Official Chargers Blog

• It's first for McGahee: Pro Bowl invite after Tomlinson withdraws
  Running back LaDainian Tomlinson withdrew from the Pro Bowl on Wednesday, paving the way for Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee to receive his first appearance in the game.
• ESPN - Second-degree MCL sprain to sideline LT six weeks - NFL
  Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson was diagnosed Tuesday with a second degree knee sprain of the medial collateral ligament that will require at least six more weeks to heal.
• MRI shows Tomlinson damaged knee further vs. Pats
  LaDainian Tomlinson had an additional MRI on his left knee Tuesday that revealed his playing even just four snaps in the AFC Championship Game further damaged it.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Every angle says Giants, Eli are winners in big trade
  Let's begin this debate about who won the Eli Manning-Philip Rivers mega-deal -- the New York Giants or San Diego Chargers.
• Chargers, Saints likely opponents in London next season
  The San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints expect to play each other in London this fall in the NFL's second regular-season game to be played outside of North America.
• Carrying Ball and Message: N.F.L. Rewards a 10-Year-Old
  Jared Doutt, a football player from Erie, Pa., will be making his first Super Bowl appearance Sunday.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Chargers to play in London this season
  The NFL is expected to announce sometime this week that the Chargers will play the New Orleans Saints in London during the 2008 regular season.
• Everyone's a critic (and not just of LT)
  He's done the fan thing, lived it. In fact, San Diego may have no greater fan of the Chargers than Brian Giles
• Chargers still sitting pretty from '04 trade with Giants
  cannot tell a lie. Most of the time when Mike Freeman and I go head to head on a topic, I'm nervous. He's talented, he's persuasive, and he generally picks the easier side of an argument.
• Pats perfectly overrated
  If the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Sunday's Super Bowl XLII -- which is not impossible -- are they the greatest football team of all time?

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• NFL exec: Chargers followed rules in injury reports
  The NFL has no plans to sanction the Chargers because of the way the club handled its injury reports during the week of the AFC Championship Game.
• Chargers kicker Kaeding played five games with broken plant leg
  San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding played in nearly five full games with a fractured lower left leg, including hitting four field goals in Sunday's loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game.
• Chargers to play Saints in London Oct. 26
  The Chargers will play the New Orleans Saints at Wembley Stadium in London on Oct. 26, sources confirmed today.
• Raiders coach refuses to heed Davis' call to resign
  The Raiders will interview James Lofton on Monday for a job, a source said.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Rivers bent on quick recovery
  With tendon for ligament, Chargers quarterback hopes to beat rehab schedule, be ready for camp
• Analysis: Why can't success vindicate Turner?
  They said it couldn't be done. Not with Norv Turner coaching the team.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Bolts dump two – Lofton and Simon
  Head coach Norv Turner parted ways with receivers coach James Lofton and running backs coach Matt Simon yesterday, and the team is in the process of trying to keep three other assistants.
• Joiner replaces Lofton as Chargers receivers coach
  Charlie Joiner, the San Diego Chargers' all-time leading receiver and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is returning to the Bolts' sidelines to serve as the team's wide receivers coach.
• Rivers has ligament replaced in knee early
  Philip Rivers underwent surgery yesterday to replace the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, about two weeks before the procedure was planned.
• Joiner returns to team to coach wide receivers
  While introducing Charlie Joiner yesterday as the Chargers' new receivers coach, Norv Turner recalled the time in the late 1970s when he was coaching receivers at USC ...
• Former Chargers great Joiner back in fold as WR coach
  One day after firing a Hall of Fame receiver, the Chargers hired one, tabbing Charlie Joiner as the team's new wide receivers coach.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• LT Makes His Toughest Call
  The question -- as preposterous as it sounds -- surrounding LaDainian Tomlinson on Monday was about his toughness.
• Chargers won't be changers
  With core players in place, don't look for much rebuilding over offseason
• In Chula Vista, Chargers Search for Certainty
  Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani went to Chula Vista's City Council meeting Tuesday looking to gauge what he'd called the policymakers' body language.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Amid injuries, Chargers left to ponder lost chances
  With quarterback Philip Rivers hobbling on two battered knees, Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates limited by a dislocated toe and a San Diego Chargers ...
• Rivers played on knee with ACL 'totally gone'
  Philip Rivers' anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee is “totally gone” and he will have reconstructive surgery soon.
