About San Diego Chargers

When McMichael signed a one-year contract on June 3rd, I read this as "Epps isn't playing well." Obviously, in reviewing the Chargers tight end depth, Gates has the number one spot, and Wilson is pretty well locked in at two, unless McMichael shocks us in training camp.

But a fourth guy? That really surprises me. It could mean that one of the four signed tight ends winds up on the practice squad. That would be a waste of money, unless Gates' foot injury is worse than reported.

It could also be that the wide receiver corps has failed to impress and the Chargers will run with just four. If Vincent Jackson gets signed, this would make the most sense. However, if he doesn't and remains a holdout, a Antonio Gates , Josh Reed and Buster Davis foursome doesn't look so hot.

The San Diego Chargers announced four-year rookie deals for fourth-round safety Darrell Stuckey(notes) and seventh-round tight end Dedrick Epps(notes), the team announced.

Three straight for Dan Cappello Jr

Leading harness racing driver Dan Cappello Jr recorded a win in the Fillies and Mares Open for the third consecutive Sunday afternoon at Saratoga. Coming into Sunday, Up Front Kellie Jo had rattled off back to back scores in the $16,500 open with Cappello at the controls before taking this week off.

Instead, it was invader Stacked Deck(cheap Chris Long jersey)  that would get the services of the track's current leading driver as Joe Anderson brought the five year old Bettors Delight mare back to town after a stint here a couple months back.

Released at odds of 9-1, Stacked Deck got away seventh in the group of seven top ladies on Sunday but stormed home in the stretch to outpace her rivals and register the 1:55.1 victory.

The win was her seventh of the season. P H Dreamer (discount Chris Long jersey) got up for second while Eve (Jim Devaux) came up third best.

Seattle And Oakland Possible Places For Haynesworth To Land

Several days after Albert Haynesworth skipped a mandatory Redskins minicamp, the fallout continues with Redskins alumni piling on and even NFLPA president Kevin Maewae. According to Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com, Albert Haynesworth is almost a certainty to be traded now.

Pasquarelli believes likely destinations for Haynesworth are either Seattle or Oakland. The Raiders have been mentioned in the mix for Haynesworth previously as have the Titans and Lions because of the familiarity of Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Lions coach Jim Schwartz

The 10 Players the Pittsburgh Steelers Cannot Do Without in 2010

The loss of a key player to injury or suspension can be the difference-maker for a potential Super Bowl team's season. As the Pittsburgh Steelers can attest, losing more than one of those key players can be the difference between defending your Super Bowl title and missing the playoffs completely.

In 2009, the Steelers lost their way defensively, and while some of it had to do with decision making, it had more to do with losing two game-changing defenders early on.

With All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu out for most of the season, and lacking that extra "disruptive-something" when he was there, the entire Steelers defense changed as a result.

When you take away the most underrated defensive end in the league in Aaron Smith along the way, the Steelers lost two of the biggest cogs in their defense.

While James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, and the rest of the Steelers linebacking corps get most of the attention and stats, Aaron Smith is the catalyst for those stats, and might be the most important member of the Steelers front seven.

Case in point: The Steelers struggled to stop the run late in games, and the 16th-ranked passing defense was nowhere near the league-leading performance of 2008.

As the Steelers approach the 2010 season, there are 10 players the team cannot afford to lose for a substantial period of time if they hope to right the ship.