San Diego Sports Fan Blog

Chargers cut David Binn

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:47:00 +0000

In most NFL teams, the snapper is simply a part of the special teams. You know of his name when he made a major mistake, but for the San Diego Chargers, David Binn was a well known part of the San Diego organization. For nearly two decades, Binn personified San Diego's special teams.

That’s why there are many sad fans in San Diego after the Chargers cut him. He is, by far, the biggest name in the AFC West to be cut this week. He played in San Diego for a team-record 17 seasons and a team-record 179 consecutive games, 256 games overall. He is the only player remaining from the 1994 AFC Champions that went the Super Bowl, the only time San Diego played in the Super Bowl.

He will come down as one of the most remembered San Diego players of all time.

The Chargers have decided to go with Mike Windt at long snapper. In the end, youth and the fact that Windt has two more years on his contract swayed the Chargers. Binn, 39, was entering his contract's final year.

We will all miss you David Binn. Good luck and thanks for the memories....

Adams, Ludwick...traded

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:27:00 +0000

The Padres sent Mike Adams to Texas for a couple of minor-league starting pitchers, 20-year-old left-hander Robbie Erlin and 21-year-old right-hander Joe Wieland, both of whom were at Double-A Frisco.
Erlin was considered a B prospect and Wieland a C-plus prospect before the season. Some people in baseball says of the deal that “the Padres just added two major league quality pitchers to the mix.”

Both prospects have seen their stock rise in the eyes of some evaluators. This may or may not mean anything, but it’s worth noting that people who are paid to pay attention to such things like what they see.

As for Adams, it’s really tough to see him go. The Padres got him for almost nothing and helped turn him into one of baseball’s elite relievers. But I can see why the Padres traded him, as dominant as Mike Adams has been over the past few years, I can't really see how critical it is to protect an eighth-inning lead when the team is over 14 games back. It is clear that the Padres have given up on the season and thing of the future.

In the day’s other trade, San Diego sent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to the Pirates for a player to be named later or cash considerations. This, I think, was a good move. Trading Ludwick clears a spot for some of the young players to get at-bats.

It also clears salary. Between the two players, the Padres save a little more than $3 million, which could prove useful over the next couple of weeks as they try to sign all of their draft picks by the August 15 deadline.

The Padres didn’t give up much to get Ludwick from St. Louis at this time last year, he didn’t do much while he was here (659 PA, .228/.301/.358, 87 OPS+) and he didn’t fetch much on his way out of town.

Ludwick’s departure, whatever or whomever else it might bring, paves the way for any number of young outfielders to get a shot at left field. Kyle Blanks, Aaron Cunningham, James Darnell, and Blake Tekotte all appear to be worthy candidates. Cunningham is expected to replace Ludwick on the roster, with 24-year-old right-hander Robert Hamren being recalled from Double-A San Antonio to take Adams’ spot.

Eric Weddle will stay a Charger

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:50:00 +0000

Safety Eric Weddle signed a record deal to stay with the San Diego Chargers. Weddle was San Diego's top free-agent priority and he will receive $40 million over the next five years. Weddle will receive $19 million in guaranteed money. It’s the highest contract ever given to a safety.

It's great to know that Eric Weddle will be back with the Chargers because he is a very good player, but I think they may have overpaid for him. That's just me....what do you think?

Chargers makes some cuts....

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:26:00 +0000

The San Diego Union Tribune reported the Chargers cut linebacker Jyles Tucker and receiver Buster Davis and that linebacker Antwan Applewhite will soon join Tucker on the outside. Tucker was given a contract extension three years ago and the Chargers thought he would become a premier pass rusher. But he couldn’t stay healthy. That’s also been the case with Davis, a former first-round pick. It’s been expected that he will be cut. The moves will be made official Thursday.

Busy first day for the Chargers

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Source: AP

The Chargers agreed to terms with former San Francisco inside linebacker Takeo Spikes on Tuesday. He reunites with former San Francisco defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, who is now San Diego’s defensive coordinator.

Spikes highlights a busy first day for the Chargers, who clearly are bent on returning to the playoffs after they saw their four-year AFC West championship run end in 2010. In addition to agreeing to terms with Spikes, the Chargers agreed to bring back right tackle Jeromey Clary (four years, $20 million) and tight end Randy McMichael (for one year). They also agreed to terms with free-agent safety Bob Sanders prior to the lockout.

Spikes, 34, gives San Diego some clarity at inside linebacker. He is a 14-year veteran with 109 tackles for the 49ers last season. Spikes, known for his strikingly large neck, will give the Chargers a needed nasty demeanor. The Chargers were pushed around some on defense the past couple of seasons. Spikes and healthy Sanders should change that.

Next, the Chargers need to lock up safety Eric Weddle and the free agency will be a strong one. Weddle will get plenty of interest elsewhere, though, but the Chargers need to make him a priority.

There Will Be Football.....

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Source: AP

Finally, the NFL and its players association agreed to a settlement to end its 4½-month lockout. The NFLPA executive committee and 32 team reps voted unanimously to approve and signed the terms of the deal. "It's been a long time coming. Football is back and that's great news for everybody," commissioner Roger Goodell said outside the NFLPA's headquarters. And, Smith stepped outside of the group's headquarters earlier to announce that players approved the pact.

