Good morning.
Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett was one of five players on hand at last week’s kickoff event at the Forum, which you can check out in this video.
Verrett missed most of 2016 after having surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. But his recovery is going well. Verrett ran sprints under the watchful eye of the team’s training staff during the last week of practice at Chargers Park in December.
Verrett said he’ll miss the low-key environment of San Diego but is looking forward to the new opportunities in Los Angeles.
“I’m very excited,” Verrett said. “I think the market is going to be good for us as players. And it’s our job to win as many games as possible.
“The more games we win, the more love we’re going to get from the city.”
Verrett also discussed Anthony Lynn and what he expects from his new head coach.
“The first few times that I’ve met with him and spoke to him, he seems like he’s about his business,” Jason Verrett said about Lynn. “That’s something we’re going to need to come out here in this market and the things we could have. It’s going to be so crazy and different than San Diego, but I’m excited that we got him.”
My take: Verrett seems focused on getting healthy and a new start in a new city. We’ll see where Verrett is at in terms of his rehab from knee surgery once players report to offseason work in April.
In this ESPN Insiders piece, draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. offers his 15 players to watch at the Senior Bowl, which starts Monday.
My take: Iowa cornerback Desmond King is an interesting prospect. He has decent size at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, and he totaled 11 interceptions over the past two seasons for the Hawkeyes.
In this ESPN Insider piece, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl of Scouts Inc. break down players that could rise with good performances at the Senior Bowl this week.
My take: Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp is someone to watch. He finished with 40 catches for 716 yards and 11 TDs in four career games versus Pac-12 opponents.
Tod Leonard of The San Diego Union-Tribune profiles San Diego sports memorabilia collector Jeff Figler, who owns more than 80 Chargers collectibles.
My take: It’s a nice trip down memory lane with Figler, who has a signed, game-worn helmet from Chargers Hall of Fame lineman Ron Mix.