What’s that old Yogi Berra baseball term? “Deja Vu-all over again?”

It’s not happening again is it, to the San Diego Chargers? Another siege of bad-luck injuries to people along the offensive line? It sure seems that way.

That was a mountain of a man who went down late in the Chargers win over the Detroit Lions. DJ Fluker, bigger than an Oak tree, collapsed in searing pain, when two players, rolled onto the back of his left leg on a running play at the line of scrimmage.

Fluker, all 6-5, 339-pounds of him, went down like a felled tree, clutching his left leg. His own running back Danny Woodhead, and a defensive tackle, both rolled onto the back of his leg, while he was fully extended blocking on a running play. He was down on the field for 5-minutes, unable to walk, nor stand, carted off.

It looked bad, and could have been bad. Your fears, broken ankle, or ruptured Achilles tendon. Not so, but a high ankle sprain, is pretty significant, especially for someone so huge, with such weight pressure on his legs.

You thought ‘Groundhog Day’ all over again. Fluker went down weeks after fellow guard Johnny Troutman broke his forearm.

Last year the Chargers went thru five different starting offensive centers, enroute to a non playoff season. 2014- started with the career-ending stinger problems with center Nick Hardwick, and it was downhill from there.

In 2013, hip ailments eroded away the career of right tackle Jeromey Clary.

In 2012, the scary concussion and Gran Mal seizure incident finished off the promising career of guard Kris Dielman.

In 2011, neck stenosis and continued back problems ended the pro career of left tackle Marcus McNeill.

As the Chargers go to Cincinnati this weekend, they will have used 22-different starting offensive lineman since opening day in 2013. That’s a stunning stat, and a slap in the face of continuity. 10-different lineman started last year. 9-the year prior. And the Bolts will have 3-new OL starters by kickoff vs the Bengals.

The once proud offensive line, that was the unsung hero, in the era of Rivers and Tomlinson, are all gone. The only one playing now is Louis Vasquez, who was allowed to go to the Denver Broncos as a free agent.

It’s been a patchwork quilt group of players since then. Some good, like King Dunlop, some awful like Jared Gaither. Some fill-ins like Chad Rinehart. Most all now out of the league.

Fluker was the beginning of the rebuilding effort, and now he he is hurt, luckily for a shorter time, with likely no long-term effects.

We were spoiled for such a chunk of time with all those quality lineman, who managed to stay healthy. Those guys in the trenches are so important to every other facet of the offense.

Hoping no more-fearing it’s not over. “Deja-Vu all over again.”

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire.

I don’t know what to make of what we are hearing across the country about a possible NCAA probe of San Diego State basketball, but when the ‘in-the-know’ beat guys from CBS-NBC-ESPN are all reporting to varying degrees, the fragments of information they have come up with, it is not a good sign.

The base information is the NCAA is asking questions about SDSU recruiting of a player, or maybe players. Insinuations of possible violations in illegal aid to players.

More concerning, the report there my be Level 1-violations, the most severe to a program, and that would coincide with rumblings that a current assistant coach is at the center of improper benefits.

As of this morning, there has been no “Letter of Inquiry” to the President of the school. There has been no Email nor telephone exchange involving information directed to Athletic Director Jim Sterk. They would be the first to know of wrong doing, or the arrival of someone on campus.

Violations in today’s age of basketball can run the gamut. Academic fraud, involving class work. Academic fraud involving tampering with transcripts. Inducements that can range from giving cash or jobs to family members to influence a decision to sign here. Fraudulent summer jobs involving boosters, timecards, payment for work not done.

It is hard to believe, the the values of a man like Steve Fisher, or his right hand man, Brian Dutcher, would ever be involved in law breaking.

We have seen however in other places, where assistant coaches have taken it upon themselves to bend or break NCAA rules to get access to players.

Other programs, other places, have been taken to hell and back by what was happening outside the circle of the head coach. Syracuse and Jim Boeheim are headed there with the latest sanctions imposed on the Orange. We are awaiting the horrors of what will be handed down at North Carolina, where a decade long scandal involving bogus course-work has tainted all the athletic teams there. Roy Williams may become what Fisher became. A victim of circumstance. Big cigar boosters have gotten Baylor and other places in trouble too.

We don’t know how this all came to be. The Aztecs have had two recruits mysteriously leave the program in the last calendar year, under cloudy terms. Might it be someone blew the whistle on all the Division 1-transfers that seem to be showing up at Montezuma Mesa? Might it be a rogue booster who has taken it upon himself to enter the recruiting process to influence players.

The national media has rushed to the history book, reciting verse and chapter of Fisher’s demise at Michigan, failing to understand it was dirty players like Chris Weber and the Fab 5, and a corrupt booster, who spread money around, without the knowledge of the coach. It cost Michigan its basketball reputation, and smeared Fisher, though he never-ever was found guilty of wrong doing, just not being aware.

