MVN - Most Valuable Network

Confessions Of A Dangerous Chargers Fan (Feb. 29, 2008)

This may be the last Charger jersey I ever buy. If you saw my closet, you’d say it was a long time coming. Before the 2007 playoffs, I bought this blank jersey on eBay and decided to see which player I would distinguish himself enough to have his name and number put on it. Discerning eyes will notice that it is an Adidas 2001 replica (with the AFC decal pasted over the Bolts’ 40th anniversary logo). I don’t see how one could watch the 3 games the team played and not decide on Philip Rivers. He was forced to make more plays than say, Eli Manning (barring the last drive of the Super Bowl) due to the injuries suffered to LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. Plus, he was playing on two bum knees himself. Chris Chambers (even though he really should have broken up Samuel’s interception) and Vincent Jackson had monster postseason campaigns. But watching Rivers try to stop his momentum after rolling out against the Patriots, it was impossible to feel anything but respect for the guy. Finding out that he had secret arthroscopic surgery the Monday before the game just to be able to play only further cements him in my canon of Charger heroes. If you find yourself wanting to bash Rivers because of something you read or some video clip you saw, I only ask that you base your opinion on actually having followed the team or watched a game in its entirety.

I found myself considering Rivers’ leadership qualities while listening to Billy Volek on SIRIUS last night. Adam Schein and Jim Miller were pitching the Fresno native on all these prospective clubs (Atlanta, Minnesota especially) where he might get a chance to start. Volek just gave the standard answers about how each team had some great players and coaches in place. Of course, the Afternoon Blitz guys took that as Volek’s “list.” When asked about Oakland, he said that he would consider it, but that his wife wouldn’t go to any home games. Hearing a Charger talk about opponents as prospective suitors made me cringe and reminded me why I am a fan of the team above all else. But it was also another example of how the “business” end of football has never been my thing.

Fortunately for Charger fans, it is A.J. Smith’s thing. You would have thought that Volek had weeks of recruitment-type visits lined up after hearing that interview. However, this afternoon he signed a 3-year contract to remain in San Diego as Rivers’ backup. What’s the lesson in all this? Free agency and the draft are all speculation until a move is actually made. That’s why I don’t bother pontificating until the next year’s team is set. A.J. has always tried to steer the business side of the game to the team’s advantage. No one, save LT is guaranteed as Charger for life, but while they’re on the team they had better be 100% committed. After his horrendous stints in the latter half of the regular season, Volek stepped up when needed most. Even though he won’t be starting in San Diego, being on a contender appears to have been the deciding factor. I’m sure the money didn’t hurt either.

As my colleague Rich Campbell already reported, Lorenzo Neal, Marlon McCree and Shane Olivea were all released by the Bolts this week. LoNeal has been the consummate pro while in San Diego, but Norv Turner’s offense doesn’t require him nearly as much as Cam Cameron’s. Also, Andrew Pinnock showed that he could provide a far cheaper alternative at fullback. McCree would never have escaped the specter of his fumble in last year’s playoffs, but at least he left us with a big hit in Indy. Of course, he also took his helmet off early in the game and never learned how to play smart after Troy Brown stripped him of his interception. Similarly, Shane Olivea joins McCree and soon-to-be Jacksonville Jaguar Drayton Florence as former Chargers who earned a permanent place in my doghouse for losing their cool against New England last year. This year’s team was everything that last year’s wasn’t–poised yet resilient. I can only hope that the Bolts have the chance to pick on Florence as other teams did while he was in San Diego. Since the ‘06 season, he negated many of his picks by getting burned far too often. It also appears that Michael Turner will finally get his shot to start in Atlanta. Now that he’s an-ex Charger I can’t say that I wish him well.

It’s not only my undying allegiance that makes me this way, but I can’t get into the geeky machinations of the process that brings free agents and draftees to the NFL. I’m sure it’s no surprise that the appeal of fantasy football is lost on me since I would end up with the entire Charger roster. Clearly, the transition from the intensity of the playoffs to the “hot stove” period has not been an easy on for me. Nonetheless, I can’t stay away. Talk to you soon.  Before I forget, the silhouettes on the MVN draft coverage banner pictured below are clearly Paul Tagliabue and Ryan Leaf.  That ain’t making me any sunnier.

Let the words be yours, I am done with mine.

RLW

This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 5:38 pm and is filed under Column. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.