Chargers may not plan to retain RB Sproles

The San Diego Chargers have released starting running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and they may do the same thing with backup running back Darren Sproles, who is likely to join Tomlinson in free agent market as the chargers have decided not to tender a contract to him.

Sproles has said he believes he can be an every-down back. The Chargers have used him as a backup running back, return man and as a receiver out of the backfield. Valuing him as a multiple threat, the Chargers, however, hesitate to offer a long-term deal to Sproles because he is expensive. He made about $6.6 million last season after being tagged as a franchise player and would make about $7.3 million if the Chargers re-sign him.

If the Chargers give up Sproles, other team would be glad to have one more featured choice in the market. Sproles was second to Tomlinson last year with 343 yards and three touchdowns on 93 carries, fourth with 45 catches for 497 yards and four TDs. He was also one of the best punt returner. Whatever, since the Chargers did not feel pity for releasing Tomlinson, they may feel even less for having Sproles take off Chargers jersey.

Chargers made final decision to release RB Tomlinson

Not much to our surprise, the San Diego Chargers made an announcement on Monday on their official site that they released running back LaDainian Tomlinson. But it is just somewhat hard to Chargers fans to accept that one of their most beloved athletes will play in some other team’s NFL jerseys.

It was also hard to Chargers president Dean Spanos to tell the team’s decision to the 9-year Chargers running back, who helped revive the franchise with his brilliant performance on field.

"I told him that in the 26 years that I've been in this business, it was probably the hardest thing I've had to do," Spanos told The Associated Press. "I'm not close to a lot of the players, but there's a handful that I've been close with, and he's probably the closest. It was really difficult to tell him. But out of respect, I wanted to tell him earlier rather than later."

Tomlinson seemed prepared for the decision. Indeed the move had been expected for some time since he finished the 2009 season with career low 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per attempt, partly because of the injuries he sustained early in last season.

Turning 31 year old this summer, Tomlinson was due a $2 million bonus in early March and still has two years left on a contract with the Chargers. Appearing optimistic about his future in NFL, Tomlinson said that he was looking to the next step in his career and laying football for someone else.

Tomlinson will leave San Diego for better chance

The most valuable player of 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson has said that he had finished his career with the San Diego Chargers. If he still did not know what would happen a month ago, now he has been very sure that the Chargers will let him go and the only question let is about when they would release the running back.

There is still two years left on Tomlinson’s current contract with the Chargers, who is due to play him a $2 million roster bonus March 5 and $5 million in total salary in 2010. But recent reports said that the Chargers may plan not to pay that money and have Tomlinson take off his Chargers jersey
before the team has to pay him the roster bonus.

There has been no comment either from Tomlinson’s agent Tom Condon or from Chargers’ spokesman Scott Yoffe. And many have guessed the decision to release Tomlinson is to be made because of Tomlinson’s decreasing production in 2009 season. As the Chargers relied more on their high-octane passing game and the running back himself missed two games because of ankle injury, Tomlinson had career low 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per carry this past season.

Tomlinson may leave Chargers because of contract issues and teamwork problems

The San Diego may let running back LaDainian Tomlinson leave because of some disagreements on salary cut, and Tomlinson himself may also choose to leave, not only because of money, but also because of teamwork problems.

In an interview with a San Diego radio station, Tomlinson said that he won’t let the team cut his salary, even though making sure he gets paid isn’t the driving force in the decision. What he concerns more about is how he was used this season. Without naming any name, Tomlinson also questioned the commitment of some of his teammates.

"I didn’t feel the unity and the togetherness in the locker room (this season). We’re at a point (in the NFL) where guys come into the league and it’s not about the same values anymore. … I just can’t deal with that type of stuff," Tomlinson said.

The Charges are obligated to play Tomlinson $2 million roster bonus in March, but there has been speculation that the Chargers may release Tomlinson before paying that. So, we may expect Tomlinson to wear another team’s NFL jersey in 2010 season.

Three key defensive players not to play with Chargers against Browns

Three key defensive players did not take part in the San Diego Chargers’ Thursday practice and are very likely to miss this Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. The defensive trio includes outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, end Luis Castillo and safety Eric Weddle.

All three have some kind of injuries: Merriman has been bothered by a foot injury that has prevented him from working out for all the week; Castillo hurt his ankle in the win over the Denver Broncos on Nov. 22, and has not played or practiced in his Chargers jersey since on; and Weddle may needs the longest time to recover among the three as a knee injury may keep him out for the next two games.

Rookie linebacker Larry English would have increased playing time as he is expected to replace Merriman at the position, and Alfonso Boone will probably start at DE as replacement to Castillo. Weddle’s job is expected to be shared by Paul Oliver and Steve Gregory.

Flu going around the Chargers caused several players to miss practice

On Thursday’s practice, running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Jacob Hester, wide receiver Buster Davis, linebacker Jyles Tucker were not seen on the field. According to Coach Norv Turner, the San Diego Chargers were “having a little bit of the flu going around.”

Some other players did not appear at practice with injuries. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie had knee injury and Center Nick Hardwick was out with ankle injury, which will keep him out till December. Cromartie, however, will probably play Sunday against the Chiefs at Kansas City.

With their defense ranking 23rd among the NFL right now, the Chargers is making effort to improve by making some moves, including demoting cornerback Antoine Cason as the team’s nickel back and starting Kevin Ellison, who is in his first year of wearing NFL jersey.

Chargers signed DT Boone to replace injured Williams

On Tuesday, the San Diego Chargers’ move was to release defensive end Andre Coleman in purpose of making room for signing defensive tackle Alfonso Boone, who was going to take over the position left by injured DE Jamal Williams.

Boone previously played last two seasons with the Chargers’ AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs and was released in the final roster cutdown. Before the Chiefs, Boone also spent six seasons in the chicago bears jersey from 2000 to 2006, and appeared in the 2006’s Super Bowl game. Maybe not coincidence, the Bears’ defensive coordinator at that time was Ron Rivera, who now holds the same job with the Chargers.

Williams’ triceps injury occurred in the Chargers’ season opener against the Oakland Raiders. That injury was just serious enough to cause the tackle, who has been noted for run-stuffing prowess, to be placed on injured reserve on Saturday.