Will A.J. Go Liuget?

What a headline. I'm sure no one else around the country thought of writing something like that.

Looking past yesterday's Padres game, in which Mat Latos was served with his 9th consecutive loss, tonight is the first round of the NFL Draft. I expect big things out of A.J. Smith and the Chargers.

The draft is deep with powerful DE and OLB types, precisely the position the Chargers need. But if I can make a quick plea to A.J.: take Corey Liuget, good sir. You won't regret it. He has the speed, strength, and mean streak to immediately add to the Bolts defense that which they have lacked since the demise of Shawne Merriman, namely the inspiration of fear and dread in opposing offenses.

It's time for the Chargers to draft a monster. Corey is that beast.

Merriman!

Done as a Bolt.

Shawne Merriman: I Bid You Adieu

The Chargers put Shawne Merriman on the injured-reserve list today. Once he is healthy - if that ever happens - they will release him and he will sign with another team.

It's a sad day here at PCI Blog HQ. Merriman has been one of my favorite players since he entered the league in 2005. Based on his first few seasons alone his play ranks him as the best Chargers defensive player ever, and that is a list that includes Junior Seau, Fred Dean, Earl Faison, Ernie Ladd and Rodney Harrison. He starred in one of the top two sports commercials of all time. His jersey is the only jersey I've ever purchased for my wife. I even taught her the "Lights Out" dance, though, despite several hundred attempts, she's never quite mastered it.

My favorite plays Shawne made were against the Colts. He pressured Peyton Manning on the clinching plays in both the '05 Week 14 upset over a then-undefeated Indy squad, and the divisional playoff "Billy Volek" game at Indy in '07. He also forced the game-changing fumble against the Titans in the Wild Card that same '07 playoffs.

Setting aside the steroid suspension and the chronic injuries of the last three seasons, the only real tragedy of Shawne's Bolts career was that the '06 squad - one of the great NFL teams of all time - didn't play in a Super Bowl.

Still, my memories of Shawne will always be positive. Shawne will probably catch on with another team, probably the Pats or another AFC contender, before the season is out. I wish him the best. To a point.

Get To Camp!

Shawne,

I know you're a total monster, man, but for goshsakes ... get ye to camp!

Best regards,

Bevormo

A.J. Talks

A.J. Smith has - once again - spouted off in an interview with Nicky Canepa, this time calling his Chargers team "soft and bewildered."

I'll say a couple things about this:

- the defense did look soft and bewildered on Sunday night against the Stillers;

- I'm not sure what was more astounding: the amount of time Ben had to throw because of the lack of pressure, or the distance separating Pittsburgh's receivers from the Chargers defensive backs each time they set to catch a pass. Honestly, you'd think one of those things would not happen. Either you're sending a bunch of dudes to get the QB and he has to hurry to throw but a few guys are open, or you only rush four guys but the other seven are covering the receivers tight.

- whether it was a technique problem, a strength and size problem or just a lack of skill problem, the defensive line got overpowered by the Pittsburgh O-Line;

- there are still 12 games left;

- I suspect the Chargers will be 5-2 after November 1, with a 1-game lead in the division;

- Shawne Merriman's comments in response to A.J.'s comments were appropriate. He basically said, "Whatever, I don't care about what anyone else says, I only care about what the players in this locker room think and do."

- I think Merriman's comments will be even more appropriate if he makes a few plays against Denver on October 19th.

Making plays. Making plays.

Charges Dismissed

The San Diego County D.A. is not bringing charges against Shawne Merriman regarding the Tila Tequila situation.

Of course they aren't.

Football on Monday night in Oaktown.

Power Rankings For Fools

ESPN released their mid-May NFL Power Rankings today.

Here are their top 7 teams.

1. Stillers
2. Patsies
3. Gints
4. Iggles
5. Scrolts
6. Ravinians
7. BOLTS

What a load of horse puckey.

ESPN honestly thinks the Chargers are only the seventh best team in football? Is that some sort of joke?

Let's look at the teams ESPN thinks are better than the Bolts and see if they pass muster.

1. the Steelers: they won the Super Bowl and have most everybody back. They lost a deep-threat receiver and it'll be interesting to see if my boy Mendenhall is any good and if Ben Roethlisboober has any drive to win this season with the extra ring weighing him down, but generally I'm fine with them being ranked ahead of the Chargers.

2. the Patriots: Brady is back and they're good with Brady, but there are questions about his knee and some questions about the defensive secondary. I'm marginally okay with them being ranked ahead of the Chargers.

3. the Giants: They get Umeniyora back but Plax is gone. Just like Felipe Rios is better than Eli Manning, the Chargers are better than the Giants. I'm not okay with them being ranked ahead of the Chargers.

4. the Iggles: Everyone is fawning over their offensive pickups. Okay, so let's see them on the field before we blindly decide they're going to integrate seamlessly into the offense. Also, don't forget defensive genius Jim Johnson is taking a leave of absence. I'm not okay with them being ranked ahead of the Chargers.

5. the Colts: What a joke. How many times do the Chargers have to beat on these guys before people realize they aren't as good as the Bolts. They are working with an entirely new coaching staff and Peyton no longer has Marvin and Reggie in their primes. People can wish that Anthony Gonzalez is a fitting replacement for those beasts but he isn't. And their defense has a total of two good players both of whom are always injured. I'm not okay with them being ranked ahead of the Chargers.

6. the Ravens: I just vomited up my spaghetti dinner all over my sofa. Luckily my sofa is 8 years old and was free. The average age of the Ravens defense is 46 years old, they lost their defensive coordinator, they have a tougher schedule next season and Flacco is only entering his second - i.e. sophomore - season. They might win 8 games. Might. I'm not okay with them being ranked ahead of the Chargers.

So that's that. The Chargers are a top 3 team in the League at worst. Any opinion to the contrary is a foolish opinion.

I hope nobody at ESPN showed Shawne Merriman these rankings. He'd eat their head off.

I've got no more use for this witness.

Team That Beat Chargers Wins Super Bowl

The exact date hasn't been announced yet, but the Chargers play at Pittsburgh sometime during the 2009 season.

I. Cannot. Wait.

And you know who else can't wait?

Here's a hint:

: (

Shawne,

I miss you.

Bevormo

Teddy Cottrell

Teddy,

I know that Shawne Merriman really jacked up your plans by refusing to undergo surgery last February and, as a result, is missing this season, but please, for the love of all that is holy, please find a way to put pressure on the quarterback.

I don't care if you gotta send nine guys. Please, please conjure up a scheme to put a few quarterbacks on their back sides.

I ask this of you for the sake of the 2008 Chargers football season.

Best,
Bevormo

Merriman's Knee

I wish Merriman only had a PCL tear.

F.