So we will wait and see if a letter arrives, if NCAA lawyers show up, and what San Diego State says and does.

A great program, led by a great man, hard to believe where this might be headed.

You hope it’s not a Michigan situation all over again. You fear though, that kids, and AAU coaches, and agents and posse, may have touched these players, from the outside. Fisher cannot be their coach and guardian 24-hours a day from inside that arena.

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I tried to think of a couple of things I’d say to Chargers owner Dean Spanos, if he ever had the courage to meet with the San Diego media, on opening day at Qualcomm Stadium.

But I think the fans in the stands, the news in the magazine, pretty much said it all.

Another Chargers sellout for the season opening win against the Detroit Lions. Lots of passion from the paying public, and sheer profit for the owner.

Meanwhile in St. Louis, only 44,500 show up for the Rams-Seahawks opener, a show of real public resentment against owner Stan Kroenke, not that he really cares.

San Diego fans have bought over 55,000 season ticket packages, in a continued show of support and emotional attachment as host of the team for over 50 years.

Meanwhile on the newsstand this week, Forbes Magazine’s financial rankings of all the NFL teams, and the astounding stat that shows the Chargers profits jumped 62% last year, thanks to an influx of more money from television contract upgrades. The team’s worth has rocketed to 1.5B, which seems high, but would be higher if they were in a shiny new stadium in Mission Valley. The franchise that cries poor, receives 226M a year in NFL shared revenue.

Of course, we know whomever winds up in Los Angeles figures to rake in even more monstrous profits in the 2nd media market in the world.

So it leads to the series of questions I would pose to Dean Spanos.

How much more profit do you need?

Did it register in your heart the emotional outpouring from the fans in San Diego?

Making the money-profits you are making, why can’t you put more into the Stadium to cement your legacy here?

Questions I’d ask, but knowing he is in hiding from all the media, I’ll just pose them to you.

What do you think of the fans buying tickets, before the owner leaves town, fanatics or fools.?

What do you think of he owner himself?

Is the owner about passion from this town, or just profits from this town?

Waiting for answers, we’ll never get from him, but maybe from you.

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It was a huge team win, this Chargers come-from-behind victory over the moribund Detroit Lions in the oven that was Qualcomm Stadium.
It was tough to tell which was worse, the 105-degree heat on the field, or the heat Philip Rivers throwing, and the heat of the Chargers pass rush put on the Lions.

There should be more heat directed at Detroit coach Jim Caldwell, who cannot figure out whether his team should be ‘throw first’ or ‘run first’. When you have a talent like Calvin Johnson, he should have more than one pass directed his way in the first 50-minutes of the game. But that’s Detroit’s problem, and they blew a (21-3) lead in losing.

Rivers survived two interceptions in the first half. They survived a Melvin Gordon  fumble. They survived like you and I would in the hot weather, by dealing with the cold facts, you can’t stop Rivers for four quarters, and that pass rush will get you sooner or later.

The quarterback did, throwing for (404) yards on a (35-for-42) passing day. And Melvin Ingram’s crushing hit on quarterback Matthew Stafford, that led to a Kyle Emanuel interception, changed the whole chemistry of the game.

Slick and quick Keenan Allen ran precise routes, caught most everything, and put his name next to Kellen Winslow’s in the record book, for a one day outing, 15-catches for 166-yards.

Tight end Ladarius Green, who blew a block that nearly got Gordon beheaded, rallied to catch five passes too
The kids played well, Gordon breaking off some burst runs once beyond the line of scrimmage. The rookie linebacker Kyle Emanuel had a clean run at the QB for a sack, and was in the right place at the right time, to pick up a deflected Stafford pass for a pick.
They lost the right side of the offensive line, DJ Fluker with an ankle injury that did not look good, and Joe Barksdae, who got jolted and shaken up.

Credit Mike McCoy and Frank Reich. They shifted gears in the 2nd quarter, when the Lions continued to close off the run, and pressure Rivers. They went to quick hitting crossing patterns, and sideline stuff, first for Allen, then Stevie Johnson, and suddenly the air game had taken hold..
When they were done, it was nearly a 500-yard offensive day, and an example of what that side of the ball can be all season long.
You climb out of a hole like they did, it is impressive. Now they have to take that with them into Cincinnati next weekend to face the Bengals.
Against all odds, the weather, the deficit, Megatron, and the injuries, the Bolts beat the daylights out of Detroit. A pretty good start to the season, after a bad start to the day.

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It all starts tonight, when the Steelers face the Patriots in the NFL-Thursday Night opening game of the season.

