Archive for the ‘Players’ Category

Jamal Williams, Ex-Charger – Current Donkey? Say it ain’t so…

March 9, 2010

Let me start by saying, I’ve been a huge fan of Jamal Williams through the years. One of the best nose tackles in the game, Jamal Williams has laid it all out on the line and I, like most Charger fans, appreciate everything he  has done for the Chargers and San Diego. I was saddened to see him be released.

That said… He signed with the Donkey’s and now he officially is a Donkey. NFL players always say, “no hard feelings, it’s all business – blah blah blah.” Exactly. It’s a business for players.

So this is more or less an open letter to Jamal Williams…

Fans  don’t get a paycheck, but believe me – it’s all business as well. No hard feelings Jamal, I don’t wish you any bad personally. I hope you have a healthy year and you and your family are safe and secure.

Football-wise, however, I wish you the very worst with your decision to sign with the cheap shot, garbage factory known as the Denver Broncos. I wish you good health , but a  horrible season. There were 30 other teams I wouldn’t have minded you signing with, and while I appreciate your contributions to the Bolts, may you miss every tackle, draw every penalty and suffer a winless season.

In the same way that it’s “no hard feelings” for you to jump across the division to a hated rival, it’s no hard feelings from Charger fans when they, hopefully, cheer your every disappointment while wearing the Denver Donkey colors.

Cromartie Jersey: Going Once, Going Twice…Anyone?

March 9, 2010

As seen on Chargers.com

Because I am such a loyal fan, who really does want to see this organization prosper, I am offering the Chargers  some help selling the left over Cromartie jerseys. I think they just need a little help selling, so I’ll offer the following copy suggestions free of charge.

Let’s see:

  • Antonio Cromartie official  game worn jersey; worn during the playoffs, still looks like new.
  • Antonio Cromartie’s official jersey, pay only $9.96 for each good year he had with the Chargers.
  • Hey kids, this jersey is game tested, with the ladies anyway… WARNING: Jersey does not prevent pregnancy.
  • Cromartie’s jersey is more safe than wearing full body armor, guaranteed to prevent contact for four years.
  • Cromartie’s jersey is priced right for Halloween, as long as you don’t want to go as a football player.

No need to thank me Chargers. I mean, they could use the jerseys to dress the tackling dummies, but the irony would be too thick since he was just a dummy that wouldn’t tackle. Thank you, I’ll be here all week.

Chargers Sign RB Marcus Mason, Williams Visits Denver

March 9, 2010

The Chargers claimed Marcus Mason off waivers from the Washington Redskins. Originally an undrafted free agent, who has been up and down from practice squads, Mason will face fierce competition by the time mini-camp roles around. Here’s what one Redskins fan blog says about Mason.

The Chargers will likely take at least two running backs in this years draft and with so many roster spots open, look for them to get every undrafted free agent hot shot running back lining up for a legitimate crack at making an NFL roster.

For years Jamal Williams was a defensive brick wall for opposing running backs (via Chargers.com)

In an unrelated bummer of a side note, nose tackle Jamal Williams visited the Denver Broncos recently. Will the Chargers try and bring Williams back at a lower rate? Will another team sign a 34 year old who has had a multitude of physical problems over the last few years? It would be tragic to see him in Denver, but I hope things work out for the best for a player who has given the Charger fans so much.

Jay Cutler Sucks? Really…

December 28, 2009

Jay Cutler, the guy people love to hate?

This Boltaholic misses Jay Cutler playing for the Broncos.

For one, the Chargers dominated them/him.

Second, he played the perfect villain. In literary terms, for teens anyway, he was the football equivalent of Harry Potter’s Malfoy. Spoiled looking, pouting, finger pointing… Awesome.

I don’t know what he’s like in reality, but I’m sure behind the emo haircut he’s a solid guy. Why else would Colin Farrell play him in the non-hit movie Alexander?

Cutler, Alexander... just saying there's a connection

However, it’s become a popular sport to pick on Cutler these days for a variety of reasons (well, mainly because he egotistically sub-marined the team that drafted him,  forced a trade to the Bears and then proceeded destroy any hope of the playoffs while racking up over 25 picks along the way).

