Area native excited about return to Qualcomm
By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- Good thing Donnie Edwards wasn't around Sunday in Green Bay. Yep, would've hated for the ex-Chargers linebacker to deliver one of his downfield tackles when the Packers' Greg Jennings raced 57 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Remember Edwards? It was reported he wasn't worth bringing back, in part, because his tackles were off the line of scrimmage.
It's believed that notion started with Chargers general manager A.J. Smith.
Former Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer scoffed at it, once interrupting a press conference to mention how silly that scenario sounded.
Smith? He declined to return a Wednesday call regarding the return of Edwards, who visits Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday with his Kansas City Chiefs.
"I don't want to get into any of that,'' said Edwards by phone from Kansas City. "I've moved on; that's in the past. But I think my play spoke for itself.''
Loud and clear.
Edwards played five seasons with the Chargers, leading the team in tackles each year. He never missed a game; his replacement, Matt Wilhelm, has already skipped the majority of two.
In addition, Edwards was also a mentor to at-risk kids in the community, helping them with everything from game tickets to eating right.
"He was a big part of a lot of the success we had the last couple of years,'' Philip Rivers said. "And I know firsthand just by going against him in training camp that he does a great job in the passing game. He will certainly be a guy we have to be aware of.''
Edwards is cognizant of Sunday's game, as it's circled in his mind with a big red marker.
Running out the Qualcomm Stadium tunnel brings with it warm memories.
"Those were great times,'' said Edwards, who kept his Rancho Santa Fe home. "I enjoyed myself playing for the team I grew up watching during the '80s and Air Coryell. To have the chance to wear the Chargers uniform, to be with a great head coach (Schottenheimer) who turned that whole thing around. I was glad Marty brought me to San Diego; he changed that place into a winning organization.''
Edwards' stay didn't come without regrets -- namely, that the Chula Vista native couldn't convince Smith there was room for a veteran inside linebacker on a team predicted to make the playoffs, and that a Super Bowl visit eluded him.
"I wish we would have had a shot to be the world champions,'' said Edwards, a 12-year pro. "That would have been icing on the cake. We got close and failed to get there.''
Edwards' being here in 2007 was never on Smith's blueprint. He tired of Edwards asking for a contract extension and tried to trade him. What surprised Edwards was that Schottenheimer was also kicked to the curb.
With the last-place Chargers (1-2) trying to right their ship, Schottenheimer is in North Carolina lowering his golf handicap and increasing his time with his grandchildren.
"He deserves it,'' said Edwards, who spoke with Schottenheimer on his 64th birthday Sunday. "He did a wonderful job there. Every place Marty went he has turned it around. Look what he did in his five years in San Diego. And has their ever been a coach who got fired after going 14-2?''
Ah, no. Just like it's rare for a team's leading tackler for five straight years to have the door slammed in his face.
"I've moved on,'' stressed Edwards, who has 21 tackles, a sack, interception and fumble recovery.
But he hasn't distanced himself from all that is the Chargers.
"I stay in contact with some of the players,'' he said. "A lot of them are good friends of mine. Just because I play with a different team doesn't mean I can't talk to them.''
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards loves yapping about Edwards. He senses his linebacker is particularly revved about Sunday.
"We're trying to keep him contained so he doesn't leave all his energy in warm-ups,'' Herm Edwards said. "He is excited about coming back. He's a leader and (our) guys look up to him because of what he's accomplished. He wasn't a high-round pick (fourth) and he is really underrated in my opinion.''
Donnie Edwards' view of Smith stays with him. But it's obvious he'd cherish a win Sunday, with maybe an interception or two.
"I'm looking forward to coming back home,'' he said. "Every time I look back on those five years, I do nothing but smile.''
It's a grin which would only grow if he increased Smith's ever-present frown.
"I'm done talking about him,'' Edwards said. "But I'll play with emotion and I let it all out -- that's the way I play. Nothing has changed.''
Just the uniform.
Chargers notes
Three Chargers didn't practice Wednesday: DE Luis Castillo (foot), LB Matt Wilhelm (calf) and WR Eric Parker (toe). CB Quentin Jammer (migrane) was limited. RG Mike Goff (knee) and LG Kris Dielman (foot) were able to work. ... Chiefs RB Larry Johnson (hamstring) didn't practice. ... Coach Norv Turner said RT Jeromey Clary fared well in his first start on Sunday. But Shane Olivea (back), who missed the Packers game, is expected to go against the Chiefs. ... Don't look for the Chiefs, with QB Damon Huard, to mimic the Patriots and Packers and spread their offense. "We're a running team,'' coach Herm Edwards said. "We run the ball. That's what we try to do. We don't have Brett Favre or Tom Brady here."
-- Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.
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Terry wrote on Sep 27, 2007 8:34 AM:I think you forgot to mention that you dislike AJ Smith, but then the readers can certainly tell it by reading your article. Maybe you could land a job back in the KC area and write about the Chiefs every day?
Toad wrote on Sep 27, 2007 10:10 AM:Jay, what you forgot to write is that Donnie wasn't satisfied with what the Chargers thought he was worth, and he complained for two years about being underpaid in the media. He felt he was worth top league-level LB pay. In the end, he settled for the same pay at KC that he was offered here. That is the real story that was left unwritten here.
Brad wrote on Sep 27, 2007 11:10 AM:AJ Smith made a mistake here and it is glaringly obvious. There was a reason Matt Wilhelm could barely get on the field when Donnie Edwards was here, see if you can figure it out. Of course, Wilhelm can't even get on the field with Edwards gone.
Number 59 wrote on Sep 27, 2007 11:13 AM:I greatly miss the player. He single handedly destroyed my high school team back in 90. He was that big of a difference maker then, and he carried that for the rest of his career with the Bruins, Chiefs, and Chargers. With all of this being said, some of things Donnie did in his off field negotiating tactics were roundly disgusted by not only AJ, but player personnel as well. It's unfortunate Jay made no mention of this, and instead he pointed out the obvious, Donnie is greatly missed playmaker Of course, the Chargers miss him, any team would, who knows him as the player and leader on the field that he has been. I miss him, but I'm not going to play the ignorant fan to the flaws in his business tactics. He should of just left those to Condon, if he had he might still be a Charger. One other note to point out, it was interesting, the lack of interest in Donnie in the off season, and Jay made no mention of that either. Was it due to his age? His agent? Or his negotiating tactics? Or none of the above.
Joe wrote on Sep 27, 2007 11:50 AM:Memo to Norval: AUDIBLES, ADUSTMENTS and CREATIVITY. If they do stack 8 in the box then do what any pro quarterback (master is Peyton Manning) would smartly do and AUDIBLE to a play that will WORK and not beat up LT anymore running into stone walls. The WORST coaching I have ever seen is Norval not calling a timeout after a couple of complete passes in the Pats game when they came out in the spread and put in our nickle or dime packages. Use Burner Turner more and put him in EARLY with LT split out wide. In the 3rd and 4th quarters put Sproles in (use him or decoy-either could be effective) and let him burst past a tired defense. I hope the line coaches were cracking the whip this week in practice. Evidently NOT doing the Oklahoma drill in training camp made them soft early in the season. Donnie Edwards LED the team in tackles (his job as a lineBACKER is not to tackle at the line of scrimmage-that is the job of the FRONT 3) and had many crucuial interceptions (already has 1 and all of our linebackers combined presently have ZERO), and never missed a game and his replacement, Matt Wilhelm, is so far a total BUST being twice injured and doing nothing noteworthy when playing. Thanks Aj for letting you supersized ego get in the way (a la firing a 200 win coach with a 14-2 record so you could have your sycophant "LOSING RECORD Norval you can dominate and contol) and letting Donnie go who could have added the leadership that is so obviously missing without him or Randal Godfrey. Try running the spread ourselves or even suprise them (like we were surprised by the Pats) with an early no huddle offense, run a reverse on the kickoff, end around, shoevl passes, draws, heck, at this point try the ole statue of liberty (it worked for Boise State against Oklahoma last year) or even the "fumblerosskie"-just get CREATIVE and don't be obstinate and kill LT running into 8 man box. How would you feel, and in what shape would our team be in, if LT got injured running into stone walls beacuse you were not a good enough coach to teach your quarterback to AUDIBLE to another more potentially effective play. Your JOB is to put your players in the best position to succeeed and running LT into a wall is the antithesis of that. Fake to LT and PASS on 1st down to back up the safeties. Pump fake one way (to Gates) and throw to the other side. Use crossing patterns (Legadu Nanee in the slot?) and use Floyd much more who has been productive when given playing time. How 'bout a fade in the endzone with our very tall receivers. IF they don't catch it nobody does as it is thrown high. Congratulations to Buster Davis on his first NFL touchdown. Perhaps now Philip will have more confidence in him and he can run longer patterns and get separation. That was an excellent catch Vincent Jackson made on his touchdown just over the outstretched fingertips of the Packers defender and a GREAT touch throw by Philip. Our kickofff wedge needs to block much better to give Mighty Mite Sproles a chance to squeak throuh on a long gainer. I can't wait to see him juke a defender like he did in preseason. To right the ship we must win these next 3 division games and it starts on Sunday. Go Chargers!