• No Super Sunday
  In the end, there simply was too much for the Chargers to overcome.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Bolts about a 10-to-1 shot, computer says
  More than 10,000 computer simulations of today's AFC Championship Game showed the Patriots beating the Chargers nearly 90 percent of the time.
• Chargers fans brave 'City of Champions'
  Deep in the heart of Baaaaaaawston, revved-up Chargers fans roared in mock disapproval as a woman leaped on top of a bar, lifted her shirt and exposed a massive tattoo etched across her lower back.
• Rivers, Gates will start in AFC Championship Game
  San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates will start in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
• Break out your bolts
  So you've got an L.T. jersey. Your family room has blue and gold streamers strung from corner to corner.
• Conference title matchup brings S.D. tantalizingly close to glory . . . again
  The San Diego Chargers not only take on the big, bad Patriots today, but also move closer to confronting a curse.
• L.T. misses most of first half of AFC title game with sore knee
  LaDainian Tomlinson spent most of the first half of Sunday's AFC Championship Game bundled up in a parka, not on the field.
• Chargers rally 'round 'courageous' Rivers
  Outsiders might have their doubts about Philip Rivers, but it might be best not to express them too loudly around his Chargers teammates.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• In forums, Chargers fans can and do say everything
  Thanks to the Internet, you can arrange a flight, pay bills, book a hotel, find true love, order pizza ..
• Downright balmy: forecast of low 20s for AFC championship game
  By Green Bay standards, the weather for the AFC championship game at New England will be downright balmy.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Rivers hopes sprained knee will allow him to play
  Rivers returned to the practice field, encouraged his sprained right knee would heal enough for him to go Sunday against the New England Patriots.
• McCree eager to atone for last year's nightmare
  The play still haunts Chargers free safety Marlon McCree.
• Chargers say Rivers doubtful
  As he did the last bit of packing before a bus ride to the airport and a cross-country flight yesterday, Philip Rivers was careful in any movement that involved his injured right knee.
• Harrison says he knows how Rivers feels, but ...
  Of all people, Rodney Harrison seemed to be suggesting that Philip Rivers cool his jets.
• C-c-cold? Dress for it, then forget it
  Maybe that's what the Chargers need as they venture onto the frozen tundra of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
• Reasons to pick the Chargers ... or not
  At the moment, the Chargers are two-touchdown underdogs against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. I'm not sure Custer was a two-touchdown underdog.
• Super subs Volek, Turner may wind up elsewhere
  Billy Volek and Michael Turner were major contributors for the Chargers in last Sunday's win over Indianapolis.
• Postseason brings out best in Chargers' Jackson
  The Chargers' 6-foot-5, 241-pound wide receiver was entering his third NFL season, fresh off a year in which he became a fixture in the starting lineup.
• McCree, Florence seek a chance to make amends
  Twelve months later, Marlon McCree says the play still haunts him. Meanwhile, Drayton Florence relishes the opportunity to seek redemption.
• Doubtful Rivers expresses optimism
  Norv Turner should be stressed out come Sunday morning.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Chargers vs. Patriots: the key matchups
  Matchups for the AFC championship game between the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
• Cold snaps and chilly receptions expected
  If the forecast is right, the AFC Championship Game could rank among the 10 coldest games in Chargers history.
• Chargers could be Super Bowl ratings spoilers
  The Chargers already messed up the dreams of CBS and most of the NFL by depriving the nation of a Patriots-Colts rematch in the AFC Championship Game.
• Layers of players
  The Chargers' foundation for success has been evident here and there, but hit home in win over the Colts when the team's depth was on display
• GM's only misstep was getting off bus
  For somebody who doesn't know where he's going, A.J. Smith always knows where he's going.
• Tomlinson returns to practice; Rivers, Gates still out
  The San Diego Chargers are slowly getting back their injured players ahead of the AFC Championship Game Sunday against the undefeated New England Patriots.
• Chargers' Rivers talking his way into AFC title game
  In the San Diego Chargers' camp, there's a frequent refrain:
• Patriots defensive Seau, Harrison face former team
  The last time Junior Seau played in an AFC championship game, his team was given little chance to beat the top seed.
• 4 Questions: Chargers right on schedule
  They just had completed one of the best regular seasons in NFL history, securing home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs while cultivating a healthy swagger.
• Old Pats linebackers could be hole Chargers need
  How has he played 18 years at linebacker in the NFL, where concussions and splintered bones are as much a part of life as grease burns are for a fast food worker?
