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Chargers-What Did You Expect”

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They didn’t have a good record against good teams. They hadn’t beaten the Chiefs in 3-years. They hardly ever win at Arrowhead Stadium.

With all that baggage with them, they went into Kansas City, and got battered by the Chiefs.

With the Kansas City fans singing that ‘Tomahawk Chop’ theme all night, the longer the game went, the worse it got for the Chargers.

So much for making the playoffs, winning the division, winning the ‘Fight for LA’.

Philip Rivers got pounded in the second half, taking big hits, on each of the 3-passes that wound up as interceptions.

His receivers dropped passes, ran seemingly wrong routes, his rookie running back turned it over on a critical fumble, and then they lost 9-players during the game with injuries.

Of course history was not on their side. The Bolts had lost 7-in a row to the Chiefs in the division. They were (8-29) at Arrowhead dating back to the Bobby Ross era in 1989.

They were never that great to begin with. Anthony Lynn’s team was just (2-4) vs teams with winning records, and those two wins were suspect, against a Buffalo rookie quarterback, and a Cowboys team after the suspension of running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Rivers cannot do this by himself. Both offensive tackles exited with injuries, Russell Okung and the chronically hurt Joe Barksdale.

Heart and soul linebacker Denzell Perryman went down with a hamstring. Defensive end Corey Liuget exited with a groin. Keenan Allen was carted off with a back issue.

So as the players went down, most in the second half,the die was cast, for this team to see its playoff hopes die on the field.

It’s tough to separate the fans passion that might still exist for the team that left San Diego. But it’s not hard to feel the hate that still spills out at the Spanos Family, and the wish that family would suffer and suffer and suffer for all they did in leaving the loyal fans behind.

It is stunning the playoff drought that is wrapped around Rivers, just 1-playoff win in 11-years.

It’s an indictment of the football decision makers they are wasting away the career of a great quarterback and a greater person, in Rivers.

You witness the continued greatness of AFC rivals like the Patriots, and the Steelers, the long run of success the Broncos have had under the Pat Bowlen family, even the end result of the rebuilding efforts in Kansas City, and then compare it to the utter ineptness of all things involving Dean Spanos.

The Chargers will likely wind up (8-8) as a I predicted, but they are a loser, because the owner is a loser.

A big lump of coal in that Christmas stocking.

I knew what they were. You know what they are. So how could anyone expect anything different heading into Arrowhead Stadium.

Playoff team. No. Playoff Fraud. Yes.

What did you expect?

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“NFL-On the Hot Seat”

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3-weeks left to go in the NFL season, and then the bloodshed starts.

In a results-oriented business, you don’t win, you don’t survive, and the day after the New Year’s celebration is over, the coaching firings will begin, and they could be widespread. It might be the bloodiest week in NFL history.

CLEVELAND..The entire season has been a referendum on the credibility of the Browns. The GM-Sashi Brown was taken out two weeks ago. Hue Jackson is (1-28) and will likely be fired next. But it is an indictment top to bottom of the entire organization. The new GM John Dorsey is already in place.

CINCINNATI…Owner Mike Brown has always been loyal, but in 15-years, Marvin Lewis has never won a playoff game,in fact, hardly ever makes the playoffs. How much longer does this got?

CHICAGO…John Fox is (14-33) and the rebuilding is underway with new QB-Mitch Trubisky, but they weren’t winning early, and still not winning late. A likely change.

NEW YORK…The Giants have already blown out Jerry Reese and then coach Ben McAdoo. Poor Eli Manning. Failed drafts, failed free agent signings, injuries. What a mess.

INDIANAPOLIS….Chuck Pagano survived cancer. Survived the loss of his GM. But likely won’t survive the yearlong loss of star QB-Andrew Luck. It’s more an organizational problem with the Colts, than just a head coach problem.

NEW YORK…A year ago people liked the job done by Todd Bowles, now his team has fallen apart. Quarterback issues, bad defense, lousy attitudes. Maybe a roster housecleaning helps Bowles. Maybe a new coach has s better chance.

ARIZONA..Bruce Ariens give you mixed messages. Injuries, the coaches illness, the loss of his quarterback, free agent defections, it’s all part of what might be a change coming.

HOUSTON…It would be crazy to remove Bill O’Brien. Injuries, injuries, more injuries, so I don’t know why Bill O’Brien has to be accountable for that. But he is working for a demanding owner..

DENVER…It’s not what the Broncos have been used to, all this losing, and bad quarterbacking, and now the debate, is it on John Elway’s fault, or on new coach Vance Joseph? It might be too early for ‘one and done’ but it might happen.

As much as NFL owners want to win, and cannot tolerate losing, and that fans bring some enormous heat, there’s something else that needs to be considered. Where are you going to find head coaches, if indeed 9-teams blow their leaders out.

