Chargers cut David Binn

In most NFL teams, the snapper is simply a part of the special teams. You know of his name when he made a major mistake, but for the San Diego Chargers, David Binn was a well known part of the San Diego organization. For nearly two decades, Binn personified San Diego's special teams.

That’s why there are many sad fans in San Diego after the Chargers cut him. He is, by far, the biggest name in the AFC West to be cut this week. He played in San Diego for a team-record 17 seasons and a team-record 179 consecutive games, 256 games overall. He is the only player remaining from the 1994 AFC Champions that went the Super Bowl, the only time San Diego played in the Super Bowl.

He will come down as one of the most remembered San Diego players of all time.

The Chargers have decided to go with Mike Windt at long snapper. In the end, youth and the fact that Windt has two more years on his contract swayed the Chargers. Binn, 39, was entering his contract's final year.

We will all miss you David Binn. Good luck and thanks for the memories....

Adams, Ludwick...traded

The Padres sent Mike Adams to Texas for a couple of minor-league starting pitchers, 20-year-old left-hander Robbie Erlin and 21-year-old right-hander Joe Wieland, both of whom were at Double-A Frisco.
Erlin was considered a B prospect and Wieland a C-plus prospect before the season. Some people in baseball says of the deal that “the Padres just added two major league quality pitchers to the mix.”

Both prospects have seen their stock rise in the eyes of some evaluators. This may or may not mean anything, but it’s worth noting that people who are paid to pay attention to such things like what they see.

As for Adams, it’s really tough to see him go. The Padres got him for almost nothing and helped turn him into one of baseball’s elite relievers. But I can see why the Padres traded him, as dominant as Mike Adams has been over the past few years, I can't really see how critical it is to protect an eighth-inning lead when the team is over 14 games back. It is clear that the Padres have given up on the season and thing of the future.

In the day’s other trade, San Diego sent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to the Pirates for a player to be named later or cash considerations. This, I think, was a good move. Trading Ludwick clears a spot for some of the young players to get at-bats.

It also clears salary. Between the two players, the Padres save a little more than $3 million, which could prove useful over the next couple of weeks as they try to sign all of their draft picks by the August 15 deadline.

The Padres didn’t give up much to get Ludwick from St. Louis at this time last year, he didn’t do much while he was here (659 PA, .228/.301/.358, 87 OPS+) and he didn’t fetch much on his way out of town.

Ludwick’s departure, whatever or whomever else it might bring, paves the way for any number of young outfielders to get a shot at left field. Kyle Blanks, Aaron Cunningham, James Darnell, and Blake Tekotte all appear to be worthy candidates. Cunningham is expected to replace Ludwick on the roster, with 24-year-old right-hander Robert Hamren being recalled from Double-A San Antonio to take Adams’ spot.

Eric Weddle will stay a Charger

Safety Eric Weddle signed a record deal to stay with the San Diego Chargers. Weddle was San Diego's top free-agent priority and he will receive $40 million over the next five years. Weddle will receive $19 million in guaranteed money. It’s the highest contract ever given to a safety.

It's great to know that Eric Weddle will be back with the Chargers because he is a very good player, but I think they may have overpaid for him. That's just me....what do you think?

Chargers makes some cuts....

The San Diego Union Tribune reported the Chargers cut linebacker Jyles Tucker and receiver Buster Davis and that linebacker Antwan Applewhite will soon join Tucker on the outside. Tucker was given a contract extension three years ago and the Chargers thought he would become a premier pass rusher. But he couldn’t stay healthy. That’s also been the case with Davis, a former first-round pick. It’s been expected that he will be cut. The moves will be made official Thursday.

Busy first day for the Chargers

Source: AP

The Chargers agreed to terms with former San Francisco inside linebacker Takeo Spikes on Tuesday. He reunites with former San Francisco defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, who is now San Diego’s defensive coordinator.

Spikes highlights a busy first day for the Chargers, who clearly are bent on returning to the playoffs after they saw their four-year AFC West championship run end in 2010. In addition to agreeing to terms with Spikes, the Chargers agreed to bring back right tackle Jeromey Clary (four years, $20 million) and tight end Randy McMichael (for one year). They also agreed to terms with free-agent safety Bob Sanders prior to the lockout. 

Spikes, 34, gives San Diego some clarity at inside linebacker. He is a 14-year veteran with 109 tackles for the 49ers last season. Spikes, known for his strikingly large neck, will give the Chargers a needed nasty demeanor. The Chargers were pushed around some on defense the past couple of seasons. Spikes and healthy Sanders should change that. 

