Say Hello to Dwight Freeney

The San Diego Chargers have officially signed free agent Dwight Freeney to a two year contract. Freeney will join the team at a very critical time. Shaun Phillips left for the Broncos in free agency and Melvin Ingram is out for the season with a torn ACL. Antwan Barnes also left for the Jets. Freeney spent 11 years with the Colts, where he became the franchise leader in sacks with 107.5. Freeney's role with the team is still yet to be defined, but he should play a major part on third downs at minimum. He will be a factor in a revamped defense featuring 2nd round pick Manti Te'o.  Freeney will finally get his chance to sack long-time teammate Peyton Manning this season.

San Diego Chargers 2013 Schedule

Here is the official 2013 schedule for the Chargers.

Preseason
August 8th: vs Seattle
August 15th: at Chicago  ESPN
August 24th: at Arizona
August 29: vs San Francisco

Regular Season
September 9th: vs Houston  ESPN
September 15th: at Philadelphia  CBS
September 22th: at Tennessee   CBS
September 29th: vs Dallas  FOX
October 6th: at Oakland  CBS
October 14th: vs Indianapolis  ESPN
October 20th: at Jacksonville  CBS
November 3rd: at Washington  CBS
November 10th: vs Denver  CBS
November 17th: at Miami  CBS
November 24th: at Kansas City  CBS
December 1st: vs Cincinnati  CBS
December 8th: vs Giants  FOX
December 12th: at Denver  NFL NETWORK
December 22nd: vs Oakland  CBS
December 29th: vs Kansas City  CBS 

LB Melvin Ingram Tears ACL

San Diego is already having to deal with the injury bug this season. It has been reported that last year's first round selection, Melvin Ingram,  has torn his ACL in OTAs. Ingram is already expected to miss the entire season. This was to be Ingram's sophomore campaign, one which hopefully would have seen him develop into an elite pass rusher. Instead, he will spend this season on the sideline. San Diego has been linked to former Indianapolis Colt Dwight Freeney. Freeney could provide a veteran option at rush linebacker for the Chargers. Freeney was one of the most dominant 4-3 ends in football over the last decade. When the Colts switched to a new 3-4 defense, Freeney switched to outside linebacker. OTAs are scheduled to finish this afternoon and resume on May 20th.

How Does Te'o Fit for the Chargers?

Many draft pundits were critical of Te'o following his rather poor showing at the combine. His 40 time was worse than expected and he didn't put up anywhere near impressive numbers in the bench press. That performance, coupled with the obvious headache that will follow him because of his fake girlfriend saga, caused many teams to shy away from Te'o. The Chargers made out like bandits when they traded up to get him in the second
round. In essence, they gave up a fourth round pick to make the trade. Te'o fits the Chargers for several reasons.

1) He won't have to blitz. Te'o is going to be penciled in as the day one starter at weakside inside linebacker. This means he isn't going to be called on to provide pressure on most plays. Te'o will get to sit back and use his greatest advantage, his instincts, to its fullest potential. Te'o showed just how soundly he understands the game time after time in college, especially during his senior season. Just look at the number of big impact plays Te'o made last season.

2) He doesn't have to worry about picking up a guard at the next level. Teams are still going to run the ball, so Te'o will deal with this from time to time, but once again, his position will allow him to sit back and make plays. He doesn't have the strength of most linebackers, so this will be a blessing. Te'o is a hard worker, so I look for this to be an area he really focuses on improving.

3) He can step into a leadership role. The Chargers unquestioned leader on offense is quarterback Philip Rivers. He commands respect from everyone in the huddle. The defense really seems to lack that. Sure, there are some great veteran players, but some leadership just seems to be missing. Te'o is a fiery guy who gets behind his teammates and pushes them to succeed. He will have to earn the respect of the team first, but I don't see that being an issue. His play on the field will allow for that to happen. Through rookie mini-camp, Te'o has already shown that he is ready to step up and lead. Guys who have that natural ability are always an asset to a team.

4) His heritage suits him well as a player in San Diego. Te'o couldn't have landed in a better spot than San Diego. His Polynesian roots will help him gain local fan support in a heartbeat. Being so close to his family will also be a big plus. He will have plenty of support from home during his time in san Diego. Let's not forget that perhaps the most famous defensive player for the Chargers was also of Polynesian heritage. This is not to say that Te'o will come close to being the kind of player that legend Junior Seau was, but he will be filling a gap that the team has had for years.

