Kaspers Korner

The San Diego Chargers have a lot of big names whose contract expires after the 2009 season.

That could mean 2009 is the Chargers last real chance at a Superbowl as five starters contract expire at the end of the season.

The main three players that the Chargers need to sign are quarterback Phillip Rivers, left tackle Marcus McNeill, and outside linebacker Shawne Merriman.

The thing is that all three player will ask for top dollar, which means a tough decision from Chargers general manager AJ Smith is coming.

With left tackle and quarterback being the two most important positions on a team it will most likely mean that Merriman will be the odd man out as he suffered torn ligaments last year.

Also, point to Merriman’s departure is fellow outside linebacker Shaun Phillips is signed through the 2012 season and the Chargers took linebacker Larry English in the first round of this past April’s National football League Draft who is listed as Phillips backup on FoxSports.com.

Even with the Chargers signing Rivers and McNeill they could find themselves out of cap room to resign both wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers.

In the end it is going to tale McNeill and Rivers signing for less than their market value to keep the Chargers all together to have the best chance possible at a Superbowl title.

The San Diego Chargers won a close overtime game against the Indianapolis Colts to move on in the playoffs.  During the game this reporter realized that it is time for the Chargers to move on from running back Ladanian Tomlinson.

It is simply time to move on from Tomlinson, who is in his eighth season.  Even the great running backs around this time start having their skills diminish, especially when they played six playoff games for their career.

Also, for the second straight year Tomlinson is finding himself on the sidelines for the playoffs with an injury with an adductor tendon injury in his groin.  Last year he sat out the AFC Championship with a knee injury.

The Chargers already let go running back Michael Turner to hit free agency, only to land with the Atlanta Falcons, and turn into a stud starting running back.

Now, they face the same dilemma as running back Darren Sproles is set to become a free agent after this season.  With his performance of 105 yards rushing on 23 carries, and five catches for 45 yards receiving.

It is against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Colts do not have the greatest defense in the National Football League against the run as they were ranked 24th for the regular season.

However, this is the playoffs, and the pressure is on, and when someone comes up big in the playoffs that player is a keeper. 

If the Chargers let Sproles walk away then general manager AJ Smith should be fired for letting two quality running backs walk away without at least getting something in return.

San Diego Charger head coach Norv Turner was known pretty much around the league as a great head coach, but after getting a win in the playoffs last year many may have thought that changed.  With the Chargers having a losing record that repuatation has come out again.

The worst thing that can happen to a head coach is that he loses the respect of his lockerrom.  That has already happened in an interview on CBS 8 in San Diego, when reporter Kyle Kraska interviewed wide receiver Kassim Osgood. 

“I think his testament for his career is that he’s been an offensive mind.  So, he’s a good coordinator,”  said Osgood.

Also, off camera many other Chargers expressed doubt in the ability of Turner’s ability to head coach to Kraska.

So, in other words if the Chargers do not make the playoffs, then it is bye-bye to Turnerafter the season. 

Simply it is a mess in San Diego, and the only real way that the ship is going to be right again is when they get some better pass rushers other than Shawne Merriman.

The San Deigo Chargers were one of the popular picks to contend for the Super Bowl this year.  If they do not win this week it could mean the Chagers will miss the playoffs completely.

Including the New Orleans Saints, the Chargers, as of right now, have five of their remaining nine games against teams that are .500 or better. 

That means the up coming game against the 3-4 Saints is huge.  They cannot afford any more losses to teams that are under .500, since they lost to the Miami Dolphins earlier in the year.

So, where does the problem lie?  The blame falls on the defense as it is just plain horrible.  They are overall ranked 28th in the league on defense.  To make matters worst they are the worst team in the league right now defending the pass.

Last year the Chargers pass defense was only allowing an average of 213 yards passing per a game.  This year it is 254 yards. which is one heck of a difference.

Many people will put the blame on the loss of outside linebacker Shawne Merriman.  However, that is not the case as the have been getting progressively worst, since 2006.

The reason is a two fold answer.  First, they are facing way better competition.  Sceondly, teams have figured out how to beat the Chargers defense.

If the Chargers do not figure something out for Saints quarterback Drew Brees, then it will be a long day for them.

The San Diego Chargers doctors are advising Shawn Merriman that he could play with his injured knee, even though several doctors have advised him that he needs knee surgery.  The advice of the Chargers is one that is clearly stupid.

Every single doctor tht Merriman has seen has said the same thing.  That being he needs to have the curgery, or risk a career ending injury.

Even with the news the Chargers have not put him on injured reserve.  To leave Merriman to decide on what to do is foolish.  Players have huge egos, and will always decide to play no matter how injured they are.

Coaches jobs each year are always on the line, and they are never going to push for a player to have season ending surgery.

What the Chargers are doing is foolish, and will kill their future chances at a Superbowl if Merriman suffers a career ending injury.

Simply, the coaching staff needs to push Merriman to have the surgery.

Linebacker Shawn Merriman was suspended four games in 2006 for using steroids.  Now, it looks like taking those was not a good idea.

The one side effect from steroids is that long term after you stop using them your body starts to break down.  That is due in part the body stops making testosterone to repair muscles, and the rest of the body, since there is so much of it in the system.

Merriman had cartilage in his knee repaired in March be renowned surgeon  Dr. James Andrews. 

