Something Happened Today that We Already Knew Was Going to Happen

Today the San Diego Chargers released an aging and underperforming running back, thereby saving $3 million in salary and another $2 million bonus that was due to him in March.

He just happened to be the greatest Charger in team history.

Moment of silence.

Tomlinson released by Chargers [ESPN]

Meh.

According to the Bolthype blog - my favorite because Rop Zepeda was nice enough to send me a lengthy email with blogging advice (ahem, Joel Price from Charger Blog and Ray from Bolttalk) - the Chargers are likely to draft Defensive Tackle Dan Williams out of Tennessee. Williams fills a need on the defensive line where a man called Jamal Williams used to play. He is also seemingly a very nice prospect whose teammates in Rocky Top (that's where the University of Tennessee is located, layman) called him "unblockable." But that's not saying much considering the quality of UT's offensive line. Offensive Tackle Cory Smith once described coach Lane Kiffin as "a real tough assignment. Very shifty."

But the quality of the Williams pick is not the issue here. It's simply another safe defensive pick from a Chargers front office that refuses to take risks on playmakers. It's what I call the Larry English Effect, and here it is in movie form.

Two young men, TYLER and DAN, are sitting on a couch watching a San Diego Chargers football game. TYLER is young, dashing, and clearly very intelligent. He also has a very nice haircut. DAN does not matter.

TYLER sees Larry English lying on the top of a running back two yards past the line of scrimmage. English has clearly not actually made the tackle, but will be credited with it.

TYLER

Larry English! First round draft pick doin' work!

DAN

Yup.

The game continues.

That happened a total of 23 times this year. And while English is not a bust by any means (he is a solid player and should start for the Bolts for years to come) he does not excite and he definitely will not win you a Super Bowl. On the other hand C.J. Spiller and Jahvid Best - while they do represent risks - have the potential to be number 1 or 2 guys on a championship contending team.

So in conclusion... Grow a pair, A.J. Smith, and for once in your life take a risk with that 28th pick.

Chargers Unlikely To Pass Up Tennessee's Dan Williams [BoltHype]