly to be in seclusion. I know Tiger has an image that he wants to project, but I've said it before and I'll say it again... I think he should cut the cord, pony up the $100 million to pay off his wife and get a divorce...then he could sleep with whoever he wants too and suffer no negative press for doing so...yes, it is a spendy way to get laid, but pussy has always been costly and in this case, is costing Tiger a shitload of money and will continue to do so until he returns to golf and starts winning again...married or not.

This appearance was Tiger dipping his foot in the water to check the temperature...having this press conference on a Friday, with a PGA event and the Olympics going on, one would think that this event will be swept from the front pages by Monday...

I was kind of disheartened to not hear when he plans on golfing again .

Cromartie Trade Rumors

Several sources are reporting that the Chargers are shopping Antonio Cromartie around in an attempt to either get a runningback or a draft pick (presumably to get a runningback). Not really a big surprise and after seeing several comments regarding his play, particularly in the only playoff game this past season, it probably is a good move. Cromartie, who had a 10 interceptions with the Chargers in 2006, hasn't been able to regain that form. To me, it seems as if he has wanted to 'evolve' into just a cover corner and avoid contact as much as possible. He has exhibited mental lapses on more than one occasion and it appears as if he is expendable.

The Charger defense was extremely lackluster last season and replacing Cromartie, as well as some others, might be a step in the right direction to correct some of the issues the team had on that side of the ball.

Winter Olympics About To Start

The Winter Olympics fire up today and couldn't come too soon...the Olympics will provide me with plenty of sports watching to tide me over until March Madness and the NHL Playoffs start up...

Of course, I will watch any of the real events...and by real events I mean sports that do not involving judges. As I think I have ranted upon before, any event that has a judge tell you who won, to me, is not a sport ... it is a pageant. But any event where any person can follow the progress of the competitors without judges, is a sport to me and I will watch.

So of course I am not going to waste my time with any figure skating or ice dancing or any of the 'femie' events. Of course I will be tuning into every Team USA hockey game... I don't mind bobsledding, luge, speed skating and will even watch some curling, which typically is on during the daytime lull hours...

Lots of stories coming out of Vancouver, with a big headline being that there isn't a lot of snow for some events...they could come to the barren wasteland and take as much snow as they needed and we'd still have plenty left for whoever else wanted some snow...

Congrats Drew Brees, Saints

Yes, it has taken me 3 days to fully recover from the Super Bowl festivities...

The game lived up to the hype...I had the Saints covering the spread, so winning outright was fine with me...

It was nice to see Drew Brees do so well and win the MVP award.

Of course the downside to the Saints winning the Super Bowl is that there is yet another franchise that has won a Super Bowl before the Chargers...not to mention this was the Saints first time there and that their second year field goal kicker was drilling field goals with ease... the differences in a team that can win the Super Bowl and that can't can easily compare the Saints performance in their playoff games versus the Chargers in theirs.

Roger Maris Billboards

2 of these billboards are up in Fargo, ND ... Anyone that wants to come to this town and defend the steroid users is going to have a tough crowd ...

We's don't like cheaters around these parts....

The Office: Getting Worse Fast!

Boy, when I posted in November that I thought the television show The Office had jumped the shark, I had no idea how bad it has gotten and so quickly...

I had not watched an episode in some time...and I guess I didn't miss anything because there haven't been very many new episodes anyways ... but I tried to watch the couple of episodes I had on my DVR this past weekend because I had nothing better to do. I attempted to watch the first episode which was the Christmas episode where Jim lets Phyllis be Santa Claus...like many of the newer episodes, I found nothing funny and stopped watching halfway through... then I watched, what I think was the 'latest' episode where a banker comes to inventory the Scranton branch and it turns into a clip show... a clip show! Well, that was it for me... The Office has been removed from my DVR playlist and I will no longer bother even wasting anymore time with that show ... it was good for a while but now is unwatchable.

LT Won't Restructure Contract

LaDainian Tomlinson did a radio interview yesterday morning and he says he will not restructure his contract under any circumstances. When asked if he sees himself in a Charger uniform next season he said he sees a lot of things but didn't specifically say that yes, he will be a Charger next season. He did say that he will play football next season, was not happy this year with "a lot of changes," and the interview alluded to what kind of situation does he want to go too ... essentially acknowledging that he will not be in San Diego next season. Then rehashed the playoff loss and LT's role as a leader on this team which essentially led to LT saying that he didn't feel connected to the team because many of the new players are more concerned about themselves then they are about playing football.

