AGRI Biz

With the signing of free agent cornerback Donald Strickland, the San Diego Chargers appear to have addressed one glaring hole on the team. Strickland is ideally suited for the nickel back role, providing depth to a San Diego team that was compelled to use safeties in nickel and dime packages last season. He will at least enter training camp behind Antoine Cason on the depth chart. But the former Jet is also ...

Following a departure from the San Diego Chargers that alternated between bittersweet (tearful press conference) and contentious (radio interview),  LaDainian Tomlinson has now signed with the New York Jets. The Jets landed the 30-year-old future Hall of Famer with a two-year, $5.2 million contract and the promise of a superior run-blocking offensive line. It does ruffle some feathers on both sides of the deal, however, and is an interesting move on the ...

Despite only adding one player thus far (waiver wire running back Marcus Mason), the San Diego Chargers have had a very busy offseason so far.  Whether it be tendering restricted free agents, making trades, or releasing expensive veterans, San Diego has been very active. Looking at the initial moves in San Diego’s offseason can be broken down into two obvious sections: players retained and players let go.  For this first part, ...

At this point in the NFL season all slates are cleared and no team can be called a clear-cut division favorite.  Five out of eight divisions were won by two games or fewer.  Among the three with greater divides, two of the second-place divisional teams still posted winning records. Yet no division is so unclear at this point in the offseason as the NFC West.  Recent divisional stud Arizona was inconsistent even ...

2006 third-round draft pick Charlie Whitehurst has found himself mired at the bottom of San Diego’s depth chart.  The team has its long term answer at quarterback in Philip Rivers, one of four players to earn MVP votes in 2009.  Behind him they are also extremely well served with Billy Volek entrenched in the backup role. The duo has given the team tremendous strength and depth at the position, but it has ...

The opening volleys to the NFL offseason centered on experienced running backs:  Ladainian Tomlinson, Bryan Westbrook, and Thomas Jones were all cut by their respective teams for reaching the point of age-concern. Thomas Jones was officially signed by Kansas City to give him the shortest unemployment term.  Ladainian Tomlinson appears close to signing with the Minnesota Vikings. Following the opening stages of the offseason, a new position has surpassed the running back ...

  While not officially confirmed yet, all signs appear to be pointed toward Ladainian Tomlinson signing with the Minnesota Vikings.  The move is logical, signing a savvy vet to replace departed savvy vet Chester Taylor, but still is something of a surprise to some. Early into the offseason Tomlinson had been pegged as probably being the last of the three axed veterans to find a home.  Thomas Jones was fresh off a 1,400 ...

While the order may be in question, it is at least the general consensus that the team has three primary needs this offseason—cornerback, running back, and nose tackle.  Having lost a starter at each of the three positions this offseason, San Diego needs to focus its efforts on those three ahead of all others. Assuming that translates to a player drafted to each position in the first three rounds, that leaves ...

With an uncapped year resulting in over 200 restricted free agents, most of whom would be unrestricted and testing open waters any other year, the few prize names available are being snatched up quickly. Several of the most notable names have already been claimed.  Antrel Rolle signed with the New York Giants for five years and $37 million.  Karlos Dansby and the Miami Dolphins came to a five-year, $43 million accord.  ...

With LaDainian Tomlinson and Jamal Williams hitting the open waters of free agency and Antonio Cromartie given a transcontinental change of address, the three big needs for San Diego are obvious—starting running back, nose tackle, and cornerback. What is less obvious is how the team goes about addressing those three positions.  Given AJ Smith’s track record and the corpse-quiet of the free agent rumor mill in Southern California it is highly ...