With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
The San Diego Chargers were one of the earliest contenders to be drafting a running back in the 2009 NFL draft (and they probably would have had their pick, too, if not for those darned kids). But then Darren Sproles got tagged with the old franchiser and LaDainian Tomlinson worked out his feud with A.J. Smith, and, suddenly, the Chargers were back to the secretly-stacked squad that just needs a little defensive help.
Okay, "little" might be off -- it was the absence of Shawne Merriman last year that killed the defense as a whole; without Merriman in the middle of the D to create havoc, the secondary suffered and teams moved the ball almost at will against San Diego. In other words, you should see some defensive picks in this year's draft.
While "LdT" will take some reductions in his 2010 and 2011 base-compensation numbers, he'll now make the same amount he was originally scheduled to earn in 2009: $6.75 million, which, not coincidentally, is $1.75 million more than Darren Sproles will earn if he signs the team's franchise tender.
It was rumored yesterday that Antonio Cromartie might be on his way out of San Diego, provided that the Chargers could land Drayton Florence, the man Cromartie replaced after Florence left for Jacksonville last year.
But Florence signed with the Bills late Tuesday evening, and A.J. Smith very quickly alerted the media that Cromartie would remain a Charger in 2009.
Antonio Cromartie may have taken a step back last year as the San Diego Chargers' defense struggled without Shawn Merriman to pressure the quarterback and stuff the run. But he's still a freakish athlete and the type of player you would expect the Chargers to hold onto tightly.
Of course, then word on the street (specifically the Bolts Blog) leaks that the team will look to trade Cromartie if/when Drayton Florence, recently released by the Jaguars, signs back in San Diego.
The LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Carnival Train has been derailed in recent weeks, if only because there's bound to be significant inactivity in the trade/media rumor front with the Super Bowl and those delinquent Arizona Cardinals fans taking center stage. But LdT, via the ever popular "blog" medium, wants to clear up "some misconceptions."
The LaDainian Tomlinson saga in San Diego is quickly becoming one of the more prevelant themes of an NFL offseason ... that hasn't even begun yet.
But we are talking about LdT, and when someone of his stature is suddenly rumored to be on the trade block, only to ignore said trade rumors -- which comes just before the team and the San Diego media further the notion that he might have played his last game with the Chargers, well, it becomes kind of a big deal.
Ryan mentioned the possibility this morning that the San Diego Chargers could trade LaDainian Tomlinson this offseason; I suppose it kind of makes sense considering he really hasn't factored into their final game during each of the last two seasons. Oh, and for the most part he looked more Dungy than Tony himself this season.
Well, those rumors have circulated just enough to hit the blogs, the mainstream and then filter their way back to sunny San Diego and LDT himself. For his part, he's choosing to pretend like they're just that: rumors.
Tomlinson says he's heard the rumors that the Chargers may trade him, allowing them to keep the cheaper Darren Sproles and get some younger players and draft picks to build a stronger future. Tomlinson still has 4 years left on his contract, and says management has not told him anything.
Cornerback Pacman Jones (No. 6) and receivers Troy Williamson (No. 7) and Mike Williams (No. 10) are already with their second teams. Meanwhile, quarterback Alex Smith (No. 1) is in a battle to hold down the starting job in San Francisco, while Antrel Rolle (No. 8) is being moved to safety in Arizona after failing to excel at cornerback.
Reiss rightly gives Ronnie Brown (No. 2), Cadillac Williams (No. 5) and Carlos Rogers (No. 9) passes because of injuries, but if nothing else, Benson, Brown and Williams reinforce the theory that using high-round picks on running backs is a waste of time and money.
Two things: A.J. Smith is obviously a genius, and nothing like having a tight end as a top-five selection -- Kellen Winslow couldn't even do that, and he's a soldier.
It's not particularly shocking that a columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune might sometimes come off as a homer. Hey, even Dan Shaughnessy occasionally slips up and writes something laudatory about the Patriots. Whatever, Nick Canepa returns from Phoenix thinking that the Chargers very easily could've been the team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy if not for a few key injuries.
Chargers GM A.J. Smith often talks about luck, and injuries are a part of it. I'm now convinced that, if tailback LaDainian Tomlinson, tight end Antonio Gates and quarterback Philip Rivers were healthy for that game, there might have been a parade for these guys downtown this week.
Obviously, it didn't work out that way, but Canepa notes that "the window of opportunity for San Diego never had been more open." I can't disagree; the Chargers are young, stacked and when completely healthy, very hard to beat -- even with Norv Turner at the helm. Put differently, San Diego has had 14- and 11-win seasons under Marty Schottenheimer and Norvell.
Who knows if talent -- even when healthy -- will be enough to get the Chargers to the Super Bowl in '08. The Patriots suddenly look very old, but the Colts and Jaguars are also the early favorites to go deep into the postseason. Still, a year ago, this team was just getting ready to can Schottenheimer; that they've had so much success in light of all that's happened is pretty amazing. And I'm pretty sure nobody saw it coming. Even A.J. Smith.
I'll be honest, heading into the AFC Championship game, I figured there was no way Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers would be able to play. And if he did, he'd be one strategically aimed sack away from a grueling off-season of rehab.
I was also under the impression that not only would running back LaDainian Tomlinson start, he'd be a big part of the offense. Turns out, it was just the opposite.
LdT had just two carries for five yards before finding the bench (for the day, as it turned out ) while Rivers and his monstrous knee brace played through pain for 60 minutes. And he wasn't just some guy with no wheels hobbling around the pocket before aimlessly fluttering a pass downfield.
Rivers was hanging tough amid a stiff pass rush, putting throws on the money, all while taking his licks. And every time he hit the turf, he got right back up. Amazing. So amazing, in fact, that even the Patriots were impressed:
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
LaDainian Tomlinson
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Antonio Cromartie
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As the 2005 draft class continues to be dismantled one underachieving pick at at time -- most recently highlighted by 32 teams wanting nothing to do with fourth-overall selection 
I'll be honest, heading into the AFC Championship game, I figured there was no way Chargers quarterback 
