Half & Half

As tempting as it is for us to never write anything again -- so that SDSU cheerleader picture can forever remain at the top of the page -- it's time to get back to business.
The Chargers play at Buffalo on Sunday, and it should be fun to see what kind of gift the officiating crew will present to the Bolts this time.
Fans are still buzzing over that bizarre "forward pass" call that gift-wrapped a win for the Chargers over the Raiders last Sunday, but we're pondering other things.
We're wondering when the Bolts are ever going to put together four quarters of solid football.
Hell, we'll settle for three quarters.
For what seems like forever now, the Chargers have been playing horrible football in the first half, then they come out and flip the switch in the second half and come back and win (sometimes with assistance from the refs).
It's been a disturbing pattern for this team, and it might be a good idea to rectify this half & half thing before the playoffs.
Every little thing is magnified in the playoffs: that missed tackle on the opening kickoff, that interception in the first five minutes of the game, Marty Schottenheimer's receding hairline. They could all be the difference between a playoff win and a playoff loss (well, maybe not Marty's hair).
A playoff game could be won or lost in the first five minutes of the game, and if the Chargers don't learn how to open with the same intensity that they close ... well, enjoy the Pro Bowl, fellas.
When you look at what this Charger team has done, LaDainian Tomlinson's performances obviously stand out, but really there's simply one and only one reason why they're 9-2 and sitting where they are right now:
Turnovers -- the lack of them.
The Chargers have turned the ball over only nine times all season, the lowest number in the league.
That is why they've had so much success this year.
So what happens in the playoffs if that suddenly changes? What happens if Philip Rivers suddenly throws three first-quarter interceptions in his first playoff game? The fact that the team has protected the ball well during the regular season will mean nothing once the playoffs start.
And let's not overlook the obvious. The competition will be better in the playoffs. You can fall behind and come back to win against inferior teams (Cleveland) and overrated teams (Cincinnati, Denver), but good luck doing that in the postseason.
Bill Belichick will wear a suit on the sidelines before he'd allow his team to blow a multiple-touchdown lead in a playoff game.

The Big Game

When we think of college hoops hotbeds, we immediately think of places such as Bloomington, Ind., Chapel Hill, N.C., Lexington, Ky., and of course, San Diego.
(Although the above photo combined with the word "hotbeds" might not have us thinking about basketball for long).
We all have fond memories of our fathers and grandfathers taking us to the Sports Arena or majestic Peterson Gym or the old USD SportsCenter to watch college basketball at its finest.
Who needs North Carolina and Duke when you have the Aztecs and Toreros?
San Diego's college basketball history is rich with tradition. So much so that the most memorable college basketball player in town, to this day, is still a guy who was only a part-time basketball player.
There have been so many great college basketball moments in town over the years ...
Well, there was the NCAA Final Four at the Sports Arena in 1975, but that was really more of a UCLA moment than a San Diego moment.
Now there's a chance for more memories this week as San Diego State and the University of San Diego meet for The City Championship at Cox Arena.
When the Aztecs and Toreros clash, "America's Finest City" will come to a standstill for a couple hours Wednesday evening. Oh wait, that happens every night on the I-15 anyway.
We're pretty sure all county businesses will shut down early Wednesday, so that employees and their loved ones can either go to the game or gather as a family to watch it on TV. Shopping malls in the county also are expected to go dark on Wednesday in observance of City Championship Day. Don't even bother trying to do any Christmas shopping at Fashion Valley.
Around town, elderly men will be entertaining youngsters with stories about City Championship games from years gone by.
Last year's game, for instance, was so special, we can't remember a thing about it.
As they enter Wednesday night's game, the Aztecs are 7-0 and with a win over the Toreros, SDSU would equal the best start in school history. The Aztecs have looked very impressive and coach Steve Fisher is doing his part to divert attention away from less successful coaches on campus.
USD is 2-3 and the Toreros have looked pretty pathetic. USD is coming off a 15-point loss to perennial powerhouse Texas-San Antonio, a game in which the Toreros shot so well, they got coach Brad Holland ejected. USD's 24.5 percent shooting performance set a school record for field-goal defense for Texas-San Antonio. If that wasn't enough, Holland also was ridiculed for his wardrobe.
What does all this mean heading into Wednesday?
What else? USD will win by 15.

