No More LT in the AFC West?

by Chris on Jan 13, 2009 12:16 PM CST in 2009 Offseason Comment 22 comments

Nick Canepa of the San Diego-Tribune says the San Diego Chargers need to prepare for life without LaDainian Tomlinson.

He has three years remaining on perhaps the NFL's most lucrative running back contract. His salary cap number in 2009 will be $8.8 million, and when you consider he's now 30 and due to injury basically has been a nonfactor in the team's last two failed playoff runs, doing the arithmetic isn't necessary.

LT's fate will be a business decision and help, which the Chargers need in more than one area, will cost money. He makes a lot of it, and it's unlikely he will be asked to take a pay cut.

Darren Sproles (Did you hear he's only 5'6"?) is clearly not an every down back and the Chargers traded RB Michael Turner away to Atlanta in what appears to be a year too early.

Depending on who the Chargers get to replace Tomlinson if they do go that route, it's going to be nice to not have to prepare for an LT led rushing attack.

Bolts from the Blue chimes in the LT talk too.

***

Okay, this was a poor attempt to stir up talk about something other than Scott Pioli. You can use this post for Pioli talk too.

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Maybe we can pick him up

and LT and Donnie Edwards can sit down on the sidelines and reminisce about actually playing in SD.

Carl ~~will~~ would be drooling at the prospect

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

Thigpen WILL NOT be the Chiefs starting QB next year IMO. He can compete for the job and should be 2nd or 3rd string.

by THE_TRUTH on Jan 13, 2009 12:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

He’s coming off his worst pro season since his rookie year and he’s looked really underwhelming at times. He’s been plagued by injuries all year and when you take into account the high level of usage he’s seen during his career plus his age (he’s just entering the age 29-31 phase at which running backs start declining fast) it looks like LT’s best years are behind him. The Chargers also have several key free agents to re-sign after next season and given a choice between a RB whose career is likely behind him and a LB like Merriman who could have several productive years left, LT’s probably getting the axe.

Just life in the NFL…but LT’s had one heck of a career and should be a Hall of Famer.

Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.

by UCrawford on Jan 13, 2009 12:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Since we've been cleared to talk Pioli in this thread

This presents just another reason the Chiefs are such an attractive GM job. HoF RB from division champions set to get axed. The AFC West is wide open for the taking and Pioli knows it.

by Sudden on Jan 13, 2009 12:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

This is a pivotal draft for the Patriots

Pioli was excellent at working with the scouts and balancing what the team needed to pick up in the draft vs. negotiating the contracts of those players that needed to be resigned, all within the available cap space. That so many key players have been willing to restructure their contracts at the expense of their egos (not needing to be the higest paid player in their position) I think is a testament to just how terrific a juggler he is. Of course, some players you just have to pay (cough, Asante Samuel, cough) and it really hurts without them.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 13, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry to break it to you Marima

But he’s as good as ours. He’s probably just grooming his successor in NE right now and letting him know how to juggle the coming offseason. But make no mistake, Pioli BELONGS here now.

by Sudden on Jan 13, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

la la la la la la did you say something la la la la la

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 13, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Deion Branch?

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 13, 2009 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

not having Deion Branch

was key in losing the 2006 AFC Championship game to the Colts. Reche “deer-in-the-headlights” Caldwell wasn’t a big-game guy when we needed him to be. The only way we even made it that far without a star receiver was Tom Brady. And he almost pulled it off, too.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 13, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So which of the "L's" makes a bigger splash in Free Agency?

LT or LJ?

I still have a funny feeling we will hold on to LJ once the new GM hits town. But this could impact LJ’s value in FA if LT is out there as well. They are essentially the same age (LJ’s about 5 months younger) with a huge disparity in wear & tear (LJ has far less than half the touches that LT has had) but also a pretty big disparity in production over their careers.

With as much mileage as LT has, he’s more comparable to Edgerrin James than LJ. So I guess I’ll throw Edge in the mix since it sounds like he’ll be on the market too – he’s had some solid games late this season and he faced minimal wear.

Unless LT is perfectly healthy, I would probably pick
1. LJ
2. LT
3. Edge

I think LT’s years of league dominance are coming to a close.

by Ochophosphate on Jan 13, 2009 12:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

He could be of service somewhere like in a role like Faulk had toward the end of his career. People forget how many touches this guy gets when he is playing. He carries and catches a lot of balls.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 13, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think any of them will be free agents.

They are all under contract. With Denver being in the same division and needing a back, they won’t get cut.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 13, 2009 2:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't see it at all

LT will either restructure or retire a Charger IMHO. (most likely restructure)

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Jan 13, 2009 12:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the chiefs should follow the example.....

Let LJ Go and draft Moreno. Shit, keep LJ and draft Moreno…. the guys got Barry Sanders like talent. I’m surprised he’s showing up so low on all the mock drafts. They could probably trade down and still get him.

by rustdog on Jan 13, 2009 12:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Dude....

Moreno isn’t even in the same universe as Barry Sanders. Trust me if he were that good, he would be going top 10.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 13, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hahahah u said it all

by sexassassin on Jan 13, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What the F*&%1

I didn’t know Sproles was only 5’6". NO one ever brought it up.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 13, 2009 1:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

and

he only weighs 90 lbs.

BEEFCAKE!

by Ochophosphate on Jan 13, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sproles

How has he proved he’s not an every down back? Not only was he the best player on their team in the playoffs, but he did that as an every down back AND a special teamer.

by bfos7215 on Jan 13, 2009 3:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Plus

I think he may be a nice fit in our spread offense, if we could get him.

by bfos7215 on Jan 13, 2009 3:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Although

We do have that Charles guy.

by bfos7215 on Jan 13, 2009 3:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

charles

He just needs to get some blocking and to hold on to the ball we still suck at running the ball.

by sexassassin on Jan 13, 2009 5:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the Chargers traded RB Michael Turner away to Atlanta in what appears to be a year too early.

He actually went free agent, though the Chargers could have franchised him. We will get a third rounder for him this draft; but no doubt the Falcons got a great back.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Jan 13, 2009 7:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs