If San Diego had kept Brees (1 Viewer)

[{Syrus}]

Just curious if you guys think SD would be touted as a sleeper superbowl pick if SD had kept Drew Brees. It seems to me they would have had the necessary tools to contend...all-pro QB, RB, TE, solid defense. Tomlinson showed a lot of loyalty to the organization by signing a long-term contract in SD, they owed it at least to Tomlinson to make every effort to win a superbowl at some point in his career, and to me keeping Drew Brees was necessary to do that. I'm very dissapointed.

 

[Texican]

Surely you can't be syrus

 

[Jous]

If they kept Brees, they would have been my SuperBowl pick. Now I have yet to decide if I'm picking them to go 3rd or 4th in the division.

 

[Native]

Definitely.

 

[{Syrus}]

If they kept Brees, they would have been my SuperBowl pick. Now I have yet to decide if I'm picking them to go 3rd or 4th in the division.

And that's just what I don't get....A.J. Smith had to have realized that this franchise was on the verge of something great, that they had turned the corner finally. With the way SD played against Indianapolis last season, I have no doubt that they could now contend with the big boys of the AFC. Why take so many steps back in order to save some salary cap dollars. They literally went from Superbowl pick by keeping Brees to 3rd/4th best in their division with Rivers. Pisses me off.

 

[Courtjester]

Even if they kept Brees they would have had a tough time winning their division, let alone the whole thing.

The AFC is way too deep right now with teams that can beat them.

They need to seriosly address their WR situation before any Super Bowl talk can even be started.

 

[RamMan]

Surely you can't be syrus

He is and don't call him Shirley...

 

[gman8343]

If they kept Brees, they would have been my SuperBowl pick. Now I have yet to decide if I'm picking them to go 3rd or 4th in the division.

And that's just what I don't get....A.J. Smith had to have realized that this franchise was on the verge of something great, that they had turned the corner finally. With the way SD played against Indianapolis last season, I have no doubt that they could now contend with the big boys of the AFC. Why take so many steps back in order to save some salary cap dollars. They literally went from Superbowl pick by keeping Brees to 3rd/4th best in their division with Rivers. Pisses me off.

Brees had a major injury, so there would have been question marks with this team anyway.

 

[Tau837]

I totally disagree. If they would have been a contender, then they still are. And Brees has never been an All Pro QB. I assume you meant to say Pro Bowl.

 

[Judge Smails]

Brees' injury made that an easy decision in my mind. They had Rivers locked up at big money. It was the right decision..

 

[Courtjester]

If they kept Brees, they would have been my SuperBowl pick. Now I have yet to decide if I'm picking them to go 3rd or 4th in the division.

And that's just what I don't get....A.J. Smith had to have realized that this franchise was on the verge of something great, that they had turned the corner finally. With the way SD played against Indianapolis last season, I have no doubt that they could now contend with the big boys of the AFC. Why take so many steps back in order to save some salary cap dollars. They literally went from Superbowl pick by keeping Brees to 3rd/4th best in their division with Rivers. Pisses me off.

Brees had a major injury, so there would have been question marks with this team anyway.

And if you have read any of the press about Smith--Brees wasn't his pick and so even if he didn't get hurt, he would have been gone or playing backup.I would be mad also if I were a SD fan. This is an example of a GM who has put his ego and will to be "RIGHT" over what is good for the team. Even if Rivers is serviceable, he is bound to struggle.

 

[cws3030]

i think this year they might have fared better with Brees but not Super Bowl caliber. I think Rivers will give them a better chance of winning a Super Bowl in 2007.

 

[renesauz]

People are forgetting too easily that Rivers is NOT a rookie. He's been practicing in this system for several years now, and has shown that he has the physical tools.

I sincerely doubt that SD takes any significant step backwards this year in going to Rivers, and may be BETTER in the long run. Toss in Brees' injury and I think this move was a no-brainer. Rivers will be fine (after a game or two to acclimate...and one of those is against the lowly Raiders...perfect first game for him!)

 

[BoltzNBrew]

IF BAL can win a SB with Trent Freaking Dilfer and that horrible O they had why can't the Chargers make the playoffs with Rivers? Sure he has never started an NFL game but with the weapons he has all he has to do is not turn the ball over and feed LT and Gates. The D will obviously have to keep the scores low but I think Rivers has enough talent around him to put up enough points to win games.

 

[Jon_Moore]

I couldn't disagree more. Brees was a good, but not great QB. It may take Rivers a year of playing time, but he has the potential to be a really good to great quarterback, the type that can take over a game, where as Brees wasn't ever going to do that.

