Goodbye to a Good Guy…

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He was the last man standing, and now he’s gone.
 
Nick Hardwick, the perennial Pro Bowl center of the Chargers will miss the rest of the season with nerve damage in his neck.  This after limited play in preseason, an offseason of treatment for what was becoming a chronic condition, he lasts one quarter into the opening game of the season.
 
It is not only the end of the season for Philip Rivers’ trusted teammate, it probably is the end of his career.  Call it the NFL ‘wear and tear’ factor, getting beat on in the trenches for nearly a decade.  The bruised shoulder led to stinger issues, which has now led to a deep root nerve issue.
 
The history of Chargers football has been highlighted by guys who played that spot.  Donnie Macek was the Batman to Dan Fouts’ Robin.  Macek finally retired with hip surgery still to come.  Courtney Hall was all that too for quarterback Stan Humphries, before knee conditions ended his run after just eight years in the league.
 
Hardwick was tough as cement, smart, sensitive, hostile, funny and relentless.  He was exceptional as a player and as a person.
 
He was the last man standing from just a few ago.  While Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson drew all the accolades during the Marty Schottenheimer era and the early success of Norv Turner, Hardwick and his hooligan offensive line did yeoman work, un-noticed by the fans, but respected by those who really know the game.
 
And now they are all gone.
 
Left tackle Marcus McNeill retired because of a neck stenosis problem that he brought with him from Auburn.  Left guard Kris Dielman’s career ended on one snap and one plane ride, the severe concussion and the followup Grand Mal seizure on a team flight home.  Right tackle  Jeromey Clary is gone for the year and maybe forever with two hip surgeries.  Right guard Louis Vasquez, never hurt, always reliable, is now blocking for Denver Broncos icon Peyton Manning.
 
McNeill was a happy go lucky star.  Dielman was a grinder.  Clary was a selfmade man.  Vasquez was unsung and rock solid consistent.  Hardwick was the hammer and glue guy.
 
It was a tremendous group, maybe equal if not better than the Russ Washington, Billy Shields, Ed White, Macek group that protected Fouts during the Air Coryell run.
 
The proud Purdue Boilermaker, called line blocking adjustments, stood his ground against massive nose-tackles, protected Rivers at all times, spilled some blood, and showed up everyday, in pain-or-without pain, always ready to work.  Street tough-street smart-surly and sensitive.
 
That’s what Pro’s pros do in the NFL, and he was a good one.  Good guy, good person..

List of Sins – Wednesday

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The NFL scoreboard does not lie, about the games, the stats, or off the field, the players rap sheets.
 
Raging is about the only word to describe the cross-section of emotion around the NFL, and in cities and from fans and the media the last 48-hours.
 
Upon further review, the replay term, the video of the Ray Rice incident is ugly, irresponsible and forever staining.
 
The Associated Press now has audio as part of the video, and it shows the Baltimore Ravens running back and his then fiancé cursing each other, shoving each other, he made five threatening gestures to her, she spit on him.  Then the NFL player knocked her out with a left-handed punch to the jaw.  Upon further review, it is pretty gross.
 
The non-stop stream of criticism has come from every direction.  Condemnation of Rice, from teammates and opposing players.  Criticism of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for not gaining access to the damning video and the meager 2-game suspension.  Heat directed at the Ravens owner Steve Biscotti and GM-Ozzie Newsome for not making themselves available to discuss the suspension-then release.
 
Now his wife has gone public condemning the media for the way they have reported the story, the intrusion of their life, the picture they have painted, after the pictures shown on the grainy video.
 
Ray Rice puts his name right up there with other NFL players, who have done horrible things.  The list of sins is significant.
 
Somewhere in the Carolinas, ex-Panthers receiver Rae Carruth is serving a long sentence for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend.  Josh Brent of the Cowboys just finished a 90-days prison sentence for a (.18) drunk driving manslaughter conviction in which a teammate died.  We remember Dontae Stallworth’s suspension for a drunk driving death of a jaywalker, and the ex-Ram Leonard Little’s one year suspension for running a red light, drunk, killing another woman, who was also driving drunk.
 