• Patriots' Seau rides wave of emotion in playing Chargers
  Wednesday: Norv Turner Following Wednesdays' practice Head Coach Norv Turner addresses the media leading upto Sunday's the AFC Championship game at New England.
• San Diegos Side of the Story
  With all this talk about cold weather, why don’t we warm ourselves up by checking up on San Diego, where the sun is shining and it’s always 70 degrees.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Moss says longtime friend trying to get money with allegations
  Randy Moss said Wednesday that allegations he committed battery against a woman are false and that she made the claim to get money from him.
• Eli, Rivers on similar path since 2004 draft
  They will be forever lumped together but a final decision on either won't be made until one wins a Super Bowl.
• Inland roots are in Chargers QB Volek's past
  This is hardly the same cookie-cutter story of the hometown boy does good.
• Rivers, Tomlinson, and Merriman among Chargers missing practice
  Philip Rivers sat out practice Wednesday to rest his sprained right knee as the Chargers began preparing for the AFC championship game Sunday against undefeated New England.
• Moss has switched to playing defense
  How do you defend Randy Moss? The question is back in the hands of an attorney, as well as those of the Chargers.
• Chargers have Volek as collateral if Rivers out
  Suddenly, all of San Diego is talking about the MCL.
• Fans keep the faith despite naysayers
  That's the last time the San Diego Chargers made it to an AFC Championship Game and, for fans, that's a long stretch between trips to such a heady contest. They're raring to go.
• Raging Rivers?
  Philip Rivers was being true to himself – which, ironically, is how he landed in the center of this storm in the first place – when he vowed again yesterday not to change.
• LT expects to be 'close to 100 percent' Sunday
  Three days of treatment and rest for his hyperextended left knee had LaDainian Tomlinson feeling a lot better yesterday.
• The stars are out for Chargers
  The Chargers returned to the practice field on Wednesday, save a Pro Bowler or four.
• Crowning glory: Patriots' Seau must beat his old team
  Junior Seau has always been a Chargers fan.
• Chargers should run on more than LT
  The Chargers go into Sunday's AFC championship game at New England as two-touchdown underdogs.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Why bother showing up?
  The Patriots were comfortably curled up on their couches Sunday night, halfway through “The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” when the next victim on their hit list touched down in San Diego.
• Can Tomlinson back his words with his play?
  LT, he of the bruised left knee, expects to play this Sunday against the Patriots. That's great news, I guess. More encouraging, however, would be to learn that he expects to play well.
• Bold Turner carries Bolts to playoff upset
  Go ahead, Norv Turner. Say, I told you so. Laugh in the face of your critics, me included
• Believabolts
  Squelching skeptics and their own demons, the Chargers pulled off the unlikeliest of upsets to roll on
• For everyone who dissed Norv, he sure showed you
  After smirking from the shadows, it's time to stand and be counted. Everyone who thought the Chargers had screwed up by firing Schottenheimer and replacing him with Turner, please rise.
• Even the Pats' fifth passing option can be lethal
  Wes Welker (83) and Randy Moss (81) have 32 pass receiving touchdowns between them in 17 games, including the postseason.
• Mere statistics don't reflect Faulk's true value
  In his nine years with the New England Patriots, do-it-all tailback Kevin Faulk has averaged 1,129.8 all-purpose yards per season.
• Injury Watch: Chargers short on health for Pats
  In revisiting the Week 2 matchups of the Giants-Packers game and the Chargers-Patriots game, many things became obvious.
• Belichick Sells Team on Chargers’ Strengths
  Out in San Diego, at least one player, swimming in the giddiness of the Chargers’ upset of the Indianapolis Colts, thinks the New England Patriots ...
• Patriots Focused On One Thing: Chargers
  They are as serious, evasive and single-minded as Bill Belichick. There will be no locker room material from this bunch
• Chargers have one thing in their favor
  The San Diego Chargers just may have something that they can tangibly use against the New England Patriots this week in a game in which the visitors desperately need something to hang onto.
• Chargers' understudies may be needed on front lines
  At Northern Illinois University, running back Michael Turner ran for nearly 5,000 yards, finishing his career among the NCAA's top 15 all-time rushers.
• It's Bolts, not Colts, but you'd think it were dolts
  The long knives are coming out for the rematch of the teams that played in the 1963 AFL title game.
• Another threat for New England
  Donte' Stallworth isn't taking any chances. He has a sure-fire way to make sure the Patriots win Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chargers.