As he spoke, Smith was flanked by NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Colts center Jeff Saturday and Ravens defensive back Domonique Foxworth, key members of the players' negotiating team. Brees is one of 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit that players filed against the league.

Moments later, Goodell walked into the building, joined by owners Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, John Mara of the New York Giants and Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, one of the 10 named plaintiffs in the players' antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, said in a statement, "I want to get back to work."

According to the timeline for league business to begin, trades can be made beginning Tuesday and free-agent signings can be filed with the league office Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

Teams may begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents beginning Tuesday or even as early as Monday afternoon.

Former Padres' Manager Dick Williams dead at age 82....

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:03:00 +0000

Former San Diego Padres manager from 1982-85, Dick Williams died in Henderson, Nevada on Thursday afternoon, due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm. He was 82.

San Diego was one of six managerial stops for Williams, who led the Padres to the first of their two National League pennants in 1984. The Padres lost to Detroit in five games in the World Series.

Williams won two World Series titles with Oakland (1972, 1973), as well as pennants with the Padres and Boston (1967) and also led Montreal to its only playoff experience in the strike-shortened 1981 season.

Williams had an overall record of 1,571-1,451 in 21 seasons as a major league manager, also spending time with the Angels and Seattle Mariners. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008 after being elected by the Veterans Committee.

His record with the Padres was 337-311 over four seasons. He is the only manager in the history of the Padres not to experience a losing season.

Williams was a tough manager. “They don’t make him like Dick anymore,” said former teammate and former Padres manager Don Zimmer.

Current Giants third base coach and former Padre Tim Flannery remembers being called into Williams’ office in 1982.

“He said, ‘You’re the worst player I ever had,’ ” Flannery said. “ ‘You can’t hit. You can’t run. You can’t throw. Oh, you hustle, but you can’t do nothin’ else. You’re in there tonight, but I’m looking for another second basemen, so don’t screw up.’ ”

But two seasons later, Williams told Flannery he’d be a Padre as long as Williams was managing the club.

Which wasn’t that long. Williams chafed at what he considered outside interference from then-Padres President Ballard Smith and GM Jack McKeon. The breaking point came during the 1985-86 offseason when Williams fought off suggestions he should make changes to his hand-picked coaching staff.

The club that went 175-149 for Williams in 1984-85 went 74-88 for Steve Boros in 1986 after Williams’ left the team.

Williams joined Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie as the only managers ever to take three franchises to the World Series.

The 1972-73 A’s were the first team since the 1961-62 Yankees to repeat as world champions. Williams resigned after the 1973 season because he was upset with the meddling of A’s owner Charlie Finley.

Before coming to Oakland, Williams was part of Boston’s memorable “Impossible Dream” team in 1967 that won the pennant for the first time since 1946 before losing the World Series in seven games to St. Louis.

A former infielder, Williams played 13 years in the majors for the Dodgers, Orioles, Indians, A’s and Red Sox. He had a .260 career average with 70 homers and 331 RBI as mostly a part-time player. He retired after the 1964 season and soon began his career as a manager.

Rest in peace Dick and thank you for the great memories of the '84 season....

Some Details on Labor Talks

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:54:00 +0000

Source: ESPN.com

Among the details NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed to owners Tuesday at the league's meeting in Rosemont, Ill., is that in the next proposed agreement players will receive a 48 percent share of "all revenue," without the $1-billion-plus credit off the top that had been a point of contention in earlier negotiations, according to sources familiar with the presentation.

Under the new formula being negotiated, players will receive 48 percent of all revenue and will never dip below a 46.5 percent take of the money, sources said.

In the previous collective bargaining agreement, players received approximately 60 percent of "total revenue" but that did not include $1 billion that was designated as an expense credit off the top of the $9 billion revenue model. Owners initially were seeking another $1 billion in credit only to reduce that amount substantially before exercising the lockout on March 13.

Ultimately, the two sides have decided to simplify the formula, which will eliminate some tedious accounting audits of the credit the players have allowed in the previous deal. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has stated that players were actually receiving around 53 percent of all revenues instead of the much advertised 60 percent.

Owners still will get some expense credits that will allow funding for new stadium construction, sources said.

A rookie wage scale will be part of the new deal but is still being "tweaked," and the much-discussed 18-game regular season will be designated only as a negotiable item with the players and at no point is mandated in a potential agreement. An expansion of the Thursday night TV package to 16 games beginning in 2014, which could be a source of new revenue for the league, is also being weighed but is not a part of these talks.

Current TV deals make 2014 the target year for an extended Thursday package, not 2012, according to a source.

Goodell said no discussions were held Tuesday on a potential full-season Thursday night TV package. With record ratings last season, the NFL's value to its broadcast partners never has been higher.

As revenues are projected to possibly double by 2016 to $18 billion annually, retired players will benefit from improved health and pension funding that is expected to increase significantly.

Players believe they can justify a 48 percent take because of the projected revenue growth, as well as built-in mechanisms that require teams to spend close to 100 percent of the salary cap, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton. The mandatory minimum spending increase is an element that concerns lower-revenue clubs, sources say.

For example, if the 2011 salary cap were to be at $120 million, a team would have to have a cash payroll of close to $120 million. In the previous collective bargaining agreement, the team payroll floor was less than 90 percent of the salary cap and was only in cap figures, not cash.

