Post by scorpion42 on Feb 19, 2009 10:33:36 GMT -7
Sproles gets franchise tag; LT signing next?
Former MVP, Bolts to talk new contract
By Kevin Acee
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. February 19, 2009
Darren Sproles
INDIANAPOLIS — The Chargers officially commenced their offseason dealings yesterday by designating running back and kick returner Darren Sproles as their franchise player.
“We felt uncomfortable with the unknown of him going to the (free agent) market,” General Manager A.J. Smith said.
As the franchise player, Sproles will make $6.62 million in 2009 – that is, unless he and the team work out a multiyear contract.
“We would like to have a long-term deal,” Smith said.
Sproles did not return a phone message yesterday, but he has said several times that he wants to stay in San Diego.
The signing of Sproles is the first half of what the Chargers hope is a running back double this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.
At some point over the next five days, likely by the end of the weekend, they will meet with the agent for LaDainian Tomlinson to present their terms of a restructured contract.
The team determined months ago that it could not go forward with Tomlinson making his 2009 salary of $6.725 million, which carries an $8.79 million cap number because of the prorated portion of his 2004 signing bonus.
With plans to attempt to re-sign quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates, among others, over the next several months, the Chargers would like the flexibility (in actual money and room under the salary cap) that reducing Tomlinson's contract would provide.
“The whole thing starts with both running backs,” Smith said. “From there it trickles down to all sorts of stuff.”
Regardless of what happens with Tomlinson, the Chargers plan to use Sproles in a similar manner to which he was used the past two seasons, though his role will be expanded slightly from scrimmage.
Sproles, 25, finished 2008 with 61 carries for 330 yards and 29 receptions for 342 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs. He also averaged 11.3 yards on punt returns and 26.0 yards on kick returns, both eighth in the NFL.
His 602 all-purpose yards in the Chargers' two playoff games were most in a two-game span in postseason history.
Sproles receiving the franchise designation has no effect on negotiating with Tomlinson. However, it certainly would benefit the Chargers to reach an agreement on a multiyear deal with Sproles, because spreading out the guaranteed money would lessen the 2009 cap hit.
The Chargers likely will meet with Sproles' agent this week to begin discussing a deal.
While the non-exclusive franchise tag specifies that any team that signs Sproles would have to give the Chargers two first-round picks, the reality is the Chargers and whoever signed Sproles would certainly work out a trade for less.
“We could entertain a deal with another club,” Smith said. “You would entertain anything that came our way.”
As for Tomlinson, team sources vowed this week that the Chargers' proposed renegotiation would be a sincere effort to keep the future Hall of Famer. Sources also reiterated that he will be released if no new deal is reached.
Tomlinson's contract runs through 2011, but numerous league observers, including some inside the Chargers organization and close to Tomlinson, believe 2009 would be his last year with the Chargers if the sides work out a renegotiation. Tomlinson will turn 31 just before the 2010 season and has been bothered by injuries late the past two Januaries.
Contemplating the possibility of Tomlinson being released if the sides don't agree on a new deal, one source close to Tomlinson said, “I think they'd be doing that a year too early.”
Agents polled in recent weeks suggested the Chargers will offer Tomlinson at least $3 million in 2009 with a heavy dose of incentives that would enable him to recoup a portion or all of the $6.725 million he was scheduled to make next season.
“Why renegotiate the last two years right now?” one agent asked. “Just redo '09 at $3 (million) or $4 (million) and let him earn it back in incentives.”
One agent who has negotiated several large contracts suggested the incentives be based on yards at $500,000 increments, with the potential for Tomlinson to make more than he was scheduled to make.
“It goes beyond the $6.725 if he has a monster year,” the agent said.
The deal does not have to include an up-front bonus as part of the reduction, but two agents believed it should.
“He is LT,” one agent said. “He's done a lot for your team.”
The Chargers hope to do a lot for themselves in this year's draft, for which preparations begin the final stretch this week at the Combine.
They have six picks in April's draft and will add two compensatory picks (expected to be a third-and fourth-round pick or two fourths) for losing Michael Turner and Drayton Florence to free agency last year.
The fact that the Chargers pick 16th in the first round – highest since they selected 12th in 2005 – and have a few holes in their roster that could benefit from a starter being taken there, has fans more intrigued than in recent years. But the team will approach this week's evaluation the same as always.
