Chuck Muncie Passes Away

If you are a fan of NFL Football history, you should know who Chuck Muncie was.

If you have an appreciation for hard workers who willed themselves to be successful at their craft, you should know who Chuck Muncie was.

If you like reclamation stories where people come back from drug arrests and a history of drug abuse to become a mentor and leader to kids both young and in college, you should know who Chuck Muncie was.

Chuck Muncie passed away Monday after a heart attack. He was 60-years old.

Muncie made his name as a hard running, successful attack running back for the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers for 8-years. He was the 1st Saints player ever chosen to play in the Pro Bowl and was a part of the the Chargers "Air Coryell" years in the early 80's.

His career was derailed in 1984 when he tested positive for cocaine during the football season and was suspended. In 1989, he was arrested for possession.

But Muncie got his act together, sheparding the Chuck Muncie Foundation in 1997 to help mentor kids in the Los Angeles area get their lives together. He eventually became a mentor to students athletes at his alma mater, The University of California and continued in the role until his demise.

Here's some video of Muncie from his days with the Chargers:

Seau Family Sues NFL

And the HQ figured this was only a matter of time...

The Seau family is suing the NFL in a wrongful death claim as they feel the league's ignoring player's conditions has contributed to their early deaths- as a result of the increased rates of CTE diagnosed in former players...

"We were saddened to learn that Junior, a loving father and teammate, suffered from CTE," the family said in a statement. "While Junior always expected to have aches and pains from his playing days, none of us ever fathomed that he would suffer a debilitating brain disease that would cause him to leave us too soon.

"We know this lawsuit will not bring back Junior. But it will send a message that the NFL needs to care for its former players, acknowledge its decades of deception on the issue of head injuries and player safety, and make the game safer for future generations."

Brian McCarthy, spokesman for the National Football League, told NFL.com, "Our attorneys will review it (the lawsuit) and respond to the claims appropriately through the court."

The Seau family is also putting the helmet-maker, Riddell, in the suit claiming that the helmets they constructed were flawed in their design and still went onto the market.

Here's the report from ABC News that revealed the CTE diagnosis in the Seau suicide...

Mike McCoy to be hired in San Diego today

SAN DIEGO - Looks like Mike McCoy is leaving Denver...so, cue the music...

Mike McCoy

Jason LaCanfora is reporting that new Chargers GM Tom Telesco has made a decision to replace fired Norv Turner with McCoy, who is currently the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator. LaCanfora says a deal could very well be finalized by close of business today.

ESPN is reporting that Arizona is bringing McCoy in for a second interview today, so we'll see..

UPDATE 10:13am: Mike McCoy has informed the Broncos' organization that he will be accepting the San Diego job offer.

Telesco has been searching for Turner's replacement since December 31, when Turner and GM A.J. Smith were fired. Telesco, the former Indianapolis Colts director of football operations, has targeted McCoy from the start. Telesco himself has only be in the job a few days.

McCoy has also interviewed with Jacksonville, Philadelphia, and Chicago. He was passed over for the Miami Dolphins job last season in favor of Joe Philbin.

OSG Sports will keep you posted.

Analysis: CTE Contributes To Seau Death

((HT: ABC News))

The Seau family donated the brain of former NFL star Junior Seau to the National Institutes of Health for analysis as to a possible cause for his downward spiral and eventual suicide.

The brain, analyzed as an anonymous individual, was found to have CTE in its make-up. More than two dozen players have been diagnosed in recent time with CTE and there are multiple lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of thousands of players who are blaming their health issues from a lack of response and/or care by the National Football League...

Here's the ABC News investigation...

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The Shield issued the following statement as a result of the examination and its conclusions:

"We appreciate the Seau family's cooperation with the National Institutes of Health. The finding underscores the recognized need for additional research to accelerate a fuller understanding of CTE. The NFL, both directly and in partnership with the NIH, Centers for Disease Control and other leading organizations, is committed to supporting a wide range of independent medical and scientific research that will both address CTE and promote the long-term health and safety of athletes at all levels. The NFL clubs have already committed a $30 million research grant to the NIH, and we look forward to making decisions soon with the NFL Players Association on the investment of $100 million for medical research that is committed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. We have work to do, and we're doing it."

