Link Here: "SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson practiced Friday and is expected to start against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Tomlinson has been bothered by a strained groin the last three games and failed to gain more than 65 yards in any.
Two of Tomlinson's five biggest games as a professional came against the Raiders in 2003. He had a career-high 243 yards in a home win in the season finale, and 187 yards in an overtime loss at Oakland on Sept. 28.
His backup, Jesse Chatman, has played well, although he has a turf toe and has been held out of practice. Chatman is listed as probable on the injury report, although coach Marty Schottenheimer said it will be a game-time decision whether he'll play.
Sammy Davis is expected to regain his starting job at right cornerback. Drayton Florence started at right cornerback in last Sunday's win at Carolina, but sprained an ankle."
Friday, October 29, 2004
Tomlinson practices, expected to start against Raiders
Black and blue rivalry
Full Story HereIf there were any authority on the subject of playing the Raiders, Chargers Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer would be the one. During his 19 years of head coaching in the NFL, he has a 21-7 record versus Oakland. In 10 of those 19 years, Schottenheimer was with the Kansas City Chiefs, whose rivalry with the Raiders is also legendary.
On Monday, Schottenheimer declared the next five days before the game “Raider week.” When asked what he thinks about the throng of Raiders supporters that often descend upon Qualcomm Stadium once a year, Schottenheimer offered his usual candid response.
Still feeling LT's burn marks, Raiders should be 'keyed up'
Full Story Here': "LaDainian Tomlinson had a queasy stomach, but it was Oakland defenders who looked ill as they left the field after a 21-14 loss to the Chargers last December in Qualcomm Stadium.
Only once before had the Raiders been gashed as badly as they were that afternoon, when Tomlinson made a mockery of their 'Commitment to Excellence' motto by running for 243 yards. That was 23 yards shy of the record total ran against the Raiders by Seattle's Shaun Alexander in 2001 and 23 more than the franchise single-game record Tomlinson set in 2002.
Sunday, Tomlinson and the Chargers will face the Raiders for the first time since that game. And though the Raiders have changed coaching staffs and some personnel, the desire for redemption figures to remain as great as ever for an organization that likes to define itself by the words pride and poise."
Chargers future is clear
Full Story Here: "The Chargers welcome the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, for a Halloween treat. While the Raiders are scuffling along with four straight losses and a 2-5 mark, the Chargers are headed the opposite direction. They've won three of four, and at 4-3, have matched last year's win total.
But the Chargers would be wise not to overlook the Raiders and peek too far down the road.
Of the nine games against the seven remaining teams on the schedule (they play the Chiefs and Raiders, twice) just two squads show a winning mark: the Colts and the Broncos.
Other than that, it's a bunch of sub-.500 teams, greasing the road for the Chargers to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995."
Chatman has been super subbing for Tomlinson
Full Story Here: "Chatman used to have one of the NFL's most obscure jobs until Tomlinson strained his groin four weeks ago. Since then, there's been little dropoff when the obscure substitute replaces the superstar for the surprising Chargers (4-3)."
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Chargers cite chemistry as a reason for progress
SignOnSanDiego.com >Full Story Here: "The Chargers are preaching trust and togetherness after finishing 4-12 last season, and there were doubts about whether Ball was of the same mind. He had a run-in with management in the offseason when it declined to sign him to a long-term contract despite Ball starting 21 games his first two seasons, and he admittedly was upset last week when he was benched after rookie Nick Hardwick returned from a knee injury to reclaim the starting job.
The last thing the Chargers (4-3) want at this point is a player who isn't pulling the rope as forcefully in the same direction as everyone else. They've won three of their past four entering Sunday's game against visiting Oakland (2-5) and believe chemistry is as responsible for their surge as anything."
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Tomlinson expects to play Sunday against Raiders
Full Story Here: "SAN DIEGO (AP) -- LaDainian Tomlinson missed practice Wednesday and will probably sit out Thursday because of a strained groin, but the San Diego Chargers running back expects to play against the Oakland Raiders.
Tomlinson has been playing through the injury the last three weeks, and does not want to miss the big home game Sunday.
``I consider the Raiders our biggest rival because everybody around town loves that game,'' Tomlinson said. ``That's the game you look forward to playing.''"
Oakland Raiders Scouting Report
Full Story Here: "It has been only two seasons since the Oakland Raiders won the AFC Championship and faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII at Qualcomm Stadium. But it seems like the 2002 season was decades ago.
Since then, the Raiders have switched head coaches and struggled to a 6-17 record."
Chargers tryout four
Full Story Here: "Tuesday is the day off for NFL players but that doesn't mean the San Diego Chargers front office has closed shop. First they signed Bob Hallen and released Jason Ball. Four other players also worked out for the Chargers on Tuesday. A look at the players making the trek through Murphy Canyon shows another signing may be coming soon."
Chargers cut center Ball, won't specify why
Full Story Here: "General Manager A.J. Smith wouldn't specify the reasons for the move, but apparently there was concern inside the organization about the center's attitude after last week's move that put rookie Nick Hardwick back in the starting lineup and Ball on the bench."
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Chargers release center Jason Ball, wide receiver Micah Ross
Full story here: "The Chargers have released center Jason Ball, who lost his starting job to rookie Nick Hardwick while boycotting training camp and the start of the season because of dissatisfaction with his contract situation"
NFL labor negotiations get into revenue sharing
Link Here: "NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL players union wants major additions to the revenue pool used to determine player salaries, making negotiations to extend the current contract more difficult than in the past.
Gene Upshaw, the union's executive director, will meet in Detroit this week with owners on the league's management council. He is expected to outline a proposal that would add revenues to the television and base ticket sales now used to determine player salaries.
``We're concerned about the growing disparity between the haves and the have-nots,'' Upshaw said, a concern voiced in a different context by owners such as Dan Rooney of Pittsburgh, Ralph Wilson of Buffalo and Jim Irsay of Indianapolis. ``And we're concerned that a lot of revenue that should go to players is not being included in the pool.''"
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