Chargers May Hold Gates from Season Opener VS Dallas

[BigDFan5]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3900960

Chargers give Gates ultimatum
Jay Glazer / FOXSports.com

The San Diego Chargers have made their move in the contract stalemate with All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates.

FOXSports.com has learned that the Chargers sent Gates a letter informing him that if he does not sign his tender (reported to be $380,000) by Saturday, he will be held out of both the season opener against Dallas in addition to the last two preseason games.

The letter also states that for every preseason and regular season game he misses after Saturday's game, he will be sat for an extra game. In other words, if Gates does not sign his tender until after the preseason, he will miss the first three games of the season, as the contract impasse between the two sides now hits another level. He will also not receive a game check for those games he is forced to sit.

For the games Gates is forced to miss, he will be held off the team's 53-man roster. Gates last year was named an All Pro and wants to be paid along the lines of Chiefs' perennial Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez. The Chargers have negotiated with Gates for a while, but when they could not get a deal done prior to camp, Gates boycotted training camp. Gates, who did not play college football, had a breakout year in 2004, making 81 catches for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns.

 

[playmakers]

Not looking from a selfish point of view, but SD has to pay this guy. Hes an amazing player. It baffles me how SD has all these contract problems.

 

[Nors]

Chargers | Gates Given an Ultimatum
Wed, 17 Aug 2005 16:39:16 -0700

Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports the San Diego Chargers have delivered an ultimatum to TE Antonio Gates. He must sign his tender, reported to be $380,000, by Saturday, Aug. 20, or he will be held out of both the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys in addition to the last two preseason games. The letter also states that for every preseason and regular season game he misses after Saturday's game, he will be sat for an extra game.

 

[dargonking999]

well i bet by staturday he will sing the tender, he will play bottom line

 

[SALADIN]

No wonder the Mannings strong armed the Chargers into a trade. This organization is almost as bad as the Bengals when it comes to taking care of its players.

Pay the man!

 

[Chief]

[Gates last year was named an All Pro and wants to be paid along the lines of Chiefs' perennial Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez. The Chargers have negotiated with Gates for a while, but when they could not get a deal done prior to camp, Gates boycotted training camp.

The Chargers were under no obligation to renegotiate his deal but they apparently tried.

And Gates has had one good year ... how many has Tony Gonzalez had?

We don't know what the Chargers offered, but if Gates wants Gonzalez money after only one year, then he's being unreasonable, IMO.

 

[BigDFan5]

The Chargers were under no obligation to renegotiate his deal but they apparently tried.

And Gates has had one good year ... how many has Tony Gonzalez had?

We don't know what the Chargers offered, but if Gates wants Gonzalez money after only one year, then he's being unreasonable, IMO.

They didn't try and renegotiate his deal. Gates is currently not under contract. He is an exclusive rights FA meaning he is not under contract but ONLY the Chargers can negotiate with him. Its like any other FA they will sign when they get the deal they like.

 

[VirusX]

TGun is a great TE. Gates put 220% into that season and needs a new contract after that season he should be rewarded and the chargers are trying to stiffarm him into signing a crap contract for that callibre player. Atleast Gates didnt come in as a rookie and ask for a top 3 contract like 80% of first round picks now. Pay the man and get him on the field. Your only hurting yourselves.

 

[kmp77]

What was the new contract for? $380k isn't much for a goot TE.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

The Chargers were under no obligation to renegotiate his deal but they apparently tried.

And Gates has had one good year ... how many has Tony Gonzalez had?

We don't know what the Chargers offered, but if Gates wants Gonzalez money after only one year, then he's being unreasonable, IMO.

Totally agree with you Chief. One good year does not make a great player.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

What was the new contract for? $380k isn't much for a goot TE.

I believe had he signed and went to TC, it would have showed good faith on his part. Then if SD didn't continue talks towards an extension, he could have left.

 

[VirusX]

Totally agree with you Chief. One good year does not make a great player.

Apparently it does when they gave Brees 8 million for 1 year and gates 380k for almost 1000 yards and 13 TD's from a TIGHTEND! Thats more then witten and keyshawn combined.

 

[Rick_Deckard]

No wonder the Mannings strong armed the Chargers into a trade. This organization is almost as bad as the Bengals when it comes to taking care of its players.

Pay the man!

Yeah, pay the man... on Sunday

 

[BigDFan5]

I believe had he signed and went to TC, it would have showed good faith on his part. Then if SD didn't continue talks towards an extension, he could have left.

Once he signed it he could not leave camp, or they could start fining him or suspend him

 

[BlueWave]

Gate realizes that last season was probably a fluke from a Drew Brees standpoint, as well as his own. He's needs to get a big contract now, before him and Brees come crashing back to reality.

There is no doubt in my mind that Witten will be the NFL's top TE this season, even passing Gonzales. Gates will come back down to earth and land in the middle of the pack, along with Brees. No more 5 and 6 yard curls for Gates. It's time to be a real pass receiver.

 

[dargonking999]

What was the new contract for? $380k isn't much for a goot TE.

thats for the one year tender, thats not his contract, like other have said, he has had one good year, he needs to show he is constant like TG, and his teammate LT, before asking for more money, and BTW Brees was placed under the franchise tag, you cant compare those two deals

 

[jsj6791]

It's not the money they are disagreeing on, it's the terms of the contract.

Chargers are offering contract similar to Gonzo's for six years, however, Gates and his agent are seeking for only three year term so that they can renegotiate again later for even larger contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2129144

"The best guess is the Chargers are willing to pay Gates close to $4 million a year but only if he signs for five or six years"

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

It's not the money they are disagreeing on, it's the terms of the contract.

Chargers are offering contract similar to Gonzo's for six years, however, Gates and his agent are seeking for only three year term so that they can renegotiate again later for even larger contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2129144

"The best guess is the Chargers are willing to pay Gates close to $4 million a year but only if he signs for five or six years"

to the board.

As far as Brees goes, I still don't think that they should have given him such a large contract. One good year does not make a great player.

As far as signing the tender and then leaving camp, comment made that then SD could fine/suspend him. Apparently suspending him IS an option if they can hold the first three games of the season over his head.

 

[jsj6791]

to the board.

As far as Brees goes, I still don't think that they should have given him such a large contract. One good year does not make a great player.

As far as signing the tender and then leaving camp, comment made that then SD could fine/suspend him. Apparently suspending him IS an option if they can hold the first three games of the season over his head.

Thanks for the welcome.

As for the Brees, it wasn't like they had any other option. Either they franchise him and pay him $8mil, or he walks free as a free agent. With Rivers signed to a huge contract, there was no way for Chargers to give long term contract to another QB unless Brees performs again this year.

I am not too worried about the tender and the suspension. All Chargers are doing is to get Gates *** into the camp for practice while negotiation is taking place.

 

[dargonking999]

Thanks for the welcome.

As for the Brees, it wasn't like they had any other option. Either they franchise him and pay him $8mil, or he walks free as a free agent. With Rivers signed to a huge contract, there was no way for Chargers to give long term contract to another QB unless Brees performs again this year.

I am not too worried about the tender and the suspension. All Chargers are doing is to get Gates *** into the camp for practice while negotiation is taking place.

Or get him into camp so they can see if thier QB and TE just had a fluke seasons, so they dont look stupid signing both to long term deals, only to find out there just average players, like some teams do.