One of the NFL?s oldest rivalries will meet for the 94th time on Monday, Sept. 11 when the San Diego Chargers descend upon the ?Black Hole? to face their arch rival, the Oakland Raiders. The nationally-televised ESPN Monday Night Football showdown kicks off at 7:15 PST and is the second of two Monday Night games that opens the league?s first regularly-scheduled Monday Night Football doubleheader. The first game will feature the Minnesota Vikings at the Washington Redskins. ?I love it,? said Dean Spanos, Chargers? President and CEO. ?What a way to open the season ? in prime time against the Raiders. I know both the team and the fans will be up for that game and ready for the challenge.?

San Diego Chargers restricted free agent guard Kris Dielman today signed the one-year contract tendered by the team earlier this month. The 6-4, 310-pound Dielman played in all 16 games and started the last 14 at left guard in 2005. His consistent play on the line helped the Chargers rush for 2,072 yards as a team last season. Dielman came to the Chargers as an undrafted free agent defensive lineman out of Indiana University in 2003 and has become one of the team?s strongest offensive linemen.

The Chargers have signed free agent safety Marlon McCree to a five-year contract. He is a versatile defender who can play both strong and free safety. The 5-11, 202-pound McCree is entering his sixth NFL season. In 2005, he was the second-leading tackler as the starting strong safety on a Carolina Panthers squad that finished the regular season 11-5 and advanced to the NFC Championship game.

Drew Brees is headed to New Orleans this morning to discuss with the Saints the possibility he could become their quarterback. The Miami Dolphins are to host Brees tomorrow should he leave New Orleans not a Saint. ?I expect to continue with a couple more teams after that,? agent Tom Condon said.

Drew Brees believes he has exhausted every option in his effort to remain a Charger. He still wants to stay and lead what he considers to be his team to a Super Bowl title. But he is resigned to catching a plane and playing elsewhere and, in fact, believes that is what will happen. ?Tom (Condon) and I have been moving full steam ahead trying to evaluate what other options there could potentially be,? Brees said yesterday, referring to the preparations he and his agent have made in anticipation of the free-agency period that is to begin tonight. ?I'm just waiting to see what free agency has in store for me.? Amid escalating rumors that the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins are keenly interested in making Brees their quarterback, Brees said only that he expects to sign somewhere soon. ?This thing isn't going to drag on any longer,? he said. ?This thing is going to happen fast.?