Download San Diego Chargers Games Online

Looking for full Chargers games to download online? Look no more...

Most of us put our DVRs to good use during the NFL season, recording the games each week and filling our hard drives with pro football goodness. Inevitably, our hard drives swell and purging must take place. The first to go are usually preseason games. Deleting those games buys us four more weeks of regular season football, but soon thereafter we find ourselves with a difficult decision to make; which game(s) do I dare delete? Like parents forced to choose which of our children we love more, we anguish at the realization that we simply don't have the room for all of our babies. Do I delete week 4 at Oakland, or do I delete week 10 against the Chiefs?

The powers that be have heard our song of sorrow and have offered up the following solution: via Amazon and iTunes, the NFL will sell you condensed version of the games a la carte that you can download to your iPod, PC, or directly to your TV (depending on your set-top box...check for compatibility).

As far as I can tell, these aren't full-games...at least not what we are used to. Condensed down to about 12-15 minutes, you buy video of only the good stuff. Turns out, when you remove commercials, timeouts, and half-time from the equation, an NFL game really only lasts about 15 minutes. Crazy...

Week 1: Panthers at Chargers Game Highlights

Week 8: Chargers at Saints Game Highlights

Playoffs Week 2: Chargers at Steelers Game Highlights



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San Diego Chargers Franchise Ranks 65th In America

As part of it's 7th annual franchise rankings, ESPN the Magazine runs a feature called 'Ultimate Standings' where they, along with the fans, rank every franchise in the four major sports leagues: the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, and Major League Baseball. Altogether, ESPN ranks 122 professional franchises in areas such as 'Bang For The Buck', 'Fan Relations', 'Ownership', 'Affordability', 'Stadium Experience', 'Players', 'Coaching', and 'Title Track.' After studying results from fan surveys and through conducting internal discussions, ESPN has announced that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are the highest ranked franchise in sports. Where did the San Diego Chargers fall? Our Bolts came in middle of the pack at 65. ESPN the Magazine contacted BoltHype for comment, and we were all but too pleased to oblige...

Below is an excerpt from ESPN The Magazine's July issue:

Last Year's Rank: 34
Title Track: 62
Ownership: 77
Coaching: 90
Players: 35
Fan Relations: 75
Affordability: 78
Stadium Experience: 107
Bang for the Buck: 42

When 2007 wrapped just short of the Big Game, the Chargers' limit seemed higher than the (powder blue) sky. Then some cloud cover rolled in. Shawne Merriman's season-robbing knee injury and LaDainian Tomlinson's bad groin fall under the umbrella of "you can't do anything about the weather," but GM A.J. Smith's mocking of LT's website-posted desire to remain in town whipped up an avoidable storm. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed -- if only one of them belonged to the man wearing the headphones on the sideline. "Norv Turner proved to be an excellent game planner and has won in the playoffs," writes Bolthype.com's Rob Zepeda. "But he has also shown to be a poor game manager." San Diego has more than its share of poor game watchers, too: Seats at Qualcomm are the league's seventh highest (thankfully, prices have been frozen for next season). The Chargers had better keep winning, or the fans will quickly realize that the stadium is no state-of-the-art pleasure den. "Certainly not a striking piece of architecture," says Zepeda. It never rains, but it may be starting to pour.

The Chargers scored high marks for it's quality of players and the number of wins the team has accumulated over the past three seasons. On the other hand, stadium experience graded low, and ESPN didn't grade the San Diego Chargers coaching too high either.

Overall, the Chargers ranked higher than any of their AFC West counterparts, the closest being the Denver Broncos at 75.

Here is how the NFL teams fell into place. The Steelers were the highest ranked pro football team, and the #3 professional franchise overall. The San Diego Chargers came in almost exactly in the middle of the pack; 17 out of 32 NFL team, and 65 out of 122 franchises. Did the San Diego Chargers receive accurate grades in your opinion, or should their scores drop lower (or raise higher)?

