Chargers won’t trade their players

As the off-season officially begins, the San Diego Chargers’ front office started to formulate plans for fielding a championship-caliber team in 2010. Some Chargers’ fans believe the organization should trade away some big-name, yet under-performing players. But the Bolts might not trade their guys away. Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith is intoxicated with the prospects of receiving compensatory draft picks. For example, “Remember back in 2007 when the Titans were offering Smith a second round pick in exchange for restricted free agent Michael Turner? Smith wouldn’t budge from his first and third round price so Turner would end up walking after the season, netting the Chargers only a fourth round compensatory pick.” Smith doesn’t trade his players away. He’d rather cut them or allow them to finish their contracts and hopes the NFL awards them compensation down the road. The general manager stated that the Bolts don’t just let players go without compensation. He added, “They’re used to the traditional trades of draft picks and players. . . . (This) is what we call knowing how to utilize the unrestricted free agency and the league compensatory draft awards to our advantage.” The Chargers haven’t drafted a Pro Bowl player since 2006. They are active in free agency, but they are always shopping with a limited budget.

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Goodbye LaDainian Tomlinson

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson told The San Diego Union Tribune on February 4 what most fans have speculated for months : He will not be a Bolt next season. L.T. said, “I’m not coming back.” He continued to say he believes the organization will release him. L.T. is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, but he just finished the least productive season of his nine-year NFL career (730 yards on 233 carries). Last year, L.T. agreed to restructure the final three years of his contract and take a pay cut, but the 2006 NFL MVP stated he won’t do that again. He has two years remaining on his contract, and he is due a $2 million roster bonus. The superstar would be paid $5 million in total salary in 2010.

L.T. told The Union-Tribune that he might have his agent, Tom Condon, call the Chargers to speed up what he believes to be his inevitable release. He stated, “It’s mixed emotions. I’ve spent nine years of my life here, pretty much my youth. I gave the organization everything I have. I enjoyed the community. But there is a part I won’t miss. The football part is fun. But the business part sucks. I won’t miss that.”

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Joey Porter wants to be a Bolt

Feeling underutilized and unwelcome in Miami, Joey Porter is seeking an exit and has identified the San Diego Chargers as a potential fit for him. A four-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Porter has 92 sacks in his 11 year career; 32 of those sacks came in his three year as a Dolphin. But Porter felt his role was limited in 2009. He stated that the Dolphins never gave him a real explanation for reducing his role. Porter told the press, “I feel like I’m an every down player. I’m supposed to be out there on the field when the game’s on the line, not on the sideline. I was on the sideline in the fourth quarter of games cheering. Just a year ago I was the guy winning those games. I don’t know what happened. But at the same time, if that’s how they’re using me, I feel it’s best to let me leave and help some other football team that can use me.” Although Porter was sidelined early in the 2009 season due to a nagging hamstring, he recorded a sack in each of his last seven games. He is convinced his abilities have not diminished and that he can still be productive. Porter wants to stay in a 3-4 defense and said San Diego, Arizona, or San Fransisco would be the best places for him to play.

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Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson won’t restructure deal

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson was the league MVP in 2006 and has been to five Pro Bowls. But in 2009, the explosive running back didn’t post his usual numbers. He had career lows in yards (730), carries (223), yards per carry (3.3), and receptions (20). Not exactly what you expect from a guy who is making $60 million over eight years. L.T. has two years left on that contract, which General Manager A.J. Smith tried to restructure last summer. L.T. told radio station xx 1090 that he’s not sure if he will remain a Bolt, but  also said he’s not ready to retire from the NFL. When L.T. was asked if he would consider taking a pay cut to stay with the chargers, the running back stated there is absolutely no way he’ll restructure his deal this summer “under any circumstances.” Tomlinson is unhappy with the way the Chargers are working right now, and thinks they need to focus on the game. He was not satisfied with the amount of carries he had during the regular season and thought the team didn’t utilize him well. L.T. is apparently happy with the amount he’s making at this point. A trade or attempted buyout would come as no surprise.

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Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson shines in first Pro Bowl

San Diego wide receiver Vincent Jackson enjoyed his first Pro Bowl experience, he even got a chance to play special teams. The wide receiver said, “Oh my gosh, that was so much fun. That was the first tackle I’ve had since 2006.” Jackson caught seven receptions for a game-high 122 yards in the AFC’s 41-34 triumph over the NFC. It was the first Pro Bowl played the week before the Super Bowl and first outside Hawaii in 30 years (Pro Bowl was held at Sun Life Stadium in Miami). Despite a uncharacteristic dropped touchdown pass in the second quarter, Jackson made all his catches in the second half. Four of Jacksons’ catches came from Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard, which included a 48-yard catch and run for a third-quarter touchdown. Garrard told the press, “He’s so strong with the ball. He’s like a defensive end playing receiver. But he’s not just a big receiver. That catch he made and the run was unbelievable. I didn’t have to do much but get the ball in his hands.” Jackson made the Pro Bowl after Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne got busy with the Super Bowl. Even though he was an alternate, Jackson proved he belonged in the Pro Bowl and he stated he’s better for the experience.