An Early Christmas Gift

When Vincent Jackson wakes up Monday morning, the first thing he should do is sit down and write a thank you note to referee Mike Carey and his officiating crew.
The Chargers receiver was the beneficiary of one of the worst calls of this or any football season as San Diego played one of its worst games in years, yet still beat the Raiders 21-14 on Sunday.
On a fourth-and-2 from the Raiders' 40-yard line and the Chargers trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Jackson caught a 13-yard pass from Philip Rivers, fell to the ground untouched, then got up and celebrated the key reception by spinning the ball forward -- doing his best Plaxico Burress impression.
The Raiders recovered the ball as Charger fans watched Jackson's stupidity in stunned disbelief. It would've been a good time for Jackson to start looking into the Witness Protection Program.
But wait a minute.
Carey originally signaled that it was the Raiders' ball, but then things got confusing.
While nearly everyone in the stadium thought it was a fumble, Carey and his crew discussed the play longer than you and your family talked over Thanksgiving dinner.
When the mega-conference was over, Carey called the play an "illegal forward pass" by Jackson -- not a fumble -- meaning the Chargers were penalized 5 yards, but retained possession.
The only thing more bone-headed than Jackson flipping the ball away was Carey's ruling.
"That was a lame move by Vincent Jackson," said CBS analyst Randy Cross. "That's indefensible."
Cross wasn't thrilled with Carey's call, either.
"I see an apology coming from the league office," Cross added.
The bizarre call is just the latest example of every break and every bounce going the Chargers' way this season. While things might seem great now, you've got to wonder how much longer they can push their luck.
Four plays after Carey's strange ruling, LaDainian Tomlinson threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates to tie the game at 14, and the rest was just a formality.
LT was clearly the best passer on the field Sunday, and that tells you what kind of an offensive day it was.
Rivers misfired so often that he gave Bolts fans a glimpse of what it would've been like if Eli Manning had become a Charger.
Rivers, who as a youngster played excitable neighbor "Ricky" on "My Three Sons," completed just 14-of-31 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. And if Oakland defenders were capable of catching a ball thrown right at them, Rivers easily could've had four interceptions.
Oakland QB Aaron Brooks was impressive at times, but in the end, he remembered he's Aaron Brooks and threw two fourth-quarter interceptions to kill any chance the Raiders had to come back.
The Chargers' first-half performance Sunday was similar to those of recent weeks. Although the Bolts didn't trail at halftime -- they were tied 7-7 -- it was a miserable offensive display. In the first half, the Chargers had more punts (4) than first downs (3).
But thanks to Carey and his crew, the Bolts can chalk up another victory, despite the lackluster effort.
You know, it really shouldn't be this difficult to beat the Raiders.
For most of the day Sunday, it looked like the Raiders wanted it more.
Which raises the question: How poorly do you have to be playing to make the Raiders look like the more inspired team?

The USD Football Report

The University of San Diego lost to UC Davis 37-27 on Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
Join us again next time for The USD Report.

New Mexico 41, San Diego State 14

Say what you want about the Aztecs, but you can't say they're not consistent.
For the quote of the day, we'll let head coach Chuck Long sum things up:
"Take away all those turnovers and we're in this football game. I really believe that."

You're Welcome

LaDainian Tomlinson must read Minor-League Town. He's the one.
Ever since we busted LT's chops about going five straight games without a 100-yard rushing performance, the dude has been on fire.
We'll take the credit for that.
On Sunday night, LT scored four touchdowns for the second straight game as the Chargers rallied from a multiple-touchdown deficit -- again -- in defeating the Broncos 35-27 for a rare win in Denver. It marked the first time in NFL history that a team won back-to-back games after trailing by more than 17 points.
The Bolts also became the first team in league history to win four consecutive games when allowing at least 24 points in each.
And LT added another chapter to his storied career Sunday night by reaching the 100-touchdown milestone quicker than anyone else in NFL history.
How unstoppable is LT right now? He has scored 19 touchdowns in the past six weeks and needs only seven TDs to break Shaun Alexander's single-season record of 28.
Yes, you can thank us here at MLT for that.
As much as we like to find things to complain about, there's not much to work with the way the Bolts are playing right now.
Sure, Igor Olshansky's decision to punch Broncos center Tom Nalen on the game's final drive, drawing a personal foul and an ejection wasn't the wisest move, but a guy named Igor doesn't figure to specialize in decision-making skills.
Even when the Chargers fell behind 24-7 on Sunday, we couldn't complain about that. Clearly, the team has this comeback thing down.
We recommend they use that same approach the rest of the season. Allow at least 24 points, fall behind by multiple touchdowns, then it's all downhill from there. That'll work every time.
Yeah, we don't see anything possibly going wrong with that. That's a formula that's got postseason success written all over it.