Next, the Chargers need to lock up safety Eric Weddle and the free agency will be a strong one. Weddle will get plenty of interest elsewhere, though, but the Chargers need to make him a priority.

There Will Be Football.....

Source: AP

Finally, the NFL and its players association agreed to a settlement to end its 4½-month lockout. The NFLPA executive committee and 32 team reps voted unanimously to approve and signed the terms of the deal. "It's been a long time coming. Football is back and that's great news for everybody," commissioner Roger Goodell said outside the NFLPA's headquarters. And, Smith stepped outside of the group's headquarters earlier to announce that players approved the pact.

As he spoke, Smith was flanked by NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Colts center Jeff Saturday and Ravens defensive back Domonique Foxworth, key members of the players' negotiating team. Brees is one of 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit that players filed against the league.

Moments later, Goodell walked into the building, joined by owners Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, John Mara of the New York Giants and Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, one of the 10 named plaintiffs in the players' antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, said in a statement, "I want to get back to work."

According to the timeline for league business to begin, trades can be made beginning Tuesday and free-agent signings can be filed with the league office Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

Teams may begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents beginning Tuesday or even as early as Monday afternoon.

Former Padres' Manager Dick Williams dead at age 82....

Former San Diego Padres manager from 1982-85, Dick Williams died in Henderson, Nevada on Thursday afternoon, due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm. He was 82.

San Diego was one of six managerial stops for Williams, who led the Padres to the first of their two National League pennants in 1984. The Padres lost to Detroit in five games in the World Series.

Williams won two World Series titles with Oakland (1972, 1973), as well as pennants with the Padres and Boston (1967) and also led Montreal to its only playoff experience in the strike-shortened 1981 season.

Williams had an overall record of 1,571-1,451 in 21 seasons as a major league manager, also spending time with the Angels and Seattle Mariners. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008 after being elected by the Veterans Committee.

His record with the Padres was 337-311 over four seasons. He is the only manager in the history of the Padres not to experience a losing season.

Williams was a tough manager. “They don’t make him like Dick anymore,” said former teammate and former Padres manager Don Zimmer.

Current Giants third base coach and former Padre Tim Flannery remembers being called into Williams’ office in 1982.

“He said, ‘You’re the worst player I ever had,’ ” Flannery said. “ ‘You can’t hit. You can’t run. You can’t throw. Oh, you hustle, but you can’t do nothin’ else. You’re in there tonight, but I’m looking for another second basemen, so don’t screw up.’ ”

But two seasons later, Williams told Flannery he’d be a Padre as long as Williams was managing the club.

Which wasn’t that long. Williams chafed at what he considered outside interference from then-Padres President Ballard Smith and GM Jack McKeon. The breaking point came during the 1985-86 offseason when Williams fought off suggestions he should make changes to his hand-picked coaching staff.

The club that went 175-149 for Williams in 1984-85 went 74-88 for Steve Boros in 1986 after Williams’ left the team.

Williams joined Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie as the only managers ever to take three franchises to the World Series.

The 1972-73 A’s were the first team since the 1961-62 Yankees to repeat as world champions. Williams resigned after the 1973 season because he was upset with the meddling of A’s owner Charlie Finley.

Before coming to Oakland, Williams was part of Boston’s memorable “Impossible Dream” team in 1967 that won the pennant for the first time since 1946 before losing the World Series in seven games to St. Louis.

A former infielder, Williams played 13 years in the majors for the Dodgers, Orioles, Indians, A’s and Red Sox. He had a .260 career average with 70 homers and 331 RBI as mostly a part-time player. He retired after the 1964 season and soon began his career as a manager.

Rest in peace Dick and thank you for the great memories of the '84 season....

Some Details on Labor Talks

Source: ESPN.com

Among the details NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed to owners Tuesday at the league's meeting in Rosemont, Ill., is that in the next proposed agreement players will receive a 48 percent share of "all revenue," without the $1-billion-plus credit off the top that had been a point of contention in earlier negotiations, according to sources familiar with the presentation.

Under the new formula being negotiated, players will receive 48 percent of all revenue and will never dip below a 46.5 percent take of the money, sources said.

In the previous collective bargaining agreement, players received approximately 60 percent of "total revenue" but that did not include $1 billion that was designated as an expense credit off the top of the $9 billion revenue model. Owners initially were seeking another $1 billion in credit only to reduce that amount substantially before exercising the lockout on March 13.

Chargers LB Antwan Applewhite arrested

It's reported that Chargers linebacker Antwan Applewhite was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Friday morning in Pacific Beach.

