Chargers Making a Point That It’s a Different Season

Times NFL writer Sam Farmer poses--and answers--the burning questions for this week’s games:

Question : Did the San Diego Chargers drop any clues last season that they were primed for a turnaround?

Answer: Yes. Although they went 1-15, they lost six games by three points or fewer. They could be 5-0 by the time Denver comes to town, as long as they can knock off Cincinnati, Cleveland and New England.

Q: What did it take for Louisiana to patch things up with the Saints?

A: Gobs of money. The Saints signed a deal with the state Wednesday that could keep them in New Orleans through 2010 and includes $186.5 million in financial inducements. Hey, they probably won’t get a new stadium, but check out that mountain of cash.

“That’s an awful lot of money,” gushed Saint owner Tom Benson. “That’s better than, I don’t know, having an empty ballpark.”

Q: Who is the league’s biggest baby?

A: San Francisco 49er receiver Terrell Owens, who dropped four passes against the St. Louis Rams, then sat on a folding chair in front of his locker with a don’t-come-near-me scowl. He refused to speak to reporters and hardly acknowledged teammates. The next day, he accepted responsibility for only two of the drops.

Q: As quarterbacks go, which team offers the worst job security?

A: Chicago. Dick Jauron has made a quarterback change 11 times in 34 games. The latest? Shane Matthews is out, Jim Miller is in.

Q: And the best job security?

A: Detroit. Ty Detmer, who threw seven interceptions last Sunday, is still the Lions’ man.