TCU 52, San Diego State 0

This will do wonders for recruiting.
And it's now official: Tony Gwynn is no longer the worst coach on campus.

On the Fast Track to 14-2?

This is a tough game to figure.
The Chargers' nationally televised showdown with the Broncos on Sunday night has us a little stumped.
After the Bolts' historic, emotional 49-41 comeback win in Cincinnati last week, the Chargers could be emotionally spent and it's possible they could come out flat this week.
But then again, the Bolts (7-2) don't get too many opportunities to play on national TV in prime time, so we really don't expect them to come out flat in this one.
And then there's the Broncos. They're also 7-2, but they haven't impressed us.
Denver's defense gets a lot of praise, but we're not convinced. Two weeks ago, the Broncos came within a whisker of allowing 500 yards of total offense to Pittsburgh. Last time we checked, the Steelers offense ain't exactly Air Coryell.
And then there's Jake Plummer. The Broncos quarterback is 28th in the NFL in passer rating, putting him ahead of only Tampa Bay's Bruce Gradkowski and Dallas' Drew Bledsoe. Some of the outstanding passers who rank ahead of Plummer include Jon Kitna, J.P. Losman and even Charlie Frye. And if Vinny Testaverde hadn't spent the whole season on the couch, he'd have a better passer rating than Plummer, too.
As tempting as it is for us to call Plummer "Jake the Fake," we just can't. As far as we're concerned, there's only one Jake the Fake.
Of course, there's also the Broncos' home-field advantage. The Bolts have had a lot of problems in Denver over the years and have lost their past six contests there. LaDainian Tomlinson (0-5) has never won in Denver.
So we're not really prepared to make a specific prediction on Sunday's game.
But we will say this: If the Chargers beat the Broncos, then the Bolts will not lose the rest of the season -- until the playoffs, where Marty Schottenheimer will lead them to another early exit.
Enjoy the season, Charger fans.

Wild Thing

It seems Charger players aren't the only local names in the news for getting in trouble.
Former El Camino High School cheerleader Denise Richards got into a scuffle with paparazzi in Canada last week while shooting the movie "Blonde and Blonder." Richards allegedly threw two laptop computers off a balcony, hitting a 90-year-old woman and an 81-year-old woman below -- one of whom was in a wheelchair -- causing minor injuries.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated the incident but decided not to file charges against Richards.
Another case of preferential treatment for a celebrity? Is Canada soft on crime?
We can't tell you how many times we've wanted to toss a laptop out the window. If we had -- and if we hit two elderly women below -- is there any doubt we'd be behind bars right now?
But Denise Richards is walking the streets a free woman. Go figure.
Meanwhile, noted legal analyst Pamela Anderson is coming to to Richards' defense. Anderson says the paparazzi won't leave her or Richards alone.
"All these big hairy men attacking us girls," Anderson said.
Anderson went on to warn paparazzi.
"Normally I don't care, but I feel protective of Denise -- I can relate," Anderson said. "If it were me I would've thrown the photographers over the edge -- they got lucky."
So while Pamela Anderson plays Al Cowlings to Denise Richards' O.J., we're left to wonder when society is going to get tougher on crime.
We look forward to the day when children and elderly women in wheelchairs can roam the streets safe from laptop-toting B-list celebrities.

