Brees charged with impersonating a quarterback

Drew Brees is a phony -- and certainly NOT the answer in San Diego. He doesn't have the arm strength to throw a quality deep ball; his accuracy is average, at best; and he tends to lock in on one target, making it easy for opposing defensive backs to pick him off. The Chargers would be better off directly snapping every play to LaDainian Tomlinson.

Brees was a very good, not great, QB at Purdue who knew how to manage his team. And even though he's only in his third season in the NFL, he's regressed to the point where the Chargers need to look elsewhere for their future quarterback.

In 25 games -- 24 starts -- Brees has thrown just 25 TDs compared to 28 interceptions. This season alone his INTs nearly double his touchdown passes (12 to 7). Plus, his career completion percentage is an abysmal 59.5. His pitiful play finally forced Marty Schottenheimer to yank Brees for Doug Flutie a few weeks ago.

No one will debate the Chargers haven't been exactly an awesome team during Brees' stint in San Diego. But that's no excuse for the poor decision-making and inept play.

Clearly the prehistoric Flutie isn't the long-term answer, but with a quality crop of QBs available for next year's draft, the opportunity is there for the Chargers to find a franchise signal-caller.

San Diego already has a key component in place with tailback Tomlinson. He's one of the premier running backs in the NFL, and if the Chargers' front office can find to perform under center, the team's fortunes could turn around quickly in the parity-driven NFL.

Can you say Eli Manning?

Rams Getting A Lot From Little

When you think of the Rams, you picture the "Greatest Show on Turf." You imagine Marc Bulger slinging passes to Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. You marvel at Marshall Faulk slip-sliding through opposing secondaries. You envision an offensive "genius" in coach Mike Martz.

But what you don't think about is the Rams' relentless defense, led by the most underrated defensive presence in the league: Leonard Little.

Little is a force to be reckoned with. He's quick, powerful and unrelenting. At 6-3, 237, he's certainly not your prototypical NFL defensive end, yet his production is impossible to overlook.

After missing four weeks with a chest injury, Little unleashed a month's worth of frustration on the unsuspecting Vikings. He registered four sacks and two forced fumble, one of which led to an 85-yard return for a Rams score.

Little was a highly-touted linebacker coming out of Tennessee when the St. Louis drafted him in '98. The team wasn't sure how to use him. He wasn't big enough to play every down at defensive end but too talented to keep off the field.

The Rams ultimately decided to use Little in pass-rushing situations until they gave him a chance to start regularly in '00. In 51 games over the past three-plus seasons, he's made the most of his opportunity, recording 37.5 sacks. Somehow, however, his accomplishments continue to go relatively unnoticed throughout the NFL. His 11 sacks on the season, only one behind the league-leading total of 12 shared by four players, despite missing a month.

Little's return to an already-impressive Rams defense could be what puts the Rams over the top in the NFC.