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Defensive end Luis Castillo has agreed to a five-year contract extension through 2014 from the Chargers. The deal is valued at more than $43 million, according to an Associated Press report.
Castillo is scheduled to receive a guaranteed $17.5 million in signing and roster bonuses.
Castillo's contract had been due to expire after the 2009 season.
"Since his arrival, Luis has played a huge role in the success we've had as a defense," general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement. "He's an ascending player who is committed to getting better."
Castillo was the second of the Chargers' two first-round draft picks in 2005. He has 13 sacks in 36 career games, including 33 starts.

NFL standout Nick Barnett, a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, is returning to his roots.

Barnett will appear at his alma mater, Fontana Miller High, for a meet-and-greet tonight at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. He will be the first name inducted into the school's ring of honor.

The event is open to the public.

"He really wants to come back and reconnect with our community," Miller coach Jeff Steinberg said.

Born in Fontana, Barnett was a three-year letter winner at Miller and graduated in 1999.

He ranked fifth in the NFL last season with 131 tackles for a Packer team that won the NFC North Division and went to the NFC Championship game.

Barnett, 27, has started every game he has played since joining the Packers in 2003, averaging 121.8 tackles per season.

--Gerald Tang
gtang@PE.com

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sent the following letter today to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino making a friendly wager on the
outcome of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals series:

Dear Mayor Menino:

Tonight is truly an historic night. It is hard to believe that it has been twenty one -- long -- years since the last time the Lakers beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Tonight we renew this great American tradition.

The only thing harder to believe is that it's been more than two decades since the great Boston Celtics have tasted the sweet victory of an NBA Championship. The year was 1986. Hair was big. Shorts were short. And Michael Dukakis was preparing his historic run for president.

I truly expected our great rivalry of the 1980s to carry into the 1990s - particularly as the Lakers and Celtics continued to assemble a pantheon of NBA legends: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Fisher, Phil Jackson, Pervis Ellison, Bryant Stith, Vitaly Potapenko and Rick Pitino.

So to commemorate this historic event, I say we scrap the tired tradition of wagering regional trinkets or cuisine - and go big.

Let's really put it on the line: jobs, tradition, pride.

So here's my proposal:

>> Continue reading: Football teams at stake for Lakers-Celtics

There are only 22 hours until the Lakers and Celtics meet in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Let's go back in time to 1987 when the two teams last played in the Finals.

Do you recall which movies struck gold at the box office that year?

1. 3 Men and a Baby.
2. Fatal Attaction.
3. Beverly Hills Cop II.
4. Good Morning, Vietnam.
5. Moonstruck.

--Dave Ammenheuser
dammenheuser@pe.com

Staff writer Jerry Soifer caught up with former Norco High football player Casey Hansen, who recently signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here's Jerry's report:

>> Continue reading: Norco's Hansen has 'dream come true'

Former Norco quarterback Casey Hansen impressed the Philadelphia Eagles so much at last weekend's mini-camp that they signed him to a three-year deal.

Hansen went from Norco to Colorado State to Chaffey College before finishing his career as the No. 2 all-time passer at Norfolk State.

Read more about Hansen.,

We didn't get a lot in print over the weekend on Darren McFaden's first run at the Raiders rookie minicamp over the weekend.

Here's the entire feature story that moved from the Associated Press.

>> Continue reading: McFadden begins life with the Raiders

Philip Rivers played last January's AFC Championship game in New England with a damaged right knee, one which required surgery two days after that game to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament.

He participated in Friday's first session of the Chargers' mini-camp, when the offense ran plays with no opposition. He will sit out any competitive drills, however, to avoid the risk that someone might fall on him and create a setback.

"It feels pretty good," Rivers said. "It's been a good rehab, a good couple of months. I've made a lot of progress. It's still a little sore, and it's got a ways to go until it's fully ready, but we have a couple months left so I'm in good shape.

>> Continue reading: From Chargers' mini-camp, a mini-conversation with ... Philip Rivers

The Chargers began their three-day mini-camp this morning, and rookie running back Jacob Hester found himself being steered to the correct spot by LaDainian Tomlinson during a couple of drills.

"It was fast, fast-paced," said Hester, the team's third-round draft choice from LSU. "You don't have a lot of chance to grasp it and learn it. You've got to learn on the run. Luckily, the verterans kind of helped me out there.

"It's different. Everybody always says it's a step up in tempo and speed, and they're right. Even playing in the best league in college didn't compare to this, because this is the best of the best. It's definitely a high tempo and something you've got to get used to."

LT is impressed already.

"I watched him a bunch in college, so I'm pretty familiar with what he's able to do on the football field," Tomlinson said. "It seems like he's a guy who really wants to learn what's going on, and I think he's going to help us in a lot of different ways."

Here's a look at what the Chargers got when A.J. Smith traded up to grab Hester:

>> Continue reading: Chargers' Hester learning on the fly

Here's a release from the Chargers:

The Chargers made a move to bolster their offensive line Tuesday as they agreed to terms with tackle L.J. Shelton on a two-year deal.

"We had the opportunity to add an experienced, good player to the mix at offensive tackle," General Manager A.J. Smith said. "L.J. has played both left and right tackle during his career. We were thin at the position and we were determined to find a talented player. We believe we've addressed the need with L.J. Shelton."

Shelton, 6-6, 345, who enters his 10th NFL season in 2008, brings a wealth of experience and versatility to San Diego. He's played in 130 games and started 125 during his career. In 2007 with the Miami Dolphins, he started all 16 games at right tackle. A year earlier, he started five games at left tackle before moving inside to right guard for the final 11 games.

Prior to joining the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in 2006, Shelton spent the 2005 season with the Cleveland Browns. He started all 16 games at left tackle that year. Shelton spent the first six seasons of his career in Arizona, where he was the club's starting left tackle for five of them. Shelton, an All-Mac performer at Eastern Michigan, was selected by the Cardinals in the first round (21st overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.

Here's the complete list of rookie free agents expected to participate in this weekend's mini camp:

>> Continue reading: Chargers fill need along the line

Hawaii receiver Ryan Grice-Mullins (aka Grice-Mullen), a product of Rialto High, is headed to the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent.

Grice-Mullins, who led Hawaii with 1,372 receiving yards, signed a two-year deal with the Texans, according to internet reports.

Grice-Mullins, a three-year starter who had a year of eligibility remaining, told the Honolulu Advertiser he had "no regrets. I made the right decision. You never know with the draft. It's all over, and now I'm ready to go on the field and do what I do."

Grice-Mullins told the paper he does not mind going the free-agent route.

"When we all came to Hawaii, nobody knew us," he said. "We had to prove ourselves, and make a name for ourselves. We don't stop now. We can't shy away from competing. We know nothing is handed to you -- from high school to college to this. It's just another thing."

Damon Morton, a receiver and kick returner from Riverside North High and Colorado State is headed to the NFL's Carolina Panthers according to the Charlotte Observer.

Morton (5-foot-10, 176 pounds) signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent.

Morton told the Loveland (Colorado) ReporterHerald that Carolina was the only team to offer him a deal, though he had talked to others.

"In free agency, beggars can't be choosers, so I'm just going to go out there and make the most of my opportunity," Morton said. "It's a good program, so you can't go wrong."

Jason Shirley, a defensive tackle from Fontana and Fresno State, was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the NFL draft.

Shirley, who attended Miller High before graduating from Kaiser High, was the 145th overall selection in the two-day, 252-player process.

At 6-foot5, 329 pounds, Shirley fills a need for the Bengals on their interior defensive line. Cincinnati had hoped to get Chino and USC's Sedrick Ellis with the No. 9 overall pick but Ellis went two spots earlier and the Bengals opted to fill other needs with their earlier selections. Shirley is the second defensive tackle heading to Cincinnati, joining Auburn's Patrick Sims, who was a third-round pick earlier Sunday.

