Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 19

San Diego Union-Tribune

"If everyone could miss a day of practice during the week and play on Sunday like Antonio Gates did this past week, then NFL teams might take Wednesdays off, too. So masterful was Gates, so crafty and fluid and quick en route to seven catches for 78 yards, that coach Norv Turner marveled at the performance during the Chargers' victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. "Just to see a guy go play at that level ... " Turner said later. Gates, in fact, at 29 years old, is playing at as high a level as he has in years. In some ways, he's better than ever. A year after playing through toe, hip and ankle injuries and posting the lowest numbers (60 catches, 704 yards, eight touchdowns) since his rookie ..."

Running back by committee

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November 18

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Straight out of Cal, remember, he started with New Orleans. The so-called Big Easy long had been an exciting and fun town, unless you were talking about its National Football League team. The Saints, oh yes, they went marching in all right. Left-hut. Right-hut. Left, right, left. "We had, you know, the traditional two-back set," said Chuck Muncie yesterday, recalling his first four-plus years in the NFL. "Run some sweeps here, run left off-tackle, right dive there, maybe catch a swing pass here and there.""

Coach knows that life lessons are crucial to turning around a team

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November 17

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Sophomore Trey Roberts is generally a happy sort, but he got real serious when asked about the darkest period in the history of Morse High football. "That, going 0-10, will never happen again," said Roberts, a running back and strong safety. "We're going to try to make it so no one remembers that. No one." Morse lost all 10 games in 2006, part of a 25-game losing streak that began in '05 and stretched to '08. Quite a shock for a program that at one time supplied talent to the NFL. The Tigers fell so far from being considered a football power they were placed in the City Conference's Central League, home to schools with small enrollments or struggling programs."

Surging Bolts hope they don't succumb to hype

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November 17

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Now what? The Chargers have battled back from 3½ games down, their earlier-than-usual resurgence aided by the Denver Broncos' earlier-than-usual flameout. They responded impressively to being on the precipice of disaster. But now that this team, which in the past has struggled with believing its press, with getting ahead of itself, is back in its rightful spot, what will happen? Now that the talking heads will be hyping them up again, how will they respond? "Now it's even more of a challenge to have that same tunnel vision," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "You start looking up and everyone is going to be talking about the Chargers - 'They're right in the thick of the division' - now ..."

This Chargers list rings true

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November 17

San Diego Union-Tribune

"The polls have closed, and although the official results are to be announced later today, we have absconded with the ballot box and are here to present you with the 53 players and coaches selected to the Chargers' 50th Anniversary Team. Being master pilferers, we are known for our light fingers here at the U-T. This isn't Afghanistan. The final list, culled from 103 nominees, not only is legit, but just about right on, a blend of the old and new. As cynical as I am, I'm hard-pressed to find fault with it, and I've closely watched this franchise since it moved south from L.A. in 1961. I may not know much. I know the Chargers. For those who question the team's popularity, know that more ..."

Tomlinson delivers

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November 16

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Shaun Phillips walked off the field, helmet in hand, teammates all around, and yelled something that seemed unfathomable a month ago. "Somebody's tied for first place." Yep. When are we going to learn?"

Bolts down Eagles, now tied for first

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November 16

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Little more than 3½ weeks ago, they were 3½ games out of first place. They had all sorts of defensive shortcomings, no running game to speak of and no reason to think LaDainian Tomlinson would be able to bring it back to life. Catch the Denver Broncos? Again? Puh-lease."

California Screamin': Eagles fall again

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November 16

Camden Courier-Post

"The Eagles used to have problems scoring touchdowns late in games. But today, they made five trips to the red zone -- four of them inside the 10-yard line -- but settled for field goals on the first three attempts. Those missed opportunities led to another narrow-margined loss after the Eagles' bid for a comeback fell short in their 31-23 loss at Qualcomm Stadium - their second straight defeat, which dropped them to 5-4, their exact same record at this point last season. The Eagles trailed 28-9 after LaDanian Tomlinson's second touchdown and looked primed for another West Coast flop until Donovan McNabb sparked the Eagles' offense to touchdowns on consecutive drives, both in the red zone. ..."