Applewhite, 25, is a key role player for San Diego. He started 13 games and he had three sacks for the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL.

There is a gray area regarding the NFL personal conduct policy because of the lockout, but Applewhite could face league discipline for this arrest once play resumes. He may have just written his ticket out of San Diego...

Heath Bell ties Trevor with 41 straight saves

Heath Bell's save tied him with all-time leader Trevor Hoffman for the franchise record. It also tied Bell with Hoffman and Rod Beck for fourth place on the all-time consecutive saves list.

"It's a huge honor that my name is in the same sentence with Trevor Hoffman," Bell said. "I know my answer is really boring, but for right now, it's just another save."

Congratulations, Heath....

Chargers take DT Corey Liuget in the first-round...

In a draft that's full in talent on the defensive front seven, they sat back until they executed the No. 18 pick on a player they will plug in right away in an attempt to improve a defense that was ranked No. 1 in the NFL but was not nearly good enough.

“The whole goal here is to win a world championship,” team President Dean Spanos said recently. “We’ve fallen short. When I look back at the teams who have gone to the Super Bowl … they have dominant defenses. That’s where we’ve fallen short.”

While observers predicted and fans seemed to desire a player with flashier stats and a higher profile, the defensive lineman out of Illinois certainly fits the A.J. Smith profile. And Liuget appears to have the strength and initial quickness that could return the Chargers defensive line to being a group that actually pushes the line of scrimmage regularly.

“We just think he’s going to bring physical play to it,” Smith said. “A nasty mean streak; we always like to add that into it. … He’s got an attacking style to him. So we’re going add him, put him in Greg Manusky’s wagon and turn him loose.”

Liuget (pronounced LEE-jit) did not have eye-popping numbers at Illinois and won’t be asked to produce them in San Diego, where in the 3-4 scheme the Chargers are more concerned with him winning battles against the run.

Many, Liuget included, expected him to land on a team that ran a 4-3 defense, where he would play tackle. But he worked occasionally at Illinois in a spot similar to what he will do with the Chargers.

Liuget left school after his junior year, in which he had 63 tackles, 12½ tackles for loss and deflected three passes. While Liuget said he “never” talked to the Chargers in the pre-draft process, the Chargers’ homework yielded a portrait they liked. He worked hard to shed approximately 20 pounds before last season, transforming his body and getting quicker. The Chargers also cited a leadership role he took in 2010.

The Chargers sat and watched quarterback after quarterback come off the board, and Smith said the Chargers got “a ton” of calls during the first round regarding possible trades.

“We were locked and loaded,” Smith said. “Nothing intriguing. I really wasn’t interested in it. We had a nice group of players (to choose from) because of the depth on defense.”

That the Chargers did not move out of their slot coupled with what was described as an ecstatic defensive staff after the pick was made lent credence to the idea the Chargers coveted Liuget.

While they allowed just 93.8 rushing yards per game, fourth-lowest in the league, the Chargers also played six of the eight worst rushing teams in the league and were run over for 251 yards by the Oakland Raiders in December.

The Raiders finished 2010 as the league’s No. 2 rushing team, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs. Both are in the AFC West with the Chargers, meaning they comprise four of the Chargers’ games each season.

The Chargers are also looking to get back to being a team that takes the ball away and makes game-altering plays in crucial situations. The Chargers had just 23 takeaways in 2010, tied for 23rd in the NFL, and just one of those came in the fourth quarter of a close game and just four came in games they lost.

“I do believe Corey is a guy who will make big plays on defense,” Turner said. “With all the good things we’ve done on defense … we need to create more negative plays. He’s that type of athlete.”

Padres win their home opener...

Patience at the plate combine with good pitching of native Aaron Harang, turned out to be the difference Tuesday afternoon as the Padres scored a 3-1 win over the reigning world champion San Francisco Giants before 43,146 atPetco Park.

"Walks done right can be just as important as run-scoring hits," Padres hitting coach Randy Ready said this spring while preaching the gospel of "selectivity" in Arizona.

With the score tied 1-1 and runners on first and second with two out in the third, Ludwick came back out of an 0-and-2 hole Madison Bumgarner to draw a 10-pitch, bases-loading walk.

Headley then worked through eight pitches to draw the walk that forced home the decisive run.

Even Bumgarner was impressed by the Padres' "selectivity."

"I made some good pitches," said the left-hander who pitched the Giants' World Series-clinching win last November. "They put together some good at-bats.

"Their hitters did a fantastic job. They spoiled all the good pitches."

