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Texans Pick LT Duane Brown; Would Have Missed Him With Another Trade Down

Stephanie StradleyPosted Apr 30th 2008 5:05PM by Stephanie Stradley
Filed under: Chargers, Texans, AFC South, NFL Draft, Virginia Tech Football, Houston

A number of talking heads believe that the Texans picked Virginia Tech left tackle Duane Brown too early. They believe the Texans could have traded down again and still got their target. Those people would be wrong.

The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Chargers wanted Brown with the 27th pick:

"Funny that the Chargers finally got a tackle with their final pick. They had been stymied from starting off the draft with one when an unprecedented eight tackles were selected before they picked at No. 27.

'We came up one pick short,' said [Norv] Turner, who along with the rest of the Chargers brass watched Houston trade into the 26th spot and take tackle Duane Brown of Virginia Tech."

At the Texans draft party, someone told me shortly after the trade down from 18 that Brown was going to be the pick. I didn't believe it until I heard the pick later. If Brown was the target, then trying to trade down again was going to get too cute.

If the Texans only have offensive line guru Alex Gibbs for a short period of time, you should probably get him the tackle he wants pronto.

27. San Diego Chargers Take Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona in NFL Draft

Michael David SmithPosted Apr 26th 2008 6:09PM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Chargers, NFL Draft, San Diego


There was a clear consensus on the top four cornerbacks in this year's draft, but who's No. 5? The Chargers' front office thinks it's Antoine Cason, whom they selected with the 27th pick in today's draft.

The people who like Cason point to three things that make him worthy of being a first-round pick: He has good ball skills, he can return punts, and he's a high-character guy. I don't disagree with any of those things, but I still have my doubts that he was worthy of being chosen this highly. I'm just not convinced Cason is good enough in coverage to stick with NFL wide receivers.
Continue Reading 27. San Diego Chargers Take Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona in NFL Draft

Chargers' Shawne Merriman Denies Rumors of Failed Drug Test

Michael David SmithPosted Apr 25th 2008 4:28PM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Chargers, San Diego, PEDs

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports today that there's a rumor making the rounds that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman failed a drug test.

So Acee followed up on the rumor and asked Merriman whether it's true. Merriman says it isn't.
"I would know, if anybody," Merriman said. "If I failed a drug test or steroids test I'd be the first one to know about it. And after it being leaked the first time, I don't think someone would be holding back the results this time."
When Merriman says "the last time," he's referring to 2006, when he tested positive for steroids and was suspended four games.

This time, however, Acee asked Merriman if there was any chance the rumor Acee heard would turn out to be true, and Merriman answered, "Zero. None."

Hat tip: Pro Football Talk.

LaDainian Tomlinson Contemplates Participating in Preseason Games

Ryan WilsonPosted Apr 20th 2008 3:31PM by Ryan Wilson
Filed under: Chargers, AFC West


LaDainian Tomlinson's 2007 season ended on a decidedly crappy note: after just a handful of carries in the AFC Championship game, LdT spent the rest of the afternoon on the bench, head in hands. The Chargers would end up losing to the Patriots that day, but on the upside, San Diego finally won in the postseason, and looking ahead to 2008, both Tomlinson and quarterback Philip Rivers should be completely healthy.

And unlike previous years, Tomlinson is thinking about making a preseason appearance.
Tomlinson said new running backs coach Ollie Wilson, whom he knows and trusts from working with him his rookie season, pointed out how slowly Tomlinson generally starts the regular season. Said Tomlinson: "Maybe that's a part of not playing in the preseason; maybe it's not. Who knows? Maybe I might get a chance to run a little bit in the preseason."

Later, head coach Norv Turner said, "I haven't talked to LT. But if that's something he wants to do, I'd be open to it."
On the surface, this seems like a swell idea, but the concern, as always, is keeping Tomlinson healthy. And maybe more now than ever: LdT's long-time backup, Michael Turner, is now in Atlanta. Currently, Darren Sproles, all 5-8, 180 pounds of him, is behind Tomlinson on the depth chart. And while he's a nice change-of-pace, third-down back, he's not a guy you can expect to carry the ball 20-25 times if there are injuries in front of him on the depth chart.

All else being equal, though, it can't hurt for Tomlinson to get in a little work during the preseason. Well, unless, you know, he actually gets hurt.