The higher floor proposal could cause some problems for the lower revenue teams such as theCincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills. Along with the salary cap, teams have to pay an average of about $27 million a year in benefits.

The meeting, which lasted approximately five hours, wrapped up Tuesday afternoon with Goodell calling it a "good discussion." The commissioner said labor was the only topic of the meeting.

He said he couldn't go into details about the ongoing negotiations but said: "I think it's a tremendous positive that the principals are talking."

Goodell said there was still "much work to do" and that the new deal must be done in a way that's fair to the players and the teams.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft concurred that there's "a lot of hard work to do." But he said: "It's good that things are moving in the right direction."

The negotiating teams for the owners and players, led by Goodell and Smith, are expected to return to the table Wednesday and Thursday in Boston, hoping to build off the momentum of three strong weeks of talks under the supervision of a court-appointed mediator, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan.

Cautious expectations on the two sides reaching an agreement in principle are varied, ranging from one-to-three weeks with the hopes of beginning a new league year (free agency, etc.) by mid-July.

If and when an agreement is reached, all players whose contracts have expired and have four or more years of experience are expected to be unrestricted free agents, sources familiar with the talks told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Certain tags will be retained but that still is being discussed.

Players are willing to commit to at least a 10-year labor agreement if the sides can agree on the terms, sources told Clayton.

Any breakdown in talks could result in the loss of preseason games and threaten the opening of the regular season. The first preseason game, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is scheduled for Aug. 7.

"This is the season to get a deal," Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said before entering the conference room where representatives from all 32 teams were being updated by Goodell and his negotiating committee. "I think the logic that you're pushing on both sides is saying why get a deal Oct. 1, or whenever, when you could have had July 7, or whatever."

Tuesday marks Day 98 of the lockout, the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 and the longest in NFL history.

Chargers LB Antwan Applewhite arrested

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:54:00 +0000

It's reported that Chargers linebacker Antwan Applewhite was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Friday morning in Pacific Beach.

Applewhite, 25, is a key role player for San Diego. He started 13 games and he had three sacks for the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL.

There is a gray area regarding the NFL personal conduct policy because of the lockout, but Applewhite could face league discipline for this arrest once play resumes. He may have just written his ticket out of San Diego...

Heath Bell ties Trevor with 41 straight saves

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:14:00 +0000

Heath Bell's save tied him with all-time leader Trevor Hoffman for the franchise record. It also tied Bell with Hoffman and Rod Beck for fourth place on the all-time consecutive saves list.

"It's a huge honor that my name is in the same sentence with Trevor Hoffman," Bell said. "I know my answer is really boring, but for right now, it's just another save."

Congratulations, Heath....

Chargers take DT Corey Liuget in the first-round...

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:08:00 +0000

In a draft that's full in talent on the defensive front seven, they sat back until they executed the No. 18 pick on a player they will plug in right away in an attempt to improve a defense that was ranked No. 1 in the NFL but was not nearly good enough.

“The whole goal here is to win a world championship,” team President Dean Spanos said recently. “We’ve fallen short. When I look back at the teams who have gone to the Super Bowl … they have dominant defenses. That’s where we’ve fallen short.”

While observers predicted and fans seemed to desire a player with flashier stats and a higher profile, the defensive lineman out of Illinois certainly fits the A.J. Smith profile. And Liuget appears to have the strength and initial quickness that could return the Chargers defensive line to being a group that actually pushes the line of scrimmage regularly.

“We just think he’s going to bring physical play to it,” Smith said. “A nasty mean streak; we always like to add that into it. … He’s got an attacking style to him. So we’re going add him, put him in Greg Manusky’s wagon and turn him loose.”

Liuget (pronounced LEE-jit) did not have eye-popping numbers at Illinois and won’t be asked to produce them in San Diego, where in the 3-4 scheme the Chargers are more concerned with him winning battles against the run.

Many, Liuget included, expected him to land on a team that ran a 4-3 defense, where he would play tackle. But he worked occasionally at Illinois in a spot similar to what he will do with the Chargers.

Liuget left school after his junior year, in which he had 63 tackles, 12½ tackles for loss and deflected three passes. While Liuget said he “never” talked to the Chargers in the pre-draft process, the Chargers’ homework yielded a portrait they liked. He worked hard to shed approximately 20 pounds before last season, transforming his body and getting quicker. The Chargers also cited a leadership role he took in 2010.

The Chargers sat and watched quarterback after quarterback come off the board, and Smith said the Chargers got “a ton” of calls during the first round regarding possible trades.

“We were locked and loaded,” Smith said. “Nothing intriguing. I really wasn’t interested in it. We had a nice group of players (to choose from) because of the depth on defense.”

That the Chargers did not move out of their slot coupled with what was described as an ecstatic defensive staff after the pick was made lent credence to the idea the Chargers coveted Liuget.

While they allowed just 93.8 rushing yards per game, fourth-lowest in the league, the Chargers also played six of the eight worst rushing teams in the league and were run over for 251 yards by the Oakland Raiders in December.

The Raiders finished 2010 as the league’s No. 2 rushing team, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs. Both are in the AFC West with the Chargers, meaning they comprise four of the Chargers’ games each season.

