McNeil signs tender!!!!!!!!!

Source: ESPN

Marcus McNeill has reported to the San Diego Chargers, signing his one-year, $630,000 tender, according to sources.

The veteran left tackle will miss the next three games, then will be eligible to play against the St. Louis Rams in Week 6.

The two sides have the next few weeks to try to work out a long-term deal.

McNeill had been holding out in search of a long-term deal with the team.

Although the Chargers had been in talks to trade fellow holdout Vincent Jackson, it had not entertained offers for McNeill, and San Diego had moved forward without him.

In McNeill's place, second-year player Brandyn Dombrowski has protected quarterback Philip Rivers' blindside as the Chargers have opened the season 1-1.

Chargers determined to keep top free agents

INDIANAPOLIS — The Chargers appear determined to keep their remaining four top restricted free agents after allowing running back Darren Sproles to test the market.

According to sources familiar with the Chargers’ intentions, the team is expected to place the first-and-third tender on left tackle Marcus McNeill, linebacker Shawne Merriman and receivers Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson.

That is the highest possible tender and would assure the Chargers of receiving significant compensation if one of them signed elsewhere.

Ostensibly, another team would have to give the Chargers first- and third-round draft picks in this year’s draft if they signed one of the four. But the sides could negotiate a lesser deal.

One source cautioned that “things could change.” But several sources said the Chargers are making known their intentions to put the highest tender on those four players, believing that is the only way to keep them from being poached.

Other teams could deem any or all of those four — not to mention eight other restricted free agents — worth parting with draft picks.

But most general managers speaking at the NFL Combine this week indicated they did not anticipate a lot of movement in restricted free agency even though so many top players are restricted and the unrestricted market is considered relatively light.

Floyd, Jackson, McNeill and Merriman were all due to be unrestricted free agents this year but are restricted because of 2010 being uncapped in the final season of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

As a player with five years’ experience, Jackson will receive $3.268 million in 2010 and Floyd $3.168 million. Merriman is entitled to 110 percent of his 2009 salary ($2.972 million), which means he will make $3.269 million.

Sproles became one of the top unrestricted free agents available when the Chargers opted to not tender him because of the $7.3 million price tag that would have been required.

The Chargers hold out hope they can entice Sproles to return with a multiyear contract offer. However, sources said the deep-pocketed Washington Redskins are going to be among those in the bidding for Sproles.

It appears as though one Charger will be on the move.

Trade talks regarding cornerback Antonio Cromartie have progressed at the Combine this week, league sources said. And sources familiar with the teams the Chargers have spoken with said the Detroit Lions are the leading contender to get Cromartie and could acquire him soon in exchange for a mid-round draft pick.

Rivers, Gates, Jackson, Phillips, Jammer, Osgood, McNeill & Cooper receive team honors

Source:Chargers.com
Philip Rivers, in the midst of a potential NFL MVP season, was voted the Chargers’ Most Valuable Player by teammates. Rivers, who has thrown for a career-high 4,155 yards and 27 touchdowns, wins his second-consecutive team MVP award a day after being chosen to his second-career Pro Bowl squad.

Offensive Player of the Year (Rodney Culver Memorial Award) honors will be split between tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Both players are enjoying career seasons, with Gates gaining a career-high 1,145 yards and Jackson setting career highs in yards (1,167), catches (68) and touchdowns (nine). This is Gates’ third-career Rodney Culver Award (2004 & ’05) and Jackson’s first.

Defensive Player of the Year (David Griggs Memorial Award) honors will be split between linebacker Shaun Phillips and cornerback Quentin Jammer. Phillips leads the NFL with seven forced fumbles and paces the team with seven sacks, while Jammer has broken up a team-leading 10 passes and is tied for the team lead with three interceptions. This the first David Griggs Award for both players.

Special Teams Player of the Year honors go to wide receiver and special teams ace Kassim Osgood, a 2009 Pro Bowl choice, who ranks second on the team with 12 stops. Routinely harassed by double and triple-teams, Osgood is headed to his third-career Pro Bowl. This is his fourth special teams player of the year award (2005-07).

Lineman of the Year honors go to left tackle Marcus McNeill, who is charged with protecting the blind-side of Rivers. McNeill hasn’t missed a start all season and is a key member of the line which has allowed only 10 sacks during the team’s current 10-game winning streak. Overlooked for the Pro Bowl, McNeill captures his second-career lineman of the year award (2006).

Linebacker Stephen Cooper, the team’s leading tackler with 119 stops on the season, receives the Emil Karas Award as Most Inspirational Player. At one of the most physically demanding positions on the field, Cooper has played more snaps this season (928) than any other defender and ranks second on the team with seven passes broken up. He’s also forced and recovered two fumbles.