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Chargers have work before free agency
Situations unsettled for key veterans under contract in 2014
A tone to this offseason was set in Denver.
The Chargers lost nickel cornerback Marcus Gilchrist to a fourth-quarter concussion. They moved cornerback Richard Marshall inside to take Gilchrist's spot in the slot. They needed someone to come off the bench for Marshall.
They had two options available.
One: a cornerback reporters met at a March press conference. He signed a four-year, $20 million contract, including $10.25 million guaranteed and a $5.2 million signing bonus. He started the first 11 games of the regular season.
Two: a cornerback picked up in September. He got no signing bonus. He was paid no guaranteed money. He earns the veteran minimum of about $500,000. He played two snaps on defense the past 13 games after, as an autumn signing, missing months of instruction.
In the playoffs, the Chargers chose No. 2.
San Diego has 14 scheduled free agents this offseason, 12 of which are unrestricted, but some of the team's biggest personnel questions relate to players contractually tied to their roster. How well can outside linebacker Dwight Freeney recover from a severe leg injury? Will center Nick Hardwick choose retirement? May wide receiver Malcom Floyd be forced to?
And what is there to do about cornerback Derek Cox?
Crezdon Butler, option two, got the call Jan. 12 over the Chargers' highest-priced free agency acquisition in 2013. After making the first 11 starts — and being benched in three of the final four — Cox played nine defensive snaps over the final seven games.
Free agents
Unrestricted (12)
• WR Seyi Ajirotutu
• WR Danario Alexander
• RB Ronnie Brown
• LB Donald Butler
• WR Lavelle Hawkins
• CB Richard Marshall
• G/C Rich Ohrnberger
• G Chad Rinehart
• S Darrell Stuckey
• NT Cam Thomas
• LB Reggie Walker
• QB Charlie Whitehurst
Exclusive rights (2)
• LB Bront Bird
• G Steve Schilling
His primary role came on special teams, taking 53 such snaps in that span.
Although, based on how the season ended, it is difficult to conceive Cox returns in 2014, General Manager Tom Telesco has no reason to throw cold water on the idea, at least publicly. Cox is due a $4.25 million base salary that becomes fully guaranteed on March 13, the third day of the league year, if on the roster at that time with his current contract structure.
Cox's release would save $4.25 million in cash and up to $4.25 million against the 2014 cap while creating $3.9 million in total dead money.
San Diego has $7.75 million in 2014 dead money devoted to two free agency misfires from the previous regime, tackle Jared Gaither and wide receiver Robert Meachem. The team could release Cox with a post-June 1 designation, pushing $2.6 million of the $3.9 million cap hit into 2015.
Or it could give Cox more time.
Despite his initial struggles in San Diego, Cox has a larger body of work that first attracted Telesco to pursue him.
“Sometimes you sign free agents and they flourish right away. Sometimes, it takes time,” Telesco said. “I think Derek would be the first to tell you he didn't reach his standard of play this year. We didn't get the intended results from him this year, but I can tell you one thing: his focus never waned and his work ethic never stopped. ...
"There are no absolutes but sometimes guys need some time. That's why free agency is so hard. (When) you take someone out of one environment and put them into another, not all the time are they going to flourish right away, so we will continue to work with him. This isn't the first time we have ever seen a free agent go from one team to another and have some bumps in the road right off the bat."
There are unrestricted free agents the Chargers will place a priority to re-sign.
A deal with inside linebacker Donald Butler seems likely to happen before he hits the market March 11 at 1 p.m. PST. Special teams gunner Darrell Stuckey, guard Chad Rinehart, center-guard Rich Ohrnberger and linebacker Reggie Walker are among other free agents who had key roles in 2013.
But what becomes of such Chargers under contract like Cox will lay the groundwork for much of this offseason.
The medical opinions Floyd receives regarding a September season-ending neck injury will define the Chargers' need at wide receiver. Same goes at edge rusher with Freeney's recovery from quad tendon surgery and at center, where Hardwick just completed his 10th NFL season.
In Denver, the tone was set.
