Jackson will miss the first four games because of a suspension handed down by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The Chargers are concerned about Jackson’s comments that he will sit out the first 10 games to protest his contract situation.

The wideout wants a new deal after showing he was the star wideout the past two seasons, but San Diego is tired of their own players jerking them around.

The team is confident that wideout Malcom Floyd would give them the vertical deep threat and red zone target that Jackson provides.

Since making the transition from college basketball to pro football, Gates has been one of the top tight ends in the league.

His unique blend of size and speed has caused matchup problems all over the field for opposing defenses.

Gates has slowed in recent years as he has been trouble by foot and toe injuries.

Now the league’s highest paid tight end, Gates said he has been blessed to spend his career with just one team and that the focus is now on a championship.

Jackson is suspended for the first three games of the season and is threatening to sit out to protest his contract situation.

The fact that Jackson has issues with the substance abuse policy could make it hard to trade him.

Then again, Jackson’s tremendous talent and relative youth are both big selling points for teams looking for a playmaker.

It also doesn’t help that Jackson has very high contract demands, wanting something similar to the deal given to Brandon Marshall.

Jackson violated the league’s substance abuse policy yet again by pleading guilty to another DUI.

The star wide receiver is currently unhappy over his contract with the Chargers and threatening to sit out the first 10 games.

It’s a big hit to the Chargers’ high-powered offense to lose Jackson for the first three games of the year.

San Diego can be thankful that they play in one of the weakest divisions in football and should coast to the division title.

The quest to repeat as AFC West champions will begin with the San Diego Chargers spending plenty of time on the road.

But when the stretch drive begins, the Chargers will have the benefit of being at home a lot – and being on prime time.

The National Football League has released the game times and dates for the 2010 season. San Diego, which went 13-3 in winning the division last season, opens up the regular season on the road at Kansas City on Monday Night Football, Sept. 13. It marks the first of four road games in the opening six weeks for the Chargers, who play host to Jacksonville in the home opener on Sept. 19.

After a road game in Seattle and a home game with Arizona, the Chargers play back-to-back road games at Oakland and at St. Louis. AFC East champ New England visits on Oct. 24, opening a two-game homestand that also includes a visit from Tennessee on Oct. 31. A road game at Houston the next week leads into the bye Nov. 14.

Four of San Diego’s final six games are at home, and four of those are in prime time. A home game with Denver Nov. 22 is a Monday Night Football matchup, followed by a quick turnaround and a trip to AFC champ Indianapolis for Sunday Night Football on Nov. 28.

After back-to-back home games with Oakland and Kansas City, the Chargers play Thursday Night Football at home against San Francisco (three days after the K.C. game). The Chargers finish the regular season with a Sunday Night Football meeting at Cincinnati on Dec. 26, and a visit to Denver on Jan. 2.

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There is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the San Diego Chargers in 2010. The schedule is one of them.

The defending AFC West champions, winners of 13 games last season, face one of the National Football League’s easiest slates in their pursuit of another postseason trip this season. The NFL has released its list of home games and road games; times and dates of games will be determined later this spring.

San Diego’s schedule ranked tied for 29th with Seattle for most difficult, based on opponents’ win percentage from last season.

At home, the Chargers’ only games against playoff teams are matchups with AFC East champion New England and NFC West champion Arizona. The rest of San Diego’s home schedule includes games with Kansas City, Oakland, Jacksonville, and three games against 8-8 teams from a year ago: Denver, Tennessee and San Francisco.

On the road, San Diego travels for a big game at AFC champion Indianapolis, and a matchup at AFC North champion Cincinnati. The rest of the road slate includes games at Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, Houston, St. Louis and Seattle.

San Diego’s schedule ranks tied for 29th (with Seattle) in the NFL, based on opponents’ win percentage from last season.

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