This has been discussed in the Charger forums for a while, due to the proximity of the site to San Diego and years of rumor mongering. Whether the Chargers, Jaguars, Cardinals or some other team moves to San Gabriel remains to be seen. What we do know is that the Chargers are still looking for a new stadium, as a proposal to redevelop the property that includes Qualcomm Stadium fell through in 2006. Last I read, they were looking at a site in Escondido.

Governor Silver, what are your feelings about the possibility that the Chargers could wind up in the LA area?

The Chargers have grown on me since we lost our teams. They're the closest thing we have to a local franchise now. I still like Denver better, but I'd have to reconsider that if the Bolts relocated here.

I really hope we don't get stuck with the Cardinals. I don't even like the fact that Arizona got stuck with them. As for the Jaguars, I've never paid much attention to them; and I'd prefer they stay in Jacksonville.

Of course, what I'd really like is for the Rams to return here. Barring that, my second choice would be an expansion team. Third would be the Chargers.

Best,

Geoff

Geoff,

I've been hearing talk of a Chargers move back to LA (for those who don't already know, they began as the Los Angeles Chargers, with the name obtained from a naming contest) for years now. So I'm emotionally desensitized to it.

I still rooted for the Clippers for a little while after they moved from SD to LA. I shortly switched allegiance to the LA Lakers though because it was the LA team that looked a lot more competent - the Clippers owner was such a cheapskate, stories came out of Clipper players using the grainy hand soap that I used in elementary school to clean themselves and paper towels to dry themselves. So the odds are pretty good that I'll continue rooting for the Chargers even after a move to LA.

The Chargers though have been consistently restricting their search to the San Diego area. So far, they have had official talks with the cities of Chula Vista, Oceanside, and Escondido - all in the area - after the failed talks with the city of San Diego. I'm guessing if they stay, they're moving to somewhere in North County San Diego (Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, etc.) because that's where a lot of well-to-do San Diegans live.

What's this?

No commentary from our Indiana buddy claiming more running up the score from the Pats? Or better yet, defending the 60 points Indy put on St Louis?

Not so much as a peep about yet another horrible call by an official at a Pittsburgh home game?

Was this that quiet a week in the NFL that no one cared?

I was actually going to comment on that Indy game. After the stink raised last week by a certain Indy fan regarding the Pats/Titans game, I certainly hope Caldwell pulled his starters after Indy went up 30+ points. To not do so would be idiotic, right?

It's looking like the Giants are one of those teams whose schedule is catching up with them, which is kinda disappointing. Impressive 5-0 start, but all against teams with losing records. Now they've dropped two in row against higher-rung teams. Next week's game against the Eagles should be interesting.

Oh yeah, and Tampa Bay looks like they have a decent shot at not winning a game this season. Tennessee and St. Louis, as well, although they play each other in week 14, so one of those two teams is guaranteed at least one win. Unless they tie.

meccajay didn't post picks again this week, and he hasn't posted at this site since September 30th.

I hope he's okay.

Best,

Geoff

Yeah, I feel the Giants left one on the field last night. Turnovers killed us, especially Bradshaw's fumble.

Hey the Cardinals are a good team and a team playing like defending conference champs, much to my surprise! They're really sticking it to everyone who said "expect a huge dropoff this year." Their defense and rushing game appear to be considerably better than they were last year.

Still...Giants had offensive momentum down the stretch and should have won the game, IMO.

Yeah, we've fallen from the garden and now we've got the same tough road to hoe as everyone else. I called the NYG an 11-win team at the start of the season and that still seems about right to me. They have a brutal schedule the rest of the way, but they'll rise to it.

Kevin's in Europe. He may not have been able to see any games, I don't know.

Interesting combination stat: Aaron Rogers has a pretty stratospheric QB rating, second only to Peyton, AND, he's been sacked 25 times, most in the NFL.

One wonders if sacks should be factored into QB rating, as the QB holding the ball too long often is a factor (witness Big Ben).

Good point, but how would you determine whether it was the QB's fault or the O-line's?

(In Green Bay, I suspect both.)

Best,

Geoff

Where's our Steeler man to make an excuse for the ref who made that terrible, terrible call on "tripping" when the Vikes were set to go up 17-13?

