Thursday, March 29, 2012

Welcome back to San Diego, Antonio!


Antonio Garay Antonio Garay #71 of the San Diego Chargers in action against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on August 27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The San Diego Chargers are now in a position where they don't need to add a nose tackle. The team came to terms on a two-year deal with veteran nose tackle Antonio Garay this afternoon.

Garay has been the starting nose tackle for San Diego since the beginning of the 2010 season. He first joined the Chargers in 2009, after they plucked him from the the New York Jets' practice squad.

Pretty much coming out of nowhere, Garay performed close to a Pro Bowl level during the 2010 season, as he finished with 48 tackles and 5.5 sacks. His sack number fell to 2.5 in 2011, but he was still a reliable player at the critical position Clearly, his return helps make the Chargers and their fans feel more comfortable heading into next season

With fellow nose tackle Cam Thomas going into his third year next September, it's unclear if Garay will retain his starting job. Thomas was picked in the fifth round of the 2010 draft and has shown some promise when given the opportunity to play. He just may be the future fixture on the interior of San Diego's defensive line. But for now, with both of them on the roster, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith doesn't have to feel pressured into taking a nose tackle during this April's draft.


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