Joe wrote on Sep 27, 2007 11:56 AM:Donnies' age has not kept him from so far having one more interception all by himself than our ENTIRE LINBACKING CORP COMBINED! At least, age irrevalant, he is on the field unlike his injured and nonproductive replacement. Speaking of business tactics, AJ Smith likely cost us the Dallas game 2 years ago and therefore the playoffs with the way he treated MR. ALL UNIVERSE Antonio Gates.
thefanboy wrote on Sep 27, 2007 12:05 PM:last place? right now last place is second place in the AFC W. please quit being such an alarmist!
JAMES wrote on Sep 27, 2007 2:58 PM:Man you people are amazing...Football players get injured...are you kidding me...Wilhelm will be back and he'll play well...notice how well the D played against the Bears...maybe perhaps partly because Wilhelm was quarterbacking the Chargers...he calls the plays...they haven't played well since he went down...players get injured...he'll be back...you people just don't know football!
Coach619 wrote on Sep 27, 2007 3:38 PM:Donnie was perhaps the most underrated player in the LEAGUE during his tenure with the Chargers. He deserved every penny for which he rightfully asked. To Terry-Many people side with Paris on this issue, and it has nothing to do with disliking Smith. He's a great GM, who really knows the game and has built a solid program here in Bolt City. However, his ego has proved to be costly. Not only did he set out to prove that Donnie was expendable by signing his second-fiddlers to long term contracts, but he also kicked a great coach to the curb in order to further soothe his giant ego.
Karl wrote on Sep 27, 2007 3:50 PM:I have been a fan since 1962 so I think I qualify to comment here. I think AJ has done wonders for the team but he is not perfect. The releasing of Donnie and Marty (and the hiring of Norv) I consider big mistakes. He has made some great decisions but time will tell whether he is right and I am wrong on his handling of Donnie/Marty/Norv. I hope to heck that he is right and I am wrong.
TX _ BOLT wrote on Sep 27, 2007 5:12 PM:Man some of you are amazing. It is way to early to judge Norv. We knew at the begining of the season that the Chargers were not going to match last year in terms of wins. Are there problems today? Yes. Can it be overcome...I think so. Can this team be better than last year?....this is left to be seen...mind you if this team can just win once IN the post season they will already have surpassed last year in my book. Marty and his coaching staff along with the efforTs of players such as Donnie brought us respectability....BUT MARTY HAD A HISTORY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO WIN IN THE POST SEASON>>>AND THAT IS A FACT PEOPLE.....NOW IN COMES NORV..3 games and he should be out already and we are one game from being tied for 1st in the division? The author of that sabotage job oops I mean news article is obviously bias in my book..TRUE CHARGER FANS SUCK IT UP PULL FOR YOU TEAM AND LETS GO BABY!!!! OUR PLAYERS CARE ABOUT WINNING AND WE HAVE SOME HORSES...I AM THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT WE HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO THE HYPE NOR THE TALENT WE HAVE BUT IF YOU ARE A TRUE CHARGER AND I MEAN A TRUE CHARGER FROM BACK IN THE DAY...QB BILLY JOE TOLIVER...JOHN FRIEZ...LB HENRY ROLLING..BILLY RAY SMITH....LESLIE O NEAL..MARION BUTTS....LETS RIDE BABY.......AN AWESOME RUNNING BACK SAID " A FAST HORSE CAN RUN FAST BUT IT DOES NOT RUN LONG"...16 GAMES BABY...LETS SEE WHO IS STANDING ON TOP OF THE AFC WHEN IT ENDS....GO CHARGERS!!!!
TX-BOLT wrote on Sep 27, 2007 5:17 PM:I WANTED TO SAY ALSO..I LOVED DONNIE AS A CHARGER MAN....BUT FOR ALL THOSE WHO THINK MORE OF DONNIE THAN THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AS A WHOLE THEN TO YOU ALL I SAY...JOIN DONNIE AS A KC CHIEF THEN....I WILL STICK WITH PLAYES SUCH AS THE OFFENSIVE LINE MAN WHO TOOK LESS MONEY TO REMAIN A CHARGER THAN GO TO SEATTLE...GO CHARGERS BABY!!!!