NFL Rank/ NFL Team/ Overall Rank
1 Pittsburgh Steelers 3
2 Green Bay Packers 13
3 Indianapolis Colts 14
4 Tennessee Titans 15
5 New England Patriots 19
6 Carolina Panthers 28
7 Baltimore Ravens 29
8 Arizona Cardinals 33
9 Houston Texans 39
10 Seattle Seahawks 40
11 Atlanta Falcons 43
12 Philadelphia Eagles 44
13 New York Giants 45
14 New Orleans Saints 52
15 Miami Dolphins 61
16 Jacksonville Jaguars 62
17 San Diego Chargers 65
18 Chicago Bears 69
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 73
20 Denver Broncos 75
21 Dallas Cowboys 76
22 San Francisco 49ers 87
23 Minnesota Vikings 89
24 Buffalo Bills 91
25 Washington Redskins 92
26 New York Jets 103
27 Kansas City Chiefs 106
28 St. Louis Rams 112
29 Cleveland Browns 114
30 Oakland Raiders 116
31 Cincinnati Bengals 118
32 Detroit Lions 119


Link: Ultimate Standings 2009: No. 65: San Diego Chargers



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San Diego Chargers Contracts

The following is a list of the 2009 San Diego Chargers contract status:

[Updated: 06/28/09]

. . Player Position Contract Terms . Andre Coleman DL 1/27/2009: Signed a reserve/future contract. . Antoine Cason DB 7/24/2008: Signed a five-year, $12.03 million contract. The deal included a $6.3 million signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $490,000, 2011: $665,000, 2012: $840,000, 2013: Free Agent . Antonio Cromartie DB 7/25/2006: Signed a five-year, $12.5 million contract. The deal includes $7.35 million guaranteed. 2009: $935,000, 2010: $1.2225 million, 2011: Free Agent . Antonio Gates TE 8/23/2005: Signed a six-year, $24 million contract. The deal contains $10.5 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus. 2009: $3.25 million, 2010: $3.625 million, 2011: Free Agent . Antwan Applewhite LB 2009: $385,000, 2010: Exclusive Rights Free Agent . Billy Latsko RB 2009: $385,000, 2010: Restricted Free Agent . Brandon Hughes DB 6/19/2009: Signed a four-year contract. . Brandon Manumaleuna TE 2009: $1.45 million, 2010: Free Agent . Brandyn Dombrowski T . Chris Chambers WR 2009: $4.55 million, 2010: Free Agent . Cletis Gordon DB 4/14/2009: Signed a one-year, $1.545 million contract. . Clinton Hart DB 4/7/2008: Signed a six-year, $18 million contract. The deal included a $500,000 signing bonus. 2009: $1.3 million, 2010: $1.75 million, 2011: $3.1 million, 2012: $2.4 million, 2013: Free Agent . Corey Clark T 11/19/2008: Signed a four-year, $1.705 million contract. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent . Craig Davis WR 7/23/2007: Signed a five-year, $7.83 million contract. The deal includes $5.4 million guaranteed. Another $3.2 million is available through escalators. 2009: $510,000, 2010: $675,000, 2011: $840,000, 2012: Free Agent . Darry Beckwith LB 4/26/2009: Signed an undisclosed contract. . David Binn C 5/12/2008: Signed a four-year contract. 2009: $845,000, 2010: $860,000, 2011: $1.1 million, 2012: Free Agent . Demetrius Byrd WR . Eric Bakhtiari DL