Check out Shirley's NFL.com bio.

(check back for more updates)

*** Cleveland came into the weekend without a pick until No. 122 of the fourth round. But the Browns traded twice with Dallas to get picks earlier in the fourth. With No. 104, the Browns took UNLV inside linebacker Beau Bell. With No. 111, Cleveland landed pass-catching tight end Martin Rucker from Missouri. Rucker cost the Browns a third-rounder next year. ...

*** San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell was a third-round selection (No. 94) of the New England Patriots.

*** The eighth USC player went off the board when Minnesota selected quarterback John David Booty at the top of the fifth round. Booty was pick 137 overall. Vikings coach Brad Childress, speaking on ESPN, said of watching Booty on tape: "You get to see him make a lot of throws that we have in our offense." ...

*** The Chargers, at 166, took Boston College corner DeJuan Tribble.

*** Linebacker Thomas Williams became the ninth USC Trojan selected when he was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 155th pick of the fifth round.

*** UCLA had its second player taken when receiver Matt Slater went to New England at No. 153 of the fifth round. Slater is expected to make an impact as a special teams player as a gunner in coverage and returnman.

*** Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, whose path to the Heisman Trophy and a potential appearance in the BCS title game was ended by a knee injury, was taken by Pittsburgh with the 156th pick in the fifth round.

The Dallas opened the fourth round the same way the same way Miami opened the third, trading out of the pick. The Raiders moved up from 104 to the Cowboys' spot at 100 to take UConn defensive back Tyvon Branch. It should be no surprise to anyone who follows the trends of Raiders owner Al Davis that Branch (drum roll, please) was the fastest defensive back at the NFL scouting combine. Branch is just under 6-feet and weighs 204 pounds. He ran the 40 in 4.31 seconds. He can play corner or free safety.

Check out his NFL.com bio.

The Raiders followed the selection of Branch by trading veteran CB Fabian Washington, a former first-round pick, to Baltimore. The Raiders got No. 125 in the fourth round for Washington. Last year the Raiders dealt receiver Randy Moss to New England for a fourth round choice. 

Oakland used the pick on Richmond receiver Arman Shields (6-0, 194, 4.44 40-yard dash). Shields had over 100 catches between his sophomore and junior seasons but was hurt much of last season. ...

Day 2 of the NFL draft is underway at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.In keeping with the trend set Saturday, the first pick of the day was traded (the 13th deal of the draft) as Detroit and Miami swapped picks and the Lions moving up to the top of Round 3 to take Central Florida running back Kevin Smith at 64. ...

Five picks later, the Chargers moved up from 160 to the Patriots' spot at 69 to take LSU running back Jacob Hester. The Chargers gave up their second-round choice in the 2009 draft and their pick at 160 to take Hester, a hard-nosed hybrid running back. Is he a fullback? Is he a halfback? Is he an H-back? Is he a special teams player? What he'll say is he's simply a football player. And that versatility will give him an opportunity to get on the field immediately for the Bolts. Is landing Hester worth next year's No. 2? Is he the player fans had hoped the team would bring in to replace the departed Michael Turner and provide insurance for LT? Probably not.

Check out his NFL.com bio. ...

The Raiders don't pick until 104 ... The Browns won't make their first pick until 122.

