The San Diego Chargers are unlikely to use the franchise tag to retain wide receiver Vincent Jackson, according to NBCSanDiego.com. The Chargers have until March 5 to use the tag on Jackson, otherwise he will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent on March 13. Tagging Jackson would cost San Diego nearly $13.7 million. The Chargers used the franchise tag on Jackson last season, and another use of the tag would result in a 120 percent salary increase from the $11.4 million he made in 2011. Chargers general manager... [Read More]
If Vincent Jackson departs in free agency, the Chargers are going to need a No. 1 wide receiver. According to one team insider, that person could be Reggie Wayne, who is a free agent after 11 seasons with the Colts. Wayne played in a vertical passing game in Indianapolis similar to the one that the Chargers run, and he could step right in and be a go-to guy for Philip Rivers.
One under-the-radar free agent whom the Chargers are keeping an eye on is NT Antonio Garay. The veteran is a key part of the team's defensive line and is somebody the organization would like to bring back — at a reasonable cost. Garay is 32 and has a history of injuries, and his production dropped a bit last season, from 5.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2010 to 2.5 sacks and just six stops behind the line in 2011. According to a team insider, the Chargers are optimistic they can retain Garay for the upcoming... [Read More]
Nick Hardwick has a new son and a renewed outlook, and he said Monday what everyone who knows him expected all along. “I’m playing.” The man who has started 103 games at center for the Chargers since 2004 has actually had his mind made up since the middle of January. He took two weeks off after the season, hung out at home and then got the urge to start working out again. “That let me know right there,” Hardwick said. “… I feel great. I’ve been training my butt off since then. I’m ready to have my best season yet.”... [Read More]
The wife of San Diego Chargers defensive lineman Tommie Harris died Sunday evening in an Oklahoma hospital. She was 29. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Ashley Harris, the wife of the former Bears defensive tackle, died two days after entering the hospital after suffering a stroke or brain aneurism. Harris split the 2011 season between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chargers and had been a Pro Bowl performer for the Bears. The Harrises were married in January and she delivered the couple's second child four months... [Read More]
The wife of former Bears Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris is on life support and fighting for her life, a family friend told the Sun-Times. Harris wife, Ashley, is 29 years old and she suffered either a stroke or brain aneurism, said family friend Bill Horn. "We are holding on for a miracle," Horn said. Ashley is in a hospital in Oklahoma and some of Harris' former Bears teammates are en route to lend their support. Harris was popular among his teammates while with the Bears. Ashley gave birth to the... [Read More]
Vincent Jackson represents the biggest name on an impressive list of wide receivers who could become free agents in March if he actually reaches free agency. Jackson has maintained his preference is to stay in San Diego despite a relationship with the front office that has been acrimonious in the past. The Chargers aren’t expected to use the franchise tag on Jackson and sound open to trying to work out a long-term deal. “I’m told by people in San Diego they’re going to do everything in their power to sign him, but this... [Read More]
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, those close to Chargers left guard Kris Dielman and team sources indicate that he is leaning toward playing in 2012 after a scary concussion and seizure prompted him to consider retirement. Dielman as you may recall, suffered a concussion when he collided with New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace in October. Immediately following the play, Dielman wobbled and appeared disoriented but remained in the game. On the team's cross-country flight home to San Diego,... [Read More]
The Chargers are likely clear the books of $10 million by waiving left tackle Marcus McNeill according to Kevin Acee of San Diego Union-Tribune. McNeill has to be cleared by a team doctor by the third day of the new league year, which begins March 13, or his 2012 salary is not guaranteed. McNeill is not expected to get a clean bill of health from the Chargers.
Joe Barry, USC’s linebackers coach for the last two seasons, has reached agreement with the San Diego Chargers to become their linebackers coach, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported in this story. Barry, 41, coached in the NFL for 10 seasons before joining Coach Lane Kiffin’s staff in 2010. Barry’s departure leaves Kiffin with two vacancies on his staff. Willie Mack Garza resigned as defensive backs coach on the eve of the 2011 season.
A man has filed a lawsuit against San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips alleging the player broke a Champagne bottle over his head at a Pacific Beach bar in 2009 according to Kristina Davis of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Kam Saran filed the lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court in November. The suit says Phillips struck or dropped the bottle on Saran’s head at Bar West. Saran, then 24, suffered a laceration and closed-head injury as a result, according to the suit. Phillips’ attorney responded to the suit in... [Read More]
Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson wants to remain in San Diego, and it’s sounding more and more like the Chargers want to keep the free agent to be. “The way he performed this year speaks to how valuable he is to our team,” Chargers coach Norv Turner told me. “From a coaching standpoint, I’d love to have him here. When you look at his production, his average per catch separates him from a lot of guys. “
While sources suggest general manager A.J. Smith is now “comfortable” exploring a long-term deal for Vincent Jackson, the Chargers wide receiver said he has yet to speak to Smith himself. “There hasn’t been any communication as far as contracts go,” Jackson said following Wednesday’s Pro Bowl practice. “If that’s their feeling, that’s great. I would like to stay in San Diego. Obviously, that’s my home, that’s where I was drafted. I’ve got some good guys around me – Philip Rivers (Antonio) Gates, Ryan Mathews. It would... [Read More]
The San Diego Chargers have named Special Teams Coach Rich Bisaccia as their Assistant Head Coach after the departure of former Assistant Head Coach Steve Wilks. Bisaccia was the Assistant Head Coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2008-2010, with whom he also won a Super Bowl with. Bisaccia was brought on by the Chargers to replace Steve Crosby, who took the brunt of the blame for the Bolts' historically bad 2010 season on Special Teams.
The San Diego Chargers announced that they have hired Ron Meeks to coach the team's secondary. Meeks spent 2011 as the Carolina Panthers defensive backs coach after being that team's defensive coordinator the previous two seasons. The Panthers replaced Meeks with Steve Wilks, who had been the Chargers defensive backs coach. The 57-year-old Meeks spent seven seasons (2002-08) as the Indianapolis Colts after shorter stints with the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas... [Read More]
