Chargers rookie Goodman dislocates finger

Source: Associated Press

Chargers rookie receiver Richard Goodman dislocated his right ring finger and split the webbing between fingers in practice on Wednesday. Goodman was making a catch and closed his hand too soon.

Goodman had one of four Chargers turnovers in Sunday's 23-20 loss to New England that dropped their record to 2-5.

Fellow wide receiver Malcom Floyd (hamstring) and tight end Antonio Gates (toe) didn't practice. Wideout Legedu Naanee (hamstring) was limited.

Chargers are facing another blackout

The Chargers may be headed for another local television blackout, their third in four home games. The Chargers announced Tuesday that they have 9,000 tickets to sell by Thursday’s to avoid a deadline. This is following the only game to sell out this season, the game against the Patriots last Sunday. The Chargers’ surprising 2-5 record probably is not helping ticket sales this week.

Sloppyness cost the Chargers' the game

Source: AP

The Chargers' sloppy plays and carelessness cost them Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots and may have cost them the season.

“There is one thing keeping us from winning,” Norv said. “Everyone is going to talk about a theory -- we are not tough enough. We are not physical enough. Not prepared. All of those things will go away if we take care of the football. Because there are a lot of guys fighting their asses off, playing pretty high level, but it doesn’t matter if we keep leaving the football on the ground.”

The Chargers fumbled the ball three times in the first half Sunday or should I say just willingly handed the ball over to the Patriots.

For the fourth time this season, the Chargers outrageously outgained their opponent but ended up losing the game. In each of those games, they stumbled because of fumbles.

Scoring 14 points and driving for more in the final 7½ minutes allowed the Chargers to talk about fighting back and getting close. It allowed the defense to prove it could make a fourth-quarter stand.

But when newly signed kicker Kris Brown clanged a 50-yard try off the right upright with 27 seconds left it sealed a fate set virtually assured much earlier by three first-half fumbles -- only two of which involved the Patriots actually taking the ball away.

By game’s end – after another almost-heroic effort by quarterback Philip Rivers -- the Chargers had 363 yards to the Patriots’ 179.

“I can’t say enough about the way our team fought back,” Norv said. “But you can’t do the things we did in the first half and win a game in this league.”

Vincent Jackson due to sign tender

Source: Associate Press

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson will report to the San Diego Chargers next week and sign his contract tender, his agent said Thursday.

By reporting Oct. 29, Jackson will be able to serve a three-game, team-imposed suspension on the roster exempt list, then play in the final six games to accrue his sixth season toward unrestricted free agency.

Last week, the NFL Players Association recommended that Jackson report to the team in time to gained an accrued season.

Jackson won't be paid when he misses his first three games while on the roster exempt list. He was placed on the list by A.J. Smith. Jackson will be eligible to return to the Chargers for a game at Indianapolis on Nov. 28. Counting the six games he plays and the bye week, he'll earn $240,058 rather than the $3,268,000 he would have made had he signed his tender as a restricted free agent before the season.

The Chargers (2-4) could use Jackson sooner than he's going to be available. They might be without Philip Rivers' top two targets, tight end Antonio Gates and wideout Malcom Floyd when they host New England on Sunday. They missed practice Thursday, as did wide receivers Legedu Naanee and Buster Davis.

A.J. Smith's unwillingness to sign Jackson to a long-term deal is believed to stem from the player's off-field issues. He was suspended for the season's first three games by the NFL after pleading guilty in February to his second DUI since 2006.

Hours before the playoff game against the Jets, Jackson was handcuffed briefly and had his car impounded following a traffic stop. Jackson was pulled over near team headquarters for playing loud music, then cited for driving with a suspended license and expired tags.

To make matters worse, Jackson drew a 15-yard penalty for kicking the challenge flag thrown onto the field by Jets coach Rex Ryan, one of three personal fouls called against the Chargers during the embarrassing 17-14 loss.

The window for trading Jackson came and went without the Chargers moving him. There were several teams interested, but Jackson agent claims that the Chargers were asking for unreasonable compensation.

Chargers Blood Drive

Source: Chargers

The San Diego Blood Bank is preparing for one of the community’s longest-running and most successful life-saving events of the year.

