News for December 25

Tim Dwight has also been inspired by the Christmas spirit. Fresh off a frustrating punctured lung that has shortened his season, Dwight decided to not let the injury get him down. Instead, he took the time to donate a computer to the new Monarch School Project.

Dwight heard of the new high school for homeless children, and decided he would like to provide the computer to help keep the children off the streets. The students of Monarch School are young people who must surmount tremendous obstacles daily just to survive. They chose to enroll themselves in school, and most often arrive by themselves, because they see a tiny glimmer of hope buried under years of despair. The children know that education is their way out of homelessness and are willing to work hard to achieve a life that others take for granted. Dwight’s contribution provided a huge step toward helping the children reach their dreams.

News for December 13

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News for September 18

“It just makes you feel appreciative of being alive and being in this country. A lot of guys were emotionally drained at the end of last week. We had the weekend to be with our families and talk to everybody on the phone. Coming back here as a family as a team today was important.

“It’s going to be pretty emotional on Sunday, especially when the National Anthem goes on. Guys are really going to realize how important life is and how precious it can be. I think we have more of a pride and a sense of what it is to be an American and live in America and more of an appreciation of our country and how free it is.”

News for September 10

News for August 11

Dwight debuted in San Diego's pre-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers and made an immediate impact.

During the first quarter of the game, Dwight lined up split right and took a reverse 27 yards, with quarterback Doug Flutie leading the way as a blocker. Dwight also caught a pass on the opening drive of the game on a third down to keep the drive alive.

In the second quarter, Flutie threw a pass near the sideline which Dwight caught, making a spectacular full-extension diving catch. At first officials ruled the pass incomplete, but after further review, awarded the 21-yard catch to Dwight.

The Chargers next play at Miami on Saturday, August 18. I'm going to be in Miami during that time, and am going to try to find tickets to the game. I will try to update the site while I'm away, but if I don't, you can be sure that I'll do it when I return to Iowa.

News for August 7

DWIGHT TAKING THINGS TO EXTREME

For Tim Dwight, life is one continually broadcast episode of the X Games.

He wakeboards, snowboards, bungee-jumps, jet-skis. He rides motorcycles and plunges down treacherous whitewater rapids. He wants to try hang-gliding and surfing, when time allows.

Most extreme of all, he returns kicks, the NFL equivalent of pinball.

"One of the best parts of the game is the special teams," said Dwight, who came to the Chargers in the trade that sent the top overall draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons. "That's a time where everything's 100 miles an hour, everything's going. I kind of miss that, because I used to be a running back in high school, and that was the way I ran the ball, just hit (the hole)."

Playing at warp speed and performing acts of derring-do, it's the only way Dwight knows. Through three years in the league, this hell-bent style had pigeonholed him as something of a novelty act ---- the little guy (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) with a big heart, the wind-up toy that may or may not have a loose screw rattling around the cranium.

Well, Dwight might still be a bit off-center, but he's finally broadening his schtick. Seizing on an opening at the receiver position, with Curtis Conway nursing a groin injury and Jeff Graham grappling with personal grief (he attended the funeral of close friend Korey Stringer over the weekend), Dwight has emerged as an offensive standout and fan favorite through two weeks of training camp.

This from a player who didn't so much as run a route between December and July while recovering from knee surgery.

"I think anyone that's been around camp and seen Tim flying around knows the ability he has," quarterback Doug Flutie said. "He's been making plays left and right all week long. It seems like he can just run forever and keep going and not get tired.

"Boy, he caught a ball the other day on an underneath route, made a spin move, started upfield and then did a 360 and bounced outside. It was the quickest feet I've ever seen."

It isn't just Dwight's feet that are turning heads, either. He has consistently displayed the stickiest hands on the roster, catching everything thrown his way, and with textbook technique to boot.

"He's great at catching the ball with his hands instead of his body," receivers coach Mike Sanford said. "He's not just a fast guy out there running around. We knew we were getting a good player, but he's better than we expected. The way we look at it is that right now we have three starters (along with Conway and Graham)."

Dwight has wisely used his expanded role as an in toward building a relationship with Flutie. The two are not only developing synchronicity on the field, but can frequently be seen laughing and joking off it.

"I think it's crucial as a wide receiver to always get into your quarterback's head, to see what he's like, to see what he can handle joking around, to see what he can handle being serious," Dwight explained. "I want to know what he's thinking all the time because then I can get open or do something to get the other wide receivers open."