"Friar Ball," is how Ludwick described the three-run third off Bumgarner, who retired the Padres in his first two innings on a total of 29 pitches.

The Padres' three-run third consumed 41 Bumgarner pitches.

The frustration by Bumgarner might have resulted in the Padres' final run.

After Headley's walk forced in the second run, Chris Denorfia topped a ball in front of the plate. Bumgarner fielded the ball with plenty of time to make a play at first. But the ball flew out of his hand as he turned toward first -- the play was ruled a hit.

Nick Hundley opened the inning with the first of his three hits and was sacrificed to second by Harang. Jason Bartlett then drew an eight-pitch walk from Bumgarner before Orlando Hudson singled to load the bases.

Jorge Cantu tied the score with a wicked liner of a sacrifice fly to left.

That brought up Ludwick, who was down to his last strike after two pitches. He fouled off four of the next eight pitches en route to his fourth walk in as many games -- including a bases-loaded walk against the Cardinals.

That walk brought Headley to the plate. PaBumgarner fell behind with a pair of balls before firing three straight strikes, two of which Headley fouled off. Bumgarner just missed with the next two pitches, Bartlett trotting home from third.

Meantime, Harang held the Giants to one run on six hits over six innings while the bullpen troika of Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams and Heath Bell closed out the Padres' third win in four games.

Trevor Hoffman threw the ceremonial first pitch...

The Padres brought back some former Padres onto the Petco Park infield during yesterday's home opener pregame festivities.

They started out with 93-year-old George McDonald, of the Padres’ Pacific Coast League days, rolled out in a wheelchair. Then came “Downtown” Ollie Brown, Randy Jones, Garry Templeton and Mark Loretta.

Then AC/DC’s “Hells Bells” started playing, the center field bullpen gate opened and out came Trevor Hoffman. The place went nuts, including Padres relief pitchers, who stopped on their way to the bullpen and applauded Trevor.

Trevor’s brother and Padres third-base coach Glenn Hoffman caught Trevor’s ceremonial first pitch. “I considered burying it in the dirt,” joked Trevor Hoffman, “but I threw a low strike.”

Padres win behind a great performance by Clayton Richard

The Padres win again and have a chance for their first season-opening sweep since 1984.

Pitcher Clayton Richard had two RBIs to match his career high without getting the ball out of the infield and pitched six solid innings in an 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The Padres broke it open with a six-run fifth that included four hits, four walks and a sacrifice fly.

Padres wins season opener in 11th...

Playing small ball paid off for the San Diego Padres.

Cameron Maybin tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth inning, then grounded a single that led to the go-ahead run in the 11th  in a 5-3 opening win over the Cardinals.

The Padres managed just two hits the first seven innings but scored two runs, and then capitalized on the Cards fielding error.

Cardinals star Albert Pujols an awful start to the season. He grounded into a career-worst three double plays while going 0 for 5 while five men on base.

"Definitely we had our chances," Pujols said. "A couple times we had men in scoring position and I didn't do my job."

Matt Holliday homered in the eighth and had three hits for St. Louis. The Cardinals played extra innings on Opening Day for the first time since a 4-2, 10-inning home loss to the Mets in 1992. The last Padres' opener that went extras was in 1996 during a 5-4 loss at Chicago.

It was tied up at 3 when Chase Headley singled off Bryan Augenstein with two outs in the 11th. Maybin followed with a single through the right side and Theriot bobbled right fielder Jon Jay's bounced relay back to the infield.

Headley kept running and made a headfirst slide to beat the throw home. Nick Hundley added an RBI single for the Padres.

Pat Neshek (1-0) worked around two walks in the 10th and Heath Bell needed only 10 pitches for the save.

Maybin's solo home run came off a curveball from Ryan Franklin, who went 27 for 29 in save situations last season.

The Cardinals outhit San Diego 10-2 the first six innings but hit into three double plays, two by Pujols, and were 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Three times they put the first two men on, but totaled one run.

The Padres erased their second one-run deficit on Hundley's two-out, RBI double in the fifth. The Cardinals almost made it out of the inning the previous at-bat when Maybin struck out with Ryan Ludwick running on a full count.

Ludwick looked like an easy out at second, but he rattled the ball out of second baseman Skip Schumaker's glove, what Schumaker called a "perfect knockdown," for a stolen base.

Chargers tendered nine players....

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

Although this could mean nothing at all, the Chargers tendered every possible restricted free agent on Wednesday, a day ahead of the expiration of the current league year.