. Gartrell Johnson RB . Gary Banks WR 1/27/2009: Signed a reserve/future contract. . Jacob Hester RB 7/18/2008: Signed a four-year, $2.538 million contract. The deal included an $833,000 signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent . Jacques Cesaire DL 2/10/2006: Signed five-year, $5.5 million contract. The deal included a $1.25 million signing bonus. 2009: $1 million, 2010: $1.2 million, 2011: Free Agent . Jeromey Clary T 2009: $460,000, 2010: Restricted Free Agent . Kassim Osgood WR 2009: $750,000, 2010: Free Agent . Keith Grennan DL 2009: $385,000, 2010: Restricted Free Agent . Kevin Burnett LB 3/10/2009: Signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract. The deal included a $2.2 million signing bonus, and Burnett's 2009 and 2010 base salaries are fully guaranteed. 2009-2010: Under Contract, 2011: Free Agent . Kevin Ellison DB . Kris Dielman G 3/3/2007: Signed a six-year, $39 million contract. The deal contains $24 million in the first three seasons. 2009: $5.5 million, 2010-2012: $4.5 million, 2013: Free Agent . Kynan Forney G 2/25/2009: Signed a two-year, $4.8 million contract. The deal includes $2 million in the first year. 2009-2010: Under Contract, 2011: Free Agent . Larry English LB . Legedu Naanee WR 7/23/2007: Signed a four-year, $1.806 million contract. The deal included a $141,000 signing bonus. 2009: $460,000, 2010: $550,000, 2011: Free Agent . Luis Castillo DL 7/22/2008: Signed a five-year, $43.1 million contract extension through 2014. The deal contains $18 million guaranteed, including a $6.15 million signing bonus and a $4.35 million first-year roster bonus. Another $17 million is available through incentives. 2009: $1.3 million (+ $4.75 million roster bonus), 2010: $4 million (+ $2.25 million roster bonus), 2011: $4.5 million, 2012: $3.9 million, 2013: $4.4 million, 2014: $4.9 million, 2015: Free Agent . Malcom Floyd WR 5/15/2009: Signed a one-year, $1.545 million contract. . Marcus McNeill T 7/25/2006: Signed a four-year, $2.834 million contract. The deal included a $1.244 million signing bonus. 2009: $530,000, 2010: Free Agent . Michael Bennett RB 2009: $1 million, 2010: $1.25 million, 2011: Free Agent . Nate Kaeding K 9/25/2006: Signed a six-year, $12.2 million contract extension through 2012. The deal contains $3.5 million guaranteed, including a $2.5 million signing bonus. 2009: $1.45 million, 2010: $1.6 million, 2011: $1.8 million, 2012: $2 million, 2013: Free Agent . Nick Hardwick C 6/16/2006: Signed a six-year, $17 million contract. The deal includes $5 million guaranteed. 2009: $2.5 million, 2010: $3 million, 2011: $3.675 million, 2012: Free Agent . Ogemdi Nwagbuo DL 1/27/2009: Signed a reserve/future contract.

. Paul Oliver DB 7/23/2007: Signed a four-year, $2.073 million contract. The deal included a $408,000 signing bonus. 2009: $460,000, 2010: $550,000, 2011: Free Agent . Quentin Jammer DB 8/8/2006: Signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension through 2012. The deal includes $13.5 million in bonuses. 2009: $3.25 million, 2010: $3.5 million, 2011: $3.75 million, 2012: $4 million, 2013: Free Agent . Ryon Bingham DL 12/24/2007: Signed a three-year contract extension through 2010. 2009: $1.35 million, 2010: $1.75 million, 2011: Free Agent . Scott Mruczkowski C 2/27/2008: Signed a three-year, $2.575 million contract. The deal included an $800,000 signing bonus. 2009: $620,000, 2010: $635,000, 2011: Free Agent . Shaun Phillips LB 2/20/2007: Signed a six-year, $31 million contract. The deal included a $7 million signing bonus and a $3 million roster bonus in the first year, and contains $100,000 annual workout bonuses. 2009: $2.9 million, 2010: $3.4 million, 2011: $3.9 million, 2012: $4.4 million, 2013: Free Agent . Shawne Merriman LB 2009: $2.272 million, 2010: Free Agent . Stephen Cooper LB 8/25/2006: Signed a five-year, $15 million contract. The deal includes $2 million in incentives. 2009: $2.375 million, 2010: $2.875 million, 2011: Free Agent . Steve Gregory DB 8/25/2008: Signed a four-year, $4.8 million contract. The deal includes $2 million guaranteed. 2009: $535,000, 2010: $800,000, 2011: $1.02 million, 2012: Free Agent . Tim Dobbins LB 2009: $530,000, 2010: Free Agent . Tyronne Green G . Vaughn Martin DL . Vincent Jackson WR 2009: $620,000, 2010: Free Agent

