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Shutdown Corner on the Chargers

  • Chargers rookie Keenan Allen makes the regrettable decision to wear Raiders hat in public

    That happy gentleman sipping on a cup there at right is Keenan Allen. He's living the high life right now, enjoying his status as a newly-minted NFL draft pick. Problem is, he's a draft pick of the San Diego Chargers ... and that there is a Raiders hat on his head.

    Rookie move, KA.

    This past weekend, Allen was trying a little social-media outreach, recording himself on Vine visiting an In-N-Out Burger. And, as so often happens when athletes get unfiltered access to the public, things turned ugly.

    Now, it's generally good form not to in any way endorse your competitors; if you're a Coke spokesman, you don't want to get caught drinking a Pepsi, for instance. But you can figure that Allen, who went to college at Cal, might be a Raiders fan from way back, and almost surely owned the hat before he was drafted in the third round by that bolt-oriented team to the south. Reasonable mistake, right? We can all agree that it was a simple oversight, can't we?

    Of course not. This is NFL fandom we're talking about here. Chargers faithful saw the hat and absolutely went ballistic. Lob Shots compiled a few of the best Twitter responses. Some of the lines we can actually share:

    "if that's post draft, that kid is an idiot. I won't be rooting for him." -@habitualistic

    "Typical San Diego! If he wore that in Denver he would get destroyed!!!!!!!!!!!!!" -@dnel0780

    "Welcome to San Diego. Now burn that Raiders hat" -@crackpotjack

    You get the idea. Allen deleted the Vine and took to Twitter to express his regrets:

    Of course, the fans didn't let it go that easily, with one replying, "Shouldn't have happened in the first place." Another fanned the flames of the grassroots burn-the-hat movement, which would win Allen pretty much the entire city of San Diego but put a price on his head in Oakland.

    Fun stuff, huh? When do we get to playing actual games again?

    Related NFL coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
    • Modified NFL calendar could push draft into May
    • NFL set to select sites for Super Bowl L and LI
    • Chip Kelly teaches Michael Vick how to carry a football

    -Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee.-

  • San Diego Chargers agree to two-year deal with Dwight Freeney

    As first reported by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney has agreed to a two-year deal with the San Diego Chargers.

    Freeney had a two-day meeting (Wednesday and Thursday) with the Chargers, who were in the market for pass-rush help after losing Shaun Phillips to free agency and Melvin Ingram to a torn ACL. Phillips led the Chargers with 9.5 sacks last season and his departure, to AFC West rival Denver Broncos, was expected to be cushioned by a larger role for Ingram, a 2012 first-round pick who suffered what will likely be a season-ending knee injury during the team's second day of OTA practices.

    The 33-year-old Freeney spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, earning seven trips to the Pro Bowl while becoming that franchise's all-time leader in sacks with 107.5. Most of Freeney's production came during his first ten seasons as a defensive end in a 4-3 system. Last season, the Colts hired Chuck Pagano as head coach and, in a new 3-4 system, Freeney was moved to outside linebacker. Freeney posted just five sacks, his lowest total since notching 3.5 sacks in an injury-shortened 2007 season.

    First-year Chargers GM Tom Telesco is very familiar with Freeney as he worked in the Colts' personnel department for 15 seasons before landing the San Diego job in January. San Diego's defensive coordinator is John Pagano, Chuck Pagano's younger brother, so the Chargers should have a good sense of how Freeney best fits their defense.

    NFL video from Yahoo! Sports:

    Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
    • Eagles QB Michael Vick fires back at critics
    • Seahawks' Bruce Irvin suspended four games for violating PED policy
    • Can Manti Te'o actually benefit from girlfriend hoax?

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