Chargers by the (Jersey) Numbers: #76

Keith Ferguson, DE

Gary Finneran, DT

Willard Goff, DE

Terry Owens, T

Henry Schmidt, DT

Broderick Thompson, T

Van Tuinei, DE

Both Terry Owens and Broderick Thompson equated themselves quite well as offensive linemen for a number of Charger teams – as well as some other ones.  But it was a player on the defensive side of the ball who walks off with the Golden Jersey.

Winner

Jamal Williams, DT

I haven’t really had much of a chance to see how JWill is doing for the Broncos this year, and quite frankly, I don’t care.  He’ll never be a Bronco, no matter how well he does.  And as much as I might root for him to fail, I’ll never forget what he did for the Bolts in his 11+ seasons.  As many Charger fans reminded us every week, you just can’t run against Williams.  It’s not just the size – there are plenty of guys in the league his size.  It’s not just his strength – there are plenty of guys at least as strong.  It’s his raw will at not allowing himself to be moved no matter how many guys block him – that’s what sets him apart.

11 and a half years of getting beat up, mugged, scratched, clawed, bitten, attacked, pounded, used and abused have certainly taken their toll on Williams.  That obviously had a lot to do with the Chargers parting ways.  But his legacy lives on, and every Charger nose tackle from here on will have to endure the scrutiny and the comparison.  And there’s only one way they’ll know for sure that they’ve succeeded.  When JWill’s song starts ringing in their ears: “You Can’t Run!”