However, like most trends, when the national media jumps on-board it becomes lame. Charger fans were hating on Cutler when he was still being defended by the same members of the media who have jumped on the bandwagon. For this Charger fan… Cutler hating is passe.

When the Charger Nation loved to hate Jay Cutler, the national media liked to pin the “feud” on Chargers QB Phillip Rivers. Now when it’s en vogue to hate on Cutler (Tom Jackson compared him to Jeff George today – ouch) nobody is giving credit to Charger fans for sniffing him out first.

Not that the national media is interested in anything besides parking Tom Brady’s car or getting his dry cleaning, but Jay Cutler was their next big crush. Now that he’s disappointed them – look out. The jilted media is looking for their pound of flesh for looking like fools when backing his game.

Side Note:

Even though popular, Cutler bashing still does have it’s grass roots effort. Upon doing a Google search for the terms “Cutler sucks,” Boltaholic discovered a Jay Cutler Sucks Forum. This isn’t remarkably surprising or interesting in-and-of itself, other than even in the midst of hating on Jay Cutler, the holiday spirit stays alive as seen with this post…

Happy Holidays to you too “Jay Cutler Sucks Forum” and happy holidays and happy New Year to you too Jay Cutler. Now that you won a squeaker in OT the national media is one step closer to taking their hands out of Payton Manning’s back pocket and sticking it in yours… Your old friends, Charger Nation.

LT Predicted To Pass Jim Brown Sunday

December 5, 2009

LT against the Browns. Week 9 2006 (via Chargers.com pic by Lisa Blumenfeld)

I don’t do predictions, but I like Ladanian Tomlinson passing Jim Brown to claim 8th in all-time rushing yard Sunday in the first half. LT only needs 56 more yards to pass Brown.  The Charger offensive linemen are going to have some extra motivation opening holes against a team whose only motivation now, seemingly, would come on the 1st and 15th of the month (or whenever Browns players receive their checks).

Cromatie's having a good second half (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

I agree that Cromartie has played much better in the last stretch of games. It’s amazing (I’m being ironic) how much better a DB can play when the defense gets someone behind the opposing teams line of scrimmage.

The one person who is not mentioned in relation to the Chargers resurgence this season is AJ Smith, which is probably fine with him. But here we have a defense without three starters (Weddle, Merriman, Castillo – four if you include Jamal Williams) and nobody seems too concerned. I realize it’s the Browns, but that’s an interesting non-story and speaks to the depth, either through the draft (Larry English/Paul Oliver) or scrambling, that the Chargers/AJ have emphasized.

Via Chargers.com

I only mention because AJ was taking some heat earlier in the year when one of the tires on the bandwagon developed a slow leak. It’s easy to criticize when things aren’t going well, it’s really the backbone of commenting, and yes AJ has had hits and misses, but many aren’t so quick to give credit.

The season still has a long way to go, but Smith’s performance dealing with personnel problems, whether it’s injury or non-performance issues has been pretty solid this year. (This post was originally a comment on this story on the SDUT, but this Boltaholic or Boltsfanatic if you prefer).

Charger Boltaholic Briefing

December 4, 2009

This briefing unofficially brought to you by the Charger Girls, although I'm sure they would approve.(photo Mike Nowak, Chargers.com)

  • SI.com gives the Chargers their due. Seems like stock in Philip Rivers has increased ten fold since he crushed Denver and KC in back to back games.

Suddenly, even though many analysts predicted they’d fold up and disappear with loses to Philly and the G-men, which  never happened, the “experts” around the league are saying things like, “I’ve been saying it all year – the Chargers are for real.”

I’m not implying that SI.com said that, but for many of the analysts who did -you haven’t been saying it all year. Early in the year, you ignored what was really going with the team and said Norv can’t coach, LT and Merriman are finished and the Chargers were done.