All of these factors combine to give Te'o and the Chargers a wonderful pairing. I look for Te'o to produce well in his first season and to become a vocal leader on this defense.

Spanos Sets Chargers Up Well for the Future

To say that the Chargers have been a disappointment as of late would be an understatement to say the least. This is a team that was contending for the right to represent the AFC in the Superbowl just a few short years ago. After three terrible season by fan and team standards in a row, a change was needed. GM A.J. Smith, once regarded as one of the best in the business, was fired. Joining him on the curb was offensive genius Norv Turner, who has never truly had success as a head coach. The Chargers brought in young blood with Tom Telesco and Mike McCoy. The decision to bring them in, especially McCoy, was a fundamentally sound move by the Chargers. Both are young guys with a lot to prove in this league. McCoy has never been a head coach at the NFL level and steps in at a crucial time for the Chargers.

Telesco may have been an even more critical hire for the Chargers. A.J. Smith ran several successful drafts, netting star players for several seasons. As of late though, he had succeeded only in railroading the team. He was too aggressive in his trade philosophy and to set in his ways. Telesco is all business. That stood out no better than his decision to trade up in the second round to grab Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o. Telesco inherited a team that has almost no offensive line, poor depth at running back and receiver  and no true leader on defense. We won't even mention that the clock is ticking for many of the players on the roster. Guys like Rivers and Weddle are certainly not getting any younger. Telesco has the difficult task of bringing in talent for McCoy's system for the long haul while still producing a winning team right away. The fans won't stand for another season watching the playoffs from the outside looking in. 

What perhaps nobody really wants to think about with these hires is this. Each is a newcomer. This means that they have no record to evaluate on when it comes to their current job. The team can afford to trust these two for the following reasons. First, the talent window for the Chargers began shutting years ago. This is a team that is maybe a year or two away from having some serious rebuilding pains if things don't go right. Knowing this, why not put two guys with everything to prove in the situation. In a few years, we will certainly know if these two can perform their jobs well. If they are successful, then the team will be successful and competing for Super Bowls again. If not, it will just make it that much easier to start completely over. Charger fans should be looking forward to the coming season. By all looks, these two should be great. Perhaps the best thing Spanos has done is hire these two. Time will tell. Look for some growing pains, but I for one expect at least 8 wins out of the team and a wildcard spot in the playoffs. Year one is all about getting things right. 

Chargers Draft Prospects: Jordan Poyer

Name: Jordan Poyer
School: Oregon State
Position: CB
Height: 5' 11''
Weight: 182 lbs.

The San Diego Chargers are facing some very tough decisions this off-season in regards to their secondary. Atari Bigby has already been let go, and CB's Jammer and Cason are entering free agency. This could potentially leave San Diego very thin at corner. With that in mind, the Chargers may very well be looking to take a corner early in the draft. One prospect that has stood out to me this year is Oregon State corner Jordan Poyer.

Pros: Poyer is the type of player who brings a lot to the table. He seems to have a good understanding of the game and uses his instincts to put himself in a position to make the play. While he doesn't have elite speed, he does have enough to keep up with most receivers. Poyer would fit well in a zone coverage scheme. He has drawn comparisons to Dre Bly. Bly was the kind of player who used his smarts to be a very productive corner in the NFL. He did manage to turn in a 4.46 40 yard dash at the NFL combine. He should fit in well as a nickel corner to start while also contributing heavily on special teams.

Cons: While he can get around the field quick enough, Poyer doesn't have the speed to stay with some of the speedier receivers in the NFL. He struggles with his consistency in man coverage. His athleticism isn't a particular strong suit for him. He could stand to add some weight through an NFL conditioning program, but that should come with time.

Poyer is projected as a 2nd to 4th round prospect. He has the ball skills to compete at the next level.

Chargers Head Coaching Update

The San Diego Chargers are going to wait until they have named a GM until they name a head coach. While this is a generally smart move, one has to wonder if the Chargers are going to drag their feet on this. If they do, they may be out of the running for some of the more promising candidates. With that in mind, here are 3 head coaching prospects and how they would fit with the Chargers.

