The Chargers have claimed 25-year old running back Marcus Mason off waivers from the Redskins.  Mason played in 10 games for the Redskins last season in which he carried the ball 32 times for 127 yards (4.0 ypc) and he also caught 6 passes for 58 yards (9.7 avg).  Mason has been a pre-season wonder the last few years before the Redskins gave him his first shot in games that count.  This is a perfect landing spot for Mason as the Chargers need a lot of help in the running game for 2010.

The Chargers have traded 25-year old CB Antonio Cromartie to the Jets for a conditional third round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft that could improve to a 2nd rounder based on Cromartie’s P.T. and the Jets’ team performance.  Cromartie played in all 16 games for the Chargers last season and he made 33 tackles, had 3 interceptions and he defensed 10 passes.  Cromartie also returned 3 kickoffs for 41 yards (13.7 avg) for the Chargers last season.  Cromartie played 4 years for the Chargers appearing in all 64 games in which he made 165 tackles, defensed 41 passes and he had 15 interceptions (2 TD returns).  He also returned 19 kickoffs for 442 yards (23.3 avg) with the Chargers.  Cromartie’s play has declined the last couple of years but he still has a nice upside.

The Chargers have released 33-year old NT Jamal Williams.  Williams played in only 1 game last season (due to injury) and he made 3 tackles including one that was for a loss.  Williams has now played in 148 games in his 12 years with the Chargers and he made 394 tackles, defensed 21 passes, had 13 sacks, forced 4 fumbles and he had 1 interception which he returned 14 yards for a TD.  The Chargers are going to attempt to re-sign Williams for 2010 at a lower salary. 

The Chargers have released 32-year old RB Michael Bennett as they are blowing up the running back corps for 2010.  Bennett played in 6 games last season for the Chargers and he carried the ball 23 times for 65 yards (2.8 ypc).  He also caught 6 passes for 65 yards (10.8 avg) last season.  It looks like Michael Bennett is near the end of the line so this move made perfect sense to the Chargers.

The San Diego Chargers have released 30-year old running back LaDainian Tomlinson.  Tomlinson played in 14 games for the Chargers last season and he carried the ball 223 times for 730 yards (3.3 ypc) with 12 TD runs.  He also caught 20 passes for 154 yards (7.7 avg) last season.  Personally I think the Chargers are giving up on Tomlinson a little too soon as I think he has something left.  Tomlinson played in 141 games in his nine years with the Chargers and he carried the ball 2,880 times for 12,490 yards (4.3 ypc) with 138 TD runs.  He also caught 530 passes for 3,955 yards (7.5 avg) with 15 TD grabs for the Chargers.  L.T. finishes his career with the Chargers as the all-time leader in both rushing yards and rushing TDs.  He is also #3 all-time in receptions for the Chargers.  Tomlinson is the NFL’s #8 all-time leading rusher and he is #2 all-time in rushing TDs just 26 behind Emmitt Smith.  The Chargers will now have to find a new featured running back for the first time in 10 years and it won’t be easy replacing one of the best running backs in NFL history.