The Off-Season Of Discontent

At this point in the NFL off-season, diehard fans are checking reports from mini-camp, monitoring the relevant free-agent news (where will Adrian Foster end up?), debating the potential impact of draft choices, and dissecting other roster moves heading into training camp.

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As preseason approaches, most fans are getting excited—but not Chargers and Raiders fans. It’s difficult for Chargers fans to feel sympathy for Raiders fans, and vice-versa. But in today’s NFL, where franchise movement has become a reality, that’s what has happened. Both fan bases have been so jerked around by their owners and the league that these bitter rivals can actually feel sympathy for each other.

Growing up just a short drive from Pittsburgh during the seventies and early eighties when the Steelers were dominating the NFL, everyone I encountered was a Steeler fan. But not me, instead, I became a San Diego Chargers fan. Some of that decision was due to an inherent rebellious nature. But mainly it was because of Kellen Winslow’s superhuman performance versus the Miami Dolphins in a divisional playoff game—January 2, 1982.

I was a kid, I didn’t care about defensive schemes and blitz patterns, I wanted to see long passes and touchdowns. At the time, a typical AFC Central showdown was a 6 to 3 defensive struggle. In contrast, the AFC West games were shootouts. Soon, Air Coryell won me over.

When I moved to Southern California, I drove around with a perma-grin for the first few months. The weather was always beautiful, and everywhere I looked, there were lightning bolt stickers on the backs of cars. And when I tuned in the local AM sports talk station, I almost cried when they dedicated an entire hour show to the Chargers. I was home.

But that was then. Now, it’s another off-season of discontent for San Diego fans.

Eric Weddle after last home game as a Charger
Eric Weddle after last home game as a Charger

Chargers devotees have to not only deal with losing, we also get to spend another season in franchise limbo. Our pertinent off-season updates contain information about how fast the Chargers received 111,000 signatures for their new stadium proposal. We spend our time reading about Mission Valley developments versus downtown developments. We analyze interviews with Mayor Faulconer and study statements from City Council members in hopes of deciphering future support and votes. We even concern ourselves with the current location of bus yards.

At one point, we had to endure the thought of sharing a stadium with the Raiders. Can you imagine any other divisional rivals sharing a stadium?  “No problem Philadelphia Eagle fans, you can keep your franchise, you just need to share a stadium with the Cowboys.”

With the Chargers proposal moving forward, this off-season has brought dread and the occasional spot of promise. Knowing it could be San Diego’s last year with the Chargers leaves a bad taste in every fan’s mouth. But, once camp and the preseason starts, we’re hoping to get back to actual football news.

How is Melvin Gordon recovering from micro-fracture foot surgery?

How is Gordon’s reunion with former badger FB Derek Watt shaping up?

How is Adrian Phillips developing, and will he be able to fill the extra-large shoes of Eric Weddle?

Is the rookie, Hunter Henry, going to be another Hall of Fame Tight End for San Diego? No pressure.

Is Keenan Allen’s lacerated kidney completely healed, and how does he plan to spend his new four year, $45 million contract?

All of these questions, plus other football related ones, will take center stage as we get closer to kickoff. But, for San Diego loyalists, the real question of whether there will even be anything left to be a fan of is what occupies our off-season thoughts.