Lovie Smith: Smith is the kind of coach that has players running through brick walls for him. They love to play for this guy and he certainly has a great defensive mind. Smith coached the Chicago Bears for 9 seasons, taking them to Super Bowl XLI. He amassed a record of 81-63 as a head coach.

Lovie Smith; Chargers Head Coach or not?

Unfortunately, I don't see Lovie being a great fit for the Chargers. He helped Tony Dungy develop the Tampa 2 defense and has been a major proponent of it. Smith would also be keeping defensive coordinator John Pagano (unless he is offered another position). That could make the Chargers an unappealing job for Smith.

On offense, Smith would need to improve the offensive line and bolster the running game. The line for the Chargers has let just about every team in the league get away with murder. Rivers has been beaten and battered the last two years. It shows in the way that he plays. Even though it can't really be placed on Lovie, the line in Chicago was horrendous (just ask Jay Cutler).

San Diego Chargers Roster Breakdown: Quarterbacks

Continuing our look at the Chargers depth at the moment, we move on to quarterbacks.

Losses: Billy Volek

Signed: Charlie Whitehurst, Jarrett Lee

Returning: Philip Rivers

Projected Starter; Philip Rivers

The Chargers will once again be helmed by Philip Rivers. Yes, he had a down year last year, but he should bounce back fine. He has proven before that he can create chemistry quickly with receivers, which he will need to do given the new look the receiving corps will have. Rivers is a deep ball quarterback, and new addition Robert Meachem, while not a Vincent Jackson, should see plenty of deep passes.

Charlie Whitehurst is back on the sidelines as the backup after his Seattle experiment. He should do ok, but losing Billy Volek hurts. It was a move that made sense, but Volek was one of the best backups in the league. Whitehurst won't be able to do everything that Rivers can do, but he should be able to step in for a game or two and play decent football. Who knows, maybe the Chargers can trade him again.

The last member of this list is former LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee. I really don't expect much out of him. He couldn't ever really keep the starting job at LSU, so it will only be harder in the NFL. I expect him to stay on the roster until the end of the pre-season, but unless he really wows the coaches, expect him to be cut.

San Diego Chargers Roster Breakdown: Running Backs

Is Ryan Mathews on the verge of a
breakout season?

Charger Madness will be featuring position breakdowns for the entire team over the next several posts. Today we will be breaking down the running backs.

Losses: Mike Tolbert

Additions: Le'Ron McClain, Edwin Baker, Michael Hayes, Mohamed Marah

Returning: Ryan Mathews, Jacob Hester, Curtis Brinkley

Projected Starters: Ryan Mathews (HB), Le'Ron McClain (FB)

By and large, the Chargers will have a good ground game this year. Perhaps one of the most underrated acquisitions for the Chargers in free agency was Le'Ron McClain. Here is a player by player breakdown of the Chargers running backs as they now stand.

Ryan Mathews: Mathews is a player who seems to be right on the edge of doing some great things. He does have injury issues, but he has potential to be great. With the departure of Mike Tolbert, Mathews is going to have more of a lone wolf role this year. I expect McClain, Hester, and company to all get some carries, but the team will be asking for more from Mathews. He enters the season as the firm starter for the Chargers. A 1200 yard season sounds reasonable. Throw in around 40-50 catches again, and he should be a serious threat for the Chargers.

Le'Ron McClain: McClain is set to be the starting fullback for the Chargers and will be blasting holes for Mathews to run through. McClain can hold his own carrying the ball and will most likely see more carries the closer the team gets to the goal line.

Jacob Hester: Hester is a true team player that came back at a reduced price and role to stay a Charger. He will still see some carries but will be most valuable on special teams. He will be the backup to McClain at fullback and can contribute on the ground in a pinch.

Curtis Brinkley: At the moment, Brinkley is the backup to Mathews. He did well last year during limited carries, but he is clearly the backup. I look for him to have a chance to once again step in for a game or two due to Mathews propensity to get injured. All in all, he is a decent backup for the team.

Edwin Baker: Baker was the final pick for the Chargers in the 2012 NFL Draft. He excelled in pass blocking and is a tough and hard runner. While he doesn't have the best top end speed, he can contribute in  a number of ways. He may be a special teamer this year, but he has a chance to knck Brinkley down the depth charts.

