Chargers Fantasy News

Thursday, February 2, 2012, 12:47pm

The Colts have hired Greg Manusky to be their Defensive Coordinator.

Thursday, January 26, 2012, 9:10am

While reports suggest A.J. Smith now is “comfortable” exploring a long-term deal for Vincent Jackson, the Chargers wide receiver said he has yet to speak to the general manager himself.

“There hasn’t been any communication as far as contracts go,” Jackson said after Wednesday’s Pro Bowl practice. “If that’s their feeling, that’s great. I would like to stay in San Diego. Obviously, that’s my home, that’s where I was drafted. I’ve got some good guys around me -– Philip Rivers (Antonio) Gates, Ryan Mathews. It would be a great place for me to stay, so we’ll see if that works out.”

Jackson, who earned $11.4 million this past season as the team’s franchise player, said he’d prefer to avoid the tag again.

Friday, January 20, 2012, 12:22pm

The Green Bay Packers are interested in signing Jermichael Finley to a long-term deal and would rather not use the franchise tag on the tight end, Finley’s agent said Thursday.

“We’ve been speaking and they’ve made it clear they would like him to be back there and Jermichael’s made it clear he would like to be back there,” Blake Baratz said. “Now that the season’s over there’s a little more time to time to focus on the particulars.”

The two sides had several discussions throughout the season, though there is no immediate time frame from either side on getting a deal done. The primary issue seems to be finding a number acceptable for a young player (Finley will be 25 on March 26) who has yet to reach his potential and has an impact on the offense that isn’t measurable by stats. Finley (6-5, 247) along with Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski and the Saints’ Jimmy Graham are this new breed of tight end that are nightmare matchups and play more like giant receivers than traditional tight ends.

Finley put up career highs with 55 receptions, 767 yards, 8 touchdowns, 14 catches of 20-plus yards. He also had 11 drops, according to STATS.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 4:52am

The Chargers promoted Hal Hunter to offensive coordinator/offensive line and named former Colorado State Head Coach Steve Fairchild as senior offensive assistant/special assignments Tuesday, the latest of several changes to the coaching staff.

“Hal has been an important part of our offense since I’ve been here,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “He has a complete understanding of what we want to do in the run and the pass.”

Hunter replaces Clarence Shelmon, who is not planning on coaching in the NFL in 2012.

Monday, January 9, 2012, 1:46pm

The Chargers will remain in San Diego for at least one more season. The team released a statement Monday to announce they have no intention to exercise an out clause that would allow them to negotiate with other cites or move the team.

Chargers looking to lock up Vincent Jackson long term
Thursday, January 5, 2012, 12:50pm

Signing Vincent Jackson to a long-term deal would accomplish a couple things. It would allow A.J. Smith to use one of his favorite arguments about how retaining the team’s own free agents counts just as much as signing someone else’s. And getting Jackson locked up for many years on a long-term deal would constitute a great PR move considering not only his importance of Jackson to the Chargers’ passing game but the contentious history between the two sides.

Moreover, it may be the only way to keep him.

Considering all the Chargers have to do – pass rusher, strong safety, possibly replacing three starters on the offensive line, etc. – sources said this week that it is unlikely the team would place the franchise tag on Jackson again in 2012.

The tag is an option, of course, should negotiations, which the team will likely initiate in February, yield no long-term deal. But paying one receiver more than $13 million for one year, especially with so many other players to secure, is unlikely.

Chargers to keep Norv Turner as head coach
Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 6:54pm

The Chargers announced Tuesday that coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith will return next season.

In a press release, team president Dean Spanos said Smith and Turner were the best men for their jobs.

"Bottom line, I believe these two men give us the best chance to get back to the playoffs."

Vincent Jackson IN, Ryan Mathews OUT for Chargers
Sunday, January 1, 2012, 3:13pm

Chargers Inactives
Everette Brown DE
Travis LaBoy OLB
Ryan Mathews RB
Tony Moll G
Nate Triplett LB
Bryan Walters WR

Coaching carousel: 10 names to keep an eye on
Saturday, December 31, 2011, 1:05pm

While many are now finished with their holiday shopping, some NFL owners are just about to get started. Beginning as soon as Sunday night, some NFL owners will be shopping for a new head coach to become the leader and the face of their franchise. Here are 10 names, in alphabetical order, that are likely to be on many of the shopping lists:

Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen: Players consider him to be calm and charismatic, and it helps that he has learned from Saints head coach Sean Payton and Broncos head coach John Fox.

Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable: The Raiders have had a habit of watching some of their former head coaches, like Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden, find success elsewhere, and Cable could do the same.

Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski: Carolina knows how in demand Chudzinski will be and will make it as tough as possible for him to the leave the Panthers.

Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss: An intense former player and current coach who has learned from some of the finest in the Raiders and Packers organizations.

Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey: After helping mold Matt Ryan into the quarterback he is, Mularkey's name has been whispered for a while now in Jacksonville.

Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer: New York might be struggling, but its red-zone offense is not, and Schottenheimer has the right pedigree and résumé to become a successful head coach.

Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman: A sleeper, off-the-chart candidate who might be able to build a champion just as he has done in the Canadian Football League.

Chargers assistant head coach Steve Wilks: His work in San Diego quietly has begun to get recognition around the league.

Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods: Considered to have a similar makeup to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who also once served as an assistant coach with the Vikings.

Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer: His players revere him and his defenses perform for him, and now the time should be here for him.

Saturday, December 31, 2011, 1:00pm

Wide receiver Jacoby Ford, who hasn't played since the last time the Raiders played the Chargers on Nov. 10, expects to play after practicing Wednesday through Friday.

"I'll be out there," Ford said. "If I practice this much this week and I'm not out there, I'd be mad. I'll be out there, though."

Jackson said he is not inclined to have Ford return kickoffs after being out for five games, leaving that duty to Bryan McCann.

Thursday, December 29, 2011, 12:23pm

It is possible Vincent Jackson has played his final game as a Charger. The wide receiver, due to be an unrestricted free agent in 2012, missed practice with the groin injury that hampered him in this past Saturday’s game. It is difficult to see the Chargers pushing Jackson to play in a game that is meaningless for them. Jackson’s future with the team could hinge in part on the future of the team’s management.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 12:07pm

It will be a dizzying week atop the Chargers power structure, and the possibilities only keep getting more intriguing.

The first order of business for team president Dean Spanos is whether to retain General Manager A.J. Smith.

Spanos is expected to reveal his decision on whether to keep Smith by the middle of next week. It is believed, based on numerous conversations with league sources over the past month, that head coach Norv Turner will be fired regardless of who is the general manager.