Eagles taken down by Chargers

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November 16

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Donovan McNabb stepped up in the pocket and fired a hope and a prayer into the end zone.The pass was the quarterback's 55th of the day and landed in the arms of cornerback Antonio Cromartie for an interception that secured the San Diego Chargers' 31-23 win over the battered and bruised Eagles yesterday at Qualcomm Stadium.The Eagles' bid for a comeback victory had come up short, but McNabb and the team knew they had botched this one long before the fourth quarter started.Three times in the second and third quarters they had the football inside the Chargers' 10-yard line and three times they settled for three points."When you have those opportunities to score, we have to pound it in there," ..."

Chargers' Tomlinson seems reborn after good news

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November 16

Philadelphia Daily News

"LaDainian Tomlinson arrived at his locker under Qualcomm Stadium yesterday to find a small package and the growing whispers that his best days as an NFL running back were far behind.Soft-spoken and not prone to argument, there was little he could do about the latter so he busied himself with the package. Picking it up, he discovered it was from his wife and that on it she had written, "Open Immediately.""I was thinking it was a necklace or something, I don't know," Tomlinson said, half-giggling, the laughter having little to do with the Chargers' 31-23 win over the Eagles.The package didn't contain jewelry but something far more precious: a pregnancy test."My wife is pregnant," Tomlinson ..."

In loss to Chargers, McNabb puts up career passing numbers

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November 16

Philadelphia Daily News

"It was not a postgame topic for conversation, given that the Eagles were on the short end of a 31-23 score, but quarterback Donovan McNabb put up some huge numbers in defeat.McNabb completed 35 of 55 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns. It was the second 400-yard passing day of his career. The other came on Dec. 5, 2004, against Green Bay. The 35 completions also tied a career record for McNabb, set in 2005 against the Chargers."The pass was there for us - that's why we were so effective today in the pass," McNabb said. "We were clicking. When you're hot with something, you stay with it. And that's what we did."There have been times this year when it seemed as if McNabb was holding the ..."

Eagles defense comes up small in big moment

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November 16

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Paul Domowitch

"Battered and bloody after absorbing 28 points worth of punches from Philip Rivers and the Chargers, redemption was just one drive-stop away for the Eagles' defense yesterday afternoon. The Eagles, who had trailed by as many as 19 points, had climbed back to within five with 7:12 left in the game when Donovan McNabb hit tight end Brent Celek with a 6-yard scoring toss. Now, it was up to the defense. Now, they had to shut the Chargers down and get the ball back to McNabb and see if he had a fourth-quarter comeback in him. "We felt we had the momentum at that point and were riding high," said strong safety Quintin Mikell, whose unit had forced the Chargers to go three-and-out on their ..."

Chargers keep Eagles' DeSean Jackson under control

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November 16

Philadelphia Daily News

"You would never know the guy had come home and notched a career high in catches. That he had been part of an Eagles air attack that torched the Chargers for 450 yards.All you'd know is, as his big-play star continues to rise, DeSean Jackson was largely coincidental yesterday. That his Eagles came up touchdown-empty in their first three trips into the Chargers' red zone and lost because of it. That his right ankle hurt, the freshest of a series of leg injuries that have nagged him, if not slowed him, this season.Jackson's biggest play of the day, a punt return to midfield, was called back because of a penalty - and caused him the injury.There was little opportunity for others, since the ..."

