Posted on 08/20/2005 6:27:39 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
At an impasse Gates misses deadline, to be suspended by Chargers Posted: Saturday August 20, 2005 5:14PM; Updated: Saturday August 20, 2005 6:27PM
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Antonio Gates didn't meet the San Diego Chargers' ultimatum to sign a contract by Saturday afternoon, meaning the defending AFC West champions will be without their All-Pro tight end for at least the season opener against Dallas.
In an extreme move to break an impasse in negotiations, the Chargers ordered Gates to report to camp and sign a contract or face a three-game suspension. Gates' agent and the Chargers continued to negotiate up to the 12:30 p.m. deadline, but again failed to agree on a multiyear deal. Gates has refused to sign the $380,000, one-year contract the team tendered him as an exclusive-rights free agent.
Once Gates does sign a contract, he will be put on the Roster Exempt List, automatically triggering the suspension, the team said in a statement. He will miss the team's final two exhibition games, at Minnesota next Friday and San Francisco at home on Sept. 1, as well as the season opener against the Cowboys on Sept. 11 at Qualcomm Stadium. If he doesn't sign by Thursday, he'll also miss the Sept. 18 game at Denver.
Gates, agent Andre Colona and general manager A.J. Smith didn't return calls seeking comment.
"Obviously if Gates turns out missing the first game because of this, that's disappointing for everyone in this locker room because he is big part of our team and we don't want to see that happen," quarterback Drew Brees said after practice Saturday, but before the deadline passed.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
good to see you...did you check out the artwork?...we are all in this together, so your input is valued...
Rookie holdouts are the dumbest holdouts. The big money is in your first free agency contract, being a rookie holdout is bad four your stats and bad for your image, both of which impede your big money contract. Every dollar these chumps gain now is going to cost them 10 in 4 years. Some folks think the NFL should adopt the NBA rookie contract method to end these holdouts, but I like the holdouts, they let us know who the total idiots are.
No I haven't. Where is it?
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