Crosby to be honored

Adjust font size

Friday, Mar 21, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

In the last three seasons, the Chargers’ special teams have produced five Pro Bowl performances, and the man largely responsible for the Bolts’ success in the kicking game is about to receive his just due.

Steve Crosby has been selected the 2007 NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by Professional Kicking Services, Inc. He’ll receive an award at a banquet on April 1 in Nevada.

Last season, the Chargers scored five special teams touchdowns. Darren Sproles returned both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown, Antonio Cromartie returned a missed field goal an NFL-record 109 yards for a score and also recovered a loose ball for a touchdown on the punt block team, and Brandon Siler found the end zone after recovering a fumble on a kickoff.

Crosby’s award is presented annually by Professional Kicking Services, Inc. in conjunction with their Free Agent punters and kickers field try-out session attended by NFL Special teams coaches and NFL scouts.

Professional Kicking Services, Inc. is football's leading developer of college-level scholarship talent at all levels. PKS is the largest and only full-time kicking educational program, providing training for Pro Free Agents, college, and high school Kickers and Punters.

Paying respect

The Chargers have lost another member of their family. Former Bolts cornerback Wayne Davis, who played in San Diego from 1985-86, died Sunday near Atlanta after a lengthy battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Davis was drafted by the Chargers in the second round (39^th overall) in 1985. He started 11 games in two seasons with the Bolts. He also spent time with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins in his five-year career.

Getting started

The Chargers will kickoff their 2008 official offseason training program on Monday. The 14-week voluntary program runs through the end of June. There has been a buzz around Chargers Park the last couple of weeks as several players, including a large contingent of offensive linemen, have made their way into the team’s facility to get a head start on their preparations for 2008.

Seeing green

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders recently commended the Chargers’ efforts to be environmentally friendly. During the 2007 football season, Qualcomm Stadium recycled over 1.2 million beverage containers as part of the stadium’s aggressive recycling program. The total tonnage recycled at the Stadium increased 11% over the prior year and 53% over the 2005 football season. The total tonnage recycled this year was 72.6 tons.

“The City of San Diego continues to make recycling at all city facilities a top priority, and these numbers show the kind of environmental impact we were hoping for,” Mayor Sanders said. “This program is successful on so many levels. We are doing the right thing for the environment while also saving taxpayer money by reducing our garbage expenses.”

Most of the recycling program at Qualcomm Stadium is managed by the Urban Corps of San Diego County. After each event the Urban Corps cleans the bulk items from the seating sections, separating the recyclables from the regular trash. The Corps’ members also had a greater presence this past season in the parking lot before the games collecting recyclables from tailgaters.

Numbers game

Last year a Chargers cornerback discarded number 25 prior to his second NFL season and had a monster year. Paul Oliver is hoping that his switch from 25 will work out as it did for Antonio Cromartie. Oliver will now wear 27. Also, newly-acquired linebacker Derek Smith will wear number 58.

San Diego’s Team

The Chargers have been away from the field for a couple of months, but they haven’t taken a break from serving the San Diego community.

Sign ups for the 2008 Toss for Tots program are now underway. On April 18, the top donors from 2007 will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of Chargers Park. Toss for Tots is a program run in conjunction with Children’s Hospital in which donors pledge a donation for every touchdown the Chargers score.

All proceeds go to the Brooke Humphries Fund, which was established by Chargers Owner Alex Spanos in honor of the daughter of former Bolts quarterback Stan Humphries.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is scheduled to host the Sixth-Annual LT Celebrity Golf Tournament on April 18 at Maderas Golf Club. The next day he’ll host his annual youth football camp at San Diego’s Hoover High School.

Also right around the corner, Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo and former Bolts linebacker Donnie Edwards will host a Celebrity Waiter’s Dinner at Pamplemousse Grill. The event will be held on April 28 and benefits Edwards’ Jump For Life program.

Have an opinion on this story? Share it on the team's official message boards.

Visit the forums

Find out what others are saying about the Chargers. Visit Daily Clips.

Already registered? Login here.