Now three years removed from an NFL sideline, Marty Schottenheimer still has his eyes on the game.  The former Chargers coach joins 619 Sports to talk about L.T. leaving San Diego to go play for his son Brian Schottenheimer, the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets.

Does L.T. have any tread left on the tire?  Who could the Chargers seek out to replace Jamal Williams?  And does Marty have any plans of getting back into the game?  These questions and more in our exclusive interview, after the jump:

Download audio file (031710-marty-schottenheimer.mp3)

The Chargers’ vice-president/COO may not be the most familiar name to San Diego fans, but his behind-the-scenes impact has been unmistakable for the past five years.  Now, Steeg says he’s leaving the team to “pursue other opportunities”.

In their latest podcast, Craig calls in Chris from Peoria, Arizona and Padres spring training to discuss the latest blow to the Bolts in the offseason:

Download audio file (031610-jim-steeg-leaves.mp3)

Craig and Chris take advantage of an SDSU baseball rainout to podcast about the latest round of moves by the Chargers.  Jamal Williams is out (for now, at least), and Kassim Osgood has moved on officially.  Meanwhile, does Darren Sproles’ 1st-and-3rd tender mean the Chargers will keep the running back, or trade him come draft day?

Chris and Chris discuss the uncapped year, and if the Chargers will be able to withstand the losses of so many talented players:

Download audio file (030610-chargers-moves.mp3)

The Chargers have decided to keep Darren Sproles, send Kassim Osgood into the free-agent market, and release L.T., Jamal Williams and more.  Who will be stepping into the big holes created by these vacancies?

The NFL Network’s Charles Davis was at the recently concluded 2010 NFL Combine and joins 619 Sports to share his thoughts on the nature of the combine, but more importantly the players who may help out the Chargers come draft day:

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UPDATED WITH CHARGERS TWEETS AFTER THE JUMP:

The Chargers announced a handful of roster decisions on Thursday, cutting Jamal Williams while offering tenders to several key restricted free agents including Darren Sproles.

Williams has spent his entire career in San Diego, where he anchored the defensive line. Injuries caught up with him, as he missed almost the entire 2009 season after suffering a triceps injury in the season opener against Oakland.

“This is a difficult time of year and the most difficult part of our job,” general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement. “Jamal has been an anchor of our defense for 12 seasons. He’s battled courageously at one of the most punishing positions on the field, and I respect him immensely.”

Meanwhile, the Chargers have changed their mind after allowing Darren Sproles to walk as a free agent last week and have offered him a first- and third-round tender. If Sproles signs the reported tender — valued at close to $7.3 million — an opposing team would have to give up a first-and third-round pick to the Chargers if they outbid San Diego for his services.

See what Kassim Osgood said about his release and how the Chargers are hinting via Twitter that Williams could return after the jump:

Among the other restricted free agents offered similar tenders are wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd, offensive tackle Marcus McNeil and linebacker Shawne Merriman.

“Our intentions are to have all of our tendered players back,” Smith said in the statement. “We feel good about these players and continuity is important to us.”

Chargers unrestricted free agents include DE Alfonso Boone, TE Brandon Manumaleuna, C/G Dennis Norman, WR Kassim Osgood, T Jon Runyan, DT Ian Scott and TE Kris Wilson
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UPDATE: The Twitterverse has been full of info about the Chargers’ busy day of personnel moves.  Kassim Osgood tweeted throughout the afternoon about his likely departure from San Diego:

Later, the Chargers’ PR staff (and the U-T’s Kevin Acee) tweeted that Jamal Williams’ tenure in San Diego might not be over after all:

LaTorsha and LaDainian Tomlinson after his farewell press conference

LaDainian Tomlinson said farewell to the San Diego Chargers and their fans in a press conference Wednesday afternoon at Maderas Golf Club in Poway.  LT choked up at the end of his opening statement, but seemed at peace about leaving San Diego behind in his quest to become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

During nearly a half-hour press conference, LT alternated between reminiscing about his Chargers days and positioning himself for a career he still thinks has up to four more years.  After LT was done, Craig and Chris sat outside the country club to discuss what they had just heard:

Download audio file (022410-lt-presser.mp3)

Click through the jump to watch video from LT’s press conference:

Also From 619 Sports:

LT Released Podcast

Lorenzo Neal On LT: “It’s A Sad Day”

LT: Appreciating A Decade Of Dominance

Time to appreciate the greatness of LaDainian Tomlinson as a San Diego Charger.  Chris and Craig talk about LT’s impact on our community, his accomplishments on and off the field and the legacy he leaves in San Diego:

Download audio file (022210-lt-released.mp3)

Also see from 619 Sports:

LT Says Goodbye, Vows To Play On

Lorenzo Neal On LT: “It’s A Sad Day”

LT: Appreciating A Decade Of Dominance

LaDainian Tomlinson was released by the San Diego Chargers today, with the move announced in a press release.  Dean Spanos said in the release: “I look forward to the time when we’ll see his number retired and see him inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  I can’t say enough about how much I’ve enjoyed being around LT and LaTorsha the last nine years.”