*** At 10 minutes per team, the first round was unofficially 3 hours, 33 minutes
*** Four USC players went in the first round (Sedrick Ellis, Keith Rivers, Sam Baker and Lawrence Jackson), the most of any school. The Trojans had as many players go in the first round as the entire 11-team Big Ten -- four each. (USC had five of the first 39 and six of the first 48.)
*** There were 10 trades involving picks in the first round and another trade involving a veteran player (Lorenzo Booker going from Miami to Philadelphia) and a later-round pick. Making it difficult to keep up with who was on the board next. It's going to take some time to get caught up on all the changes in the order heading into Sunday's rounds 3-7.
*** The Carolina Panthers traded away their first round pick in 2009.
*** Eight offensive linemen were selected in the first round, seven tackles (Rialto's Ryan Clady went No. 12 overall to Denver)
*** Seven defensive linemen were selected in the first round, including three tackles (Chino's Sedrick Ellis went No. 7 overall to New Orleans)
*** No receivers were selected in the first round for the first time since 1990 and none were selected until the 33rd pick, the second pick of the second round (Houston's Donnie Avery and Michigan State's Devin Thomas went in picks 2 and 3 of the second round as a run on receivers included choices at 36, 41, 42, and 46). While receiver was considered a deep position in the draft it is also considered one of the weakest in terms of top-end talent. In the end, more receivers are likely to be selected than any other position except defensive back.
*** Five running backs went in the first round including three in a row at 22 (Felix Jones to Dallas), 23 (Rashard Mendenall to Pittsburgh) and 24 (Chris Johnson to Tennessee)
*** Six defensive backs were selected in the first round, including one safety.
*** Delaware's Joe Flacco was the only other QB selected in the first round other than Boston College's Matt Ryan. With a chance to match Jake Long with his college quarterback Chad Henne at the top of the second round, Miami ... took defensive end Phillip Merling.
Second round notes
*** ... and with the 57th selection in the draft, Miami's second of the second round, the Dolphins pull the trigger on the Michigan matchup, taking Henne.
*** Jim Zorn, the new head coach in Washington, is bringing in the West Coast offense. Zorn moved quickly to stock that offense, adding receivers Devin Thomas (M ichigan Statte) and Malcom Kelly (Oklahoma) and tight end Fred Davis (USC) with second-round picks. Thomas had 79 catches for 1,260 yards last season for the Spartans. Davis, the Mackey Award winner, had 62 catches, averaging 14.2 yards per catch for the Trojans. Kelly had 49 catches and a 16.8-yard average for the Sooners.
*** When the Colts finally got around to making their first and only pick of Day 1 at No. 59 they pulled a jaw-dropper with Arizona State's Mike Pollak, a center. The Colts have perennial Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday and would have been better served filling needs along the defensive line. The Colts do have eight selections heading into Day 2.
*** No receivers were taken in the first round but 10 went in the second round, the most of any position in the round. There were 12 defensive lineman and 12 defensive backs taken in the first two rounds followed by receivers (10), offensive linemen (10) and running backs (7).
*** With Terrell Thomas (Alta Loma/Rancho Cucamonga HS) going to the Super Bowl champion New York Giants with the 63rd pick, the last pick of the first day, USC ended up with seven first-day selections.
*** The first two rounds were executed in 5 hours, 53 minutes. That, the NFL Network's Rich Eisen excitedly pointed out, was 15 minutes shorter than last year's first round.
*** The Packers could have taken quarterback Brian Brohm (Louisville) at No. 30 of the first round but traded out of that spot and found him still available with their pick at 56.
*** There were 12 Day 1 trades.
*** Expect a run on linebackers early tomorrow with the likes of Dan Connor (Penn State), Tavares Gooden (Miami), Xavier Adibi (Virginia Tech) and Cliff Avril (Purdue) still on the board.
*** Round 3 begins at 7 a.m. Don't forget to set the timer on your coffee maker.

The Chargers used the 27th pick of the first round of the draft to select Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason, the Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back.

Cason will immediately battle for playing time at nickel replacing Drayton Florence, who left via free agency. He also can return punts.

Cason is 6 foot, 1/4 inch and 187 pounds. He clocked 4.46 in the 40-yard dash.

Check out his NFL Network bio.

Rialto's Ryan Clady was the No. 12 overall selection in today's NFL Draft and is headed to the Denver Broncos.

Clady, who played defensive line at Eisenhower High School, developed into one of the nation's best offensive tackles in his three seasons at Boise State.

