- Messages
- 79,281
- Reaction score
- 45,652
Chargers' first draft pick agrees to 5-year, $11.33 million deal
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 2, 2005
Shawne Merriman is a Charger – sooner than most people thought he would be, all things considered.
The Chargers came to terms with their top draft pick yesterday, guaranteeing the linebacker from Maryland $9 million as part of a five-year, $11.33 million contract.
"I'm kind of speechless right now," Merriman said by phone. "I really didn't believe it was going to get done this soon. I'm more anxious to get out there than I have ever been."
Merriman's contract has a potential value of $15.73 million, including $4.4 million in performance-based escalators. The $9 million in guaranteed money includes a $1.244 million roster bonus and a $6.350 million option bonus, plus Merriman's first-season salary.
The Merriman-Chargers marriage got off to a shaky start shortly after Merriman was drafted 12th overall in April.
Merriman fired his original agent the day after the draft and hired Kevin Poston. Poston promptly informed the Chargers his client would not participate in offseason workouts because of concerns about language in the Chargers' rookie protection agreement. Poston said he was worried the Chargers would not fairly compensate Merriman should the player injure himself before signing a contract.
But by yesterday, weeks of phone calls and faxes had brought the sides harmoniously together.
"I enjoyed working with (Chargers negotiator) Ed McGuire and the San Diego Chargers," Poston said. "They did a very professional job making sure this got done in a timely manner."
General Manager A.J. Smith, in turn, heaped bountiful praise on Poston.
"In all the negotiations I've been involved in . . . this was one of the quickest, fastest, most professional, efficient ones I've ever been around," Smith said. "Kevin Poston had a reputation of being a tough negotiator, and clearly people know our position when we're dealing, so everybody thought there was going to be a line in the sand and 'Wow, where's this going to go?' It was quick, professional, and we're all just excited."
The Dallas Cowboys and No. 11 pick Demarcus Ware agreed Saturday to a five-year, $13 million deal that guarantees Ware $10 million. The New Orleans Saints guaranteed No. 13 pick Jammal Brown $8.5 million as part of a five-year, $11 million deal Friday.
So, really, for all the fretting over how much time Merriman might miss, he came in about when he could reasonably have been expected to – around the same time as the picks around him.
Merriman will be in camp today, a week after the team's other rookies began practice and four days after camp officially opened with the arrival of veterans Friday.
But given that he missed the offseason coaching sessions and the remedial playbook instruction other rookies received, he is behind. Chargers coaches have accelerated their game-planning since the start of camp, and Merriman will have a lot of learning to do on the fly.
"I just talked to (defensive coordinator) Wade Phillips and because he's here so quickly, with so much preseason and games left, we don't anticipate a problem," Smith said.
"There's no way to predict," coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "I would expect he's probably in pretty good shape. . . . We have not been able to spend enough time around him to be able to determine exactly how he'll absorb the stuff and then carry it to the field and apply it."
Said linebacker Steve Foley: "There's a lot of high expectations and guys are really going to have their eyes on him to see how well he moves around, seeing how fast he picks up the system and adjusts to things. He's going to have to come prepared to work. He's behind, but that's all part of the job. . . . This is a family here, so nobody's going to hold any hard feelings against the guy. It's going to be tough for him, but I think he knows that."
Merriman said he is familiar with the Chargers' scheme, having played in a similar one at Maryland. He has been working out with a trainer and said he will weigh in at around 268.
"Where I think I'm behind is catching up with my teammates, getting that chemistry with my teammates," he said. "The most important thing now is to get out and earn a spot. I've been there before, at Maryland. I'm not a stranger to this situation, coming in with my back against the wall."
All that remains for the Chargers to complete their roster is to sign Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates. The third-year veteran has not reported to camp, as his agent and the team negotiate a multiyear deal.
At least now the Chargers and their fans will see if the wait and worry over Merriman were worth it.