Time to Pick’Em Pal.   My choices for the Divisional races.

AFC-EAST
Until somebody beats the Patriots, they still have to be the choice team, but as time has evolved, this seems like it is Tom Brady against the world. The last shred of defense is gone, Vince Wilfork, the draft picks haven’t really panned out, there is no star running back and no Pro Bowl receiver. Buffalo will be fun to watch, run the ball, go get the ball with Rex Ryan’s defense. Bluster and Belligerence, but he has risky EJ Manuel at quarterback. The Jets have defense and a new coach, but a QB quandary, Geno Smith-vs-journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins have Ryan Tannehill, a budding superstar, but holes elsewhere. Pick: New England.

AFC-NORTH
Cincinnati has all this firepower in season, but is a failure post season. Maybe this is the year Andy Dalton breaks the jinx. Pittsburgh has Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, but the defense is deplorable. Cleveland has fixed half the team (defense) but not much else. Baltimore seems to be in transition, always changing parts vis free agency, but Joe Flacco is still there. Wide open division. Pick: Cincinnati.

AFC-SOUTH
Indianapolis has been building towards greatness-this is the year it arrives. For one year at least, Andrew Luck can now lean on other veterans, Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, Trent Cole will all be difference makers. Everybody else is in grow mode. Houston has tons of talent on defense, but little to work with Brian Hoyer on offense. Jacksonville is tough on defense, but Blake Bortels does not have much help with the ball. Tennessee will be fun to watch as Marcus Mariota grows on the job. Pick: Colts.

AFC-WEST
Is there a changing of the guard in the offing? There are so many new things around Peyton Manning, including four new offensive lineman, no pass catching tight end, young running backs, and a coach who wants him to take snaps under center. The Sack Attack pass rush, now designed by legendary Wade Philips will be fun to watch. San Diego has added much to help Philip Rivers, but has gotten younger and more inexperienced on defense, and that is a negative. The Raiders have new leadership, Jack DelRio, lots of young player, with Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and hope. Kansas City seems stuck in old school mode, run ball, try to win with defense, inability to get down the field. Has time passed Andy Reid by? Pick: Denver

NFC EAST
The Eagles, always in constant change, have great skill, with RBs-DeMarco Murray-Ryan Mathews-Darren Sproles, a new WR package, athletes on defense. Will Sam Bradford, coming off two knee surgeries, stay on the field? Dallas has firepower upfront of Tony Romo, playmaker receivers, but not much of a run game, and defense with a history of injuries. This may be the last hurrah for Giants coach Tom Coughlin and his QB-Eli Manning. Injuries have wrecked the team, and outside of the Cruz-Beckham WR-group, is there anything there? The Redskins soap opera goes on and on. Kirk Cousins has his chance at QB, but the RG3-saga won’t end. Defense has talent but injury history too. Pick: Eagles.

NFC NORTH
The Packers always develop from within. But they are hurting inside now with injury issues at WR and RB. Eddie Lacy and Randall Cobb has to stay healthy, as does LB-Clay Matthews. The Vikings are coming, and now you add Adrian Peterson to newly acquired Mike Wallace and fast developing QB-Teddy Bridgewater, and they will be fun to watch. Defense is a question. In Detroit we keep waiting for it all to come together around QB-Matthew Stafford and WRs Calvin Johnson-Golden Tate. Massive changes on defense. They will score, but they will give up points too. Chicago tries to match old school coach John Fox and free spirit quarterback Jay Cutler. Good Luck with that. Pick: Packers.

NFC SOUTH
A new era in Atlanta after two horrible seasons. QB-Matt Ryan has Julio Jones, but not much else unless these rookie RBs pan out. Tampa Bay is giving the ball to QB-Jameis Winston, but will he be a big play guy or a turnover machine? Transition is a tough thing to watch and many think that is what Drew Brees is about to experience in New Orleans, where his offensive pieces are not what they used to be, and the defense has been non-existent. Carolina lacks help at WR and RB for Cam Newton. Coach Ron Rivera has kept this thing afloat for a couple of seasons, but it might sink this year. Pick: Falcons.

NFC WEST
Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch carry the Seahawks. They do have young, athletic wideouts, but a leaky offensive line. Over a two year period, alot of key defensive players have left, and you wonder if you wake up one morning and the Richard Sherman crew is no longer what it used to be?. Arizona is on the brink of greatness, with talent in various places. If Carson Palmer stays on the field this year, they should go deep into the playoffs. The Rams have enormous defensive talent, but injuries at RB and a new QB in Nick Foles. They might be a year away. San Francisco has nothing but Colin Kaeperneck. Make a list of the players who have left over the last two years, and tell me how they compete? Pick: Seattle.
 

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