Chargers rookie RB Ryan Mathews plans to hold out training camp

While all other San Diego Chargers rookies reported for training camp on time on Sunday, the only unsigned rookie, first-round pick Ryan Mathews was staying at home in his favorite Brett Favre jersey, claiming that he would hold out the whole training camp and even skip regular-season games if the Chargers do not offer a satisfying long-term contract.

If Mathews really means it, he will join veterans like wide receiver Vincent Jackson, left tackle Marcus McNeil and linebacker Shawne Merriman to hold out the training camp because of contract disputes. However, the rookie is expected to return earlier than Jackson, because the Chargers are likely to offer a rookie contract to him during the training camp, while a veteran like Jackson still has to fulfill the last year of his current contract before it expires. A rookie contract will surely cost much less than a veteran’s contract extension.

Wearing his favorite Michael Irvin jersey hanging around with his friends, Jackson is determined to get something from the team before wear back his team uniform. It’s hard to say which side will win and Jackson might be risking his career by doing so.

Veteran LB Antonio Pierce retired to start new career

Instead of putting on his former New York Giants uniform, unrestricted free agent linebacker Antonio Pierce was wearing his favorite Michael Irvin jersey when he announced that he was going to retire after spending nine years in the National Football League. He also promised that he would not disappear from the league as he had got a job from ESPN and will appear on NFL Live program from time to time.

Pierce had been with the Giants for five seasons since 2005 and used to be the team’s defensive captain and made great contribution to Giants’ Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots in 2008. However, he showed significant setback last season and played in only 9 regular season games, finishing the season with 55 tackles and only 1 sack. As a result, he was released by the Giants in early February.

Before joining the Giants, Pierce spent his first four NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins and established his fame of being an aggressive linebacker. His career numbers include 137 games, seven playoff games, 687 tackles, 9 sacks and seven interceptions.

Steelers WR Ward wants to retire as a Steeler

At age 34, the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has been playing with the team for 12 seasons and is ready to entering his 13th season. During a recent interview, he made it clear that he would play with the Steelers for as long as he could. If he retires, he would only like to retire as a Steeler.

Ward is now working hard to prepare for his 13th NFL season. He is on a strict diet and workout program, which includes time spent in a hyperbaric chamber. By so far, he is feeling good with his conditioning and is confident that the Steelers will have a much better season this year, although the team will have to start the new season with a less experienced starting quarterback than Ben Roethlisberger, who is suspended for the first six games of 2010 NFL season because of inappropriate off field behaviors.

Ward’s favorite player, however, is a former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, and he was often seen in a No. 88 Michael Irvin jersey when not with the Steelers. Ward used to say that he admires Irvin for the Hall of Famer’s greatness in football and life-long loyalty to his former team, and Ward would like to follow Irvin’s example to stay with the Steelers till the least second of his NFL career.

Some snacks you can enjoy without worries

I know it’s important to stick with a diet plan if I want to get rid of my extra weight to fit a real lady fan’s Archie Manning jersey, but I just can’t help stopping eating snacks. I’ve always been looking for some low-calories snacks that I can enjoy without worries on adding fat, and I do have found quite a few and I’m glad to share a list of them.

List A is for snacks holding less than 100 calories: 6-oz container Yoplait Light Red Velvet Cake Yogurt, holding 100 calories; 6 squares dark Bubble Chocolate, holding 100 calories; 4-oz cup Mott’s Health Harvest Summer Strawberry Sauce with 1 tbsp walnuts and a dash of apple pie spice, holding 98 calories; 21 mini-marshmallows with 1/3 cup Golden Grahams, holding calories; 6-inch tortilla with 1 tbsp salsa and 1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle, 91 calories; Smartfood White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn, 100 calories, 1 cup fruit salad topped with 1 tbsp Cool Whip free, 98 calories.

List B is for snacks with even lower calories and it includes much fewer options. As far as I know, Crispy Green Freeze-Dried Pears hold only 39 calories, 1 Jello-O Sugar-Free Gelatin Snack with 1/4 cup whipped cream hold 49 calories and 10 strawberries rolled in confectioners’ sugar hold 71 calories.