Today, Wednesday July 7th, two great San Diego athletes, LaDainian Tomlinson and Jimmie Johnson enjoyed the birth of their first child. Unfortunately, instead of using their combined wealth and the wonderful technology of the 21st century to form a super-athlete, they impregnated their respective wives (LaTorsha Tomlinson, Chandra Johnson).

It’s the first child for both couples but each are sneaky in their own way.

For the Tomlinson’s, we’re not sure if its a boy or a girl but Daylen was born to LaDainian and LaTorsha. Congratulations to LT and his wife. It’s going to be a rough year for the former San Diego Charger and new New York Jet. Fighting for playing time on the field and sleeping time at home.

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson’s wife Chandra gave birth to a baby girl but no name was released.

San Diego Chargers general counsel, Mark Fabiani, spoke in Mission Valley to a gathering of engineers and construction industry professionals about the pursuit of a downtown football stadium. The $750M structure (up to $1B w/ roof) faces financing issues because the Chargers expect public money to be contributed, a sensitive proposition in cash-strapped SD. The addition of a retractable fabric roof would allow for convention space and serve as a replacement for the Sports Arena (can’t wait for that demolition party) or MLS franchise.

Fabiani pointed out that by replacing city-owned Qualcomm and Sports Arena sites, SD could generate revenue by selling the unneeded land. Additional savings would also be possible since taxpayers currently are on the hook for up to $300M in improvements to Qualcomm if the Chargers finish out the current lease through 2020.

If the East Village complex is built, the 10 acre site would be the smallest in the NFL (bye-bye traditional tailgating) and the proposed 62,000 capacity would need an additional 8,000 temporary seats in order to host a Super Bowl. The capacity is intentionally undersized to minimize construction costs and ensure regular season sellouts.

The next step in the process is a vote scheduled on June 22 by San Diego City Council to authorize further studies on financing options. If the City approves (write your local councilmember), the County would need to do the same before the project is put to a county-wide public vote. The 2012 presidential primary would be the likeliest opportunity to put the stadium on the ballot.

On the possibility of the Chargers exhausting local sites and leaving town: “We’re closer to the end of this process than the beginning, we’ve been looking for 8 years” and “I’d hate to say this is the last option, we could take another look at the Escondido site, but the stars seem to be aligning downtown.”

Uh oh…

From Yahoo! Sports:

San Diego Chargers safety Kevin Ellison has been arrested in Redondo Beach on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance.

Police say the 23-year-old was arrested Monday afternoon after he was stopped for speeding in a school zone near his former high school.

Sgt. Peter Grimm says a search of Ellison’s vehicle turned up 100 pills of Vicodin, which is a controlled substance. He was booked and released on $10,000 bail.

Grimm says Ellison didn’t have a prescription and even if he did, it was an unusually large amount of pills for a pharmacist to distribute.

Ellison played four seasons for Southern California and started nine games as a rookie for the Chargers in 2009. His older brother Keith is a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills.

Sorry Ryan Leaf, but JaMarcus Russell is the biggest bust ever! Don’t look now, but the Raiders just got better. Prolly the only time Jason Campbell’s been called an upgrade. What happens first? JaMarcus signs with another team or appears on the next season of ‘The Biggest Loser?’

Yahoo! Sports reported yesterday Three years after being selected with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, JaMarcus Russell is out of a job. The Oakland Raiders cut the quarterback on Thursday after a disappointing tenure in which the former LSU star earned $36 million to lead the team to a 7-18 record as a starter.

Reports indicated that Russell was tipping the scales at 300 pounds during the offseason, well above the 255 he supposedly weighed when he was selected in 2007. Ask anyone in the NFL to describe Russell and it wouldn’t be long before the word “lazy” was peppered into the conversation.

Here’s an interview with Lawrence Taylor where he was asked what he remembers from the day he was drafted. In true Swasted fashion, LT reveals, “Darling, I don’t remember too much…I had 41 Coors Lights so I couldn’t tell you.” Another highlight, when asked if he was with family to share the special moment and he laments, “I had my drinking buddies with me.”