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Vaughn Martin Faces An Uphill Battle, Welcomes The Challenge

With around 20 tackles and only a sack-and-a-half in 2008, Vaughn Martin's college numbers don't jump out at you initially. But look past the stats and turn on his game tape, and you'll find a one man army wearing #47. The San Diego Chargers drafted Martin with the 113th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but they weren't alone in their quest for the big defensive tackle. The New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns were showing strong interest in Martin up to and throughout the draft process. At 6'3" 330lbs, Martin has the size, speed, and strength that NFL teams are looking for to bolster their defensive lines. Physically, Martin is NFL-ready. But coming from playing college football in Canada, Martin faces a unique challenge in his quest to not only make a roster, but to start for a pro team.

Playing for Western Ontario, it was hard for Martin to get noticed by NFL scouts. Off the NFL radar for the most part, Martin didn't even receive a combine invite. Undeterred, Martin, along with his good friend and agent Matt Baxter, sent game tape to all 32 NFL teams. They held pro days for NFL teams as requested, which Chargers' scouts famously attended:

"He actually had three pro days and two private workouts. The New England Patriots wanted to come in on their own. So we basically were just doing them by demand. A team would call and set a date, and then we would just tell the other teams that that's when it would be happening. The first one we did was the day after Michigan's pro day, so we'd get all of the scouts that were in Michigan across the border, and had it at a location 20 minutes away from Ford Field in Detroit. So that's where his name started to get out at first. And then from there, everyone loved what they saw. In fact, he gave New England my number as the secondary number on Draft Day. The Patriots ended up calling me as Vaughn was on the phone with San Diego because they couldn't get through. They were desperately trying to get a hold off him. They saw, as Vaughn did, his name come up on TV. That was a quick end to that conversation," says Baxter.

Even with good NFL teams showing interest in Martin as a prospect, he was still labeled a "project" who would need time to develop. He had only played a couple of years of college football, and was still learning the game - and it was the Canadian version at that. How quickly could he adapt to the NFL, if at all?

"They say 'Oh, he doesn't have this stat or that stat.' And it's easy for fans to say that. But if you watch the film, like San Diego did, you see he gets triple-teamed on every play. And on top of that, the running back comes in to chip and help out on him. Teams would call a play and choose a direction at the line, and would run the play to the opposite side of where Vaughn lined up on. But that was actually good for Vaughn because he got experience with not giving away where he'd line up. So he played a lot of nose and end, and he'd move around. Because if he'd just come out of the huddle and go to his spot, they'd just call an audible right away. He was just that dominant," says Baxter.

The Chargers saw Martin's versatility and became enthralled with the idea of using him in much the same way as he was used in college. Knowing it'd be a process, the team nonetheless saw a world of potential in Vaughn Martin.

"When I first came here to play defense end, I thought I'd only be on the five, but a lot of time they'll have me reducing, playing three, slanting, whatever. It's just a matter of getting in the playbook. The first day it's all new, but as we go on I get more familiar. When we get back for OCS, that when I think I'll get in better shape all around, mentally and physically," says Martin.

Getting acclimated to the pro game is normally not an easy transition for a college player to make, let alone a guy who played college ball in Canada. But Martin is up to the task, confidant in his abilities and eager to improve.

"I'm doing stuff based on my old habits, but Coach has a philosophy; get into your man, control him, and work from there. Through the pad level and all that. Nothing too fancy. Am I facing an uphill battle? Of course I am. But you know what? It's the NFL. Everyone is big and athletic. But you can't get by on only that for too long," says Martin.

It's his love of competition and his drive to succeed allows him to be successful in whatever sport he picks up, whether it be bowling, hockey, or touch football:

"It was his birthday the week before the draft and we went to go play touch football at a park, and he laid out a couple of people. He's just highly competitive," Baxter recalls.