3-weeks left in the season, 9-jobs in jeopardy. Used to be called Black Monday. Might really become Bloody Monday.

A way of life in the NFL.

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……..(Baseball)…………

Padres…2nd meeting with FA-1B-Eric Hosmer and agent Scott Boras to discuss possible contract….Hosmer price tag would be (125-150M)….Red Sox-Royals still in running.

Padres…Trade Talks with Angels-interested in 3B-Chase Headley….Padres interested in P-Parker Bridewell or minor league P-Luke Bard or veteran P-Alex Meyer.

Padres…Bypass players in Rule 5-MLB draft, but do select NY Mets P-Jose Medina in minor league draft…had (3.14-ERA).

Dodgers…Bypass players in Rule 5-draft.

Angels-Tigers…Trade..Halos add 2B-Ian Kindler…deal minor league P-Will Hernandez (2.64-ERA) and OF-Tony Montgomery in deal.

Angels..Open talks with Reds FA-SS-Zack Cosart-would move him to 3B if he signed.

(Free Agent Signings)

Washington..Sign FA-P-Brandon Kintzler-ex Twins
Twins..Sign FA-P-Fernando Rodney-ex-Arizona..39-saves last yer.
Cubs..Sign FA-P-Steve Cishek-ex Seattle-Tampa Bay
Texas..Sign FA-P-Kevin Jepsen-ex Twins
Orioles..Sign FA-P-Mike Kelly-ex Padres
Tampa Bay..Sign FA-P-Johnny Venters-ex Braves
Royals..Sign FA-_P-Michael Broadway-ex Washington…3B-Cody Asche-ex Phillies

(Trades)

Cardinals-A’s…St Louis deal OF-Stephen Piscotty to A’s for two minor leaguers.

Phillies-Pirates..Pittsburgh acquires P-Nick Burdi after Rule 5-draft.
Mets-Royals..NY deals P-Burch Smith to KC after draft
Reds-Royals..KC gets P-Brad Keller after draft

Colorado…opens talks with FA-1B-Carlos Santana

(Trade Rumors)

Orioles-White Sox….Trade talks that would send slugger Manny Machardo to Chicago for top young pitchers Lucas Giolito-Mike Kopeck.

Arizona-Texas…Trade talks for Zach Grienke collapse…Dbacks refuse to pay 40M of 138M owed on contract.

Pirates–Yankees…Discuss Gerrit Cole trade…Pirates want OF-Clint Frazier-P-Chance Adams in package.

Indians-Mets…Cleveland discusses deal sending 2B-Jason Kipnis.
Marlins-Mets…NY interested in 2B-Starlin Castro.

(MLB)

Phillies..Hire Jose Flores-hitting coach-ex Cubs coach

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………(Football)…………

Chargers…CB-Casey Hayward misses practice 3rd day in row with calf injury…might not play vs Chiefs on Saturday night.

(Schedule)

Chargers-Chiefs…Fight for 1st place in AFC-West….KC won just 2-of-8….Bolts won 7-of-9….Chargers have won only 2-wins in last 7-at Arrowhead Stadium….Bolts are (8-19) in Kansas City since 1990…..Chargers are 5th in offense….10th defense…..Chierfs are 6th in offense….21st in defense….

Chargers…Philip Rivers sacked just 15-times this year….Rivers-last four games (72%-completion-8TD-0Int-114-QBrating)…..Keenan Allen (44R) last 4-games…averaging (13.8YPC)….Hunter Henry has (42R) on year….Tyrell Williams (18YC)…Travis Benjamin (16YPC)….Eric Ekeler (10YPC)…..Bolts defense 37-sacks…22-takeaways)….have allowed 23TDs in 13-games.

Chiefs….Offense has just 9-turnovers this year….has allowed 33-sacks of QB-Alex Smith….Chiefs RBs (4.9-YPC)…..WR-Tyreek Hill (64Recp)…(15.4YPC)…Travis Kielce (73Recp)…(13YPC)….QB-Alex Smith (3,836) all purpose yards…Smith (23TD-5 interceptions)…..K-Harrison Butker (28-30) on field goals……Chiefs have losses by 1-3-6-6-7 this year-..