Though Dwight has gradually acquired the strut inherent in all good receivers, he won't abandon the dirty work of special-teams duty. He will serve as the Chargers' primary punt returner and combine with second-year kickoff returner Ronney Jenkins to form a potent duo.

Just no more running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Dwight has mastered something that sounds like an oxymoron: restrained recklessness.

"I don't think I'm as reckless as I used to be in college ---- I do things a lot smarter," he said. "But I'm not really scared of anybody. I mean, you're going to get hit in football ---- that's just the way it is. And that's something I always tell people, that hey, it's a physical game, and you have to be just as physical.

"And when you're my size you have to be a little bit more."

News for August 3

When new GM John Butler acquired Tim Dwight as part of the trade that gave Atlanta the No. 1 pick in the draft, many people were talking of Dwight more of a return man than receiver. There's no doubt he will be returning punts and kickoffs, but Dwight has solidified himself as the No. 3 wide receiver behind Curtis Conway and Jeff Graham.

Dwight, has had a terrific camp thus far, catching everything and getting open short and deep. He isn't very big (5-9, 180), but seems to do everything in a hurry and appears to be every bit the hard worker he was talked up to be. When Conway and Dwight are on the field at the same time, there aren't many teams that can boast more pure speed on the outside. It appears Butler got more than he bargained for in that deal.

News for July 20

Chargers.com: How is your health?

Tim Dwight: “My health is great. I am in good shape right now, not great shape. Dr. (David) Chao has helped me tremendously over the last few months getting into shape for the season. My knee feels good. I’ve been running to get into good shape, but not great shape. I feel after being in the league for four years it is better to be in good shape coming into camp rather than great shape. I have had a tendency to peak too early.”

Chargers.com: Has anything changed about your offseason approach?

Tim Dwight: “Well, during the offseason I continued to run track. When I found out that I had been traded to San Diego I was running track in the Mt. Sac Relays. Along with attending track meets, I have taken up yoga during the off-season to help with my flexibility and concentration. Yoga is something that I find a lot more players doing to improve during the off-season.”

Chargers.com: What are your first impressions of the Chargers?

Tim Dwight: “My initial impression so far has been that this is a team that is serous about winning and bringing a championship back to San Diego. I am excited to play for Coach Riley because he is such a positive, upbeat kind of coach and he wants you to do well. So I am looking forward to a change in attitude and hopefully many victories in San Diego.”

Chargers.com: What are your goals for the season, both for the team and personally?

Tim Dwight: “For the team, all I want is to win and get rings because that is what it is all about. I don’t care if we win 9-7 or 31-0. A win is a win. When I see Doug Flutie in the huddle, I think this is a guy who is an unbelievable competitor. I know even if we are down 31-20 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter Doug will find a way to make plays like he always has and lead us to victory.”

“On the other side, I see Junior Seau with his intensity and fire. He makes me want to crank it up a few notches and strive to win because I know he is the kind of person that lays it all out on the line to win. I’m excited to have him as a teammate.”

“As for my personal goals, I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win whether it’s on punt return or kick return. I want to help the team win. If I can be the third go-to-guy behind Curtis (Conway) and (Jeff) Graham, I’m cool with that. Those guys are great, and I don’t feel I need to have a set number of receptions to help contribute. I feel there are a few ways I can make a contribution.”

Chargers.com: Describe your feelings about the positive public reaction, especially from women, about the photo in ESPN the Magazine? (Dwight is pictured in a story about shaving his entire body.)

Tim Dwight: “I was thinking of all of the hoopla surrounding my photo shoot and doing it fully shaved. It has amazed me. I feel it is just fun stuff. I want to be able to look back with grandkids and say this was your granddaddy in ESPN the Magazine. I don’t really feel popular even if I was popular to begin with, but if popularity comes with winning, then I hope my teammates and I are the most popular guys in the league at the end of the season.”

News for June 7

News for May 9

The Chargers insisted on Falcons return ace Tim Dwight in the draft-day deal that sent Vick to Atlanta. But Dwight could not participate in the team's mini-camp over the weekend because he surprisingly needed surgery to fix a ruptured bursa in his knee.

San Diego is not crying foul because Dwight revealed that the injury was sustained in his offseason track-and-field endeavors. He should be able to get on the playing field next month.