WKRAP Is Cincinnati

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

-- Arthur Carlson, WKRP station manager

As God is our witness, we thought this game was over.
When the Bengals took a 21-point lead over the Chargers on Sunday, we pretty much gave up.
But then we remembered, these are the Bengals.
Good God, this might be the worst defense we've ever seen. Does anybody in Cincinnati know how to tackle? Do they understand that defensive backs are supposed to actually cover receivers? Do the Cincinnati defensive players work on anything in practice during the week?
Apparently not.
Tackling like a vegetarian would tackle a T-bone steak, the Bengals stood around and watched as the Chargers matched the largest comeback in franchise history to pull out a 49-41 victory in Cincinnati.
Note the excellent tackling in the photo above. LaDainian Tomlinson gladly accepted the early Christmas gift by tying his career high with four touchdowns.
We'd like to heap all kinds of praise on the Chargers' offense, but is it really that impressive to score 49 points against such an incompetent defensive unit? To be honest, the Chargers' offense should've scored 79 points on this defense. So, to heap praise on the Chargers' offense for this would be like heaping praise on a politician who wins an election while running unopposed.
How pathetic was the Bengals defense? The Chargers (7-2), who trailed 28-7 at halftime, scored touchdowns on seven of their last eight possessions (excluding a couple of run-out-the-clock moments) and the Bolts racked up 42 points in the second half.
In other words, the Bengals defense was only slightly more effective than it would've been with 11 dead men on the field.
The main beneficiary of the Bengals' indifference on defense was Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who engineered the comeback by completing 24-of-36 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
Rivers, who as a youngster played excitable neighbor "Ricky" on "My Three Sons," told reporters after the game: "We didn't panic. We didn't point fingers like some teams around the league do."
Wonder who he was talking about there.
Cincinnati's Chad Johnson set a club record with 260 yards receiving while scoring two touchdowns, and Carson Palmer threw for more than 400 yards for the first time in his career, but thanks to the Bengals' outstanding defense, it meant nothing.
The Bengals lost for the fifth time in their past six games. All you need to know about how bad things are in Cincinnati is this: The Bengals (4-5) now have the same record as the San Francisco 49ers.
But in San Diego, Charger fans are as giddy as a college coed who gets to be a contestant on "Deal or No Deal."
We just realized we've taken the Lord's name in vain a few too many times here in this report. And for that, J.D. Drew no doubt thinks we're going to hell.

The USD Report

The University of San Diego defeated Dayton 56-14 on Saturday night.

And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.

Join us again next time for The USD Report.

Yakov Johnson

Chad Johnson thinks he's a comedian and it's probably a good thing for him to start thinking of future employment, since he isn't doing much in his current job.
In the world of pro athletes and coaches who usually utter nothing more than the same old cliches week after week, the Cincinnati Bengals receiver clearly is unique.
But is he funny?
When you listen to the same boring press conferences with no-personality guys like Carson Palmer and Marvin Lewis every week, we suppose Johnson can sound pretty hilarious.
But come on, next to Marvin Lewis, Jerry Lewis is funny.
Next to Lewis Black, Chad Johnson doesn't even get a chuckle out of us.
But seriously, does any player in the NFL get more attention for doing less than Chad Johnson? OK, maybe Terrell Owens, but when you're only a few weeks removed from an alleged suicide attempt, you demand attention.
Ocho Cinco is having a pretty mediocre season, and he hasn't swallowed a large number of pills recently, yet you hear and read more about him than Tom Brady.
But it's good that Johnson is preparing for life after football. When Ocho Cinco's NFL career is over, we look forward to seeing him do standup where all the comedy greats perform, Branson, Mo.
Which brings us to more important things: Sunday's Chargers-Bengals game in Cincinnati.
The Bolts did nothing to impress us in last week's win over the lowly Browns, but we're going to overlook that this week.
We see the Chargers winning this game and we wouldn't be surprised if they win big.
One reason: Cincinnati's defense, particularly the run defense, is just horrible.
And that's something Marty Schottenheimer and LaDainian Tomlinson no doubt have noticed.
But regardless of the outcome, we're sure Yakov Johnson will have something hilarious to say after the game.

