Bad Religion Sanity

By MIKE SULLIVAN – Staff Writer | Saturday, September 27, 2008 6:34 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO —- New York Jets running back Thomas Jones wasn’t fined for his low block on Luis Castillo during Monday night’s game, and Castillo has no problem with the NFL office’s decision.

“It’s part of the game,” Castillo said Friday. “Even if I had been engaged with the (offensive) tackle, it would have been completely accidental.”

The play drew lots of attention because it occurred on “Monday Night Football” and was replayed over and over. That meant that millions of people saw Castillo’s left knee buckle after being hit by Jones’ helmet, and feared that the Chargers’ defensive end had suffered a major injury.

But Castillo returned later in the game. Four days later, he emphasized that he’s thankful to have avoided a major injury.

“I’ve never been mad about this,” he said. “I’ve been relieved.”

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

OAKLAND – Less is more for the Chargers offense, so far.

Only four teams in the league are taking fewer offensive snaps per game than the Chargers. Yet only four teams are gaining more yards per game.

There is good and bad to be seen in that. No team – especially not one with Super Bowl aspirations – is happy with its offense not being on the field enough.

Big plays are exciting, but it’s a dangerous way to live and impossible to count on.

“Obviously, we are doing a lot of things good,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “We need to continue to keep the running game going. We busted a couple, but we really have to bust some really long ones. That takes time and patience.”

Rivers swears the day is coming when the Chargers will run the ball 40 times a game, by necessity or logic.

That day has not yet arrived and does not appear to be at hand.

Not with this offense, not with a quarterback dealing like he is, not with a tailback’s toe not quite right and defenses still playing to stop him.

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