As usual, red-zone woes costly for Eagles

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November 16

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Rich Hofmann

"It has played on a seemingly endless loop for years now, the same song. The Eagles get down near the goal line and they cannot cash. They lack physicality and cannot get a yard on the ground when they need it. They lack the big outside target and cannot convince the quarterback that anybody else can make an athletic play in a tight spot. Over and over it plays then, slowly, mournfully, forever: the red-zone blues.They could have won a game yesterday, a game they had no business winning, if not for three failures in the red zone. With an injury-ravaged defense, on the road against a revitalized San Diego Chargers team, they went field goal/field goal/field goal in their first three trips ..."

Eagles running back Westbrook leaves Chargers game with another concussion

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November 16

Philadelphia Daily News

"LeSean McCoy spoke softly, clearly mindful of the presence of Brian Westbrook, dressing in the next stall of the cramped visitors' locker room in Qualcomm Stadium."I don't think it was that bad. I think he'll be back," McCoy said, eyes darting over to where Westbrook was buttoning a blue dress shirt over gray pinstriped suit pants. "I'm not sure exactly what happened, I was so involved in the game. I know he's a tough guy. He'll be ready to battle back from it."Nobody seemed sure exactly what happened, or at least, nobody was saying. In his first action since suffering a concussion against the Redskins on Oct. 26, Westbrook suffered another. He left yesterday's game after making a 9-yard, ..."

Eagles RB Westbrook, Chargers LB Merriman active

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November 15

NFL.com

"Eagles RB Brian Westbrook (concussion) is active, but LT Jason Peters (ankle) is out. Chargers LBs Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips will start in Sunday's tilt in San Diego. Westbrook has missed two games since suffering a concussion against the Redskins in Week 7. He was listed as probable. Peters was listed as questionable after not practicing Friday."

Chargers aim to keep offense on field more

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November 15

San Diego Union-Tribune

"After the Chargers scored a comeback victory last Sunday, sprinting down the field in the final two minutes, getting all the yards they needed, making it look so easy, there was the question of why they just don't execute the hurry-up offense more often. Especially with this team's ability to make the big play, heck, why not do that all the time? Well, because this is actually an offense trying to slow things down."

No question Merriman will play vs. Eagles

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November 15

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Shawne Merriman's eyes grew wide at the mention of the very word. "Questionable?" he said. "That's what they list me? No, they didn't." Yes, they did. He and Shaun Phillips both. The two outside linebackers who've combined for nine sacks in the past three games and clearly rekindled a fire in the Chargers defense yesterday got the "questionable" tag in official reports, though Phillips' injured ankle was healed sufficiently that he practiced yesterday. Merriman hasn't practiced since Wednesday because of his foot issue. "I'll play, I'll play," Merriman said. "It's just the tendinitis that's flared up over the last three weeks, on and off, one of those things you have to deal with and work ..."

Chargers' big wideouts hard to stop

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November 15

Wilmington News Journal

"The big, physical wide receiver has become the NFL's hot trend. Every team thinks it needs at least one to be effective in the red zone. For years, the Eagles were victimized by these rare breeds -- from Plaxico Burress to Muhsin Muhammad to their most recent tormentor, Larry Fitzgerald. But their challenge today won't only be sizing up San Diego's skyscraping wideout Vincent Jackson, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound blossoming superstar. It will be matching up against Jackson and the Chargers' other two rangy wideouts -- Malcolm Floyd (6-5, 225) and Legedu Naanee (6-2, 220). It's like asking point guards to guard power forwards. "That's one of the main things you notice. Every one of their receivers ..."

Hardwicks return put on hold

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November 14

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Center Nick Hardwick suffered a setback with his surgically repaired right ankle and will not play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. "It just didn't go as well as expected, or as I'd hoped," Hardwick said. "You really can't expect anything. You have no control over where this thing takes me." Hardwick, who tore ligaments in the season opener and had surgery a week later, could not finish practice Wednesday. He hopes to give it a go again next week and be able to start Nov.{PI:82}22 against Denver. The initial estimate was that Hardwick would come back at the end of November or early December. "I've just got to be honest, listen to my body and be hopeful," he said."

