Bolts get one nationally televised game in preseason

The new starting quarterback of the San Diego Chargers will continue his preseason preparation on Friday night (CBS, 8:00 PM ET) when Philip Rivers and teammates travel to the Chicago Bears, the NFC North champs of last year.

Preseason starts with Packers

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the Green Bay Packers will open the 2006 preseason on the road against the San Diego Chargers.

Performance based pay for players up nearly 40%

Total compensation in the fourth year of the NFL’s “Performance Based Pay” system increased by 39 percent to more than $79 million, the NFL announced today.

Bolts to be featured on NFL Kickoff Weekend

To open the season, the San Diego Chargers will play the Raiders in Oakland on Monday, September 11, 2006 at 7:15 PT.  The Bolts will be in the second of two Monday night games during Kickoff Weekend.

Spring Round-Up: AFC West News-N-Notes

San Diego Chargers:  Third-year pro Philip Rivers is poised to lead the Chargers at quarterback this season.  A standout at North Carolina State, Rivers played in five bowl games, winning all of them, and was named MVP of each game.  “It’s a situation similar to when I got to N.C. State,” says Rivers.  “I came in there and showed the coaches that I could play and I got the job.  I’m confident that I can succeed at this level and I’m excited about the opportunity” … The Chargers have won 21 games in the past two seasons for their greatest win total in consecutive years since 1980-81 (21). 

Denver Broncos:  Rick Smith was promoted from director of pro personnel to assistant general manager earlier this month.  Entering his 11th season with the Broncos, the 37-year-old Smith served as an assistant coach for four seasons before contributing to the team’s player evaluation and acquisition processes … Denver notched its ninth top-10 NFL offensive ranking since head coach Mike Shanahan arrived 11 seasons ago (1995).

Oakland Raiders:  Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Shell returns to Oakland as the Raiders’ head coach.  Shell led the team to a 56-41 (.577) mark from 1988-94.  “It’s coming home,” says the 59-year-old Shell.  “It’s coming home to finish what I started.”  Adds Raiders owner Al Davis, “It’s tradition, history, excellence, leadership.  It’s all wrapped up in one when you mention the name ‘Art Shell.’”  Shell returns to Oakland from the NFL league office where he served as senior vice president of football operations and development.

Kansas City Chiefs:  Herm Edwards became the Chiefs’ 10th head coach in January.  Edwards directed the New York Jets to three playoff berths in his five years as coach there (2001-05).  A familiar face in Kansas City, he was a Chiefs NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship intern in 1989 and served the team as a scout/defensive backs coach from 1990-95 … Running back Larry Johnson reached 100 rushing yards in each of the Chiefs’ final nine games, good for the longest active streak in the league and the third-longest such streak in NFL history.

“The Duke”

NFL clubs today unanimously endorsed a recommendation to return the name of the official game ball to "The Duke" in honor of the late New York Giants owner Wellington Mara, one of the most beloved and respected figures in professional sports history. Mara died last October.

The question I have… Will Commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s name still appear on the ball come September?

Lions sign VanBuren, call him FAT

Former Chargers tackle Courtney VanBuren joins the Lions after three seasons with the Chargers who drafted him in the third round (80th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. He missed the 2005 season with a knee injury.

VanBuren should be a little upset that his new team called him FAT in their official release. I guess they mean free agent tackle Courtney VanBuren.

Vikings Sign DE DeQuincy Scott

Former Chargers defensive end DeQuincy Scott signs with the Vikings. Scott had 4 1/2 sacks last year while playing both end positions and at tackle. But the Vikings see him strictly as a rush end on the right side and a special teams player, Vice President of Player Personnel Fran Foley said.

No interest in Moulds

The U-T reports that Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said his team has no interest in pursuing wide receiver Eric Moulds.

Cooper signs contract

San Diego Chargers restricted free agent linebacker Stephen Cooper today signed the one-year contract tendered by the team earlier this month.

The 6-1, 235-pound Cooper played in all 16 games and started in two as a reserve inside linebacker. He finished the season with 30 tackles, including one for loss, and 1.5 quarterback sacks. Cooper is also an outstanding special teams player and he ranked sixth on the team with nine stops on the specialty units.