Merriman thinks it was. "Any time you're dealing with your future, your career, it's always worth it to take the time to make the best decision you can," he said. "If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20050802-9999-1s2chargers.html
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 2, 2005
SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune
Linebacker Shawne Merriman is expected in Mission Valley today for the first time since April, when he met the media as the Chargers' top draft choice. A long holdout was expected after he skipped offseason workouts. Shawne Merriman is a Charger – sooner than most people thought he would be, all things considered.
The Chargers came to terms with their top draft pick yesterday, guaranteeing the linebacker from Maryland $9 million as part of a five-year, $11.33 million contract.
"I'm kind of speechless right now," Merriman said by phone. "I really didn't believe it was going to get done this soon. I'm more anxious to get out there than I have ever been."
Merriman's contract has a potential value of $15.73 million, including $4.4 million in performance-based escalators. The $9 million in guaranteed money includes a $1.244 million roster bonus and a $6.350 million option bonus, plus Merriman's first-season salary.
Merriman fired his original agent the day after the draft and hired Kevin Poston. Poston promptly informed the Chargers his client would not participate in offseason workouts because of concerns about language in the Chargers' rookie protection agreement. Poston said he was worried the Chargers would not fairly compensate Merriman should the player injure himself before signing a contract.
But by yesterday, weeks of phone calls and faxes had brought the sides harmoniously together.
"I enjoyed working with (Chargers negotiator) Ed McGuire and the San Diego Chargers," Poston said. "They did a very professional job making sure this got done in a timely manner."
General Manager A.J. Smith, in turn, heaped bountiful praise on Poston.
"In all the negotiations I've been involved in . . . this was one of the quickest, fastest, most professional, efficient ones I've ever been around," Smith said. "Kevin Poston had a reputation of being a tough negotiator, and clearly people know our position when we're dealing, so everybody thought there was going to be a line in the sand and 'Wow, where's this going to go?' It was quick, professional, and we're all just excited."
The Dallas Cowboys and No. 11 pick Demarcus Ware agreed Saturday to a five-year, $13 million deal that guarantees Ware $10 million. The New Orleans Saints guaranteed No. 13 pick Jammal Brown $8.5 million as part of a five-year, $11 million deal Friday.
So, really, for all the fretting over how much time Merriman might miss, he came in about when he could reasonably have been expected to – around the same time as the picks around him.
Merriman will be in camp today, a week after the team's other rookies began practice and four days after camp officially opened with the arrival of veterans Friday.
But given that he missed the offseason coaching sessions and the remedial playbook instruction other rookies received, he is behind. Chargers coaches have accelerated their game-planning since the start of camp, and Merriman will have a lot of learning to do on the fly.
"I just talked to (defensive coordinator) Wade Phillips and because he's here so quickly, with so much preseason and games left, we don't anticipate a problem," Smith said.
"There's no way to predict," coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "I would expect he's probably in pretty good shape. . . . We have not been able to spend enough time around him to be able to determine exactly how he'll absorb the stuff and then carry it to the field and apply it."
Said linebacker Steve Foley: "There's a lot of high expectations and guys are really going to have their eyes on him to see how well he moves around, seeing how fast he picks up the system and adjusts to things. He's going to have to come prepared to work. He's behind, but that's all part of the job. . . . This is a family here, so nobody's going to hold any hard feelings against the guy. It's going to be tough for him, but I think he knows that."
Merriman said he is familiar with the Chargers' scheme, having played in a similar one at Maryland. He has been working out with a trainer and said he will weigh in at around 268.
"Where I think I'm behind is catching up with my teammates, getting that chemistry with my teammates," he said. "The most important thing now is to get out and earn a spot. I've been there before, at Maryland. I'm not a stranger to this situation, coming in with my back against the wall."
All that remains for the Chargers to complete their roster is to sign Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates. The third-year veteran has not reported to camp, as his agent and the team negotiate a multiyear deal.
At least now the Chargers and their fans will see if the wait and worry over Merriman were worth it.
Merriman thinks it was. "Any time you're dealing with your future, your career, it's always worth it to take the time to make the best decision you can," he said. "If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20050802-9999-1s2chargers.html
