Antonio Gates out for opener...

[StarMan2112]

Just heard on ESPN radio that he will not play for the the next 2 preseason games and the opener against Dallas.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Not getting too excited, they still have the best RB in football.

 

[BlueStar22]

Not getting too excited, they still have the best RB in football.

I thougt we had the best RB in football. :laugh2:

 

[ndanger]

Sounds fishy to me.If they come to terms on a new contract say in the next few days, why would he not be ready to go by the opener?

 

[TheDuke]

my fantasy team is taking a huge hit with gates and cedric benson holding out.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Sounds fishy to me.If they come to terms on a new contract say in the next few days, why would he not be ready to go by the opener?

No, they have suspended him

 

[JDSmith]

What the hell are they thinking? Brees is going to look like the guy he was two years ago, and make our D look awfully good on opening day.

 

[StarMan2112]

Sounds fishy to me.If they come to terms on a new contract say in the next few days, why would he not be ready to go by the opener?

ESPN says they had a deadline of 12:30 today to sign or he will be suspended for the next 3 games after he does sign. So if he signed right now he will miss the next 3 games. The Chargers say the suspension is irrevocable.

 

[ndanger]

No, they have suspended him

I see.Makes sense.Can you un-suspend a player? Not trying to be a smart-@$$ just wondering.I guess San-Diego's takin' a hard line huh?

 

[bbgun]

SD will still be favored.

 

[Eskimo]

My guess is Gates will show up around week 8 or so - then the first 3 weeks he'll be inactive but get to play the last six games of the season and pickup his year of service. Then they can repeat this whole mess next offseason although San Diego will be forced to give him a first rounder tender (~$1.3 M or so).

 

[AdamJT13]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20050820-1444-gates.html


SAN DIEGO – All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates will report Sunday to the Chargers, his agent said Saturday afternoon.

After a morning of negotiations between agent Andre Colona and the team, the sides were no closer in agreement on the length or monetary details of a contract, and Gates missed the team's 12:30 p.m. deadline Saturday to report.

The team promptly issued a statement saying Gates would be placed on the Roster Exempt List when he reported, which the team says means he will miss the Sept. 11 season opener against Dallas.

According to the "NFL Management Handbook," however, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue could lift the exemption sooner than the usual three games.

"Antonio and I believe (the Chargers) backed themselves into a corner," Colona said. "No one said Antonio wasn't going to report. For them to impose the Roster Exemption and say he had to miss games, they didn't have to do that.

"Our interpretation is they could call the commissioner and request he lift the roster exemption. The big issue is if Antonio reports, is San Diego going to punish its fans and Antonio and his teammates by not requesting the commissioner lift the exemption."

 

[bbgun]

He better not interfere. This is not a "state of the game" issue.

 

[ndanger]

espn news is also reporting he will be in camp sunday