The NFL has its hands full.  The Rice crisis is just one of the items on the checklist of problems the league has.
 
The concussion lawsuits, the pain killer lawsuits, the still to be implemented HGH drug testing plan, the New Orleans Bounty Club, Miami’s Hazing Gate scandal, and the fact a record 38-players (Rice is the 39th) suspended to start the season.  All that comes on the heels of player suicides, an owner’s arrest, possible Congressional intervention in the Blackout law.
 
Of course people will say the PR-type of things, about the player being a family member, and the support we will give him.  They will issue generic answers about not wanting to go into private matters of players, as if a new day will make you forget yesterday.  It’s a flaw the NFL has about its talented players.
 
Some say money-corrupts and the NFL cares only about the almighty dollar.  The bill on their credibility is coming due.  Some say the NFL leadership is tone deaf.  Many believe the NFL has lost its moral compass.
 
Hard to argue with all that, considering what we have just witnessed, and what we have had to report on the last couple of years.  NFL instant replay, it’s here, and upon further review, the Ray Rice video is just awful, and another dent in the so-called NFL Shield.

The Good the Bad and the Ugly…

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The Chargers lost their season opener in Arizona, (18-17).  A stomach churning, gut wrenching defeat, filled with mistakes and more mistakes.  What should have been a win-turns into a loss.-.
 
It was the “Good-Bad-Ugly”, a terrible game to watch, and an awful ending in a game they will regret losing before the season is over.
 
 
GOOD…The young players showed up and held up well.  CB-Jason Verrett had 4-passes defended, made strong open field tackles, and was not overwhelmed.  Linebacker Jerry Attaochu had a quarterback sack, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt, and was really active.
 
Dwight Freeney, a year removed from playing, had five QB-pressures, and two near sacks, though ran out of gas late in the game.  Corey Liuget had 2-tackles early and a sack but disappeared in the second half too..
 
Ryan Mathews kept plugging away and broke off a couple of good runs.  Malcom Floyd and Antonio Gates played exceptionally well.
 
 
BAD…This year’s pass defense looked like last year’s 29th ranked pass defense.  They bracketed star WR-Larry Fitzgerald, containing him till late in the 4th quarter, but everyone else caught passes.
 
The Bolts secondary have 4-pass defense penalties that resulted in lst downs.  That secondary gave up 16-plays of 11-yards or more, and by the time the damage was done, they had allowed (409Y) of Cardinal offense.  Arizona hit big plays of 20-25 and 63-yards.
 
The wide receiver group had 4-dropped passes.  The offensive line got beat time and time again at the point of attack, and lost OC-Nick Hardwick with an ankle problem early.
 
QB Philip Rivers bore the brunt of 4-big time hits in the pocket.  He had his own personal nightmare, mishandling a shotgun snap, throwing one pick and a second likely one that was voided by a bogus pass interference call.  He was pressured and not very accurate over the course of the evening.  His offensive line had a poor outing.
 
The debut of new offensive coordinator Frank Reich was shaky, in terms of getting the calls in, and having Rivers call plays in the noise at the line of scrimmage.  The Bolts had just 2-series where they looked like the offense of a year ago.
 
 
UGLY…How this ended up with dropped passes, a couple of wasted possessions late, and the likely regret, though this only counts as one loss in the standings, they may regret not stealing this win.
 
Arizona won ugly and the Chargers played ugly, and it was a likely win turned into a loss.

Chargers – Cardinals

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They are ready, and they are going to win, at least tonight they are.
 
The Chargers play the Arizona Cardinals in what they hope will be the next step forward to regaining their status as an elite team in the AFC.  They snapped a three year playoff drought last year, forging their way into the postseason, with a late season run.  They wound up winning a playoff game in Cincinnati to boot, to complete a ‘regain the credibility’ season.
 