JAMES wrote on Sep 27, 2007 6:53 PM:To all you fans who say firing Marty was a mistake...ask yourself this: Did you like it when Marty ran the ball up the gut three times, not gaining one yard, thereby making a rookie kicker attempt a 41 yard field goal in the rain against the Jets in the playoffs? Did you like it when Marty followed up that 12-4 year with a non-playoff year at 9-7? Did you like it when Marty made the most ridiculous challenge you'll ever see in a game, thereby losing a precious timeout against the PATS? By his own admission he said he felt the gravity of the situation called for it...in other words he panicked...you can't let your emotions get the best of you...your the head coach...you see you are not going to win the challenge...you can't just hope the refs will change it...THAT FOLKS IS WHY MARTY WILL NEVER WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS...HE'S TOO EMOTIONAL AND TRUSTS HIS PLAYERS WAY TOO MUCH...BILL B.(although he is a cheater)doesn't leave anything to chance he puts his players in positions where the odds are they won't fail...whenever Bill B. made a move last year against the Chargers you'd say "yeah, good call makes sense"...whenever Marty made a move you'd say..."what the "@##$%%"...and don't even deny you didn't. So enough about Marty...give Norv some time!
Sean C. wrote on Sep 27, 2007 8:18 PM:We`ve got a very tough schedule ahead, & of course adjustments must & will be made. Donald is now a Chief & we know they`re going to be picking top ten in next years draft. There is far too much talent on this team not to make a post season run. So if you don`t believe in the Bolts there are 31 other teams for you to root for. We must let Rivers audible & we must let the Seans wreak havoc.
Jimbo wrote on Sep 27, 2007 8:24 PM:At least Marty made the playoffs...Norv never will with the Chargers.
Joe wrote on Sep 27, 2007 9:05 PM:MerriMONSTER just said on the Chargers website that right now all he wants to do is HIT somebody! Whew-I would not want to be playing offense for the Chiefs this Sunday. What the defense needs to understand is that it is not just about hitting the offensive player it is about staying with him in patterns and making plays on the ball when thrown and TACKLING, TACKLING, TACKLING and wrapping up and bring the ball carrier to the ground. The Chargers have stated that they feel the biggest reason for the loss to the Packers was bad tackling and that has been their focus this week in practice. We will see on Sunday if it improves. Memo to Cottrel, learn how to blitz both Merriman and Phillips and still have good coverage which is possible if the secondary rotates. Constantly dropping last years' sack king (in only 12 games no less) in coverage instead of bull rushing and speed rushing him to upset the timing (and rattling) of the quarterback and get some viscious hits is not very intelligent. Mix it up, coverage and blitz, but please, let Merrrmonster HIT somebody-like the quarterback!
DAN wrote on Sep 27, 2007 9:05 PM:ITS ONLY WEEK 4
Billy wrote on Sep 28, 2007 10:06 AM:Great story, Jay! You hit it on the nose. With Donnie Edwards, the Chargers don't lose last week. AJ should be fired for getting rid of Donnie & Marty as coach. What a joke!
JAMES wrote on Sep 28, 2007 5:39 PM:Really Jimbo...is that your comeback..."at least Marty got in the playoffs"...is that what you want...i GUESS THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH HEY MARTY GOT IS IN THE PLAYOFFS LET'S WATCH HIM GO ONE AND DONE..BUT HEY AT LEAST HE GOT US IN THE PLAYOFFS...LOSER MENTALITY..NICE...HE DID NOT WIN...IN FACT HE HAD A BIG HAND IN LOSING TO THE JETS AND PATS!...I guess you've written the Bolts off already...Pick another team already...THE BOLT FAITHFUL DON'T NEED YOU!=
Steve wrote on Sep 29, 2007 4:22 PM:AJ Smith let Marty and Donnie go, bad bad bad, Chargers will go down hill from here, it all lays squarely on the arrogan gm! he sucks
Wade wrote on Sep 30, 2007 8:33 PM:Joe should be the offensive coordinator, hell he's more creative than Norval.
SUPERMAN wrote on Oct 17, 2007 1:46 PM:TOAD YOUR AN IDIOT WHAT YOU DONT KNOW IS THAT DONNIE EDWARDS WASNT OFFERED ANY CONTRACT AT ALL BUT THATS A STORY YOU DONT KNOW AND THATS WHY THEY DIDNT MENTION THAT HE "complained for two years about being underpaid in the media." IM SURE DONNIE IS THE MOST WELL SPOKEN PERSON IN THE NFL HE WONT EVEN TALK BAD ABOUT THE LOSER AJ SMITH COME ON NOW GET YOUR FACTS STARIGHT. WE MISS YOU DONNIE WE SHOULD OF GOT RID OF AJ AND KEPT YOU AND MARTY. P.S WILHELM YOU SUCK YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REPLACE DONNIE SORRY.
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