Saints and Chargers to London in 2008

So it appears we now know who will have the unfortunate luck pleasure of playing in 2008. According to ESPN the Saints and the Chargers will face off in London during this coming season. If you missed my rant about international play in the NFL you can check it out here.

In addition to my numerous problems I stated there I have developed a new one. In the interest of parity, why not have the Raiders and the Chargers or even the Broncos or Cardinals. Just pick any two teams that are at least reasonably geographically close. Traveling around the world isn't enough they needed to add an extra two timezones for the Chargers.

As far as the Saints side of things are you trying to tell me there is a huge clamoring in europe for the New Orleans Saints, somehow I doubt it. I mean there isn't even a clamoring for the Saints in New Orleans.

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San Diego Super... Heroes?

This is just getting out of hand. I love a good story, as much as the next guy. I just can't stand playing Topper. You know Topper, you and your friends are talking about this or that. You tell a story about how you once a had a threesome with two friends who were on vacation (and by tell I mean make up). One of your buddies can't let that go without mentioning(fabricating) the fact he once had a threesome and they were twins. Bam, there you go Topper. Someone always has to spice thing up to the next level.

It seems the Chargers are now developing a home game version of Topper with San Diego licensing.

First Antonio Gates goes down with a Toe injury, but he toughs it out and plays.

Then Philip Rivers has surgery to get his knee in a postion to play a week later.

Now news comes that Nate Kaeding played with a Broken leg.

I am actually glad the Chargers missed the Superbowl, otherwise we would be anticipating a story about Shawn Merriman being deceased but deciding to go ahead and give it a go anyway.

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Why Philip Rivers playing was a mistake

While much of the world, myself included, heaped praise on Philip Rivers. For his gutly performance. Rivers had arthroscopic knee surgery Monday following the divisional playoffs. He took the stop gap measure in order to be able to get on the field for the conference championship against eventual AFC Champion Patriots. While I still feel as strongly as I did about the impressiveness of Rivers actions, A cooling off period to let the emotion of the thing fade has led me to something not so impressive. The San Diego Chargers coaching and medical staff.

Rivers will now have to go through reconstructive knee surgery. They will either use a cadavers ligament or one from his hamstring. This is no small task. While the surgery itself has what the medical community would describe as a high success rate. As far as football performance it isn’t so high. The American Journal of sports medicine put out a study of NFL players who went through the same injury, may of whom did not require the extent of surgery that Rivers will need. What result did they find...

Nearly four fifths of National Football League running backs and wide receivers
who sustain an anterior cruciate ligament injury return to play in a game. On
return to competition, player performance of injured players is reduced by one
third.

I understand a players desire to play. I even admire it. What I do not admire is Norv Turner being crystal clear on the fact that his job hinges on success in the playoffs. Him allowing Rivers to take the steps he did are questionable at best. At worst it will cost Turner his job and Rivers his career down the road.

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Philip Rivers is a full grown man

If you follow this blog you know I have been back and forth on the Philip Rivers for the last few weeks. ESPN has a report that Rivers had his knee scoped on Monday in order to be as close to playing condition as possible. He will require offseason surgery to repair his ACL. That pretty much solved my back and forth. I am now officially a Rivers fan. My big hang up was all that Jaw Jacking he does. You know what, after that performance on Sunday, all I can say is "Talk all you want bud, cause you are backing it up"

Also this kinda makes you question LT sitting out with a sprain, don't worry Ladanian. Now that your team couldn't punch it in the endzone, you will have a while to rest that knee.

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AFC Championship Recap

So after the first drive I put up a little post about getting the breaks being as important as talent in the patriots undefeated season. As I was watching the second half begin and Donte Stallworth tipped that ball and San Diego’s defense got another turnover for Philip Rivers, I began to think about the chances that the Patriots had run out of breaks. What I didn’t account for was the talent part of the equation. On both of the Tom Brady interceptions the defense of the Patriots held and only gave up a field goal on either interception.

The biggest mistake that the Chargers made to start the second half was to start playing conservative D instead of going after Brady the way they did in the first half. All of a sudden they are giving up an underneath pass to Randy Moss that he strings into a first down and meanwhile no one is within 5 feet of Brady. Thankfully San Diego Defensive coordinator Ted Cotrell can’t keep Antonio Cromartie’s athletic ability down. That pick in the endzone was a game changer. It may not have put the Chargers ahead but you don’t want to get down two scores to New England.

Interesting to see what the Patriots fell back on when they seemed to be challenged. The drive they started after getting the ball back on a punt. was pretty much all Lawrence Maroney. Right up until Wes Welker made the touchdown reception underneath from about 10 yards out.

You do have to credit the Chargers for really outperforming ecpectations. I like Rivers more and more each game I see. I am even starting to tolerate the jaw jacking he does on the field. He responded to questions about that topic in the pre-game. He said that he was most pleased that you don't see him swearing or saying anything offensive on camera.(as I am writing this I am thinking he needs to take it down a notch or two seven) The thing I like on the field is that he looks the same on 3rd and 10 and he does on 1st and 10. There is no anxiety, or nervousness.

The real sign the game was over, was at the 7:00 minute mark in the 4th when you started to see the San Diego Chargers defensive players turning to the officilas to complain as each play was ending. Meanwhile the New England offense is taking small chunks, making the smart decisions; staying in bounds, going down early if necessary to do so.

The big key to this game is was the fact that you just can't field goal your way to the superbowl. Not usually, and especially not against the highest scoring offense in the NFL.

Phillip Rivers Starts AFC Championship

Phillip Rivers came jogging out to start the first drive for San Diego, nothing seemed wrong with the knee, but nothing called really tested him either. Chargers went 3-and-out, not really surprising considering the Patriots defense. Not really concerning since San Diego showed last week that they could withstand an early deficit. Now can they do it against the Patriots.

I do not want to take anything from the patriots accomplishments. They definitely have the talent required but you need the little things go your way, things like running into the kicker not roughing kicker on that first punt attempt. Giving the Chargers another opportunity punt but not giving them the first down.
The first drive was a 3-and out for New England as well. Tom Brady had 2 incomplete passes which matches the entire game last week.

Bill Cowhers AFC Championship Pick

Bill Cowher just went out on a limb, is tap dancing on a sapling, he picked the San Diego Chargers to upset the Patriots. I hope he is right just to see that man grinning ear to ear in the post game report.

Chargers Patriots fan lunacy showdown

Chargers Lunatic

Patriots Lunatic

Both these guys should be made sterile so they don't end up here

Go to the poll on right and vote on which fan is nuttier