Gridiron Experts

The San Diego Chargers Current Odds
(as of July 8th)

Projected Games Won : 10.5
( over -145 | under +115)
5 to 1 : Win AFC Conference
9 to 1 : Win Super Bowl XLV

The Chargers are one of the few teams that regularly make post season hotel room reservations without a second thought. Division champions is a familiar t-shirt or hat in San Diego mainly due to a poor AFC West that hands them a yearly free ticket. But despite the 4 year streak of playoff visits, the Super Bowl has been out of reach for the Chargers for some time, and yet they are always heavy favorites.

This year it came to my surprise that San Diego was ranked as high as they are in top sports betting sites. I almost wonder if maybe, people are just used to seeing them in the post season and just overlooked their recent off-season.

Saying goodbye to Ladainian Tomlinson, (a move that was probably a year late) is understandable. The star was burning out and he had to go, but realistically there is no proven RB waiting in the wings  just yet. Sproles and rookie Ryan Matthews will man the fort for now, but for such a deep passing team blitz pick-up was an underrated trait that LT did in his sleep, and teams may send more heat Rivers way than in years past.

Jamal Williams was a center piece for the Bolts at nose tackle over most of the last decade, but after an early season injury he was sent packing for youth. Normally this is something we all know and except in the business of the NFL, but the fact that the division rival Broncos snatched him up might become interesting twice a year. Also, the losses of “what have you done for me lately”Antonio Cromartie seems harmless after his poor season, but the replacement is an open …Continue reading Chargers 2010 Forecast: Overly Confident

The 5 Biggest Reaches of the Draft

Last week’s draft provided a certain amount of excitement that only one year’s worth of anticipation can create. Fans wait an entire year to witness the selection of new talent for their teams, and when they select little known players or “make a reach” in the draft for a player that arguably shouldn’t go as high as they’re about to be picked, understandably some fans get quite cheesed. While others celebrate knowing their team’s front office has just outsmarted all 31 others in the league. Here is a quick look at who I believe were the 5 biggest reaches of the 2010 NFL entry draft in order of their selection.

DE, Tyson Alaulu, 1st round 10th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars

To the surprise of most observers the first DE taken in the draft was not Derrick Morgan, not Jason Pierre Paul, and not even Brandon Graham. It was California’s Tyson Alaulu. In Alaulu the Jaguars have found themselves a powerful “tweener” rush as he displays the size and strength capable of …Continue reading The 5 Biggest Reaches of the Draft

LaDainian Tomlinson Picks The Jets

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Tomlinson and the Jets reached an agreement today on a two-year contract.

This offseason seems to have a musical chair like theme to it. The Jets released Thomas Jones and then signed LT in replacement. The move doesn’t make a lot of sense as both RB’s are in their 30′s. The Jets do add a better receiving running back that can pick up solid yardage catching passes out of the flats, but going with LT over Jones wasn’t much of an upgrade. We need to look into the dollar signs a little closer  before making a final decision, because as of now the move looks to be a wash.

Fantasy Football: With the run first mentality in New York,  and a bigger better offensive line, LaDainian Tomlinson should see an upgrade in stats this season.  Thomas Jones had 1402 yards in 09 with 14 rushing touchdowns in 09, Tomlinson had almost half that and not many more receptions, but has been known to be a great receiving target.

Training camp should be interesting as the starting job won’t be just given to LT, but the rotation of carries amongst RB’s is in New York is in a much higher number than other teams. Early Projections for Tomlinson: 1050 yards 6 TD’s and 25-35 rec for 300 yards receiving

NFL Truth & Rumors

• Darren Sproles Isn’t Going Anywhere
  Leaving it to the dramatic end, San Diego has decided to keep their running back by placing the maximum first and third round tender on Sproles Thursday.

• Lito Let Go
  Lito Sheppard and the New York Jets are finished working together as of Thursday. After a strong year together the cornerback played one season for the Jets, after being acquired from Philly at last year’s NFL draft. The release makes sense to the rumors floating around the league the Jets have been interested in trading for a corner.

• Pick Up Your Super Bowl Ring at the Door
  New Orleans Saints plan to release DE Charles Grant on Friday. The move is a small hint to what the Saints might be looking for in the NFL Draft come April.

• Antrel Rolle’s Out Of A Job
  Trying to save money (in a cap-less year?) the Arizona Cardinals have released starting safety Antrel Rolle. The move is not one we thought would happen without the word “trade” attached to Rolle’s name, but apparently the Cardinals have no plans for Rolle at all, and wanted to be rid of the situation.

• Redskins Spring Cleaning
  Guard Randy Thomas, Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El and kick returner Rock Cartwright were just a few names of the Washington Redskins that will be looking for work this season. Washington is getting a complete makeover as solid backups also heading out include: Cornerback Fred Smoot, defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, running back Ladell Betts and backup quarterback Todd Collins. 10 players in total were let go.