• Patriots are only playing nice off the field
  Sure, the Patriots said all the right things yesterday about how well the Chargers have been playing, but there's only one undefeated team in this game, and it's not the one traveling across the country to play.
• Belichick buries Bolts with praise and raves
  From basically every corner of the football-watching world, the Chargers are given no chance in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.
• Upright beats uptight
  Nate Kaeding has been the NFL's most accurate kicker over the past three seasons.
• Will wins land Chargers a deal?
  It worked for the Seattle Mariners. It worked for the Padres and the Arizona Cardinals, too.
• It wasn't pretty when Chargers, Patriots squared off in September
  On Sept. 16, the San Diego Chargers headed into a rematch with New England, eager to atone for their epic playoff collapse against the Patriots eight months earlier.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Chargers and Turner Throw Armchair Quarterbacks for a Loss
  The Chargers and Norv Turner vs. the Patriots and Bill Belichick Sunday for the AFC Championship, winner advances to the Super Bowl.
• Chargers coach proves critics wrong
  Who would have thought that on the star-filled NFL postseason weekend, the biggest star of all would be Norv Turner?
• Undermanned Chargers stun Colts 28-24
  The Chargers and Norv Turner vs. the Patriots and Bill Belichick Sunday for the AFC Championship, winner advances to the Super Bowl.
• It’s simple - Chargers can’t beat Patriots
  No reason to think New England will stumble in quest for perfect season
• One Big Win, Two Huge Losses for Chargers
  To the surprise of many people who follow the N.F.L., the San Diego Chargers, not the Indianapolis Colts, will meet the New England Patriots next Sunday for the American Football Conference championship and the right to play in Super Bowl XLII.
• Chargers can't stop Pats
  The Chargers pulled off a big upset at Indianapolis in the divisional round, but things do not look good for them in New England.
• Tomlinson says MRI shows he has hyperextended knee
  LaDainian Tomlinson said during a news conference Monday that an MRI showed he has a hyperextended knee that is "nothing serious."
• Celebration time? LT says too early
  The Chargers appreciated the show of support from fans who greeted them Sunday night – if not the traffic jam they caused – but there also was a feeling the celebration was premature.
• Ouch.
  Beat-up Chargers hope to recover, rest before squaring up against the Patriots
• Rivers questionable for AFC title game with knee injury
  The euphoria of the San Diego Chargers' stunning win against the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts was replaced by reality Monday.
• Talking trash still a hot topic
  Philip Rivers' ailing knee was a major point of discussion in a Chargers press conference on Monday.
• L.T.'s likely to play; Rivers, Gates in doubt
  The Chargers' training staff has a busy week ahead, after a divisional playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts added to an injury list that was already both long and distinguished.
• National media wanted Colts-Pats; well, deal with it
  I'm sick of this “marquee game” manure. I'm sick of the TV networks playing the ratings game.
• Patriots try to fix holes in defense before Chargers visit
  If defense still wins championships, the New England Patriots might have cause for concern despite their 17-0 perfection.
• Odds against Chargers ‘D’
  With a full regular season complete and one playoff game in the books, there hasn’t been a defense out there that’s been able to shut down the Patriots offense.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Not what you wanted? NFL's final four fight on
  The Colts' defense of their Super Bowl title did not last a game, thanks to the stubborn and feisty San Diego Chargers and their 28-24 triumph at the RCA Dome.
• Lightning strikes: Bolts knock off defending champs
  After handing New England a huge gift, the San Diego Chargers believe it's time to give the unbeaten Patriots something else: a challenge.
• Tomlinson, Rivers knocked out of game against Colts
  Injuries took a toll on both teams in Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff Game.
• Chargers rally to beat Colts
  The San Diego Chargers were so thin at one point Sunday in their AFC divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts that coach Norv Turner almost thought about calling on the breadmaker...
• No way the Chargers beat the Pats, right? Right?
  So, what do you think Mr. Stetson Cologne Boy and the rest of the New England Patriots were thinking as they watched Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game?
• Colts unravel; all signs point to Dungy's departure
  The vibe coming out of the Colts' locker room following their devastating 28-24 loss to the Chargers was that Tony Dungy might have coached his last game
• Red-hot Chargers can do no wrong at right time
  In the fourth quarter of their divisional playoff game against Indianapolis, the Chargers lined up for their most important drive in 13 years with Billy Volek playing QB and Michael Turner at running back.
• Turner validates hiring, has Chargers in AFC title game
  San Diego is headed to the AFC championship game, and the coach hired because predecessor Marty Schottenheimer couldn't get the Chargers there preferred to talk about a team's redemption.