Mohamed Marah: Marah is most likey a camp body at this point. The team is already set at fullback, so there seems to be little need to keep him around. The thing about Marah that may keep him around is his defensive experience, which could translate well into a solid special teams performer. He played fullback his first two years of college before switching to defensive end. He is a versatile player. Players like him are always a question mark. It really just depends on his potential and how the Chargers use it.

Michael Hayes: This is another intriguing prospect brought in for the Chargers. Hayes had great success while at Houston, but some wonder how much of that was from the passing game being so dangerous. I tend to think that he is a good player, at least collegiately, but he is not a hot commodity in camp. He will have to fight his way onto the roster, but he may end up as a practice squad player.

Slow Content

First off, thanks to those of you who visit Charger Madness. You may have noticed that content has been slow lately. I apologize for that. During the summer, I work as a server at a restaurant back home. At the moment, we are understaffed, so for the next week or two, I am working everyday. Once we get a few more servers trained, things should start to pick back up.

Why is Don Coryell Not in the Hall of Fame?

The NFL Hall of Fame is where the league places those individuals who have achieved a superior level of greatness at their position or have revolutionized the game. It is a way to honor the achievements and success of these people while acknowledging what they have meant to the NFL. When looking at the members of the Hall of Fame, one can't help but feel amazed and in awe. Yet when examining the list of coaches in the Hall of Fame, one name seems to be missing. It makes no real sense as to why it wouldn't be there. Don Coryell is not in the Hall of Fame.

Coryell was an inovative genius. While not the creator of the I formation, Coryell was a pioneer of it, helping John McKay run the offense at USC in 1960. He is given credit for developing the vertical passing game into what it has become today, with the likes of Joe Gibbs, Mike Martz, and Ernie Zampese winning Super Bowls employing similar systems. He also tutored Al Saunders, Jim Hanifan, and Rod Dowhower. Even further down the line comes Norv Turner and Dan Henning, who tutored under Zampese and Gibbs respectively. John Madden was a student of Coryell while he coached at San Diego State and considered Don to be one of the biggest influences on him as a coach.

Coryell's Chargers were one of the most successful offensive teams that the NFL has ever seen. Quarterback Dan Fouts spearheaded Coryell's devastating passing attack with the likes of Kellen Winslow and Charlie Joiner. All three are in the Hall of Fame today in part because of the system that Coryell brought to the team. Winslow revolutionized the tight end position to what we are seeing today with the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham.

The simple fact that Coryell is not in the Hall of Fame is unfathomable. We are talking about a man who revolutionized the game of football not once, but twice. As Dan Fouts stated, "He influenced offiensive and defensive football because if you were going to have three or four receivers out there, you better have an answer for it on the other side of the ball". The system that Coryell created forced teams to devlop new ways to handle the situations presented by the Chargers offense. Fouts brought up a great point by asking who had really heard of a nickel or dime defensive package before Air Coryell?

Some will argue that Coryell doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because of his 3-6 playoff record and the way his defenses performed, but those are things that can be overlooked. I know that there are players who deserve to get in that have been waiting for some time now, but Coryell deserves a spot for all of the ideas and concepts that he contributed to the NFL that make it so successful today. His influence as a coach cannot be ignored anymore. The man was far to successful to not be in the Hall of Fame. The best news was that he finally did make the final 15 cut in 2010, but he has yet to advance farther than that. Former coaches and players like Madden, Gibbs, and Fouts will continue to lobby for his placement in the Hall of Fame.

Seau's 55 to be Retired

The San Diego Chargers have announced that Junior Seau's number 55 will be retired. Seau, who tragically ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, is the most accomplished and decorated defensive player in Charger history. Seau, who was drafted 5th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft, played for the Chargers until 2003. Seau had an outstanding 20 year career and ranks only behind Clay Matthews at the linebacker position for most career games. He is a sure fired first ballot lock for the Hall of Fame. Seau went to 12 straight Pro Bowls as a Charger. Seau joins Lance Alworth and Dan Fouts as the only Chargers to have their numbers retired. Fouts wore 14 while Alworth wore 19. Seau's number will be retired September 16th.

