Serious Business: 12/5 San Diego Chargers Links

For Chargers, student becomes the studied - Chris Jenkins
"Right now Donald Butler’s playing at a high level," said Jones-Drew, the sixth-year running back who is pretty much the totality of the Jags offense. "Last year he was hurt, right? And so for him to come in and play like he’s playing now, to get hurt as a rookie, then come back and be ready to roll is big. I mean, he’s flying around."

Time for Spanos to give Smith the boot - Jay Paris
Spanos needs to boot Smith and present an-offer-he-can't-refuse deal to Bill Cowher. Let Cowher, the former Steelers coach, bring in his personnel guru, Steelers whiz Omar Khan, and return the Chargers to relevancy.

Would Andy Reid make sense in San Diego? - Bill Williamson
I think he would be a fit in San Diego if general manager A.J. Smith stays or if he is let go. Reid has worked with general managers in Philadelphia and he doesn’t seem like he’d have a problem having a football boss.

San Diego no longer an elite program - Bill Williamson
Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks San Diego has some core players -- but not a ton of them, and some of them have question marks. Williamson says Rivers, receiver Vincent Jackson, Gates, guard Kris Dielman, defensive tackle Antonio Garay, linebacker Shaun Phillips, cornerback Quentin Jammer and safety Eric Weddle are all players who can help the team in the future. Williamson also thinks the team’s last two first-round picks, running back Ryan Mathews and defensive lineman Corey Liuget, have a chance to be core players.

Looking more like Smith will join Turner out the door - Kevin Acee
One source, who like the rest was speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said "The needle on (Smith’s possible firing) has moved from 50/50 to 75/25."

Q&A: Cam Thomas - Darren Feeney
The defensive tackle talks about what motivates him and how this season has been a test in humility.

Preview: Chargers at Jaguars - Christopher Smith
San Diego (4-7) will travel to Jacksonville (3-8) for its second Monday Night Football game of the season. The Chargers will try again to end what’s now a six-game losing streak.