• Chargers show they can rise to occasion
  From head coach to GM, starting QB to backup, Sunday's Chargers win was all about changing perceptions.
• Volek and the Chargers continue to flip the script
  Before going to bed Saturday night, Billy Volek set the alarm clock in his hotel room, programmed the alarm on his cell phone and ordered a wake-up call.
• Heads hung low, Colts fans look to next season
  "I hate the Patriots," Roe said. Standing outside the Blue Crew grill, he declared himself a Chargers fan for the AFC Championship game.
• Turner speaks, the Chargers deliver
  He got choked up during his Saturday night speech, punctuating some of his more passionate statements with fist-pumps, and the San Diego Chargers felt inspired by their head coach's emotion.
• Chargers on to New England after epic win
  The wild, wacky Chargers season has yet to receive a checkered flag. Even after playing the world champion Indianapolis Colts.
• Chargers must believe they can win in New England
  Before I go into next Sunday's championship matchups, Norv Turner has to be commended for the job San Diego has done.
• With starters felled, reserves carry Chargers to image-changing upset
  The label has been bouncing around the axis of the NFL ever since the Chargers' disheartening playoff pratfall against New England last January.
• Volek answers the call in the clutch
  The hotel alarm clock was set. So was the cell phone. A wake-up call had been ordered.
• Stout defense puts Peyton in his place
  The Chargers were staring at the wrong end of one of the NFL's most talented gunners.
• Volek catches bus, drives it
  Billy Volek had a restless Saturday night, sleeping for just two or three hours in advance of the Chargers' divisional playoff game against Indianapolis.
• Gates' role limited mostly to a decoy
  And now another vigil will commence as the Chargers prepare to play the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game – with or without their Pro Bowl tight end.
• Defense couldn't afford to rest
  All the Chargers needed to do yesterday to advance to the Championship Game – protect a four-point lead in the final five minutes, on the road, against one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
• Practice makes perfect for Chargers' trio of super subs
  Darren Sproles caught 10 passes in the regular season for the San Diego Chargers this year. Billy Volek threw 10 passes. And Michael Turner had more than 10 carries in only one game.
• True-blue supporters welcome their heroes
  Soon after the final gun sounded in Indianapolis, Bebo Gonzalez grabbed his son, his Shawne Merriman jersey, two lawn chairs and some sandwich material and pointed the family ...

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Why Colts will win: They're better, stupid
  First, three bold predictions about Sunday's divisional playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers:
• Bolts' Gates in fitness race ahead of Colts showdown
  San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates acknowledged he is in a race against time to get fit for Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game against Indianapolis, a newspaper report said.
• The defense begins
  Filling themselves with a world championship did nothing to satisfy the Indianapolis Colts.
• Wayne emerges as Colts top receiver in absence of Harrison
  Reggie Wayne spent six seasons trying to create his own niche in the Indianapolis Colts offense.
• To half & half not
  Entering their AFC playoff game today with confidence and humility, the underdog Chargers say they realize recent success against the Colts doesn't mean a thing
• Freakish talent, unbridled enthusiasm make Cromartie a rarity
  Antonio Cromartie is pro football's version of "The Natural."
• Chargers tight end Gates will play vs. Indianapolis
  Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was on the field Sunday before San Diego's playoff game against Indianapolis and will play, according to head coach Norv Turner.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• LB Keiaho former Chargers fan
  The last time the Chargers played at the RCA Dome, Freddy Keiaho was a senior at San Diego State, cheering like mad as San Diego ended the Colts' bid for an undefeated 2005 season after 13 games.
• Cromartie idled by stomach bug; it's a fluid situation
  The other Antonio fell yesterday. As the rest of the Chargers worked out before their afternoon flight to Indianpolis, Antonio Cromartie joined Antonio Gates in the training room.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Stadium issue the elephant in the room for Chargers
  It's 2008. In another life, Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith (correctly this time) would call it “the push year.” Because, when the football team's next season is done, it can employ Bekins, back up, pack up and leave town. Just like that. Questio
• A head scratcher
  The word the Chargers used most this week in recalling their Nov. 11 game against the Indianapolis Colts was “weird.”
• Colts-Pats is desired matchup
  No one is rooting against anyone – at least openly – but make no mistake: CBS executives will be much happier if the Chargers lose Sunday at Indianapoli
• Gates still hopes to play
  Antonio Gates is still holding out hope of playing Sunday, although the tight end yesterday said surgery is an eventual possibility for his injured left big toe.