Revolving door on Chargers defense

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November 14

San Diego Union-Tribune

"With Alfonso Boone at left end, Ogemdi Nwagbuo at nose tackle and Jacques Cesaire at right end in the Chargers' base defense, Giants running back Danny Ware gained 3 yards on first down. On second down, with Boone at left end and Travis Johnson at right end, linebacker Stephen Cooper and safety Kevin Ellison lined up over the center. Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman were the bookends outside. When the ball was snapped, everyone rushed except Merriman, who dropped off as safety Steve Gregory tore in from the opposite side and blitzed quarterback Eli Manning, who dumped a pass to Mario Manningham for a 2-yard loss. On third-and-9, Luis Castillo came in at left end and Cesaire lined up ..."

Huge receivers a challenge for Eagles

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November 14

Camden Courier-Post

"The big, physical wide receiver has become the NFL's hot trend. Every team thinks it needs at least one to have an effective red-zone offense. For years, the Eagles were victimized by these rare breeds -- from Plaxico Burress to Muhsin Muhammad to their most recent nemesis, Larry Fitzgerald. But their challenge today won't be sizing up San Diego's sky-scraping wideout Vincent Jackson, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound blossoming superstar. It'll be matching up against Jackson and the Chargers' other two rangy wideouts, Malcolm Floyd (6-5, 225) and Legedu Naanee (6-2, 220). It's like asking the point guards to guard the power forwards. "That's one of the main things you notice. Every one of their ..."

Defensive line will have to step up

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November 14

Philadelphia Inquirer

"If the Eagles' depleted linebackers and secondary are likely to be targeted by San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers and his bevy of skyscraper-tall receivers, then the onus for stopping the Chargers may fall on the defensive line. "It starts up front," Eagles defensive end Trent Cole said. "The D-line will have to set the tone and it will fall back from there. If we create problems, get in [Rivers'] face and cause interceptions - that's all, folks." That's pretty much been the story thus far this season. The line has harassed opposing quarterbacks and spearheads a defense that is second in the NFL with 27 sacks. However, the Eagles' defensive fortunes took a downward turn this week. Akeem ..."

Westbrook 'playing' vs. Chargers, Reid says

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November 14

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Andy Reid was asked yesterday to specify which of four NFL injury-report conditions - probable, questionable, doubtful or out - would apply to Brian Westbrook for tomorrow's game at San Diego. "Playing," the Eagles coach said. Reid's cut-to-the-chase response was good news for the Eagles, who have been without their starting running back for the last two games and who face a depleted Chargers run defense. Barring an unforeseen setback or a recurrence of a headache, Westbrook will play for the first time since he was knocked unconscious at Washington three weeks ago. "He looked like he had a little bounce in his step here the last couple of days," said Reid, whose team practiced indoors all ..."

Westbrook seems on target to return Sunday

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November 14

Philadelphia Daily News

"If you've been following the frustrating Brian Westbrook saga this season, you'll recall that Westbrook was just starting to look like Westbrook again when his head collided with London Fletcher's knee, midway through the first quarter at Washington, back on Oct. 26. Westbrook practiced yesterday for the second day in a row, and Eagles coach Andy Reid said Westbrook is scheduled to play tomorrow at San Diego. But what sort of Westbrook will we see - the guy whose early-season work definitely reflected the fact that he didn't play in the preseason, or the franchise-back-level Westbrook? "He looked like he had a little bounce in his step here the last couple of days," Reid said after ..."

Giants coach takes responsibility for Chargers defeat

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November 12

New York Post

"We should have thrown the damn ball. Kevin Gilbride didn't phrase it exactly that way, but the Giants offensive coordinator yesterday admitted after looking back at a fateful, and ultimately wasteful, final series against the Chargers he wished he had been more aggressive. He wished he made sure Eli Manning at least attempted another pass down in the shadow of the San Diego goal line rather than go safe, run the ball twice and settle for a field goal. "There are still other things that you can do," Gilbride said, "and in retrospect, you wish you had done them." By now, the gory details of Chargers 21, Giants 20 — the most crushing loss in the four-game skid that puts the Giants at 5-4 ..."

