SAN DIEGO — The agent for Vincent Jackson said Wednesday that the San Diego Chargers have given him the impression they aren’t inclined to trade the Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Unhappy that he hasn’t been given a long-term deal, Jackson hasn’t signed the one-year, $3,268,000 contract he was tendered as a restricted free agent. When he didn’t sign the tender by June 15, the Chargers were entitled to offer him 110 percent of his 2009 salary, essentially loping $2.5 million off the tender. Because of that, Jackson might sit out the entire season.
The Seattle Seahawks said last week they were given permission by the Chargers to talk to Jackson’s representatives about a trade. Jackson’s agent, Neil Schwartz, told The Associated Press that news of those talks prompted a half dozen other teams to contact him. He said he told them he didn’t have permission to talk to them and referred them to the Chargers.
Schwartz said he spoke with Chargers negotiator Ed McGuire on Tuesday, offering to help facilitate a trade. He said he was told there are certain teams the Chargers don’t want Jackson traded to.
Schwartz said he asked for the list of teams the Chargers would trade Jackson to, and what compensation they wanted in exchange for the receiver.
“They said ‘no’ to both,” said Schwartz, who added that his discussion with McGuire was cordial.
“After my conversation with Ed McGuire, I got the impression it didn’t seem like they had any inclination to trade V.J.,” the agent said.
Schwartz said he and the Seahawks didn’t discuss money, only philosophy. He said the discussion did include other wideouts comparable to Jackson.
Jackson had 68 catches for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns last year, his second-straight 1,000-yard season. At 6-foot-5, he gave Philip Rivers another enticing target to go along with Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates.
Schwartz declined to comment on where the talks are with the Seahawks, or what other teams are interested in Jackson.
If nothing develops with Seattle, Schwartz isn’t sure what’s next.
“There’s nothing you can do,” Schwartz said. “They have the kid’s rights. You’ve got to ask the Chargers.”
McGuire declined comment. “We’re not talking about Vincent Jackson,” he said.
General manager A.J. Smith didn’t return calls.
The Chargers and Seahawks were trading partners in April, and San Diego got the better end of the deal. San Diego sent third-string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst to Seattle for a second-round draft pick this year and a 2011 pick, believed to be a third-rounder, a rather high price for a player who has yet to throw a pass in the NFL.
Jackson’s original five-year contract has expired. Because this is an uncapped year, he would have needed six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent.
Jackson has been suspended by the NFL for the first three games of the 2010 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He pleaded guilty in February to his second DUI since 2006.
Additionally, Smith has placed Jackson and left tackle Marcus McNeill on the roster exempt list, meaning they’ll be suspended for three games once they sign their contract tenders. McNeill has not signed his tender for $3,168,000. Like Jackson, McNeill wants a long-term deal and has also forfeited $2.5 million in pay.
If Jackson and McNeill do report, it likely would be for the final six games so they can be credited for a season.
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