Those tenders included seven players who are widely expected to be unrestricted free agents whenever a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached between the owners and players' union.

The only RFA tenders that likely will ultimately mean anything are the second-round tenders given to running back Mike Tolbert and linebacker Antwan Applewhite, both of whom have three years of experience.

Another member of the 1994 Chargers die

Former San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Shawn Lee has died at the age of 44. The cause of death has not been determined.

Lee is the sixth member of the 1994 San Diego Super Bowl team to die.

Linebacker David Griggs was killed in an automobile crash. Running back Rodney Culver was killed was in a commercial plane crash. Linebacker Doug Miller was struck by lightning. Offensive lineman Curtis Whitley died of a drug overdose. Defensive lineman Chris Mims died of heart failure.

Lee played 87 games for the Chargers from 1992-97. He was half of the Chargers’ “Two Tons of Fun” defensive tackle combo along with Reuben Davis.

Should the Chargers pick this Matthews?

Could the brother of Packers star linebacker, Clay Matthews end up a Charger?

The Chargers are in the market to draft at least one inside linebacker. In need of a pass rusher, the Chargers were one of several teams that passed on USC outside linebacker Clay Matthews in 2009, instead selecting Larry English with the 16th overall pick.

The Green Bay Packers took Matthews at No. 28, and he has 23½ sacks in two seasons. He was runner-up as Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and earlier this month won a Super Bowl ring.

Chargers signed a running back

The Chargers signed running back Frank Summers to a Reserve/Future contract Tuesday.

At 5-foot-10, 240 pounds, Summers is built like Mike Tolbert (5-foot-9, 243 pounds). Selected out of UNLV by thePittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2009 draft, Summers started at fullback the first two games of his rookie season before being placed on Injured Reserve.

Summers practiced at running back and fullback for the Steelers during the 2010 preseason and was released during final cuts. He spent the rest of the season on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.

Chargers put franchise tag on Vincent Jackson

Source: Associated Press

The San Diego Chargers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag Tuesday on wide receiver Vincent Jackson, after missing the first 10 games last season in a nasty contract dispute.

VJ can still negotiate with other teams, if he receives an offer, the Chargers can either match the other club's offer or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation. Jackson's original five-year contract expired after the 2009 season. But because 2010 was an uncapped year, he would have needed six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent.

"There's some thought process that there might not be a franchise tag, but we'll wait and see," general manager A.J. Smith said, referring to speculation that the franchise tag might disappear whenever the NFL and the players' union agree to a new collective bargaining agreement. "It is our intention for him to return in '11."

VJ will receive a one-year tender at the average of the top five salaries among receivers last year, expected to be between $10 million and $11 million. The Chargers and Jackson also could negotiate a long-term contract, although the sides would have to get past last year's bad feelings.

Chargers' wide receiver, Legedu Naanee, arrested in Indy

Chargers wide receiver Legedu Naanee was arrested in Indianapolis early Saturday and charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest, a run-in that likely sealed his fate with the team that drafted him in 2007.

According to police, Naanee came across an active crime scene at about 3:20 a.m. and was told he would have to turn around or go in another direction. Naanee, who according to police had a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on or about his breath or person,” asked the officer why he was being “such an (expletive).”

The police officer said after several attempts to get Naanee to leave the scene failed, he told Naanee he was under arrest. Naanee “actively began to pull away” and the officer used pepper spray but Naanee continued to resist.

Eventually he was handcuffed and as he was being walked to the police car, Naanee said, according to police, “Do you know who I am? I am an NFL player and I’m going to sue your ass.”

Two men, one of whom the police believed to be Naanee’s agent, approached and asked the police to release Naanee. “One gentleman told me I was going to ruin his career,” the officer said.

In response to a query, the Chargers issued their standard statement:

“We’re disappointed to hear about the issue involving Legedu. We’ll monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course.”

It would, however, be surprising to see Naanee back with the Chargers.

A reliable receiver when healthy, Naanee has been affected at times by various injuries. He has 63 receptions for 746 yards and three touchdowns.

Naanee is expected to be a free agent once the NFL's labor issues are settled.

Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl Champions

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers and the Pacific Beach resident, Aaron Rodgers for winning the Super Bowl.

Capping one of the greatest postseasons for any quarterback, Rodgers led the Pack to their first NFL championship in 14 years, 31-25 over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vince Lombardi Trophy, named for their legendary coach who won the first two Super Bowls is coming home to "Titletown".