They were helped along the way, not just by the greatness of QB-Philip Rivers, or the emergence of the maturing Ryan Mathews, or the leadership of a fiery-demanding coach Mike McCoy, but rather by a relatively easy schedule, the second easiest in the league.  That was last year and last year no longer counts.
 
This year the Bolts play the 4th toughest slate in the NFL, opponents with a combined (.563) winning percentage.  The Raiders and Denver are ranked 1-2 with the hardest schedule, all because the AFC-West wind up playing the power people in the NFC-West, the Seahawks, 49ers and Arizona.
 
The Chargers have a sledgehammer of an offense, Rivers, Mathews as part of a 3-Musketeer running back corps, quality tight ends, and enough receivers to pose threats.  It is the defense where they lack, and they are not totally healthy either.
 
Banged up in the front, the team needs healthy people to compliment pass rusher Corey Liuget.  They are very thin at nose tackle, and have virtually no experienced depth.
 
Linebacking is the strength, and it will take the fierceness of Dwight Freeney’s pass rush and the explosiveness of Melvin Ingram to bail out the deficiencies upfront. 
 
The Chargers have strength in numbers in the secondary, but it is young.  Tonight we find out if cornerback Brandon Flowers has any speed left to cover wideouts, and we find out if Richard Marshall can play safety.  San Diego needs people like Shareece Wright and Darrell Stuckey to take the next step up in terms of productivity after poor years last year.
 
lst round pick Jason Verrett will be a role player at the start.  He is gifted athletically, but has hardly played in preseason, and tonight those will be people like Larry Fitzgerald, Ted Ginn and Michael Floyd running routes against him.
 
If nothing else, San Diego has proven they can put up big offensive numbers with McCoy’s no-huddle offense.  They’ve shown they can spread the field sideline to sideline spraying passes everywhere. We know they can control the clock too with Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown.
 
They will score a lot of points but they will have to, because the defense will be allowing points, especially with that schedule of big play quarterbacks they go against.
 
Prediction here, San Diego slugs Arizona, plays ball control to keep Carson Palmer and that Cardinals passing game off the field.  Prediction too, San Diego gets to a (9-7) season and another playoff berth, hoping not to have any significant injuries on defense. 
 
The Chargers have to play fast, because Rivers’ career is on the clock, and there’s little time left to get the chance to get back to the AFC Championship game.  They could with Rivers, they cannot if they have to rely on the defense.

NFL – Pick ’em pal!

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How I view the NFL Divisional Races
 
AFC West
(1) Denver has too much firepower, a healthy offensive line, a rebuilt defense with attitude, and of course Peyton Manning.  They do get Von Miller-Ryan Clady back at 100% health. 
(2) San Diego has an array of big play guys now on offense.  What a match-Philip Rivers with Coach Mike McCoy.  They will score lots of points, but they will need them.  Bolts to finish second because of substandard defense…
(3) Kansas City takes a huge step back.  They went from 2-wins to 11-last year, but gutted some veteran players.  No one can forget  the ugliness of the playoff loss either…this will be a disappointing year at Arrowhead….
(4) Oakland now has to start rookie QB-Derek Carr because of injuries, and they have surrounded him with veterans, but they have no continuity on defense..if they get to (8-8) that will be an accomplishment..
 
AFC East
(1) New England has now had a year to work in the kid WRs with Tom Brady, has rebuilt the defense, which is healthy and younger. 
(2) The Jets talk a good game, but I doubt they have enough to play a good game.  Geno Smith takes a step forward at QB and the defensive front seven is special, but Revis-Cromartie are gone in the secondary and the WR corp is shaky…
(3) Buffalo has the young QB-WR combo-EJ Manuel-Sammy Watkins and depth at RB-but not much else…
(4) Miami-massive attitude adjustment there, not enough people around QB-Ryan Tannehill.
 
