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ESPN: SportsNation |
Do the Raiders get blown out once again on Monday night football or do you see them being competitive against the Chargers?
You just never know about those opening games. But the Raiders better had learned from those recent Monday Night spankings that they have to be ready or they'll be embarrassed. If Oakland can pull off this win, it could set the tone for the season.
how close to 100% would you say San Diego is going to be this season in terms of health and whos the most questionable. thanks Bill
The Chargers should enter 2009 in much better health than they entered last season. Shawne Merriman is the big quesiton mark, but he is coming along well.
Have you heard anything or possibly any chances of KC pursuing Plax? I think he would be a great asset and not much of a risk with the legal until after the season. Thoughts?
The Chiefs have kept their names out of the Burress talk. He could fit, but I'd be surprised if Scott Pioli pursued him.
Brandon Marshall to the G-Men?
I could see the interest, but at this point, I don't see Denver trading him.
Hey Bill, I am a huge Charger's fan and I want your opinion as to how the Charger's season will start. They seem healthy right now unlike the past beginnings of the year, but will the Charger's start the year hot or cold?
If Merriman is healthy and the defense continues to improve under coordinator Ron Rivera, I expect a better start in than the past two seasons in San Diego.
i wud choose rady over manning any day of the season
I knew the Brady choice would be controversial to some. But I bet if Manning was the choice (and it was a close call) more people would be upset than they are now. Really, how can Brady be denied? Let's keep those all-decade team quesitons and thoughts comings
Come on now, Holt over Moss???
If I was picking the team by myslef I'd probably take Moss. I coveerd him for four years im Minnesota and know how dangeorus and dominant he is. But it was a group effort. Can't knock Holt too much can you?
It is obvious that to sustain offensive greatness in the NFL, it all starts on the offensive line. Why don't more start by building a top rate offensive line? Why do they instead go for the big name skilled positions who end up getting destroyed by defenses because they get no blocking?
I think teams do look to start on the o-line. Left tackle Jake Long was taken at No. 1 in 2007 and left tackle Jason Smith was taken at No. 2 this year.
Bill do you think Marshall wanting a new contract could potentially have to do with him hiding his hip injury and knowing he won't be 100% come the season? Is he potentially wanting to get his money now because he can't get it later?
Could be, Taylor, it is an interesting theory. But from everything I hear, he is ahead of scheudle and he will be ready for training camp ... If he shows up, of course.
With the AFC west looking like 1 dominate team in the Chargers and the rest fighting to stay out of plast place does that give the Chargers a false sense of going far in the playoffs?
The key for San Diego is to beat non-AFC West teams. San Diego was 3-7 out of the division last season.
Bill: How tough an assignment was this, having to relate how Brady beats out manning?
Yes, but again, I'd have some serious explaining to do if Manning was the choice over Brady. It's just another example of how lucky we are to see two all-time great QBs play together in their prime.
Harrison does own a ring, though.
It has to be Denver.
Yes, Roaf was a worthy candidate. But Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden were undeniable. Still, Roaf was special and he is a hall of famer.
I think he a chance for a bounce-back season this year, but his years of dominance may be numbered for Tomlinson, who turned 30 Tuesday.
Do you think the Broncos o-line will be just as good this year?
The o-line should be fine. They have great tackles in Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris.
At this point, it might just be you, Ian.
The AFC West gets the NFC East, so, yes, it's not an easy load for the AFC West teams this season.
Orlando Pace, Will Allen, Will Shields were left out of the list of all decade offensive lineman. Anybody else you fell was snubbed at the Oline?
I'm not sure if I'll use the word "snubbed" but those three players (I think you mean Larry Allen), Willie Roaf, Kevin Mawae and Matt Birk were all worthy candidates.
Looking at the line on the all decade team it is painful to think what could have been for my Seahawks as Mawae, Hutch, and Walter were all Seahawks at one time. How do you think that line would compare to the Cowboys line in the 90's?
It would have been nasty, for sure. Jones loved playing with Hutchinson.
Which player on the All Decade team was the easiest to choose?
I'd say Tomlinson. He was the premier runnng back of the decade. Gonzalez was a no brainer as well.
Everybody says LT is on the decline because of obvious age, injuries, and decreased production. But......this is LT! Last year the defense played poorly and the Chargers played a lot of catchup, LT suffered a bad toe injury in the first game, and the offensive line was bad...LT got stuffed before he hit the holes......A healthy LT, better O-Line, and better D should translate to a normal LT season? Do you agree Bill?
If he stays healthy and the o-line improves and stays healthy, I epxect a 1,300-1,500 rushing season by Tomlinson.