I really believe Rivers will prove to be a much better qb than brees, and SD wasn't "competing" this year regardless. The AFC has a ton of good teams

I have Denver in the superbowl (same division as SD) Indy is obviously going to be really good, The Bengals and Steelers should both do well, The Patriots should do well, San Diego may have a tough time finding the playoffs this year, but Rivers is more likely to get them to a superbowl down the road than Brees was/is.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I think they have a better chance with Rivers than they did with Brees. I guess we'll find out . . .

(And even if they'd kept Brees, I think if there were an honest, open competition to start at QB this year, Brees would be the backup anyway.)

 

[tommyGunZ]

Rivers > Brees, right now. The Chargers upgraded at the starting QB position this year.

And the Bolts are Super Bowl contenders.

 

[Gr00vus]

Rivers > Brees, right now. The Chargers upgraded at the starting QB position this year.And the Bolts are Super Bowl contenders.

Informative, succinct and correct - tommyGunZ at his best.PS. Have you seen Brees recently - doesn't look good, and with that average to poor offensive line, he's going to have a tough year. PPS. If Vincent Jackson can progress this season, they'll have their "receiver problems" shored up as well.

 

[thayman]

If they kept Brees, they would have been my SuperBowl pick. Now I have yet to decide if I'm picking them to go 3rd or 4th in the division.

And that's just what I don't get....A.J. Smith had to have realized that this franchise was on the verge of something great, that they had turned the corner finally. With the way SD played against Indianapolis last season, I have no doubt that they could now contend with the big boys of the AFC. Why take so many steps back in order to save some salary cap dollars. They literally went from Superbowl pick by keeping Brees to 3rd/4th best in their division with Rivers. Pisses me off.

Brees had a major injury, so there would have been question marks with this team anyway.

And if you have read any of the press about Smith--Brees wasn't his pick and so even if he didn't get hurt, he would have been gone or playing backup.I would be mad also if I were a SD fan. This is an example of a GM who has put his ego and will to be "RIGHT" over what is good for the team. Even if Rivers is serviceable, he is bound to struggle.

I agree. It just seems like such a pissing match between Smith and Schotty....of course just an outsiders POV. I am a huge Rivers fan though, maybe not so much for this year, but I think he is one good WR from being a top QB

 

[Chaos Commish]

I think they have a better chance with Rivers than they did with Brees. I guess we'll find out . . .(And even if they'd kept Brees, I think if there were an honest, open competition to start at QB this year, Brees would be the backup anyway.)

I'm worried about Rivers psychologically. I think he's shaky right now. He's doing a terrible job making progressions and reading defenses. He rarely looked away from his primary this preseason. That's going to cost him several interceptions if it continues. Nevertheless, he is the better talent and gives SD the best chance. I agree he likely would have won the job this year anyway.

 

[massraider]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

 

[Riffraff]

Same as most of teh above:

Brees injury + Rivers' talent meant they would be paying a $10mil QB to sit on the bench.

Bad team management if that were to happen.

They've seen the best Brees could have taken them. He's not a difference maker for a team, just a reliable cog. Rivers can be that and hopefully a whole lot more.

 

[dickey moe]

It's such a darn shame that he had that injury the last game of the season last year -- if that wouldn't have happened, I feel the Chargers would have kept Brees and tried to move Rivers. They probably made the right business decision, though.

 

[cstu]

Even if they kept Brees they would have had a tough time winning their division, let alone the whole thing.The AFC is way too deep right now with teams that can beat them.They need to seriosly address their WR situation before any Super Bowl talk can even be started.

By next year the Chargers could be looking at having their version of Palmer at QB and a young stud at WR in Vincent Jackson - all while having LT still in his prime and a very talented backup in Turner (he will be 1st round tendered). I think AJ looked at the team realistically and decided not to mortgage the future for this year and sees them able to seriously contend for the next 4-5 years with Rivers while LT is still good.

 

[tommyGunZ]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

I'm sure Raider fans are stoked that Smith signed an undrafted Antonio Gates, moved for Keenan McCardell, and traded Eli for Rivers, Shawne Merriman, Nate Kaeding, and Roman Oben. Smith took Eli over Robert Gallery, because he knew he could get a better right tackle 7 rounds later (Shane Olivea). Oh, and Smith "reached" for Luis Castillo last year, and Castillo made every all-rookie team at DE.Meanwhile, the Raiders drafted the bust of the '04 draft (Gallery), signed Kerry Collins, and have now moved on to Aaron Brooks, while posting records of 4-12, 5-11, 4-12 since Smith has been the Charger GM.

