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.