Clady, who left BSU after his junior season, is the second overall offensive tackle selected in the draft and fills a need for the Broncos who are looking to replenish their offensive line following the retirment of tackle Matt Lepsis. Clady is an upgrade to a line that allowed 32 sacks of quarterback Jay Cutler last season.

(check back throughout the day for Day 1 draft updates)

1. Miami ... Jake Long (T, Michigan, 6-7, 315).
Comment: Does he start at left tackle or on the right, like rookie Joe Thomas did last year in Cleveland. After a year on the right side, Thomas is expected to move over to the left side this season. Is that the scenario awaiting Long? ... Dolphins are next at 32.
2. St. Louis .... Chris Long (DE, Virginia, 6-4, 275).
Comment: The Rams took the almost the entire 10 minutes to make their pick and contemplate trading down with Baltimore. Ultimately, the picked the pass rusher they needed in the son of former Raiders Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long. ... Rams next at 33.
3. Atlanta ... Matt Ryan (QB, Boston College, 6-5, 228).
Comment: The Falcons go with the quarterback instead of defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who is officially in freefall. Atlanta has 10 picks left to fill their many other needs. The Ravens failed to land the player all reports indicated they really wanted. Now what for new coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens? ... Falcons next at 34.
4. Oakland ... Darren McFadden (RB, Arkansas, 6-2, 210).
Comment: Needs along the offensive and defensive lines to the wayside, Al Davis takes the consensus No. 1 player in the draft. McFadden should immediately excell behind the Raiders zone blocking scheme that produced consistently strong running games last seasonl. McFadden joins quarterback JaMarcus Russell, last season's No. 1 overall pick, in a Southeast Conference all-star backfield. The Raiders now must wait 100 selections before they pick again. ... Raiders next at 104.

5. Kansas City .... Glenn Dorsey (DT, LSU, 6-1, 299).
Comment: With 13 picks, the Chiefs could have gone a number of directions here, including to trade down for further picks. As it turns out, in keeping with tradition of the draft, trade hype is only that. All the talk about the Rams, Falcons, Raiders, Saints, Ravens and Chiefs making deals was just that -- talk. ... One pick after the Raiders improved their running game, AFC West Division rival Kansas City countered with a run stopper. Oh, the drama. ... Chiefs are next at 17.
6. New York Jets ... Vernon Gholston (DE, Ohio State, 6-3, 266).
Comment: When Gholston went one-on-one with Jake Long in the traditional Ohio State-Michigan game, it was Gholston getting the best of Long. Those two figure to have plenty of battles for years to come in the AFC East Division. ... Jets next at 36.
7. New Orleans (Saints traded with New England for this spot) ... Sedrick Ellis (DT, USC, 6-1, 310).
Comment: New Orleans couldn't get LSU's Dorsey so they jump up after the next best defensive tackle in the draft in the USC senior from Chino.
8. Jacksonville (Jaguars traded with Baltimore for this spot) ...  Derrick Harvey (DE, Florida, 6-5, 252).
Comment: One of the best teams in the NFL just got better and traded two thrid round picks and a fourth rounder to Baltimore in order to move up to No. 8. Harvey gives them the pass rusher off the edge they really needed to challenge the Indianapolis Colts in the division.
9. Cincinnati Bengals ... Keith Rivers (LB, USC, 6-3, 235).
Comment: Pre-draft talk had the Bengals landing USC teammate Sedrick Ellis. With Ellis gone to New Orleans at No. 7, the Bengals go away from an immediate need for a versatile player who should excell going forward and in pass coverage. ... Bengals next at 46.
10. New England (acquired from New Orleans) ... Jerod Mayo (LB, Tennessee, 6-1 1/2, 237).
Comment: This is what's great about mock drafts. Show me a draft that had the Patriots taking Mayo in the top 10? Show me a mock that had Mayo going anywhere in the top 10? What do we know when going head-up against the braintrust of the New England Patriots?

>> Continue reading: NFL Draft, Round 1 update