 

[cstu]

I think they have a better chance with Rivers than they did with Brees. I guess we'll find out . . .(And even if they'd kept Brees, I think if there were an honest, open competition to start at QB this year, Brees would be the backup anyway.)

I'm worried about Rivers psychologically. I think he's shaky right now. He's doing a terrible job making progressions and reading defenses. He rarely looked away from his primary this preseason. That's going to cost him several interceptions if it continues. Nevertheless, he is the better talent and gives SD the best chance. I agree he likely would have won the job this year anyway.

I heard the exact same thing about Palmer his first year starting - doesn't have the mental toughness to be an NFL QB, etc, etc. Halfway through 2004 many people were ready to write him off as a bust after throwing 5 TD's to 10 INT's and going 2-5:

|  1  nyj  |   18   27   248   2   1  |	2	10   0 ||  2  mia  |   21   38   147   0   1  |	0	 0   0 ||  3  bal  |   25   52   316   0   3  |	1	 2   0 ||  4  pit  |   20   37   164   1   2  |	1	 1   0 ||  6  cle  |   20   36   148   1   1  |	0	 0   0 ||  7  den  |   12   21   198   1   1  |	4	 0   0 ||  8  ten  |   20   36   247   0   1  |	0	 0   0 |

 

[massraider]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

I'm sure Raider fans are stoked that Smith signed an undrafted Antonio Gates, moved for Keenan McCardell, and traded Eli for Rivers, Shawne Merriman, Nate Kaeding, and Roman Oben. Smith took Eli over Robert Gallery, because he knew he could get a better right tackle 7 rounds later (Shane Olivea). Oh, and Smith "reached" for Luis Castillo last year, and Castillo made every all-rookie team at DE.Meanwhile, the Raiders drafted the bust of the '04 draft (Gallery), signed Kerry Collins, and have now moved on to Aaron Brooks, while posting records of 4-12, 5-11, 4-12 since Smith has been the Charger GM.

I don't understand. What does Raider personnel moves have to do with my opinion of AJ Smith?Raider fans biggest fear as it applies to the Chargers is that they may someday win a Superbowl. AJ Smith/Martyball

 

[Jous]

IF BAL can win a SB with Trent Freaking Dilfer and that horrible O they had why can't the Chargers make the playoffs with Rivers? Sure he has never started an NFL game but with the weapons he has all he has to do is not turn the ball over and feed LT and Gates. The D will obviously have to keep the scores low but I think Rivers has enough talent around him to put up enough points to win games.

Because there's always the very, very possible chance that Rivers could be a BUST in the NFL.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

IF BAL can win a SB with Trent Freaking Dilfer and that horrible O they had why can't the Chargers make the playoffs with Rivers? Sure he has never started an NFL game but with the weapons he has all he has to do is not turn the ball over and feed LT and Gates. The D will obviously have to keep the scores low but I think Rivers has enough talent around him to put up enough points to win games.

Because there's always the very, very possible chance that Rivers could be a BUST in the NFL.

Dilfer was a bust, but he still won the Super Bowl.

 

[Riffraff]

Because there's always the very, very possible chance that Rivers any draft choice could be a BUST in the NFL.

Fixed for you.

 

[Jous]

Dilfer wasn't a complete bust. he didn't nearly match his expectations, but he traveled around and started for a number of teams for a while.

A bust is a player like Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Cade McNown etc. Rivers could still end up like one of those guys, or he could end up like Dilfer, or he could end up like Peyton Manning.....we just don't know.

That's why keeping him over Brees was a mistake. With Brees, they knew they were getting a Pro Bowl caliber QB who would give them a chance every week. With Rivers, for all we know, he could end up throwing 200 more passes in his career and then be out of the league. And I don't buy the fact that they chose to get rid of him because of the injury...I think they knew that there was only a very small chance it would ruin his career, and used it as an excuse to go with Rivers and save money.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

That's why keeping him over Brees was a mistake. With Brees, they knew they were getting a Pro Bowl caliber QB who would give them a chance every week.

Brees really didn't play all that well last year. He ended up with good stats because of the offense he was in (which is why Rivers will also do well), but he couldn't win games when he had to down the stretch. The Chargers were 0-4 when Tomlinson didn't get more than 65 yards rushing. When teams loaded up to stop the run and forced the Chargers to throw, the offense sputtered. I think Rivers is better than Brees.I am really sick of the offseason. Can the regular season please get going so this can play out?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Rivers > Brees, right now. The Chargers upgraded at the starting QB position this year.And the Bolts are Super Bowl contenders.