The Chargers are also looking to get back to being a team that takes the ball away and makes game-altering plays in crucial situations. The Chargers had just 23 takeaways in 2010, tied for 23rd in the NFL, and just one of those came in the fourth quarter of a close game and just four came in games they lost.

“I do believe Corey is a guy who will make big plays on defense,” Turner said. “With all the good things we’ve done on defense … we need to create more negative plays. He’s that type of athlete.”

Padres win their home opener...

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:14:00 +0000

Patience at the plate combine with good pitching of native Aaron Harang, turned out to be the difference Tuesday afternoon as the Padres scored a 3-1 win over the reigning world champion San Francisco Giants before 43,146 atPetco Park.

"Walks done right can be just as important as run-scoring hits," Padres hitting coach Randy Ready said this spring while preaching the gospel of "selectivity" in Arizona.

With the score tied 1-1 and runners on first and second with two out in the third, Ludwick came back out of an 0-and-2 hole Madison Bumgarner to draw a 10-pitch, bases-loading walk.

Headley then worked through eight pitches to draw the walk that forced home the decisive run.

Even Bumgarner was impressed by the Padres' "selectivity."

"I made some good pitches," said the left-hander who pitched the Giants' World Series-clinching win last November. "They put together some good at-bats.

"Their hitters did a fantastic job. They spoiled all the good pitches."

"Friar Ball," is how Ludwick described the three-run third off Bumgarner, who retired the Padres in his first two innings on a total of 29 pitches.

The Padres' three-run third consumed 41 Bumgarner pitches.

The frustration by Bumgarner might have resulted in the Padres' final run.

After Headley's walk forced in the second run, Chris Denorfia topped a ball in front of the plate. Bumgarner fielded the ball with plenty of time to make a play at first. But the ball flew out of his hand as he turned toward first -- the play was ruled a hit.

Nick Hundley opened the inning with the first of his three hits and was sacrificed to second by Harang. Jason Bartlett then drew an eight-pitch walk from Bumgarner before Orlando Hudson singled to load the bases.

Jorge Cantu tied the score with a wicked liner of a sacrifice fly to left.

That brought up Ludwick, who was down to his last strike after two pitches. He fouled off four of the next eight pitches en route to his fourth walk in as many games -- including a bases-loaded walk against the Cardinals.

That walk brought Headley to the plate. PaBumgarner fell behind with a pair of balls before firing three straight strikes, two of which Headley fouled off. Bumgarner just missed with the next two pitches, Bartlett trotting home from third.

Meantime, Harang held the Giants to one run on six hits over six innings while the bullpen troika of Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams and Heath Bell closed out the Padres' third win in four games.

Trevor Hoffman threw the ceremonial first pitch...

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:53:00 +0000

The Padres brought back some former Padres onto the Petco Park infield during yesterday's home opener pregame festivities.

They started out with 93-year-old George McDonald, of the Padres’ Pacific Coast League days, rolled out in a wheelchair. Then came “Downtown” Ollie Brown, Randy Jones, Garry Templeton and Mark Loretta.

Then AC/DC’s “Hells Bells” started playing, the center field bullpen gate opened and out came Trevor Hoffman. The place went nuts, including Padres relief pitchers, who stopped on their way to the bullpen and applauded Trevor.

Trevor’s brother and Padres third-base coach Glenn Hoffman caught Trevor’s ceremonial first pitch. “I considered burying it in the dirt,” joked Trevor Hoffman, “but I threw a low strike.”

Padres win behind a great performance by Clayton Richard

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:33:00 +0000

The Padres win again and have a chance for their first season-opening sweep since 1984.

Pitcher Clayton Richard had two RBIs to match his career high without getting the ball out of the infield and pitched six solid innings in an 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The Padres broke it open with a six-run fifth that included four hits, four walks and a sacrifice fly.

Albert Pujols homered on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut and Allen Craig, subbing for ailing Matt Holliday, had a two-run single for the Cardinals. St. Louis led 2-0 after one inning and 3-2 after three but Westbrook (0-1) was knocked out after retiring only one of six batters in the Padres' six-run sixth.

Chase Headley had a career best-tying four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth for the Padres. They'll go for their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since June 23-25, 1980, on Sunday with Dustin Moseley facing Jaime Garcia.

The Padres' last sweep to open the season was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven't opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

Cardinals pitchers totaled eight walks, two of them intentional but also two with the bases loaded.

Three of the Cardinals' five hits off Clayton Richard came in a first capped by Craig's two-run single. The only other damage came from Pujols' first hit of the season, a homer leading off the third put St. Louis ahead 3-2 and ended an 0-for-6 start that featured a career-worst three double-play balls in the opener.

Richard, who had entered 2-9 with a 5.63 on the road, allowed only two baserunners the rest of his outing.

Richard has nine career RBIs, including three two-run games. His perfectly executed squeeze bunt tied it at 2 in the second and Jason Motte walked him on four pitches for the fifth run in the Padres' fifth.

A pair of infield hits, a sacrifice and an intentional walk loaded the bases in the fifth ahead of Ryan Ludwick's five-pitch run-scoring walk to snap a 3-all tie and Headley's two-run single chased Westbrook. The right-hander walked five, one below his career worst, and four of them produced runs.