Note from Webmaster:This more than likely explains why Tim didn't run at the Drake Relays, for those of you still wondering.

News for April 29

News for April 21

Tim Dwight’s opening statement: “I was on vacation, out here hanging out with my agent in La Jolla. We were having lunch this afternoon when we got the call and my mind’s been rumbling ever since and we’ve been on the phone constantly. My mom was a little angered, but now she’s really happy because she’s got a great place to come out to visit. I’m very excited. I didn’t know what to think at first. In this business you just never know what’s going to happen. It’s something you always hear about, but it never happens to you. It happened to me today and I’m glad. San Diego was always a place I wanted to end my career because l love it out here, how the city is, the weather and this team. I know they’ve done some great things in the past, they’ve got a great tradition to be around. I haven’t really looked at the depth chart and the guys on the squad, because we don’t really play them all that much, but hopefully it’s an opportunity for me to fit and I feel like I’m part of this team now. I’ve got to come back here in a week and find out what the routes are all about and how the team’s going to accept me. I feel like I’m a little green right now, even though I’m going into my fourth year.i

On how you heard about the trade: “You know it’s kind of funny. My old man called me this week and there’s a person that runs a website called Tim Dwight on-line. He called me and asked if I was being traded to San Diego. I was line ‘no, not that I know of.’ So I called Jack and we were at his place so we jumped on the internet and there’s a picture of me and a picture of Vick and they were saying how these trades were going to happen. Well then today we get the call this morning and then he (my agent) tells me at lunch. I looked at him and I’m like ‘Are you kidding me?’ Ten minutes after we sat down it was a reality.”

On whether you view yourself as more than a specialist: “My second year in Atlanta we picked up a wide receiver and he got an ankle injury and I came in and started eight games. I made some plays and I really enjoyed that. We re-signed Shawn Jefferson last year and I got put back in the third receiver spot and we kind of struggled last year in Atlanta. I didn’t get to play all that much, but I think of myself as more than just a specialist. I’d like to come in and catch a lot of footballs and score points. I think that if I get the ball in my hands a few times I can score and make things happen. Going into my fourth and fifth year and even later on I’m just going to get better as a wide receiver.”

On playing on grass in San Diego: “I think when you’re playing on grass it’s better for you and I’m really happy. I see a lot of guys when I was playing in Atlanta who had aches and pains, burns all the time. That’s something I’m looking forward to. I know we’ve got at least eight games at home and I think I’m as good on both. In the Super Bowl we played on grass and I made plays in that game. We practiced on grass out in Atlanta and I don’t think it really matters on what surface I play. I enjoy playing on both, but I definitely like the grass.”

On being part of a trade for the No. 1 pick in the Draft: “You definitely want to hold up to your end of the bargain. I’m sure there’s a couple of guys that got picked around that it happened to and got labeled and stuck in a change in the picks. That’s something I thought about for about two seconds on the way here, but now you just go and play football. This is a professional job you have, it’s what you do best. If they put you in a position to make plays, then you make plays. I’m really not worried about that. I’m worried about the No. 5 pick, he might have a little pressure on him. I’ve played in this league for three years, I know how it operates and I’m really excited just to be playing out here.”

News for April 20

The Atlanta Falcons announced today that they have acquired the first pick in the 2001 draft in a trade with the San Diego Chargers. In exchange for the Chargers first pick, the Falcons gave San Diego their first round pick in the 2001 draft (5th pick overall), their third pick in the 2001 draft (67th pick overall), their second round draft choice in the 2002 draft and WR Tim Dwight.

Dwight, heading into his fourth NFL season, was a restricted free agent who was signed by the Falcons today prior to the trade. Terms of the contract were not announced by the team.

I will continue to follow Tim Dwight's career on this site, even though he was just traded from my favorite NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons. Also, I am from Iowa, and am a huge Iowa Hawkeyes fan. This is bittersweet for me, since this is the first time Dwight will be competing for a team that I do not follow. I guess I will have to follow the Chargers more now.

I will be changing this page to accomodate the Chargers' colors of blue and gold. Keep checking back for further updates...

News for April 18

News for April 13

News for April 5

News for March 3

News for February 21

"A lot of people expect a lot of things from me," said Dwight, who said Sunday he will run in a 200 dash at the 2001 Drake Relays. "When I'm not ready to give that, I'm getting to a point in my career where I understand I have to be at the top when people expect me to be at the top."