FanHouse NorvTurner

The Chargers franchised Darren Sproles on Wednesday, making him the smallest NFL player who didn't make his living kicking a football to ever receive such a distinction.* For now, he's set to make $6.6 million next season, although San Diego hopes to sign Sproles to a long-term deal.

Those negotiations, however, won't have any bearing on the organization's dealings with its other running back, LaDainian Tomlinson. Earlier this offseason, speculation had LdT playing elsewhere in '09, but it looks like he'll stay in San Diego -- he'll just need to take a pay cut.

Former University of Tennessee star and Redskins first-round draft bust Heath Shuler might now be a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but that doesn't mean he's regurgitating the party's talking points just because Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid think he should.

In fact, he's pretty upset with the stimulus package (Shuler was one of a few Dems to oppose the plan) and happily points the finger at Democratic leaders on the Hill, telling the AP: "In order for us to get the confidence of America, [the stimulus bill] has to be done in a bipartisan way ... I truly feel that's where maybe House leadership and Senate leadership have really failed."

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.

Norv Turner apparently doesn't believe in miracles.

When the Chargers faced fourth and 17 at their own 17 with 3:23 to play trailing by 18 points, there obviously aren't many scenarios you can map out that end up with a Chargers' W. But it's safe to say that punting was not exactly a good way to put together a comeback.

But that's what Turner did. He decided that his team couldn't get 17 yards on one play, so he punted. That punt likely kept the Steelers from adding a late field goal or touchdown, but since there really isn't any difference between losing your playoff game by 18 or 21 points, that was a pretty meaningless distinction.

The third quarter just wrapped up in Pittsburgh with the Steelers leading 21-10 and holding the ball on the one-foot line. The Chargers are lucky that there's still a chance for them to win this game. They took exactly one offensive snap in the quarter, an interception by Philip Rivers, while the Steelers ran 24 offensive plays.

LaDanian Tomlinson was a virtual non-factor against the Indianapolis Colts last weekend. Yes, he scored, but five carries for 25 yards in a home playoff game is more or less "non-facto.r" Granted, too, he had a detached muscle in his groin, and that's a pretty good excuse for just about anything.

Anyway, all of that is how Darren Sproles became the most talked about name of the wild card weekend. And it looks like he might have a chance to repeat the success, as Tomlinson is doubtful.

I'll admit it: I'm shocked. James Harrison has been named the NFL's 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. I certainly thought he deserved to be in the conversation, and since I'm a Steelers fan, I'm obviously happy for him. But I also fully expect the Ed Reed and DeMarcus Ware supporters to make a spirited case for why their guy got hosed.

Fair enough.

It's hard to dispute Reed's ability to blow your mind on a weekly basis, but he got off to a slow start (only one pick in the first 10 games, which, when you consider that he wasn't supposed to be playing -- maybe ever again -- is impressive in its own right), but the eight interceptions over the final six weeks of the season puts him in the mix. That he had a lot to do with the Ravens' making it to the postseason further strengthens his case.

Ware, on the other hand, recorded 20 sacks, but the Cowboys, like the rest of us, watched the playoffs from the couch last weekend. I know, I know, playing on a team not coached by Wade Phillips doesn't automatically disqualify you for Player of the Year, but there's no way Ware gets it over Harrison or Reed, two guys still playing.

Norv Turner might not be the flashiest or the smartest or, hell, the best-looking coach in the league. But the guy knows how to finish games. At least since coming to San Diego, anyway.

Hired prior to the 2007 season to replace general manager A.J. Smith's nemesis, Marty Schottenheimer (who was coming off a 14-2 '06 effort), Turner and the Chargers stumbled to a 1-3 record last year, and weren't much better this time around.

And it's not an exaggeration to suggest that FanHouse was pretty hard on Norval Eugene. Okay, really hard on him. Luckily, he doesn't know now to operate an Al Gore Machine so he had no idea. (From a recent San Diego Union-Tribune Q & A: Are you familiar with the Web sites nomorenorv.com and firenorv.net? Norv: "I know they're there, but I haven't had my kids teach me how to log on to them." Classic.) But we know and, frankly, we feel very guilty about it. Hence this post.

Also, as Brinson pointed out previously, Norv's 9-0 in December since coming to San Diego. And now he's 3-1 in the postseason, too. The guy he replaced? Bupkis in five years with the Chargers, and his last playoff win came in 1993 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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There's going to be puh-lenty of analysis about Saturday night's game between the Colts and Chargers. Most of it will center around two things: Darren Sproles and the eliminated league MVP, Peyton Manning. Sproles, of course, was beyond magnificent, piling up an absolutely insane 328 total yards (receiving + rushing + returning) as LaDanian Tomlinson was forced to the sidelines after the first quarter with a torn groin muscle (no one, by the by, should begrudge him this).

Philip Rivers was not all that spectacular, but neither was Manning; in fact, it was a game that really focused on some impressive defense and some odd choices re: coaches' challenges. Tony Dungy really had no business trying to get Reggie Wayne's catch back and, as a result, he couldn't try and flip Chris Chambers' probably-not-a-grab a few plays later.

Additionally, there was a whole bunch of bizarre business regarding a phantom "restored timeout" with 16 seconds left in regulation after Nate Kaeding finally didn't shank an important postseason kick.

But back to Sproles -- the kid was awesome from the start, and it was easily apparent at halftime that he deserves more credit for being an all-around back rather than just a kick returner. That type of flash continued throughout the second half -- one shoddy fumble near the goal line with the Chargers trailing aside -- and rolled right into overtime, when, following two crucial penalties by the Colts, Sproles ripped off a large touchdown run that quashed the Colts Super Bowl hopes and locked him in for some serious money later on.