Vincent Jackson stuck in San Diego
Wide receiver Vincent Jackson remains a San Diego Charger against his will, in a holdout which is hurting both sides.
The Chargers had until Wednesday at 1pm to trade Jackson in order to avoid having the receiver sit out six games. Jackson has to serve a three-game suspension for a DWI in the off-season and a further three games for being placed on the roster exempt list after
refusing to sign a one-year tender from the Chargers.
The league had ruled that if Jackson was signed by another team before the Wednesday deadline, then his roster exempt suspension would be reduced from three games to one, meaning he could play in week five. Since the deadline has now passed, Jackson will be
ineligable to play before week seven of the season.
Agent Neil Schwartz confirmed there were multiple teams, whom he declined to name, interested in Jackson, but that the Chargers were asking for a, "wholly unreasonable," return for the Pro Bowl wide receiver. Schwartz said that another GM told him that Chargers
general manager A.J. Smith was, "squatting," on Jackson, and never intended to trade him.
The Minnesota Vikings are believed to be the team leading the pack of suitors for Jackson as they look to replace the injured Sidney Rice. The Washington Redskins were also rumoured to be in the mix.
It is believed that the Chargers were asking for a second and third round pick in the 2011 draft, a steep price for a player that could leave the team he was traded to after this season.
By not trading Jackson before the deadline, thus making him eligable for only 10 games this season, the Chargers will probably be looking at much less than they are asking for if they do trade him.
Jackson's entry level cotract ran out after last season, but since this is an uncapped year he needed to have played six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent. Since he had only played five, the Chargers retained his rights.
Jackson has repeatedly said that he is happy in San Diego, but wants to be signed to a long term contract. The Chargers were only willing to offer him a one-year tender worth $3.269 million. When he didn't sign the tender by June 15, the Chargers were entitled
to offer him %110 of his 2009 salaries.
If he is not traded, the suspensions to Jackson could be irrelevant, as his agent has said that he will not play for the Chargers under the terms of the tender.
"Not now, not ever," Schwartz said.
It's starting to look like Jackson will have to follow through on these threats not to play, but is clearly upset by the whole situation.
Jackson made a statement via text message to NFL.com after the Wednesday deadline passed.
"I just don't understand why (a trade wasn't completed)," he wrote. "They obviously think I'm a valuable player by asking for such high trade compensation, but why am I only offered tender salary?
"My agents and teams interested did everything to make it happen, but this organization stopped it. I just want to play football. It feels unethical and I am disappointed."
It certainly seems as though the Chargers are the ones holding up a deal for Jackson. According to his agent, contracts with a potential new team were all drawn up, only for the Chargers demands to scupper the deal.
"All Vincent had to do was put his John Hancock on it," Schwartz said. "From a contract standpoint, it was done. There were two teams that were very involved, but the general managers I spoke to said that what A.J. (Smith, the Chargers' GM) was asking for was
totally unreasonable. They said dealing with him was like dealing with 'The Lord of No Rings.'"
"The Lord of No Rings" is a nickname that was give to A.J. Smith by North County Times columnist Jay Paris after Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, who were drafted in the same class as Philip Rivers, won Super Bowls with their respective teams. On that draft
day Smith traded Eli Manning for Philip Rivers and draft picks. Rivers has yet to play in a Super Bowl.
Rivers told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he hopes everything works out for Jackson.
"I wish him all the best," Rivers said. "I'd love to get the opportunity to throw to him again, but if that's not the case, I want it to work out for him."
A chargers spokesman refused to comment to NFL.com about anything pertaining to Jackson.
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