LT's heart is with the Saints but he thinks the Colts are the best team in the NFL.

2010 Chargers: What's Ahead?

It has been 2 weeks and those living in Chargerdom have had time to fully accept that their franchise is notable for one thing and one thing only....choking in the playoffs....but what lies ahead for the Chargers?

So who is unlikely to be back?

Let's start with the Chargers greatest player of all-time...LaDainian Tomlinson. He is set to make a roster bonus, if still a Charger in March. There really hasn't been much said about Tomlinson's future with the team ... but with the salary he would command and then compared to his productivity there really isn't much to say and most speculators think we have seen the last of LT in a Charger jersey. If this is the case, which I have no reason to discount, his career with San Diego will end like many other Hall of Fame players ... after a few years of declining production his value has become too great to support his legacy and thus justify him being on the team. As I have mentioned in other entries, LT isn't the same runningback he once was. It has been 3 seasons ago when I last saw the LT that I loved to watch ... the past few seasons have almost been painful to see LT struggle on the field...slipping, sliding, falling and ducking out of bounds ... things a person would never see the 'young' LT exhibit during a game. Yes, LT will be in the Hall of Fame and labeled the greatest Charger of all-time, but unfortunately he will not be a Charger much longer. Maybe he will just retire and that would be fine with me because it will be hard to see him in a different uniform...

Shawne Merriman has no contract right now and has came out to say that he wants to remain a Charger. But again, let's examine the facts...prior to Shawne Merriman testing positive for steroids he was a beast...defensive rookie of the year and among the league's sack leaders. Since being busted for roids he has missed an entire season and was good for 4 sacks ... and that is what the stats say, but having watched every Charger game, I'm thinking Shawne was in on 8 sacks and was credited for a .5 sack each time...and even if any of his sacks were legit, they certainly didn't seem to come at a time that was critical. Add his off-field distractions ... Tila Tequilla ... and I don't see any reason to think Merriman would be a Charger next season...

Who will be back?

Well, let's start with the easy ones... quarterback Phillip Rivers will be back. Rivers is a franchise quarterback and plays like one too, signed a 7 year extension and is locked in until 2015. Antonio Gates, who is moving up the ranks of greatest tight ends of all-time, has one year left on his contract. There would be no reason to see him not returning.

Who's questionable, but likely?

Darren Sproles is a restricted free agent. The Chargers franchised Sproles last year and one would have to think that if/when the Chargers shed Tomlinson, that frees up over $7 million in salary they could work into a Sproles contract. The question is, as many pundits seem to point out, is that Sproles is not an every down back. I guess I'm not too concerned with that label knowing that whenever Sproles is in he is a weapon for the Chargers.

Vincent Jackson is also a restricted free agent. After the season he just had one would think the Chargers would be fools to not resign VJ as soon as possible...but VJ has some off-field issues that may cloud the issue. Oh sure, every NFL team has players that have some issues but how much is a team willing to tolerate these issues.

Nate Kaeding is under contract and I would say that he will probably be back as a Charger next year. The only reason I put him under the questionable category is because of his track record as the Charger kicker in the playoffs... if coaches get fired for not winning a playoff game what do you do with the kicker that can't make field goals in the playoffs? It is clear that a person can not put any faith into Kaeding in pressure situations.

Notes about the rest...

And just to wrap this up, here are a couple of other thoughts regarding players...

Eric Weddle, the Charger safety that got ran over by Shonn Greene on his way to a touchdown run in the AFC Divisional game this last season, is in the last year of his contract with the Chargers. He is slated to make just over a 1/2 million dollars. I wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers make future plans without Weddle. The Chargers haven't had a presence in the safety position since Rodney Harrison and that weakness seems to be exploited regularly.

Jamal Williams, set to make $5 million in the last year of his contract, might also be 'trade bait' or, at least, plans to go forward without Williams will likely be made. Jamal has been the middle force for the Chargers defense for several years, but the past couple years he has been hurt and ineffective. The Chargers could try to get their 'money's worth' by keeping him in his final year but as a fan of the team, I really don't see Williams performing as he once did.

Once the Super Bowl concludes the offseason will officially begin. It will be interesting to see if the Charger GM, AJ Smith, makes any free agency moves...something he typically does not do. It is always a pleasant surprise if a rookie pans out but no one should ever expect an instant impact from rookies. The Chargers have a team that implodes during the playoffs and have shown that trait for the past 4 years...I'm not sure how a person goes out to select the proper players to rectify that intangible...but this offseason might be one of the most interesting offseasons for the Chargers in some time.