Gates rewarded new contract; 5yrs, $36.175million

Source: NFL News World

San Diego Chargers renewed Pro Bowl tight end, Antonio Gates contract for five-years. The deal between San Diego Chargers worth’s $36.175 million. Antonio Gates became a NFL’s highest-paid tight end with the new deal.

Antonio Gates will receive $20.4 million as guaranteed money and he will continue with San Diego Chargers till 2015. Antonio Gates will earn $7.235 million per season from 2011 to 2015. Antonio Gates is a three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl pick.

The other star players in San Diego Chargers are not satisfied with their deals. So, San Diego Chargers focused more on Antonio Gates, who has several big catches with San Diego Chargers.

Gates is happy about continuing with Chargers as he started his career with Chargers from 2003 and he will continue till 2015 with the same team.

“I’ve been blessed my whole career to be with one team,” Antonio Gates said. “It’s always good to get it out of the way. The goal is to win a championship. We all are human and it becomes a distraction even though you might not want it to be. It’s always great to be able to go ahead and do what you need to do and get it out of the way.”

On Thursday, all the players of San Diego Chargers have to report to the training camp. The San Diego Chargers will start the training camp with full squad from Friday onwards. Antonio Gates has caught 79 balls for 1,157 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2009 NFL regular season, which is his career best so far.

Chargers sign draft picks Butler and Thomas

Source: Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP)—The San Diego Chargers have agreed to four-year contracts with third-round draft pick Donald Butler and fifth-rounder Cam Thomas.

The only unsigned draft pick heading into training camp is running back Ryan Mathews, the 12th selection overall.

Butler is an inside linebacker from Washington. Thomas is a defensive tackle from North Carolina who could eventually replace Jamal Williams, a 12-year veteran who was released and signed with the division rival Denver Broncos.

Chargers Team Report 7-4-2010

Source: USA Today

An eventful offseason for Vincent Jackson has taken another turn.

Jackson, the Chargers' Pro Bowl wide receiver, has been suspended for three games by the NFL for violating its personal-conduct policy. This comes in the wake of Jackson's second conviction for driving under the influence.

Jackson was already in the news, but again for the wrong reasons as far as the team is concerned.

Jackson, along with left tackle Marcus McNeill, declined to sign their restricted free-agent tender offers last month. That move will cost both men some $2.5 million in 2010 compensation.

But Jackson and McNeill have no plans of playing a full season at a reduced wage. Instead, indications are Jackson and McNeill will be absent through the Chargers' first 10 weeks, coming in late just to accrue a season of playing.

The NFL's punishment assures Jackson of missing at least three games; the penalty could be lessened upon appeal.

Chatter has picked up that the Chargers are actively trying to move Jackson. He would seem to be a valuable piece in which the Chargers could possibly receive what the Broncos did — two second-round picks — when trading Brandon Marshall to the Dolphins.

But Jackson, too, comes with baggage.

Not only could be potentially miss nearly a quarter of the season with his suspension, but he is in the market for a rich long-term deal.

His production shows he deserves one. But his decision-making off-the-field might have some to wonder if he is worth the risk to obtain.

Plus, can Jackson be the same receiver without top-notch quarterback Philip Rivers heaving passes his way?

Fans who know their Chargers' history can't help but be reminded of John Jefferson. He wore No. 83, like Jackson, but was got caught in a contract dispute with the club during the Air Coryell days.

Jefferson was a key part of that aerial assault, then was traded to the Packers and never reached the same production level.

Depending on the team, that same fate could follow Jackson.

But there is no doubt he is talented and motivated. He's never been accused of not working hard.

A possible Jackson trade has drawn interest, it's believed, from the Redskins and Seahawks.

And if the offer is right, hard-nosed general manager A. J. Smith wouldn't hesitate to peddle Jackson.

But now with a suspension to add to his in-limbo status, trade talks could be compromised.

—Are the Chargers headed for a drug scandal?

The team's offices, along with those of the San Diego Padres, were raided by the Drug Enforcement Agency last week.

Some concluded the DEA's focus on the Chargers comes after former safety Kevin Ellison was arrested for possession of 100 Vicodin pills. At the time, Ellison, who started nine games last year for the Chargers, was a member of the team. He has since been released and signed by the Seahawks.

Ellison's agent, Jerome Stanley, said there is no connection between the two incidents.