I forgot to DVR the Chargers-Chiefs game before band practice. Oh well. We were concerned about the Chiefs because they took Dallas to OT and beat the Skins, plus Larry Johnson has had big days against the Chargers when they had a better run defense. I didn't realize how bad the Chiefs OL was though - no holes for Larry, no protection for Cassell (sacked at least 4 times) against a bad run D and a bad pass rush. I read Rivera put the Chargers in a 4-3 look with Merriman and Phillips at defensive end to try to improve the run D and it seems to be working. Without a star TE on the other side, our safeties looked pretty good.

I caught the end of the Vikes-Steelers game. That was a thriller, but Favre literally threw the game away.

Saints-Dolphins was also fun to watch in a day full of blowouts. Dolphins actually led most of the game, but Brees and Co. probably had to prove they could come from behind. The Wildcat may be a gimmick, but they keep uncovering new wrinkles. I sadly missed Bush's TD in which he flew 6 yds in the air.

I don't get the Raiders. They beat Philly, then get blanked by the Jets.

Who's in the lead for the race for #1 draft pick? Rams, Bucs, or Browns?

True, but the same can be said of interceptions and incompletions

Yeah, football really is a team sport.

Best,

Geoff

Speaking of teams, I think it's probably safe to assume that the Packers are better than the Bears.

If a Wild Card team comes out of the NFC North, it will probably be Green Bay.

Green Bay hosts Minnesota this week. (The return of Favre!) If the Packers win that contest, then maybe they'll still have a reasonable shot at the division title.

Best,

Geoff

Favre will fight the rumors of too old and too tired to last a full season with a loss to GB. An easy second half schedule is in his favor.

They never should have been in that situation.

The drive before, the Vikes were on the Steelers 10 yard line, the score was 13-10 Steelers, and Favre threw a beautiful corner to Rice in the end zone.

Except it was called back because a completely clean cut block (hit him in the leg with a shoulder pad) was flagged for "tripping". Two plays later, Chester Taylor let a screen pass squeak through his hands and right into a LB's arms, who promptly took it back the distance.

Take the completely bullshit call out of the mix and it's 17-13 Vikes, with the Steelers needing a TD to win with 6 minutes to go, instead of 20-17 Steelers with the Vikes needing to score.

The Vikings are just the latest in an ever growing list of teams getting screwed by bad officiating when playing the Steelers.

I agree, that "tripping" call was just a legal cut block.

If you're talking about the last INT, I didn't think that was Favre's fault. The ball hit Taylor square in the hands - he just didn't catch it.

dB

The last fumble wasn't really his fault either - completely blown blocking assignment.

Larry Johnson out-TO-ing TO:

http://fansided.com/2009/10/26/larry-johnson-disses-todd-haley-fans-on-twitter/

I noticed that too. Hope all is well with him.

BTW: We are going to have to cool you off in the Pick-Em pool or you will run away with it.

I'm sure it'll be someone else's turn soon. But I am enjoying my time on top.

Thanks for the mention, Steve.

Best,

Geoff

I just saw a highlight of the TD pass Manning threw to Clark over two defenders. Beautiful strike.

Obviously, the play-caller change didn't keep the Skins from playing sloppy football.

Congrats to those who had a good week in Pick 'Em. My strategy kicks in on the back 8.

Scott, I'm only working one day a week, and sometimes not even that. No Internet connection at home, so I've been among the missing. Anyway, that tripping penalty was a VERY bad call. I know which way that ref was betting. I thought the Vikings had a better team, but didn't manage to win the game despite that fact. I doubt the Steelers would be that "lucky" if we had to play them again in the Super Bowl. But I doubt that is going to happen either.


Mike T.

Just got some i)nternet access (on the road in Europe and saw the highlights. Peyton was pulled in the 4th indoors with a score of 35-6, final score 42-6. Get your facts straight man

Bellicheat's still an idiot for NOT pulling Brady with a bigger margin in shit weather. Again, Brady's too damn valuable to the Pats success to gamble with his health like that with a huge lead *in shit weather*

If Belichick's an idiot, then there's no idiot I'd rather have running a football team. Give me the idiot any day.

Looking forward to that Colts-Pats game in a couple weeks.

Wait, Peyton got pulled in the 4th in a blowout, but Tom being pulled after the first drive of the 2nd half wasn't early enough?

Peyton got pulled when it *became* a blowout...