San Diego was 3-6 to start the 2010 season, in which it was eliminated on the final day of the season.

Padres wins season opener in 11th...

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:44:00 +0000

Playing small ball paid off for the San Diego Padres.

Cameron Maybin tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth inning, then grounded a single that led to the go-ahead run in the 11th in a 5-3 opening win over the Cardinals.

The Padres managed just two hits the first seven innings but scored two runs, and then capitalized on the Cards fielding error.

Cardinals star Albert Pujols an awful start to the season. He grounded into a career-worst three double plays while going 0 for 5 while five men on base.

"Definitely we had our chances," Pujols said. "A couple times we had men in scoring position and I didn't do my job."

Matt Holliday homered in the eighth and had three hits for St. Louis. The Cardinals played extra innings on Opening Day for the first time since a 4-2, 10-inning home loss to the Mets in 1992. The last Padres' opener that went extras was in 1996 during a 5-4 loss at Chicago.

It was tied up at 3 when Chase Headley singled off Bryan Augenstein with two outs in the 11th. Maybin followed with a single through the right side and Theriot bobbled right fielder Jon Jay's bounced relay back to the infield.

Headley kept running and made a headfirst slide to beat the throw home. Nick Hundley added an RBI single for the Padres.

Pat Neshek (1-0) worked around two walks in the 10th and Heath Bell needed only 10 pitches for the save.

Maybin's solo home run came off a curveball from Ryan Franklin, who went 27 for 29 in save situations last season.

The Cardinals outhit San Diego 10-2 the first six innings but hit into three double plays, two by Pujols, and were 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Three times they put the first two men on, but totaled one run.

The Padres erased their second one-run deficit on Hundley's two-out, RBI double in the fifth. The Cardinals almost made it out of the inning the previous at-bat when Maybin struck out with Ryan Ludwick running on a full count.

Ludwick looked like an easy out at second, but he rattled the ball out of second baseman Skip Schumaker's glove, what Schumaker called a "perfect knockdown," for a stolen base.

Chargers tendered nine players....

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:03:00 +0000

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

Although this could mean nothing at all, the Chargers tendered every possible restricted free agent on Wednesday, a day ahead of the expiration of the current league year.

Those tenders included seven players who are widely expected to be unrestricted free agents whenever a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached between the owners and players' union.

The only RFA tenders that likely will ultimately mean anything are the second-round tenders given to running back Mike Tolbert and linebacker Antwan Applewhite, both of whom have three years of experience.

Malcom Floyd (first and third), Eric Weddle (first), Jeromey Clary (second), Dante Hughes (third), Anwtan Barnes (fourth), Paul Oliver (fourth) and Brandon Siler (seventh) were also tendered but have four or five years in the league. It is anticipated those players will all be unrestricted under a new CBA.

The NFL instructed teams to go ahead and tender all restricted free agents under current rules, which require a player to have six years in the league before being unrestricted. Prior to 2010, which was uncapped as the final year in the current CBA, the requirement was four years.

No agents polled over the past several months believe the new CBA won't roll back the requirement to four years. Several agents even suggested that players would be so angry that NFL Players Association leaders would have to flee the country if they agreed to anything less.

General managers acknowledged privately last week that they had no idea whether tendering four- and five-year players would hold up. One GM called it a "paper exercise."

Said Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith: "We're just doing business according to the (current) agreement ... You don't know what's going to happen."

The level of a restricted free agents tender determines what the Chargers would be entitled to in compensation if another team signed the player. The Chargers would also have the right to match any offer the restricted free agent received.

It is not known how much each tender is worth. Two agents said yesterday they were not even sure because the teams have not shared the numbers with them. One team source said teams don't have the exact numbers.

Offensive tackle Brandyn Dombrowski, who has just two seasons, was given an exclusive rights tender.

Notably, though as expected, wide receiver Legedu Naanee was not tendered. He will become an unrestricted free agent.

Another member of the 1994 Chargers die

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Former San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Shawn Lee has died at the age of 44. The cause of death has not been determined.

Lee is the sixth member of the 1994 San Diego Super Bowl team to die.

Linebacker David Griggs was killed in an automobile crash. Running back Rodney Culver was killed was in a commercial plane crash. Linebacker Doug Miller was struck by lightning. Offensive lineman Curtis Whitley died of a drug overdose. Defensive lineman Chris Mims died of heart failure.

Lee played 87 games for the Chargers from 1992-97. He was half of the Chargers’ “Two Tons of Fun” defensive tackle combo along with Reuben Davis.

Should the Chargers pick this Matthews?

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Could the brother of Packers star linebacker, Clay Matthews end up a Charger?

The Chargers are in the market to draft at least one inside linebacker. In need of a pass rusher, the Chargers were one of several teams that passed on USC outside linebacker Clay Matthews in 2009, instead selecting Larry English with the 16th overall pick.

The Green Bay Packers took Matthews at No. 28, and he has 23½ sacks in two seasons. He was runner-up as Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and earlier this month won a Super Bowl ring.

Now, Clay's younger brother Casey is at the NFL Scouting Combine, an undersized (6 feet, 232 pounds) inside linebacker out of Oregon projected to be a mid- to late-round pick and trying to both live up to his family name and make a name for himself.

