Around The AFC West: Stadium Talk, Free Agency And Bob Sanders

Good morning AP readers. I've collected various links about what's going on in the AFC West as of late. Even though the lack of a CBA has essentially frozen player movement, there is still quite a bit going on with the Raiders, Broncos and Chargers.

We've got a former player charged with murder, talk of a new stadium in the Bay Area, opinions on Bob Sanders in San Diego and more, after the jump.

Raiders

Former Raider Anthony Smith facing murder charge | National Football Post
Former Oakland Raiders defensive end Anthony Smith is in serious trouble with the law, facing a murder charge stemming from the beating and shooting death of a man in Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press.

Inman: NFL deal must provide Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers money for new stadiums - Inside Bay Area
Sure, take another week to hash out a new NFL labor deal. What's another seven days of decay at Candlestick Park and the Oakland Coliseum? Replacing those relics is the Bay Area's foremost NFL concern, so stadium financing had better be a game-within-the-game aspect of these labor negotiations.

Raiders tying up free agent loose ends | March
With things looking like a new CBA deal could be reached very soon, the Raiders have set themselves in a good position to keep most of their best players from entering free agency. Their main goal was to retain several of their own key free agents and it appears they have locked up most of them. The one glaring omission of course would be Nnamdi Asomugha.

Broncos

Laurence Maroney won't be back in Denver | National Football Post
The Denver Broncos announced qualifying restricted tender offers for five players this week. There was a notable exception, though. The Broncos aren't keeping running back Laurence Maroney around. So, the disappointing former New England Patriots first-round draft pick will be an unrestricted free agent.

Who's Left To Toe The (Defensive) Line For The Broncos - Mile High Report
The Broncos are situated to draft a pair of Defensive Linemen in the upcoming NFL Draft next month and that could go a long way in their attempt to improve on last seasons 32nd ranked Defense. Yesterday the team released Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan in a cost-cutting move. Williams was destined to depart because of age, salary and schematic fit, but other than salary cost, Bannan looked like a sure bet to return. That said, he could certainly return on a restructured contract. The 2010 season ids officially over now and there won't be any further contract signings until the CBA mess is completely resolved, so who's left to toe the line?

No roster moves for Broncos until March 11 - The Denver Post

The Broncos will not make any roster transactions until at least March 11, the new deadline for league owners and the players union to reach a collective bargaining agreement. The Broncos will neither add, nor release players during the remaining six days of the CBA extension. Their last transaction was the re-signing of defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson to a two-year contract Thursday night, a couple of hours before league business effectively shut down.

Chargers

Bob Sanders on the Chargers: The Good & the Bad - Bolts From The Blue
Last night, after the Chargers announced that they had (or were going to) sign Bob Sanders to a one-year deal, I ran through a gamut of emotions. So, I've decided to split my brain in two and tell you why I love and hate this Bob Sanders signing.

NFL.com Blogs: Chargers couldn’t go wrong with Sanders
The Chargers’ signing of oft-injured safety Bob Sanders to a one-year deal could be viewed as the ultimate risk-reward move.