Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 516 of 1503)

      Chargers release icon LaDainian Tomlinson

      February 22, 2010 /

      After spending nine years in San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson’s Charger career has officially come to an end, as the team released the 30-year-old running back on Monday.

      Tomlinson ends his San Diego career after amassing 12,490 rushing yards and 138 rushing touchdowns on 2,880 attempts. Outside of 2009, he never finished with less than 1,110 rushing yards during a season and never totaled less than 10 rushing touchdowns. His best season came in 2006 when he rushed for 1,815 yards and a NFL-record 28 touchdowns, which he still holds today.

      While it’s a sad ending to such a fine tenure, Tomlinson didn’t make things easy by ripping the franchise for his lack of carries last year and his criticism of head coach Norv Turner’s pass-first approach. Tomlinson also refused to take a pay cut to stay in San Diego, so nobody can blame the Bolts for saving $5 million ($3 million in salary, $2 million in bonuses) by dumping him now.

      Some fans like to blame the Chargers’ offensive line for Tomlinson’s declining numbers over the past two seasons. But while the left side of Marcus McNeill and Kris Dielman left something to be desired in the run blocking department last year, the right side of Jeromey Clary, Louis Vasquez and center Scott Mruczkowski was more than serviceable in opening up running lanes. The fact is that Tomlinson’s skills have just deteriorated after toting the rock so many times throughout his career.

      Tomlinson will land with somebody next year. Chances are he’ll have to take a one or two-year deal, but given his experience and exceptional vision, he’ll land on his feet again.

      It just won’t be in San Diego, where it was clearly time for both player and team to move on.


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      Patriots franchise Vince Wilfork

      February 22, 2010 /

      According to beat writer Tom Curran via his Twitter page, the Patriots have designated nose tackle Vince Wilfork as their franchise player.

      This news won’t please Wilfork, who has said all along that he didn’t want to be franchised. The one-year deal will guarantee him a $7.003 million salary in 2010, but players want long-term deals because they offer security. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week that the two sides reached a standoff last week in long-term contract talks and thus, that’s why the Pats inevitably decided to use their franchise tag on the 28-year-old NT.

      Wilfork is a top 5 defensive tackle, is outstanding against the run and is vital to New England’s 3-4 defense. So while he probably isn’t thrilled with being franchised, the Patriots were never going to let their centerpiece defensive linemen walk this offseason.

      At least the two sides can continue to work on a long-term deal. The deadline for franchise players to sign a multi-year deal isn’t until mid-July so now that the Patriots don’t have to worry about competing with other teams, they can focus on making Wilfork contractually happy. Hopefully the two sides can come to an agreement.


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      NFL

      2010 to be Manny’s last season with Dodgers?

      February 22, 2010 /

      It appears that Mannywood will be closing after the 2010 MLB season.

      From the Los Angeles Times:

      “I know I’m not going to be here next year,” Ramirez said.

      So you don’t think you will re-sign with Dodgers?

      “I doubt it, I don’t know,” he said. “I’m happy to be here. I’m going to try to enjoy myself.”

      Asked what made him think he wouldn’t be in Los Angeles in 2011, Ramirez replied, “I don’t know. I just know that I’m not going to be here.”

      Did he see himself moving to the American League?

      “I don’t know,” Ramirez said. “We’ll see. Let’s take it a day at a time.”

      Ramirez said he wasn’t even certain if he wanted to play next season.

      “I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know about today, so….” he said. “When the season is over, I want to see where I’m at. If I play, I play. If they let me play, I play.”

      The Dodgers have cause for concern about these comments. Ramirez’s play diminished in Boston right before he was traded in 2008 because he checked out mentally. If he isn’t motivated, he has no problem going through the motions on the field.

      That said, if he wants a contract with another team next season, he’d better play hard in 2010. The Dodgers were essentially the only team that was willing to offer him a contract last offseason, so Manny (and Scott Boras for that matter) better be willing to take one-year offers from here on out. That is, if Man-Ram doesn’t retire after the season.