Casey Matthews could join a long line of Matthews who have played in the NFL. His grandfather was a defensive end in the 1950s. His father, Clay Matthews, Jr., played the third-most games in NFL history (278) in 19 seasons as a linebacker. His uncle, Bruce, is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman who also played 19 seasons. His cousin, Kevin, was a rookie with the Tennessee Titans last season.

Casey has the friendly demeanor but icy stare of his father and brother, their chiseled chin and their long hair. “It’s just the look of it coming out the back of the helmet,” Casey said. “It’s just one of our trademarks.”

Casey Matthews was passed over by USC even though his two brothers and father went there. He ended up leading national runner-up Oregon in tackles in 2010 and was named the team’s co-MVP.

Asked what separates him from his brother, he said, “Just my instincts. He’s more of an explosive athlete. We’re different positions. I think my position requires a little more of the instinctual side and getting to the ball quicker. I feel that’s a part of my game that Clay doesn’t necessarily (do) as well. He obviously has a pretty good game.”

“No matter where I go I’ll definitely be trying to prove a name for myself and not be known as Clay’s son or Clay’s little brother,” he said. “That’s definitely a compliment though ... You can live up to the name, (but) You have to put that aside. You have to deal with it from within, not necessarily worry about what other people have to say. You’ve got to have that coming from the inside. You want to make your name that big and separate from other players.”

Would this make up for the oversight two years ago, should the Chargers pick him?

Chargers signed a running back

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:20:00 +0000

The Chargers signed running back Frank Summers to a Reserve/Future contract Tuesday.

At 5-foot-10, 240 pounds, Summers is built like Mike Tolbert (5-foot-9, 243 pounds). Selected out of UNLV by thePittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2009 draft, Summers started at fullback the first two games of his rookie season before being placed on Injured Reserve.

Summers practiced at running back and fullback for the Steelers during the 2010 preseason and was released during final cuts. He spent the rest of the season on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.

Chargers put franchise tag on Vincent Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:07:00 +0000

Source: Associated Press

The San Diego Chargers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag Tuesday on wide receiver Vincent Jackson, after missing the first 10 games last season in a nasty contract dispute.

VJ can still negotiate with other teams, if he receives an offer, the Chargers can either match the other club's offer or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation. Jackson's original five-year contract expired after the 2009 season. But because 2010 was an uncapped year, he would have needed six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent.

"There's some thought process that there might not be a franchise tag, but we'll wait and see," general manager A.J. Smith said, referring to speculation that the franchise tag might disappear whenever the NFL and the players' union agree to a new collective bargaining agreement. "It is our intention for him to return in '11."

VJ will receive a one-year tender at the average of the top five salaries among receivers last year, expected to be between $10 million and $11 million. The Chargers and Jackson also could negotiate a long-term contract, although the sides would have to get past last year's bad feelings.

Chargers' wide receiver, Legedu Naanee, arrested in Indy

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:47:00 +0000

Chargers wide receiver Legedu Naanee was arrested in Indianapolis early Saturday and charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest, a run-in that likely sealed his fate with the team that drafted him in 2007.

According to police, Naanee came across an active crime scene at about 3:20 a.m. and was told he would have to turn around or go in another direction. Naanee, who according to police had a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on or about his breath or person,” asked the officer why he was being “such an (expletive).”

The police officer said after several attempts to get Naanee to leave the scene failed, he told Naanee he was under arrest. Naanee “actively began to pull away” and the officer used pepper spray but Naanee continued to resist.

Eventually he was handcuffed and as he was being walked to the police car, Naanee said, according to police, “Do you know who I am? I am an NFL player and I’m going to sue your ass.”

Two men, one of whom the police believed to be Naanee’s agent, approached and asked the police to release Naanee. “One gentleman told me I was going to ruin his career,” the officer said.

In response to a query, the Chargers issued their standard statement:

“We’re disappointed to hear about the issue involving Legedu. We’ll monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course.”

It would, however, be surprising to see Naanee back with the Chargers.

A reliable receiver when healthy, Naanee has been affected at times by various injuries. He has 63 receptions for 746 yards and three touchdowns.

Naanee is expected to be a free agent once the NFL's labor issues are settled.

Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl Champions

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:51:00 +0000

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers and the Pacific Beach resident, Aaron Rodgers for winning the Super Bowl.

Capping one of the greatest postseasons for any quarterback, Rodgers led the Pack to their first NFL championship in 14 years, 31-25 over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vince Lombardi Trophy, named for their legendary coach who won the first two Super Bowls is coming home to "Titletown".

Rodgers, the game's MVP, thrilled all Cheesehead fans with a spectacular six-game string that should finally erase the bitterness of the Brett Favre separation in Green Bay. After sitting for three long years before Favre left in 2008, Rodgers is now equal with Favre in Super Bowl wins, and he extended the Packers' record of NFL titles to 13, nine before the Super Bowl era.

"You can stop it now," veteran receiver Donald Driver said. "Aaron's proved that he's one of the best, if not the best, quarterback in this game today."

The Packs managed to overcome key injuries, building a 21-3 lead, then hung on to become only the second No. 6 seed to win the championship.