The HQ looks at lines two and three for its real examination by the National Football League: "recognized the need for additional research..."

Translation: "Slow your roll, folks... we are..."

More when we know more...

Black Monday Is Off And Running...7 Teams Makes Moves... (UPDATED... Now 11)

It's not quite a national holiday, but it's a day that pro football fans look at for guidance and renewed optimism... in some places, it's expected...

Others, not so much...

Like Chicago...

The Bears started out 7-1 and now Lovie Smith is fired after the team went 3-5 after the half-way point... Ian Rapoport over at NFL.com gets the HT for that one...

The appropriate amount of early discussion is hyah... on the NFL Network... and they've already asked the Broncos for permission to talk to OC Mike McCoy- which they can do since the Broncos are in a bye week...

Apparently, Bears QB Jay Cutler found out via text during his own radio show. He was, understandably, a little choked up.

The Buffalo Bills, mired in mediocrity, fired Grizzly Adams Chan Gailey... back-to-back 6-10's in three years... but how does GM Buddy Nix still have a job...???

Gailey released a statement through WGR-AM55 radio:

"I understand this is a business. We didn't get the job done. I've been called two other times to get things turned around, was able to do it, we weren't able to get this one soon enough and I understand that completely. I want to thank the fans, great Buffalo fans, great football town. These are loyal, loyal fans and I understand that. I think that the next staff will have a great opportunity for success and to make this another great football franchise. This'll probably be, and I say probably, but I think it will be the first place that's ever fired me that I'll pull for. Thank you."

The Kansas City Chiefs, stuck in one of the worst seasons on and off the field anyone can remember, fired Romeo Crennel... the HQ thinks the team mercifully put him out of his misery...

Crennel texted Rapoport, the response through on Rapoport's Twitter: "It has happened. Going home to watch it snow. Happy New Year."

According to Bill Maas, Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter will be interviewing with the Chiefs tomorrow in Atlanta...

The New York Jets fired GM Mike Tannenbaum and kept head coach Rex Ryan- for now... The Philadelphia Eagles fired Andy Reid after 14 seasons

- and the San Diego Chargers aren't interested... the HQ slams it's collective palm against its forehead...((Owner Jeffrey Lurie gives Reid a game ball for his time in front of Eagles employees on the right, thanks to the Eagles))

The Cleveland Browns, not surprising the HQ, fired both head coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckart... Heckart told the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot: "I knew I'd be gone..." when new CEO Joe Banner came in...

And the Jacksonville Jaguars fired their GM, Gene Smith, after a 2-14 season... head coach Mike Mularkey says he's safe for now... “Until I’m told otherwise, I’m the coach of this team,” Mularkey told the Florida Times-Union. 1240 UPDATE:

According to Jim Wyatt, over at the Tennessean and others, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams is keeping head coach Mike Munchak. Executive Vice President Mike Reinfeldt wasn't so lucky...

From Wyatt:
“He has two more years to go on his contract but I think we’d be better off without him," Adams said. 'I don’t think he was getting the job done. Mike Reinfeldt is out.”

That should fix the problem right there...

1330 UPDATE: Someone must have found the pictures that San Diego Chargers head coach and GM AJ Smith had of the Spanos family, because they're now both gone as well...

Turner knew it in his postgame presser yesterday, and now it's official...

"My only goal is the Super Bowl, and that is why I have decided to move in a new direction with both our head coach and general manager positions," Spanos said in a statement. "I am committed to our great fans, and we will do whatever we possibly can to achieve that goal.”

1345 UPDATE: Add Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and GM Rod Graves...according to Adam Schefter...

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves have been fired after a 5-11 season, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Whisenhunt, 50, was 45-51 in six seasons with the Cardinals after being hired in 2007. Graves couldn't find a replacement for Kurt Warner and will be known for trading for Kevin Kolb...

The Cardinals, who started the season 4-0, lost their next nine games.

