San Diego-

Here in Southern California- they are confident, well sort of.

This morning I made an appearance on XX Sports Radio here in San Diego with former Charger Billy Ray Smith and fellow co-host Scott Kaplan on their #1 rated morning talk show where I had to defend the Patriots, sort of.

Kaplan admitted that San Diego is a championship starved area and went on to describe Charger Fans much like Red Sox fans of a few years ago- confident, sort of, having been let down before. Callers tried to attack the Patriots but almost every caller tempered their remarks by admitting that the Patriots have proven that they are winners, and that the Patriots do have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and, oh yah, the Chargers are coached by a guy who is 5-12 in the playoffs. And their were some doubts expressed about their young quarterback Philip Rivers facing a Belichick coached defense.

Having said all that- Charger fans do have a lot of confidence in their all-world running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and their all Pro Tight End Antonio Gates, and their All-Pro Fullback Lorenzo Neal, and their All-Pro Linebacker Shawne Merriman and their All-Pro defensive lineman Jamal Williams. This team IS loaded !! and that’s why they are 4 ½ point favorites.

Billy Ray Smith was quick to make fun of Belichick’s post game attack of Globe photographer Jim Davis when he asked my photographer, Steve Menard, if he felt safe around Belichick.

This afternoon I will talk to the Charger players including 2 Massachusetts natives. I’ll have that for you later this evening.