Chargers have work before free agency
Situations unsettled for key veterans under contract in 2014
A tone to this offseason was set in Denver.
The Chargers lost nickel cornerback Marcus Gilchrist to a fourth-quarter concussion. They moved cornerback Richard Marshall inside to take Gilchrist's spot in the slot. They needed someone to come off the bench for Marshall.
They had two options available.
One: a cornerback reporters met at a March press conference. He signed a four-year, $20 million contract, including $10.25 million guaranteed and a $5.2 million signing bonus. He started the first 11 games of the regular season.
Two: a cornerback picked up in September. He got no signing bonus. He was paid no guaranteed money. He earns the veteran minimum of about $500,000. He played two snaps on defense the past 13 games after, as an autumn signing, missing months of instruction.
In the playoffs, the Chargers chose No. 2.
San Diego has 14 scheduled free agents this offseason, 12 of which are unrestricted, but some of the team's biggest personnel questions relate to players contractually tied to their roster. How well can outside linebacker Dwight Freeney recover from a severe leg injury? Will center Nick Hardwick choose retirement? May wide receiver Malcom Floyd be forced to?
And what is there to do about cornerback Derek Cox?
Crezdon Butler, option two, got the call Jan. 12 over the Chargers' highest-priced free agency acquisition in 2013. After making the first 11 starts — and being benched in three of the final four — Cox played nine defensive snaps over the final seven games.
Free agents
Unrestricted (12)
• WR Seyi Ajirotutu
• WR Danario Alexander
• RB Ronnie Brown
• LB Donald Butler
• WR Lavelle Hawkins
• CB Richard Marshall
• G/C Rich Ohrnberger
• G Chad Rinehart
• S Darrell Stuckey
• NT Cam Thomas
• LB Reggie Walker
• QB Charlie Whitehurst
Exclusive rights (2)
• LB Bront Bird
• G Steve Schilling
His primary role came on special teams, taking 53 such snaps in that span.
Although, based on how the season ended, it is difficult to conceive Cox returns in 2014, General Manager Tom Telesco has no reason to throw cold water on the idea, at least publicly. Cox is due a $4.25 million base salary that becomes fully guaranteed on March 13, the third day of the league year, if on the roster at that time with his current contract structure.
Cox's release would save $4.25 million in cash and up to $4.25 million against the 2014 cap while creating $3.9 million in total dead money.
San Diego has $7.75 million in 2014 dead money devoted to two free agency misfires from the previous regime, tackle Jared Gaither and wide receiver Robert Meachem. The team could release Cox with a post-June 1 designation, pushing $2.6 million of the $3.9 million cap hit into 2015.
Or it could give Cox more time.
Despite his initial struggles in San Diego, Cox has a larger body of work that first attracted Telesco to pursue him.
“Sometimes you sign free agents and they flourish right away. Sometimes, it takes time,” Telesco said. “I think Derek would be the first to tell you he didn't reach his standard of play this year. We didn't get the intended results from him this year, but I can tell you one thing: his focus never waned and his work ethic never stopped. ...
"There are no absolutes but sometimes guys need some time. That's why free agency is so hard. (When) you take someone out of one environment and put them into another, not all the time are they going to flourish right away, so we will continue to work with him. This isn't the first time we have ever seen a free agent go from one team to another and have some bumps in the road right off the bat."
There are unrestricted free agents the Chargers will place a priority to re-sign.
A deal with inside linebacker Donald Butler seems likely to happen before he hits the market March 11 at 1 p.m. PST. Special teams gunner Darrell Stuckey, guard Chad Rinehart, center-guard Rich Ohrnberger and linebacker Reggie Walker are among other free agents who had key roles in 2013.
But what becomes of such Chargers under contract like Cox will lay the groundwork for much of this offseason.
The medical opinions Floyd receives regarding a September season-ending neck injury will define the Chargers' need at wide receiver. Same goes at edge rusher with Freeney's recovery from quad tendon surgery and at center, where Hardwick just completed his 10th NFL season.
In Denver, the tone was set.
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