Sad Day for Chargers Fans, Chargers release L.T.
After nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers, the Chargers released the best running in Chargers history, LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson was going to get a $2 million roster bonus in March. However, due to Tomlinson injuries and age, it was time for the San Diego Chargers to move on. Too bad for Chargers fans who did not get to see L.T. win a Super Bowl championship with the Chargers.
Under the LaDainian Tomlinson era, the San Diego Chargers had their chances to get the Super Bowl with playoff runs in 2004 and 2006-09. But, it was not meant to be. And now, for L.T., he will never get that chance as a San Diego Chargers.
However, as Chargers fans look back at LaDainian Tomlinson greatness as a San Diego Chargers, his best moment was probably when he broke the NFL touchdown record against the Denver Broncos in 2006. L.T. scored 28 touchdowns that year. Another milestone for L.T., was on December 2, 2007. Tomlinson passed Walter Payton on the all time rushing touchdown list, with his 111th career rushing touchdown, against the Kansas City Chiefs. But, of course for Chargers fans, the best moments of Tomlinson career is the Chargers 13th straight victories over their rivals, the Oakland Raiders.
It will be sad to see L.T. in another uniform next year, but that is the business of the NFL. Hopefully, for LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers it will all work out in the end. We shall see L.T. in the NFL Hall of Fame someday, but not yet.
(Sources: Fox Sports, ESPN)
Another Distraction for Chargers, Cromartie being Investigated
Just when everything was going right for the San Diego Chargers, an incident involving another Chargers player becomes a distraction for the team. Police are investigating San Diego Chargers cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, because it was reported that Cromartie hit someone in the head with a champagne bottle. Police responded to an incident that happened at Bar West in Pacific Beach shortly before 1:30 a.m. early Monday morning.
No arrests were made, though the 24-year old did suffered minor injuries. However, Cromartie is still being investigated for an assault with a deadly weapon according to Detective Gary Hassen.
This is the last thing the Chargers needed. The Chargers just beat the Denver Broncos. The Chargers are on a five game winning streak and in first place in the AFC west. And then this happens.
On Cromartie Twitter page, he said,
“I want to apologize to Charger nation and my fans. There’s sum stuff out abt me that’s not true. It will come out. God Bless.”
The Chargers players need to stay focused. It’s great to celebrate a good victory, but the Chargers haven’t won anything yet. There are six games left and anything can still happen. Hopefully, all the accusations prove to be false and Cromartie is innocent of the charges. However, Antonio Cromartie and the rest of the Chargers players need to learn from this bad experience, stay focused and most importantly, save the celebration for February. That’s the only celebration that matters is the one in February, not November.
(Sources: San Diego Union-Tribune, ESPN)
Bad Decisions by Belichick and Adams
A couple of bad decisions were made on Sunday. One, cost a team the game and the other, lost money for an owner. New England Patriots coach, Bill Belichick, made a big and wrong decision that should have been a easy decision. And for Tennessee Titans owner, Bud Adams, there is a right way to celebrate and then there is the wrong way to celebrate for an NFL owner.
When you need just two yards to get a first down and win a game, in most cases, you go for the win. However, when you are on your own 28-yard line with two minutes left on the clock, you need to punt the ball. Let your defense win the game for you. But, New England Patriots coach, Bill Belichick, decided to go for it on fourth down and the Patriots failed to pickup the first down. The Colts were able to get the ball back. From there, Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, was able to move the Colts towards the goal line. The Colts won the game 35-34, when Manning threw a touchdown pass to wide-receiver, Reggie Wayne. Bill Belichick decision lost a game for the Patriots, but at least he did lose any money, like Titans owner, Bud Adams.
As a owner of a football team, when your team wins, you should be happy and celebrating with friends, family, members of your organization and your fans. But, you should not be making an obscene gestures to opposing fans. However, that is what Tennessee Titans owner, Bud Adams, did following the Titans victory over the Buffalo Bills. It might have felt good at the time, but you got to remember who you are and what you represent as an owner of the NFL. That doesn’t set a good example for kids and NFL fans in general. The NFL fined Bud Adams $250,000 for his obscene gesture. Hopefully Bud Adams has learned is lesson and how to celebrate the right way.
(Sources: ESPN)
49ers Signed their Number One Pick, Finally!
Well, after training gamp, four NFL preseason games and four NFL regular season games, on Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers finally signed their number one draft pick, wide-receiver Michael Crabtree. The 49ers signed Michael Crabtree to a six-year contract. But, what took so long? Well, when you have two parties that need to come to an agreement and when one of those parties disagrees with the offer proposed, then that’s where the problems begins.
For Michael Crabtree’s camps, what the San Francisco 49ers was originally offering was not good enough. Both sides tried reach an agreement, but nothing was happening. The San Francisco 49ers finally received a call on Sunday from Crabtree’s camp and they finally met with the 49ers on Tuesday.