The San Diego Chargers traded 3rd string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and their 2010 2nd round draft pick (60th overall) today to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the Seahawk’s 2nd round pick in 2010 (40th overall) and 3rd round pick in 2011. Upon receiving Whitehurst, the Seahawks signed him to a 2-year extension worth a surprising $5-million per year.

The Chargers selected the former Clemson QB with the 17th pick in the 3rd round of the 2006 draft and he has never attempted a pass outside of the preseason. The Chargers now stand to have 2 of the top 40 picks in the 2010 NFL draft.

NEW YORK — LaDainian Tomlinson is bolting for the Big Apple.
The New York Jets signed the former Chargers running back to a two-year contract Sunday, adding an aging star to an offense that ranked No. 1 in rushing last season.
The Jets confirmed that they have agreed to a deal, adding the aging star to the NFL’s top-ranked rushing offense last season.
New York’s Daily News reported Tomlinson’s two-year deal is worth $5.2 million, according to source, and can escalate to $5.7 million. – Full Rush

NEW YORK — Jets coach Rex Ryan underwent a weight-loss procedure Saturday to help him fight obesity.
Ryan had lap-band surgery at NYU Medical Center, and was relaxing at his home in New Jersey on Saturday night, team spokesman Bruce Speight told The Associated Press.
Ryan weighed 340 pounds at the start of last season, gaining at least 30 pounds after he was hired by the Jets in January 2009. He even tried a liquid diet during training camp and lost 20 pounds, but quickly gained it right back.
In a lap-band procedure, a plastic band is inserted that encircles a patient’s stomach, effectively shrinking it and curbing their appetite. – The Full Fat

The Biggest Coaches

The 5-9, 215-pound former All-America running back from Youngstown State spent the better part of his first two NFL seasons on the practice squads of the Redskins and Baltimore Ravens before getting an opportunity to play last season for the Redskins. In nine games in ’09, Mason averaged just under 4.0 yards per carry, toting the ball 32 times for 127 yards. He will attempt to earn a roster spot on a team in San Diego that averaged just 3.3 yards per carry last season.

“We’ve followed his progress through his young career,” said General Manager A.J. Smith, “and when he came available, we decided to give him an opportunity to earn a spot with the Chargers.” – Full Story

Marcus Mason – Career Stats

As the free agency deadline approaches, the San Diego Chargers have made a couple of surprise moves by releasing their biggest man and keeping their littlest. The UT is reporting the Chargers have released All-Pro veteran defensive tackle Jamal Williams and placed a first and third round tender on running back Darren Sproles.

Jamal Williams has been with the team for 12 seasons after being drafted out of Oklahoma St. in the 2nd round of the ‘98 draft. Williams would have been due a $1-million bonus and was scheduled to earn $5-million next year. He was limited to one game last year when he suffered a triceps injury in the first game of the season against Oakland Raiders. It’s been a pleasure watching Jamal dominate opposing offensive linemen all these years and his presence in the middle will definitely be missed and should be remembered as one of the all-time great Chargers.

Darren Sproles was told last week by Chargers officials that he would not be tendered and would be allowed to test the free agent market. However, today the Chargers placed the first and third round tender on him which will increase his 2010 salary to over $7-million. I think it’s unlikely the Chargers will be willing to pay that much for him so I’m guessing a long term deal or trade is on the horizon.

Kassim Osgood is reportedly on his way out the door as well after according to his Twitter account (@kassimosgood) he was told there was a 0% chance of him getting any playing time at WR. The special teams standout has aspirations of playing receiver in the NFL but the Chargers have better options so the former SDSU Aztec will test free agency.

With the release of Jamal, how about packaging Sproles, Cromartie and SD’s 1st round pick to the Rams for their 1st pick and get Suh…? Yeah, I know, dream on…never happen.