Chargers Blood Drive XXXII, presented by the San Diego County Credit Union, will take place at the Town & Country Convention Center on Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The San Diego Blood Bank will provide donors the opportunity to secure a coveted Chargers Blood Drive XXXII T-shirt by donating the week prior (Nov. 22 to Nov. 29) during a special Chargers Mania Blood Drive at all San Diego Blood Bank donor centers and mobile drives. Donors will be awarded a voucher that may be redeemed at the Chargers Blood Drive for a T-shirt and a VIP wristband for the autograph line.

Donors will also have the opportunity to purchase an entry to win a 2011 Honda CRV or Honda Insight Hybrid, donated by the Honda Dealers of San Diego County, which will be given away at the Nov. 30 Chargers Drive. Those who donate at a center or bloodmobile through Dec. 4 will be eligible to receive a Chargers Blood Drive XXXII T-shirt.

Participants do not have to donate blood to meet the Chargers and enjoy the festivities at the Town and Country, they can pay the $5 entry fee ($1 for children). Blood donors will be refunded the admission price after they donate. Donors will be treated to a variety of food, entertainment and other goodies at the blood drive. They also will receive free parking.

Chargers signed a kicker

The Chargers have signed veteran free agent kicker Kris Brown to handle the team's kicking duties this weekend in place of the injured Nate Kaeding.  Nate suffered a groin injury in warm-ups prior to the Chargers' game against the Rams in St. Louis.

Kris is in his 12th NFL season and was the Houston Texans’ kicker from 2002-09 before being released in September. One of the NFL’s most clutch and consistent kickers, Brown has hit 252 of 326 career field goal tries (.773) and has scored 1,103 career points. In 2007, Brown entered his name in the NFL record books by hitting three 50-plus-yard field goals in a game against Miami, including two 54-yarders and a game-winning 57-yarder as time expired. A four-time AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Brown has kicked 13 game-winning field goals during his career.

Third back-up quarterback O’Sullivan was released to make room for Kris Brown. The Chargers also announced that they have released tackle Ryan Otterson from the practice squad and signed wide receiver Gary Banks.

San Diego Padres' coaching staff for 2011

Source: AP

The Padres on Monday announced that they've added Dave Roberts to the coaching staff for 2011 as first-base coach and making Rick Renteria the bench coach.

Ted Simmons, the bench coach for the past two seasons, said in September that he would not return in 2011 because he wanted to pursue a Major League managerial job.

Roberts last year, worked with baserunners and outfielders during Spring Training, and with Minor League players during the season.

Renteria, who was recently granted permission to interview for the Blue Jays' managerial opening, will be entering his fourth season on Bud Black's staff. Renteria spent four seasons managing in the Padres' Minor League system. He also managed four seasons in the Marlins organization.

Darrel Akerfelds, the longest-tenured member of the coaching staff, returns for his 10th season as the bullpen coach. Pitching coach Darren Balsley returns for his eighth season. Both were instrumental in the development of one of the top pitching staffs in baseball.

Third-base coach Glenn Hoffman, who works with the infielders, will return for his sixth season, and hitting coach Randy Ready returns for his second full season as hitting coach.

Congratulations to Heath and Bud

Padres closer Heath Bell and manager Bud Black were honored by the Sporting News. Heath was named the NL reliever of the year and Bud was named the NL Manager of the Year.

Heath Bell was also recognized last week as the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year. He converted 47 of 50 save opportunities. His save total was the second highest single season total for a Padres reliever, trailing only the great Trevor Hoffman.

Bud Black, in his fourth season as manager, guided the Padres to 90 victories. The team was in contention for a postseason appearance until the final day of the regular season.

Chargers injury update

Sure is a good news to hear that Antonio Gates' injury isn't as bad as it looked like, after seeing him on the sideline during the second half of last week's game against the Rams. The team is hopeful that he could play Sunday against the Patriots. Gates said Sunday that he had an ankle issue, but Norv said on Monday that he was dealing with a toe injury.

While it certainly was a good news about Gates, the Chargers may have go in to this Sunday's game without their No.1 receiver Malcolm Floyd and kicker Nate Kaeding. Floyd is suffering from a hamstring issue and Kaeding with a groin issue.

Junior Seau drove off a cliff hours after getting arrested

Source: AP

Just hours after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, former Chargers great Junior Seau drove his car off a 30-foot cliff in Carlsbad and sustained injuries in the wreck.

Seau was arrested Monday morning after an alleged incident with his 25-year old live-in girlfriend. Police say Junior assaulted her during a verbal altercation late Sunday night.

