Friday Links – Norv Turner Honored, Edgar Gonzalez & Joshua Cribbs Are Walkin’ (Walkin’), Padres Spring Training, Gannon Can’t Help

USA Today Names Norv Turner NFL Coach of the Year – Four months after saying his Chargers weren’t as good as fans thought they would be, San Diego coach Norv Turner has won USA TODAY’s NFL Coach of the Year award. Turner led the Chargers back from a 2-3 start with 11 straight victories that earned his team a playoff bye. The Chargers, at 13-3, finished just one game behind the Colts for the best record in the NFL. Turner has led the Chargers to the playoffs in all three of his seasons in San Diego, but said that this year has been his most rewarding.

“I’m not very good at comparing those things, but the biggest thing for me is the job the assistant coaches have done and the number of people we have that have contributed to this team,” Turner said. “That part of it is impressive.” – USAToday.com

Edgar Gonzalez Signs With the Giants…The Yomiuri Giants – The Yomiuri Giants, defending champions of the Japan Series, have signed second baseman Edgar Gonzalez, who has spent the past two seasons with the San Diego Padres. Gonzalez, 31, is the older brother of Padres star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. While the younger Gonzalez was the first player taken overall in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft by Florida, his older brother spent eight years in the Minors with several different organizations before making his big league debut with the Padres in 2008. Gonzalez hit .216 in 82 games for San Diego in 2009, missing time with a concussion and a shoulder injury. – MLB.com

Padres Spring Training Tickets Go On-Sale – Tickets for the Padres 2010 Spring Training go on-sale tomorrow. The Padres play their first game on Thursday, March 4th, in Peoria, AZ against the Seattle Mariners. Too bad the Phoenix race isn’t until April… – Purchase Tickets – Padres Spring Training Schedule

Joshua Cribbs Is Hurt By Browns’ Offer – Josh Cribbs believes it’s “unlikely” that he will play another game for the Cleveland Browns. Insulted by the Browns’ latest contract offer, Cribbs intends to clean out his locker, and one of his agents said the Pro Bowler will demand a trade. “I’m hurt because I don’t want to play for nobody else,” Cribbs said Wednesday night. “But the way they’re talking, they’re leaving me no choice.” Cribbs was the Browns’ most valuable player this season. He played wide receiver and quarterback, and he also returned and covered kickoffs and punts. He even set the NFL career record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns. But agent Peter Schaffer said Wednesday that the Browns failed to live up to previous promises they made to Cribbs and offered him $1.4 million annually for six years, well below market value. – NFL.com

Rich Gannon Offers Help, Raiders Decline - Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP for the Oakland Raiders, is offering his help to his former team. Gannon said on Sirius NFL Radio on Wednesday that he had called Raiders owner Al Davis the previous day to offer whatever help he can to the organization. “I did something yesterday that I can’t believe even I did,” Gannon said. “I picked up the phone and I reached out to Al Davis. So I called Mr. Davis, I have not spoken with him yet, but I’m happy to help out in any way I can. I’d love to help JaMarcus Russell if he wants help. I’d love to help Tom Cable and that organization. It’s important. Listen, seven straight seasons where they’ve lost 11 or more games? Something’s not right.” Raiders senior executive John Herrera said Davis wouldn’t accept the offer and questioned why Gannon made it public. “Maybe it’s Rich that needs the help,” Herrera said.

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1. Friday Links – NC Times Blowin’ It, Glen Bell, Headley Back to 3B, Padres Report, Spring Training
2. Links For A Friday – Free Agent Padres, Hundley’s Surgery, E-Gon Gone, Edward Sharpe, Stoney Laid Off