This Bud's For You

Maybe in their job listing for a new manager, the budget-conscious Padres should have included: "Only local applicants need apply."
On Wednesday, the team hired Rancho Santa Fe resident Bud Black to be the new skipper, and the Padres are ecstatic about the hire -- because it means they don't have to pay moving expenses.
This was no surprise, as Black represents a safe (cheap) hire who is similar in personality to his predecessor Bruce Bochy yet will do as he's told by the Sandy Alderson-run management regime.
But some fans -- and at least one player -- might be disappointed that Dusty Baker didn't get the job after hearing and reading for the past week that Baker was clearly interested. But apparently, the Padres aren't interested in hiring a three-time National League Manager of the Year who would command more than $2 million a year and would have his own ideas on how to run things.
As for Black's contract, he signed a two-year deal with a club option for a third and he'll be paid less than half of what Bochy ($1.9 million) will make in 2007.
Black is the respected former pitching coach of the Angels and a former big-league pitcher for many years, but there are some important things to consider here:

• Black has never been a manager at any level. That means the guy managing your kid's T-ball team has more managerial experience than the Padres' new skipper. So, Padre fans, prepare for a learning curve with the guy pushing the buttons in the dugout. And you thought Bochy made some questionable strategic moves during games?
• Former pitchers and pitching coaches typically don't make good managers. For whatever reason, that has been the case. Maybe it has something do with the fact that pitchers only have their heads in the game every fifth day during their playing careers.
• Black, 49, is a San Diego State product, where he was a teammate of Tony Gwynn. And if there's one thing we know about San Diego State, the school is all about winning. But if Black has any questions about managerial strategy, he can always call Gwynn, who has been a huge success as a head coach. We're not sure why Black's local college ties from 30 years ago have anything do with anything now, but we're pretty sure when George Steinbrenner hires Joe Torre's replacement next year, he won't say, "Find me a guy who played baseball at Fordham!"
• Since the Padres hired Black instead of Baker, does this make the team less attractive to potential free agents?
  
• Black has received a lot of praise for his work as the Angels pitching coach, but apparently his magic didn't work on everybody. Exhibit A: How does one explain the 2006 season of Jeff Weaver?

Also, on Wednesday, the Padres showed their typical strange timing by announcing they've traded popular second baseman Josh Barfield to Cleveland for Kevin Kouzmanoff, a highly touted minor-league prospect who probably will be handed the third base job. The Padres also got a Triple-A pitcher nobody's ever heard of.
This trade clearly is a head-scratcher, although we'll reserve judgment for now.
But the first time Kouzmanoff goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, we'll be sure to give him a Minor-League Town welcome to the big leagues here.

NOTE: We updated this post on Friday with Black's contract info and added a new photo from Thursday night's press conference.

Ari Gold on Line 1

Our favorite general manager is at it again.
Padres GM Kevin Towers, who answers to the colorful nickname "KT," is once again displaying poor judgment -- and discussing it publicly. As you might recall, KT is no stranger to strange behavior.
This time, KT is making a fuss because Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley had the gall to hire an agent to represent him in negotiations with the team. Wow, the nerve of Balsley.
As if it's out of line for a major-league pitching coach to want representation to protect his interests?
Towers' reaction to Balsley retaining an agent says a lot about Towers' lack of business savvy.
Get real, KT. You're not hiring a high school water polo coach here.
The more we hear from KT, the more shocking it is that this guy has been a GM for 10 years. Hasn't the guy learned anything about the way the business works?
It really is odd that he'd make such a stink about a pitching coach hiring an agent. Maybe KT has been watching too much "Entourage" and is terrified that Geoff Metzger, Balsley's agent, will be another Ari Gold.
(We'll skip the obligatory "let's hug it out" reference here.)
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this story is the fact that Balsley -- who grew up in San Diego -- mentions the high cost of living in San Diego as part of the reason why he makes his offseason home in Tennessee.
The pitching coach of the Padres can't afford to live in San Diego ... we're not sure if that says more about housing prices in San Diego, or if it says more about just how truly cheap the Padres are.

