As the holiday season fast approaches, NFL teams in California have begun to take part in the time-honored tradition of holiday wish lists. And while no team will probably get all it hopes for, here are a few things our beloved California teams will benefit most from in the upcoming New Year.
Some might say Christmas came early for the surprising 8-3 San Diego Chargers. After posting a 4-12 record last year and being expected to perform even worse this year, the Chargers have watched the development of a Pro-Bowl-caliber tight end in Antonio Gates and the emergence of an MVP-caliber quarterback in Drew Brees. However, all this success might be a curse of its own for the Chargers, for as they watch Brees bloom, they continue to pay Phillip Rivers, first-round pick this past year and supposed QB of the future, as if he were starting. While they might be able to afford such a hefty price tag now, come next year the team will be cornered into deciding whether it really feels comfortable with Rivers or prefers to stick with what has thus far been the very hot hand of Brees. Hopefully the Chargers will be able to absorb the financial hit and possible ego-bruising of dealing with a quarterback they thought would be great (and still might be), and sticking with one whom they had mistreated and doubted and who has since proven them wrong.
While the Chargers rise, the 49ers continue their historic fall. A team that was an example of excellence in the NFL for so many years is now reduced to nothing more than a laughingstock. After the player-friendly reign of former owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., ended and the profit-first regime of John York and Terry Donahue began, Niner fans everywhere watched as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history left, a Pro Bowl quarterback was released, and an enigmatic superstar was traded away and has since flourished. While the team promises that it is preparing to be in good salary cap space for the future, the only gift that could save this team is new ownership, and while there have been parties interested in acquiring and rebuilding the fading franchise, so far there have been no signs of willingness to sell. As such, all the Niners really deserve for Christmas is a college player who distinguishes himself as worthy of being the number-one overall pick in next year’s draft.
The Oakland Raiders might be wishing they could return some “gifts” underneath their Christmas tree. The signings of aging players Warren Sapp, Ted Washington and Kerry Collins haven’t proven nearly as successful as the team must have hoped. Washington has recorded one sack, which is half of a sack more than converted defensive end Sapp. Quarterback Collins has thrown three more interceptions than touchdowns since replacing the injured Rich Gannon.
However, this being the season of giving, even the Silver and Black deserve some pleasantries. And so, we wish unto the Raiders the gift of foresight, in the form of seeing that their system of stockpiling players past their prime isn’t working and that the time has come to give younger players, such as quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo and running back Justin Fargas, a chance to play and show whether they have anything to contribute.