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Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman wants a new contract

San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawn Merriman has stated he would like to remain a Bolt. Merriman has long felt frustrated by the perception he is not going to be in San Diego long-term. His contract will expire in February and he will be a restricted free agent. Merriman recorded 39.5 sacks and went to the Pro Bowl three times in his first three seasons before having season-ending knee surgery one game into his fourth year, in 2008. In 2009-10, the linebacker had only four sacks, but played extremely well against the New York Jets in the Bolts’ playoff loss. He was playing through a painful foot injury, but finished the season on a positive note. However, Chargers manager A.J. Smith has expressed displeasure with some of Merriman’s off-field pursuits, and the team was not pleased he waited several months to have surgery last year. While being able to play less than a year after surgery, Merriman’s doctors told him he will not recover until the second season back. The linebacker has never publicly indicated that he wanted to leave the Bolts. Merriman told the press, “Of course I’d like to be here. I’ve said that a billion times. I was 20 years old when I got drafted and came to San Diego. But I want to feel comfortable playing football. And not knowing whether you’re wanted or not is not a comfortable feeling.”

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San Diego Chargers MVP : Philip Rivers

With the dead week before Super Bowl XLIV upon us, USA Today handed out their 2009 regular season MVP awards. One person from each team (32 teams) received an MVP award for their outstanding regular-season performance. So who was crowned MVP on the San Diego Chargers? Philip Rivers took home the award. Rivers earned Pro Bowl recognition for the second time ”by posting outstanding numbers: a career-high 4,254 passing yards, 28 touchdown passes and a 104.4 rating.” But more important, he led his team to its fourth straight AFC West Championship and proved he’s at his best when it matters most (Rivers has an 18-0 career record in December). The only thing preventing Rivers from being mentioned among the game’s elite is his shabby 3-4 January record.

In other Bolts news, Chargers coach Norv Turner will be guiding the AFC squad in Sunday’s Pro Bowl for the second time as a head coach. He has been a part of four Pro Bowl staffs, two as an assistant with the Los Angeles Rams and now for the second time as a head coach. The opportunity is normally one he enjoys, but with this year’s Pro Bowl being played a week before the Super Bowl and just two weeks after the chargers’ season came to an end, this experience has caused mixed emotions for Turner. He stated, “This game is a good game and it’s good to be around this caliber of players. Under the circumstance though, this week is difficult. Our season ended just two weeks ago. That part of it is hard.”

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Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding said he “wasn’t mentally strong enough”

San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding has pulled out of the Prowl Bowl due to an injury. But many Chargers’ fans are still thinking about the three missed field goals Kaeding couldn’t convert that would of won the game for the Bolts in the divisional round of the playoffs. In a recent article written by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Kaeding revisits that postseason game and described his events as a “nightmarish scenario.” The kicker recounts what the last two weeks have been like for him in great detail. He said, “It’s impossible for me to not think about. There haven’t been 30 seconds that have gone by since that game that I haven’t thought about it.” The most accurate regular season kicker in NFL history didn’t sleep after his missed kicks. The following morning, Kaeding was back at the Chargers complex to watch what went wrong. He said he was hurried on his first kick. Kaeding stated, “On the other two, it was my inability to mentally get over that first miss … On that day, I wasn’t mentally strong enough to come back and swing through the ball.” The kicker acknowledged that he can’t silence his critics until he hits a big postseason kick again.

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Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson heded to Pro Bowl

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson learned on January 24 that he’ll make his first Pro Bowl appearance next week in Miami. Jackson replaces Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who won’t participate because his team advanced to the Super Bowl. “Jackson set career highs with 68 receptions, 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns this season. His yardage and touchdown totals led the Chargers, while his average of 17.2 yards per reception trailed only Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson among players with at least 45 catches.” Jackson becomes the first Bolts wide receiver to earn Pro Bowl honors since Tony Martin in 1997. Jackson had his name mentioned with Martin a couple of times during the season because he became the first Charger to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Martin accomplished the feat in 1995-96.

In other Chargers news, Rob Chudzinski will not be heading to the Chicago Bears. After interviewing for the vacant offensive coordinator position in Chicago last week, Bolts Tight Ends and Assistant Head Coach Chudzinski notified the Bears that he has removed himself from consideration.

The Bolts were at the 2010 Senior Bowl, Chatting with some prospects. The Senior Bowl has become one of the most important events on NFL scouting departments’ calender. While not always a true indication of legitimate interest, the Chargers do have a history of drafting players whom they’ve scouted first-hand down at this event.

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Tony Gonzalez voted best tight-end, Antonio Gates was runner-up

USA TODAY’s panel voted Tony Gonzalez as the the premier tight end of the 2000s. He received 50 points from a panel of editors and reporters, 10 more than runner-up Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers. Eight-time Pro Bowl tight end Shannon Sharpe said, “It’s a no-brainer. That might be the easiest position to determine.” Gonzalez is arguably the best player to man the position in any decade after smashing every significant record set by Sharpe. Gonzalez set the standard for tight ends in receptions (999 to Sharpe’s 815), receiving yards (11,807 to Sharpe’s 10,060), and touchdown receptions (82 to Sharpe’s 62).

According to USA TODAY, Gates was the second best tight end of the 2000s. “He aspires to a career that will allow him to be compared to the great tight ends to play the game.” Gates reached 50 touchdown receptions quicker than any other player at the position (needed 92 games to achieve the milestone). He was the second-fastest to surpass 5,000 yards (also did in in his 92nd game). Kellen Winslow did it in 69 games. The tight end is determined to continue to excel in the next couple of years. He told the press,  “Doing it for the first six years of your career is not good enough.”

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