Ladarius Green Signs 4 Year Contract with the San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers are wasting no time signing the 7 draft picks from the 2012 draft class. The latest member of the class to sign is Louisiana-Lafayette TE Ladarius Green. Green, who stands at an imposing 6' 6'', is a powerful player who has great body control and is likely to be groomed as a replacement for Antonio Gates. Green should see time on special teams and in the red zone. It will be interesting to see how the Chargers get him onto the field. He can split out wide just like Gates and could really stand out through camp. The only members of the 2012 draft class yet to sign are Edwin Baker, Brandon Taylor, and Johnnie Troutman.

San Diego Chargers Sign 3 Draft Picks

The San Diego Chargers have offically signed three of their draft picks to contracts. Melvin Ingram is joined by second round pick Kendall Reyes and seventh rounder David Molk, both of whom also signed. Ingram was the 1st round pick of the Chargers. He played defensive end while at South Carolina and is expected to be a pass rushing 3-4 outside linebacker for the Chargers. Reyes has the size to move inside in nickel formations but will primarily be a rotational defensive end this year for the team. Both of these two should make an immediate impact for the Chargers on defense. Reyes signed a 4 year contract while Ingram signed a 4 year deal with an optional 5th year.

Molk, who was an All-American center for the Michigan Wolverines also signed a 4 year deal. This still leaves Johnnie Troutman, Brandon Taylor, Ladarius Green, and Edwin Baker unsigned. The team will hold a rookie only mini camp from May 11-13.

AFC West Quarterback Rankings

Chargers fans get to see this matchup twice a year now.

No position can be as big of a game changer as quarterback. How well a quarterback plays often determines who wins and loses. Here is the breakdown on the starting quarterback situations for each AFC West team.

1) San Diego Chargers

There is no doubt that Rivers is the cream of the crop in the AFC West. I know that Peyton Manning has been added, but until we know for sure how he throws in a game situation, Rivers is still the best. Last season was a rough one for Rivers, but it happens. He may have the best supporting cast in the AFC West around him too. The offensive line will return all of the pieces that protected him so well at the end of last season. Better yet, they added quality depth to the line. Look for Rivers to have 2 great duals against new Bronco Peyton Manning and return to form.

2) Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning is the guy that Elway wanted. Tebow got thrown under the bus and now Peyton is in charge. If he fully recovers from the neck surgeries, look out. He may not have the best supporting cast around him, but he will have control of the offense like he had in Indy. With young developing players like Eric Decker and Demaryious Thomas to work with, Manning isn't in a talent vacuum.

3) Oakland Raiders

Carson Palmer is a real unknown. What does he even have left? He was all over the place last year, so a full off-season with the team can certainly help. His supporting cast is not very strong at all, especially at tight end, but he is a veteran with good experience. It will be interesting to see how this pans out with a full season. It is critical that Mcfadden stays healthy all year.

4) Kansas City Chiefs

How many more chances is Cassel going to get? He has been hit and miss the last few years, and is most likely on a short leash. He does have great talent around him with Baldwin, Bowe, and company. Cassel has to show that he can be the franchise quarterback he was thought to be. Expect the pressure to be on him from the get go.

San Diego Chargers Cut Travis Laboy

Travis Laboy was brought in last season to help Manusky set up the defense the way that he wanted to run it. He was to be a rotational player behind Larry English and Shaun Philips. That was the plan at least, but injuries pretty much erased that. Laboy saw more snaps at linebacker than any other Charger last year, but the team saw him as an expendable piece to say the least. With the drafting of Melvin Ingram and the signing of Jarret Johnson, there just really wasn't any room for Laboy. Everette Brown was also let go early in the off-season. All in all, Laboy did what a backup was supposed to do. He ended the season with a stat line of 38 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. By cutting him this early, San Diego has made it clear that Larry English is going to get one more shot to stay on the team. This move still leaves Philips, Johnson, Ingram, English, and Barnes at outside linebacker for the Chargers. Laboy will now have all summer to try and latch on somewhere else. Laboy did a commendable job stepping in and we here at Charger Madness wish him well wherever he ends up.