As the San Francisco 49ers move forward, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. What kind of game shape is Michael Crabtree in? How will Michael Crabtree perform on the field after being out of football since college? What role will he play and how will it effect the other players on the team? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, now the San Francisco 49ers have their number one pick in camp and are ready to play football. The main question for the 49ers, is Michael Crabtree ready to play some NFL football? We shall see.
(Sources: ESPN)
The Kickoff to the 2009 NFL Season Has Begun
For NFL football fans, this is the most exciting time of the year, the start of the 2009 NFL Season. Thursday nights game featured the defending Super Bowl Champions, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Tennessee Titans. This game was a defensive struggle and would eventually go into overtime. The Pittsburgh Steelers would win 13-10.
Even though the Steelers got the victory, they lost Troy Polamalu due to a sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on a blocked field goal. He will be out 3 to 6 weeks according to coach Mike Tomlin. In the end, the Titans were unable to stop Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 363-yards and would lead the Steelers down the field for the game winning filed goal in overtime.
The rest of the NFL starts play on Sunday. It’s awesome to see football again. Lets get it on!
(Sources: NFL.com, ESPN)
What’s wrong with Brett Favre signing with the Minnesota Vikings?
Well, for longtime Green Bay Packers fans, it would seem wrong for the former Green Bay Packers quarterback and three-time MVP, Brett Farve, to sign with the Packers rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. However, on Tuesday, it became reality. Brett Favre signed a two-year contract with the Vikings.
For the Minnesota Vikings, this was a great move. The Vikings made the playoffs last year, but lost in NFC Wild Card game. One thing the Vikings were lacking in the playoffs was experience and leadership at the quarterback position. Now, with the signing of Brett Favre, the Vikings do not have to worry about that. The Minnesota Vikings have a great running game and with Brett Favre at QB, this could be a dangerous team going into this season.
For the Green Bay Packers, the challenge of winning the NFC North Division just got more difficult. Brett Favre makes the Vikings a NFC contender, not only for the NFC North Division, but also for the championship. Who would have thought that this would be possible? Brett Favre playing for the Minnesota Vikings. This move by the Vikings adds more excitement to the Packers-Vikings rivalry.
We shall see how the Packers fan will react to Brett Favre when he shows up in Green Bay wearing a Minnesota Vikings uniform on November 1st. But, the first game between the Packers and Vikings will be on Monday Night Football on October 5th. There will be a lot of anticipation for this game. The only question is who will win the game, the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre or the Green Bay Packers, stay tuned.
(Sources: ESPN)
What’s wrong with the Eagles Signing Michael Vick?
The biggest question in the NFL was who was going to sign Michael Vick? And, on Thursday, it was announced that Michael Vick had signed a one-year deal with an option for a second year with the Philadelphia Eagles. Why would the Eagles sign Michael Vick? The Eagles already have a quarterback in Donovan McNabb. Also, the Eagles already have an athletic all-pro player in Brian Westbrook. So, why would you bring in the Michael Vick and the drama that will follow him?
Well, if there was a team that is not new to controversy, it’s the Philadelphia Eagles. A couple of years ago, the Eagles had to deal with Terrell Owens. But, this is very different situation for the Eagles. Who know what issues will occur as a result of the signing of Michael Vick. However, for the Philadelphia Eagles, it is a good thing that they have a good head coach and veteran players that will be able to deal with this issue.
In terms of playing football, the Philadelphia Eagles run the “West Coast Offense”, which Michael Vick played in when he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Vick will need to get into football shape and we shall see how he will fit in with the rest of the team. And, if Michael Vick can be successful playing with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Eagles can be a dangerous team going into this season.
(Sources: ESPN)
Why L.T. Should Not Play in the Preseason?
The only reason why LaDainian Tomlinson should not play in the preseason is because he could get injured and be lost for the whole season playing in a meaningless preseason game. On Saturday, the San Diego Chargers will play their first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. And, one of the biggest questions for the San Diego Chargers is whether or not L.T. should play in one of the Chargers’ four preseason games?
The biggest issue of playing L.T. in the preseason is that there is a huge risk of losing him for the entire season, if he plays and gets hurts. Some may argue that Tomlinson and the offensive-line need to get their timing down or the Chargers offense and L.T. need to get a feel for each other. But, it only takes one wrong move or one big hit and his season would be over.
Besides, the preseason means more of rookies and free-agents wanting to make the team. The preseason also is good for the quarterback to get his passing rhythm down with the offensive-line and wide-receivers. But, when you have a superstar running back and former NFL MVP, playing him in the preseason is not a good decision. Whether LaDainian Tomlinson plays or not is up to the coaches. But, the bottom-line is that the risk is not worth the reward.