Los Angeles Chargers Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

March 3rd, 2014 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

D’Qwell Jackson was very impressed after meeting with the Broncos, but isn’t ready to make a decision, tweets Mike Klis of the Denver Post. In another tweet, Klis mentions that Jackson is heading to Miami to meet with the Dolphins before also meeting with an unknown team. Jackson should make a decision by the end of the week, Klis says in a final tweet.

A couple of notes from around the AFC West…

Eric Decker is not an elite player and the Broncos likely won’t pay him like one, says Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com. According to Chadiha, Decker’s disappearance in the Super Bowl confirmed that Decker is a number two receiver, not a number one. The writer refers to a number of receivers who cashed in and then struggled with new teams, like Mike Wallace last season.
Chad Rinehart and Richard Marshall should receive attention from the Chargers, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. Neither player would break the bank and they’d also fill holes in the team’s lineup, Williams says.
The Chiefs signed receiver Weston Dressler about a month ago, and Adam Teicher of ESPN.com warns to not overlook the acquisition. Teicher says that Dressler is insurance in case the team cannot retain free agent Dexter McCluster, but he also quotes coach Andy Reid saying “If you told me I could have two Dexter McClusters, that would be a good thing. I wouldn’t mind that at all.’’

Chargers Restructure Eddie Royal’s Contract

March 3rd, 2014 at 7:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chargers have restructured the contract of wide receiver Eddie Royal, reports Michael Gehlkin of the U-T San Diego. The receiver was set to make $4.5MM in base salary next salary, with $6MM counting against the cap. Given the high number, Royal’s return to San Diego was questionable. It appears that question has been answered, although the specifics of the new deal are not yet known.

Royal was entering the final season of his contract and it’s unknown whether the restructuring will extend Royal’s deal. Cutting Royal would have saved the team $4.5MM in cap room, but would have cost the team $1.5MM in dead money.

Gehlkin believes that Royal’s restructuring may have helped in the Chargers keeping linebacker Donald Butler, who announced his re-signing with the team last week. Gehlkin refers to a Butler tweet to Royal from earlier today: “preciate u restructuring urs for me bruh!” Royal responded by tweeting “worked out for both of us.”

Royal had 47 catches for 631 yards last season while also grabbing a career-high eight touchdowns.

Chargers Sign Cordarro Law

February 26th, 2014 at 3:40pm CST by Luke Adams

FEBRUARY 26: The Chargers have officially finalized their deal with Law, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).

FEBRUARY 14: Linebacker Cordarro Law is set to make the jump to the NFL, having reached a deal with the Chargers, according to Farhan Lalji of TSN.ca (Twitter link). Neither the team nor the league has officially announced the move, but it appears the two sides are at least in agreement. A league source tells Lalji that Law will receive a signing bonus on his new deal.

Law, 25, drew NFL interest this winter after a standout season with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, in which the outside linebacker racked up 14 sacks. The Jaguars, Patriots, and Ravens were among the teams who auditioned Law or at least had some interest in him this offseason, according to various reports. The former Southern Miss standout went undrafted in 2012 and was picked up by the Seahawks before being cut and heading north of the border.

Packers Sign Michael Hill

February 26th, 2014 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

FEBRUARY 26: Hill’s deal with the Packers is now official, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

FEBRUARY 19: A little over a week after he was released by the Buccaneers, running back Michael Hill is heading back to his former team, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Packers have agreed to terms on a new contract with Hill, likely giving him a chance to earn a roster spot on the 2014 squad.

Hill, 24, started the 2013 season on the Packers’ practice squad, and was added to the team’s active roster when Eddie Lacy and John Kuhn went down with injuries early in the season. After Hill rejoined the practice squad, he was signed away by Tampa Bay, where he saw limited action in the season’s second half with the Bucs. When Tampa waived Hill last week, the young running back drew interest from the Chargers, Colts, and 49ers, according to agent Harold Lewis, but he ultimately decided to return to Green Bay.

“He felt like that was home for him,” Lewis told Silverstein. “That’s where he wanted to be.”

Terms of Hill’s new deal aren’t known, but it figures to be a minimum-salary reserve/futures contract.

