It’s just three weeks into the NFL season.  Sometimes he tells the truth, sometimes he fibs, most times he paints a positive picture.

That’s what NFL coaches are supposed to do, motivate, fix, lead.  And so Chargers coach Mike McCoy put on his ‘best face’ on Monday, after the Vikings gave his tream a black eye..

Despite the pounding in Minnesota, he spoke volumes about heart, desire, effort.  Yes he admitted areas of concern about his (1-2) football team.

Reality shows we are just 3-weeks into a 16-week marathon run.  And though run over by Cincinnati, and smashed and mashed by Minnesota, there is still lots of football to play.

Luckily for San Diego, here comes a very poor Clevelande team, with issues at quarterback, even with Johnny Manziel, erratic play at running back, suspensions at wide receiver, and injury issues on defense.

Fans may not be pleased with the deficiencies in San Diego, but if you compare them to the wide variety of awful stats from the Browns, the Bolts are a much better team.

But that does not mean things are fine and dandy.  A chewed up offensive line.  Concussion issues to key players.  A secondary now very thin by nagging injuries.  A non-existent pass rush in a throwing league.

Of bigger concern, how to patch the leaky dike, when you have no way of going out to get other players.

Well, the Chargers could have had a shot at a pass rusher, if they were willing to spend a 6th round pick to take on Jared Allen, whom the Bears dealt away last night.

There are no offensive lineman out there to be had.  Defensive backs available now, are available for one and only one reason, they cannot play.

So Mike McCoy can preach positive, eventhough the videos, the telecasts, the columns all deal with negatives.

The media aren’t dummies.  Some of the season ticket buyers know and love the game.  There are lots of problems on this roster right now, despite glowing praise by the coach about the character of his troops..

And if Mike McCoy follows thru on his statement of a brutally honest evaluation by the coaches about his roster after these back to back beatdowns, then maybe they will change the scheme.  You surely can’t change the players.

And McCoy right now isn’t willing to change his sales pitch to the public nor his players.

Will only say this.  Glad the Browns, and the Ben Roethlisberger-less Steelers are on the schedule the next couple of weeks.

Maybe they post a win over Johnny Football and Cleveland, and then Michael Vick and the Steelers.

Hope.  It’s about the only truthful thing you’ll find being said around the Fortress these days.

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We’re only three games into this NFL season, and their are ominous signs everywhere, this is not going to be a good year.

Yes, there are 13-games to be played, but the black cloud of injury is everywhere over the Chargers.  A chewed up offensive line, and a banged up defensive secondary.

No pass push,  seldom true pressure, and a shopping cart defensive line, pushed all over the field.

Add in a battered-beat up quarterback, and you get a sense of desperation, and we are not even to October yet.

The battering in Cincinnati has been followed by a bludgeoning in Minnesota.  The issues of much of last year, no run defense, and less pass rush, are even worse now.

And Philip Rivers, who had rib-chest and sternum problems from hits last year, has been blasted, so much so, the big “Oak Tree” of a quarterback almost didn’t get up yesterday after an Anthony Barr blitz up and the gut and hit to the shoulder.

Mike McCoy knows he has huge issues to deal with, and though he won’t say it, he must think it.  “What was my General Manager doing this offseason, making this defense younger, not drafting more buok upfront, and what did we buy in offensive line free agency?”

Tom Telesco could have used his 2nd round pick on a bulk defensive tackle, like the kids playing in Miami and Minnesota.

He could have drafted an offensive lineman, who can play in the third round.  He didn’t need more special team gusy,  but rather guys who could be impact players.

I just get the sense, Telesco’s San Diego blueprint, is much like the one the Colts operated under during the Peyton Manning era.  Star quarterback, find some skill guys, and hope for the best at many of the other spots.

They got to a Super Bowl and that was it.  You cannot confuse, even with Rivers at the helm, that this team could ever consider themselves a Super Bowl team.  Not with the youth, the lack of depth, and now hurting people everywhere.

Sure there are lots of games left on the schedule.  Do you think the Chargers will have enough players on the roster to make a run this season?  Do you think Rivers can survive this season, with the amount of hits he’s already taken just 3-weeks into the year?

Everyone has an opinion, and the growing one here is Telesco hasn’t done a good enough job.  (1-2) with a quarterback who almost didn’t get up off the ground, should be the red-flag sign there is trouble brewing at Chargers Park.

That’s more on the GM than the coach and his players.