Chargers Depth on Defensive Line is a Big Plus

The San Diego Chargers struggled defensively last year. The team failed to generate much of a pass rush at all, with the only real noteworthy performance belonging to Antwan Barnes, who recorded 11 sacks. The team did a good job adding quality players through the draft to help the defense, but there are still lots of questions that remain about the unit as a whole. Perhaps the biggest bright spot for the defense is the depth and talent of the defensive line. The unit features good starters and depth. Here is a more in depth look at the 2012 Chargers defensive line.

Defensive End
This may be the better part of the unit.

 Luis Castillo is back from the broken leg he suffered last season and should play at a high level again. He has been a consistent player for the Chargers. The one year contract that he has been signed to benefits the Chargers in the fact that they are getting a one year test run with Castillo for a minimal investment. Cesaire is another quality veteran lineman for the Chargers. With Cory Liuget coming off of his rookie year and new addition Kedall Reyes, this unit will feature a deep rotation with a good mix of youth and veteran experience.

Defensive Tackle
Still a very strong unit.

Antonio Garay will be back to anchor the line for another season, but he will have some serious competition and help from up and comer Cam Thomas. Thomas, a 5th round pick from 2010, has turned into a very capable lineman who should work his way into the starting role very soon. Thomas also was the leading sack man for the defensive line with 4 sacks last season. Add Vaughn Martin into that group and you have a very deep and talented rotation at nose tackle.

Remembering Seau

The death of Junior Seau is nothing but tragic, regardless of how you look at it. A man gone in the prime of his life. Seau will be remembered for his tough play but kind and compassionate heart. His charity involvement has impacted the lives of many. He became a fan favorite wherever he went, wether that be San Diego, Miami, or New England.

There is no way to know yet if Seau suffered brain injuries due to football that may have contributed to his suicide. It is a question that has been weighing heavily on everyone as of late, and rightfully so. Brain injuries are having a terrible effect on former players. Just stop and think how many lawsuits the NFL is facing due to the issues associated with these brain injuries. The league waited far to long to act on information and is now paying a price for it. I do have to commend them for stepping things up now, but the damage has already been done. Countless players are going to have to face very tough times as they cope with these injuries. It is very likely that Seau had issues that we didn't know about. He was a tough and fierce competitor. Until the facts are in though, we know very little as to what happened.

Yet even with all of the uncertainty, all of the confusion, we still don't know the truth yet. For the time being, let us focus on the memory of Seau and let the data come to us. Remember the man who helped so many in the San Diego area. Remember the man who played football for 20 years, who everyday approched the game with a love and a passion that most of us only wish we could have for our job. This is a time to grieve and a time to reflect. You will be missed Junior.

Moving

Things may be a bit slow for the next day or two as I move out of my apartment. Expect something by Saturday at the latest.

Chargers Legend Junior Seau Found Dead

Former Charger, Dolphin, and Patriots linebacker Junior Seau was found dead Wednesday morning in what appears to be a suicide. He was found by a housekeeper with a gunshot wound to the chest, which is very similar to how former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson committed suicide. Duerson shot himself in the chest so as to preserve his brain and allow it to be studied. Seau is now the 8th member of the Chargers 1994 Super Bowl team to pass away.

Seau was a standout linebacker at USC and wore the famed 55 as part of the famed Club 55 while at USC. He is part of a long legacy of talented linebackers to come out of USC, with names such as Jack Del Rio, Willie McGinest, Chris Claiborne among others. Seau was a first team All-American in 1989. Seau was drafted 5th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Seau played with the Chargers until he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2003. While with the Chargers, Seau was named to the Pro Bowl 12 times while a Charger in one of the most dominant stretches at any position. Seau went to the Pro Bowl every year from 1991 through 2002. Seau was also a 10 time All-Pro. He was a key member of the Chargers 1994 Super Bowl run that saw them lose to the San Francisco 49ers. Seau finished his career with the New England Patriots before retiring in 2010. Seau played in the 2007 Super Bowl loss for the New England Patriots. Seau was voted to the Chargers all 1990's team and is enshrined in the Chargers Hall of Fame. Seau's name will one day be in Canton.

Seau will be remembered as a fan favorite who wowed with his superb play. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in the Junior Seau Foundation, which is a charity designed to empower and educate young people caught in a variety of circumstances. He also worked within the Samoan community in San Diego. Seau was 43 years old. Seau leaves behind 3 children and a legacy of excellence. Seau will be missed by fans and people all over the country.