Rivers Continues To Prove To Be A "Winner"

When the Chargers gave QB Philip Rivers a contract extension last season I was delighted with the move because I labeled Rivers a winner at that time. He is a guy that doesn't like to lose...ever. So this last preseason game against the Cowboys, Philip tackled a safety returning a fumble to save a touchdown. Many people would question why Rivers would even try to tackle this guy, let alone run the field to do so...but, again, he is a winner and in the post game interview, Rivers tells you why..."I don't know how you are going to let a guy score. They are still keeping score. I know it's a preseason game, but still."

And to add to my theory, the safety Rivers tackled, Barry Church verified that Rivers is indeed a winner, stating "It showed a lot of heart and a lot of fire. He wants to win. He's a great quarterback and he will win in this game."

Merriman Already Hurt, McNeil Meets With AJ

Shawne Merriman showed up to Charger training camp on Friday and made it through a couple of practices and almost on cue, is hurt. A reoccurring theme of Merriman's since he was caught doping. Those that frequent my blog already know that I am no longer a fan of Merriman and have all but declared his career over. If any of the Charger players that were holding out, I felt that Merriman was the least needed and yet he is the one, hurt, and at Charger camp.

And speaking of Charger holdouts, left tackle, Marcus McNeil met with Charger GM AJ Smith yesterday, alone - no agent. No word if anything substantial came from that meeting...but I have to think it is an indication from McNeil that he does want to play this year. I won't be surprised if we hear that McNeil joins the team before the season started...but of course if AJ refused to bend at all, that may not be the case...but I have to think that the mere gesture, on McNeil's part to meet with AJ in person without an agent, shows that he wants to join the team.

Breaking News (Not): Favre Will Play

Right when I think I know Brett Favre and have him pegged he throws me a curveball...Last year I had guessed that Favre would be in Vikings camp by the 2nd preseason game and he fooled me by showing up a couple weeks early. So this year, thinking I would outfox him, I had guessed he would have roughly that same timetable and report a week or so before the first preseason game...well, unless you live under a rock, we all have heard the glorious news that Favre has graced the Vikings with his presence which would be just before the 2nd preseason game, as I had guessed last year. Well there's always next year to try my luck again. But of course this year's offseason Favre added a new wrinkle to his prima dona attitude. Favre didn't return to Minnesota without a posse, apparently he wanted some Viking bag handlers to carry his luggage and 3 of his Viking 'buds' had to fly down to pick him up.

So in the end, everyone on the planet guessed it right...Favre didn't retire after all and will play again...same as last year and the year before and the year before and the year before, etc...

Merriman To Join Team This Weekend

Reports out of San Diego are that Shawne Merriman is going to join the team this weekend, ending his holdout. I have grown increasingly tired of Shawne Merriman and his antics. Since his positive steroid test Shawne Merriman hasn't been an effective player for the Chargers.

I am unsure as to why Charger GM, AJ Smith, didn't lower Merriman's tender like he did with Vincent Jackson's and Marcus McNeil's. Not to mention Merriman does his best to get his name in the paper by yapping about something or getting into some high profile situations (ie: Tila Tequilla).

Merriman has said how he wants to get on the field to prove himself, that he is working out, literally, non-stop. But now, by all appearances, by him coming into Charger camp after the two-a-days end, shows to me that he is probably just lazy. Playing the game and being athletic superior to others so easily accomplished when you are on the juice. Now that Merriman isn't on the roids he has been injured more than healthy. With no contract after this season I can realistically see this as being the last season we see Shawne Merriman in a Charger uniform, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is out of the NFL by the 2012 season...

On the bright side of things, we will no longer be subjected to one of the lamest 'sack dances' of all time be performed much, if at all, this season or in the future.

Preseason Football - I Care Less Than Usual

It's tough to gauge how little I really care about preseason football from year-to-year but I have to think this year it could be at an all-time low of not caring. There is usually plenty of other reasons to not care about he preseason but this season a couple of new factors help lower any enthusiasm I might have. It has a lot to do with the way the season ended for the Chargers and now that I am completely cynical towards the Chargers hopes, add a few holdouts and that is why I really have a tough time getting 'amped' up for the season.

Anyways, the Chargers play Chicago on Saturday night in their first preseason game...I'll probably DVR it and zip through it just for fun...

Rivers, Gates - Relief Since Tomlinson Left

An interesting article came out this past Monday in the San Diego Union Tribune that had comments from Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates in regards to former star runningback LaDainian Tomlinson. Both Rivers and Gates were respectful towards Tomlinson but both made comments that alluded to the fact that Tomlinson was unhappy with his role with the team, players felt he viewed himself as bigger than the team and that it is almost a relief now that he is gone and players won't have to deal with impressing or pleasing Tomlinson.

My opinion: The comments towards Tomlinson almost match the way he acted once signing with the Jets. I don't want to believe nor do I think that L.T. was always somewhat of a prima-dona, but I think after the 2006 season it may have been the pushing point. He was the league MVP, rushing champ, single-season scoring record holder and on top of the world. People were literally kissing his ass from the time he got out of bed until the time he got back into bed...and then even during his sleep if he so desired. It would be easy for L.T. to go 'soft' and begin to desire some of the diva traits some NFL players are quick to don. I'm just saddened that he did let fame go to his head, that he began to feel as if he deserved more touches. He was a team leader and I can imagine if any leader begins to put themself ahead of the group there can not be much success for either.