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      MLB

      Tigers’ signing of Damon a tad perplexing

      February 22, 2010 /

      I get it – Johnny Damon can hit a little and that’s why the Tigers just finalized a one-year, $8 million deal with the free agent over the weekend. But just because he can hit, doesn’t mean the signing makes sense.

      Damon won’t hit another 24 home runs and drive in another 80-plus RBI this season away from Yankee Stadium. Even though he holds a .363 batting average in 189 plate appearances at Comerica Park, it’s likely that he’ll he max out at 15 home runs, 70 RBIs and hit around .290 in a full season in Detroit.

      Is that worth $8 million even if it’s only for one year? Is that worth pushing a deserving Ryan Rayburn (who hit 16 home runs and slugged .533 in 261 at bats last season) into a rotation with Damon, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez?

      To me, it’s not. I think the Tigers overpaid for what they’ll eventually get in Damon and I’m confused as to why they traded a younger and more athletic Curtis Granderson just so they could turn around and pay a 36-year-old with a wet noodle for an arm. I realize Granderson struggled mightily against left-handed pitching, but he brings way more to the table defensively than Damon does and he’s eight years younger. I just don’t get how one year of Johnny Damon was worth $8 million to a club that will probably wind up in the middle of the AL Central again this year, especially when they already had a DH in Guillen.

      If Damon comes in and flourishes at the top of the Tigers’ lineup, I’ll gladly eat my words. But I just don’t see a lot of value in a club paying $8 million for a player that will certainly have declining numbers.


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      MLB

      Rams, Bucs discussing trade for No. 1 pick?

      February 22, 2010 /

      According to Scout.com’s Chris Steuber, the Rams and Buccaneers have had discussions about a potential trade involving the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. In the proposed deal, Tampa would acquire the top overall selection in exchange for the No. 3 pick in the first round, a second and/or third round pick, and quarterback Josh Johnson.

      In addition to finding a franchise quarterback, the Rams are interested in trading out of the top spot in this year’s draft, moving down a few spots and acquiring additional draft picks and players. I’ve been told that the Rams and Buccaneers have had exploratory discussions on a deal, which would involve the team’s first round selections (No. 1 and 3), possibly one of the Buccaneers second round picks (they have two picks in the second round: No. 35 and 42) or their third round pick (No. 67). Again, these discussions have been exploratory, as the Rams continue to investigate all of their options, but the deal involving the Rams and Bucs first round picks and Tampa Bay’s third round pick, not one of their second-round picks, is where it gets interesting.

      A source close to the situation in St. Louis told me that if a deal with the Eagles can’t be consummated prior to the draft, they may take the Bucs third round pick over one of their second round picks, because they’re “very high” on third-year quarterback Josh Johnson, who they would insist being in a potential trade with Tampa Bay. Rams officials compare Johnson favorably to Vick athletically, but they feel that he has a greater upside as a passer.

      This deal certainly makes sense on paper, but I wouldn’t be surprised if either the Bucs or Rams (or both) publicly deny this rumor within the next couple of days. I’m not suggesting that the two teams didn’t discuss a potential swap, but so many rumors surface leading up to the draft that it’s hard to take any of them seriously until more details emerge.

      Again though, the deal makes sense on the surface. Ndamukong Suh is the top prospect in this year’s draft, but defensive tackle takes a back seat to other positions on the Rams’ offseason needs list. If they have another player (Gerald McCoy, Dez Bryant or one of the quarterbacks for example) rated close to Suh on their draft board that they can take at No. 3, it makes sense for them to trade down, snatch another pick or two a possible Johnson as well. Johnson is the definition of a project at quarterback, but he does have talent.

      As for the Bucs, they have a major need at DT and given Suh’s exceptional talent, it may be worth it for them to part with two draft picks and a quarterback in Johnson (that’s expendable given that Josh Freeman is the future) to acquire that kind of talent.

      We’ll see if this rumor sprouts more legs over the next two months. As I previously alluded to though, there will be plenty more rumors like this that emerge leading up to the draft.


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      NFL

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