Playing Soldier

The Chargers beat the Cleveland Browns 32-25 Sunday, but it was much more of a struggle than it should've been against one of the worst teams in football.
And it's pretty obvious what happened.
The Bolts were simply starstruck to be in the presence of the best tight end in the NFL, Kellen Winslow Jr.
How else can you account for the Chargers trailing the Browns 12-10 late in the third quarter?
And it's easy to see why the Bolts were in awe of Winslow. The Scripps Ranch High graduate, playing in the stadium where his Hall of Fame father revolutionized the tight end position as a Charger, had a big game in his San Diego homecoming.
Winslow, the former student-athlete-soldier at the University of Miami, caught a career-high 11 passes for 78 yards -- an average of more than 7 yards per reception.
We haven't looked it up, but we're pretty sure this is the greatest performance by a tight end in the history of pro football.
Winslow didn't score any touchdowns, but you know, it's not his fault his quarterback is named Charlie Frye.
For the record, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates had two receptions for 22 yards and no touchdowns.
And there's little doubt this epic battle will be replayed for decades to come by NFL Films.
But a funny thing happened as the Browns were holding their shaky two-point lead as the third quarter was expiring Sunday. The Chargers set aside their awe of Winslow, perhaps remembering that he puts on his combat fatigues one leg at a time just like everyone else.
Led by LaDainian Tomlinson's 172 yards rushing and three touchdowns, the Bolts took charge the rest of the way. And it's a good thing L.T. came through when he did because Philip Rivers somehow pulled off the impossible by making Charlie Frye look like the best quarterback on the field.
But the Chargers couldn't let Cleveland escape without allowing another big day by one of the Browns -- well, the kicker, anyway. Phil Dawson kicked a club-record six field goals and Browns fans must be dancing in the streets of Cleveland over this because, well, they're Browns fans.
But Dawson's record might not be that impressive. We're sure Kellen Winslow Jr. could've kicked six field goals if given the opportunity.

The USD Report

The University of San Diego defeated Jacksonville 38-21 on Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
Join us again next time for The USD Report.

Radio Days End for The Flan!

Civil unrest broke out over much of San Diego on Thursday over the news that local hero Tim Flannery has been hired by Bruce Bochy to be the San Francisco Giants' new third base coach.
Local authorities are urging citizens to remain calm until police can restore order.
Parents around town are trying to help their children cope as the city struggles to come to grips with a new existence after the sudden departure of a San Diego icon.
Why is Tim Flannery a San Diego hero?
Good question. Despite 11 nondescript seasons as a player, the Flan remains an all-time favorite of many Padre fans.
Why?
We're guessing the Flan's popularity can be traced to the fact that, as a player, he was a clean-cut, undersized, blond-haired guy who tried hard. Think David Eckstein -- without the success.
Yet, San Diego loves the guy. What can we say? The bar is set very low to achieve hero status in this town.
We're not sure what Giant fans think about this move, but the Flan hasn't been a third base coach since 2002, when the Padres fired him after a season in which the team had a runner thrown out at the plate every other inning.
But the really big development with this news is that it means the Flan will no longer be part of Padres radio broadcasts. Interestingly, the Flan says he "learned how to do play-by-play" during his stint on radio. Really? That's news to those of us who listened to the broadcasts.
We've made our feelings known about the Flan's broadcasting talents.
So our reaction to this news is that Bruce Bochy gets our early vote for 2007 Manager of the Year.

The Soldier and Seth

Scripps Ranch High hasn't been around that long, so one would think that Kellen Winslow Jr. wouldn't have any problem laying claim to the Most Famous Alum honor.
That's probably what Winslow was thinking, too.
Then along came a little show called "The OC" -- starring Scripps Ranch High graduate Adam Brody as Seth Cohen.
Winslow, who returns home Sunday when the Cleveland Browns play the Chargers, prepared for his pro football career as a student-athlete-soldier at the University of Miami. Somehow, the "soldier" managed to dodge enemy fire during his tour of duty in Coral Gables, Fla.
While Winslow was playing soldier at the U, Brody prepared for his acting career by working at Blockbuster. Let that be a lesson to all video store clerks out there. Today, you might be re-stocking the microwave popcorn display; but tomorrow, you could be cuddling up with Rachel Bilson (pictured).
Winslow just can't seem to catch a break:

• He's been living in the sizable shadow of his Hall of Fame father his whole life, and it can't be easy being compared to the guy who revolutionized the position you're now playing.
• As an NFL player, he's only the second-most famous graduate of his high school.
  
• Injuries and motorcycles combined to wipe out the first couple years of Winslow's career with the Browns.
• When Winslow takes the field Sunday, he won't even be the best tight end in the game. That distinction goes to the Chargers' Antonio Gates.
• The CBS announcers will probably spend more time Sunday talking about what Winslow's father did in a Charger uniform than what Winslow is currently doing for the Browns.

Having said all that -- and with Shawne Merriman's suspension starting Sunday after he decided to drop his appeal -- look for Winslow to have the best game of his career.