Chargers GM Tom Telesco explained their decision to allow S Eric Weddle to play out the final year of his contract and added that there’s no “sinister agenda” behind their approach to this situation.
“We do take great pride in how we treat our players here — players, coaches, scouts, staff — everyone in the organization,” Telesco said while appearing on The Mighty 1090 AM radio, via Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. “Anyone that’s been around the building the last couple years has seen that first hand.
“We said before the draft that we would talk after the draft. And we did. And we talked multiple times. We listened to their concerns about his current contract. We listened to their complaints about playing too much. And we read through their statistical analysis and their financial comparisons.”
“We went through all of that stuff. We just decided that we’re just not at their numbers right now. It’s really as simple as that. There’s no sinister agenda there, nothing like that. Just right now it’s not there.”
Telesco did say that their situation could change, but the concern is that Weddle is already being compensated at the top of the market.
“Each negotiation, each discussion is just different,” Telesco said. “In his case, he’s up there at the top of the market where he’s paid right now.”
Weddle’s agent, David Canter, mentioned previously that his client plans to play out the final year of his contract and move on to a team that actually appreciates him.
“He will play his final 16 games as a Charger as a free safety – nothing else,” Canter said. “… His going above and beyond for them is why they won’t give him a contract extension.”
“It’s blatantly obvious after me asking the team time and again to extend us that Eric isn’t wanted,” Canter added. “So it’s time for Eric to move on (to) where he can win and is wanted.”
Weddle, 30, is entering the final year of his five-year, $40 million contract that included $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. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 1 safety out of 87 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding Weddle and the Chargers as the news is available.
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