Is the Chargers Drama Over?
On Monday, San Diego Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith called LaDainian Tomlinson to clear the air about comments that A.J. Smith said last week in regards to L.T. On Tuesday, Tomlinson said on ESPN’s “Jim Rome is Burning” show that they had a great conversation and believed that A.J. Smith sounded sincere. Does this mean everything is all good in San Diego?
Well, the Chargers need to resign other players, so the big question is whether or not L.T. will remain with the team. The Chargers will more than likely offer L.T. a new restructured contract. It will be up to LaDainian Tomlinson to except it or not.
But, in regards to A.J. Smith, how would you feel about him if you were L.T.? L.T. told Jim Rome that he has “no hard feelings” and realize that this a business.
If the Chargers offer L.T. a new deal and if he really wants to stay in San Diego, then he will have to take the offer. If he does not except the offer then he will most likely be released. Tough decisions to consider on both sides, but this is a business and we’ll see what happens next.
(Sources: San Diego Union-Tribune, ESPN)
Super Bowl XLIII Week Begins, Steelers vs. Cardinals, Who will Win?
With the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals arriving in Tampa, Super Bowl week has finally begun. As each team gets ready for Super Sunday, it time for NFL fans to pick a winner. There can be only one Super Bowl Champion. Please vote who you think will win the Super Bowl.
Who will win the Steelers vs. Cardinals?
- Cardinals (60%, 3 Votes)
- Steelers (40%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 5
Loading ...It’s Time to Put the Lights Out on the Chargers Drama
Since the San Diego Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs, the big question for the Chargers was what were they were going to do about LaDainian Tomlinson? However, the Chargers biggest problem is the war of words between General Manager A.J. Smith and Tomlinson. Shawne Merriman, Chargers All-Pro linebacker, weighed in with his opinion by saying that all the comments between everyone involved needs to stop and should be kept in-house.
Last week, LaDainian Tomlinson stated on his website that he wanted to remain a Chargers for the rest of his career. However, in response to L.T. comments, Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith made a statement, in regards to A.J. Smith’s own career as Chargers G.M., that seemed to mock L.T. by using some of the same words that L.T. used. Whether you believe A.J. Smith was mocking L.T. or not, what Shawne Merriman is saying is true. All the drama within the Chargers organization needs to be kept in doors.
Shawne Merriman stated the following:
“That (stuff) doesn’t help bring a Super Bowl to San Diego.”
“And that (stuff) needs to stop, period. It needs to stop now.”
“Going into next season,” Merriman said, “I want people talking about how we’re going to rebound from getting … bounced from the playoffs – not if LT is going to be there or if I’m going to be there.”
“We’re a team, upstairs and downstairs, no matter what,” Merriman said. “This is a business, but if you address the situation publicly now you have turmoil.”
The San Diego Chargers are going to have to make major decisions this off-season, due to the fact that the Chargers need to resign other players. However, airing out all the drama for the public is not helping anyone. The Chargers organization needs to put the lights out on this situation. We will see if the San Diego Chargers will learn from this. But, regardless of what happens to L.T., hopefully for the Chargers, it will all work out in the end as the Chargers look forward to next year.
(Sources: San Diego Union Tribune, XX 1090 Sports Radio)
What Should the Chargers Do About L.T.?
On Wednesday, LaDainian Tomlinson stated on his web site that he wanted to stay with San Diego Chargers and retire as a Chargers. However, with salary cap and the Chargers need to resign players like Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman, Marcus McNeill and Darren Sproles, keeping L.T. might not be possible. Tomlinson contract, which goes through 2011, will count $8.8 million dollars against the salary cap in 2009. If the Chargers do not do anything about L.T., then the Chargers will lose someone else because they cannot sign everyone.
Please vote what you think is the option for San Diego Chargers.
What should the Chargers do about LaDainian Tomlinson?
- Ask LaDainian to take a Pay Cut (50%, 5 Votes)
- Keep L.T. (40%, 4 Votes)
- Trade L.T. (10%, 1 Votes)
- Release Tomlinson (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 10
Loading ...(Sources: San Diego Union Tribune, ESPN)
Super Bowl is Set, Steelers vs. Cardinals
Coming into this year, other than the hardcore Cardinals fans, nobody thought that the Arizona Cardinals were going to be in the Super Bowl. However, once the Cardinals were in the playoffs, nobody was going to stop the Cardinals. In the first round, the Cardinals were able to control the running game of the Atlanta Falcons, which lead to the Cardinals victory. In Carolina, the Panthers turnovers gave the Cardinals all they needed to take control of that game. And, in the NFC Championship game, the Philadelphia Eagles had their chances, but the Eagles tough defense could not deny Kurt Warner and the Cardinals of their destiny. Now, the Arizona are on their way to the Super Bowl to face the AFC Champions, Pittsburgh Steelers.