The team also fired the following assistant coaches: Russ Grimm (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line), Mike Miller (Offensive Coordinator), Chad Grimm (Offensive Quality Control), John McNulty (Quarterbacks), Frank Reich (Wide Receivers), and Tommie Robinson (Running Backs).

1430 UPDATE: Once again from Rapoport...

#Raiders coach Dennis Allen announce the firing of OC Greg Knapp, ST coach Steve Hoffman, OL coach Frank Pollack, LB coach Johnny Holland.

BREAKING: Junior Seau Dead, Cops Suspect Suicide (UPDATE: No Suicide Note On Scene)

From TMZ and OSG sources in Los Angeles, former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was found dead at his home. Police are suspecting a suicide in the incident...

According to TMZ, a 9-1-1 call came in around 10AM local time this morning and the North County Times newspaper is saying that Seau's body was discovered by his housekeeper...

From TMZ:

We're told Seau sent text messages to his ex-wife and 3 kids yesterday saying, "Love you." We're told they all responded and didn't suspect anything was wrong. We're told he last saw his kids 3 weeks ago.

Sources close to Seau tell us family members didn't notice any signs of depression in recent weeks.

More when we know more...

1440 UPDATE: The North County Times is also now reporting that it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest...

The HQ has a sinking feeling that this is the Dave Duerson situation all over again...

1515 UPDATE: The Spanos family released a statement:

“Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now. We ask everyone to stop what they’re doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family. My thoughts and prayers are with the Seau family."

1530 UPDATE: A press conference was held in Oceanside in front of the Seau home.

Seau's mom, Luisa, was first to address the media- obviously, overcome...
"I pray to god," she screamed. "Please, take me leave my son. But it's too late..."

Oceanside PD Police Chief Frank McCoy followed with the play-by-play that it was Seau's girlfriend was the one who called 9-1-1 and that the shooting is investigated as a suicide.

Here's early aerials from the scene in Oceanside...
((HT: NBCSanDiego))

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

1640 UPDATE: Lt. Leonard Mata of the Oceanside Police Department divulged that there was no suicide note left inside the Seau home. Mata also said that Seau's girlfriend went to the gym at 7:45 local time, returned, and then discovered the body on site. The name of the girlfriend is not going to be released, and there is no indication of foul play in the death.

Is the Norv Turner era nearing an end in San Diego

((ht: signonsandiego.com))

Norv Turner

According to a report by the San Diego Tribune Friday afternoon, the San Diego Chargers are heading towards a major shake-up at the end of the season.

Chargers writer Kevin Acee says that team president Dean Spano is telling people that he's going to need to make a head coaching change, which of course would mean that the current coach--Norv Turner, will be fired.

Acee also mentions that G.M A.J Smith may be on the hot seat as well.

Read the whole story RIGHT HERE

None of this would be a huge surprise as the Chargers have been unable to get past the early rounds of the playoffs for years--despite being considered one of the best teams in the league. And this year it's been worse.

The Chargers are 4-7 and on the road this week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. And while that may be a "Winnable" game, unless the Chargers run the table, it may be too late. They aren't likely to make the playoffs and the "Franchise" QB, Philip Rivers has struggled all year.

No, the coaching carousel has not visited San Diego in several years, but if we were placing bets, we're guessing it will be making a stop sometime around the 1st week of January. Turner is considered one of the best offensive coaches in the game and has been for some time, he'll land more work, it may just not be as a head coach.

Hearing-Impaired Cheerleader Sets Example Without Sound

((HT: Chris Chase/Shutdown Corner))

Admittedly, the HQ got the heads-up on this one from Chris...

Since we followed the story of Cincinnati Ben-Gal Laura Vikmanis over the last two years, now comes a story about someone who has to stay with the rhythm and has to rely on others to introduce the beat for her on Sundays...

Melissa Adams has close-to-complete hearing loss and has been that way since the age of 5. She tried five times before she made the Chargers cheer squad, but is now an example for everyone around her


Here's the story from Fox5SanDiego...

And here's some Charger cheerleaders for your viewing pleasure...