I love a nonbiased post like this.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I think they have a better chance with Rivers than they did with Brees. I guess we'll find out . . .(And even if they'd kept Brees, I think if there were an honest, open competition to start at QB this year, Brees would be the backup anyway.)

Hey MT, I respect your opinion...I dothink Brees would have been just as capable as Rivers.Here's what I do like about Phillip Rivers: He has been in the system for 2 years and brought along slowly...I think that makes a major difference than when they get thrown to the wolves...very few QBs are NFL ready.Rivers should be able to lead a talented team thru the season...their WRs are made up of an old fart and completely unproven NFL talent so they are lacking playmakers for Rivers to thro the ball down the field. If I am a defense, I double up on Gates and go 1 on 1 with everybody else...McCardell is really getting long in the tooth...he's not as good as he was even in Tampa Bay when the Bucs won the SuperBowl 48-21 over Oakland(Had to get that in somewhere).I also think the Foley incident will have a huge impact on this defense and the team in general. The team was a little quick to cut off his paycheck(Even though they have the right)...never the less I think the team will frown upon a $500 million+ team not paying out $800,000 to a guy that has done an awful good job for them. You won't see it that way I'm sure but as a general NFL fan I do and whether you believe it or not, it rubs off on the players too. Bad PR for the team.So I think San Diego will be exciting to watch, LT owner will be happy...but once again they miss the playoffs this season and go maybe 8-8.

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

Chargers going for their 6th win in a row against the raiders. LOL at you.

 

[massraider]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

Chargers going for their 6th win in a row against the raiders. LOL at you.

Again with the Raiders? We talkin' bout the Chargers here, skippy!

 

[Chaos Commish]

I think they have a better chance with Rivers than they did with Brees. I guess we'll find out . . .(And even if they'd kept Brees, I think if there were an honest, open competition to start at QB this year, Brees would be the backup anyway.)

I'm worried about Rivers psychologically. I think he's shaky right now. He's doing a terrible job making progressions and reading defenses. He rarely looked away from his primary this preseason. That's going to cost him several interceptions if it continues. Nevertheless, he is the better talent and gives SD the best chance. I agree he likely would have won the job this year anyway.

I heard the exact same thing about Palmer his first year starting - doesn't have the mental toughness to be an NFL QB, etc, etc. Halfway through 2004 many people were ready to write him off as a bust after throwing 5 TD's to 10 INT's and going 2-5:

Not from me. I've rabidly defended Carson since his Junior year at SC. I'm also agreeing Rivers is the Chargers best chance. I'm just pointing to some red flags flying around apparently unseen by those with rose colored glasses on. Hopefully Rivers start is better than 5 tds to 10 picks and a 2-5 record. Starting with the Raiders then Titans then their bye week should work out nicely.

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

Chargers going for their 6th win in a row against the raiders. LOL at you.

Again with the Raiders? We talkin' bout the Chargers here, skippy!

umm, read your orginal post again.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

MoP, I disagree with your assessment of the WRs. McCardell may not be as good as he was in 2003, but he was a top ten WR that year. He was #17 last year. He hasn't slowed down. (Which doesn't mean he's fast -- he never was.) McCardell and Parker are not Boldin and Fitzgerald, obviously, but they both get open and catch the ball. Sure-handed WRs will help Rivers. Jackson is the big play threat. Gates is Gates and LT is LT. Overall, the offense is loaded with talent to surround Rivers with.

Foley will be missed, but the pass rush will actually improve with Phillips in his place (although the run defense will suffer). I hate for the Chargers to lose any player -- especially the way this one went down -- but if they had to lose somebody at any position, linebacker is the position where it will have the least effect. They're still loaded there.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

MoP, I disagree with your assessment of the WRs. McCardell may not be as good as he was in 2003, but he was a top ten WR that year. He was #17 last year. He hasn't slowed down. (Which doesn't mean he's fast -- he never was.) McCardell and Parker are not Boldin and Fitzgerald, obviously, but they both get open and catch the ball. Sure-handed WRs will help Rivers. Jackson is the big play threat. Gates is Gates and LT is LT. Overall, the offense is loaded with talent to surround Rivers with.