Rodgers threw for 304 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson, who had nine catches for 140 yards to make up for three big drops. Rodgers found Jennings for 21- and 8-yard scores.

"We've been a team that's overcome adversity all year," Jennings said, who noted injuries to Charles Woodson and Driver. "Our head captain goes down, emotional in the locker room. Our No. 1 receiver goes down, more emotions are going, flying in the locker room. But we find a way to bottle it up and exert it all out here on the field."

Few teams have been as resourceful as the Packs, who couldn't wait to touch the trophy honoring their greatest coach - and their title. Several of them kissed it as Cowboys great Roger Staubach, walked through a line of green and gold, and up to the massive stage on the 50-yard line with the silver prize that is headed back to the NFL's smallest city.

"That is where it belongs," linebacker A.J. Hawk said. "As long as the Packers have lived, it's going to be great to bring that back."

Rodgers took the Packers to two late-season victories just to make the playoffs as a wild card. Then he guided them to wins at Philadelphia, Atlanta and archrival Chicago before his biggest achievement - against a Pittsburgh team ranked second in defense.

They barely survived a sensational rally by the Steelers, who still own the most Super Bowl rings - six in eight tries. But Pittsburgh failed to get its third championship in six years, despite several valiant efforts by Big Ben. Roethlisberger's season began with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. It ended with Roethlisberger standing on the sideline, his head down, hands on his hips, feeling something he never experienced: defeat in a Super Bowl.

Not even a decidedly black-and-gold crowd, with Terrible Towels swirling throughout the $1.2 billion stadium, could make a difference for the mistake-prone Steelers, who had three turnovers to none for Green Bay. Their two biggest defensive stars - Defensive Player of the Year safety Troy Polamalu and outside linebacker James Harrison - were virtually invisible. The offense didn't seem to miss outstanding rookie center Maurkice Pouncey, who was out with an ankle injury.

The biggest plays were left to Rodgers, Nick Collins with a 37-yard interception return for a TD, Jennings, Nelson, and the rest of the guys in green and gold. In the end, they gave coach Mike McCarthy his first Super Bowl victory against the team he rooted for while growing up in Pittsburgh.

McCarthy was so certain of victory he fitted the players for championship rings on Saturday night - a move sure to go down in Super Bowl lore.

"That was just a vote of confidence for us," Woodson said. "Get fitted for your ring. I don't know when we'll get them, but it'll fit."

Woodson saw the Steelers, who rallied from a 21-7 halftime hole against Baltimore three weeks ago, show the same resilience. A 37-yard catch and run by Antwaan Randle El sparked a quick 77-yard drive. Hines Ward had 39 yards on three catches during the series, including an 8-yard TD when he completely fooled Jarrett Bush.

A quick defensive stop and a 50-yard drive to Rashard Mendenhall's 8-yard touchdown run made it 21-17. But with coach Mike Tomlin's team driving for perhaps its first lead of the game, Mendenhall fumbled on the Green Bay 33 from a hit by Clay Matthews - one of the few plays the All-Pro linebacker made. The Packers recovered, and Rodgers hit Jennings for 8 yards and the winning points.

Pittsburgh's last score was on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace and a pitchout by Roethlisberger to Randle El for a 2-point conversion, making it 28-25 with 7:34 left.

Mason Crosby added a 23-yard field goal for the Packers and the Steelers had no more comebacks in them like the one Roethlisberger staged to win the Super Bowl two years ago. He missed on his last three passes in the final moments.

Rodgers hit Nelson in stride with a long pass on Green Bay's first series, but the wideout let it slide through his hands. The Pack had discovered something, though, and went back to that play for the first touchdown. Nelson beat William Gay and held on for a 7-0 lead; the Packers have scored first in all five Super Bowl appearances.

Just 24 seconds later, they were ahead by 14. Throwing from his end zone, Roethlisberger's arm was hit by backup nose tackle Howard Green. The ball fluttered to the Pittsburgh 37, where Collins settled under it, then scooted down the right sideline and dived into the end zone for the 13th interception return for a score. Teams doing so are now 11-0 in Super Bowls.

Needing to get busy or get buried, Pittsburgh put together a 13-play drive to Shaun Suisham's 33-yard field goal. Then, after moving well again, Mike Wallace's pass was stolen from his hands by Bush at the Pittsburgh 46.

Rodgers coolly completed passes to Jennings and Nelson, James Starks ran for 12 yards as Polamalu whiffed on a tackle, then Jennings reached high and slightly behind to snag a 21-yarder over Polamalu for a 21-3 edge.

This is looking like a start of new legacy for the Green Bay Packers....

Bubba Watson wins the Farmers Insurance Open

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:52:00 +0000

Bubba Watson made clutch putts on the final two holes to hold off Phil Mickelson and win the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday at Torrey Pines to earn the second win of his career.

Watson holed a 9-foot par putt on the 17th hole and a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish off a 5-under par 67. He completed four rounds at 16-under 272, one shot better than Mickelson.

Mickelson, the Rancho Santa Fe resident nearly completed a miraculous comeback on the 72nd hole, trying to slam-dunk a wedge shot from 73 yards away in the fairway. His shot landed less than a foot from the hole, bounced several feet past, then rolled to within 4 feet.