Rodgers, the game's MVP, thrilled all Cheesehead fans with a spectacular six-game string that should finally erase the bitterness of the Brett Favre separation in Green Bay. After sitting for three long years before Favre left in 2008, Rodgers is now equal with Favre in Super Bowl wins, and he extended the Packers' record of NFL titles to 13, nine before the Super Bowl era.

Bubba Watson wins the Farmers Insurance Open

Bubba Watson made clutch putts on the final two holes to hold off Phil Mickelson and win the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday at Torrey Pines to earn the second win of his career.

Watson holed a 9-foot par putt on the 17th hole and a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish off a 5-under par 67. He completed four rounds at 16-under 272, one shot better than Mickelson.

Mickelson, the Rancho Santa Fe resident nearly completed a miraculous comeback on the 72nd hole, trying to slam-dunk a wedge shot from 73 yards away in the fairway. His shot landed less than a foot from the hole, bounced several feet past, then rolled to within 4 feet.

Mickelson made the putt for a birdie that gave him a 3-under 69 and four-round total of 15-under 273. He beat Dustin Johnson (66) and Jhonattan Vegas (68) by two shots.

NFC routed the AFC, 55-41

Source: ESPN

The game was not nearly as interesting as the score of 55-41 NFC win would indicate and it did nothing to repair the tattered image of the Pro Bowl.

The AFC quarterbacks including our own Philip Rivers along with Peyton Manning and Matt Cassel each threw first-half interceptions to help the NFC blow open a 42-0 lead in a performance ugly even by the historically low standards of Pro Bowl.

Padres unveil their new camouflage uniform

The Padres unveiled their new camouflage jerseys on Tuesday and there's already some speculation that the team's attention to detail might prove to be a little too effective in 2011.

While the Padres have worn two other camouflage jerseys since adopting the tradition in 2000, the previous versions used bolder prints worn by the Army and Navy. These new threads are meant to honor the Marines, these Marine Patterns

Padres sign Jorge Cantu

The San Diego Padres announced yesterday that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder Jorge Cantu and have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Greg Burke with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

Cantu, 28, spent the 2010 season between the Florida Marlins and Texas Rangers, hitting a combined .256 (121-for-472) with 11 home runs, 29 doubles, 56 RBI and 50 runs scored in 127 games played. In each of the previous two seasons with the Marlins he produced at least 95 RBI while setting a career-high with 29 home runs in 2008. The right-handed hitting infielder started 123 games last season, 86 at third base.

Burke, 28, spent the entire 2010 season with Triple-A Portland, going 2-2 with a 5.68 ERA (37 ER/58.2 IP) and 46 strikeouts against 21 walks over 53 appearances.

Tiger Back to Torrey Pines

Tiger Woods’ first appearance at Torrey Pines since winning the 2008 U.S. Open here will include a reunion with his playoff rival, Rocco Mediate, when the Farmers Insurance Open commences Thursday.

Tiger is part of the threesome with Mediate and Anthony Kim. Woods beat Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in the second hole of the Monday playoff after the two tied after 18 holes. They tee it up at 9 a.m. on the North Course’s 10th tee on Thursday and 10 a.m. on the South Course’s first tee on Friday.

Tiger's new swing was taking shape towards the end of last season and looks like he's had plenty of time to practice his putting during the offseason. I am very excited to see how he plays this season. Will we again see that dominating Tiger of old? We'll just have to wait and see...

Jason Michael joins the Chargers

San Diego announced it has hired Jason Michael to coach the team’s tight ends. The 32-year-old Michael gets a plum job. He is now in charge of coaching star tight end Antonio Gates. Michael was San Francisco’s offensive assistant and quarterback coach last season. He was on the staff of Chargers' coach Norv Turner in Oakland in 2005.

He is a former quarterback at Western Kentucky, he also had assistant coaching stints with Jets and the University of Tennessee. 

Jason Michael replaces Rob Chudzinski, who is now Carolina’s offensive coordinator. Chudzinski joined the staff of Ron Rivera, who was San Diego’s defensive coordinator.

Shaun Phillips will play in his first Pro Bowl

San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips was added to the Pro Bowl on Monday. It is Phillip’s first Pro Bowl appearance. He had 11 sacks and he was a big part of the NFL’s No. 1 ranked defense.

“It’s huge just because of the fact that I know the work I put in,” Phillips said in a statement released by the team. “In my eyes, I try to play at a Pro Bowl level every year. It’s just good. It will give me additional motivation to keep working and never be satisfied.”

Padres sign reliever Chad Qualls

The Padres signed reliever Chad Qualls to a $2.55 million, one-year contract.

