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The San Diego Chargers had their first practice of training camp yesterday, and first-round draft pick Antoine Cason wasn’t there.
And while Cason’s agent says the team and the player are getting close to a contract, the Chargers say the offer that’s currently on the table is the best offer Cason will get.
“Antoine and his agent, Ron Slavin, are viewing our offer,” Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. “When they call us and say they like it, they will be in. If they don’t like it, they will stay away. They are both making a big business decision right now. Talks have been great; [the] relationship is great. I hope things work out. If not, we will be disappointed and move on.”
Smith’s statement that the Chargers could just move on is a slightly less brash way of saying the same thing that Colts President Bill Polian said: The team is happy to tell the rookie to take it or leave it. As contracts for the top rookies continue to get more lucrative, it’s the teams near the bottom of the draft order, like the Colts and the Chargers, that are holding the line.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 am
i wonder whos gonna win this one, players or teams?
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July 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
Glad to see teams taking a stand on this one, but only because it benefits veteran players. “I could care less” about padding the pockets of ownership.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Wow, just take the pay and play ball.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 am
Maybe the Chargers shouldn’t have been saying just a week ago that Cason was going to be their corner in the slot that they drafted to neutralize Wes Welker. When teams make comments like these before the player is signed, it just gives the player a bit more leverage.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
AJ Smith is stubborn. Cason might be able to crack the starting lineup and eventually replace Quentin “15 Yard PI during Worst Possible Situations” Jammer.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
In AJ we trust.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
This is just another example of AJ Smith attempting to show he has the biggest set in town.
Works great in old westerns - but not so good when ultimately they are going to have to depend on this kid to produce.
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Rating: 2.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 am
To clarify my earlier post - i don’t have a problem in taking a hard stance. I do however have a problem in using the media to posture.
Let’s do our best to alienate our players.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Cason, if he signs, will have to beat out both Paul Oliver and “Flash” Gordon for the nickle/dime spot. We also have Gregory in the mix at this time. It’s not like AJ doesn’t have options beyond Cason. AJ has been known to be both generous and hard-nosed.
If I were Cason and his agent, I’d look for a reasonable/fair contract now and a big contract in 5 years if his play warrents. AJ doesn’t need to blink here like he did with Kris Dielman’s contract a couple of years ago. Cason, while maybe a talented college player, doesn’t have much leverage with this stacked team.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
seatofmypants, AJ has the biggest set in town and doesn’t need to go out of his way to show it at this point. The Chargers are loaded and don’t need Cason as much as he needs them. When AJ claims it’s a final offer, it is. It makes him look like an A-hole maybe, but it works. The best teams in the league are the ones who don’t cave in to the players and are willing to lose people. The Colts, Patriots, etc. Trust me, Cason will sign today or tommorow because his agent knows AJ will not make a better offer.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
whats the word on what Oliver is looking like? He was an intriguing player coming out, especially where he got taken in the supplemental.
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July 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
ryand:
Oliver is impressing the coaches, and there’s considerable interest in converting him to safety, expecially with the CB depth that the Chargers currently have. Oliver is built to play safety, and he has a real shot at replacing Hart in a couple of years.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
DanFoutsBeard,
There are many ways to negotiate. AJ can tell the agent that is the best deal - take it or leave it. Another way is to inform the media that this is the way - in an attempt to embarass your player. But convienently, he has neglected to mention the terms of this final offer. Who knows how good this offer really is? My guess is AJ is offering a low ball amount, otherwise he would be giving more information.
As someone who has negotiated deals with unions before, negotiations can be tough, but they do not have to be contentious. There is no need to try and alienate or embarass your counterpart, because ultimately you will have to work with them again in the future.
Personally, I think AJ is a blow hard. Let him win a Super Bowl or two before he starts preening…..
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)