NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

The Chargers were unable to take advantage of another AFC West title in 2009, and with it there’s no doubt that there will be a new look for the Bolts in 2010. With free agency looming, as well as the NFL Draft in April, there’s word now that the Chargers are looking to upgrade their backfield.

The big news of course is that it looks as if LaDainian Tomlinson will not be back with the Chargers in 2010. His career has been on the downswing for the past three seasons, and even when he was the best back in the league, he was not able to do enough to get the team over the top.

Then there is Darren Sproles, who was paid a lot of money last year as the teams franchise player, but still couldn’t take the feature back from L.T. and ran for just 343 yards and caught 45 passes for 497 yards and scored 7 touchdowns. It looks as if the team simply isn’t going to be able to count on him to be the teams feature back anytime soon.

So what does the club do? The latest word is that the club will use cornerback Antonio Cromartie in some sort of deal to acquire a feature back. One team that has some backs is the Dallas Cowboys, who have Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. But they really don’t need a corner, and it doesn’t make sense to make that move if your Dallas.

As for Cromartie, he is a four-year starter, a former first-round draft pick and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 when he intercepted 10 passes. Sources have said he has fallen out of favor with the Chargers, who also have a pair of corners in Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason who were first-round picks.

So the team could also look to free agency, and one back they may look at is Steelers running back Willie Parker. He isn’t a starter in Pittsburgh anymore with Rashard Mendenhall there, but still has injury issues to deal with, and it will be interesting to see if he can overcome that to shine again.

Some say that the Chargers may be willing to trade Cromartie for a draft choice that could give them more flexibility to select at least one running back in this year’s draft, sources said. Whatever they do, upgrading the run game is simply a must if the Chargers are ever going to make it to the next level.

One player that has been the source of great talk this offseason already is Eagles QB Mike Vick. There’s plenty of word about where Vick will be in 2010, and if it will be in Philly as a backup, or to some other team as a starter or a player again a play away from being on the field.

Today on NFL.com there is a story about Vick, stating that in terms of a move to trade him from Philly elsewhere, it likely wouldn’t happen till the preseason:

The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t initiated any talks to trade quarterback Michael Vick, and they might not this spring, but that doesn’t preclude them from doing so at some point. Sources from two teams who would be in the market for a quarterback said they don’t expect Vick to be dealt until the preseason. That’s when his value could be enhanced by strong preseason performances, a full offseason of work with his team and injuries/uncertainty at quarterback on other teams. “I don’t think there is enough value in a trade to make the move now,” said an executive with a team that needs help at quarterback. “They don’t have to trade him before the roster bonus is due, and I’d be very surprised if they traded him in March. I expect them to hold on to him until he has more peak value, and that could be in August or September.

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Running back Jamal Lewis told the Browns during last season he was going to retire at the end of the year. While he has yet to officially do that, he’s a free man today, as the Browns announced that he has been released from the roster.

“I enjoyed getting to know Jamal and having the opportunity to coach him last season,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said in a statement. “We want to thank him for his contributions to the Cleveland Browns and wish him nothing but the best moving forward. I’m sure he will be successful in whatever he decides to pursue.”

Lewis played in nine games last season. He was placed on injured reserve with concussion syndrome. He was under contract with the Browns through 2010, and is now free to go where he chooses if he wants to play this next season.

Our Friends over at TMZ sent us the following about Chad’s buddy-buddy with Carson in the offseason:

Chad Ochocinco rolled through Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles in L.A. last night without his quarterback Carson Palmer … because according to Chad, the two “don’t get along during the off-season.”

It seems that it’s all over an incident from last off-season when Carson’s wife wouldn’t let Ochocinco stay at their home after she gave birth to twins. Last night Chad told us, “Tell Carson let me babysit those twins … then I’ll talk to him.”

We’re not really sure if the Cincinnati Bengals star was jokin’ or not — but he looked pretty damn serious when he told us how badly he wants fellow NFL receiver Terrell Owens to join his squad … even insisting he’d take a pay cut to get T.O. in stripes.

Think the Vikings front office didn’t realize the importance of having an elite Quarterback on the team ?

Rosenfel ’s ? Jackson ? – See any drop-off here ?

I think Rick Speilman sees a difference.

Don’t think the latest rumors are simply the imagination of various writers musing through the off-season. There is some actual momentum building in this direction.

There is little doubt that Viking coach Brad Childress is enamored with the Eagle veteral signal caller. True, the team will give Brett Favre the right of first refusal. But make no mistake, the window of opportunity is realistically open for another year or so, then who knows. Don’t look for the franchise to be led by Tavarus Jackson any time soon.

And don’t think the team is going to allow the Favre circus to derail their opportunity to add an Elite field general. Don’t be surprised if the Vikings find themselves in a situation where they HAVE to give Favre a “Take-it-or-leave-it” ultimatum prior to the start of mini camp as their window to make a McNabb deal may be very narrow. Let’s hope Favre doesn’t try to hold the franchise hostage, lest he find himself on the outside looking in.

“First off, let me make it clear that there is a reason covering the Vikings is so much fun. That’s because there is an endless supply of speculation to keep a beat writer busy 12 months a year. Want evidence? Well, here it is.

Three days after the Vikings’ heart-breaking loss to New Orleans in the NFC Championship Game, there already is conjecture about what the franchise might do at quarterback. Yes, Brett Favre is signed for 2010 and all indications are the Vikings want him back, but what fun is actually waiting on a decision from him?

Instead, the name being thrown out there as a possibility to replace Favre is longtime Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. The reality is that just when you want to dismiss such talk you give it some thought and, well, you start to put together the pieces and …

McNabb’s situation is that he has a year left on his contract with the Eagles and speculation is the team might be willing to move him. McNabb is from Chicago, so being in Minneapolis would put him close to home, and, of course, Brad Childress worked closely with McNabb when the Vikings coach was first the quarterback’s coach and then offensive coordinator with the Eagles. “