FanHouse Mock Draft: San Diego Chargers Select Gosder Cherilus No. 27

Sportz AssassinPosted Apr 17th 2008 8:00AM by Sportz Assassin
Filed under: Chargers, AFC West, NFL Draft, San Diego

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

The Chargers are one of those teams that doesn't have any glaring needs and who will use the draft to add depth to this year's team and long term stability. San Diego is one of the best draft teams in the NFL and will chose very wisely here.

One spot that could use a jolt is right tackle. If BC tackle Gosder Cherilus lasts this long, the Bolts will snatch him up.

Cherilus is a beast (6-6, 315) with long arms and excellent quickness. A guy like that is perfect for a team that utilizes the running back a lot and has a young QB. His long arms are great for pass blocking while his explosiveness in getting to the next level of the defense works great for a team with LaDainian Tomlinson. One knock on him is his technique ... but that can be learned.

The Skinny:
Team Needs: CB, OT, DT, RB, S
Player Selected: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
Also Considered: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas; Kenny Phillips, S, Miami-FL

Previous Pick: No. 26, Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

Next Pick: No. 28, Dallas Cowboys

Apparently, Chargers GM A.J. Smith Knows What He's Doing

Ryan WilsonPosted Apr 14th 2008 12:43PM by Ryan Wilson
Filed under: Chargers, AFC West, NFL Draft

It wasn't very long ago that people were yelling for A.J. Smith to get fired (I may or may not have been one of those voices). After Marty Schottenheimer was canned/voluntarily left following a 14-win season, and his successor Norv Turner got off to a slow start in 2008, it was evident Smith had lost it.

Of course, there's a reason the fans and the media don't make NFL personnel decisions. San Diego ended up winning 11 games, the AFC West, and made it to the conference championship.

Smith is known for his ability to put together an NFL roster, and while most of us panned his decision to send a second-round pick to Miami for thought-to-be worthless Chris Chambers, he turned out to be a nice addition to the Chargers' wide receivers corps.

San Diego also traded up in the 2007 draft to grab safety Eric Weddle, and that also cost them some picks this year. Still, Smith understands that winning teams are built through the draft, and that's why he wouldn't mind re-acquiring some of the selections he lost over the last 12 months.
Continue Reading Apparently, Chargers GM A.J. Smith Knows What He's Doing

LaDainian Tomlinson and His Bum Knee Have Norv Turner's Full Support

Ryan WilsonPosted Apr 1st 2008 5:03PM by Ryan Wilson
Filed under: Chargers, NFL Fans, NFL Injuries


Shortly after the Chargers lost a hard-fought AFC Championship game to the Patriots, I hesitantly asked a question a lot of people were probably wondering as they watched Philip Rivers' gutty performance while LaDainian Tomlinson sat on the bench, head in hands: why wasn't LdT playing if he was "close to 100 percent?"

The obvious answer is that "because he wasn't." NFL Network's Deion Sanders offered his thoughts -- thoughts that LdT no doubt loved hearing -- and today, more than two months later, head coach Norv Turner is still answering questions about the league's best running back.
"Anyone who knows L.T. and what he has accomplished knows if he could have played [in the AFCC], he would have played," Turner said. "If that injury would have happened in Week 2, he probably would have missed six weeks. He tried to come back and play in a week. He gets hurt again on the second play (of the AFC title game). The disappointment L.T. showed was real. You play as many years he has, you've done all the individual things he has done, here you have a chance to go to the Super Bowl and you can't be a part of it. It's hard."
I don't doubt that one bit. And like I mentioned at the time, LdT seems like a swell guy. And even if the team was smoke-screening with the "oh, yeah, he's nearly 100 percent" commentary, that raises some questions about misusing the injury report.

But like I also said at the time, the NFL doesn't seem all that bothered by bogus injury reports because they have much bigger issues to deal with.

Shawne Merriman's $187K Car Stolen, Burned

Michael David SmithPosted Mar 25th 2008 4:33PM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Chargers, San Diego, The Word

A car valued at $187,000 belonging to Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was stolen and set on fire, CBS 8 in San Diego is reporting (via PFT).

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the car is a 2006 Mercedes sports coupe, and it was engulfed in flames when San Diego police officers discovered it last week around about midnight on Thursday.

The car was reportedly found sitting on top of plastic milk crates, with all of its wheels missing. The 23-year-old Merriman had not reported the car stolen and it is not clear when he learned of its theft.