After the Tennessee Titans lost to the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers gain home field advantage in the AFC. For the Steelers, they were able to take advantage of this opportunity. In the second round of the playoffs, the Steelers were able to control the clock and run the ball on the San Diego Chargers. The Steelers defense were able to stop the high-powered Chargers offense and moved on to the next round. In the AFC Championship game, the Steelers defense and Baltimore Ravens defense battle back and forth. But, in the end, Ravens quarterback, Joe Flacco, made the big mistake and the Steelers were finally able to capitalize. Steelers cornerback, Troy Polamalu, interception the ball and returned it for a touchdown, which helped end the Ravens season. The Steelers were able to get on a roll and are rolling on to the Super Bowl to face the Arizona Cardinals. Game time starts in two week, let the countdown to Super Bowl XLIII begin.
Coaching Changes for the Chargers
The San Diego Chargers announced on Tuesday that they were going to let go of four assistant coaches. Secondary coach Bill Bradley, tight end coach Clancy Barone, offensive line coach Jack Henry and assistant secondary/quality control coach Kevin Ross will not be back with the Chargers for the 2009 season. After the Chargers poor performance, in their playoff lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, changes were going to be made. The Chargers defense and offense struggled throughout parts of the season, so something had to give.
The loss of Shawne Merriman was huge for the Chargers defense. Merriman made everyone work a lot easier, but without him the Chargers defense struggled. It eventually caught up with them during their playoff lost. Also, injuries on the offensive line and to LaDainian Tomlinson contributed to the Chargers problems on offense during the season as well. Hopefully with new coaching, better defensive play and everyone coming back healthy, the Chargers will be one of the top teams in ‘09.
(Sources: Chargers.com)
End of an Era for the Indianapolis Colts
After seven years as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy announced his retirement on Monday. Following the Colts playoff lost to the San Diego Chargers on January 3rd, coach Dungy said that he was going to take some time before he made a decision about his coaching future. After considering all his options, Tony Dungy felt that the time was right for him to leave coaching.
As for the Indianapolis Colts, on Tuesday, they announced that Jim Caldwell as their new head coach. Luckily for coach Jim Caldwell, he will have Peyton Manning as his quarterback. Not bad for coach Caldwell to have 2008 NFL MVP as your starting QB.
As for Tony Dungy, he will be missed by the Indianapolis Colts players and fans alike. We shall see what happens as the Post-Dungy era begins next season for the Colts. Can you the Colts return to being Super Bowl Champions or has the window close for the Colts, stay tuned.
Turnovers End Giants, Titans, and Panthers Season
Whether it was fumbles, interceptions or not converting on 4th down situations, this past weekend was bad timing for turnovers. For the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers, turning the ball over during the playoffs ended their dreams of being Super Bowl Champions. All these teams worked hard to gain a bye in the playoffs, but it did not matter as a result of the turnovers.
For the defending Super Bowl Champions New York Giants, even though Eli Manning did throw two interceptions in their lost to the Philadelphia Eagles that was not the major factor that doomed them. The Giants inability to get the 1st down when they tried to go for it on 4th down was very costly. The Eagles stop them a couple of times in the 4th quarter and would then capitalize by scoring a touchdown and then eventually winning the game.
As for the Tennessee Titans, they lost only 3 games all season, but the curial turnovers by the Titans would lead to Baltimore Raves 13-10 victory. Titians quarterback, Kerry Collins, had a costly fumble when the Titans were driving in the 2nd quarter. Later in the quarter, Kerry Collins threw an interception that could had lead to points for the Titans. Towards the end of the 2nd quarter, Titans running back, LenDale White, would also fumble the football, which gave the Titans no chance of getting any points in that quarter. The final turnover that was very costly for Titans was when Alge Crumple fumble the ball at the 5-yard line when the Titans looked like they were going to score. Without these turnovers, the Titans could have scored several times, but it was not meant to be.
Finally for the Carolina Panthers, coming into their game against the Arizona Cardinals, the main issue was if the Cardinals were going to able to handle the Panthers offense, but it was the Panthers that had the issues. The Panthers main issues was their turnovers, especially during crucial times in the game by Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme. Jake Delhomme threw five interceptions, which helped lead to the Cardinals victory. After falling behind, the Panthers tried to get back into this game, but interceptions stopped any chance of that happening and they would lose 33-13 to the Cardinals.
Now, as these teams looked back, they had a great season, but their mistakes in the playoffs will haunted them until next season. Tough break for Giants, Titans and Panthers to gain home field advantage and a first round bye and have it all end in one game. These teams should be back next year, hopefully for them, next time, it will be their opponents that make the mistakes.