Norv knows emotion

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November 12

San Diego Union-Tribune

"All it really took were about two New York minutes. Just 125 seconds of Eastern Standard Time, that's all, to expose the side of Norv Turner those outside his personal orbit rarely catch without Galileo's contraption. You know, the side Norv's Legion of Loathers claim doesn't exist. But it does. He sometimes may be as emotional and spontaneous as an out-of-order lamp post, but he is of flesh and blood. The Chargers coach wasn't born without nerve endings. Some of us are better than others at hiding things, but there are times when exposure can't be helped. This was the jubilant Norv. The fist-pumping Norv. The ecstatic Norv, making an unrehearsed national photo op, hugging LaDainian ..."

No dash for cash

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November 12

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Midway through their golden anniversary season, the Chargers are on pace to run fewer times than in all but two full seasons of their existence. They swear they remain committed to the run. "I'm not going to give up on it," head coach Norv Turner said. "We've got to be able to run the football.""

Trust strengthens Chargers' defense

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November 12

San Diego Union-Tribune

"When your season is only five games old and you're 2-3 and already more than three games out of first place, when it's mid-October and you still sometimes look like you don't even know the other guy wearing the same uniform as you, you do more than lick your wounds. You concentrate a little harder, a lot harder, on things. Things like the weights, the drills, the coaching, the playbook, the film work. The mirror."

Last-minute comeback victory brings out the joy in Chargers head coach

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November 11

San Diego Union-Tribune

"All it really took were about two New York minutes. Just 125 seconds of Eastern Standard Time, that's all, to expose the side of Norv Turner those outside his personal orbit rarely catch without Galileo's contraption. You know, the side Norv's Legion of Loathers claim doesn't exist. But it does. He sometimes may be as emotional and spontaneous as an out-of-order lamp post, but he is of flesh and blood. The Chargers coach wasn't born without nerve endings. Some of us are better than others at hiding things, but there are times when exposure can't be helped. This was the jubilant Norv. The fist-pumping Norv. The ecstatic Norv, making an unrehearsed national photo op, hugging LaDainian ..."

Chargers' defensive improvement a matter of trust

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November 11

San Diego Union-Tribune

"When your season is only five games old and you're 2-3 and already more than three games out of first place, when it's mid-October and you still sometimes look like you don't even know the other guy wearing the same uniform as you, you do more than lick your wounds. You concentrate a little harder, a lot harder, on things. Things like the weights, the drills, the coaching, the playbook, the film work. The mirror. "It's not about anybody else," said safety Eric Weddle. "Now it's about us." To a man, the members of an oft-beaten and much-maligned Chargers defense sound as if they went through some self-realization a short while back. Realizing, that is, that what they were doing wasn't ..."

Chargers climbing while Denver dives

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November 10

Longmont Times-Call

"Don't look now, Broncos fans, but the San Diego Chargers ain't far behind. Three weeks ago, the Broncos went into San Diego, beat up the Chargers and took a 31/2-game lead in the AFC West. That lead is down to one. Since that game in Southern California, the Broncos are 0-2; the Chargers are 3-0. "All we can do is handle our part of it," rookie Robert Ayers said. "We can't worry about what they're doing." True, but the Broncos had better start handling their part. They've been manhandled two weeks in a row, by Baltimore and Pittsburgh, and haven't looked good in either game. Some of the things the Broncos did well during their 6-0 start — efficiency on offense, protecting the ball, wearing ..."