“Same routine, same people, same approach,” Smith said. “The only thing that might be different is a little more activity.”
Former MVP, Bolts to talk new contract
By Kevin Acee
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. February 19, 2009
Darren Sproles
INDIANAPOLIS — The Chargers officially commenced their offseason dealings yesterday by designating running back and kick returner Darren Sproles as their franchise player.
“We felt uncomfortable with the unknown of him going to the (free agent) market,” General Manager A.J. Smith said.
As the franchise player, Sproles will make $6.62 million in 2009 – that is, unless he and the team work out a multiyear contract.
“We would like to have a long-term deal,” Smith said.
Sproles did not return a phone message yesterday, but he has said several times that he wants to stay in San Diego.
The signing of Sproles is the first half of what the Chargers hope is a running back double this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.
At some point over the next five days, likely by the end of the weekend, they will meet with the agent for LaDainian Tomlinson to present their terms of a restructured contract.
The team determined months ago that it could not go forward with Tomlinson making his 2009 salary of $6.725 million, which carries an $8.79 million cap number because of the prorated portion of his 2004 signing bonus.
With plans to attempt to re-sign quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates, among others, over the next several months, the Chargers would like the flexibility (in actual money and room under the salary cap) that reducing Tomlinson's contract would provide.
“The whole thing starts with both running backs,” Smith said. “From there it trickles down to all sorts of stuff.”
Regardless of what happens with Tomlinson, the Chargers plan to use Sproles in a similar manner to which he was used the past two seasons, though his role will be expanded slightly from scrimmage.
Sproles, 25, finished 2008 with 61 carries for 330 yards and 29 receptions for 342 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs. He also averaged 11.3 yards on punt returns and 26.0 yards on kick returns, both eighth in the NFL.
His 602 all-purpose yards in the Chargers' two playoff games were most in a two-game span in postseason history.
Sproles receiving the franchise designation has no effect on negotiating with Tomlinson. However, it certainly would benefit the Chargers to reach an agreement on a multiyear deal with Sproles, because spreading out the guaranteed money would lessen the 2009 cap hit.
The Chargers likely will meet with Sproles' agent this week to begin discussing a deal.
While the non-exclusive franchise tag specifies that any team that signs Sproles would have to give the Chargers two first-round picks, the reality is the Chargers and whoever signed Sproles would certainly work out a trade for less.
“We could entertain a deal with another club,” Smith said. “You would entertain anything that came our way.”
As for Tomlinson, team sources vowed this week that the Chargers' proposed renegotiation would be a sincere effort to keep the future Hall of Famer. Sources also reiterated that he will be released if no new deal is reached.
Tomlinson's contract runs through 2011, but numerous league observers, including some inside the Chargers organization and close to Tomlinson, believe 2009 would be his last year with the Chargers if the sides work out a renegotiation. Tomlinson will turn 31 just before the 2010 season and has been bothered by injuries late the past two Januaries.
Contemplating the possibility of Tomlinson being released if the sides don't agree on a new deal, one source close to Tomlinson said, “I think they'd be doing that a year too early.”
Agents polled in recent weeks suggested the Chargers will offer Tomlinson at least $3 million in 2009 with a heavy dose of incentives that would enable him to recoup a portion or all of the $6.725 million he was scheduled to make next season.
“Why renegotiate the last two years right now?” one agent asked. “Just redo '09 at $3 (million) or $4 (million) and let him earn it back in incentives.”
One agent who has negotiated several large contracts suggested the incentives be based on yards at $500,000 increments, with the potential for Tomlinson to make more than he was scheduled to make.
“It goes beyond the $6.725 if he has a monster year,” the agent said.
The deal does not have to include an up-front bonus as part of the reduction, but two agents believed it should.
“He is LT,” one agent said. “He's done a lot for your team.”
The Chargers hope to do a lot for themselves in this year's draft, for which preparations begin the final stretch this week at the Combine.
They have six picks in April's draft and will add two compensatory picks (expected to be a third-and fourth-round pick or two fourths) for losing Michael Turner and Drayton Florence to free agency last year.
The fact that the Chargers pick 16th in the first round – highest since they selected 12th in 2005 – and have a few holes in their roster that could benefit from a starter being taken there, has fans more intrigued than in recent years. But the team will approach this week's evaluation the same as always.
“Same routine, same people, same approach,” Smith said. “The only thing that might be different is a little more activity.”