Foley will be missed, but the pass rush will actually improve with Phillips in his place (although the run defense will suffer). I hate for the Chargers to lose any player -- especially the way this one went down -- but if they had to lose somebody at any position, linebacker is the position where it will have the least effect. They're still loaded there.

I think those rose colored glasses you have on are mighty thick but we can revisit this in week 6. Maybe sooner.

 

[Gr00vus]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

Considering the low intelligence level common among Faider fans, I can't think of a more ringing endorcement of the great job A.J. has done.Shouldn't you be getting your face painted and donning your ridiculous spiked shoulder pads w/ replica Darth Vader helmet for Monday's game now anyway?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I think those rose colored glasses you have on are mighty thick but we can revisit this in week 6. Maybe sooner.

What do you think I am -- a Redskin fan? They are gold colored.And like I said, can the regular season please get going? It's taking too long.

 

[Gr00vus]

MoP, I disagree with your assessment of the WRs. McCardell may not be as good as he was in 2003, but he was a top ten WR that year. He was #17 last year. He hasn't slowed down. (Which doesn't mean he's fast -- he never was.) McCardell and Parker are not Boldin and Fitzgerald, obviously, but they both get open and catch the ball. Sure-handed WRs will help Rivers. Jackson is the big play threat. Gates is Gates and LT is LT. Overall, the offense is loaded with talent to surround Rivers with.

Foley will be missed, but the pass rush will actually improve with Phillips in his place (although the run defense will suffer). I hate for the Chargers to lose any player -- especially the way this one went down -- but if they had to lose somebody at any position, linebacker is the position where it will have the least effect. They're still loaded there.

I think those rose colored glasses you have on are mighty thick but we can revisit this in week 6. Maybe sooner.

No offense MoP but Maurile is all over you with the Charger info - no rose colored glasses in any way. He's got a very realistic read on the team. The big question marks this season are how Rivers will hold up, and if the defensive secondary will improve. Those (and good health) will be the deciding factors for how well the Chargers do this year.

 

[Chase Stuart]

I'm with MT (and thanks for linking to my blog post ) on Rivers being an upgrade over Brees. But there's something (also from my blog post) that people are overlooking.

San Diego didn't know what they were getting with Brees. You can't predict the future.

What did Minnesota know they were getting with Culpepper this time last year? Culpepper had been to Hawaii multiple times, and had just finished a season where he set the record for total yards in a season.

Brees is injured. Think that doesn't matter? Don't you think the 2002 Rams thought they were set at QB, after Warner's dominant 2001 season? Well injuries struck and he saw a big decline in play.

Steve McNair won co-MVP in 2003. If the Titans released him, everyone would say "why release a guy who you KNOW is MVP caliber?" Well it turns out he wasn't MVP caliber anymore -- he stunk up the joint (relative to 2003) in 2004.

And I won't even get started about George Blanda.

The point is there's always a rather large element of risk. Drew Brees was by no means a lock to play well this year, even if he stayed in San Diego.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Shouldn't you be getting your face painted and donning your ridiculous spiked shoulder pads w/ replica Darth Vader helmet for Monday's game now anyway?

LOL

 

[Gr00vus]

Shouldn't you be getting your face painted and donning your ridiculous spiked shoulder pads w/ replica Darth Vader helmet for Monday's game now anyway?

LOL

I don't know which I like better - the Faider sombrero or the Faider tiara.....

 

[massraider]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

Considering the low intelligence level common among Faider fans, I can't think of a more ringing endorcement of the great job A.J. has done.

"Faider"?That's awesome! I get it, it rhymes with Raider, but implies they fade!! Oh, baby, that's gold! Get on the horn with a copyright lawyer, you gotta own that one, man!

 

[BoltzNBrew]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

Considering the low intelligence level common among Faider fans, I can't think of a more ringing endorcement of the great job A.J. has done.

"Faider"?That's awesome! I get it, it rhymes with Raider, but implies they fade!! Oh, baby, that's gold! Get on the horn with a copyright lawyer, you gotta own that one, man!

My favorite is Oaklan Raiers. Notice whats missing?

 

[massraider]

As a Raiders fan, real glad to see AJ Smith running the show in San Diego.

Considering the low intelligence level common among Faider fans, I can't think of a more ringing endorcement of the great job A.J. has done.

"Faider"?That's awesome! I get it, it rhymes with Raider, but implies they fade!! Oh, baby, that's gold! Get on the horn with a copyright lawyer, you gotta own that one, man!

My favorite is Oaklan Raiers. Notice whats missing?

Yeah, a ticket to the Oakland at San Diego game. Why don't you sell me yours?