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Tomlinson: Pats have "no class"

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, in his postgame news conference, accused the Patriots of disrespectful behavior at the end of today's game. Tomlinson was asked about an unsportsmanlike conduct call against the Patriots, which followed Nate Kaeding's missed field goal with seconds left. Apparently a Patriot player --reportedly feisty cornerback Ellis Hobbs -- did a dance mocking Shawne Merriman's "lights out" routine.

Tomlinson said the Patriots had shown "no class." He said that maybe it was because of their head coach. Then he stepped down from the podium.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:51 PM | Permalink | Comments 22

Photo: LT gets first postseason TD

AP photo / Denis Poroy

LaDainian Tomlinson has set all sorts of records, but that 2-yard push was the first postseason touchdown he's ever had. He has 111 for his career.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Photo: Marty strikes???

AP photo / Denis Poroy
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers fumbles as he is hit by Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour on a fourth-down play.

We were up here wondering about Marty Schottenheimer's decision not to try a field goal on fourth-and-11 from the 30. Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding was making kicks from 60 yards with ease during warmups.

But it gets worse -- colleague Karen Guerigian of the Boston Herald tells us that Kaeding hasn't missed a field goal here at Qualcomm in TWO YEARS.

So instead, they go for it, and Rivers is strip-sacked by Mike Vrabel...

Marty strikes again??

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:38 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Photo: Gostkowski sets record

AP photo / Mark J. Terrill
Stephen Gostkowski's 50-yard field goal was the longest in New England postseason history, surpassing Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard conversions, of which there were a few in the playoffs.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:25 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Kickoff pushed back

Due to the NFC game between Chicago and Seattle going into overtime, kickoff for this game has been pushed back to 1:45 PST (or 4:45 EST). The NFL made the decision before the players left the field during warmups here.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

That's creative...

Hey all --

They've set up a stage in the middle of the field and some group called P.O.D is singing a song they wrote about the Chargers.

Now, I'm a child of the hip-hop generation, but A: the primary lyrics to the song are Saaaaaaaaan Deeee-ego Char-gers, and B: when they're not saying that, you can't understand a dang word they're saying.

But hey, whatever gets you going, I guess.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Official warmups begin

Hey all --

We're about 65 minutes from kickoff and the Patriots kicking team -- Stephen Gostkowski, Matt Cassel, Lonie Paxton and Todd Sauerbrun -- just came onto the field in full uniform, and were booed by the fans in the stadium.

Gostkowski just hit a 50-yard practice kick.

Backup long snapper Russ Hochstein is also on the field getting his snap on.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Game inactives

For the Patriots:

WR Bam Childress
DB Rashad Baker
S Rodney Harrison
OL Gene Mruczkowski
OL Wesley Britt
DL LeKevin Smith
DL Marquise Hill

* Vinny Testaverde is the third quarterback

For the Chargers:
WR Az-Zahir Hakim
CB Cletis Gordon
FB Andrew Pinnock
T Cory Lekkerkerker
DE Jacques Cesaire
TE Ryan Krause
LB Marques Harris

* Charlie Whitehurst is the third quarterback

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Debunking the myth

Hey all --

There was a lot of attention given this week to the fact that the Chargers had restricted sales of tickets to today's game to purchasers with a Southern California ZIP code, but from our observation, there are no shortage of Pats fans here today.

Our hotel lobby was packed with fans wearing New England jerseys, and as we walked into the stadium, we saw more, including a woman with a Dante Scarnecchia #1 jersey.

We also heard that there were single tickets available as recently as yesterday at noon.

So try as they might to keep them out, it seems there will be Patriots fans here for their team.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Good morning/afternoon from the Q

Hey all --

Well, here it's 10:45 in the morning, but back home it's afternoon. We've settled into our seats in the open-air pressbox here at Qualcomm Stadium, which wouldn't be so bad except it's unseasonably cool here in San Diego. I know, I know, don't complain...

Chargers fans are definitely hyped for the game today -- yesterday, a tattoo parlor was giving away free 'Bolt tats to anyone willing to permanently brand themselves for the sake of the team.

Coming into the parking lots here, fans were out in full force, rocking their blue-and-yellow regalia. When we landed Friday night, one local radio pundit was predicting that Shawne Merriman -- by himself -- would have four sacks today.

On the field here, Lonie Paxton is practicing his snaps with holder Matt Cassel and David Thomas is stretching. Vinny Testaverde, who was looking quite snazzy in his fedora Friday afternoon as the team boarded buses for the airportView image, is jogging around the field.

We'll have more as we get closer to game time.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments 0