Tom Brady has been on better TEAMS, but Peyton Manning is the better QB. He would have hit 60 TDs EASY two seasons ago with NE.
Can't argue with Manning. It'd be pointless. But you cna't argue with Brady, either. The rings were the tiebreaker on this one.
Shawn Alexander ran behind two all decade o-linemen. Was he really any better than an average running back?
Alexander had his time where he was dominant. He was better than average.
Does Garcia see playing time in the first half of the season?
Only if Russell gets hurt.
QUESTION TO BILLWILLIANMSON AT 3.40 PM HOWDY BILL DO YOU REMEMBER THE OLD AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
No, too young ... barely.
Does Tom nalan get an honerable mention as a 5 time pro bowl center for the Broncos with two super bowl rings, or was he too far out of his prime from 2000-2007 to deserve an mention on the list?
For sure. I covered Nalen at the end of his career. He was one of the best. He deserves hall of fame consideration.
Do you see any early candidates for the next all-decade team?
Good question: Adrian Peterson, Matt Ryan, Shawne Merriman, Larry Fizgerald, Patrick Willis, Mario Willaims ... There's so many. What do you folks think?
Manning v. Brady eerily similiar to Marino v. Montana. No? One is just lights out when playing QB and the other is just a winner. Granted Manning does have a ring though.
Yes, Manning has to be lauded for being a winner. He's got it all. Brady just has a little more.
I wasn't aware this was a San Diego Chargers only chat...
Me, either, Denis.
How many points would the All Decade offensive team score on teh All Decade defensive team?
Wow, great one. Great defenses usually shut down great offenses, but all that offensive firepower would be able to account for 21 points, don't you think?
Who has the best D goin into the yr?
Got to go with the champs to start the season.
Bill, let me make the argument for A. Gates over T. Gonzalez??Over the past five years Gonzalez has averaged 15 more catches and 124 yards per year, but Gates holds a 49-29 TD advantage over Gonzalez. Furthermore, Gates has played on four playoff teams in the past five years while Gonzalez has played on one.Shouldn?t wins and TD?s count more than a few catches and yards?
Gates is great, But Gonzalez is the greatest tight end ever to play.
Bill the rings being a tie breaker is an easy way out to me. Do you think that Brady is more important to the Pats than Manning is to the Colts??
James, not to be snotty, but those three rings show how important he is.
Do you think u could make an all decade AFC west team and if so what QB would you choose?
I'm blogging a lot on that this week. My QB would likely be Gannon with a nod to Rivers.
I can't argue against Reed and Troy, but just put me at ease and tell me that Dawkins was option 1C...
I wasn't as closely involved with the defensive team as I was with the ofensive team, but I know Dawkins and John Lynch both received serious consideration. What a great decae for safety play, huh?
what other all decade stuff is espn putting out? special teams? coaches? Gm's?
Moments of the decade, special teams, player, team, coach, top 25 list and an all-decade team power ranking. I hope you enjoy it.
You could argue that Brady has had the better team recently but what about his first couple of seasons when he was winning with Antoine Smith, David Patten, etc? Manning had Harrison, Faulk, Addai and Clark and still only got one ring.
Good point, Lou.
When you were looking at the all decade team what was the base criteria? Some players (say Terrell Davis) didn't have enough time and straddled two decades and others are just begining. So wouldn't this favor those that were drafted in 1990s and hit prime earlier than those like Peterson and say Matt Ryan just being drafted?
Some guys fell into that trap that they played from the mid 1990s to the mid-2000s. It hurt guys like Larry Allen.
Did Kreutz really deserve to be there besides Brik? I mean they are pretty even in skill and Birk brought a different kind of atmosphere to the locker room for years.
I covered Birk and lvoed him. it was a tight one, but the experts relly liked Kreutz.
Awesome, the Eagles could end up being ranked second in the all-decade team power rankings and still don't have a title.
We'll see Sean, we'll see.
Manning had better offensive weapons early in their careers, but Brady had a FAR superior defense. What's the old saying, Bill? DEFENSE wins championships! I think football is too much of a team game to say one QB is better than another based on rings.
I think some of you are forgetting who good Brady has been. He wasn't exactly along for the ride on those teams. He was a major reason why the Patriots won the rings.
do you think Neal is the greatest FB ever? When comparing that position I think a player like Rathman was Johnson was more important. Neal is just a pulling guard in my opinion. I have always liked him as a personality but it seems that as, one comment said, he is a sixth offensive lineman.
I'd have to think about it. But he's one of the best of all-time, no doubt.
Great hour, folks. Thanks for your time and enjoy the rest of the all-decade week.BW.