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A conversation with Chargers DE Shaun Phillips

By Ian Allen

Most of the US is getting cold and snowy, but in the winter wonderland of NFL football, things are just Heating up.

But there is one thing on some guys minds when we take it back to the Pro Bowl Ballots, and one in particular is that of Shaun Phillips, DE from the San Diego Chargers. I caught up with him to find out his take on the Chargers season, and ideas about the pro bowl.

The Chargers season started off rough, and many (including myself) questioned Norv Turner as head coach in wondering if he is the man for the job, considering the team finished last season at 14-2.

Typically, you do not having a coaching change after that kind of year, but it happened, and here is what Shaun had to say about that.

“Of course some guys were frustrated, but we all know that it is hard to go 14-2 every year. Believe it or not, we have not changed. The defense was they same, everything was they same, we just needed to play better, and we did. We stayed behind our coach and you can see where we are at today.”

I will be one of the 1st to tell you from a player’s standpoint, I am happy things began to go in the right direction for a team that has so much talent, because you hate to see an offseason come and the front office is scratching their heads wondering what went wrong, and then they make personnel decisions based off status quo.

In regards to the Pro Bowl, I first asked Shaun about the bowling gesture at the end of a sack.

“Actually, I got that from my grandmother, she's into bowling and I decided to try it.”

Personally I think it’s hot. I am a fan of entertainment in the game with the celebration mantra, and the showmanship. Yet I also think he has been making a statement trying to tell the voters to send him to Hawaii. He didn’t get it this year, but I think he should have even though he missed a couple of games earlier on this year. I would say he is a strong candidate for 2008, but now he still has something else to play for thisThe Supe season - the Super Bowl.

Ian Allen played offensive line in the NFL for six seasons, primarily with the New York Giants. He now hosts an NFL radio program on www.colourfulradio.com, Mondays, 3:00 p.m. EST