Junior left the house before police arrived, but was arrested later when he returned. Seau was briefly booked in a detention center on charges of felony spousal assault and was released after posting bail.

Six hours later, his car drove off a road near Carlsbad and landed at the bottom of a hill a few feet from the Ocean. Junior was taken to a local hospital. Reports say he emerged from the car with only minor cuts and bruises.

Another Embarrassing Loss

Source: AP

For a team that was expected to start the season 6-0, is now 2-4. Form losses on the road, when they had the best road record on the road last season going 7-1.

It’s both embarrassing and disturbing. Especially when it is the softest part of the schedule. It doesn't get any easier from now on with the Patriots coming up and Titans after.

Sure the season is still early, there are still plenty of games left and the other teams in the division isn't runnining away from anyone, but the point of fact is that it's almost half-time. And the Bolts have been spanked by some bad teams.

Until Sunday, most of the Chargers’ problems had been confined to crummy special teams play. Though their turnover differential has been troubling, the Bolts ranked No. 1 in offense and No. 2 in defense in the NFL.

Last Sunday's loss doesn't fall entirely on the Special teams play, not this time. Sure Nate Kaeding missed a crucial field goal, but the game was loss by the whole team collectively. Quarterback Philip Rivers, the player most capable of carrying this team beyond mediocrity, was sacked a career-high seven times while operating behind an offensive line supposedly bolstered by the return of Marcus McNeill.

But even as Rivers’ blocking got better, his receivers got fewer. Tight end Antonio Gates left the game with a sprained ankle. Wideout Malcom Floyd took his leave with a tender hamstring. This essentially reduced Rivers’ downfield targets to the productive Patrick Crayton and Buster Davis, who had multiple drops.

And for the defensive side, Chargers cornerback Antoine Cason was getting picked on by Sam Bradford, the Rams’ rookie quarterback. Here followed a moment that may go a long way toward defining these Chargers: 2:24 to play, third down and six yards to go, and Steven Jackson plowing ahead nine yards behind left guard when anyone on the premises could have predicted the play.

Sure this team has shown resiliency in the past. They capable of catching their rhythm and go, but they are running out of time, it is almost half-time. Let's get the team in the locker room and make adjustment Norv....

"Lights Out", Maybe Out of San Diego

Source: Associated Press

Once the most dominating defensive player in the NFL, Merriman gradually became a burden to the Chargers. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy and he wasn't very productive in the little time he's played. For all of his scandals and squabbles — the contractual theatrics, the offseason absences, the hollywood lifestyle, the positive drug test and the negative dalliance with Tila Tequila — Merriman’s unforgivable sin was losing a step in the football field.

Create enough havoc on the opposing Quarterback, and a football team will gladly handle a few headaches. But lose a little burst and every false step starts to seem critical. In making the procedural move Wednesday that will ultimately result in Merriman’s release, the Chargers essentially declared that “Lights Out” is no longer worth the headaches.

They are saying that they prefer to swallow at least $2 million of Merriman’s 2010 salary rather than dedicate a roster spot to a player of dubious productivity. If another team claims Merriman on waivers, the Chargers would stand to receive some salary relief, but the driving force here is desperation. The Chargers are 2-3, have been hemorrhaging linebackers, and can ill afford to keep players around as sideline spectators.

The Chargers still thought Merriman is sufficiently serviceable to warrant a $3.269 million tender offer for the 2010 season. But it has not gone well for him. He is not healthy to play for the San Diego Chargers for two to three weeks, maybe less than that.

To some, Merriman is forever tainted by the four-game suspension he served in 2006 following a positive drug test. That he nonetheless led the NFL with 17 sacks that season, while playing in only 12 games, would suggest there was more to the man than anabolic steroids. Some would date Merriman’s decline to his failed drug test have yet to adequately account for his success later that season or his 12½ sacks in 2007.

More likely, Merriman reached his career crossroads on Dec. 9, 2007 in Tennessee against the Titans, on cheap shot by Tennessee’s Kevin Mawae and David Stewart. Both player's were fined,but they succeeded in shredding ligaments in Merriman’s left knee.

"Lights Out" has not been the same players since. Shawne Merriman used to be an extraordinary player, was the toughest defensive end/outside linebacker in football. His size, speed and explosiveness me him one of the most feared player in the league.