Sorry for the commentary, back to the briefing…

  • As commented on, by yours truly, Cromartie is free to continue populating the world. Many stories, here’s the one on the Tribune. The funny quote is when Cro claims to be tired of being “slandered.” Yes, I imagine it would get tiresome. TMZ had a blurb as well which prompts me to issue the following statement. TMZ is garbage. There, I said it.
  • The Bleacher Report has a nice article pondering the rest of the season and suggests that the Chargers release of Chambers can have far reaching positive results.
  • The Sporting News has 5 reasons why the Chargers are the team to beat in the AFC.
  • The San Jose Mercury news, which carries a lot of Charger info. from season to season, reports on the trio of defensive Chargers likely to miss this weeks game. They would be Merriman, Castillo and Weddle.
  • Chargers learning to drive, says SDUT.
  • Finally, for today, SD BoltReport has a good game preview with personnel updates and the like leading into Sunday’s game.

This Man Is Not-Guilty

December 1, 2009

SDUT has this mug-shot on their site (click pic for source). I can just see them picking the pictures - "nope, too happy, nope too happy - give me mug shot!" It would be funny if he was wearing his jersey for the police shot

Ok, he’s not arrested, but … Can anyone remember a time when a bar fight was not front page news? This doesn’t even sound like a bar fight. The key here is the 24 year old who sustained injuries. “Yo, watch this I’m gonna talk smack to the charger player….ouch…”

Cromartie might not have the best judgment in the world (ok, that’s an understatement), and I am usually critical when athletes get in trouble at clubs. I think that Burress earned his jail time and Pac Man Idiot is a fool and can/should rot in jail for all I care… But, to me this particular instance is a non-event. NFL players put it all on the line each Sunday. They’re held under a bright light. If a baseball player blows a game they have 161 games left to make up for it. If Cro misses a tackle, it’s remembered for years. So after one of the biggest days in their career, they’re supposed to go to bed at 8 with a cup of chamomile? If I was a player and did that I’d have to kick my own ass (thank you happy Gilmore).

Do I have a problem with Charger players blowing off steam together at a bar after a HUGE game? No way. Can they break the law? No, they’re accountable for their actions. But this…? Come on. This is stupid. Man-up 24 year old “victim.” Yeah I’m sure he was just minding his own business.

Maybe I’m wrong, and if so I apologize, but I’ve been in plenty of bars in my time and 99% of the time guys don’t get in fights because they were just “minding their own business…” I don’t like bullies or bully behavior, but if you want to stay away from drunk idiots blowing off steam STAY OUT OF BARS, cause that’s what happens there.

AJ Flips The Switch And Signs Marques Harris

December 1, 2009

Man, this pic took a long time to find. Click for the source...

With Shawne Merriman needing recovery time dealing with his foot injury, the Chargers sign popular linebacker Marques Harris back to the squad.

Personally I was sad to see Harris go the first time, and I think the Charger players will definitely feed off of his energy. In many ways Harris embodied the spirit of the team when he was in SD before. Getting spot time at linebacker, he was a stand out on special teams and a familiar face that will be welcomed back by the Charger kingdom. SDUT has the blub.

Moving Forward

November 30, 2009

pic via San Diego Union Tribune, click on pic to go there

Injuries, injuries, injuries. Is it really too much to ask to get through a win without getting killed on the personnel front? Who am I kidding, this is the San Diego Chargers. Other teams can use injuries as an excuse, but the Chargers cannot. Fine. Weddle, who was having a fine season, now looks (according to Kevin Acee of the SDUT) as if he’ll miss a few weeks with a knee injury, sprained MCL. Merriman has the injured foot. Kevin Burnett has a neck deal. Castillo was out and it’s unclear when he’ll return.

I’m not looking to jinx anything, like it would make any difference, but these last 3/4 years have been a bear. The Chargers, thankfully have some depth, but when is enough enough?

Football gods, where ever you may be… Leave the Chargers alone, we’ve had our share!

Chargers Week 12 Injury Report

November 29, 2009

The Chargers "secret" injury list

Not sure why the Chargers hide their injury report on their website, but here it is for today… Curious to see if Hardwick comes back for the first time in months, but hopeful that Merriman is staying healthy, even if he doesn’t make today.

A lot of factors contributed to the Charger resurgence this year, but none bigger than Merriman getting better after his surgery and getting on the other side of his groin injury.


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.