Checkdown Chatter

After 9 seasons LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers will part ways, it was announced Feb 22.

Well, that’s it, LT is electric glide-in’ out of San Diego.

We knew it was coming, but today its official, the Chargers have released one of the greatest backs in NFL history. Tomlinson leaves the Chargers in possession of the single season touchdown record, an MVP trophy (‘06), two rushing crowns, career #2 in rushing TDs, #3 in total touchdowns and a slew of other accolades. What he doesn’t have is a SuperBowl title.

As San Diego gears up for next years’ SuperBowl run without their top rusher, they also realize Darren Sproles can’t carry the load as a number one back either, so their left without a true lead rusher, and are apparently willing to part with Antonio Cromartie to find one.

Things aren’t clear for Tomlinson either, who thinks (though his YPC average last season may suggest otherwise) he’s got a few years left in the tank at 30. Someone will likely give him a shot to prove so, but its doubtful he’ll be the #1 back anywhere next year.

Either way – a great career, and great success in bringing San Diego football to prominence. Now, there can be no arguments – this is Phillip Rivers’ team, and its up to him to lead the Chargers to post season success.

I didn’t get a response to this tweet, didn’t expect one… but I did make myself laugh

The coaching staff (and talent pool) keeps getting leaner in Denver under Josh McDaniels' Napaleonic regime.

Mike Nolan is leaving the Broncos after one (fairly) successful season for reasons that remain unclear. What IS clear is that its can't be good news for Broncos' fans.

I know I’ve already made the point that I don’t really agree with many of the choices a single decision Josh McDaniels has made since setting up shop in Denver, so I won’t go too far into that.

I’ll just say that I’m shocked that Mike Nolan won’t be back with this team next year. I don’t know the details, as of time of press, I don’t think anyone knows, but whether he was encouraged to leave or asked for a way out (it’s one or the other, no one’s buying the mutually decided to part ways bullshit, there’s a reason for a coach to depart after 1 year on staff) I’m just surprised he won’t be back with the team next year. The quote “I can’t say anything other than Josh and I mutually agreed to part ways,” from Nolan doesn’t exactly suggest that there isn’t more to the story.

The defense shares some of the blame for the team’s struggles down the stretch (particularly during a 120+ points allowed 4 game stretch to close the season) but the unit made VAST improvements under Nolan’s tutelage (from bottom 5 to top 7 in one year) and the team could use his services next year as it hopes to improve on an 8-8 campaign.

Considering that next year the offense may struggle to an even greater extent with the possible departure of Brandon Marshall its hard to believe that the Broncos want to get worse on defense. Especially considering the number of teams that are looking for help on the defensive side of the ball – there is a shortage of quality defensive coaching available this offseason. Most consider Pees and McDaniels likely to reunite, which solves that problem, but if not it leaves a big hole on the Denver sideline.

Regardless, Nolan will land on his feet and should have a new defensive coaching position within the week. I’ll make no such guarantees about the Broncos landing safely next season.

Update: Still no significant news, but its nice to see that Doug Farrar over at Shutdown Corner (whose name I realize mine sounds a lot alike each time I type it) agrees with me. This is yet another in a long line of missteps in Denver. Somebody get Napoleon under control.

Though Nolan was new, its apparent with the imminent signing of Pees (formerly with McD in New England) that McDaniels is seeking to build a powerbase in Denver and establish a regime full of ‘his guys’. The problem is, a lot of the old guard that he has/is running out of town wasn’t what was wrong with this team.

Looks like Tomlinson has more carries coming his way, according to coach Norv Turner

Really?

Yes, it sure seems that way. Despite the fact that this blogger has been promoting the opposite viewpoint all week; the San Diego Union Tribune reports that Turner remains committed to the run, and wants to see an increased role in the offense for LaDainian Tomlinson. I’ve got the utmost respect for Tomlinson as one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL – but just as bread goes stale and moldy in the cupboard Tomlinson just isn’t the same back that he once was.

At an average of 3.1 YPC and looking just plain slow at times, more carries for Tomlinson cannot help this Chargers team. They’ve got one of the league’s bets emerging wideouts in Vincent Jackson and a top tier quarterback in Philip Rivers, these two have connected all year in the passing game and are the driving force behind the Chargers offense. Lets hope the focus on the run game doesn’t detract from any of the success these two are having.

I could be wrong – for Tomlinson, I hope that I am, but it just doesn’t seem like a good football move.

Interesting, the article that broke the news goes into detail about how Tomlinson/Sproles are the top paid rush attack in the NFL, and discusses salary per touch, etc. etc. I’d hate to think that this move was motivated by the purse strings, but other than loyalty to Tomlinson’s contributions to the team (which, hasn’t exactly been a historical occurrence in San Diego), there doesn’t seem to be any other explanation. If it were me, I’d rather field a winning product, but, perhaps that’s why I’m on the outside looking in.

Sideline scuffle costs Smith. (Photo courtesy of AJC)

While it doesn’t come as a surprise that the league decided to take disciplinary action following last week’s sideline fracas during the Falcons/Redskins game I’ve got some issues with the decision. I’ll admit that I don’t know all the facts, but to the common observer there are a few discrepancies…

For starters: Mike Smith gets fined 15K while DeAngelo Hall walks away scott free. The league should hold its coaches, whom are technically responsible for keeping their players well behaved to a higher standard, so I get the fine of Smith, and I even get that it was a larger sum than the two players who were actually fined in the incident. But it doesn’t make sense to me how Hall, who has a history of ‘misbehavior’ and seemed to be just as heated/involved walks away clean. Hall, of course, knew it all along – according to his twitter account he’s been keeping his nose clean and staying out of trouble.

Perhaps more troubling: with the admission that coaches need to be held to a higher standard the league is continuing to let Tom Cable get away without discipline, despite the fact that while Smith may have said some hurtful things, he didn’t actually break someone’s jaw (nor was he accused of abusing women). Smith is fined immediately, while they hum and haw over disciplining Cable from an incident months ago. I guess the NFL doesn’t play by ’sticks and stones’ rules, which is funny because you’ll recall they let Jerry Jones get away with my other favourite school yard mantra ‘do over’ when deciding how to deal with a punt that hits the big screen.

In a move that shocked absolutely no one, the Chiefs gave troubled RB Larry Johnson his walking papers today.

As far as the fantasy world is concerned, this means Jamaal Charles is a safer long term add, though don’t get over hyped on him. He did some damage when given the ball on Sunday but Kolby Smith did the red zone work and the Chiefs trailed on Sunday so didn’t run between the 20s all that much…. newsflash: the Chiefs will likely continue to trail.

The release is probably more significant in the local club scene… Johnson will be bitter and have more time on his hands, cover your mouths/hide your faces ladies.

Johnson wasn’t producing much this year… it remains to be seen if any of the NFLs more desperate teams are willing to give him a chance… perhaps those that don’t care much about discipline/behaviour… I’m looking @ you Al Davis…

Elvis Dumervil of the Denver Broncos has 10 sacks through 6 weeks.

Warren Sapp just said on Gameday Morning that he thinks Dumervil has a shot at the single season sack record. Dumervil logged a ton of sacks in a single game, so 10 through 6 is a bit skewed, but he might just have a shot on this rejuvenated Broncos D.

The Broncos don’t have the Vikings on the slate this year, so he won’t get any help from Brett Favre, but that shouldn’t hinder his chances at a (baker’s) dozen in his next 10 games.