Good luck out there Lights Out, thanks for the great memories. You made it fun to watch Chargers football, when healthy.

Chargers and Marcus McNeil agrees to a deal

Finally, the Chargers reached an agreement on a five-year contract extension with Pro Bowl offensive tackle Marcus McNeil. I think that everyone pretty much saw this coming, what I don't understand was that if the Chargers were planning on giving him an extension anyways, why didn't they do it before the beginning of the season? then he would not have missed the first five games.

Anyways, the five-year extension will be tacked on to the one-year, $630,000 tender that he accepted last month. The contract ties McNeil to the Chargers through the 2015 season.

The Chargers officially activated McNeil on Monday and will be eligible to play this Sunday against the Rams. Philip Rivers should have more time to throw the ball with McNeil watching his blindside. Brandyn Dombrowski did a good job filling in, but he is not the caliber of player Marcus McNeil is.

Another Special Teams Debacle

Source: Associated Press

Here we go again, another special teams debacle that led to costing us the game. 

The Bolts got off to a terrible start, having the two punts blocked in the first quarter, leading to a safety and touchdown for Oakland. They also lost a pair of fumbles deep in Raiders territory to fall into an early 12-0 hole. 

Rock Cartwright burst through the middle for the first block against Mike Scifres, knocking the ball out of the end zone for a safety. The free kick out of bounds led to a field goal that made it 5-0, and Brandon Myers blocked Scifres' second punt into Hiram Eugene's hands for a touchdown that made it 12-0 less than five minutes into the game.

But they still managed a 17-15 lead when Rivers drove them to a 43-yard field goal by Kaeding in the closing seconds of the half.

Just when it looked as if Philip Rivers would lead another late drive to crush the Raiders, Oakland's beleaguered defense came up with the big play. Huff knocked the ball out of Rivers' hand and Branch returned the fumble 64 yards for a score to help the Raiders snap their 13-game losing streak to San Diego with a 35-27 Sunday over their Bolts.

Rivers threw for 431 yards and two touchdowns and Malcom Floyd had a career-high 213 yards receiving, but the Chargers still loss. I guess you can't blame it all on the special teams since the offense fumbled the ball three times deep in Raiders territory.

The Chargers have allowed four special teams touchdowns in the road three losses, including a TD and a safety following the two blocked punts after their first two drives of the game. Something needs to change, either in the coaching or the players that they're putting on the field.

Mr. Padre diagnosed with cancer

Source: Associated Press

"Mr. Padre" Tony Gwynn, the prolific-hitting Hall of Fame outfielder who spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, has been diagnosed with cancer of a salivary gland. He has had three procedures since 1997 to remove non-cancerous tumors to the largest salivary gland, but the latest operation last month discovered a malignant growth.

"They took out three lymph nodes and did all the tests and the results showed cancer in the parotid," Gwynn told the AP Friday.

T. Gwynn faces radiation and chemotherapy treatments. He says doctors have told him they feel they caught the cancer early and "there was not much of it there." The doctors told him that this is a slow-moving but aggressive form of cancer. "I'm going to be aggressive and not slow-moving in treating this", Gwynn said.

Gwynn said he thought the cancer was most likely related to his use of chewing tobacco throughout his career.

Came across this article that was very touching, very true and very well written. Just wanted to share it with you.

"Sports need dignitaries like Gwynn, whose achievements are not commensurate with his ability to tweet his latest sneaker deal. People like Gwynn help others without the backup of a PR machine, or use their kindness as an embellished form of foxhole prayer. Forgive the cliché, but he’s someone you want your daughter to date and your son to emulate.

Built like Ralph Kramden while he hit like Ted Williams, Gwynn crouched low in the batter’s box as if to hide his baby fat. But there was no baby in his bat. An All-Star 15 times, Gwynn might be the greatest hitter since Williams never to win a World Series title (with all due respect to Ernie Banks and the like).

He fit the montage of our pastime: a man who looked like a boy and swung like a savant, his high-pitch monotone reflecting someone who grew up just enough to make a living at playing a game. In reality, he was alarmingly articulate and studious before the convenience of computers.

In the epoch of Internet, ADD reportage when a story 12 hours old is too old, Tony Gwynn is a time portal for those of us straddling 40, when our knowledge of a player was limited to the back of his baseball card, often coated with the sugary dust of the pink gum that came with every pack.