Favre: Retiring For 3rd Time...Soon To Unretire

Someone woke Brett Favre up and told him he forgot to officially retire this offseason so he made sure to at least start the rumor that he is going to retire again. So it will only be a matter of time before he has his retirement press conference, thanks all his supporters, cry a bit and then in a couple of weeks announce that he will be playing this season.

Here's my guess as to what is really happening...and mind you, this is just my guess based on Favre's past...

Brad Childress, coach of the Vikings, went to visit with Brett last week...as was well reported. Childress must have tried to coax Brett into showing up to Viking camp sooner rather than later...well, we all have learned that no one will tell Brett Favre when he will grace the Vikings with his presence so he then told Chilly to f-off and if he doesn't like it then he won't play at all. So now Brett will announce his retirement, the Vikes will come groveling back and Favre will be playing for the Vikes in a short time...seems to me like this is just a standard Favre move...

2010 NFL Season: First Impressions

The 2010 NFL season is fast approaching and with it, so does the 'buzz' of the sports media world. Being a Charger fan, I have regretfully accepted the fact that I will be disappointed by the Chargers, yet again, but that doesn't mean I'm going to enjoy the NFL any less than I ever have. There have been a couple of things this offseason that I wanted to address...

First, the impending lockout next season...what I don't get about this is that the owners and the players are both pretty content on not playing football next season...at least that is the 'buzz' that the major sports media continue to tout. By appearances, it seems to be an accurate assessment and by appearances I mean the players that are holding out and wanting long term deals...essentially to guarantee a paycheck after 2011...whereas teams, and I would say like the Chargers, that knew the 2010 season was a pivotal season and had many of the younger players locked up through the 2010 season ... is it wrong not to feel sorry for these guys who signed a contract and now want a new, longer deal rather than fulfilling their current contract? Not to mention all three of the Charger holdouts (Merriman, Jackson and McNeil) had a $3+ million dollar tender to play this year. Tough to feel sad for these guys who think they deserve more when what they were offered, originally, was plenty...

But I digress...my true point here is that this is just idiotic that the NFL and the NFLPA can't hammer out a deal before a lockout happens. By not playing a season is that really proving a point and if so, what is the point it is proving and who wins? I really don't want to take sides in this debate, but like the most recent NHL labor dispute and stoppage, I sided with the owners who wanted a salary cap whereas the players had originally stated they would never accept a cap of any sort...they eventually caved and the NHL resumed playing. From what I have heard, NFLPA has stated that they wanted a bigger share of profits...under the current agreement the NFLPA gets 51% of the profits already and they want more. The players' reps will come out and state how much money the league and the owners make all on the backs of their athletes and thus they deserve the lion's share of the profit...of course, without the wealth of the owners and the league the players wouldn't be making peanuts ... so at first glance I am leaning towards favoring the owners position...but make no mistake...if a lockout happens, I will blame both sides because both sides allowed the lockout to happen.

Now on to my early thoughts...

Dallas Cowboys hype...I guess I don't know what I missed but for some reason the Dallas Cowboys have become the media's favorite team. I can't turn the sports talk radio station knob fast enough to avoid all the love that is being showered upon the Cowboys. I'm not so sold on the Cowboys and I have two words as to why: Tony Romo. For some reason the media has thrust greatness and composure onto Tony Romo as if has done something to earn such accolades, but he hasn't done jack-squat and I would say, is just the opposite. I compare Tony Romo to Kevin Garnett. A good player at their position...heck, even All-Star caliber, but when the game is on the line these guys want nothing to do with the rock and the bigger the game the more they fold. Sure the Cowboys could be good but they need a different player to step up to lead this team...Tony Romo is not a leader and the media has tried to make him one.

New York Jets hype...with every move the Jets made this offseason - taking 2 Chargers nonetheless, it seemed as if the media had an orgasm. Add to it that the Jets made it to the AFC Championship game (beating an over-rated Charger squad) the Jets, the media and their fans expect nothing less than a Super Bowl trip. I hate to rain on their parade but the Chargers weren't too upset to let Tomlinson or Cromartie go to the Jets. Tomlinson coming off his worst season as a pro in a steady decline from his career high in 2006 and Cromartie, who is seen as 'soft' and will often avoid contact and easily confused with fast moving offenses are both moves that really shouldn't add any stock to the Jets but yet does...for some reason.

Indianapolis Colts hype...I guess it really shouldn't be 'hype' because a person could pick the Colts for the Super Bowl every year for the past 8 or so years and be right almost half the time. What it really proves is how good Peyton Manning is and how much he can carry that team. The Colts just need to get their defense into shape for a playoff run and they always could be a factor if Manning is taking the snaps.

Favrewatch 2010 - more subdued this year...probably because everyone knows that Favre will be coming back. If he would come out to say he is going to retire and not play...HOLY SHIT! ESPN and the rest of the world would truly be shocked...but with the lockout likely next season, he might as well wrap up his career with one more season...hopefully he ends it with an interception like he has ended more than one of his recent seasons...

Chargers Sign Matthews: 5 years, $25 Million

A rarity for the Chargers...their first round pick in this past draft, runningback Ryan Matthews, has signed a 5 year, $25 million contract. I can not recall the last time the Chargers had their first round pick signed before the preseason...but with Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeil holding out, the Chargers probably need to sign someone to prove that they aren't totally cheap and willing to spend some dough...reasonably...