Chargers players process relocation to LA
Chargers sent a group text message Thursday morning to their players, informing them that, yes, the team has relocated to Los Angeles. The note encouraged them to keep their spirits high, one player summarized, and be ready to take their new city by storm. Maybe they will. In time. For now, while some carry a discernible sense of excitement, they also see the city and fans being left behind.
“They have a right to be angry,” guard Orlando Franklin said. “We’ve been here for the last (56) years. You talk about moving the team; a lot of people aren’t going to be able to make those games. It’s not going to be easy. “
Many on the team declined or were unavailable for comment following the morning announcement from Chargers Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos, preferring not to address publicly the franchise’s now-official relocation. Those who did speak offered both empathy for the city they’re leaving and intrigue toward the unknown. LA is a bigger market. More marketing opportunities. More endorsement potential. All in all, a larger stage. And a new start following nine wins in a twoyear span and four playoff victories in the past 22 seasons is, to some degree, welcome. But San Diego was home. This notion hits harder for players like quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates, who’ve been here for 13 and 14 seasons, respectively. Neither of the two could be reached for early comment, Gates out of town with his family, his representative said.
Inside linebacker Joshua Perry spent the 2016 season here as a rookie, but like other teammates, he imagined the team he grew up supporting leaving town. A childhood fan and alumnus of Ohio State, he said he’d be crushed if the Buckeyes somehow moved.
He balanced a respect and gratitude for fans’ support with a look ahead.
“The Chargers have no identity in Los Angeles,” Perry said in a phone interview. “We get to make our mark . ... This is going to be a great opportunity to take a step forward in our identity as a team. There are a lot of teams (in LA), but I think it’s a pretty open market for us to go out there and make a splash.”
Franklin expressed relief the Chargers know where their long-term home will be, citing the ability for players with families to settle in accordingly. This was a common theme around the locker room after the season ended.