Qualls split last season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, going 3-4 with a 7.32 ERA in 70 appearances. He converted 12 saves in 16 opportunities for the Diamondbacks before being traded to the Rays on July 31.

The right-hander joins an outstanding bullpen that helped keep the Padres in playoff contention until the final day of the regular season. He gets a $1.5 million salary this year and the deal includes a $6 million club option for 2012 with a $1.05 million buyout.

Greg Manusky will be the new Chargers defensive coordinator

Greg Manusky is replacing Ron Rivera, who left to be the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Manusky was San Francisco’s defensive coordinator.

Manusky was the Chargers' linebackers coach from 2002 until 2006, so he is familiar with some of the team’s players. The Chargers had the No. 1 ranked defense this season. The Chargers' defense flourished after Rivera took over for Ted Cottrell at mid-season in 2008.

Manusky will have the same position coaches that Rivera had. He is not expected to make too many scheme changes for the 3-4 units and promises to bring toughness to the unit.

“Hardcore. Relentless. Getting after people,” Manusky said of his defensive plan in a statement released by the team. “Shoot, they were No. 1 last year and hopefully we’ll just pick up where we were last year. I’m going to bring some new ideas but also continue the foundation that they’ve already had and just build on it. I think with the players that we have, the sky’s the limit.”

Manusky knows he is entering a good situation. Now, it’s his job to keep it good.

SDSU names Rocky Long as the new football head coach

Source: ESPN

Rocky Long had a chance to follow Brady Hoke to Michigan but stayed at San Diego States and promoted to head coach.

"This is a much better deal," Long said during his introductory news conference Wednesday. "And I'm not talking about anything about being a head coach. We've got things started here. They've got a lot of work to do there."

Trevor Hoffman retires at 43 and returns home

PADRES — Baseball's all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman has thrown his final changeup, deciding at age 43 to retire and return home to the San Diego Padres in a front office job.

Known for his high leg kick, menacing glare and deceptive changeup, Trevor recorded 601 saves in 18 seasons, 15 1/2 of them with the Padres.

"It was a little bit of self-reflection, trying to be honest with where I was at in my career skill-wise, and realizing that it was a time for a change, a change in venue, in a sense," Trevor told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "It's turning the page, a new chapter in my life."

Hoffman had a difficult 2010 season with the Brewers. "It was a tough year, and I didn't want to make it off how things turned out," he said. "I wanted to see how it played out in the offseason. The new year is the time to crank it up and get ready for the new season."

Ron Rivera is officially the head coach for the Panthers

It's sad to see him go, but Ron Rivera, many times a runner up, is officially the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

Rivera, whose Chargers defense allowed the fewest yards in the NFL this past season, was in Carolina on Monday. He dined with Panthers owner Jerry Richardson on Monday night, a meeting that was a formality as Rivera will finally have his first head coaching gig after previously interviewing for eight jobs in the past six years.

Rivera leaving, of course, creates an opening in San Diego, which could be filled by a former Marty Schottenheimer assistant.

Brady Hoke leaving SDSU for Michigan

SDSU's Brady Hoke was picked by Michigan to be its new football coach, hours after LSU said Les Miles would be staying in the Bayou.

"He is a terrific coach and will be a great ambassador and leader for our football program," athletic director Dave Brandon said. "We look forward to having him build a championship program on the field and in the classroom."

Hoke brings a rebuilder's reputation with him after stints at Ball State (2003-08) and San Diego State (2009-10), something that Michigan need.

A defensive line coach at Michigan, Hoke helped the defense lead the nation in rushing defense and was on the staff during the 1997 national championship run. During his tenure, Michigan went 5-3 against rivals Michigan State and Ohio State and in bowl games.

"I'm excited for Brady Hoke and even for Michigan," Green Bay Packers and former Michigan star Charles Woodson wrote in a text message to The Associated Press. "I'm glad this process is over and we can begin to restore the tradition and respect that was once Michigan."

Ron Rivera to 2nd interview with Carolina

The Chargers could be one step closer to looking for a new defensive coordinator.

The Carolina Panthers and Ron Rivera are setting up a second interview for the team's vacant head coaching position. That interview is not taking place Sunday but is expected to be conducted in the next few days.

Panthers GM Marty Hurney and President Danny Morrison conducted a whirlwind tour to interview four NFL defensive coordinators this week -- included with Ron Rivera are Cleveland's Rob Ryan, the New York Giants Perry Fewell, and San Francisco's Greg Manusky.