Bolts in better focus

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November 10

San Diego Union-Tribune

"We still can't be entirely sure what this Chargers team is all about, except that it is what we have come to know as a typical Norv Turner team. That is, a work in progress at this point in the season. A come-from-behind, one-point victory at New York, while impressive for the where and who and how of it all, can make everyone inside and outside the organization feel better. But it does not rub out the need to keep ascending. "We've got room for improvement," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "It wasn't by any means our best game through and through - tons of areas to improve." While every NFL team would hope its season is a process, where it gets better in increments, that is so ..."

Phillips shrugs at piling up of sacks

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November 10

San Diego Union-Tribune

"To Shaun Phillips, the last three games aren't the big deal. "Funny everyone noticed we're getting sacks now," Phillips said. "You should say, 'What happened?' when I go four games without a sack. We're supposed to get sacks. We're supposed to get after the quarterback." But Phillips has never had a three-game stretch like this, wherein he has five sacks. Just seven other Chargers ever have done that. Phillips' production - and the four sacks the past two games by fellow outside linebacker Shawne Merriman - has helped the Chargers to 15 sacks in the three games. It's just the third time in team history the Chargers have had at least five sacks in three straight games. Mooch earns role ..."

Merriman still plays the sacks

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November 9

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Maybe any other game they would've qualified as "The Plays." But they weren't among any one of the six pass plays that Philip Rivers used to pull out the win in the final going. Heck, they weren't even offensive plays. Shawne Merriman's sack of Eli Manning with 4:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, however, seemed to breathe new life into a Chargers defense that had just seen the Giants take the lead from them for the first time. That it came on a third-and-6, well, that was subtext. That the win also ended on another Merriman sack of Manning, that was an exclamation point. "That last sack was my favorite play of the whole day," said safety Eric Weddle. "I'm 50 yards downfield (in a ..."

Emotional Tomlinson savors victory

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November 9

San Diego Union-Tribune

"They were for so long practically inextricable, big days by LaDainian Tomlinson and Chargers victories. No more. Yesterday, by any statistical measure, was one of the worst games of Tomlinson's Hall of Fame career. Yet there he was at the end, that diamond-bright smile beaming, embracing the head coach he hasn't seen eye to eye with for much of the past 2½ years. Tomlinson has been talking about how he wants to play five more years. But he knows that might not happen and his career is closer to its sunset than its sunrise. "I've been through a lot in my career; it's hard work," he said softly as he stood alone in the locker room an hour after yesterday's 21-20 win over the Giants. "I don't ..."

LT: 'We finally came together'

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November 9

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Philip Rivers never stopped running from the time he left the field. Eric Weddle, after perhaps the game of his career, was the last player off the field. His smile was ear to ear as he jumped up (way up) to chest-bump big Marcus McNeill. "Welcome to New York," LaDainian Tomlinson shouted from the doorway to the locker room. Welcome to a new season. Midway through 2009, the Chargers are showing they could pull a 2007 redux, only maybe better. "We just finally came together," Tomlinson said. "It usually takes us awhile to build that whatever you've got to have — that 'it' factor. But when we get it, we get our swagger going (and) it's tough to stop us." The Chargers had shown they were ..."

Chargers win their own NY marathon

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November 9

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Anybody who waited five-plus years for the first showdown between Philip Rivers and Eli Manning might've wondered what all the fuss had been about. A classic passing duel, it decidedly was not. "It was like a heavyweight fight," said Chargers defensive lineman Jacques Cesaire, "and they're not always pretty." But wait some more. Not terribly sharp until the last two minutes of play, Rivers turned masterful, completing six passes in driving the Chargers 80 yards to the game-tying score, an 18-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson with 21 seconds remaining. Nate Kaeding's point-after kick produced the necessary point for a 21-20 victory over the New York Giants, who can't believe they've ..."