Vicious as he is on the field, Vaughn's off-the-field personality somewhat belies his football nastiness. Vaughn is one of the more polite, well-spoken, and laid-back guys you'll meet. Having made the move from the Caribbean to Canada, and now down to the States, Martin has learned to take things in stride. Martin adapts to circumstances almost as agilely as he moves on the football field. And it's on the football field where he is most comfortable, most at home:

"When he's on the field, he takes on a different persona. Playing football is almost a release for him. That's where he's happiest. Off the field, he's a great team guy. He comes of the field after practicing for two hours, and he's still smiling ear-to-ear. Playing football is what he looks forward to. You can't always pick up on the personality of a guy when you scout him; you really only see the measurables. But he endears himself to his teammates and his coaches. He has the passion, not just for football, but for life. Everything he does he goes after it full speed," says Baxter.

As raw and as unpolished as he came into San Diego, he's leaving a strong impression on coaches and teammates alike. There is a buzz about Martin that permeates Chargers Park. Have the Chargers done the impossible again, finding a diamond in the rough who'll shine brightly on Sundays?

Says Baxter, "He's just too big and strong; not only physically, but also mentally as well. There's no limit to how good he could be."

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Top 10 Linebackers In The NFL [2009 Edition]

The Linebacker has long been one of my favorite positions to watch. Growing up a Chargers fan during the nineties, I like many of you, had to suffer through some bad years. Sure there were bright spots; the 94 season was one of them. But really, being a Chargers fan was about being a fan of the players. Guys like Rodney Harrison, Normand Hand, Natrone Means, heck even Curtis Conway! But for me personally there wasn't any Charger or player in the NFL who I loved to watch as much as Junior Seau. He was worth the price of admission. He could fire up the crowd like no other with his lightning bolt fist pump thing he did. Naturally I've become pretty fond of watching linebackers play, and Junior had a lot to do with it. So it was a lot of fun looking around at each team and coming up with what I feel are the top 10 linebackers in the league.

Here are the top 10 linebackers in the NFL, according to BoltHype:

[UPDATED for the 2009 Regular season]

1. Demarcus Ware
Demarcus Ware is now without question the best linebacker in the NFL. Amazing pass rush skills, yes...but Ware is not one dimensional. He can do it all.


2. Brian Urlacher
Urlacher didn't have his best season in 2008, but you can blame his defensive line for not keeping him clean. He has the talent to be the league's best defensive player.


3. Patrick Willis
As someone who already has over 300 tackles in his first 2 seasons, Willis figures to be among the NFL's leading tacklers for years and a perennial All-Pro.


4. Shawne Merriman
It's hard to drop Merriman down this low, when he could potentially be ranked as high as #1. The sackmaster needs to bounce back from an injury year.


5. Rey Lewis
Lewis is getting older and has certainly lost a step, but he makes up for it with his on-field leadership and his experience. He'll still put you into the ground.


6. Joey Porter
He does a lot of talking on the field, but just check his stats... the man produces. Porter is one of the more savy pass rushers in the game.


7. James Harrison
NFL fans were introduced to the pitbull that James Harrison is on the football field. The reigning Defensive Player of the year plays with a chip on his shoulder.


8. Kirk Morrison
A bright spot on a disappointing team, Morrison is the leader of a very underrated defensive unit. Always around the ball, he shows veteran instincts at a young age.


9. Jon Beason
The Carolina Panthers have a heat-seaking missile in Jon Beason. Active and aggressive, Beason has 200+ tackles in two seasons and plays well in coverage.


10. James Farrior
Underrated and behind the shadow of many great Steeler defenders, Farrior is the stabilizer in the middle of that unit. He deserves to be mentioned among the better inside linebackers in the NFL.


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So what do you guys think? Any glaring omissions? Someone ranked way too high? Share your thoughts in the comments below [Keep in mind that the list has been updated since it was originally published last year]:

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