IT'S NOT TRASH TALK IF YOU CAN BACK IT UP:

Chargers fuel the fire: Pats miffed by foes' Super Bowl chatter (John Tomase, 1/13/07, Boston Herald)

The San Diego Chargers apparently learned nothing from Freddie Mitchell, Mike Vanderjagt and other players who opened their mouths before playing the Patriots in the postseason.

If they had, they would understand that no comment is innocuous enough to avoid setting off the Pats.

The two squads meet in the divisional round tomorrow, and there already are rumblings of discontent in the Patriots locker room regarding a lack of respect from the West Coast, where the Chargers have proclaimed they're going to the Super Bowl.

"We'll just lay low and let some guys run their mouth a little bit," Pats defensive end Richard Seymour [stats] said yesterday. "We'll do our talking on the field." [...]

[T]he Pats are steaming because of phone calls between receiver Reche Caldwell and some of his former Chargers teammates, who insist they're going to mop the floor with the Patriots tomorrow.

"They don't think too highly of us, from what Reche says," quarterback Tom Brady said.

Caldwell seemed amused by the trash-talk, which he characterized as good-natured, but intent almost is secondary in New England, where the Patriots could find disrespect in a papal blessing.

If you were William Telled and had to wager the life of a loved one, you'd have to take the Chargers, but for a six pack and getting points it wouldn't be hard to bet on Brady and Belichick.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 13, 2007 11:44 AM