San Diego Chargers sign safety Bob Sanders on one-year deal
Former Indianapolis Colts strong safety, Bob Sanders toured all over the National Football League (NFL) and teased a number of teams, before finally settling with the San Diego Chargers late on Thursday night. Before signing a contract with the Chargers,
Sanders met with the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys.
The safety was released by Indianapolis despite having two more years on his contract. Sanders signed the five-year extension with the Colts in 2007 for $37.5 million. Sanders received $2.5 million for the 2010 season although he missed most of it. Sanders
played only one game in the 2010 season due to a serious tear in his right bicep.
Sanders has reportedly signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers. The financial details of the contract have not been released. “We are all very excited to add Bob Sanders to our defence,” Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. He added,
“We have always held him in high regard. He’s a smart, physical, instinctive player. His intensity and playmaking ability can make an immediate impact on our defence.” However, all that depends on whether he can stay fit.
The former defensive player of the year was able to play just two games in 2009 and six in 2008. That’s a total of nine regular season games in three seasons, but when he did almost play a full season, he was named the defensive player of the year and the
Colts won the Super Bowl that year.
The Chargers should prepare for the possibility that Sanders might not be their strong safety in the 2011 season even though he is on the roster. The Chargers were the best ranked defence against the pass and Sanders addition to the team will only make them
better.
Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner said that he was excited about having Bob play for him. He said, “Our guys have unbelievable respect for him and what he’s done through the years.” Turner added, “Certainly he (Sanders) knows what we’re capable of doing, so
it’s a great fit.”
If Sanders is able to play a full season, or even most of the season, he will make the best defence in the NFL even better. In his fully fit season with the Indianapolis Colts, Sanders was branded the Peyton Manning of the defence.
The Chargers are hoping to keep their roster intact during free agency and have placed a first round tender on safety Eric Weddle. There was speculation that Sanders signing could mean that Weddle would not return to play for the Chargers in 2011 but Weddle’s
agent, David Canter dispelled those rumours. Canter said, “Eric is excited. This is a tremendous pickup for San Diego. If Eric is in San Diego, he and Bob will make a great safety tandem.”
Weddle said that he was hopeful about returning to the Chargers in 2011 but acknowledged the possibility of signing with a different team if an offer is made in free agency. The Chargers haven’t tried to talk to Weddle about a contract extension and there
is the very real possibility that they might lose him to free agency.
If the Chargers lose Weddle and Sanders is once again injured in the regular season, San Diego will find itself in a very difficult situation. The best defence from 2010 might end up struggling in 2011.
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