Since, training camp has opened Merriman has been experiencing knee pain throughout camp.

According to Pro Football Talk.com the rumour is that he could be done. This is after playing only three seasons in the league.

With Merriman having this much trouble, and being so young, one can only conclude that the recent knee problem is due to steroid use.

Merriman is in the last year of his contract, and was in negotiations with management, but those ae obviously on hold now.

If his career is cut short, due to his problems with his knee, there is only one person to blame for it.

Himself.

The amount of money that rookies at the top of the NFL draft has become a major concern.  Now, even a top player in the league in San Diego Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson has join the fight.

Tomlinson is in England this week promoting the game against the New Orleans Saints this upcoming season.  In the interview with BBC’s Tim Love, Tomlinson said this when he was asked by Love of what he thought of high drafted rookies getting the likes of $30 million guaranteed, “It’s very frustrating. The veterans are what make the league. They keep it at a high level. Most people don’t tune in to see rookies. They tune in to see the Payton Mannings, the Tom Bradys, they want to see guys like that. There needs to be a rookie salary cap, no question.”

The fact of the matter is that NFLPA Union Chief Gene Upshaw cannot keep his stance that those type of rookie contracts is what raises veteran contracs.  In reality it is the exact opposite.

Teams would rather spend on what they know what they are getting, and not the uncertainty. 

It is all one big guessing game when it comes to rookies.  Scouts evaluate a player on cmparisons to the top players in the league when they came out of college.  Also, they evaluate if they have the character, and the skill set to fit the systems that the team is running.

If Upshaw continues to stand where he is when it comes to rookie contracts he could find himself out of a job much sooner than  he thinks.  With Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian wanting a salary cap on rookies it is pretty much a formality that the owners will get it.

In the end it is in everyones interest that rookie salaries be capped.  After all the players in the league that are getting arrested the most are high draft picks like Cederic Benson, and Adam “Pac-man” Jones.  Both of whom were top six draft picks in the 2005 draft.

 http://boomp3.com/listen/eg6xjkb/kk-chargers-may-ninth

Winning is a great feeling, especially when your team is young.  The down side is that when that young talent contracts start coming up some hard decisions have to be made, which is the case with the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers have a lot of work to do, and according to The San Diego Union Tribune the Chargers will be initiating a “flurry of contract talks in the next month.”  Talks will continue through the season.

The task is tall over the next two years as the Chargers have eight starters of the next two years becoming unrestricted free agents.  After the 2008 season starting right guard Mike Goff, and defensive end Igor Olshansky are set to become free agents.  Then after 2009 things get even more complicated as starting defensive end Luis Castillio, wide receivers Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers, left tackle Marcus McNeil, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, and quarterback Phillip Rivers are set to become free agents.

Talk about FUBARs, but this one is the mother of all FUbars when it come to players becoming Free agents in the National  Football League.

Not only are the players starters they also play key rolls in their unit.  Even if the Chargers want to sign of all of them they just simpliy cannot, due to the salary cap.

So, who will the Chargers resign the list more likely to be quarteback Phillip Rivers, defensive end Luis Castillio, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, left tackle Marcis McNeil. right guard Mike goff, and one of the starting wide receivers.

Only time will tell on what decisions Chargers general manager AJ Smith makes.

San Diego Chargers assistant general manager Buddy Nix is no longer with the team.  No matter if he was forced out, or retired himself, he will surely be missed.

Nix followed current general manager AJ Smith, who was a assistant GM, to the San Diego Chargers.  Nix and Smith followed the late great fromer Charger and Buffalo Bills general manager John Butler when he was fired by the Bills, and then landed in San Diego. 

Nix is being replaced by former Miami Dolphins general manager Randy Muller.  Either Smith sees something that we do not, or he is just plainly getting to full of himslef.  No matter what Smith see the hiring of Muller is the wrong move.

After all Muller is partly to blame for the current situation that the Miami Dolphins are in right now.  He is the one that brought in former head coaches Nick Saban, and  Cam Cameron.  Also, he is the one who brought in the scouts to find college talent.

Nix has been a main cog not only in the recent success of the Chargers, but also the Buffalo Bills when they were successful in the past.  He will surely be missed by Charger fans.  If not now definately in a couple of years when the Chargers start stinking it up again.

The San Diego Chargers pick 27th in the first round, and then does not pick again till the fifth round.  With all their starters set it is likely that the Chargers will trade down.

Most teams like the Chargers trade out of their spot if they can.  The reason being that they do not have an immediate need, and can make a move to get an extra pick down the line.

Unlike the top of the first round the bottom of the first round is not hampered by big money.  That allows teams to move up and down, which usually happens.  The reason being that a bad team sees a guy slipping down the board that they like will not be there when they pick.

The Chargers do not have any pressing needs, except to take a offensive lineman to replace guard Jeff Goff when his contract is up.  Another is an eventual replacement for Jamal Williams, who is getting up there in age.

The draft is very deep in offensive lineman, and they could easily get a replacment for Goff in round three if they trade down.  Thus allowing to get their nickle corner in the top of round two.  That is barring any other trades. 

As for a project defensice tackle that can happen anywhere in the draft  General manager AJ Smith was the assistant general manager when the Bills brought in defensice tackle Pat Williams as an undrafter free agent.

In the end expect Smith to work his magic once again this year.