Big Jamal ... Such A Monster (and Sproles is likely back!)

The Chargers released Jamal Williams today, ending more than a decade of pure beastliness by the big guy on the Bolts defensive line.

Jamal joined the Bolts for the 1998 season. To put that in perspective, that was before the Padres last trip to the World Series.

I mean Jamal joined the Chargers at the same time as Ryan Leaf. Not to mention before LT and Drew Brees, and way before Philip Rivers and Shawne Merriman.

Looking over at Pro-Football Reference.com at some players who had careers of similar quality and shape to Jamal, a few beastly names jump out at me. Names like Gary Johnson, Marcus Stroud, Rulon Jones, Gary Larsen, Dwight White and Louie Kelcher.

Talk about a group of guys you'd like to have on your side in a vicious cockfight.

Man, I'm really going to miss Jamal.

But on the brighter side of life, it looks like Sproles will be back for another year.

Get r dun, A.J.!

Roll Call

Padres, Chargers , Illini ... rise and report!

Here is a brief recap as to where my teams stand on this fine Monday in February, in the year of our Lord 2009.

1. The Padres

Pitchers and catchers report in scant days. Mark Prior is an optimist. Jeff Moorad is the new man in charge. Sandy Alderson is packing his belongings. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting jonrons in the Caribbean Series. Jake Peavy plans to pitch in the WBC. Matt Bush is but a memory. Cliffy Floyd is playing the role of Tony Clark.

2. The Chargers

Darren Sproles is shopping himself around the League. The stadium deal languishes. The '63 team used roids. LT and AJ have muzzled up. Draft talk can now begin in earnest. Linebacker? D Lineman? Running Back?

3. Illini Pigskin

The class of 2013 is signed and ready. Zooker never sent a schollie offer to Kraig Appleton. Spring game will give Mike Schultz first chance to show his stuff.

4. Illini Hoop

Made Purdue look silly in Champaign on Sunday. Looked clueless themselves in Madison on Thursday. Legion looking lost. Keller flashing get-to-the basket skills. Mike Davis back on a double double pace.

The Wee David Eckstein

David,

Listen, right now I kind of think of you as a little punk. Can you blame me? I mean remember the 2005 NLDS against the Drinos? Game 3 on that Saturday night at Petco? Ring any bells?

It should.

I flew out from NYC for the game and met my mom and stepdad. I gave them my two good seats (no one will ever accuse me of being a bad kid) and scalped a seat in far far upper right field. You could not get farther away from the field. Your Cardinal team had a 2-0 series lead over the Drinos but I was optimistic the Drinos could snake at least one game before fading away like the 82-80 team they were.

But you had other ideas you little pipsqueak. You singled to lead off the game and promptly scored on a Phat Albert double (incidentally, he looked huge even from where I sat, on Jupiter). Then, in the bottom of the second, you hit a 2-out, 2-run bomb into the left field seats off Woody Williams. You and your 8 bomb season effectively ended the Padre season with a homerun.

How dare you, sir? Have you no decency?

But listen, that was the past. I remember that you seemed locked in during that series (you batted .385 with 4 ribeyes and 3 runs scored) and I always respected that. You seemed like a winner. True, you're an older guy now and maybe not so quick with the bat, but I know you'll bring a competitive, winning attitude with you to the Padres.

So let's let bygones be bygones. I'm happy you are joining the Drinos. And as far as this blog goes, you can join Darren Sproles as the only 5'6" athletes in the Diego area.

Best,
Bevormo

I'm Naming My First Child Sproles. Or Perhaps Scifres.

Nick Canepa called it the best NFL game ever in Mission Valley. That old coot has certainly been around long enough to be considered an expert so I'm not gonna disagree. The only game I can think of that comes close (considering only playoff games) is the win over the Dolphins in the '94 playoffs, but to get that win the Bolts needed Pete Stoyanovich to miss a 48-yard field goal as time expired. For this win they took the fight to the Colts, created a number of scoring opportunities, forced the Colts to play on a long field throughout the game and made big plays on key defensive downs.

Here are the plays that stand out, both the good and the bad:

- the opening offensive play for the Bolts where LT ran around right end for 13 yards;

- the Mathis sack on 3rd and 2 that ended that opening drive;

- every Mike Scifers punt starting from the first to the last where the ball miraculously landed on the two and bounced straight into the air, going out of bounds at the 1 yard line ... because of Scifres the Colts started possessions at their own 10, 19, 3, 7, 9 and 1;

- that 36-yard completion from Manning to Anthony Gonzalez where Gonzalez snaked up field;

- the big completion to Gates where Gates ran to the 10 and then turned and stiff armed the Colts defender;

- the Manning shady 72-yard pass to Reggie Wayne that caught Antonio Cromartie and the rest of the Bolts D sleeping;

- the beautiful Bolts drive from their own 20 that ended with Sproles fumbling the ball into the end zone for a Colts touchback ... this is when I took my glasses off, sat on the couch and rubbed my eyes, unable to look at the television;

- the gutsy 12-yard scamper on third down by Philip Rivers that set up a 4th and 1 sneak for a first down ... Rivers' dive along the sideline to try to get the first down epitomizes his toughness;

- the interception to the deep safety in the end zone on the very next play after getting a first down at the Colts' 32;

- the Dobbins' sack at the 1 yard line on 3rd and 2 after Manning double pumped ... Manning never saw Dobbins;

- Rivers' two passes to Gates over the middle on the game-tying drive;

- Kassim Osgood clapping that the coin toss came up tails;

- the defensive holding penalty on 3rd and 8 where the Colts' DB grabbed Chris Chambers and spun him around; and

- the Sproles run around left end for the game winning touchdown.

Bolts win 23-17.

Now on to Pittsburgh.

Sprolesy?

Sproles only had two touches from scrimmage in the Bolts' 23-14 loss to the Billos last Sunday.

If anyone can explain this I am willing to listen.