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With the Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50, the offseason is officially underway. The San Diego Chargers have 50-1 odds to win next year’s Super Bowl. Only the 49ers (60-1) and Browns (200-1) have longer odds. ESPN's panel of experts weighed in with our way-too-early NFL power rankings. The Chargers are No. 27 on the list. My take: San Diego can take some solace in the fact that the Chargers pushed the Super Bowl champs in a 27-20 loss on the road in the final week of the regular season. So maybe general manager Tom Telesco is right, and the Chargers are closer to turning things around than many NFL observers think. * Dan McSwain of The San Diego Union-Tribune presents the argument for the Chargers pursuing a stadium downtown -- building a stadium/convention center expansion would cost less for taxpayers than doing both separately. My take: The projected savings do not include likely cost overruns, but from the team’s perspective it would be an easier sell to the public because of the use of hotel taxes as a potential funding source for the project.  * Darren Smith of The Mighty 1090 AM radio interviewed Chargers running back Melvin Gordon -- click here to listen. Gordon said he’s recovering from surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee and expects better production in his second season. Gordon also said he talked briefly with new offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and looks forward to working with him.
My take: Skill players in the NFL generally take a leap in production from Year 1 to Year 2, and Gordon should do the same if he comes back healthy from knee surgery. * Ricky Henne of Chargers.com writes that new tight ends coach John McNulty aims to continue the team’s legacy at the position. My take: That likely starts with the Chargers bringing back Antonio Gates in free agency.
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