AFC North
(1) Cincinnati is the choice here but they need to get Andy Dalton to learn how to win in postseason.
(2) Baltimore has Joe Flacco and an upgrade at WR, but lots of new pieces on defense.  (3) Pittsburgh has failed as an organization to draft talent of late to wrap around Ben Roethlisberger, and likely won’t be in the postseason…
(4) Cleveland has issues everyone and now uncertainty at QB with Hoyer-Manziel debate going on everyday…Might be a year away from being good.
 
AFC South
(1) Indianapolis wins because of Andrew Luck, but also wins because the division is so bad.  Colts have lots of holes in what looks like a rebuild of the roster…
(2) Tennessee starts the life after Chris Johnson era with Ken Whisenhunt as coach, a new look OL, a rebuilt defense, but lacking enough firepower around the uncertain QB-Jake Locker-give them another year…
(3) Jacksonville has the QB of the future sitting right now-Blake Bortels,  but he looks good.  Nothing else on the team does however…
(4) Houston has all the powderkeg players on defense, but they cannot play 60-minutes a game, and they have not added much around Arian Foster-Andre Johnson-not a good year for new coach Bill O’Brien.
 
NFC East
(1) Philadelphia has changed some parts-out goes WR-DeSean Jackson, in comes RB-Darren Sproles and a bigger group of WRs…Defenses caught up with Chip Kelly the second half of the year, but this will be fun to see if they grow this package more…
(2) Washington will be better a couple of weeks down road, but the growth of QB-RG3 in this pocket offense will take time..think the defense is better than anyone realizes…
(3) New York Giants have Eli Manning and a new offense, but question marks at running game, a struggling WR corps, and injuries and new faces on defense..a work in the process package…
(4) Dallas-yes Tony Romo is back but aside from Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, is there anything else…Can a defense that gave up (415Y) per game last year be worse-stay tuned.
 
NFC North
(1) Green Bay thinks it will be more dangerous than in the past with a full commitment to Aaron Rogers no huddle and has 3-RBs to help him..but does porous run defense hold up now that they lost DT-BJ Raji for the year…
(2) Detroit unveils the Jim Caldwell era and they think they can tone down turnover prone QB-Matthew Stafford and make the rest of the offense consistent..the defensive front does play angry, but can they stop anyone in the secondary…
(3) Chicago was very active in free agency and has given Jay Cutler lots of bullets in the gun, and the defensive looks superb with Jared Allen-Lamarr Houston, but do they have enough in the secondary, or is it just outscore people…
(4) Minnesota has new leadership in Mike Zimmer-Norv Turner and I like them..they have RB-Adrian Peterson but face a rebuilding job in their DL.
 
NFC South
(1) New Orleans has a revitalized Drew Brees, playmakers at WR with Stills-Cooks and 3-RBs-but now do they have enough defense…
(2) Atlanta needs to bounce back from the (4-12) misery of last year or Mike Smith could be in trouble..Injuries in OL and LB hurt the hopes of the season…
(3) Carolina must grow QB-Cam Newton, but running off all their WRs seemed a strange way to do business..Deep at RB…and the Ron Rivera defensive front seven is ferocious..Just don’t know about things around the QB…
(4) Tampa Bay’s hiring of Lovie Smith was great, and they hauled in lots of new faces, but will need time to make it fit, and answer the question, who really is the QB.
 
NFC West
(1) Seattle is the likely pick to get to the NFC finals again, but the 3-weeks schedule out of the gate is tough, and they lost a bunch of depth on defense…Still loaded however and really fast around Russell Wilson…
(2) San Francisco-this could be a drift back year eventhough the WR corps and RB group looks good around Colin Kaepernick…but off field  problems-injuries have really stripped defense…
(3) Arizona will be a force, but might have been a real threat for top spot before injuries and suspension gutted the up-the-middle defense..Carson Palmer will be better in year two of Bruce Ariens offense and he has weapons, but jut not enough guns on defense…
(4) St. Louis-just when you thought they had arrived under Jeff Fisher-QB-Sam Bradford goes down again with a knee injury…Defense will have to carry them, but you need star power at QB in this league and they don’t have it.