Mickelson made the putt for a birdie that gave him a 3-under 69 and four-round total of 15-under 273. He beat Dustin Johnson (66) and Jhonattan Vegas (68) by two shots.
Mickelson offered no apologies for his decision to lay up.

His lie in the left rough looked to be OK, although the grain of the grass was into his ball and he had 228 yards to the flag. A hybrid would have come out heavy and gone into the water. He said his 3-wood would have come out hot and got well over the green, leaving a difficult chip. Mickelson figured his best chance at eagle was a 64-degree wedge from the fairway, using the bank behind the hole to help feed the ball to the cup.

As for his caddie, Jim Mackay, tending the pin on such a long shot?

"Obviously, you need to hit a great shot and you need to get some luck to hole one from the fairway," Mickelson said. "I'm not naive on that. I get it. But I also didn't want to have something in the way. It's not like I do it every week. But the last hole of the tournament, I've got to make it."

He didn't, although it was pure entertainment.

D.A. Points was another shot back in fifth, one shot ahead of three golfers, including Nick Watney, who tied the course record Sunday with a 9-under 63. Watney played the back nine first and made eight birdies for a 28.

Bill Haas, who entered the final round tied with Mickelson at 12-under, shot 3-over 75 and finished tied for ninth.

Anthony Paolucci, the 18-year-old senior at La Jolla Country Day, birdied the last hole for a 72 and finished tied for 29th at 3-under. He beat Tiger Woods, who shot 75 Sunday, by two shots

NFC routed the AFC, 55-41

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Source: ESPN

The game was not nearly as interesting as the score of 55-41 NFC win would indicate and it did nothing to repair the tattered image of the Pro Bowl.

The AFC quarterbacks including our own Philip Rivers along with Peyton Manning and Matt Cassel each threw first-half interceptions to help the NFC blow open a 42-0 lead in a performance ugly even by the historically low standards of Pro Bowl.

Fittingly for this strange game, center Alex Mack of Cleveland scored the final touchdown on a 67-yard pass play that featured two laterals with 16 seconds left.

Panthers' Jon Beason returned the fifth interception thrown by the AFC, and second by Matt Cassel, 59 yards for the NFC's final touchdown to match the single-team scoring record set in the NFC's 55-52 victory in 2004.

The AFC, though, took that attitude to an uncomfortable extreme early on before coming back to outscore the NFC 41-13.

The NFC led 42-0 after Steven Jackson waltzed through the AFC defense for a 21-yard touchdown -- and there still was 4½ minutes left in the second quarter.

Rivers, starting in place of injured Tom Brady, was picked off twice in the first quarter, the second by Hall.

"You underthrow one just a hair and they intercept it," Rivers said. "You get a deflection for an interception. ... They had all the breaks early."

Manning, in his 11th Pro Bowl, came on briefly in relief and his second pass was picked off. Then Cassel got his chance and quickly joined in by throwing his second pass of the game directly into the hands of Vikings' cornerback Antoine Winfield.

But just when it appeared it would be the most one-sided game in Pro Bowl history, eclipsing the Joe Theismann-led 45-3 NFC rout of the AFC in 1984, the AFC scored three touchdowns in a row. The last came on the game's seventh turnover, when Devin Hester tried to hand the kickoff return to Hall, but the ball fell to the turf. Montell Owens of Jacksonville scooped it up and ran it in 10 yards for the score to make it 42-21 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

The game returned to its traditional home in Hawaii after a one-year detour to Miami, much to the approval of the players involved.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick started but played only the first quarter, completing 5 of 10 passes for 59 yards.

Peterson rushed for 80 yards in 14 carries for the NFC, including a 14-yarder to set a Pro Bowl record with four career rushing touchdowns. Atlanta got good performances from Matt Ryan (9 of 13 for 118 yards and two touchdowns with an interception), Michael Turner (eight carries for 53 yards) and Roddy White (five catches for 69 yards).

Padres unveil their new camouflage uniform

noreply@blogger.com (James Idos) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:40:00 +0000

The Padres unveiled their new camouflage jerseys on Tuesday and there's already some speculation that the team's attention to detail might prove to be a little too effective in 2011.

While the Padres have worn two other camouflage jerseys since adopting the tradition in 2000, the previous versions used bolder prints worn by the Army and Navy. These new threads are meant to honor the Marines, these Marine Patterns
was computer design that features smaller splotches that are much harder to detect. It's called "Digital camouflage".

While these jerseys probably won't play major visual tricks on the fans' eyes — it's not like the players are going to completely disappear from sight when framed against green grass. Some Marines say the Padres' tribute to the military won't be as easy to recognize as it has been in the past.

The Marines quoted in that article above say they're still honored that the Padres have adopted their pattern, but not everyone likes the continued use of camouflage on uniforms. Uni Watch's Paul Lukas made his case against the practice a few years ago and the Padres' alternates were recently named the third-worst uniform in sports.

While other teams donned copycat camo uniforms, like the White Sox and the Reds in recent years, the Padres' tribute has always been top notch. It's actually one of the better community outreach efforts by a team, considering the city's military history and the composition of its fan base.

What's even cooler is that the team made the effort to recognize a third branch with these new tops. The authenticity of the Marines' uniforms might cause problems, sure, but it's that commitment to realism that keeps it a tribute that is rooted in honor and respect.