Dec 2, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) slips after making a first down catch during the third quarter while defended by Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) and cornerback Adam Jones (24) at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Prisco brought the noise on his post about most overrated and underrated players for each team in the NFL. Guess who he ranked as the most overrated Charger?

ANTONIO GATES.

Shots fired. Surprised he didn’t go with Philip Rivers. That would seem to be the popular vote for that title as the most overrated Charger. I would understand it too.

But Prisco voted for Antonio Gates. Sadly, I understand this one as well. Did you see that he was voted in the Top 100 players in the NFL?

I love Antonio Gates. I love what he has done and what he has been for this team, but he has not had the same production that he has had in the past.

Maybe he has lost a step? Maybe the offensive line and Philip Rivers’ issues have caused him to struggle even more? Who knows.. I just know that he has not been his dominant self and that he has dropped a few balls that I usually see him bring in.

Can he be dominant? It comes and goes. He has brilliant games here and there, but the consistency is not there anymore.

He is still regarded as one of the top tight ends in the league and Tony Gonzalez shows that you can still play that position at a high level with grey hairs. Can Antonio step back to that elite level and be the dominant force that we know?

December 2, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers receiver Danario Alexander stretches prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Today is the day we find out if some team tries to scoop up Danario Alexander or if Alexander will have to play for his tender offer. Once we get word, we will hit you all up.

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!

Get down on it!

…the dump:

Champion Chargers, other schedule notes
ESPN (blog)
The Philadelphia Eagles’ first home game of the 2013 regular season will be on Sept. 15 against the San Diego Chargers. Regardless of the outcome, recent history tells us this is extremely good news for the Chargers. In each of the past four seasons …

No one knows what Chargers schedule means
U-T San Diego
The Chargers haven’t won in Miami, where they play on Nov. 17, in 30 years. TheChargers are the visitors in the Philadelphia Eagles’ home opener, and the past four teams that have been the visitor in the Eagles’ home opener have gone on to finish that

San Diego Chargers schedule analysis
ESPN (blog)
It all starts in Week 1 on the back end of a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader when the Chargers host the Houston Texans in what will be a tough test for McCoy in his head-coaching debut. It will be the seventh time in eight seasons that the league …

Chargers will win Super Bowl XLVIII, according to Eagles schedule
CBS sports.com (blog)
The San Diego Chargers have never won a Super Bowl in franchise history, but if the “law of the Philadelphia Eagles home opener” holds, that could change in 2013. What’s the law you ask? Since 2009, the team that Philadelphia plays in its home opener …

2013 Chargers schedule picked apart
U-T San Diego
Derek Cox will lock up a 24-20 victory for the Chargers by picking off Romo’s hitch pass meant for Dez Bryant, who ran a post. Blackout potential: low. MC: Tony Romo won’t need a $108 million performance to beat this year’s Chargers. Dallas may tend to …

If, And, But: The San Diego Chargers Will Be in the Playoffs in 2013
Yahoo! Sports
It was not that long ago that the San Diego Chargers were an NFL staple in terms of the playoffs. Unfortunately, for Chargers fans, staples can be removed. After winning the AFC West four straight seasons from 2006-09, the last three of those titles …

Telesco’s First Draft with Chargers; Bolts Set with 11th Choice & Seven Picks …
Chargers.com
The Chargers currently hold seven selections, one each in all seven rounds, including the 11th overall pick in the first round.Round 1 of the NFL Draft takes place Thursday, April 25 while Rounds 2-3 are scheduled for Friday, April 26, starting at 3:30 …

New schedule has Chargers early on East Coast
U-T San Diego
The Chargers are waking up early on the East Coast again. When the NFL announced the regular season schedule Thursday, the team learned six of its eight road games begin at 10 a.m. PT. Four of those games are on the East Coast: Philadelphia, …

Texans open 2013 season on MNF at Chargers
KHOU
HOUSTON – The two-time defending AFC South champion Houston Texans will play four nationally televised games in the 2013 regular season, including an ESPN Monday Night Football matchup at San Diego on Sept. 9 to open the season, the NFL …

Chargers ’13 opener sounds alarm No. 99
U-T San Diego
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt sits on the sidelines during the second half of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia) — AP ..

Chat wrap: Chargers in position to swap
ESPN (blog)
If the top three tackles are gone, do you think there are teams that would be willing to trade up for the chargers pick at 11? They just have so many holes to fill and in a deep draft class like this any extra picks could be a huge help. BW: Yeah, No …

The San Diego Chargers Would Be Crazy to Trade Up in the NFL Draft
Bolts from the Blue
Mock drafts now have the San Diego Chargers trading up in the first round to get a Left Tackle in the 2013 NFL Draft. This is an insane plan and one that Tom Telesco shouldn’t even consider.  Share on Facebook ·  Tweet post; ⋆ Recs (2); 104 Comments …

Will much-critiqued QBs boost Chargers draft odds?
U-T San Diego
Tom Telesco, draft overseer for the Chargers, may sooner see Philip Rivers fire passes with his left arm than five quarterbacks drafted Thursday in the top 10. Five is how many Telesco said he’d like to see go. He holds the 11th pick. Although some …

Jan 20, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson (38) and Ray McDonald (91)during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons are likely to release RB Michael Turner, per Adam Schefter. Would you all be interested in adding the veteran back to the San Diego Chargers?

We all know his history. He was a great compliment for Ladainian Tomlinson and used to bulldoze over defenders in his limited role with the Chargers. He went over to Atlanta to get his opportunity to be the main back and shined.

Now his career is starting to dwindle down. I don’t know if he wants to go back to a reduced role. He definitely is not as effective as he once was. Last season, he averaged less than 4 yards per carry for the first time in his career.

As much as I love Michael Turner, I think we should look in a different direction. Turner seems washed up and the Chargers are in need of someone that can offer a different skill-set to compliment Ryan Mathews.

Would you want Michael Turner?