"Kevin has nothing to do with that," Stanley said. "Whatever happened (Tuesday) is between the Chargers and the DEA."

The Chargers issued a statement after the raid that said Ellison didn't get his pills from their medical staff.

Stanley said that was a cheap shot.

"Now they're trying to make him somewhat responsible for their issue," Stanley said. "It's not our issues at all. It never was."

According to the DEA's statement, the searches were conducted "to verify the correctness of controlled substance inventories, records and reports."

Ellison became expendable after the Chargers drafted Darrell Stuckey, and were impressed with Stuckey's play in the offseason drills.

NOTES, QUOTES

—Rookie RB Ryan Mathews has found a mentor and role model in former Chargers FB Lorenzo Neal. Not only do both share of love for the Chargers, they were stars at Fresno State.

"He's become a mentor in a lot of ways, someone to rely on regarding football or the life that surrounds it," said Mathews, the Chargers' top pick. "I think he respects me, my ability and how I work."

Mathews, and the rest of the Chargers' rookies, will report to camp on July 25.

—The Chargers' first full-squad training camp workout will be July 30.

—QB Philip Rivers is having his inaugural football camp, July 10-11, at UC San Diego. It is open to players ages 7-14.

—ILB Donald Butler absorbed plenty of lessons at the NFL's recent rookie symposium.

"We get some of the veteran guys out here to talk to us, different doctors and people who really care about our well-being and want us to understand that this isn't going to last forever and hopefully give us some information that's going to better us after we play," Butler said. "As a rookie you can't help but like that. It gets a little tedious, but you take it all in and take pointers that you can use to better yourself."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Ryan succeeded at every level; it hasn't been determined if he can make it in the NFL. But I believe he can be great at the professional level, I really do." — Former Chargers Pro Bowl FB Lorenzo Neal on the potential of Ryan Mathews, the Chargers' heralded rookie running back.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

The Chargers, facing the possibility of Marcus McNeill not being with them for the regular-season opener — unless an unexpected reduction or elimination of Vincent Jackson's three-game suspension, he's assured of missing that game even before a potential holdout is considered — are fast-forwarding the learning curve of two possible replacements.

Veteran left tackle Tra Thomas was signed as a possible fill-in for McNeill. Thomas is a three-time Pro Bowler, but he's not close to that level as a 35-year-old.

Josh Reed was also obtained, but he's not the same dynamic pass-catcher as Jackson. Reed is more of a possession, underneath route runner while Jackson is a down field threat with his speed and great leaping ability.

Both positions, are how fast those possible voids can be filled, consumes the Chargers as they head for training camp.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

—*OLB Marques Harris (not tendered as RFA).

—C Dennis Norman (not tendered as UFA.

—*LB Dontarrious Thomas (not tendered as RFA).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year)

—*WR Vincent Jackson (tendered at $3.268M with first- and third-round picks as compensation).

—*LT Marcus McNeill (tendered at $3.168M with first- and third-round picks as compensation).

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

—S Darrell Stuckey (4/110): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

—QB Jonathan Crompton (5/168): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

—TE Dedrick Epps (7/235): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

—OLB Antwan Applewhite: ERFA; $470,000/1 yr.

—DT Alfonso Boone: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

—OT Jeromey Clary: RFA; (tendered at $1.684M with second-round pick as compensation); $1.684M/1 yr.

—*WR Malcom Floyd: RFA; (tendered at $3.168M with first- and third-round picks as compensation); $3.168M/1 yr.

—*DT Antonio Garay: Not tendered as RFA; terms unknown.

—*DE Travis Johnson: RFA; (tendered at $1.226M with first-round pick as compensation); $1.226M/1 yr.

—*OLB Shawne Merriman: RFA (tendered at $3.168M with first- and third-round picks as compensation): $3.168M/1 yr.

—*RB Darren Sproles: RFA; (tendered at $7.283M with first- and third-round picks as compensation); $7.283M/1 yr.

—FB Mike Tolbert: ERFA; $470,000/1 yr.

—TE Kris Wilson: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

—RB Marcus Mason (waivers Redskins).

—TE Randy McMichael: Not tendered as UFA by Rams; 1 yr, terms unknown.

—WR Josh Reed: Not tendered as UFA by Bills; terms unknown.

—CB Donald Strickland: FA Jets; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

—OT Tra Thomas: FA Jaguars; 1 yr, terms unknown.

—CB Nate Vasher: FA Bears; $4.5M/2 yrs.

