Category — Chargers

First, he gets hammered for his absent mindness on “Hard Knocks,” now his former teammates are teeing off.
LT isn’t the only former Charger his former teammates aren’t missing. Antonio Cromartie, who also is playing now with the Jets, was the source of much friction between teammates and coaches, San Diego players say.
Said Quentin Jammer: “We all know there were guys in the locker room who didn’t like him. He didn’t like them. We don’t have to deal with that now. It’s easier for me now. I tried my best to put out fires, tried to keep the room intact, but it was too much.”
Regardless of what Jammer and the Chargers say, it will be interesting to see if all that harmony in the locker room can translate to more success on the field.
San Diego Union-Tribune

A.J. Smith and the Chargers are convinced they don’t need Vincent Jackson, an All-Pro last season, in their lineup. They have allowed the Sea Chickens to discuss a deal with Jackson, meaning its a good bet that one of the Chargers’ top receivers won’t return. Smith’s stubborness will eventually lead to the Chargers downfall.
San Diego Union-Tribune

While Darrelle Revis commands all the attention as far as holdouts go, the Chargers have an equally significant problem on their hands.
All-Pros Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill have vowed to sit out the season unless they are given long-term deals, putting a major dent in the club’s championship aspirations. This stalemate has gone on for months now, and GM A.J. Smith, who is known for taking a hard line, has stubbornly vowed not to give any ground.
Jackson had his best season and was one of the best receivers in the NFL last season. But McNeill, the Chargers’ left guard and one of the best in the business, is a bigger piece of the puzzle. Without him, the Chargers expose quarterback Philip Rivers to some possible damage, particularly since the NFL is blitz city now and the Chargers are the epitome of of relying on the pass 1st mentality.
Norv Turner is singing the company line about how they have the pieces to compete on a high level without Jackson and McNeill. But we’re not buying that and Charger fans aren’t either.
San Diego Union-Tribune

Jay Paris, with some wonderful insight from Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, delivers a touching tribute to the late Charger legend. One day saner heads will prevail in the NFL and Coryell, an offensive genius whose work is still copied by many, will rightfully take his place among the legends of the Hall of Fame. It’s unfortunate he won’t be around to see justice finally prevail.
N.C. Times

The legendary coach, who guided the Chargers, Rams and San Diego State, passed today in the San Diego area after a lengthy illness. He was 85.
Coryell was the innovative guru behind the Chargers high-powered offense of the ’70s and ’80s, when Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts and tight end Kellen Winslow Sr. had field days against defenses. Coryell was one of the finest offensive minds to coach the game.
San Diego Union-Tribune

It’s only June, but the upcoming season for the Chargers is already getting off to a gloomy note. All-Pro offensive lineman Marcus McNeill and wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who had his best campaign last season, refused to sign tender offers from the club, meaning they won’t be with it at the start of the season and could sit out as many as 10 games.
GM A.J. Smith is preaching optimism, but these 2 players are major cogs in the Chargers’ attack. They might find replacements, but they won’t fill their cleats.
San Diego Union-Tribune

They traded up so they could take Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews with the 12th pick of the NFL Draft last week. The 6-0, 218-pound running back, who was rated as the second-rest runner behind C.J. Spiller, will team with Darren Sproles to give the Chargers’ ground game a boost. They could use it. Last season, the Chargers ranked among the league’s worst in rushing.
Mathews has plenty of incentive to succeed. He and his family spent some time homeless on the streets of Riverside when he was a youth, but his mother kept pushing to provide for him and his brother. Those troubles though are all behind them.
N.C. Times

The Chargers are in desperate need of a decent running back and Thomas Jones might be the answer. The Jets let everyone know they will release the popular running back on Friday, when the free agency period starts. Jones rushed for a career-high 1,400 yards this season and helped the Jets advance to the AFC Championship game before losing to the Colts. But he split time with rookie Shonn Greene down the stretch.
With San Diego releasing LaDainian Tomlinson and telling Darren Sproles he isn’t part of its future either, the Chargers seem like an ideal spot for the hard-running Jones. But predicting whether GM A.J. Smith will pursue Jones is another story.
The move to release Jones isn’t a popular one in New York.
N.Y. Daily News

The Chargers made it official today, releasing LT, one of the franchise’s all-time best. Someone will take a flyer on him, but it’s clear he’s not the same back and doesn’t have a helluva lot left in the tank. Age and injuries have taken a toll, but some club will pick him up as a backup. He’s worth that for another year, two max. We’re not trying to diminish his accomplishments. Truly a wonderful running back.
A class act and a great guy too. Hall of Famer. Let’s hope the Chargers, who aren’t always so classy, retire his jersey soon. Hopefully, before they come back to L.A.
N.C. Times

Think the Raiders will take a flyer on him?
Not like you couldn’t see this coming like a Russ Ortiz fastball. LT has definitely lost a step and the Charger brass can conveniently lay some of the blame for their gagging at his feet. He wasn’t the reason though. Coaching and adjusting cost the Chargers, but it’s a bit late to go down that lonely road again. Besides, who cares now? Oh, Drew Brees’ fans do.
The Chargers just want to pay for LT to get lost and searching elsewhere to package their running game, one of the league’s worst, with Darren Sproles. Good luck with that.
Yep LT, we totally agree. The business part of the NFL really sucks.
San Diego Union-Tribune