Chargers Press Conference Adds No Further News on L.T.
Chargers General Manger A.J. Smith had a press conference on Thursday to discuss the status and affairs of the San Diego Chargers for the 2008 season and 2009 season. Before the press conference, there was some anticipation that there was going to be a resolution to the LaDainian Tomlinson contract situation. But, for Chargers fans and L.T. fans, this was not the case.
In regards to LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers GM A.J. Smith said “All I can tell you is everything’s ongoing. I’ve got nothing more to add at this time. But I will add this: We’d love to have him. We hope he returns.”
During the press conference, A.J. Smith did not want to go into further details about the negotiations with LaDainian Tomlinson and his agent.
Well, for many San Diego Chargers fans, this press conference was most likely disappointing. Everyone probably thought they were going to hear about the future of LaDainian Tomlinson as a Chargers, instead Chargers fans got no answers about L.T. and just have to wait and see what happens.
Hopefully, for the San Diego Chargers, they will be able to keep to L.T. and move forward. We shall see what happen next as the LaDainian Tomlinson’s contract situation continues.
Chargers Franchise Tag Sproles, What does that mean for Tomlinson?
Well, the San Diego Chargers made a big decision today. The Chargers elected to franchise tag running back Darren Sproles, who is one of the Chargers most exciting players and their 3rd-down & kick-return specialist. However, paying Sproles over 6 million dollars for one year might come at a hefty price because now the Chargers have another big decision to make. What are they going to do about L.T.?
LaDainian Tomlinson contract will count over $8 million dollars against the salary cap this for year. But, the Chargers need to resign players like Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman and Marcus McNeill, so keeping L.T. might not be possible, if he does not restructure his current deal.
This would not be an issue if LaDainian Tomlinson had been healthy, but he has been injured the last two years. First, L.T. was injured two years ago in a playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts and this past season, he was injured again. This time during the last game of the season against the Denver Broncos.
Of course, what do you do if you are LaDainian Tomlinson? If the Chargers ask L.T. to restructure his deal, should he stay and play for the San Diego Chargers at a reduce salary? Or is there another team out there that is willing to take on L.T. salary, if the Chargers decide to release him? The Chargers do have the components to make a possible Super Bowl run, but is that a enough to stay?
The Chargers will make a new contract offer to L.T. soon. However, some tough decision have to be made by the Chargers and LaDainian Tomlinson. We shall see if the LaDainian Tomlinson era continues for the Chargers or will L.T. play for another team next year. Stay tuned.
(Sources: XX Sports 1090, San Diego Union-Tribune)
NFL Players and Firearms Don’t Mix
Once again, another NFL player is in trouble with the law. Last Wednesday, Buffalo Bills running back, Marshawn Lynch was arrested in Culver City, California, for possession of a concealed firearm. You would think since the Plaxico Burress incident in December, when the New York Giants wide-receiver was arrested on two felony charges after accidentally shooting himself that all NFL players would learn their lesson. This is not the case.
One week, Marshawn Lynch is playing in the Pro-Bowl and then the next week, he gets arrested on felony charges for carrying a firearm. What is wrong with this picture? Sure, you have the right to protect yourself. But, if you need to be somewhere where you need to protect yourself, maybe you should not be there, especially, when you’re an NFL player making millions of dollars. It’s a great privilege to be able to play in the NFL. Hopefully for Marshawn Lynch, he will learn from this, but only time will tell.
(Sources: ESPN)
Did Anyone See the Pro-Bowl?
The NFL made a good decision for next years Pro-Bowl by moving the game and playing it a week before the Super Bowl. This is a good way to kick-off Super Bowl week. Although the NFC and AFC champions will not have their best players playing in the Pro-Bowl, the NFL season should end with the Super Bowl. This move by the NFL should bring in more interest to the Pro-Bowl. As football fans look forward to the Super Bowl, playing the Pro-Bowl game before the big game should be one more thing that gets everyone excited for Super Sunday.
The only mistake that the NFL did was that they should have kept the game in Hawaii. Next year, the Pro-Bowl will be played in Miami. Even though Miami is a great city, the tradition of playing the Pro-Bowl in Hawaii should have stayed the same. As for this year Pro-Bowl, the NFC beat the AFC, 30-21. Arizona Cardinals wide-receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, was named Pro-Bowl MVP. Hopefully for the NFL, next years Pro-Bowl will be the best one yet.
Another Distraction for Chargers, Jamal Williams arrested for DUI
San Diego Chargers 3-time Pro Bowl nose tackle, Jamal Williams, was stopped for speeding at 1:30am Sunday morning. Jamal Williams was then arrested for suspicion of drunk driving. He was later released on bond. This is another off-season distraction for the Chargers, which is not good when your trying to move forward to next season.
Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith released a statement stating:
“It’s disappointing to hear about the issue involving Jamal Williams. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course.”
This continues to be a bad off-season for the San Diego Chargers. With all of these off-season distractions, from the L.T. and A.J. Smith issue to the Chargers possible stadium deal in Los Angeles, this distraction is the last thing the Chargers needed. We’ll see if the off-season drama continues for the Chargers.
(Sources: Chargers.com, San Diego Union-Tribune, XX 1090 Sports Radio)
Playing to Win, Pittsburgh Steelers are the Super Bowl Champions
When it comes to Super Bowls, you got to play to win. And in this game, the Arizona Cardinals had their chances, but it was not meant to be as the Pittsburgh Steelers made the plays they had to do to win the Super Bowl. Towards the end the game, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to move down the field to score the game winning touchdown. Ben Roethlisberger found Super Bowl MVP wide-receiver, Santonio Holmes, who made a perfect catch at the back of the end zone, to win the game for the Steelers 27-23. For the Arizona Cardinals, penalties and miss opportunities would cost them in the end.
After the Steelers took a 3-0 lead in the 1st quarter, the Steelers would drive the ball down the field and Gary Russell rushed for a 1-yard touchdown run to take a 10-0 lead. However, the Cardinals would come back. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner threw a touchdown pass to Ben Patrick to cut the lead to 10-7. The Cardinals got the ball back on an interception by Karlos Dansby. The Cardinals were in scoring range, but Kurt Warner threw a costly interception at the end zone. Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison, would return the interception for a touchdown and the Steelers took the lead into halftime, 17-7.
In the 3rd quarter, after the Steelers took a 20-7 lead on a field-goal by Steelers kicker, Jeff Reed , it was in the 4th quarter were the game got crazy. Early in the 4th quarter, the Kurt Warner found wide-receiver, Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown to cut into the lead 20-14. After the Steelers got the ball back, the Cardinals got a safety on a holding a call and the Cardinals would take advantage. Cardinals QB, Kurt Warner threw another touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald for a 64-yards touchdown catch and the Cardinals were finally able to take the lead 23-20. It look liked the Cardinals were going to be the next Super Bowl champions, but it was not meant to be. Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers were able to drive the ball down the field. The Steelers WR, Santonio Holmes made a great play and kept his feet inside the end zone to catch the game winning touchdown with 35 seconds left in the game. The Steelers were able to get a turnover at the end of the game and finally won 27-23.
Coming into the game, the Arizona Cardinals made great plays during their Super Bowl run, but the Cardinals made costly penalties and had miscues during this game that would doomed them. The Pittsburgh Steelers would capitalize and made the plays they need to do to win the game. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger made some huge plays, whether it was getting away from sacks or avoiding curial miscues to keep the Steelers drives alive. In the end, playing to win was the name of this game. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the NFL’s 2009 Super Bowl XLIII Champions.