PLAYERS LOST

—RB Michael Bennett (released).

—WR Demetrius Byrd (released/non-football injury).

—CB Antonio Cromartie (traded Jets).

—*ILB Tim Dobbins (traded Dolphins), had been re-signed as RFA; (tendered at $1.176M with fifth-round pick as compensation); $1.176M/1 yr.

—S Kevin Ellison (released).

—*C Eric Ghiaciuc: Not tendered as RFA/Browns; terms unknown.

—TE Brandon Manumaleuna: UFA Bears; $15M/5 yrs, $$2M SB/$3M RB.

—WR Kassim Osgood: UFA Jaguars; $6.675M/3 yrs, $2.975M guaranteed.

—OT Jon Runyan: UFA (retired).

—DT Ian Scott (released).

—RB LaDainian Tomlinson (released).

—*QB Charlie Whitehurst: RFA; (tendered at $1.176M with third-round pick as compensation); re-signed, traded to Seahawks.

—NT Jamal Williams (released).

Chargers 2010 Draft Review

Source: Chargers.com

The San Diego Chargers opened the 2010 NFL Draft with a blockbuster trade, moving up 16 spots to select Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews with the 12th pick of the first round.

The San Diego Chargers opened the 2010 NFL Draft with a blockbuster trade, moving up 16 spots to select Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews with the 12th pick of the first round. A 1,808-yard rusher with 19 touchdowns as a junior for the Bulldogs, the 6-0, 218-pound Mathews became the first running back selected by the Chargers in the first round since 2001. The Chargers traded with Miami to move up to the 12th spot to select Mathews and also received the Dolphins’ fourth-round pick (No. 110) and their sixth-round pick (No. 173). Miami received the Chargers’ first (No. 28), second (No. 40) and fourth-round (No. 126) picks, as well as inside linebacker Tim Dobbins.

Without a pick in the second round because of the Mathews trade, General Manager A.J. Smith made another move in the third, trading with San Francisco to move up 12 spots to select inside linebacker Donald Butler from the University of Washington at No. 79 overall. A two-year starter for the resurgent Huskies, the 6-1, 245-pound Butler racked up 238 tackles during his UW career, including 28 tackles for loss and four sacks. In the trade, the 49ers received the Chargers’ third-round pick in this year’s draft (No. 91), the sixth-round pick that was acquired from Miami in the Mathews trade (No. 173), and the Chargers’ fourth-round pick in 2011.

To open the third and final day of the draft, the Chargers selected strong safety Darrell Stuckey of Kansas with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round. The 5-11, 205-pounder played both safety spots for the Jayhawks but the Chargers envision him as a strong safety. He is comfortable playing down in the box as evidenced by his 295 career tackles, including 11 behind the line of scrimmage. Stuckey was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 choice at KU.

There was more trade movement for the Chargers in the fifth-round as Smith swapped picks with Philadelphia, moving up 13 spots to select massive defensive tackle Cam Thomas from North Carolina at pick No. 146. The 6-4, 330-pound Thomas anchored the ACC’s top-ranked and the NCAA’s 10th-ranked run defense in 2010. In exchange for the 146th pick, the Eagles received the Chargers fifth-rounder (No. 159) and the Bolts’ fifth in 2011.

The Chargers were awarded a compensatory pick by the NFL in the fifth round and used that pick to select quarterback Jonathan Crompton, a 6-3, 222-pounder from the University of Tennessee. As a senior in 2009, Crompton passed for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions for the Volunteers. The Chargers needed a third quarterback to replace Charlie Whitehurst, who was traded to Seattle on March 18.

With their sixth and final pick in the weekend’s NFL Draft, the Chargers selected tight end Dedrick (DEE-drick) Epps from the University of Miami in the seventh round (235th overall). A two-year starter and a four-year contributor, Epps lined up at tight end, H-back and fullback for the ’Canes and finished his career with 49 catches, 634 yards and six touchdowns.

Chargers move up in 3rd round to take Butler

SAN DIEGO—The San Diego Chargers have traded up in the third round of the NFL draft to take Washington inside linebacker Donald Butler with the 79th pick overall.

The pick is somewhat surprising, considering that the Chargers had a bigger need for a defensive tackle.

Butler was a two-year starter for the Huskies. He’s likely the replacement for Tim Dobbins, who was sent to Miami on Thursday as part of the deal that allowed the Chargers to move up 16 spots in the first round to take Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews with the 12th overall pick.