• Availability of Gates likely a game-time call
  If Chargers tight end Antonio Gates plays against the Indianapolis Colts, it will be because his dislocated left big toe responded well in pregame warmups.
• Picking up the sack
  The opportunity had arrived for Shaun Phillips, but it was hard for him to totally embrace it.
• If you ask me, Dungy's moving on
  After each of the past three seasons, Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy has thought about leaving.
• He commands their respect
  LaDainian Tomlinson is such a leader, he doesn't just score points on offense. The humble two-time NFL rushing champion can make a point to an entire locker room if needed.
• All systems go for pass offense
  The last time quarterback Peyton Manning had his full complement of options at full strength was nearly four months ago.
• Hardwick comes home to play Colts
  Nick Hardwick didn't attend many Colts games while growing up in Indianapolis. And it was by choice.
• Colts rookies not anxious about playoffs
  They have played in big games before, but it was college, not exactly what Indianapolis Colts rookies are about to experience in the playoffs.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• With Eli's rise, all-Manning Super Bowl is possible
  Eli Manning and Philip Rivers took new steps in their careers last weekend with playoff wins on the same wild-card Sunday.
• Chargers TE Gates unlikely to play
  The chances of San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates playing in Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts appear slim.
• One year after Dungy, Turner wants to prove he can win the big one
  At the time, Norv Turner seemed an odd choice to take over a San Diego Chargers team that had struggled in the playoffs.
• Gates misses practice but Neal returns for Chargers
  While Pro Bowler Antonio Gates rehabbed his dislocated left big toe, All-Pro fullback Lorenzo Neal returned to practice for the San Diego Chargers exactly one month after breaking his lower left leg.
• Collinsworth's keys to the weekend
  The Chargers just seem to have the Colts' number. San Diego thwarted the Colts' bid for a perfect season in 2005.
• Plan B has been working for Chargers
  Something has been happening to the Chargers at halftime.
• Chargers seek city's consent for financing study
  The Chargers want affirmation from the city that they should keep working on a proposal for a $1 billion bayfront stadium.
• Club crossing fingers on Gates' toe
  The Chargers are holding out hope tight end Antonio Gates will play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts despite his dislocated left big toe.
• Boosted by win over Titans, Rivers leads Bolts against Colts
  One starting quarterback on Sunday will be leading the defending Super Bowl champions. He was MVP of that game, as well as a two-time NFL MVP earlier this decade.
• Colts like their spot outside of spotlight
  Speaking by phone with reporters here yesterday, LaDainian Tomlinson referred several times to the Colts as “the champs.”
• How long will Tony Dungy walk the sideline?
  He has led the Colts to remarkable success, never straying from the values that define him. Yet other missions call him, too.
• Harrison will play Sunday . . . probably
  Stop if you've read this before: The Colts expect Marvin Harrison to be in the starting lineup Sunday. But they're guaranteeing nothing.
• Colts may alter punt, kickoff coverage units
  Last time the Indianapolis Colts played San Diego, Chargers return man Darren Sproles was standing in the Colts end zone before the smoke cleared from the pre-game Veterans Day observance.
• Chargers hopeful Gates can play
  The initial question posed to San Diego coach Norv Turner was obvious after the Chargers concluded Wednesday's workout without a key contributor.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Head-to-head: Chargers vs. Colts
  NFL.com has a position-by-position breakdown for the Chargers and Colts divisional playoff showdown.
• Get acquainted with the 16th annual All-Joe team
  The NFL's stars wouldn't succeed without the adjacent All-Joes. They would never make the Pro Bowl minus those who perform the grittier tasks.
• Hurt toe may keep Gates out
  Chargers head coach Norv Turner insists Antonio Gates is day-to-day, but a dislocated left big toe will almost certainly keep the All-Pro tight end from playing in Sunday's divisional playoff game.
• Rivers leads NFL in talking points
  Philip Rivers was walking along the corridor beneath Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday night when he caught up with Norv Turner.
• Colts have their big horses back in the stable NFL
  In more ways than one, the Colts team the Chargers will see Sunday in Indianapolis will not be the same one they beat in November
• Norv Turner shows some emotion as Chargers win playoff opener
  In the closing minutes of the San Diego Chargers' 17-6 playoff win over the Tennessee Titans, their head coach did a little salsa on the sideline.