AFC West Notes: Watkins, Pryor, Chiefs

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here’s a few notes from the AFC West focusing on the draft and free agency:

Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins is an option for the Raiders with the fifth overall pick, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Watkins ran a 4.43 40-yard-dash, which was somewhat disappointing, but Bair doesn’t expect it to affect his draft stock. The Raiders have a history of selecting big, speedy receivers, and some believe Watkins could have the same type of immediate effect that A.J. Green and Julio Jones did in their rookie seasons.
In his latest mailbag, ESPN.com’s Paul Guiterrez notes that quarterback Terrelle Pryor could become trade bait. Coach Dennis Allen specifically noted that fellow QB Matt McGloin has a future with the Raiders, but made no such declaration about Pryor.
Guiterrez also reports that Raiders offensive lineman Mike Brisiel could be released, if he doesn’t retire first.
Eric Berry is a candidate for a contract extension with the Chiefs, writes Adam Teichel of ESPN.com. Berry is heading into the final season of his current deal.
Teichel goes on to note that the Chiefs could probably re-sign both free agent offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah for what it would cost to retain tackle Branden Albert, also a free agent. However, Schwartz wants to be a starter, and will likely not accept an offer to return as a backup.
The Chiefs would only consider drafting a quarterback if things looked bleak regarding an Alex Smith extension, says Teichel.
The wide receiver draft class is deep, which is a positive for the Chargers as they look for a play-maker to pair with Keenan Allen, writes ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams.

Nick Hardwick Plans On Being Back

February 22nd, 2014 at 5:31pm CST by Peter Sowards

Despite rumors to the contrary, Chargers center Nick Hardwick told Ricky Henne of Chargers.com that he has every intention of playing his 11th season.

“I plan on being back next year and giving them hell again,” Hardwick said. “I look forward to having fun with the guys, stirring up the city and doing some damage across the league.”

Hardwick said he never mentioned retirement and he just wanted to have some time to assess where he’s at and how he’s playing. Eric D. Williams, who covers the Chargers for ESPN, said Hardwick is in the final year of a three-year deal and is due to earn $4.4MM in total compensation.

Chargers GM Tom Telesco said yesterday that the team has been planning for Hardwick’s return, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “We’re expecting him to play next year until told otherwise,” Telesco said. “Obviously, he’s a big part of the offensive line. A true team leader, a rock inside, and a guy we’d definitely love to have back.”

Gehlken also touched on receiver Malcom Floyd, who, like Hardwick, has spent the entirety of his 10-year career in San Diego. Floyd suffered a neck injury in September and his future is still undetermined.

AFC Notes: Dolphins, Colts, Chargers

February 21st, 2014 at 10:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Some information from around the American Football Conference…

The Dolphins are unlikely to offer the franchise tag to cornerback Brent Grimes, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. While many, including NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, thought it was a given that Grimes would receive the tag, it appears the Dolphins don’t want to commit the $11.3MM figure it would take to automatically bring the 30-year-old back.
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson responded “yes” when asked if he would repeat the Trent Richardson deal, writes Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. The Colts surrendered the 26th pick for Richardson, who ran for only 458 yards in 14 games for Indy.
The Chargers are still awaiting decisions from center Nick Hardwick and receiver Malcolm Floyd on whether the players will retire, writes Michael Gehlkin of the U-T San Diego. Hardwick just finished his tenth NFL campaign while Floyd’s season ended in September when he suffered a neck injury.
The Ravens met with a variety of offensive prospects at the NFL Combine. The team was scheduled to meet with running back Terrance West on Friday night, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The Ravens’ running back depth may be in a bit of a bind, and there’s no denying West’s talent after he ran for 2,509 yards and 42 total touchdowns last season. Wilson also says that the Ravens met with running backs Carlos Hyde (Ohio State), Andre Williams (Boston College) and Ka’Deem Carey (Arizona).
The Ravens also met with receiver Kelvin Benjamin, says Wilson. The six-foot-five wideout from Florida State caught 15 touchdowns last season.

Extra Points: Wheeler, Grimes, Chargers, Gore

February 21st, 2014 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

There have been some rumblings at the combine that the Dolphins could cut linebacker Philip Wheeler, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, who adds (via Twitter) that the Raiders would be “very interested” in bringing Wheeler back to Oakland if he were available. Still, I’d be pretty surprised if Miami decided to part ways with Wheeler. With several years of prorated bonus money still left on his deal, the Dolphins wouldn’t create any cap savings by releasing the 29-year-old this offseason.