Merriman is a car enthusiast (he's pictured in the starter stand before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California last month), and it's no surprise that he spent $187,000 on a car, seeing as he once spent $32,000 on a dinner.

Merriman's car was fully insured.

Photos: NFL Cheerleaders

There's a Slight Chance the Chargers Start the '08 Season With the B Team

Ryan WilsonPosted Mar 21st 2008 11:08AM by Ryan Wilson
Filed under: Chargers, NFL Injuries


It's seldom news when an offensive lineman has surgery in the middle of March. The season is still more than five months off and let's be honest: hearing about a fat guy going under the knife is a lot less sexy than the quarterback or wide receiver or, well, anybody but said fat guy.

This is different, though. Chargers center Nick Hardwick had surgery last week to repair a severe sprain in his right foot, and he could miss the first few games of the season (he thinks he'll be ready by the opener). Initially, Hardwick was just going to rest the foot but apparently the recovery was slower than expected. So instead of heading out on a nine-day Hawaiian vacation followed by a 12-day trip to Australia, Hardwick had surgery. Sweet compromise.

While losing a starter is always a big deal, the Chargers have other injury-related issues:
The Chargers offense potentially could also be missing starting tight end Antonio Gates (toe), quarterback Philip Rivers (knee) and fullback Andrew Pinnock (knee) for some or all of the preseason.

All had offseason surgeries and could be healthy before training camp or not until late August. Or all of them could be ready. For now, all the Chargers can do is wait.
And earlier this week offensive tackle Marcus McNeill (shoulder) and linebacker Shawne Merriman (knee) had minor surgical procedures. Neither player should miss training camp, though; McNeill should be ready to go in two-to-four weeks, and Merriman's looking at a four-to-six week recovery.

Turf Toe Has Less to Do With the Surface Than the Shoes

Ryan WilsonPosted Mar 17th 2008 5:34PM by Ryan Wilson
Filed under: Chargers, NFL Fans, NFL Injuries


It seems innocuous enough. You'd think a toe injury would be about as likely as a hangnail to keep an NFL player out of a game. The Chargers' Antonio Gates suffered dislocated his big toe during the AFC Wild Card and although he played the following week, he basically served as a decoy.

San Diego's third-leading receiver from 2004-2006 missed all of last season because of broken toe. The point: even though they might seem inconsequential, toes are apparently play a pretty important role in the whole biped thing.

According to really smart people who have devoted their professional lives to feet, it has less to do with the fancy new playing surfaces, and more to do with the shoes.
But new footwear is the more likely culprit, said Dr. Doug Richie. ... The traction is so good that the foot inside may not get the natural give it should, Richie said. That means the player's foot can suffer "an abrupt collision" within the shoe itself.

Today's players also seek lighter, more flexible cleats instead of the more rigid ones of the past, he said. They help increase speed, but offer less protection.
So Mars Blackmon was right, I guess.
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Division Standings

AFC West W-L-T PF PA
Chargers 12-5-0 429 290
Broncos 7-9-0 320 409
Chiefs 4-12-0 226 335
Raiders 4-12-0 283 398
Complete Standings

Team Leaders

Passing COMP ATT YDS TD
Philip Rivers 277 460 3152 21
LaDainian Tomlinson 1 1 17 1
Billy Volek 3 10 6 0
Receiving Rec Yds Avg TD
Antonio Gates 75 984 13.1 9
Chris Chambers 49 641 13.1 2
Vincent Jackson 41 623 15.2 3
Rushing Att Yds Avg TD
LaDainian Tomlinson 315 1474 4.7 15
Michael Turner 71 316 4.5 1
Darren Sproles 37 164 4.4 2

Injuries

Pos Player Injury Status
RB LaDainian Tomlinson Left game - bruised knee Day-to-Day
QB Philip Rivers Left game - right knee Day-to-Day
TE Antonio Gates sprained left big toe Day-to-Day
LB Shawne Merriman left knee Day-to-Day
LB Carlos Polk Shoulder IR
Complete Injuries

Transactions

Pos Player Transaction
WR Mark Simmons practice squad addition
WR Carlton Brewster practice squad deletion
LB Antwan Applewhite practice squad addition
WR Mark Simmons practice squad deletion
T Jeromey Clary re-signed/exclusive rights free agent
Complete Transactions

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