• Chargers expect to see 'real' Manning
  The Chargers are eyeing Sunday's rival quarterback, hoping to defend the imperfect version they saw in Week 10.
• This time, Chargers are in over their heads
  First, three bold predictions about Sunday's divisional playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Chargers' chance at Super Bowl runs through Rivers
  LaDainian Tomlinson carries the ball for the Chargers, but Philip Rivers carries a bigger burden.
• LT Tells Us What He Really Thinks
  After every game, LaDainian Tomlinson faces the media. Sunday night was the 17th game of the season for this routine.
• Indianapolis Colts ready to face familiar foe, turn tables on Chargers
  The Indianapolis Colts pride themselves on consistency.
• Now Turner’s Footwork is Doubted
  Allow me to be a bit whimsical, even sarcastic, about the Chargers’ 17-6 win Sunday over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC playoffs.
• Bolts need to beat Manning again to keep playoff run alive
  The Chargers know all about beating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
• Turner flourish on foundation of trust
  Bolts relish Turner's poise, confidence in playoff win
• Colts looking to make amends
  Revenge isn't a big issue in professional football. Reproach, particularly self-reproach, can be another matter.
• Remember those wins over Indy? Forget 'em
  The meetings between the Chargers and Indianapolis Colts of late have been frequent and memorable, and they have most recently been reasons for the Chargers to celebrat
• Hurt toe may keep Gates out
  Chargers head coach Norv Turner insists Antonio Gates is day-to-day, but a dislocated left big toe will almost certainly keep the All-Pro tight end from playing in Sunday's divisional playoff.
• Turner's salsa less hot than his team
  It wasn't exactly a scene out of “Saturday Night Fever.” It was more like “Sunday Afternoon Freeze.”
• Remember those wins over Indy? Forget 'em
  The meetings between the Chargers and Indianapolis Colts of late have been frequent and memorable, and they have most recently been reasons for the Chargers to celebrate.
• Chargers' fan support lacking electricity
  Day after playoff win, some still uncertain about team

Posted by Joel Price at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Second-half rally sends Chargers into AFC Divisional date with Colts
  Well, wouldn't you know it, the San Diego Chargers can win in the playoffs.
• For the Chargers, It Could Be 4th Down and Two Stadium Sites to Go
  The San Diego Chargers made some progress last year in their quest to find a site for a state-of-the-art football stadium, narrowing their search to two sites in Chula Vista.
• Chargers tight end Gates leaves game with toe injury
  Chargers Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates was taken off the field on a cart after injuring a left toe late in the second quarter of Sunday's playoff against Tennessee.
• Chargers take it to the next level
  Turner does what Schottenheimer couldn't, winning first-round playoff game 17-6
• Familiar name in mix for Ravens
  Brian Schottenheimer, a Chargers assistant coach under his father Marty from 2002-2005, is a candidate for the Baltimore Ravens' head coaching job.
• With all angles covered, they keep charging ahead
  There have been geometricians on acid who haven't dealt with so many angles.
• Tight end Gates questionable for Indy
  The Chargers might be making their next step in the playoffs without All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates, who sprained his left big toe yesterday.
• One giant leap
  Comeback victory helps to remedy fans' postseason anxiety
• Chargers top Titans in the rain for first playoff victory in 13 years
  Players quickly turn focus to coming test in Indianapolis
• Chargers end four-game playoff skid, but know that the real prize awaits
  It was a big accomplishment on one hand and not such a huge achievement on the other.
• Jackson joins Chambers as big-play receiver
  It wasn't too long ago that the Chargers' major weakness was at wide receiver.
• L.T. throws caution to wind on TD
  LaTorsha Tomlinson wasn't going to be happy.
• Chargers beat Titans, erase memories of past playoff losses
  he San Diego Chargers ended more than a decade of playoff futility Sunday, edging the tenacious Tennessee Titans 17-6
• Chargers end four-game playoff skid, but know that the real prize awaits
  It was a big accomplishment on one hand and not such a huge achievement on the other.
• Chargers don’t have enough to top Colts
  Rivers too inconsistent to ensure San Diego matches Indy’s talent
• Over the top
  Time stopped in San Diego Sunday afternoon, just long enough for 65,640 hearts to skip a beat in unison.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Team hopes being No. 3 seed more fruitful in playoffs
  After losing in their first playoff game as the 4th seed following the 2004 season and as the No. 1 seed after last season, the Chargers host the sixth-seeded Titans tomorrow as the No. 3 seed in the AFC.