As the Dolphins weigh that decision, let’s check out a handful of other updates from across the NFL….

Cornerback Brent Grimes had been viewed as a candidate to be designated as the Dolphins’ franchise player this offseason. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com now hears that tagging Grimes may not be a realistic solution for Miami at a cost of about $11.3MM (Twitter link).
Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com provides a few of the notable quotes from Chargers GM Tom Telesco during his Thurday sesssion with reporters. Telesco acknowledged that the team isn’t exactly “flush with cap space,” suggesting there will be some tough decisions to make in the next several weeks.
In his comments to the media today, there were no indications that GM Trent Baalke and the 49ers will ask Frank Gore to take a pay cut for 2014, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
After spending big in free agency a year ago, the Colts plan to be more judicious with their spending this offseason, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star.
According to ESPN.com’s David Newton, the time may be right for the Panthers to draft a QB to back up Cam Newton.
The Ravens met with a pair of top-five OT draft prospects – Zack Martin and Taylor Lewan – at the combine, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
In an interview with Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press, former All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens suggested he still thinks he’s capable of playing in the NFL at age 40. In spite of T.O.’s confidence, I wouldn’t expect to see him sign with an NFL team anytime soon.

AFC Notes: Monroe, Texans, Jaguars, Talib

February 19th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

As we heard earlier this week, re-signing offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will be a priority for the Ravens this offseason. However, the team shouldn’t expect to bring back Monroe at a discount. As Chris Wesseling of NFL.com details, Monroe recently told WNST-AM in Baltimore that he intends to maximize his value — either on the open market in March, or before that, if he and the Ravens can reach an agreement.

“Everyone in the business should understand – even coaches when they’re going through their deals negotiating contracts – you have to get the absolute best because you put forth your best effort all the time, every single day in this league,” Monroe said. “So there are definitely no discounts, and you have to have you and your family’s best interests at heart in terms of negotiating these deals.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

League sources “increasingly believe” that the Texans are leaning toward Johnny Manziel with the first overall pick, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, who hears that the team has been “quietly falling in lust” with the Texas A&M signal-caller. With over two and a half months still to go until the draft though, nothing is close to being set in stone yet.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com spoke extensively to Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell about his team’s future, and the piece produced several noteworthy quotes from the Jacksonville GM. Among them: Caldwell suggested he’d rather deal with the backlash for not drafting a quarterback third overall in May than pick the wrong guy.
While it’s still possible that the Redskins will make a play for free-agent-to-be Aqib Talib, their new contract agreement with DeAngelo Hall reduces their need for a cornerback, which could be good news for the Patriots, as Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes.
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune explores whether Eric Decker might be for a fit for the Chargers, but concludes that the free agent receiver figures to be too expensive for San Diego.
In an open letter to Joe Philbin, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald questions why the Dolphins’ head coach has been silent throughout the offseason, even since the publication of the Ted Wells report.

AFC West Notes: Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs

February 17th, 2014 at 10:25am CST by Rob DiRe

The play of the Seahawks’ secondary during their Super Bowl run has the NFL trending toward bigger defensive backs, and the Chargers are one team targeting tall corners in the draft, writes ESPN Insider Kevin Weidl (subscription required). He mentions that there are quite a few corners standing at six feet or taller, and picks out Clemson’s Bashaud Breeland as a possible target. Here are some other notes from around the AFC West:

The Chargers will make re-signing Donald Butler a priority this offseason, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. The team would like to come to an agreement on a long term contract before the start of free agency. Williams writes that the Chargers could consider using the non-exclusive franchise tag on him, which although it carries more than $10MM in salary, it will give them a chance to continue to work on a multi-year contract.
The Raiders also have to consider whether or not to use the franchise tag this offseason, according to Chris McClain of Silver and Black Report. The most likely candidate would be left tackle Jared Veldheer, but top passrusher Lamarr Houston is a possibility as well.
The Chiefs would like to clear some extra cap space in order to further improve their roster, but there aren’t many veterans who would be logical cap casualties, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. He writes that the biggest savings would come from Tamba Hali, Brandon Flowers, and Eric Berry, but notes that those players are too productive to let go. Dwayne Bowe and Sean Smith would make more sense on the field, but financially are not options for release.

Los Angeles Chargers News & Rumors