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Chargers release McCardell, Foley, Kiel
SAN DIEGO (AP) Receiver Keenan McCardell was released Thursday by the San Diego Chargers, who also got rid of linebacker Steve Foley and safety Terrence Kiel, both of whom had multiple run-ins with the law.
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The moves came several hours before the start of free agency.
``The way we evaluate players, you're a Charger one year at a time,'' general manager A.J. Smith said. ``You're judged off the field, on the field, production and work ethic.''
McCardell, ninth on the NFL's all-time list with 861 catches, turned 37 in January. After catching nine touchdown passes in 2005, he had zero last year, when he was the team's fourth-leading receiver with just 36 catches for 437 yards.
McCardell has had five 1,000-yard seasons, and was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they won the Super Bowl following the 2002 season. He has 11,117 career receiving yards and 62 touchdowns. He had no catches when the Chargers, who were an NFL-best 14-2 in the regular season, were shocked in their playoff opener by the New England Patriots.
Foley was shot three times on Sept. 3 by an off-duty Coronado police officer who suspected him of drunken driving. Foley missed the season and said last month that his career might be over. The outside linebacker, who had 10 sacks in 2004, forfeited $775,000 in salary.
Neither the Chargers nor Foley's agent will say whether the team has tried to recoup an $875,000 roster bonus Foley was paid last spring.
``It's a very sad, tragic situation, as we all know,'' Smith said.
Foley has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and faces a trial on May 7. Police say Foley had a blood-alcohol level of 0.233 percent, nearly three times California's legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The linebacker recently filed a civil suit against policeman Aaron Mansker and the city of Coronado. Foley was arrested in April for scuffling with San Diego police officers, but wasn't charged.
Kiel pleaded guilty last month to felony and misdemeanor drug charges for shipping codeine-based cough syrup to Texas, part of a plea bargain that could allow him to avoid jail time. He was led off the practice field and arrested in the locker room by Drug Enforcement Administration agents on Sept. 26.
Kiel still faces charges for urinating outside a nightclub Dec. 18 in downtown San Diego, several hours after the Chargers' home victory against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith said re-signing left guard Kris Dielman is the Chargers' top priority, but that the agent for the unrestricted free agent is asking for more than the team is willing to pay.
Smith said the Chargers stopped talks with Dielman's agent late last year because the team was basically negotiating against itself. The GM said he spoke by phone with Dielman on Thursday and let the player know the Chargers haven't made their last offer.
``There's no question that he is a great player and I think a Pro Bowler waiting to happen,'' Smith said. ``This is a tough one and I don't know the end result yet. If he is with us I will be one happy guy. If he's not and moving on I will be extremely disappointed.''
Dielman said on Wednesday that he wants to stay with the Chargers. ``They gave me my opportunity. I want to be loyal,'' Dielman said. ``But they've had a year to do it.''
Dielman signed with San Diego in 2003 as an undrafted defensive lineman before being converted to offense. Playing between Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick and rookie tackle Marcus McNeill, Dielman had a standout 2006 season in helping anchor a line that opened the way for LaDainian Tomlinson to run away with the NFL MVP award.
Smith showed how much the Chargers value Tomlinson's backup, Michael Turner, by putting a first-and-third tender on the restricted free agent. If another team signs Turner to an offer sheet, the Chargers can either match the offer or receive that team's first- and third-round picks in April's draft.
If Turner stays, he'll make $2.35 million next season.
``Michael Turner is an exceptional running back,'' Smith said. ``I think he's going to have a bright future if he ever moves on. We'll be hard-pressed to find a backup running back to match his caliber. This can go down all kinds of roads. There could be a trade, a contract could come in. The intention right now is that he'll be here.''
Smith said eight players have had offseason surgery, including Pro Bowlers Shawne Merriman (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams (shoulder and knee).
Also, Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal, who wasn't eligible for free agency, received a three-year contract extension.
The Chargers did not tender a contract to restricted free agent tight end Ryan Krause, who faces a DUI charge. Linebacker Donnie Edwards, who had a team-high 170 tackles but fell into disfavor with Smith, will be allowed to leave as an unrestricted free agent.
do we go after foley??????????????? can wade tame him? let's just get foley, edwards and godfrey...lol
SAN DIEGO (AP) Receiver Keenan McCardell was released Thursday by the San Diego Chargers, who also got rid of linebacker Steve Foley and safety Terrence Kiel, both of whom had multiple run-ins with the law.
