Charger Mike any input on Toniu Fonoti?

frodo_biguns · Post by **frodo_biguns** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:41 am

I saw the Vikings just traded for him. Is this guy as good as they said he was before his injury?

Chargers trade Lemon and Fonoti

Tuesday, October 18, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Chargers have traded quarterback Cleo Lemon to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for quarterback A.J. Feeley and an undisclosed choice in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Bolts have also traded guard Toniu Fonoti to the Minnesota Vikings for an undisclosed choice in the ’06 draft.

Feeley is a 6-3, 220-pound fifth-year player from the University of Oregon. He was a fifth-round choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001 and was traded to Miami in 2004. Feeley has played in 18 career games with 13 starts, completing 287 of 524 passes for 3,047 yards with 19 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He has not played in any of the Dolphins’ games this season. Feeley played in 11 games with eight starts in 2004, completing 191 of 356 pass attempts for 1,893 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Lemon was in his third season with the Chargers. He originally joined the team in 2003 and spent the entire season on the team’s practice squad. He was inactive for all 16 games and San Diego’s playoff game in 2004. He was also inactive for all six games this season as the team’s third quarterback.

Fonoti was in his fourth season with the Chargers. He started the team’s first two games this season, but has been inactive for the last four games while recovering from surgery for a broken hand. He injured the hand in the week prior to the Bolts’ Sept. 18 game at Denver.

atomicdad · Post by **atomicdad** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:06 am

Fonoti is a biggun.

He came in and was a road grader for LT his rookie year. Pass protection was so-so. His second year he came in as a stand-in for Fat Bastard and the Chargers put him on IR for the season then sent him to a fat farm in Texas for the off season. Last season he came in and barely kept weight but started every game providing devastating run blocking. This season came in fat again but made the team. Broke his hand sometime after the first game, tried to play the following week in Denver and it got fucked up even worse. News over the last few days is that he has ballooned back up to 400+. This is the last year of his contract so it appears that the Bolts decided to cut him loose and at least get a draft pick for him before the deadlne instead of telling him to walk at the end of season. That alone will save them some serious dollars in the food line.

Lemon for Feely, whatever. Lemon was fun to watch in the second half of preseason games but he will never make it as a starter. Is that about what Feely is?

Joe in PB · Post by **Joe in PB** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:37 pm

Adad nailed the Fonoti situation.

Obviously Charger GM AJ Smith thinks Feely is a better back up than Lemon. But what it really means is Feely will be the back up and Rivers will probably be traded in the offseason.

The problem is Rivers contract is very high for a guy who hasn't proved a thing in the NFL. So the Chargers can expect probably a 2nd day draft pick for him, basically a team taking a chance and relieving the Chargers of his salary. More than likely a conditional draft pick.

Not exactly the return I expected from the #1 pick in the draft and the subsequent trade for Rivers (who I didn't believe was a top 10 talent) & as it turns out, Merriman.

atomicdad · Post by **atomicdad** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:11 pm

Yea, but I think the Chargers were tired of having to follow him around to tell him to put the spoon down and back away from the mayonaise jar.

Joe in PB · Post by **Joe in PB** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:12 pm

mvscal I seriously doubt the Chargers get a first rd pick for Rivers. I don't believe the Chargers are the ones holding the cards right now with Rivers riding the pine and having a contract upwards of 30 million.

I also don't agree with your assessment on Rivers, he didn't look comfortable in the pocket in TC or the preseason. As a matter of fact he looked a lot like Brees did in his 2nd year, and if anything appears to have regressed. Preferring to check down underneath too much. Philip is going to need a couple of years to be as effective as Brees is now surveying the field. The other thing that puts Rivers at a disadvantage is he doesn't have a big arm either not to mention a low side arm release. Rivers being a HUGE reach as a top ten selection also doesn't help his cause.

The bottom line is do you think Marty wants to develop Rivers over the next couple of years hoping he'll be as effective or better than the QB he's starting now? Who BTW led the the Chargers to 3rd in scoring last year and has the team currently ranked #2 this season......

I'm not a big Brees guy either but I'll give Trev her props. She nailed the Charger QB situation.

Sirfindafold · Post by **Sirfindafold** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:29 pm

asking chargermike for input?

What, this guy wasn't available?

vvvvvvvvvvv

ChargerMike · Post by **ChargerMike** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:44 pm

Sirfindafold wrote:asking chargermike for input?

What, this guy wasn't available?

vvvvvvvvvvv

I laughed

Sorry Frodo, been sowntown L.A. all day and just got back to the office.

Ditto Dan, about as concise a synopsis as you could ask for. Fonoti was suppose to be the second coming of Anthony Munoz... :roll:
I think another factor is the developement of some of our O lineman like Shane Olivea, Kris Dielman, and Nick Hardwick.
Fonoti could still be a force if he figures how to back away fron the table now and then.

Joe in PB · Post by **Joe in PB** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:45 am

We'd be #1 if we had a real QB.

You really believe that mvscal?

Sincerely,

Peyton Manning

Sure there are better QB's than Brees but he's not the reason the Chargers record isn't better than it is. The Chargers biggest problems this year are a defense that can't stop an average QB when push comes to shove and an Oline that has marginal talent and little depth.

Why are you so high on Rivers mvscal? It must be Pre draft hype, because since the draft he's shown nothing.

Geting rid of Brees for an unknown in Rivers and hoping he's a better player just compounds the mistake in taking Rivers in the first place IMO.

If the Chargers go into the tank and lose 3 or 4 in a row, then I can see Rivers getting an opportunity. But I think the Bolts will be in contention for a wildcard late into the season and Brees will retain his job.

frodo_biguns · Post by **frodo_biguns** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:20 am

Thanks guys! I men we had to replace David Dixon, so why not another Somoan, right? I came across the article on him, pretty fascinating.

http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol4no24fonoti.html

that's all that you needed to Post--->then your Take on it. NOT THE whole freakin' Article.

trev · Post by **trev** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:07 pm

Thanks Joe. I know you guys all love big big quarterbacks with strong strong arms, but they can also be immature, clumsy, and not smart enough. I'll take Brees any day over, Vick, Rivers, and R Leaf.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:05 pm

I wonder if he likes to party...

atomicdad · Post by **atomicdad** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:39 pm

Don't know, but would you want to invite a guy over that would eat all the food and drink all the beer.