David Canter, the agent for Chargers S Eric Weddle, tells Kevin Acee of the Union Tribuneย that his client plans to play out the final year of his contract and move on to a team that actually appreciates him.
โHe will play his final 16 games as a Charger as a free safety โ nothing else,โ Canter said. โโฆ His going above and beyond for them is why they wonโt give him a contract extension.โ
โItโs blatantly obvious after me asking the team time and again to extend us that Eric isnโt wanted,โ Canter added. โSo itโs time for Eric to move on (to) where he can win and is wanted.โ
Acee writes the Chargers are basicallyย using their overuse of Weddleย against him, which Canter referred to asย โdisgusting.โ
A team source indicated to Acee on Monday that San Diegoย would be inclined to try to keep Weddle in 2016.. However, they appear to be willing to hedge that Weddle’s askingย price wonโt go up in a competitive free agent market and he’ll still be amenable to discussing an extension next year.
Chargers HC Mike McCoy reportedlyย told the players to essentially move on without Weddle and players who are unhappy with their current agreementsย shouldnโt bail on theย team.
According to Acee, this messageย came across to some veterans as “highly inappropriate.”
It’s really strange to see how this situation is playing out, given that the Chargers had said previously that they wanted to lock up Weddle, who has been a very committed member of the team of the course of his career.
Weddle, 30, is entering the final year of hisย five-year, $40 million contractย that includedย $19 million guaranteed. He stands to make a base salary of $7.5 million for the 2015 season.
In 2014, Weddle appeared in all 16 games and recorded 114 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles and eight pass defenses.ย Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 1ย safetyย out of 87 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding Weddle and the Chargers as the news is available.
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