Chargers moving on without McNeil and Jackson

[gmoney112]

GM: 'We lost a couple of great players'


As expected, San Diego restricted free agents Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill didn't sign their tenders by the June 15 deadline. Now, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith says the team is preparing for the 2010 season without them.
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"We lost a couple of great players [Tuesday], and it hurts," Smith told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "We are trying to build a championship team, and losing the services of both Vincent and Marcus just made that more difficult -- but not impossible. In due time, Coach [Norv] Turner will name two new starters. We will rally as a team, compete and try to win as many games as we can."
The two players do not plan to report for the start of training camp and quite possibly well beyond, league sources have told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The Union-Tribune is reporting that the two players plan to hold out until after Week 10 of the 2010 season unless they receive long-term deals or are traded.
Jackson and McNeill need to play six weeks to get credit for an accrued season.
As a result of not signing their tenders, the Chargers have cut McNeill's salary from $3.168 million to $583,000 and Jackson's salary from $3.268 million to $600,000.
The 26-year-old McNeill is a two-time Pro Bowl left tackle, in charge of protecting quarterback Philip Rivers' blindside.
The 27-year-old Jackson has had two straight seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards and has led the league in each of those years in average yards per catch.
The Chargers have prepared for Jackson's and McNeill's absences, signing wide receiver Josh Reed and offensive tackle Tra Thomas this month.
"It was a very unpleasant situation we all had to deal with," Smith told the Union-Tribune. "It came to a conclusion [Tuesday]. We will now move forward and focus on the upcoming season."

 

[Future]

I'm a bit confused...since they were restricted does that mean they are just sitting out for the year...or the Chargers will still have a chance to match an offer? It sounds like the Chargers aren't even trying to get them resigned

No doubt it's happened but I can't remember hearing of players just not signing their tender or a new contract.

 

[AbeBeta]

I'm a bit confused...since they were restricted does that mean they are just sitting out for the year...or the Chargers will still have a chance to match an offer? It sounds like the Chargers aren't even trying to get them resigned

No doubt it's happened but I can't remember hearing of players just not signing their tender or a new contract.

if they hold out until week 10 it means they still can get credit for a year of service and will be UFA at the end of the year

this used to happen under the old system some time back. I recall one of our players doing this a long while ago

 

[Everlastingxxx]

This is insane. I see both sides of it, but can’t believe the Chargers would say goodbye to any hopes of a Championship by doing this. Jackson alone is a big-time player and massive loss.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

AJ Smith has a giant ego as a GM, and he just took a giant crap on the Chargers season right there.

Cutting down their salaries like that and talking about them like they're already gone pretty much means those guys have probably seen their last days as Chargers other than maybe dressing for those last 6 games, and they're both very young and very talented.

 

[jterrell]

This is insane. I see both sides of it, but can’t believe the Chargers would say goodbye to any hopes of a Championship by doing this. Jackson alone is a big-time player and massive loss.

The Chargers GM is a true mess.

Your best WR and your LT.... wow.

 

[CowboyWay]

This is insane. I see both sides of it, but can’t believe the Chargers would say goodbye to any hopes of a Championship by doing this. Jackson alone is a big-time player and massive loss.

I've never been too high on Jackson. I consider McNeil to be a far bigger loss.

 

[jterrell]

I'm a bit confused...since they were restricted does that mean they are just sitting out for the year...or the Chargers will still have a chance to match an offer? It sounds like the Chargers aren't even trying to get them resigned

No doubt it's happened but I can't remember hearing of players just not signing their tender or a new contract.

They have refused to sign their tenders so the Chargers used the chance to lower those offers and they have. Now they will either agree to long term deals or they will sign the new lower offers after week 10 and report.

 

[superpunk]

Nice to see that Norm Peterson landed on his feet.

 

[AsthmaField]

Nice to see that Norm Peterson landed on his feet.

:laugh2:

 

[AbeBeta]

I've never been too high on Jackson. I consider McNeil to be a far bigger loss.

1000 yard plus receivers who put up #s against strong Ds (see Baltimore, Dallas, NY Jets) ... yeah, they grow on trees

 

[CoCo]

Nice to see that Norm Peterson landed on his feet.

:laugh2:

 

[SaltwaterServr]

The Chargers GM is a true mess.

Your best WR and your LT.... wow.

The man dang near immediately fired a coach who went 14-2.

He wears Cowboys Stadium as a hat to find something his head will fit in.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

This goes to show why Jerry Jones is a great GM.

The situation the chargers are in is what very well could have happened with Miles Austin or especially Marcus Spears.

Despite what the billboard ninnies will claim, Jerry Jones being our GM is why our guys showed up to all the practices and remain team players while the Chargers players are holding out.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

This goes to show why Jerry Jones is a great GM.

The situation the chargers are in is what very well could have happened with Miles Austin or especially Marcus Spears.

Despite what the billboard ninnies will claim, Jerry Jones being our GM is why our guys showed up to all the practices and remain team players while the Chargers players are holding out.

Although I'd wish he'd impart some of the AJ Smithisms of letting players go before it's too late.

He should have never extended TO or Roy Williams.

 

[Jon88]

This is just stupid.

 

[67CowboysFan]

The two players do not plan to report for the start of training camp and quite possibly well beyond, league sources have told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The Union-Tribune is reporting that the two players plan to hold out until after Week 10 of the 2010 season unless they receive long-term deals or are traded.
Jackson and McNeill need to play six weeks to get credit for an accrued season.
As a result of not signing their tenders, the Chargers have cut McNeill's salary from $3.168 million to $583,000 and Jackson's salary from $3.268 million to $600,000.

I don't understand the players strategy at all on this one. They both want long term contracts and I'm assuming more money along with that. They just took a big hit by not signing their tenders and now they are going to sit out most of the season. They will end up making 225k this year if they only play 6 games. That's a long ways from 3+ million.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

The players are idiots. $3 mil is nothing to turn your nose to. Now they have to sit out the whole year, basically. And there is no guarantee there will be football in 2011. There could be some sort of lockout or strike.

Even if they become UFAs after the year, couldn't the Chargers just tag one with the franchise label (two 1sts compensation) and the other with the transition label (one 1st and one 3rd)? Or aren't they allowed to do that?

 

[casmith07]

You're playing the game you supposedly love...for $3M...for a contender...in a recession?

I'm clueless. I'd be at minicamp catching balls.