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Sitting and waiting for this weekends NFL games, and thinking about all those players who got in trouble last year.

He’s their hero in Minnesota, the power running back Adrian Peterson, back on the field running over people, a year after getting a paid vacation after he was arrested beating his 4-year old son with a stick.

Root and cheer for one of the best the NFL has seen since the greatness of Emmett Smith and the Dallas Cowboys. Pay no attention to the egregious action.

Some system the NFL Union employs too. Player gets arrested, gets disciplined, gets to go before a hearing, gets the sanction reduced.

Oh by the way, Peterson was paid nearly 7M while he sat out 15-games last year, while the case was adjudicated.

Root for the star running back, child beater

In Dallas, they are a week away from the return of pass-rusher Greg Hardy, finishing up his 4-game, reduced NFL suspension, thank you Union too.

Hardy sat out last year while the on-going court case involving his then girlfriend weaved its way thru the court system. You do remember the case, Hardy choking his fiancée, throwing her on a bed that was full of firearms, threatening to use one on her, to end her life.

Nice story, nice relationship, probably a nice payoff too, for her not to testify in court.

He was never convicted, though that does not mean it never happened. And while he sat out the entire season, he was paid 13M of his salary for his paid leave.

In Baltimore the phone has not yet rung for Ray Rice, convicted of the knockout punch via video, involving his future wife. He was suspended, then released, then went to court and won a chunk of his salary back.

Teams in need of a running back haven’t called him yet. It probably doesn’t have as much to do with the punch or the video, but rather diminishing skills of a 30-year old player.

But then again, he got money, and he served little time in the court of law.

It doesn’t matter in the NFL. Good players, bad actions, you still get the chance to play for pay, regardless of how hideous the crime. Waiting for the next incident to occur, with the likely same outcome.

Like Boxing Promoter Don King said back in the day, “Ain’t America great”?

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It makes you feel old when your boyhood heroes pass on.

Baseball lost a great one, a star, a personality, an icon, an everyday man who was extraordinary.

Yogi Berra passed away late Tuesday night at the age of 90, the historical-hysterical Yankees superstar catcher, manager, ambassador.

I interviewed him twice in my career, and could just sit for hours and listen to him tell stories about his era and the Yankees aura. And what a special time it was from the late 1940s into the mid-1950’s.

It was a galaxy of greatness, that Yankees roster that started with DiMaggio, and stretched thru Mantle and Maris, with special people like Jerry Coleman, White Ford and Berra sprinkled around the diamond.

Berra was a tower of strength as a ballplayer, making himself a great catcher, and a power hitting slugger, who swung at bad balls as well as strikes.

His personality outshined his productivity, but he was an 18-time All Star, won 10-World Series rings, played in 14-Fall Classics. He didn’t ride in on anyone’s coattails either.

There was Berra the player, who became Berra the manager, first with the Yankees, then the Mets.

It was Berra behind home plate trying to tag out the daring Jackie Robinson in a steal of home in the ’50 World Series with the Dodgers. And it was Berra jumping into the arms of Don Larsen, after the World Series perfect game.

But there was so much more to Yogi. His phrases, published into a book of Yogi’isms, made him equal to all the strange things his old manager Casey Stengel said back in the day. Could you imagine a conversation between those two?

It was Berra and all his charity work, and the decision to donate all his memorabilia to a Museum at Montclair State in New Jersey.

And it was the standup guy Berra, who feuded with George Steinbrenner, and who stayed away from Yankees Stadium for 14-years after he felt he was mistreated by the Boss.

Berra stood tall too in the LTS boats on D-Day at Normandy in 1944, firing rockets onto the hillsides trying valiantly to protect those who waded ashore. He was part of the group picking up the dead and wounded hours after the carnage began on Omaha Beach..

The obituary reads he was preceded in death by his wife Carmen, whom he met growing up on the Hill in St. Louis. It reads he is survived by 3-sons,including former Pirates shortstop Dale.

It should also read “Yogi is survived by millions of baseball fans” who will remember him for grace, class, talent, and his love for all. I am one of those millions this morning.

The Yankees #8 in the hearts as #1 to so many Yankees baseball fans.
 

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Chargers-Vikings…Weekend of fun matchups….Norv Turner-Vikings offensive coordinator against John Pagano defense….Adrian Peterson-power running back-vs-Chargers shaky defensive line….San Diego blitz package-vs-Teddy Bridgewater-young quarterback.