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Green Bay-at-Carolina..Aaron Rodgers returns as starting QB..Packers must contain explosive Cam Newton.
Rams-Seattle…Jared Goff-vs-Russell Wilson…Rams defense needs bounce back game
Patriots-Pittsburgh….Tom Brady practice just 1-day this week…3rd tough game in row for Pittsburgh…Steelers (11-2)…Pats (10-3)
Dallas-Oakland…Raiders chaos continues over underachieving offense
Eagles-Giants…Nick Foles replaces injured Carson Wentz
Miami-Buffalo…Tyrod Taylor practices coming off knee injury-will likely start at QB
Ravens-Browns…Cleveland now (0-13)
Bengals-Vikings…Minnesota needs to rally from win-has battered offensive line
Jets-Saints…Bryce Petty takes over injured Josh McCown at quarterback
Arizona-Washington…both team battered bh injuries
Houston-Jacksonville…Question whether injured Tom Savage-concussion-goes back to starting lineup
Titans-49ers..Jimmy Garoppolo-goes for another win…Marcus Mariota dealing with injuries
Chicago-Detroit…Lions need win to stay in wildcard race in NFC.
Falcons-Tampa Bay….Bucs coach Dirk Cotter on thin ice.

(Scoreboard)

Broncos-W-Colts (25-13)…Brock Osweiler comes off bench (194Y) passing 3-TDs…Denver now (5-9)….Thursday Night Football

(injuries)

Colts…Owner Jim Orsay says QB-Andrew Luck remains in Europe for post surgery treatment of shoulder surgery….had stem-cell treatment.

Broncos..QB-Trevor Simian-shoulder injury in Thursday game
Arizona..RB-Adrian Peterson-IR-neck injury
Raiders..WR-Amari Cooper ruled out again-ankle issues.
Giants..IR-OT-Justin Pugh..MRI on back-does not need surgery
Chiefs..C-Mitch Morse ruled out this weekend-foot sprain
Bills..WR-Jordan Matthews-surgery ankle-knee
Jaguars..RB-Leonard Fournette-misses practice-quad
Colts..TE-Brandon Williams-hospitalized-neck injury
Steelers..LB-Ryan Shazier moved to rehab center at UPMC-Pittsburgh a week after spinal surgery.

(Roster Moves)

Robert Griffin III…Confirms Baltimore and Arizona both offered him contracts in mid season….Turned offers down because felt would not get many reps to show himself.

Lions..Sign FA-DT-Rod Cole-ex Seahawks
Saints..Sign FA-LB-Jon Freeny-ex Patriots

(NFL)

NFL..Reports of impending shakeup in League office that might lead to exit of longtime execs…Jeff Pash-Lisa Friel-legal counsels…..Todd Leiweke-Business exec….Jeff Miller-head of Medical staff.

Cleveland….New GM-John Dorsey refuses to give public votes of confidence to Coach Hue Jackson..Paul DePodesta….Regime has (1-28) record.

Minnesota..Coach Mike Zimmer says Marvin Lewis deserves to remain as coach of Bengals…has never won a playoff game in 15-years as head coach.

Giants..Club officials say they would like to have rookie QB-Davis Webb get some in-game snaps before end of the season.

CFL…Grey Cup champions Toronto Argonauts are being sold…Maple Leafs Sports-Entertainment buy franchise…Attendance plunged to 15,000

(College)

Colorado State…gives coach Mike Bobo a 3-year contract extension.
BYU..hires Jeff Grimes-LSU as offensive coordinator.

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……..(Basketball)………..

Lakers-L-Cleveland (121-117)….Kevin Love (28P)….LeBron James (28P-12R-12A) in win…Lonzo Ball (13P-10A-8R)…..

Clippers-At-Washington….Friday matchup.

Knicks…F-Kristaps Porigas-leaves game irritation in knee.
Milwaukee..F-Mirza Teletovic-in hospital..blood clubs in both lungs
Houston..F-Luc Mbha-a-Moute…out 3W-knee injury

Aztecs…off weekend-getting ready for Gonzaga in final non conference game on schedule before Mountain West season starts.

USD…Now (8-2)…Toreros play North Texas State.

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……….(Hockey)……….

Ducks-W-Blues (3-1)…Kevin Roy 2-goals…G-John Gibson 29-saves….Thursday night game

LA Kings-NY Rangers….Friday night at Madison Square Garden…Kings have won 8-of-9.

San Diego Gulls-Stockton Heat….Saturday night matchup

Ottawa…Veteran F-Chris Neil retirees.
Boston..Buys out contract of F-Matt Beleskey

Minnesota…G-Devan Dubnyk-out with groin injury.

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…..(General)……….

Disney-Fox-21st Century….Report Disney is about to buy 22-regionals sports networks including Fox Sports San Diego….Fox Sports West…Prime Ticket….Yes Network-New York among others.

English Premeir League…Top games of weekend
..Manchester City-Hotspur..City has won 15-games in row..all time EPL record
..Manchester United-West Brighton
..Arsenal-Newcastle
..Chelsea-Southhampton.

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“NFL Hot Seats-Everywhere”

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3-weeks left in an NFL season. A couple of great teams this year, lots of bad teams around, and a bunch of coaching firings just around the corner.