Hurney and Morrison are scheduled to be attending the BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Ariz., on Monday before going back to North Carolina. It is believed Rivera will interview in Carolina with those two executives and owner Jerry Richardson.

Rivera took over as Chargers defensive coordinator midway through the 2008 season. The Chargers allowed the fewest yards in the NFL this season.

The Carolina job is the ninth head coaching position Rivera has interviewed for in the past six years.

Roberto Alomar in the Hall of Fame

Former Padre 2B Roberto Alomar became a Hall of Famer on Wednesday, the two-time World Series champion easily elected after narrow misses last year.

Alomar was picked on 90 percent of the ballots by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The 12-time All-Star won a record 10 Gold Gloves at second base, hit .300 and helped the Toronto Blue Jays win titles in 1992-93. Alomar drew 73.7 percent last year in his first try on the ballot.

"Robbie was an incredible player. He was a pleasure to watch play the game and I am not saying that because he was my brother. He had all the tools and put them all into play," former Cleveland teammate Sandy Alomar Jr. said.

Alomar got his first major league hit off Nolan Ryan in 1988. Ryan was the last pure starting pitcher elected to the Hall by the BBWAA in 1999.

Although former Blue Jays Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield also are in the Hall of Fame, they went in representing the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, respectively. Alomar told reporters he wants to wear a Blue Jays cap on his plaque in Cooperstown.

"It would be a great thrill to be the first Hall of Fame member to go in under the Blue Jay hat," Alomar said, according to the Toronto Sun. "I hope the Hall of Fame will give me a chance to give Toronto that gift."

Chargers let go special teams coach, Steve Crosby

Three years ago, Steve Crosby was named the NFL's top special teams coach. But after he presided over what was by some measures the worst special teams season in NFL history, the Chargers decided not to renew his contract and let go after nine seasons with the Chargers.

Two teams since 1994 had allowed more kickoff returns for touchdowns and five allowed as many as the Chargers' three this season. Two had allowed more blocked punts than the Chargers' four (plus one deflection). None since 1976 had allowed a higher punt return average than the Chargers' 18.9 yards.

No team had come close to doing all three in the same season.

Both Norv and A.J. had for months defended Crosby. They alluded to the many injuries that had an effect on the special teams' lineups.

But the preponderance of mishaps -- including a few near-blocks in recent weeks -- demanded reckoning.

Players were let go during the season, and more will leave now that the Chargers' 9-7 campaign is over.

Someone had to take the fall, so Crosby paid with his job.

Crosby joined the Chargers as part of Marty Schottenheimer's incoming staff in 2002. Crosby has coached with four other NFL teams in a 33-year NFL coaching career.

Chargers end season with a 33-28 win over Broncos

The San Diego Chargers (9-7) ended their four-year reign as the AFC West champions with a 33-28 victory over the Broncos on Sunday.

Philip Rivers was glad to put a disappointing year behind him, and he shared a New Year's resolution with Ryan Mathews, San Diego's highly touted running back whose rookie season was bogged down by injuries and inconsistency.

"I had mentioned to him, 'Hey, this is the first game for next year. Let's go. Let's do something we can build on," Rivers said.

Ryan Mathews answered with a great performance, gaining 120 yards on 26 carries and scoring on runs of 27, 12 and 31 yards.

"I thought it was a great start to this new year," Rivers said. "He's going to be a great runner for us, a great player for us. When you're a rookie ... a lot is being asked of you."

All week the Chargers talked of wanting to finish strong.

They prepared with as much urgency as they could muster.

In the locker room before the game,Philip Rivers fired up his teammates with a speech that they said made them believe it was important to win, no matter that they had already fallen short of the postseason.

“It’s a letdown,” center Nick Hardwick said as he left a locker room as quiet as it’s ever been after a victory. “You get in here, that’s when you can let down your guard. It hurt.”

Denver took a 7-0 lead 12 minutes into the game, but the Chargers scored on six consecutive possessions to take a 26-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Rookie quarterback Tim Tebow, his every move cheered by the Invesco Field crowd, led two touchdown drives and the Broncos returned a kickoff for another score as Denver (4-12) closed to within five points with 26 seconds remaining. But after recovering an onside kick, two Hail Mary passes from the Denver 46-yard line fell incomplete.

Then the Chargers (9-7) left the field already feeling the void of their offseason.

“This is the low point, certainly, of these last seven days,” Rivers said. “Before kickoff I was so aggravated and fired up to play I couldn’t stand it … We finished with a win, but it’s tough.

“We gotta watch Kansas City play a (playoff) game next week. That’s tough.”