Longtime Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal says that San Diego has lost “a pillar in the community”, and that in the NFL game of chess, he was the “queen” to LT’s “king”.  Listen to his one-on-one interview with 619 Sports reacting to Tomlinson’s release:

Download audio file (022210-lo-neal.mp3)

Also on LT’s time with the Chargers:

LT: Appreciating A Decade Of Dominance

On Tuesday Chris Mortensen reported the Chargers were shopping around Antonio Cromartie, looking for a running back or draft pick in return.  Mort joined 619 Sports today to talk about Cro’s market value, the running backs in the upcoming NFL draft, LT’s future, and how the uncapped year will affect A.J. Smith’s offseason:

Download audio file (021710-chris-mortensen.mp3)

They finished 13-4 and won their fourth-consecutive AFC Western Division championship. But is there any possible way to remember the Chargers’ 2009 season without thinking solely of the devastating playoff loss to the New York Jets?

Well…yes…and no.

Here’s a look back at the Top 10 moments from the season just past — a season (not?) to remember: 

1. HE KICKED THE FLAG?? No matter what else happened this past season, losing the playoff to the Jets will still be what’s remembered most. Fair or unfair, it’s just the way that it is. Vincent Jackson kicking the red challenge flag, and drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, didn’t cost the Chargers the game, but it epitomized the frustration and the failure — again!! — of the Bolts in the postseason.

2. HE CAUGHT THE BALL!! Vincent Jackson gets the nod for Moment No. 2 as well. Hauling in a Philip Rivers pass in the right corner of the end zone (above), Jackson completed an 80-yard drive in the final two minutes, giving the Chargers a 21-20 come-from-behind victory over the New York Giants. At the time, it was easily the Bolts’ biggest win of the season, and it started everybody believing that perhaps this could be San Diego’s year.

3. HE STOPPED HIM! AGAIN! AGAIN! AND AGAIN!!Linebacker Brandon Siler led a goal-line stand in Dallas that helped knock off the Cowboys, 20-17, in December. Time and again Dallas slammed big back Marion Barber into the line, and time and again Siler and his mates — Tim Dobbins, Jacques Cesaire, Luis Castillo and others — turned him back. The third- and fourth-down plays were run from inside the one.  

4. HE EMBARRASSED US! Denver’s Eddie Royal returned a kick and a punt for touchdowns as the Broncos ripped the Chargers on Monday night football and dropped the Bolts 3 1/2-games out of first place. San Diego’s performance was uglier than Denver’s throwback pinstriped socks and was easily the lowpoint of the regular season.

5. MERRY CHRISTMAS!! The Chargers displayed all of their weapons in a 42-17 blowout of Tennessee on Dec. 25th. Scoring TD’s on six-consecutive drives, San Diego ended the Titans’ six-game win streak and positioned themselves as one of the teams to beat for the Super Bowl. That, of course, didn’t happen. But on Christmas night, everything was simply merry in America’s Finest City.

6. PAINFUL OPENER! Sure, the Bolts won their season opener in Oakland, but it came at a very heavy price. Injuries to center Nick Hardwick, nose tackle Jamal Williams — and even to a certain extent running back LaDainian Tomlinson — cast an ominous shadow over the season to come. Hardwick eventually came back, but Williams never did — and questions persisted about the Bolts’ toughness after they were physically pounded by the Raiders.

7. DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DIG RIGHT IN! Most of the season was about the Chargers offense, but it was the defense that carried the day in Denver as the Bolts crushed the Broncos, 32-3, in the season’s second meeting on Nov. 22. San Diego allowed only 271 yards, forced three turnovers and knocked around two Broncos QB’s– both Kyle Orton and Chris Simms. The victory also moved the Bolts into first place where, of course, they would stay.

8. NORV KICKS ON THIRD DOWN! In the home opener, the Chargers faced 3rd-and-goal from the Baltimore 5-yard line with 10 seconds left in the half and no timeouts remaining. And Norv Turner ordered a field goal. “We needed point there,” he said. What the Chargers really needed more was a coach who believed in them enough to give them another shot to score a touchdown. Playing it safe doesn’t work: Baltimore won the game, 31-26 (despite getting the three points Norv really needed to have).

9. HE WAS A HERO THEN! Nate Kaeding’s 52-yard field goal on the final play of the game ended the season’s most thrilling Qualcomm Stadium contest and beat the Bengals, 27-24. The crowd noise forced three consecutive penalties on Cincy’s offense in the third quarter — then reached an even-higher pitch when the Pro Bowl kicker snapped a 24-24 tie with his dead-solid perfect boot. (We know, we know…if only he could have done it in January).

10. THE START OF SOMETHING BIG! Jacob Hester blocked a punt, recovered it and scored to wrap-up a 37-7 victory in Kansas City in Week 6. Not only was this game the team’s most complete performance to date, it was the victory that kicked off the club-record 11-game winning streak.

– Ello