Rivers-to-Jackson a sweet comeback victory

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November 9

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Philip Rivers came to the place he was never meant to be and did what he is becoming known for. Rivers led his second fourth-quarter, come-from-behind victory of the season and the 11th of his career Sunday, finding Vincent Jackson in the end zone with 21 seconds remaining as the Chargers beat the New York Giants 21-20 at Giants Stadium. "I thank you, Eli, for coming to New York," Chargers defensive end Jacques Cesaire said. "I think people here saw what Philip Rivers can do." Rivers came to San Diego in a draft-day trade in 2004, ostensibly because Eli Manning, whom the Chargers drafted, had declared he would not play for them. Manning is now 0-2 against the Chargers. Moreover, the ..."

It's a tall task slowing Jackson

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November 9

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Vincent Jackson is listed at 6 feet, 5 inches, but admits to being an inch shorter. That gave the Chargers receiver four inches of vertical advantage before he took a step, left his feet or made a cut to confound Corey Webster. Standing still, Jackson is a mismatch for most NFL cornerbacks. In motion, he can be a nightmare. "A lot of big guys have a hard time against press and jam coverage," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said yesterday at Giants Stadium. "They're slower-moving, (and cornerbacks) can get up in their chest. But Vincent is as strong and quick and powerful as they come." There might have been a dozen or more contributing causes to the Chargers' 21-20 comeback victory ..."

Giants lose to San Diego

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November 9

New York Daily News

"The much-maligned Giants defense pulled the entire season back from the brink of disaster Sunday, only to let it go again. In less than two minutes, in front of a stunned Giants Stadium crowd, the Giants managed to turn what looked like a rousing, season-saving victory into an agonizing, heartbreaking and absolutely devastating 21-20 loss to the San Diego Chargers. They blew a game that linebacker Antonio Pierce had dubbed their "Super Bowl" when Philip Rivers hit Vincent Jackson for an 18-yard touchdown with 21 seconds remaining. And just like that, the Giants (5-4) became just the second team in NFL history to ruin a 5-0 start with four straight losses, and they were left with two weeks ..."

The Losing Streak Goes On, After All

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November 9

New York Times

"In his final moment on the field Sunday at Giants Stadium, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers fired a dart through the heart of the Giants' defense and maybe their hopes for the season. It was an 18-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson with 21 seconds left that gave his Chargers a 21-20 victory. For Giants quarterback Eli Manning - his name entwined with Rivers's in N.F.L. history since their draft day trade in 2004 -his last moment Sunday was less glorious but just as emphatic. With one play left to steal a victory, five seconds remaining on the clock and the San Diego end zone 71 yards away, Manning dropped back to pass."

Big Blue look to end 3-game skid

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November 8

New York Post

"Tacked on the right side of Antonio Pierce's locker is a rumpled $5 bill, representing the five victories the Giants rang up to start their season. The bill with the unsmiling face of Abraham Lincoln has been there for three consecutive weeks, as Pierce has been unable to stick a single dollar bill up to signify win No. 6. This game surely is worth more than a buck to the reeling Giants, who will enter their bye week refreshed at 6-3 or depressed at 5-4, depending on what transpires today against the Chargers at Giants Stadium. It's either the end of a three-game losing streak or the birth of a four-game skid. "It's a big game," Pierce said. "We're going into our bye week. We're going into ..."

Just don't call this defense makeshift

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November 8

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Where there used to be the domineering presence of one behemoth — that one usually being plenty enough — the middle of the Chargers' three-man line is now three men. Three noses. Sometimes four. "You hate to say it," said defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, "but it takes four guys to replace a Jamal Williams." A triceps injury ended Williams' 2009 regular season almost as soon as it began, and since losing one of the NFL's most formidable run-cloggers in the opener, the Chargers have been going with a committee of big bodies in the middle. If anything, while opposing centers knew what a singular challenge it was to deal mostly with Williams throughout games, they can't be sure what they're ..."

