Hitler reacts to the Bolts decision keeping Turner

[Joe in PB]

This stuff is always funnier when its true. :grin:

http://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/1/ ... eping-norv

Dean Spanos sucks ass.

[Dinsdale]

RRRRRAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sin,












P.S.: I am a Nigerian Prince. I've got $10,000,000, but I need you to give me your bank account number, then we can split it.


P.P.S.: Seriously?

[Joe in PB]

Here's a very good write up on the possible direction the Chargers go in terms of personnel.

Chargers will clean house before remodeling

Written by Kevin Acee
Jan. 7, 2012

We know who’s not going anywhere.

Now we wait and see what moves Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith and Head Coach Norv Turner conspire to make in order to try to win enough to spare the axe again in 2013.

It has for months been believed that the Chargers need a good tweaking, and the past week brought forth that acknowledgment from the men still entrusted with shaping a roster that last year started with cracks and quickly spring leaks.

We have been told by Smith that there will be “significant personnel changes.”

And Turner said, “There’s certainly going to be some real tough decisions with players.”

Those can be one in the same, and they can also be separate movements.

Before they address who is coming in, they have to decide who’s staying and who is not.

Prior to fitting Robert Mathis into the front seven, they have to figure out who doesn’t fit anymore.

In greater number than the Chargers usually have over the past decade, the team will say good bye to a number of familiar faces.

Smith made sure to talk about how he has to find "better backups." So this isn't a complete list. But here are some significant spots where changes are probably coming, farewells to be considered before welcomes can be made:

Defensive line

The Luis Castillo era has almost certainly come to an end.

The Chargers would have loved to have him in 2011, in part because Vaughn Martin would have been even better had he not had to play 629 snaps.

But after Castillo broke his leg in the season opener the future was on display much of the year and especially late when Cam Thomas was in more beside fellow youngsters Martin and Corey Liuget.

The Chargers paid Castillo $27.3 million over the past four seasons, and while it has been far from a waste, they don’t figure to give him another $4.9 million in 2012.

There are decisions to be made at nose tackle. The Chargers are still uncertain whether Thomas is a bona fide starter. And given his health limitations they might not be serious contenders in the market for unrestricted free agent Antonio Garay.

The decisions on two reserves – one a long-time Charger, one a recent addition, both with their roles – will be interesting. Nine-year veteran Jacques Cesaire is still a useful reserve and a leader, and Tommie Harris played well after being signed at the end of September.

Offensive line

On the other line, it could be like tearing down a house, keeping only the chimney and one wall.

The talk going into 2011 was about their continuity, as the Chargers began the season with the same eight offensive linemen as they had in 2010. They could have just three of those back at the start of 2012.

Left tackle Marcus McNeill’s neck will have to pass a team physical. Left guard Kris Dielman will decide, likely by mid-February whether it is prescient for him to continue playing after suffering a ooncussion and seizure midseason. Center Nick Hardwick is contemplating retirement at age 30, and is regardless an unrestricted free agent.

Beyond that, longtime reserves and part-time starters Brandyn Dombrowski and Scott Mruczkowski are free agents and may have played out their usefulness here with Tyronne Green, Steve Schilling, Colin Baxter and Jared Gaither (if they can sign him) having shown they can step in.

Running back

Mike Tolbert has wanted to do a long-term deal here for more than a year. Now he will likely hit the market, meaning the Chargers are not entirely in control of how much he’ll cost or if he’ll remain.

He’s not Darren Sproles. He’s just on a two-year run of showing how valuable he is to the offense and on kick coverage. Not signing him already could signal that the Chargers believe roly poly running backs are a dime a dozen (much like Smith felt the Chargers could move on effortlessly without Sproles).

The Chargers likely make a strong play to keep unrestricted free agent Jacob Hester – perhaps more valuable on special teams than on offense.

Kicker

Nate Kaeding said he doesn’t expect there to be a competition between he and Nick Novak.

There probably won’t be.

That decision will be made soon, if it hasn’t already.

The plan the past two years was for Kaeding to get one more shot at showing he can transfer his regular season accuracy into postseason reliability. That didn’t work out.

After Kaeding tore knee ligaments and was placed on injured reserve, Novak made his first 12 field goal tries. He missed seven of his final 22 attempts, including two failures in a three-point loss to the Denver Broncos and a miss in a three-point defeat at Kansas City.

The only question lies in Novak’s finish to the season, but it likely is not enough to deter the Chargers from going forward with a cheaper alternative.

Defensive back

It is time to close the wound that has been open since Rodney Harrison was sent packing after the 2002 season.

That means no more risks (Bob Sanders) or reserves (Steve Gregory).

Gregory is maybe the best special teamer and backup to start 22 games over the past two seasons. His contract is up and likely, too, his time in San Diego playing alongside best friend Eric Weddle.

As far as front-line changes, that is likely it for this spring.

The Chargers seem willing to maintain faith that whatever bothered cornerback Quentin Jammer had little to do with his legs and that Greg Manusky departing can help Antoine Cason clear his head. However, Marcus Gilchrist is waiting, and he was inserted at nickel in the finale in place of Dante Hughes.

Tight end

Randy McMichael was a godsend, but the Chargers have to decide whether he has another year in him or whether they turn to someone else. Part of that plan could be re-signing Kory Sperry.

Depending on what they do in free agency to try to make the defense better, it would not be terribly shocking to see the Chargers draft a pass catching tight end high in the draft. Antonio Gates answered questions about whether the end is now, but it remains nearer than the beginning.

Receiver

We’ll end where the beginning of the offseason should be.

Vincent Jackson has been waiting for a new contract practically for four years and has had almost every right to expect one for at least two years.

The Chargers will likely commence contract talks next month, but there is no guarantee the sides will be able to agree even now that the hangovers of two DUIs and a labor uncertainty have subsided.

Regardless, the Chargers will be in the market for a fourth receiver to replace Patrick Crayton.

[Joe in PB]

Here's another good write up:

Just WIN, baby.

Much easier to digest, too.

Over the last 10 years, Just CHOKE, baby, seems more appropriate.

[ChargerMike]

Great vid Joe