Official Chargers Blog

The San Diego Chargers have agreed to contract terms with quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, the team’s third-round choice in the 2006 NFL Draft, and kicker Kurt Smith, the team’s second of two sixth-round picks. Both players have agreed to four-year contracts.

The Chargers have now agreed to terms with six of their eight picks from the 2006 NFL Draft. The only two players yet to agree to contracts are cornerback Antonio Cromartie (first-round) and tackle Marcus McNeill (second-round)

Posted by Joel Price at 04:41 PM | Link to this Post | Comments (0)

The Associated Press reports the Chargers appear close to signing second-round pick OT Marcus McNeill, who is optimistic he will be in training camp on time.

"We're still working," general manager A.J. Smith said Friday. "We're having great dialogue with everybody, we're very encouraged with everybody, but I have no idea until the talking stops and we all smile and agree."

Posted by Joel Price at 09:58 PM | Link to this Post | Comments (0)

More and more, teams are training at their regular-season headquarters. The theory is, things are familiar, surprises are minimized, you get to go home to see the family.

Numbers show the trend towards that approach. Ten years ago, only 23 percent of clubs (7 of 30) trained at home. This year, 41 percent will (13 of 32).

The numbers may prove growing home-base popularity, but, at least last year, the titles went to teams with the “old-time” philosophy of encamping away.

The two Super Bowl XL teams – the winning Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks – both left home for college training sites. The Steelers once again trained at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania (this will be their 40th year at the school). The Seahawks summered at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington.

“I think there is something to be said for getting away from home and coming together as a team,” says Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren.

If where you train in the summer is considered important, how you play during that time is even more so. A look at the numbers suggests that NFL preseason games are important:

- Last year’s four championship-game teams had a .688 preseason winning percentage (11-5).
- Five of the past six Super Bowl champions had winning preseason records, two going 4-0 and three 3-1.
- The past 10 Super Bowl champs have compiled a .707 preseason winning percentage (29-12).

Training camps are a productive, exciting time of year – especially for fans.

One fan survey (ESPN.com) shows that sports fans in July look forward to NFL training camps more than to major summer events in other sports. Another (Columbus Dispatch) says that fans like to watch NFL preseason games more than the preseason games of any other sport.

That interest has helped forge a change in modern-day NFL camps. More and more, teams have scheduled evening practice sessions. The players get out of the heat and more fans, with their workday over, can see those players.

This summer, the Chargers will host a “Gatorade Day at Training Camp” complete with interactive events, youth football drills and family entertainment. Fans are welcome to enter the Chargers Park at 5 pm (free of charge) on August 3, 2006. More details to follow.

Posted by Joel Price at 03:07 PM | Link to this Post | Comments (1)

Chargers Park is the ninth training camp site in the 46-year history of the San Diego Chargers. The team held its initial training camps in San Diego in 1961-62 at the University of San Diego. In 1963 the team trained at Rough Acres Ranch in Boulevard, Calif., located in the rugged hills east of San Diego. The Chargers also trained in Escondido (1964-68) and at the University of California-Irvine (1969-1973), United States International University (1974-75), University of California-San Diego (1976-2002) and the Home Depot Center in Carson, California (2003-04).

Previous Training Camp sites:

Chargers Park - 2005-present
The Home Depot Center, CSU , Dominguez Hills, Carson - 2003-04
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla - 1976-2002
United States International University, San Diego - 1974-75
University of California-Irvine, Irvine - 1969-1973
TraveLodge, Escondido - 1964-68
Rough Acres Ranch, Boulevard. - 1963
University of San Diego - 1961-62

Posted by Joel Price at 04:34 PM | Link to this Post | Comments (8)

Sat., July 29.... 8:30-10:30 a.m. & 3:55-5:30 p.m.
Sun., July 30.... 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Mon., July 31.... 3:20 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 1.... 3:00 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 2..... 3:20 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 3... 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 4..... 3:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 5..... FANFEST, 10:00 a.m. @ Qualcomm Stadium
Mon., Aug. 7..... 3:00 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 8.... 3:20 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 9..... 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 10.. 3:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 12.... Chargers vs. Packers at Qualcomm Stadium, 7:00 p.m. PDT
Tues., Aug. 15... 3:20 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 21.... 3:30 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 22... 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 23.... 3:00 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 29... Roster reduced to 75 players by 1:00 p.m. PDT
Sun., Sept. 3.... Roster reduced to 53 players by 1:00 p.m. PDT

* Practice times are subject to change. Go to Chargers.com or contact the public relations department at (858) 874-4500 to confirm practice times.

Posted by Joel Price at 04:15 PM | Link to this Post | Comments (21)