Westminster native starred for Chargers in '06
By Sean Sweeney Journal Correspondent

Westminster native Jacques Cesaire tackles Cleveland Browns' quarterback Charlie Frye during a game on Nov. 5, 2006. Courtesy Photo

The New England Patriots' 24-21 victory in the Divisional Playoff on Sunday, Jan. 14, not only eliminated the top-seeded San Diego Chargers from Super Bowl competition, it also ended the season for Westminster native Jacques Cesaire.

In all actuality, the defensive lineman's season was ended during the final regular season game, as Cesaire was chop blocked by an offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Dec. 31. Prior to the injury, Cesaire had posted career-highs in tackles (47) and sacks (four), as well as extended his consecutive games played streak to 52.

"The old joke at Gardner High was that I had basketball legs," Cesaire said with a laugh during a telephone interview on Monday, Jan. 15. "I'm top heavy and most of my weightlifting was for my upper body. I guess the joke is on me."

Cesaire was listed as questionable on the Chargers' injury report for last Thursday and Friday after originally being listed as doubtful for the game against the Patriots. He was not in uniform, but was spotted on the sidelines during the game in a Chargers sweatshirt.

"Realistically, they knew I wasn't going to play," he said. "They wanted to see how I was going to do in rehab."

He said there weren't any mixed emotions as the Patriots came to Qualcomm Stadium, as those had been burned out of him when the Chargers visited Gillette Stadium in 2005.

"The Chargers were the team to give me a chance to play in the NFL," he said. "Last season we played there and God blessed me with the opportunity to play in front of my family and friends. This time around, it was in the playoffs. It was emotional for me not to play."

Following the Patriots victory, television cameras had shown NFLMost Valuable Player LaDanian Tomlinson, a running back for the Chargers, confronting several Patriot players as they danced on the Chargers' logo at the 50- yard line. Cesaire said he was "shocked" that the team would do that.

"The way (the Patriots) were acting after the game, doing the (Charger linebacker) Shawne Merriman dance … we had never said anything in the papers about the Patriots. We have the utmost respect for them. I was just surprised. There will be some hard-pressed feelings when we play them again," he said. "Honest to God, I'm rooting for Indianapolis (in the AFC Championship Game this Sunday)."

He added that in the week prior to the game, anonymous Patriot fans had repeatedly telephoned his mother and said, "Chargers suck" and "Patriots are going to the Super Bowl" before hanging up.

Cesaire grew up in Westminster and attended St. Bernard's in Fitchburg before transferring to Gardner via school choice for his last three years of high school, where he earned varsity letters in football, basketball and track.

"I have tons of memories from home," he said. "I talk to (former Gardner football coach Walt Dubzinski) before every game. One friend of mine, Kevin Branch, lives in Las Vegas and he comes to every home game. We talk about old times, beating Oakmont in football, and other memories that we have."

After high school, he went to Southern Connecticut State University before the Bolts picked him up as a free agent in 2003. He signed a five-year contract with the team last year, which would keep him in southern California until the end of the 2010 season. Cesaire said, "I just have to stay healthy."

Cesaire will have surgery to repair his injured knee within the next few weeks, and hopes to make a visit home in late February or early March, depending on his rehabilitation schedule.

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Sean Sweeney is a correspondent for The Community Journal and can be reached at (978) 827-3386. Ext. 10.