Chambers' departure 'shocking' to Floyd

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November 8

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Hard to believe, but Malcom Floyd is in his sixth season with the Chargers, long enough that there's not much about the NFL that would surprise him. But this? "Shocking," said the lanky wide receiver. "Shocking." Although hints had been dropped, Floyd's week started with news that Chris Chambers was being waived, a stark reminder of what a wicked business pro football can be. The team's decision to dispatch Chambers represented a well-earned promotion for Floyd that — while reconfirming that he'd displaced the former Pro Bowl receiver as a starter in San Diego — felt like one of those tackles he gets after going high for a catch and leaves his ribs exposed. "Chris is a friend, an idol, and ..."

New York Giants demote C.C. Brown, will start Aaron Rouse at safety against San Diego Chargers

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November 7

New York Daily News

"After three straight awful performances by the Giants' defense, it was clear to everyone that something had to change. And safety C.C. Brown was pretty sure he knew what that change was going to be. So it was no surprise to the much-maligned Brown Friday when he was told he had been demoted to the second team. Aaron Rouse will start in his place against the San Diego Chargers tomorrow as the Giants' defense tries to put an end to its worst three-game stretch in 36 years. "I mean, I pretty much knew after the game there was going to be a switch somewhere," Brown said. "In this business if you're not on your 'A game' all the time things like this are going to happen." Brown, who signed a ..."

No 'snowball' chance in this Chargers visit

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November 7

New York Post

"The Chargers haven't played in Giants Stadium in nearly 14 years, but their last trip was a memorable -- and ugly -- one. San Diego beat the Giants, 27-17, in the regular-season finale on Dec. 23, 1995, but the outcome was nearly overshadowed by the behavior of the Giants' fans in what came to be known as the "Snowball Game." Chargers players and personnel were pelted with snow and ice from the stands throughout the game. "It was a miserable end to a miserable season," said Pat Hanlon, the Giants vice president of communications, who was the director of public relations at the time. "It was an absolute nightmare." The lowlight came when San Diego equipment manager Sid Brooks was knocked ..."

Giants bench Brown; LB Boley could start

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November 7

New York Post

"The Giants have lost three straight heading into tomorrow's game against the Chargers, surrendering at least 40 points in two of them, so something was bound to change on defense. That turned out to be good news for safety Aaron Rouse, who will replace C.C. Brown in the starting lineup. The Giants will find out soon whether it's good news for them. Brown seemed to agree with the decision. "There's nothing for me to get mad about," Brown said after practice yesterday. "I can't try to blame anybody but myself. It's my own fault." Brown was burned on several of the long passes during the Giants' recent slide. That leaves Rouse, who was signed after Kenny Phillips was lost for the season ..."

Ways for Big Blue to turn season around

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November 6

New York Post

columnist Steve Serby

"As the Yankees ride down the Canyon of Heroes today, the Giants hunker down inside their bunker and try to right a season gone terribly wrong and teetering ominously on a tightrope. New York's unrequited love belonged to them only two years ago, and they yearn for another exhilarating ride into the city's heart and soul, and do not care to wait nine years as the Yankees did. Even as we celebrate the Yankees today, we fix the Giants: YOU CAN'T BE ELI-TE IF YOU'RE NOT EFFICIENT: We're talking to you, Eli Manning. Just because you have single coverage deep down the sideline doesn't mean you should automatically take the shot EVERY TIME. If you need four yards for the first down, resist the ..."

Foundering Giants need to regain winning swagger

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November 6

New York Post

"So what has gone wrong for the Giants during their three-game slide? How about everything, says Sirius host and Giants' play-by-play man Bob Papa. "The thing that sticks out at me is they are breaking down in all phases," Papa said. "It's kick coverage, missed throws, missed blocks, missed tackles, guys out of position — it's un-Coughlin like to be honest with you. It's a lot of little things that have added up to big headaches and that's what they are dealing with right now." The Giants were 5-0 and considered by some to be the best team in the NFL. But that was before a home loss to the Cardinals was sandwiched between road thrashings by the Saints and Eagles. Big Blue returns to the ..."

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