While Brett Favre struts back to New York, the scene of some unseemly deeds on and off the turf, it would be easy to stomp a man whose self-absorption is so thorough he’d make Narcissus blush. It is a story that folks and fools like me would normally use for literary target practice. He’s not worth it. Gwynn is."

Good luck, Mr. Padre, we will all be thinking of you.

Chargers Signed Carter and Obiozor

The Chargers signed 10-year veteran safety, Tyrone Carter, to provide depth while starting strong safety Steve Gregory serves a four-game NFL suspension for using a banned substance. They also signed linebacker Cyril Obiozor to provide depth at linebacking position that is thinly stretched from injuries. Obiozor was on the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad and was previously with the Green Bay Packers.

Jyles Tucker, Injured...

Source: Associated Press

Backup linebacker Jyles Tucker will be put on the injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle he suffered on the game against Arizona. Just one play after getting his first sack since 2008, he tried to rush a punt and came up holding his shoulder. He had torn his pectoral muscle and will be placed on injured reserve.

This is a big problem because it will leave the Chargers with just three healthy linebackers. With a 3-4 defense, this is definitely a big deal.

The NFL Suspends Steve Gregory 4 Games

Source: Associated Press

The NFL says San Diego Chargers strong safety Steve Gregory has been suspended for 4 games without pay for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. The suspension begins this coming Sunday with the game against the Raiders. The NFL isn't saying what substance Gregory tested positive for.

Gregory says in a statement that he was "completely shocked" to find out about the positive test from May. He says he has never knowingly used any form of performance-enhancing substance, but that he's responsible for everything that goes into his body. He has appealed the suspension.

Chargers, Played an Almost Perfect Game

Source: Associated Press

A week after underachieving in Seattle, the Chargers dominated the two-time defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals, winning 41-10 as both the offense and defense played an almost perfect game.

Antonio Gates became the seventh tight end in NFL history with 500 catches, he had seven catches for 144 yards as the Chargers pulled to 2-2.

Ryan Mathews scored his first NFL touchdown on a 15-yard run late in the third quarter. Fullback Mike Tolbert ran 16 times for 100 yards -- his first 100-yard game in three seasons -- and one score.

The Chargers' defense harassed the Cardinals' beleaguered quarterbacks all day, with nine sacks and three takeaways. Linebacker Shaun Phillips had a career-high four sacks and also returned an interception of Derek Anderson 31 yards for a TD late in the second quarter.

Arizona had only 124 yards in offense.

Linebacker Kevin Burnett had two sacks and forced a fumble by Hall that Luis Castillo recovered. Mathews scored on the next play from scrimmage, sweeping to his right and diving to get the ball just inside the pylon late in the third quarter for a 38-7 lead. He sat out last week's game with a sprained right ankle. In his first two games, he lost two fumbles that led to 10 points for the opponents.

"Today we were able to dictate the tempo," Burnett said. "When you do that, you force them to be one-handed. It's easy to play poker when you know what everybody's got."

The Chargers also tightened their kickoff coverage after allowing Leon Washington to score on kickoff returns of 101 and 99 yards in a 27-20 Seattle victory a week earlier.

Steve Gregory intercepted the ball to end the Arizona's first drive, and the Chargers capped their first possession with Rivers' 33-yard TD pass to a wide-open Gates, making him the seventh tight end in history to have 500 or more catches.

"It's a milestone, and you dream about becoming one of those elite guys," Gates said.

"He's the best tight end in football," Rivers said. "You mix that with a variety of formations and running the football and we get some matchups that we were able to take advantage of. It's always nice to see No. 85 running wide open."

Arizona got a big momentum shift when Greg Toler forced a fumble by Darren Sproles. Kerry Rhodes picked it up, fell down, got up and rumbled 42 yards for the tying touchdown. It was the sixth fumble lost by the Chargers, one fewer than all of last year.

The Chargers pulled away on Tolbert's 5-yard TD run and a 26-yard TD catch by Gates. The big tight end hit the 500-catch mark with a 12-yard reception earlier on that drive, and the scoring grab was his 501st.

Phillips single-handedly wrecked Arizona's next drive. He sacked Anderson on 2nd-and-10, then picked him off and returned it 31 yards for a 28-7 lead.

After another slow start for the team, October sure is off to a good start so far.