Advertisment
Click Here!
The moves came several hours before the start of free agency.
``The way we evaluate players, you're a Charger one year at a time,'' general manager A.J. Smith said. ``You're judged off the field, on the field, production and work ethic.''
McCardell, ninth on the NFL's all-time list with 861 catches, turned 37 in January. After catching nine touchdown passes in 2005, he had zero last year, when he was the team's fourth-leading receiver with just 36 catches for 437 yards.
McCardell has had five 1,000-yard seasons, and was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they won the Super Bowl following the 2002 season. He has 11,117 career receiving yards and 62 touchdowns. He had no catches when the Chargers, who were an NFL-best 14-2 in the regular season, were shocked in their playoff opener by the New England Patriots.
Foley was shot three times on Sept. 3 by an off-duty Coronado police officer who suspected him of drunken driving. Foley missed the season and said last month that his career might be over. The outside linebacker, who had 10 sacks in 2004, forfeited $775,000 in salary.
Neither the Chargers nor Foley's agent will say whether the team has tried to recoup an $875,000 roster bonus Foley was paid last spring.
``It's a very sad, tragic situation, as we all know,'' Smith said.
Foley has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and faces a trial on May 7. Police say Foley had a blood-alcohol level of 0.233 percent, nearly three times California's legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The linebacker recently filed a civil suit against policeman Aaron Mansker and the city of Coronado. Foley was arrested in April for scuffling with San Diego police officers, but wasn't charged.
Kiel pleaded guilty last month to felony and misdemeanor drug charges for shipping codeine-based cough syrup to Texas, part of a plea bargain that could allow him to avoid jail time. He was led off the practice field and arrested in the locker room by Drug Enforcement Administration agents on Sept. 26.
Kiel still faces charges for urinating outside a nightclub Dec. 18 in downtown San Diego, several hours after the Chargers' home victory against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith said re-signing left guard Kris Dielman is the Chargers' top priority, but that the agent for the unrestricted free agent is asking for more than the team is willing to pay.
Smith said the Chargers stopped talks with Dielman's agent late last year because the team was basically negotiating against itself. The GM said he spoke by phone with Dielman on Thursday and let the player know the Chargers haven't made their last offer.
``There's no question that he is a great player and I think a Pro Bowler waiting to happen,'' Smith said. ``This is a tough one and I don't know the end result yet. If he is with us I will be one happy guy. If he's not and moving on I will be extremely disappointed.''
Dielman said on Wednesday that he wants to stay with the Chargers. ``They gave me my opportunity. I want to be loyal,'' Dielman said. ``But they've had a year to do it.''
Dielman signed with San Diego in 2003 as an undrafted defensive lineman before being converted to offense. Playing between Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick and rookie tackle Marcus McNeill, Dielman had a standout 2006 season in helping anchor a line that opened the way for LaDainian Tomlinson to run away with the NFL MVP award.
Smith showed how much the Chargers value Tomlinson's backup, Michael Turner, by putting a first-and-third tender on the restricted free agent. If another team signs Turner to an offer sheet, the Chargers can either match the offer or receive that team's first- and third-round picks in April's draft.
If Turner stays, he'll make $2.35 million next season.
``Michael Turner is an exceptional running back,'' Smith said. ``I think he's going to have a bright future if he ever moves on. We'll be hard-pressed to find a backup running back to match his caliber. This can go down all kinds of roads. There could be a trade, a contract could come in. The intention right now is that he'll be here.''
Smith said eight players have had offseason surgery, including Pro Bowlers Shawne Merriman (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams (shoulder and knee).
Also, Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal, who wasn't eligible for free agency, received a three-year contract extension.
The Chargers did not tender a contract to restricted free agent tight end Ryan Krause, who faces a DUI charge. Linebacker Donnie Edwards, who had a team-high 170 tackles but fell into disfavor with Smith, will be allowed to leave as an unrestricted free agent.
do we go after foley??????????????? can wade tame him? let's just get foley, edwards and godfrey...lol