Redskins-Giants…Eli Manning struggling on offense now faces fierce Redskins defense-pass rush…Giants collapsed in 4th quarter last two games… Washington becoming heavy run team with Alf Morris and rookie Matt Jones taking pressure off QB-Kirk Cousins…WR-DeSean Jackson remains out with shoulder problems.

Falcons-Cowboys…Very tough weekend for Dallas, without Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and not much of run game…Matt Ryan rolling with new look Falcons offense and rookie running backs…Falcons should go to (3-0)…Dallas slide begins.

Colts-Titans…Andrew Luck struggling which is surprise considering all talent around him at skill positions…Colts offensive line playing poorly….Indy secondary down 4-DBs with injuries…Rookie QB-Marcus Mariota struggled in stretches last week.  Rumors everywhere of Coach-GM rift in Indianapolis…Luck needs to prevent (0-3) start.

Tampa Bay-Houston….Marked improvement last week from Bucs QB-Jameis Winston…Still waiting for running back Doug Martin to show us power of rookie season..WR-Mike Evans back on field with WR-Vincent Jackson….Texans stay with Ryan Mallett at QB-decent first start….Matchup everyone waiting for JJ Watt and pass rush vs Winston.

Steelers-Rams…RB-Le’Veon Bell returns from suspension to join DeAngelo Williams…QB-Ben Roethlisberger off to huge start throwing ball….Lines up now against pretty good Rams front seven….St. Louis struggling to help QB-Nick Foles.

Raiders-Browns….Derek Carr teamed with Michael Crabtree-Amare Cooper for 16-completions last week….Oakland defense gave up tons of yards to Joe Flacco…Browns inserting Josh McCown back as starting QB despite strong outing from Johnny Manziel….Cleveland defense its strength right now-big challenge from Carr.

Bengals-Ravens…Early in season to have ‘must-win’ but Baltimore cannot afford home field loss in division…Andy Dalton playing complete game now-run-throw-move pocket-scramble….Cincinnati defensive front very physical….Joe Flacco puts up big numbers but run game lacking and defense got torched last weekend.

Jaguars-Patriots….Next victim in New England…Brady throwing to everyone..real tough test for Jacksonville kid QB-Blake Bortels….Still not enough pieces around Jags quarterback to help him…Rob Gronkowski off to likely record-career start.

Saints-Carolina…Drew Brees cannot do it by himself and does not have much help…Numbers dropping on offense-not enough quality skill around him…RB’s spotty…New Orleans defense non-existent….Cam Newton taking on bigger burden offense run and pass..Saints could be (0-3) by Sunday night….Organization has let Brees down.

Eagles-Jets…Stunning how poor Philadelphia offense is right now….Offensive line coming off horrific showing last week….Chip Kelly says they will run the ball-just wondering how-with no holes…Eagles defense chewed up with linebacker injuries…Jets doing it with no-name-stars on offense….Ryan Fitzpatrick managing game…New York defense causing havoc everywhere, from DL to DB’s-excellent start for Todd Bowles.

49ers-Arizona…San Francisco offense looks ploddingly slow…Colin Kaeperneck may have to throw more if teams load the box….Cardinals blazing hot…Carson Palmer has passing game clicking…run game doing just enough….Arizona defense playing very well.

Bears-Seattle….Jimmy Clausen (1-10) career starts…replaces injured Jay Cutler….Chicago had ridiculous 14-penalty-170 yard day of mistakes last week….Seahawks still shaky in OL infront of QB-Russell Wilson….Kam Chancellor ends holdout-upgrade secondary which has given up 11-passes of 20-yards or more even with Richard Sherman out there.

Bills-Dolphins…Rex Ryan circus goes on the road….Big challenge for Buffalo defense to go against Ryan Tannehill, who is putting up huge numbers…Dolphin run game still MIA….Tyrod Taylor strung together two pretty good passing days but Miami defense gets after it.

Broncos-Lions….Denver still trying to mix-and-match offense, under center-vs-shotgun….Get sense the WR corps not the same with Julius Thomas-Wes Welker no longer on team…Broncos defense-tremendous pass rush pressure…Lions QB-Matthew Stafford taken wicked hits first two games…Detroit likely to be looking at 3rd straight loss.

Chiefs-Packers….Aaron Rodgers-vs-Chiefs pass rush.  That’s it plain and simple.  Will he get them before they get him?  KC new pieces receiving group working well with QB-Alex Smith, but are there enough game-breakers…Looks like Andy Reid wants to play 14-12 games every weekend.