• Tomlinson a Titanic defensive obstacle
  The leader of the Tennessee Titans' defense was ticking off the team's thrusts for an AFC wild-card playoff game tomorrow against the Chargers.
• Young better; Fisher won't bite
  Jeff Fisher issued his most positive report yesterday on Vince Young's status, but the Tennessee Titans coach still is not prepared to declare that the quarterback is to start tomorrow.
• X Factor
  Quarterback Philip Rivers has been on at times, off at times this season, which makes him the ...
• Catching attention
  It was a Chris Chambers' catch in Nashville that resonated like a sour note.
• Titans right guard Olson out for playoff game
  Tennessee right guard Benji Olson will miss Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the San Diego Chargers after the Titans downgraded him from doubtful to out.
• Smash-Mouth II: Titans, Chargers get rematch in playoffs
  Sunday's playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and San Diego Chargers wouldn't be such an eagerly anticipated grudge match without ...
• San Diego superstition
  Come game time this afternoon, some Chargers fans will feel just as prepared as the players storming onto the Qualcomm Stadium field.
• Play 'em again, especially the big ones
  Come game time this afternoon, some Chargers fans will feel just as prepared as the players storming onto the Qualcomm Stadium field.
• Future is now: Past playoff failures continue to haunt Chargers
  Straight-shooting A.J. Smith doesn't mince words when it comes to the Chargers' playoff performances on his watch.
• Fisher has seen it all with Titans
  Jeff Fisher has been a pillar of consistency in turbulent times.
• Williams trying to grin and bear it
  The wobbly pass exited the quarterback's hand, soon followed by a down-near-the-belly laugh.
• History lessons
  Chargers players say painful playoff losses in two of the past three years have better prepared them for postseason challenges this year
• If called, Volek ready to answer
  The first time Billy Volek played against Tennessee was an emotional experience. He was in Nashville as a visiting player for the first time after spending six-plus seasons with the Titans.

Posted by Joel Price at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Chargers raise possibility of blackout for Sunday's game
  So far, Charger fever is just a fizzle -- and fans face a TV blackout of Sunday's game if the team doesn't sell its last 500 tickets to the game by this afternoon, officials said Thursday.
• Cromartie garners another accolade
  Antonio Cromartie has become adept at halting receivers and receiving honors. The latter occurred again Thursday, when Cromartie was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December.
• Safety valve: Unsung Hart has emerged in Chargers' secondary
  Clinton Hart was frequently cited as a serious question mark before this season. Instead, he has proved to be quite the answer as the Chargers' starting strong safety.
• Chargers face local blackout if fair-weather fans no-shows
  The San Diego Chargers face a local TV blackout for Sunday's playoff game unless the home team sells its remaining 350 tickets by 1:30 p.m. today.
• Defense assuming Titans' Young will operate at full speed
  Indications out of Nashville are that Titans quarterback Vince Young will play Sunday despite a bruised quadriceps.
• Club's passing game hurting
  Suddenly the Tennessee Titans must deal with concerns about who is going to catch passes for them Sunday, as well as who is going to throw them.
• Few are big fans of 'Big Country'
  Nope, David Stewart doesn't do a lot of talkin' about how he seems to personify the Tennessee Titans, not the gentlest group, with his cussedness.
• Titans, Chargers hope to buck recent trends
  Tennessee Titans Coach Jeff Fisher has juggled travel schedules, rearranged meetings and adjusted practice times in hopes of striking gold out West, but for some reason his team keeps coming up empty.
• CBS ecstatic about Chargers' game
  From coast to coast, TV people couldn't be happier that the Titans-Chargers playoff game landed on CBS and in Sunday's featured 1:30 p.m. time slot.
• Carucci's 2007 All-Interview Team
  As writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL, we constantly judge whether players can "walk the walk" with their performance on the field.
• Scouting report: Titans at Chargers
  When these two teams met on Dec. 9, the game went into overtime before the Chargers won it on a 16-yard run by LaDainian Tomlinson.
• Titans, Chargers bracing for hard-hitting rematch
  The Dec. 9 game between the Titans and Chargers slipped below the radar for obvious reasons.
• A.J. proves he's A-OK in San Diego
  People squawked when the Chargers fired Schottenheimer. Then when GM A.J. Smith hired Norv Turner. But, San Diego is back in the playoffs and the truth is obvious.
• Waxing poetic
  With his team still stuck in neutral, LaDainian Tomlinson used a poem as inspiration down the stretch.