Ahh yeaah! Say hello to the fututre...

Source: SD Tribune

The Chargers got the running back they wanted, and Ryan Mathews got the team he wanted.

“It’s really unbelievable,” Mathews, seemingly still in shock, said shortly after the Chargers made him the 12th pick in Thursday night’s NFL draft. “It’s a dream come true.”

Mathews followed the Chargers and wore No. 21 at West High School in Bakersfield and Fresno State in honor of LaDainian Tomlinson, the man he will replace in the Chargers backfield.

“He’s my favorite running back,” Mathews said. “It’s hard. You can’t fill shoes like that. … There is a lot of pressure, especially after LT … I have to go in with my own mindset and play ball. I think I play good under pressure.”

To get Mathews, the Chargers paid a steep price to move up 16 spots in the first round.

They sent their first-round pick (No. 28), second-round pick (40), fourth-round pick (126) and linebacker Tim Dobbins to the Miami Dolphins and in addition to the 12th pick acquired the Dolphins’ fourth-round pick (110) and a sixth-round choice (173).

“We can say anything we want,” Chargers head coach Norv Turner said. “When you see this guy play, you’re going to understand why we made the deal we did.”

Mathews, who is 5-foot-111/2 and 218 pounds, led the nation as a junior last season with an average of 157.5 yards per game and averaged 6.55 yards per carry. He was slowed by various injuries, missing eight games over three seasons. A concussion sidelined him for one game last year.

He declared early for the draft and was immediately identified as the second-best back available. But the Chargers had him and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller rated well above the rest of the running back class.

In seeking to move up, the Chargers began with the Dolphins, who wanted a second-round pick after trading theirs to Denver as part of the Brandon Marshall deal. Over the course of the past few days, the sides hammered out the rest of the deal. It was the 40th pick, which the Chargers acquired as part of a deal with Seattle last month for quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, that was key.

As it turned out, the Chargers likely had to make the move in order to get Mathews.

Spiller was selected ninth, by the Buffalo Bills. That meant he would not be available to the Seahawks, who had reportedly coveted him, at No. 14.

“We could either wait for the player, or a player we really wanted we could go get,” said Jimmy Raye, the Chargers’ director of player personnel. “And instead of waiting to see if he was going to go to someone else before we picked, we decided to put a package together and see if Miami would take it. They did, and we went up and got the player instead of sitting there thinking, ‘Gosh, is a player going to fall all the way to us?’ and then not get the player that we coveted.”

The Houston Texans, who picked 20th, had long been reported to be interested in Mathews as well.

“There was some talk about Houston, and it started to scare me,” Mathews said. “I’m lucky and blessed (the Chargers) traded up, and I’m super excited.”

The Chargers had identified running back as their No. 1 priority, but it was thought they could wait until the second round or later, or that they might make a trade for a veteran as they attempt to move on from the mostly spectacular nine-year LT era.

Instead, they went and got a player Raye and Turner last night made the bold step of comparing in various ways to Tomlinson.

“They have some similarities,” Raye said.

Turner was here as offensive coordinator in 2001 when the Chargers traded down four spots in the first round and drafted Tomlinson with the fifth overall pick.

“I know how excited I was that day,” Turner said. “And I’m very excited to get Ryan … I think he’s extremely special. I think he’s a complete back — physical, fast, he’s got great feet, great vision. He is complete in terms of catching the football.

“And I’m thrilled to get him here, I know our offensive line is going to be thrilled to get him here. I think Ryan is going to be excited when he gets around our guys. He knows we’re a good football team, he knows we’re a very good offensive football team, and I think when he sees our offensive line, he’ll know that we’re outstanding in the offensive line and that he’s going to have the opportunity to do some special things here.”

While he has moved up to take players he targeted in later rounds — Eric Weddle in the second round in 2007 and Jacob Hester in the third round in 2008 — it was the first time in his eight drafts as general manager that A.J. Smith moved up in the first round.

Late Thursday, Smith talked about what prompted the move.

“I think the player is special,” Smith said. “I think he’s a championship-level back. He can run, he can catch, he can block. He’s physical. He’s got home run speed. … We’re not just going to twiddle our thumbs and hope that a player of Ryan Mathews’ stature falls to the Chargers.”

New 2010-2011 Schedule

http://www.nfl.com/schedules/interactive#/team=SD