It’s a results oriented league, but for every team that is about to blow out a head coach his staff, there are different reasons for different teams failures.

CLEVELAND…The entire season has been a referendum on the Browns front office, their coaches, and the roster. They are failing in lots of areas. The GM-Sashi Brown was axed last week, and it appears coach Hue Jackson will be gone once the season ends on New Year’s Day weekend. Going (1-28) over the last two yerts is just the tip of the iceberg of all things wrong on the Mistake by the Lake.

INDIANAPOLIS…Chuck Pagano survived cancer, survived the firing of his GM a year ago, but it does not appear he can survive the season’s losses piling Up with quarterback Andrew Luck still out of action with complicated shoulder surgery. The problems though are the roster, and that’s an organizational failure.

CHICAGO….John Fox has seen his teams go (14-33) since taking over. They are in the midst of rebuilding, and the growth of QB-Mitch Trubisky has been very slow. He might survive, but he might get fired.

ARIZONA…Bruce Ariens had dropped some hints of leaving the club, some of it might be linked to health, but he is not very tolerant of losing. His Loss of QB-Carson Palmer was a setback too. Should stay, might leave.

NEW YORK GIANTS….Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese were both dumped two weeks ago, so a complete overhaul is coming.

HOUSTON…Ridiculous for anyone considering change with the Texans. Bill O’Brien lost his star quarterback, then 3-of his top pass rushers and a linebacker with injuries and suspensions. Good coach, deserves to stay, but works for a pushy owner.

CINCINNATI…Marvin Lewis brought law and order to the disarray that was Bengals football, but in 15-years, he’s never won a playoff game, and in 11-years, never made the playoffs. Ownership has been loyal, but ownership, Mike Brown, has a horrible history running the franchise.

DENVER….The big debate right now is whether it is the coach Vance Joseph, or the GM-John Elways, with what has befallen the once-proud Broncos. Joseph stays, but they have to be better next year, and his GM better figure out the quarterback problem.

TAMPA BAY…It just hasn’t worked out, despite the arrival of stud quarterback Jameis Winston, and Dirk Cotter’s tenure might end quickly.s.

NEW YORK JETS…A year ago, they praised Todd Bowles, now his job is in jeopardy. A quarterback mess, a defense full of attitude issues, and a front office malaise. Maybe he deserves a chance to overhaul the roster.

That’s 10-potential coaching changes.

Teams might be dissatisfied with where they are, are there really 10-quality head coaching candidates out there to replace the guys who might get fired?

It ends in 3-weeks, the season. It ends in 3-weeks, a bunch of coaching careers too. Might not be fair. But is the way of business in the NFL.

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NEeurts is Jszdreams aster

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“Winter Meetings-Final Day”

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News & Notes from the hallways in Orlando in the final hours of the Winter meetings.

Padres..We have 150-infielders on the roster, but not enough starting pitching…Not sure how Chase Headley fits in with Yanget Solarte, Carlos Asuaje, and the wide host of shortstops on the roster….Wish they were coming back with Joules Chacin and Craig Stammen signed-but as long as they aren’t signed elsewhere, it means they could still be part of the Friars. GM AJ Preller was shopping both Headley and Solarte on Wednesday night and still taking calls on relief ace Brad Hand.

Dodgers…Players are leaving. I am surprised at the lack of effort by LA to retain Yu Darvish, who could be headed back to the American League with the Astros or Twins. ..they also lose setup guy Brandon Morrow, a key component of the Blue bullpen….I know Dave Roberts says they still have 98-starting pitchers, but part of that are injury related guys, the kid Julio Urias, the forever hurt Brandon McCarthy, the slow to come back from surgery Hyn Jin-Ryu. And I wonder what Adrian Gonzalez feels like now that word is out they wanted to ship him to the lowly Miami Marlins.

Angels…Some week or so for Gm-Billy Eppler….Signing Shohei Ohtani for next to nothing in terms of salary…..Trading last night for veteran 2B-Ian Kindler of the Tigers…restructuring the contract of OF-Justin Upton to keep his booming bat….and the signing of the top Laztin free agent let go in the Braves scandal, Kevin Maitan.. They look loaded and do believe all their injured starting pitching is healthy now.

Miami…And you thought hurricane damage in South Florida was bad…..Agent Scott Boras described it perfectly…wishing that MLB did a better job os screening the Derek Jeter group, who dont have enough money, and have ripped apart the franchise in one weeks time. They dealt Giancarlo Stanton..Dee Gordon and Marcell Ozuna…got 1-veteran players, Starlin Castro back, plus 9-minor league prospects….As Boras said, the took a ‘jewelry store roster-made it a pawn shop’.

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