San Diego Chargers Release LaDainian Tomlinson

This is a shocker, no trade, no draft picks coming San Diego’s way, just released.

Many people around the league saw this coming but it still sounds to weird to say… LaDainian Tomlinson was released.

“He’s a future Hall of Famer,” G.M. A.J. Smith said. “My only regret is that he leaves without a Super Bowl ring.” No Ring, but L.Tomlinson did rush for 12,490 yards in nine seasons and rushed for 138 touchdowns in his 9 year career in San Diego.

Talk about adding a big name into the already huge number of free agents. Tomlinson may be getting up there in age, but for a team on the verge of making the Super Bowl push, LT is worth adding in a no cap year.

You have to figure a team with a lack of a running game and goal line weapon could add him. Teams that could be interested in my opinion: Packers, Broncos, Texans, Eagles is Westbrook has to retire, Redskins and maybe the Patriots

Broncos/Chargers: Passionate Rivalry Renewed

Aside from the number of times two teams have played each other in the past, and the meaning of the games’ outcomes, the biggest factor in defining a rivalry holds truest for the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos.

These two teams flat-out hate each other.

And though Jay Cutler is no longer in Denver (his rift with San Diego QB Philip Rivers was the spark in the two teams’ rift), there is still plenty to despise for both sides. Cutler once bluntly stated, “I don’t like him,” in referring to his San Diego counterpart. Rivers trumped those words by making a choking gesture toward Cutler in December 2007 when the Broncos failed to convert a fourth down play.

Also fueling the passions of both teams were their two memorable match ups of last season. Thanks to the first of those games, in Week 2, there aren’t many football fans who don’t know the name Ed Hochuli these days.

With 1:17 to play in the fourth quarter, Cutler dropped back to pass at the San Diego 1-yard line. Cocking his arm to fire a pass, the ball came loose in what replays clearly showed to be a fumble recovered by the Chargers. However, Hochuli, the game’s referee, ruled the play an incomplete pass and whistled the play dead. Two plays later, Jay Cutler hit wide receiver Eddie Royal for both a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion to give Denver the game’s winning points.

The “Ed Hochuli Rule,” was born, allowing officials to review quarterback pass/fumble plays.

Fast forward to Week 17. The winner of this game would earn the final AFC playoff spot, as the West Division Champion. The two teams had identical 7-8 records, but were moving in different directions. San Diego had won three straight, while the Broncos had lost two in a row.

With so much at stake, the on-field competition failed to live up to the pre-game hype, as the Chargers took a 24-6 lead in the first half on their way to a 52-21 win. San Diego would go on to beat the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wildcard Game, and then fell to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round. …Continue reading Broncos/Chargers: Passionate Rivalry Renewed

Buffalo @ New England

To say this game will prove to be a difficult match up for the Bills is putting it mildly.  The Patriots are highly motivated this season with the return of Tom Brady, who has proven on the practice field and in preseason that he is ready to go and has shaken off any rust that may have accumulated over his time off. The addition of Fred Taylor to an already plentiful platoon of running backs should keep the Bills defence’s hands full and vulnerable to the passing game. To make things tougher for the Bills, the Patriots have bolstered their much disciplined defence this year with the additions of Derrick Burgess, Shawn Springs, and Leigh Bodden.  The Patriots defence may be older, but this is typically not a problem on opening week.

Trent Edwards and the Bills offence are not going to have it easy in this one.  The suspension of Marshawn Lynch (weeks 1-3) is sure to hurt the team, even though Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes have proven to be adequate backups. Everyone in Buffalo has been itching to ask one question, is your popcorn ready? We all know that T.O. has his kernels popped, but are …Continue reading Monday Night Football Preview

Merriman Arrested- Chargers fans don’t need this

With only days before the NFL season begins, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested Sunday. Merriman was accused of choking and restraining his girlfriend, reality TV star Tila Tequila. Police responded to a call around 4 a.m. to Merriman’s house in Poway, north of San Diego, after a woman called to say she was choked and thrown to the ground when she tried to leave. Tequila was taken to a hospital, her condition was not immediately available, while Merriman was released from jail this morning on bail.

Oakland trades away 1st round pick for Pats Seymour

The Patriots received a first-round draft choice in 2011 for the 29 year old Richard Seymour.  Seymour is in the final year of the four-year extension he signed in 2006. He was due to make $3.685 million but the Raiders will no doubt try to lock him up long term. The Raiders are looking to get good fast, where the Patriots want to get younger. This season New England has had a bit of a youth movement, trading away Mike Vrabel and Seymour and losing Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi to retirement. Of all the stupid trades the Raiders have made over the years (Randy Moss for a 4th round pick) this deal for Seymour is a smart one and should add instant leadership to the Raiders defense.